27 Chapter 27: First Strike

"So, are you enjoying the festival, Leon?"

The Dungeon Explorations professor asked as we walked in the hallways looking at a few other student groups who were doing their own shops and such in their assigned rooms.

The whole thing resembled very much like one of those school festivals in Japanese anime, despite it being a different country, time, and traditions.

It was amusing, but at the same time, I already knew why it was so from a deeper perspective. The creator of the world was Japanese and this world was created for, primarily, the Japanese audience. It was a common trope most authors used in their stories.

That being said, from a more local and in-world perspective, it was still somewhat curious to wonder how the Nobles Academy decided to have this event as a passing thought.

I mean, other than to accommodate the event that would have taken place in the original timeline of the game.

I turned to look at the buxom raven-haired professor who still spotted her usual slightly off-centered ponytail that swung with her every step.

"It's alright, I guess… It's my first time attending a festival like this—and first still, opening a café in one."

It was true. In my past life, my schools— the ones I studied in over the duration of my short life on Earth— didn't really have something like this. Then again, I doubted even the real Japanese schools had festivals as vibrant as this one and ones that provided students with the amount of freedom the schools in anime and manga tended to have. Then again, I wasn't Japanese nor live there, so I didn't know what actually happened in Japanese school. But I digress.

"Hm, good. You should enjoy it. The festival is one of the most memorable events in a student's life. Many remember these days when they grow up as fond memories."

There was something about her voice when she said that. It got me curious.

"Is that nostalgia I hear, professor? Did you participate in the festival during your time in the academy?"

The reminiscent smile I got in response to that hinted at an affirmation, though she soon verbally confirmed it.

"Yeah, it's been years, but they were fun times. I and the group of girls I was good friends with would go around and taste test every sweet sold in the stalls and then we would go and watch the performances of various groups. Drama, Choirs, etc. It was… nice. Things were simpler back then."

She sighed with an expression that seemed like there was some underlying meaning in her words.

"Are you okay?"

I asked, unsure of her emotions.

"Ah, yes. Just remembering some things."

I mentally frowned at that. She was being evasive, I could tell. And while it was understandable, it still somehow bugged me. I liked her and didn't like seeing her in this state. Something was bugging her and it, for some reason, annoyed it.

"I see…"

'<Observe>'

[Name: Ava Fluer Wendelle

Race: Human(Magical)

Level: 48

Thoughts about you: Fondness, Resignation]

My mental frown became physical once I read her Observe page but then it turned into one of mild surprise when I noticed the page update.

It seemed my <Observe> skill had just leveled up. Nice.

[Name: Ava Fluer Wendelle

Race: Human(Magical)

Level: 48

Thoughts about you: Fondness, Resignation

Bio: Ava Fluer Wendelle is the only daughter of the late Harriet and Rubulus Fluer Wendelle, a fallen noble family from the fallen Kingdom of Ruella.

After her house fell, she was left with no other choice; She became an adventurer, and with her latent talent, became one of the youngest B-ranked adventurers. Then she got an opportunity to teach at the Nobles Academy through one of her benefactors, Marquis Horus, in the Holfort Kingdom.

Right now, she's in a dilemma where she's forced to drop out and marry the son of the Marquis whom she owes a lot, and become the second concubine and a simple housewife against her wishes.

She desires to go on an adventure with a partner she can trust with her life.]

'So, she is a foreigner.'

I had occasionally wondered why her middle name was different from the ones nobles in this kingdom had. I guess that's why.

'But the last two lines… I didn't know.'

I knew our relationship wasn't good enough for her to tell me of such things. So, her hiding this information was understandable.

'When did it happen? I'm pretty sure she was perfectly fine a week or so ago. It has to be recent, right? If she's forced to marry, then—'

"—Alpenwind! Hey! Where is your mind off to? I was telling you something important, you know?"

I came out of my musing when I felt a hand shake my shoulder.

Turning, I saw her face looking at me with confusion and mild annoyance.

"Yes? Sorry, I was… distracted."

She sighed in exasperation but spoke.

"Fine. I'll say it again, so listen… I will leave the Academy in a month or two."

"… What?"

***

-Olivia-

"Um, please sit down. I'll bring the menu."

After beckoning the first customers of the café to one of the empty sofa seats, she immediately went to grab one of the printed Menu cards Ian had gotten.

It looked very much like the menu from the café Ian once treated her, but with a nice floral design and its logo was a large bean wearing a hat and having large googly eyes. It was a funny and cute logo in her opinion.

"How long does it take to get a simple menu?!"

The purple blazer-wearing girl snapped, making her jolt as she hurried more to grab the menu.

"Yes! Here! I'm sorry for the delay."

Even if it had barely taken a few seconds at most to grab it, the customer seemed to think otherwise.

"Hmph! Can't even serve properly, can you?"

The purple blazer girl snatched the menu and read it with a critical look.

Olivia waited with bated breath, her heart a little shaky from the seemingly short-tempered girl. She was no doubt the daughter of one of the nobilities if the two male servant guards she brought with her were any indication.

The other girls in the group simply observed the place and her with scrutiny in their gaze, not helping her nervousness. Some looked at the interaction between the purple blazer girl and Olivia with clear amusement.

Still, she stood there, patiently awaiting the order they would place.

She just had to take it to the assigned chefs, the two boys who were there helping with making the teas. All she had to do was serve the customers.

"Bring us five servings of no. 5 and 8. And hurry up. I don't have time to waste sitting here for you. Where are Alpenwind and Angelica? Weren't they supposed to be serving here?"

The girl asked with barely hidden annoyance making Olivia realize they might have come for Ian or Angie.

It made sense. The two were popular figures among the students and the students would probably want to be served by them rather than her. She was just a commoner with no pedigree or titles. She was practically a nobody.

"Um, they were called by Miss Wendelle a little while ago. I don't know when they'll return. I'll… I'll get your orders."

She turned and passed the two tall boys standing on the side, getting a dismissive glance from them, as she headed for the kitchen area.

It took the two helper boys just a few minutes to prepare the items required and soon she had three trays filled with the 5 sets of plates of neatly decorated pastries and fragrant teas.

She carried one and when she was thinking if she would have to make round trips for the others, the two boys offered a helping hand to carry the other two.

So, with the order in hand, she made her way towards the girls awaiting their order and talking amongst themselves.

All she had to do was serve them and then she could go wait nearby for them to either re-order or finish and pay up. Then she'll be done.

'You can do this, Olivia! Be strong!'

As she made her way to the customers, making sure she didn't stumble and drop the items, she failed to notice the smirks on the faces of the girls who watched her with a strange eagerness.

***

-Stephanie Fou Offrey-

A few moments earlier.

"Ugh, we came to see him and he's not even here! How annoying!"

One of the girls in her group spoke, making her annoyance rise in response.

Indeed, she'd come here hoping to meet that upstart Adventurer-turned-Viscount and show him his place in the hierarchy.

The upstart had the gal to ignore her when giving out the so-called Black Tickets for his Amusement Park or whatever.

She'd gotten news of it from one of the daughters of the Count who was gushing about how she—and many others— received a special invitation to his private island where he's created interesting attractions.

Admittedly, she was curious about this so-called 'Utopia' that had been the talk of the people in the academy. She'd seen the poster distributed by him and they looked quite fascinating.

Those who had received an invitation seemed eager to go and the others seemed either jealous or envied them, hoping to meet the recently titled Viscount to get a ticket for themselves so they could brag too.

Even for the upper nobles, the place seemed worth checking. There were rumors that the prince and his entourage would also be visiting.

So, she was very angry that she, the daughter of the noble house of Offrey, a Count, and someone above the rank of that upstart, wasn't given a ticket. She was part of the upper nobility and this disrespect done by that lowly upstart adventurer had pissed her to no ends.

And so, she was here, eager to show the upstart his position below her.

But annoyingly, he wasn't even here. Not even that bitch Angelica was here. She had also incurred her wrath. Stephanie had lost a lot of dias in the bet she made against her in the duel a little while back between her and the prince.

The bitch had a gal to challenge the prince of all people and then show her face in public after cheating to win. There was no way that adventurer could win against five of the most prominent young males in the academy.

So, yes. She had a bone to pick with both of those people. And they weren't even here.

That pissed her very much.

Her eyes drifted to the commoner who was serving them.

'Well, if I can't do anything to them right now…'

She leaned into the other girls, an evil smile on her face as she beckoned her slaves to instruct them.

"When that commoner comes with our order, do this…"

***

-Olivia-

"Finally! What took you so long?! The tea better not be cold!"

One of the girls yelled, causing her to clench on the tray, trying her best to not give in to their angry complaints.

They were the first customers and she wanted them to have a good impression of this place. Everyone had worked really hard to make this place and she was going to do her best to make this endeavor a success.

So, she bit down on her nervousness and kept walking, almost reaching their table.

She walked past the two tall boys who didn't hide their dismissive attitude and was about to place the tray when multiple things happened.

The first was the sensation of something hot on her back, making her yelp in surprise and pain.

"Kyaaa!!"

"Livia, I'm—LIVIA!"

The second was the sound of Angie's shout which she barely heard.

The third was the clatter of utensils as the tray in her hands was dropped while she reflexively jolted and tried to reach her back to remove the hot liquid that was seeping past her dress and burning her back.

Finally, she heard sounds of confusion and panic from the two boys behind her and a chorus of mocking laughs and giggles from the girls sitting in front of her and the two servants.

She was kneeling down and clutching at her back, her jaws clenched in pain and eyes teary and leaking tears from the feeling of being burned as she helplessly tried to do anything to make it stop.

It hurt.

It hurt a lot.

Both physically and emotionally.

She was so happy and eager today. She had hoped to have a fun day with Angie and Ian, serving customers and earning money and then celebrating with whatever earnings they got from it.

But it had all started to fall apart so quickly.

The moment she was left alone, everything had been ruined.

She had failed. And she had failed them.

***