I Have been Reincarnated As a Lazy, Arrogant Noble, but When I Destroyed The Scenario Through Effort, I Became The Most Powerful With Extraordinary Magical Power - 231.1

# 231: You Have Angered Me 1

“There are many books about the history of slavery, but the answer to the slave crest is always the same. There is only one way to break the brainwashing.”

Noblesse Magic Academy, Library.

I was researching literature on slavery in front of a stack of books piled high.

Next to me, helping, was Cynthia. Although she studies healing magic late into the night, separate from regular classes, she always finds time for me.

“This one says the same. The only way is for the person who engraved the slave crest to die.”

“…But I cannot forgive it.”

Cynthia, usually emotionless, was gripping her hands tightly. The reason was an incident in the bath within Noblesse.

“Hey, that’s… Priscilla-senpai.”

“Amazing… right?”

“Well, but she’s a slave… right?”

The bath is shared by students from three grades. Men and women are separated, but Cynthia ended up with Priscilla. And she noticed her skin.

Bruises, scratches, and scars that would never disappear, all seemingly recent. According to Cecil’s investigation, Priscilla was originally Neil’s maid.

Now she is a slave.

She still fights on dangerous frontlines as a combat slave. But this is one of Neil’s so-called few sacrifices.

Yet beside the trembling Cynthia, I remained somehow calm.

I cannot bring myself to hate Neil completely. What he says is almost the same as what I once believed.

Like when I clashed with Alan.

But still, I don’t want to be likened to him. And Cynthia spoke to Priscilla.

“She didn’t say much directly, but the wound on her cheek was recent. It was caused by a sharp blade. I can tell…”

Through her healing studies, Cynthia developed an impressive eye for observation. She can tell how a wound was inflicted and how to heal it.

“Should we ask Professor Coco to heal her?”

“No, I thought to do it on the spot, but she refused. She said it was pointless.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I touched her, I saw traces of healing magic. Healing merely promotes the activation of one’s body. Priscilla’s body has been wounded and healed repeatedly, making her less responsive to the benefits. There were many old scars too.”

“I see…”

“Recently, I saw Neil hitting Priscilla. I cannot forgive it. Even if it’s hypocritical, I want to help her. Weiss, no matter what you think.”

Cynthia spoke as if seeing through my inner conflict. She is the strong-hearted heroine of Noblesse Oblige.

Her core is like Alan’s, full of a sense of justice. Unlike me, she doesn’t calculate her actions.

If someone in front of her is suffering, she can give in to her emotions completely.

Something I lack.

――Weiss…

Am I truly despicable?

At that moment, I heard a voice calling me.

“Weiss!”

The desperate expression belonged to Shari. She looked more flustered than I’d ever seen her.

What happened? I couldn’t guess.

“What happened?”

“Lilith has submitted a withdrawal form this morning!”

“…What? What are you talking about?”

“Just come quickly! You too, Cynthia!”

I didn’t understand. We followed Shari outside, through the courtyard to the academy office. On the way, Neil approached us with Priscilla beside him.

I had a bad feeling.

“Weiss.”

“…What is it?”

“I’ve decided. I want you to be my subordinate.”

I wanted to ignore him, but his grinning face was irritating. I didn’t respond and tried to leave.

“You are fundamentally the same as me. So, I’ve decided not to hesitate. I’m looking forward to your answer.”

He had a sinister smile. I soon understood why.

Walking sadly down the corridor was Lilith. But seeing us, she was startled and ran away.

“Lilith!”

Shari suggested that it would be better to hurry to the academy office than to chase after her. I left it to Cynthia and ran to confront Lilith about the situation.

But she was nowhere to be found.

What has she done?

I focused magical power into my Observation Dark Eye and captured Lilith’s magic, then sprinted at full speed.

Even after calling out to her again, she continued to move away.

I leaped over the courtyard and even reached District B of the city. That’s where my patience snapped.

With a single blow, I stopped her in her tracks and further halted her movement with an unnatural wall.

Lilith, who had been hit hard in the nose, stopped and squatted down, tears streaming down her face.

Approaching her and speaking, I noticed her swollen eyes due to tears.

“I’m sorry, Lord Weiss.”

This was the first time I had seen her like this.

What on earth had happened?

“What’s going on? I heard you submitted a withdrawal form.”

“If I’m around… I’ll just be a bother to Lord Weiss.”

Neil’s name flashed through my mind. I shook off the impure thoughts and asked her directly.

“What did Neil do to you?”

“…I can’t say.”

“Just tell me.”

“I can’t.”

“Lilith, even I have my limits.”

“… … …”

Lilith stubbornly kept her mouth shut. She didn’t move an inch, no matter how much I tried to coax her.

Eventually, she stopped speaking altogether, and I left her behind as if abandoning her.

“…Do as you please.”

Then, a little away from Lilith, I saw Shari and Cynthia.

“Weiss, about Lilith—”

“What about her?”