The Villainess Who Was Dumped Got Married into My Family, a Mob Noble from the Frontier, and Turns Out, She's an Amazing Capable Wife? - Chapter 71: An Unexpected Conclusion

Chapter 71: An Unexpected Conclusion

“…Ah—”

With a thud, a body collapses powerlessly. In front of it, Castor’s severed head rolls nearby, followed by a brief silence and then a scream.

“Kyaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!”

“Lord Castor’s head has…!!!”

“His body fell limp… Uahhhhhhhhh!!!”

Someone dashed outside, and like a trigger, the other students also fled en masse.

Some wet themselves, others vomited, creating a scene of utter chaos and despair.

No one expected that the duel, though serious, would actually lead to death.

“Duels have become so trivial.”

“True, duels are often fought by nobles with much at stake, but we’re just students who haven’t even taken over our families’ responsibilities yet.”

“I’m supposed to inherit, though.”

Since I’m the only one left alive, there’s no choice.

“Good grief, you really are…”

The headmaster, pressing his forehead, seemed not to intend to reproach anyone since Castor, who had initiated the duel, was already dead.

“Well, I managed to stop the bleeding, so he might just make it.”

“Hmm, true, there’s no blood splattered.”

Before anyone noticed, Edward had approached Castor’s body and was inspecting it closely.

“He used a barrier to stop the bleeding. This clean cut might still be survivable. Impressive technique.”

I definitely severed the head.

If left alone, Castor would surely die.

But I did leave him a chance to survive.

“I’ll leave it up to the headmaster whether to save him or let him die.”

I understand being stubborn, but it’s laughable that he challenged me without any real plan or chance of winning.

I thought maybe he was possessed like Jelasis, but no, he’s just a fool. 

A complete fool. 

He deserves to die, and even if saved, he’d likely meet an ignoble end soon anyway. 

Just a small fry.

“I’m going to remove the barrier now, 3, 2, 1…”

“—Tsk.”

Before the barrier vanished, Vorsea created a viscous water mass from his hands, enveloping Castor’s head and body. 

As the barrier disappeared, a lot of blood flowed from Castor’s severed part, but it seemed to circulate back to the cut as if by design. 

He must have had some insurance for such an event.

“Headmaster, if he turns malicious against me again after being saved, please take responsibility and kill him.”

It’s the old man’s responsibility to handle this reckless student.

“Otherwise, if someone challenges me in the headmaster’s absence, I won’t hesitate to sever their head.”

“…A duel, is a duel.”

Vorsea said with a pained expression.

“Castor Von Pentagram died in a duel. That fact won’t change. I will explain this to the Pentagram family myself.”

“Is that okay?”

“Yes, it’s all my responsibility. You, as a student, are not to blame. The burden of guilt should fall on me…”

Carrying Castor’s body, which floated in the water, Vorsea left the scene.

There was a sadness in his departing figure.

It was surprising. I hadn’t expected him to just leave a dead student who could have been saved unattended.

I sympathize with the feelings involved, but ultimately, both the student who foolishly chose to duel and the teacher who couldn’t stop it are at fault.

It was the same with Alicia’s dueling incident.

It’s the teacher’s burden to bear.

As everyone watched Vorsea’s retreating figure with somber expressions, Edward muttered,

“Hmm, seems like this will bring those flighty freshmen back down to earth.”

The most frivolous one during the first semester has something to say!

Everyone looked at Edward with a mix of amazement and disbelief.

“Seriously, you’ve always been clueless about the mood…”

Even Clive could only sigh at this.

“Just as the headmaster said, Ragna Vel Brave is not to blame. Everyone here saw us warning Castor, and if still, the blame must be placed, then it should be shared with me, who also witnessed it.”

“Ah, uh… thank you…”

He spoke with sparkling eyes, but honestly, the guilt doesn’t really matter to me.

Seriously, get away from me.

I felt no emotions about killing Castor. 

He was just a fool, that’s all.

“Man, this guy is really getting too close,” I muttered as I moved behind Alicia for cover.

“Just to clarify, it’s not like I’ve grown fond of him or anything, but since he wanted the student council position so badly that he staked his life on it, I’ll honor that and fill the role for this year.”

I don’t really know if he truly wanted it that badly.

Probably, he didn’t intend to die, but once he said it, that was it.

It’s the least I can do. I’ll run the student council properly for Castor.

“Wow, that’s so like the Brave family! Humu!”

“Hah… I feel stupid for taking all this so seriously…”

Ignoring Edward, who was getting overly excited, Alicia said,

“Let’s clean up this mess first, shall we?”

“Yeah.”

The mess left by the fleeing students is our first job as the student council, and it’s daunting.

Maybe I was too intimidating.

But then, the students seem a bit too fragile if that throws them into a panic. Oh, right, I learned some demonic magic this summer after defeating some demons, and that probably played a role.

It can’t be helped if my power directly affects souls who underestimate me.

“I’ll do the cleaning!”

Just as I was looking for cleaning supplies, Edward spoke up.

“You let us witness that honorable duel, so allow me to handle the cleanup. I’m actually quite skilled at cleaning. Help me out, Clive!”

“Ehh… I have to help too?”

“Of course. Ragna Vel Brave and Alicia, you should take Miss Mariana, who’s still unconscious, to the medical room. Clive, Miss Treiza, and I will take care of this place.”

Treiza, Clive’s fiancée who was suddenly mentioned, just nodded silently with a surprisingly calm expression. 

Quite courageous, fitting for Clive’s partner, right? 

Well, I’ve never actually spoken to her, so I’m not sure.

“Well then, if you insist… Let’s go, Alicia.”

“Y-yes…”

Feeling like I was being pushed along, I carried the unconscious Mariana on my back and left with Alicia.

On the way to the medical room, Alicia murmured,

“You really did kill him, huh…”

“Yeah, I won’t say I didn’t intend to kill.”

Life was at stake.

Once challenged to a duel under those terms, I couldn’t just refuse.

“I’ll probably kill again if confronted face-to-face in the future.”

Up until now, I’ve been considerate of Alicia’s position and have left annoying people alone, but if they target me, I won’t hold back.

Even if she threatens me with the collar, that’s one thing I won’t compromise on.

“Is that so…”

“But it’s not like I enjoy killing. Actually, I just don’t feel anything anymore.”

“I understand.”

Alicia continued, 

“But it’s a bit hard for me to see you being feared.”

“I’m fine with it. I’m used to adventurers being scared of me, and I’ll make sure to keep myself in check so you don’t have to be feared because of me.”

“…I see.”