Refrain from Obsession - Chapter 12

“Well then, we’ll end the class here.”

“Yes!”

As the three-hour-long class ended, the students responded as if cheering.

Aer also stretched her stiff back and glanced at Louis. He was sitting in the seat diagonally in front of her.

Unlike other students, he seemed to concentrate well during the class. He appeared to be taking neat notes as well…

Aer, who had formed a strong internal bond, found herself constantly observing Louis without realizing it.

She was waiting for him to stand up, planning to ask him to go sell healing stones this weekend when the opportunity arose.

She intended to quietly follow him and approach him when there were no people around.

He finally stood up after packing his textbooks. She hurriedly gathered her textbooks and stood up to follow him, when suddenly someone’s foot stuck out.

“Kyaa!”

Just as Aer, who hadn’t noticed in time, was about to fall, Louis in front of her turned around. He quickly grabbed her arm to support her and prevent her from falling.

“…Thank you, Louis.”

“It’s nothing.”

At that moment, a male student sitting in the seat next to them clicked his tongue and stood up.

“Tch! Lucky you.”

“Yeah. Is it because she’s a noble?”

“So annoying. Why does a noble come to the commoner class and muddy the waters?”

It was unmistakable who these malicious comments were directed at, and they were all clearly audible. As the two male students were about to leave, Aer called out to stop them.

“Hey, you two commoners there.”

“What?”

“Hey, what did you just say?”

At her words, the two male students approached as if to intimidate her. The students who were still in the classroom also looked at them with curious eyes.

“What? You called me a noble, so I thought you wanted to be called that too?”

“Huh, don’t you know the rule that everyone is equal inside the academy?”

“What good is being a noble? You’re just a commoner without any abilities.”

The two male students who had always found her annoying were just yesterday disrespected by another noble male student.

That noble classmate was an awakened one, so they couldn’t even think of talking back. So, intending to vent their frustration, they had been eyeing Aer throughout the class.

Louis was hearing all of these thoughts. Although he didn’t want to, once he knew, he couldn’t help but assist Aer.

Louis, who could hear the thoughts of everyone in the academy except Aer, couldn’t help but know how she was treated by other nobles.

Yet, it was almost surprising to see her steadfastly attending classes and doing her work.

This time too, she didn’t just let it slide.

“Do you think it’s funny because I’m a commoner without abilities?”

Aer slowly turned her head and carefully looked at the commoner classmates remaining in the classroom.

Then, turning her gaze back to the two male students, she tilted her head.

“As you can see, you’re in the same class as me, right? The class for commoners without abilities.”

“Hey! That’s not what I meant!”

“What, you dimwit.”

The two male students were unrestrained even with onlookers. Most of the students in the commoner class were commoners.

Because of this, the two people who felt a sense of kinship as fellow commoners became intoxicated with the act of crushing a noble in front of them.

“I heard you’re being ostracized among the nobles?”

“Shameless Bestia. Bestia who doesn’t know her place.”

“Pfft, crazy. Hey, why are you so good at imitating?”

When one imitated the speech of noble ladies, the other snickered.

Seeing the two, Aer let out a small laugh. The two snickering male students then became serious.

“Are you laughing?”

“You find this funny, huh?”

“No, it’s just that what you’re saying is funny.”

“What?”

Aer let out a short sigh before speaking.

“Isn’t it you who doesn’t know your place, not me?”

Today’s three-hour-long class was none other than mathematics.

The academy was teaching problems that elementary school students in Korea would typically learn. It was also one of the required major courses.

In the Basium Empire, mathematics was considered important.

From the finance department of the imperial palace to the accounting offices of noble houses, and even the imperial banks, the basic skill required in various places was calculation. Additionally, magic tool workshops, pharmaceutical laboratories, and other places also needed people skilled in mathematics.

Therefore, mathematics was a crucial subject in the commoner class, even more so than in the awakened or healer classes.

However, those two students failed to understand today’s lesson on fractions and received stern looks from the professor.

The two male students, belatedly understanding Aer’s words, blushed, and laughter erupted from those around them.

“You damn…”

One of the male students approached with heavy steps, raising his thick hand. Aer didn’t dodge but glared back.

If she were to be hit, she intended to use it as grounds to ensure those two would be punished.

Louis, who had let her handle things as she wished, didn’t hesitate to intervene when it seemed about to turn violent.

In this tense situation, with everyone watching breathlessly, suddenly there was a loud sound of someone hitting the blackboard.

“I came back because I forgot something, and what a spectacle this is.”

The professor of the first mathematics class was watching Aer and the group with a stern expression. He spoke in a coldly calm voice.

“Violence is prohibited within the academy. If you violate this, you may face suspension. If you’re unlucky, even more than that…”

“Pro-Professor! That’s not it! This girl first…”

“I’ll just say that I didn’t just arrive. You two, follow me.”

“…Damn it.”

“Why only us…”

The two showed no signs of remorse and instead glared at Aer. One of them said to the professor.

“Why are you only calling us two? Is it because this girl is a noble, so you’re scared too, Professor!”

How can they be this stupid?

If they knew who made the rule that everyone is equal within the academy, they wouldn’t speak like that even to a professor.

The professor also didn’t hide his exasperated expression.

“How long has it been since you enrolled, and you still haven’t memorized the academy rules?”

As if there was no need for further words, the professor coldly rebuked them, said something to the teaching assistant who had arrived late, and left the classroom.

The two grumbled and hurled insults at Aer.

“You b****. Later, you’ll…”

At that moment, Louis reached out his hand, but Aer was faster. She swung the thick mathematics textbook she was holding and struck the other person’s head hard.

Thwack-

“Ugh!”

Another hit, and then to the male student beside him as well.

Aer firmly struck the heads of both male students twice each without hesitation.

“Hey, if you’re so bothered by nobles, how are you going to survive in this world?”

If they’re like this even in the academy, how will they manage in society? This isn’t even a democratic society, but an empire. Why act like someone experiencing a class society for the first time?

Hey, did you recall your past life too?

Even if it’s annoying, this is how this world is.

Despite being insulted by Ian just a few days ago, there was nothing she could do about it.

Why? Because he’s the heir to a duke’s family.

If you understand what a duke means in this empire, you can’t say much to Ian over trivial matters.

It’s just how this world is. What scratch could a mere supporting character make by rebelling?

Thinking about it made her even more angry.

Being a noble but not receiving treatment as one, not even being treated as a person, made her blood boil. Aer didn’t hold back and struck them each once more.

“Ah, Aer. That’s enough…”

Louis gently grabbed her wrist to stop her. Then he softly touched her fingers that were gripping the book.

“Your fingers are red from the heavy book.”

At Louis’s words, Aer stared at him blankly. Then, a beat later, she asked.

“What did you say?”

“…Your fingers seem hurt from the heavy book.”

“No, before that.”

“…Aer?”

“Ha…”

Aer hugged the textbook she had raised high and smiled brightly.

“I think it’s the first time you’ve called my name. It makes me happy.”

“…It’s not the first time though.”

Louis, experiencing this for the first time, couldn’t hide his embarrassed expression and muttered. In a very small voice.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

“This is completely crazy! Hey!”

While the two were talking, the two male students who had each been hit three times tried to charge at them, shouting angrily, but the teaching assistant who had approached unnoticed intervened with a deep sigh.

He took something out of his pocket and restrained the arms of the two male students.

“Argh!”

“Ugh!”

“I wish you’d be quiet before I have to gag you too.”

At the assistant’s cold words, the two male students shut their mouths, and the students who were still watching finally gathered their things and quickly disappeared from the classroom.

The assistant looked at Aer with a strange gaze and said.

“It seems you’ll have to come along too, student.”

“Yes.”

It wasn’t surprising since she had hit them prepared for the consequences. Rather, if she was going to be called in, it was better to go together.

It was obvious that otherwise, there would be talk later about her being let off because she was a noble.

Whether nobles or commoners, people are troublesome when there are many of them. Really.

Aer decided that when she earned money, she would build a house in a quiet place with no people around.

“I’ll come along too.”

Louis added as Aer was about to quietly follow the assistant. The assistant nodded halfheartedly with an annoyed expression.

“You can come as a witness.”

He looked as if he had dark circles down to his chin, clearly irritated by this unpleasant incident.