Bab 20: Branded as a Pervert
"Why?" Joren didn't know how to reply. The atmosphere was too casual as they broke the ice thoroughly. Even silence now wouldn't be that awkward.
Suddenly saying that he wants to not be undead anymore somehow feels wrong for some reason he can't explain.
"Don't humans desire immortality so much that they do stupid things for it in the past?"
Virena argued.
"Yeah but there are exceptions. It's not like I don't want immortality but being undead has a lot of downsides, aren't there."
"So, what should we play next?"
"Don't ignore my question!"
Ness raised her hand and then spoke.
"But it's not like Virena is going to abuse you. I'm confident that she's not that kind of person, trust me!"
'Ah...'
Joren finally realized what it is that was bothering him.
'Aren't they already getting buddy-buddy with me!?'
But as he thinks about it, it was never bad. He was just surprised. His first impression of them is that they are mysterious and... unsociable? Joren stopped his thinking. It's good that their animosity and vigilance decreased but there's still a more important matter at hand.
"I know, I feel like Virena is someone who can't just express her feelings but-"
"I am not."
"Yes, you're not."
Joren submissively replied as he felt nails sinking into the sides of his neck. Enough to inflict pain but not enough to make him bleed.
"I know, right! Virena is so cute! She seemed like she doesn't care but once you get close to her, she will do anything for you!"
Ness happily agreed.
Joren glanced at Virena and saw her not reacting as if she's turning a deaf ear to what Ness was saying.
'From what I see, it's you who's abusing Virena.'
He thought but didn't dare to say it out loud.
"To tell you the truth, this is the first time there's a third person in this room." Ness suddenly revealed but Joren already know, he just reacted as if he was surprised.
"I know that it's not something you expected when you went here but being an undead isn't so bad."
"Yeah... now that I think about it, this is too fast."
Ness remembered and showed an awkward expression, "A-also, it's my fault that I almost killed you. Sorry!"
Thud*
She bowed her head and hit her desk since she's still sitting.
"Principal! You don't need to apologize!" Virena stood up and waved her hands.
'Why are you acting like you're the one receiving the apology?'
Joren internally commented.
"It's Joren's fault for having a scary face and for being annoying and for being a pervert and a degenerate."
"... half of that are just insults..."
"Hm, okay. But I should still apologize."
"Oi, why didn't you deny what she said?"
Joren sighed again and thought back. There were a lot of unexpected twists that placed him in this awkward situation. He finally decided what to do and said.
"I shall accept your apology. I'm part of the blame but you still almost killed me. Although Virena saved me, that I cannot deny. But since she tried to kill me too and also part of the blame too, we can call it quits. In other words, I owe Virena nothing while Ness owes me little."
Joren looked at them to see their reaction.
Ness nodded and attentively listened. On the other hand, Virena looked at him as if he said something very shameless.
"From an objective point of view." Joren added but it seemed that Virena only added the expression of disgust on how she looks at him when she heard that.
"Are you forgetting that you just barged in here and demanded answers from the Principal while you're just a student?"
Virena said but Joren was unperturbed.
"I didn't barge in, I politely asked some worries as a student. Although it's part of my fault for fighting with a school official but didn't you fight with a student as well?"
"You speak as if you're saying something smart even though you're just an undead and a pervert."
Joren and Virena began to glare at each other until Ness mediated.
"Well, there's nothing we can't fix as long as we- you two work together!"
Joren looked at Ness who was still sitting on her chair comfortably.
"I've been meaning to ask this but are you really the Principal, Ness?"
"What an insolent question you have? Do you want choking as an answer?" Virena's intimidation increased.
"W-what's that supposed to mean!? Do I not look like the Principal here!?" Ness leaned forward.
Looking at her petite stature, immature face, and the jersey that she was wearing, Joren really can't say she looks like a Principal.
"It is true that Virena does all-... most of the work here but I'm really the Principal here."
Ness argued which was then supported by Virena.
"Principal has been a principal since the beginning of time. Even though I do ALL the work, her power and influence are real. If she really puts WORK into it and does not just watch, play, eat, and sleep all day, Principal Ness may even be standing on the peak of the Myth Academy as of now."
But towards Virena's support, Ness felt shame.
"V-virena... do you hate doing... most.. of the work? If you want, I can do... some more... work to lessen your burden."
"There's no need for that Principal. For you, I will continue doing ALL of the work. So you can continue doing... nothing."
Virena was smiling but Joren could feel the passive-aggressiveness in her voice.
"Okay, if that's what you want!"
Ness raised both hands and mouthed 'Yehey!' while Virena sighed before caressing her head.
'W-wow... spoiled...' was the only thing Joren could say.
"That's that, I'm the Principal so you should trust what I'm saying. Being undead isn't so bad." Ness positively said.
"I'm not saying it's bad but being undead is... inconvenient for me right now." Joren honestly said.
"Oh, you're saying about Agent Scarlett whom you said your woman." Virena sarcastically said.
"Y-your woman?" Ness seemed to be confused.
"I just said that in the heat of the moment."
Joren has no choice but to bury what he said to make the conversation going.
"But she's still important to me. Therefore, I won't let her get taken by some random dude."
"A random dude?"
Virena muttered, not knowing if Joren is too arrogant, just plain stupid, didn't know what he was saying, or just didn't care.
"Oh, romance... I'm getting the gist of it!" Ness excitedly entered the conversation, "We cannot let a random dude get that someone important to you!"
"Yes... yes..." Joren nodded with an agreeing smile.
"Um, Principal. By random dude, Joren meant Zeus."
Virena finally dropped the bomb which seemed to fly over Ness' head for a second there.
"Zeus...? Wait, the God of Gods!? How can you call him a random dude!?"
"Uhh. well, I don't know much about him except that he's the God of Sky in Greek Mythology so... for me, he's random." Joren scratched his cheek while he evades his eyes.
Virena saw this opportunity to get the Ness to her side.
"He even said he wants to speak to Zeus."
"Are you out of your mind!?"
"He also thought that I'm the Principal."
"I'm the Principal!"
"And he puts down his pants while fighting for some reason."
"Why!? Are you really a pervert, Joren!?"
"...." Joren was immediately cornered and could only argue back, "I guess I'm wrong to assume that Virena is the principal."
"Fufufu..."
Virena seemed so amused as she watched the defeated look forming on Joren's face.
"But I'm not a pervert. The pulling pants thing... it's technique."
"Desperate..."
Virena sighed.
"N-no, to clear my name, let me show you a proof. The more I pull my pants down, the stronger I get."
Joren stood up, determined to remove his image as a pervert. All he needs to do is prove that his skill is true. It's not like he will tell about the system.
"We are not stupid, Joren. You will just pull your strength and as you pull your pants down, you will just use your reserved strength. Aren't you just using this as an excuse to exhibit your underwear to us!"
Virena pointed at Joren as if she just revealed his true intentions.
"I'm... with Virena this time." Ness nodded, "I don't think you're bad I do think what you wanted to do is perverted."
Joren knew well that that's not true but he couldn't rebuke it. After thinking for a while, he finally made his decision and determinedly said.
"If that's how it is... then how about we make a bet?"
"A bet?"
"Yeah, if I'm risking something, wouldn't I do my best? In other words, it will show that I am not reserving any strength."
"That's... logical." Virena agreed but then continued, "But the risk should be big enough so that you wouldn't lose on purpose."
"I know. But you really think I'm that perverted to risk something big just to show my underwear to women?"
"That's true but we only met today. What if you're really that kind of person?"
"Then... I guess I'm going to risk something big. However, as a condition, you will have to handicap yourself so that I have a chance of winning. If you use your full strength every time, you wouldn't feel the difference in mine."
"I know that. Speak the challenge and I'll handicap myself accordingly."
Joren determinedly smiled as he raised his fist and felt his biceps.
"Shouldn't arm wrestling be the first thing that comes into your mind if we're competing with strength?"
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