Chapter 38 : Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Russel approached the scene, feigning embarrassment.

Behind him, Alexein and his group glanced at the commotion and passed by.

Only Hendricks looked back, anxious.

Eddie glanced at Hendricks and Russel’s tail, then looked away.

Russel eyed his tail with a disappointed رزيطdisdainful click of his tongue.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Russel’s tail flinched under his gaze.

Eddie assessed the situation, watching them closely.

‘Alexein’s group and the commoners are already in the classroom. This must be their stalling tactic.’

It checked out.

Russel’s apologetic expression was noticeably forced.

Scratching his head, he approached Marcel with an apology.

“Sorry about that, Marcel. My aide’s so clumsy and careless.”

“…I see.”

“I’ll replace everything. Kirhausen’s heir can’t use things that fell on the floor…”

“No need. Let’s settle this with a sincere apology.”

Marcel’s firm words made Russel’s lips twitch.

Even a cunning child couldn’t hide his frustration.

But he quickly composed himself, nodding to his tail to pick up the items.

“Pick them up, Jimmy.”

Jimmy, Russel’s tail, scrambled to gather Marcel’s things.

He should’ve done so immediately, but he delayed to stall.

Eddie moved to help, but Russel stopped him.

“No, no, the one at fault should do it. Right?”

Russel subtly sought Marcel’s agreement.

Eddie paused, looking at Marcel.

“…”

Marcel met his gaze, pondered, and nodded.

“You’re right. Stay out of it, Eddie.”

“…Yes, young master…”

Eddie stood slowly.

His grip tightened on the pens he’d picked up.

He couldn’t believe Marcel took it so naturally.

‘I forgot. He’s a high noble to the core.’

Eddie’s cold gaze lingered on Marcel’s profile.

Marcel looked down dryly at Jimmy crawling on the floor.

While Jimmy worked, Russel chatted with Marcel to keep his attention.

Eddie, watching them, activated the Tracker on Hendricks.

As expected, a commotion erupted.

***

At that moment, in Dennis Room, half the students were chatting and preparing for class.

The commoners in the back were especially lively.

The reason: Joy’s fancy new wand case.

Click—

The case opened with a crisp sound, revealing her new wand.

“Wow…!”

The ten commoners gasped in awe.

“Is that the wand you bought from the Emporium?”

“It’s amazing… Look! It’s from the Mastieu workshop!”

Joy, emotional, gripped her new wand.

The weight and feel of a top-quality workshop wand were unlike anything she’d held.

Compared to her scammed wand, it felt real.

‘It’s like a dream. I need to write to Grandpa about this.’

She was genuinely happy for once.

Step, step, step.

Multiple footsteps approached.

A familiar, unwelcome voice followed.

“Looks like you got a new wand from the Emporium.”

Joy barely kept her expression neutral, turning to the voice.

As expected, Alexein and his group stood there.

‘What now…’

Joy eyed Alexein warily, tucking her wand case aside.

But—

“The Emporium only carries top-quality goods. Trading that trash for a premium wand is a good deal.”

Alexein’s words weren’t as sharp as expected.

Still wary, Joy and the commoners didn’t relax.

Understanding their caution, Alexein softened his expression.

“Yesterday, we both got heated and exchanged rude words. Despite past issues, I’d like us to get along as classmates from now on.”

The unbelievable words widened the commoners’ eyes.

Alexein’s steady gaze and his group’s serious expressions showed no hint of jest.

‘He’s not sincere. That vicious nature couldn’t change overnight. But…’

Joy bit her lip, unable to finish the thought.

The Dickens heir offering peace left her no choice.

She wasn’t foolish enough to ignore their power gap.

“…Alright. Let’s get along from now on.”

As Joy agreed, Alexein’s group clapped loudly, as if for a play.

“Are we finally making commoner friends?”

“Of course, Dickens leads in breaking class barriers!”

Their pointed remarks added flair.

The classroom grew noisy with their exaggerated reactions.

Amid the chaos, Hendricks, looking distraught, subtly moved his wand.

Swish—

Slide—

The voucher silently slipped into a wand case.

Hendricks glanced between the case and its owner, his expression near tears.

Overwhelmed with guilt, he wanted to destroy his own hand.

He clenched his fists tightly.

Then, lowering his head, he signaled Alexein with mana through his wand.

Tap—

Feeling the signal, Alexein grinned widely.

He exchanged a quick glance with Jeremy, who was also smiling.

Jeremy casually picked up a nearby wand case.

“Is this the new Emporium wand? Can I see it?”

It wasn’t Joy’s but another commoner’s.

Startled, Joy said, “No, that’s Ruben’s. Mine’s—”

Too late.

Click—

Jeremy opened the case without hesitation.

Alexein’s group froze in unison, as if rehearsed.

“…”

The sudden silence and stern looks confused Ruben most of all.

“W-What’s wrong…?”

Joy and the others, equally puzzled, glanced around.

Alexein’s cold voice cut through.

“Well…”

He glared at Ruben, picking something from the case.

The voucher Hendricks had planted.

Ruben’s eyes widened to their limit.

“…!”

“Care to explain why this is here?”

Alexein’s expression dripped with contempt for a thief.

***

Eddie’s face hardened as he heard Alexein’s voice through Tracker.

‘It’s begun.’

As planned, Alexein’s group started framing Ruben as a thief.

This was why they stalled Marcel.

If Marcel, the supposed victim, was there, he’d raise the issue, not Alexein’s group.

Recalling the plan he overheard, Eddie smirked.

It was a cunning scheme, despite its malicious intent.

‘Not a simple or emotional plan. They used their resources well to make it convincing.’

Just days after clashing with Joy in the lounge, it was an impressive plot.

It reeked of malice and calculation.

Eddie wanted to scold Alexein to focus that effort on magic but restrained himself, focusing on Tracker.

[“I-It wasn’t me! I swear I don’t know anything…!”]

[“Saying you don’t know explains nothing. This is clear theft.”]

Ruben’s tearful pleas and Alexein’s gleeful accusations.

Eddie wanted to rush in, expose the truth, and corner Alexein.

But he played ignorant, staying outside with Marcel to stall.

‘For both to learn their lesson, this needs to escalate.’

Feeling like an unwilling bystander, Eddie held back his urge to head to Dennis Room for a greater purpose.

***

‘I’ve been had.’

Joy’s face twisted, biting her lip.

Why was Marcel Kirhausen’s voucher in Ruben’s wand case?

She didn’t know the details.

But she was certain this was a planned trap.

Alexein’s group showed no surprise—only amusement and triumph.

‘Despicable…!’

Joy clenched her fists, seething.

She calmed herself and thought quickly.

Anger was useless; she needed a solution.

But Alexein, gaining momentum, wasn’t waiting.

Flutter—

Waving the voucher, he said, “Emporium goods are top-tier, made by the empire’s finest workshops. This voucher’s value is immense.”

“So?” Joy retorted sharply, not fully grasping the trap.

Alexein, with an unexpectedly serious expression, replied, “This makes it a major theft. Grounds for expulsion.”

“…!”

The commoners gasped in unison.

Joy realized the trap’s scale.

Ruben’s face turned pale, almost blue.

“Plus, the victim is none other than Kirhausen’s heir. As a fellow pillar of Luxorin, how can I, Dickens’ heir, ignore this?”

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