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Break came after the first round of classes ended.
Arnold quickly tracked Fallene down using the system's search function. She was sitting with a group of first year girls in the cafeteria. There were some boys hanging around them, most seniors and even as old as Arnold.
"Goddammit," one of the guys groaned when he noticed Arnold casually walking through the cafeteria. Others followed. Within moments, they scattered.
A corny way to describe this scene would be: like a bunch of dragons spotting the alpha dragon entering the cave, they quickly gained their distance from the first-year girls.
"I-It's really him…!" one of the first-year girls said in a panic. It was pretty clear they heard how he always searches for new prey whenever a new school year starts. She was like a little prey cornered and unable to do anything as a predator approaches her.
"I hope he picks me."
"Your chest is too flat. I heard he likes girls with big boobs more. Have you seen his maid? Those things are gravity-defying."
"S-Shut up! You're no different! Look at you drooling!"
"Tch. Whatever!"
Smiling amicably, he arrived at one of the tables where a large group of first year girls were gathered. Senior students typically invite the newer students to help them get used to the academy.
A few of them visibly stiffened when he came to their table specifically.
He noticed their discomfort immediately.
Instead of sitting down right away, he stopped a respectful distance from the table and let them adjust to his presence first.
"Sorry for the intrusion. I thought I might come here to let you all know that, as a member of a student body, meant to establish and maintain order, I'll be here for you if you are being bullied or face discrimination in the academy."
"Hmm? You weren't this nice when you came up to our table last year." One of the second-year girls said, someone he remembers courting in the first week. She sounded sour saying that.
"I realize now how important it is to have a good reputation even in the academy. The last four years has just been me ruining my own image without second thought. I hope to change that this year, the next, and my final year at the academy."
Not expecting this response, the girl blinked blankly, "W-Well, whatever…"
It's not complete bullshit to make the other party trust him. Being in the SDC is a favorable position to institutions like universities, the Towers, and knight orders. It's a sign that you are disciplined and can handle responsibility. These two things can affect how valuable you are to an organization or institution.
Is that an indication of your academic or martial prowess? No.
But it's equally as important.
He was serious about using the SDC as one of many stepping stones to elevate his reputation, as it will affect his position as a future king. If he shows he's competent in maintaining order, he'll have less troubles in the future.
"Going back to what I was saying: If you need help, you can come straight to me if you feel the Student Disciplinary Committee will be able to help you. This includes bullying, sabotaging your academic score, coercion, and other things that will break the order we are tasked with maintaining."
This must sound strange coming from him. But this was just his way to appear approachable. It might also break any mental barrier the Halo will come across once he uses it on Fallene.
It's not an omnipotent eye so manipulating how other see him might prove beneficial.
"So, how are you girls adjusting to the academy? As your senior and a member of a student body, I feel it's my duty to help you settle in."
His smile must've had some kind of charm spell because a few girls didn't even know how to react to him approaching them so suddenly and boldly.
This is what power affords him. In the past, he used both his position in the hierarchy and in the academy to pressure new students.
Some of the girls were simply too afraid to reject his advances as not all of them were from powerful Houses that could protect them.
"Your eyes look way too lecherous for someone who just wants to help, y'know?" the stereotype of a gyaru, Fallene, said while trimming her nail.
He only noticed now that her uniform wasn't the type the academy offers at all. Instead of the official uniform, she wore a dark blue pleated skirt along with a white shirt that had an open collar that showed most of her cleavage with a tiger-print bra peeking out.
To top off her stereotypical look, she had oversized socks that looks like leg warms and pink and purple highlights in her hair. If she wanted to stand out, she succeeded. But that's the opposite of what her superiors would want. But maybe this is just a way to trick people into overlooking her. Her choice of style is already enough of a sore thumb so no one would think she's some drug lord's delivery girl.
A few of the girls glared at her, as if they were pissed on Arnold's behalf. He approached them so gently but she just spat in his face? What if he has a low self-esteem and is sensitive to such reactions? Such a cruel witch.
Now none of them might get a chance to become his mistress and leech—open opportunities for themselves like the others have.
"What's your name, first year?" oblivious to their thoughts, he asked the gyaru.
She looked at him unpleasantly, "Fallene."
"Surname?"
"Am I in trouble or somethin'?" each time she twirled her fake blonde hair around her finger, her large tanned bosom jiggled. He could see vague tanlines of a bra around her chest area so she must like tanning, huh?
"Not really but your uniform doesn't show the integrity of this academy. On the contrary, it undermines it. The other academies and the nobles who placed their children here will think students can do whatever they want with no consequences. This will put the academy's authority into question and tank its reputation."
"Why only my uniform? The one you guys have is boring!" she protested.
Despite talking to a senior, she's quite disrespectful, huh?
"The academy's uniform is supposed to display its prestige and the etiquette of its students. If you find it boring, it means you have none of the latter to speak of." He was beginning to sound like a professor. He hates using this tone but as he's using the SDC authority to maintain order, it can't be helped.
'Bear with the cringe of talking like some uptight honor student, Arnold.'
"W-What about the guys behind you!? They even have dyed hai—What the!? When did they change their appearance!?"
The delinquents, who wore whatever they wanted earlier and had dyed hair, suddenly looked like proper students. Even their posture and the contents of their conversations shifted to an academy topic.
"History class was so informative, hahaha!"
"Mm! What I liked reading about was how the extinct Mount Glazer Sect was responsible for taking down the airships meant to bring supplies to us in a war 120 years ago, cutting off the war supply for a week!"
"Mhm. It got so bad that the soldiers almost began eating each other—is what the diary entry said."
'Sorry, kid, we aren't on your side even if you have big boobs.' Thought one of the delinquents as he pretended to read a profound piece of literature like some hermit studying books.
For some reason, Fallene glared up hatefully at Arnold.
Condition: Frustrated
'Hmm, she's probably frustrated because she can't use her power as a princess here where everyone is equal.'
And the other party is the same person who felled a demon monarch. No one will retaliate for this "disrespect" she's fabricating in her mind to make him seem like he's in the wrong.
"Come see me at the Student Disciplanary Office ten minutes before break ends. Enjoy the rest of your break." After telling her that, he left the table. Some of the girls looked sad for some reason.
**
"Ugh, what's with that guy singling me out alone!?" Fallene groaned. She lost her appetite after that confrontation.
Maybe it was bad to speak up when he was trying to flirt with the girls which she interrupted? Maybe it frustrated her that they were so easy?
As she's into girls, Fallene always has to try hard to make a girl fall for her, while guys like him can just mutter a few sweet-nothings into their ears and make them drop their panties.
He has a handsome face, is intelligent, rules his own territory, is guaranteed immense wealth due to his crystals and he's a strong knight student.
On top of that, he's the Hero who fought an actual Demon King! All of that without endangering the empire itself!
Ordinary girls like the ones at the table, some of whom are from small noble families, don't have a chance to resist him. Sometimes they think of their family and how it would benefit them. Just having his child would set them up for life.
The first woman he made a child with was given so much money, she was able to start her own business. Several others also benefitted financially.
That's what power gave them. All they had to do was submit to it.
She hates to admit it but that power is the reward for his own work.
Still, it's frustrating how easy it was for him to obtain.
Both of them were born with silver spoons in their mouths but she's the only one struggling.
'He probably never struggled a day in his life and got all that power easily. Just like those Heroes. Father told me that Aether is the energy of Gods so he must've been blessed by some God!'
"Miss Fallene, you should go." Said one of the third years who joined them earlier, "You should be lucky he picked you."
"Hah? But all he did was talk about my uniform..."
She chuckled, "He always finds an excuse to pull girls away for some private discussions. Your case is no different. Some of my friends even fell for him the first time they spoke to him. before that, they only knew him from the rumors around him but he's very gentlemanly."
"Yeah, if he has his eyes on you, you'll have a lavish life!" another third year said.
"N-none of you see the issue with the power imbalance? H-He could just be coercing girls to give their bodies to him…"
The older girls looked at each other, "I don't recall him threatening or promising me something when I was a first-year student. He was just that charming. Besides, the benefits are already out there for everyone to see—we just have to choose ourselves."
"Yeah, my older sister said the same thing. He's violent sometimes if you make him angry or try to have relationships with other people but he was sweet most of the time."
'These guys… They don't know what they're talking about! He was only gentle because you were obedient!'
Maybe it's because he saved the empire that their perception of him changed? Who would badmouth a hero? That person would be ostracized by their friend group!
This is a cult. Fallene can't get involved with people like this, since she's clearly shown she isn't a fan of his. But since her seniors were nice enough to invite them to lunch, she can't just come out and say she doesn't like hanging out with them.
This is what power is. As someone who's been striving for it, she knows exactly why they're trying to persuade her.
-She's just a factionless princess from a foreign kingdom with no backing whatsoever.
-Why don't we help her get a foothold in society?
-If she can become his wife, every need of hers will be met.
'I'm not a plaything for some powerful bastard!' as the voices became louder in her head, she struggled to hold in her thoughts.
'Why can't they see it…?'
What looked like kindness or charm was just power wearing a pleasant face.
Arnold did not need to force anyone. He only needed to stand there, smile, and let the world do the rest.
Even his violence, if he had any, would be forgiven. Even his arrogance would be recast as confidence.
Because he had status. Because he had wealth. Because he had a name people wanted attached to theirs.
On top of that, he risked his life to protect them all. Would you dare insult your savior or tolerate insults to him from others? Fallene has heard many stories of incidents where entire mobs would kill even one person that dared stand against the leader of their tribe.
It felt like their eyes were judging her like demons waiting her to reveal her true thoughts, ready to pounce and destroy her.
She was scared.
What does she have to protect herself against these cultists?
She had none of that power he has. No banner, no patron, no country willing to speak for her. Perhaps a few friends from tribes here and there but they hold no political power. Even her father has no say in the empire.
Fallene clenched her fingers under the table.
She hated that she understood it.
Power.
She hated even more that she did not know how to fight it.
Will she really have to bear being under a man as he thrusts into her just so that she can obtain a smidge of power?
Imagining herself under Arnold as she fake moans just to make him happy, brought so much disgust in her that she wanted to vomit. She could not bear doing such a thing.
"E-Excuse me for a moment." She hurriedly stood up as dizziness began to set in.
What will she do? Continuing to push him away will just destroy any way for her to get a foothold in the academy, a place of both learning and opportunities.
Between choosing the underworld, where corruption and power coexist, and the strongest (and influential) man in the world—what will she choose to submit to?