Chapter 154: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat

Chapter 154

Late at night, as I was surveying the construction site, the exhausted expressions of the workers who had been laboring late into the night for several days caught my eye.

I approached them, thinking of offering some encouragement, but they quickly straightened up, startled. I waved off their formal greetings and got straight to the point, saying the words they would find most motivating.

“Hang in there just a little longer. Thanks to your hard work, the construction is progressing quickly, so when it's finished, I'll make sure to give you all a generous performance bonus.”

“! Are you serious, Lord Diakonos?”

“When have I ever made empty promises?”

“Never, sir! You heard him, everyone! Let’s push through a bit more!”

As the talk of bonuses spread, the energy of the construction site quickly returned. Watching the renewed vigor among the workers, Diakonos slowly nodded in approval. Just then, he heard a voice full of admiration from behind him.

“...That’s impressive. Is that why people follow you so passionately?”

Turning slightly, Diakonos noticed Martina Ivanova, the squad leader of the Astrape 4th Division, who was in charge of this northern border area. She stood there with an expression of surprise.

Diakonos shook his head as if it were no big deal and replied.

“...Not at all. It’s not that impressive. I’m just in a position where I can provide what they want. Anyone in this position could do the same.”

It’s not hard to get people to follow you.

You just need to figure out what motivates them the most, and provide it. They will willingly follow with joy.

And Diakonos was the ruler of the richest family in the city, the Dolos family.

He had the means to provide material rewards, which naturally made people follow him. However, after hearing his explanation, Martina chuckled and said,

“I meant it’s impressive that someone in your position comes to the frontlines, day after day, to personally check on everyone. Not just for this project, but you often come along to oversee the disposal of monster corpses as well. Don’t you ever get tired, with all the work you have?”

“As the head of the family, it’s my responsibility to ensure that everything on-site is in order. What good would it do to just sit in my office and receive reports? Even though I’m getting older, I still have the stamina, thanks to my Dolos blood. Honestly, I’d love to help with the heavy lifting too, but they always insist on refusing.”

“Haha, really. I don’t know how you can be so passionate, my Lord.”

Martina laughed heartily, and Diakonos calmly looked over at the workers as they continued their tasks, saying,

“Well, just as they work hard to earn money, I have my own motivations that drive me.”

“...Motivations?”

“...If I had to say.”

Turning his back to her question, Diakonos gazed out at the city lights twinkling in the distance.

Though not visible, beyond the barrier that protected against the demonic forces lay the confined space where humans could live.

As he took in the view, Diakonos quietly replied,

“...It would be for the happiness of humanity.”

The happiness of humanity.

Martina found herself unable to respond.

If anyone else had said it, she might have dismissed it as empty words.

But the man in front of her, Diakonos, was not one to say anything he didn’t truly mean.

And as if to prove it, his eyes shone with a saintly, noble light.

Although not a hero by trade, his heart embodied the true spirit of heroism, making him a figure worthy of respect. Martina quietly bowed her head in reverence to him.

Returning the gesture to a fellow protector of humanity, Diakonos bid her farewell and once again took in the city’s skyline.

Each time there were victims in the city, he felt a deep sense of responsibility.

It saddened him greatly that they could not enjoy the happiness they deserved.

And so, Diakonos Dolos, with compassion and empathy, prayed once more.

“All for the happiness of humanity.”

Hoping that as many people as possible could experience true happiness, as he did.

---

In the deep night, within even deeper darkness.

The voices of women echoed.

“...Well, as you ordered, the work is almost done.”

“Good news that everything is proceeding as planned! Ah, I’m so excited, I can hardly wait. We’ve even found a suitable pawn, so I’m curious to see what happens next!”

The woman in the hood shivered with anticipation as she looked to her side, and the girl glanced over, her face turning sour.

Over there,

“Mmpph-! Mmph-!”

Was Freede, the self-proclaimed Witch of Arrogance, who was bound and gagged, struggling with all her might.

“Mmmppphh-!!!”

“...Are you really going to use her? Are you sure about this?”

As Freede’s struggles intensified at the mention of being used as a pawn, the girl asked the woman with a serious expression.

Freede was thrashing around way too much to be a mere pawn.

Honestly, the girl preferred more obedient ones.

The girl couldn't understand the woman's intention to include such a reckless individual in what seemed like a carefully crafted plan.

Seeing the girl's reaction, the woman grinned and replied, “It’s precisely because she’s like this that I want to use her. Her abilities are just right, and the fact that she’s not fully controllable adds its own charm, don’t you think? Isn’t that right, you halfwit?”

“Grr...! Don’t call me a halfwit, you damn bitch!”

Furious at being called a halfwit, Freede finally managed to bite through her gag and shout back.

However, even as Freede thrashed and yelled, the woman merely petted her head mockingly, smirking as she responded.

“I beat you, so I can call you whatever I want, can’t I? Weakling, loser, halfwit, a piece of trash who even got thrashed by someone as weak as me~.”

“Aaagh! If you’d fought me fairly, there’s no way I would have lost! You dodged every hit instead of facing me head-on! And you even involved your minions in a one-on-one fight! What do you even think a battle is? You cowardly bitch!”

“Heh, I never said I’d fight one-on-one, did I? Even if it were one-on-one, I doubt I’d lose to a halfwit like you, but it’s annoying, you know? The point is to win, no matter what. And now you’re making excuses? You’re just a loser, so stop being so pathetic. You’re the worst~.”

“Argh! Let me go right now! I’ll kill you!”

“Will you shut up already?”

“--!!! -!!!!”

“Haha, hahaha~!”

The woman twisted space to seal Freede’s mouth, continuing to mock her. The girl glanced at the woman, clearly fed up.

It seemed the woman was having fun toying with Freede, but honestly, someone like her wasn’t meant to be treated as a mere plaything.

In terms of pure combat ability, the girl had to admit that she would probably lose to Freede.

Especially after witnessing Freede, furious from the repeated taunts, instantly slicing through multiple layered barriers set up by the monsters summoned by the woman during their fight.

The girl knew this was no ordinary feat.

She cautiously guessed that it was likely Freede’s unique ability.

Not that it meant she herself would lose if they fought.

After all, the difference in their powers was clear.

If it came to a fight, the girl was confident she could subdue her.

As the girl pondered, the woman finally seemed to have had enough fun. She removed Freede’s gag, and Freede, in stark contrast to before, bowed her head and muttered in a voice full of humiliation.

“...Ugh, just kill me. I’d rather die than endure this treatment. Please, just end it already.”

“Hmph, so much pride for no reason. I refuse. I’m the one who won, so I get to decide whether you live or die.”

“...Then what exactly do you want by keeping me like this?”

“I already told you. I’m going to use you as a pawn. Since you lost, you just need to grant me one favor.”

“...Do you really think I’ll obediently do what you ask after all this?”

Freede glared rebelliously, and the woman smirked.

“Of course not. If you weren’t such a halfwit, I would have made you agree to do me a favor if I won before we even fought. But even without that, we have a specialist for this kind of thing. Soon enough, you’ll be begging to do anything I ask.”

The woman glanced back at the girl as she spoke, and the girl frowned.

“...You want me to do it?”

“Sorry, but I’m counting on you~!”

With an annoyingly cheerful voice and a wink, the woman made her request. The girl scowled but then sighed in resignation, knowing this was inevitable.

I knew it would come to this, the girl thought as she turned to Freede, who glared back with sharp, threatening eyes.

Ugh, troublesome types like this are such a pain, especially those with a stubborn sense of self.

Of course, she could do it.

But it was annoying.

Grumbling under her breath, the girl grabbed Freede’s head and forced her to kneel at her feet.

Freede, sensing that something awful was about to happen, looked up at the girl and growled.

“...Do you think I’ll break from mere pain? Even if it kills me, I’ll resist.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you. It’s just that—”

I’m going to make you feel so good, it’ll be like dying.

Now, let’s make you happy.

With the girl’s whispered words, a liquid flowed from her body, seeping into Freede.

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