It Seems the Demon King Has Returned to a World Where Gender Roles Are Reversed - Chapter 44

 Chapter 44 :

“Please, give your answer, Lady.”

“...”

“It was none other than Her Highness Christine who entrusted Seria’s training to Lady Karen. And Lady Karen is merely carrying out that duty. Yet, the academy is obstructing Lady Karen’s mission... So, tell me, to whom should we report this matter to set things right?”

“...Her Highness, the First Princess and Queen... Christine Arietta Shreid...”

Hazel’s trembling voice squeezed out the answer.

Her shaking shoulders were almost pitiful to behold.

But Ragna did not relent. Not yet. This wasn’t the end.

“...You understand now. Thank you. May I take my leave?”

“N-No, wait, that’s...”

“Hm? Is there something more you wish to say? If so, I’d appreciate it if you could make it quick...”

“Ugh...”

Hazel’s face turned ashen.

Her refined features contorted unattractively as she desperately tried to find a way out of this situation.

But there was no escape.

Hazel had made two grave mistakes.

First, her disrespect toward the Steiner family, and second, her denial of the authority of Her Highness Christine, as Ragna had pointed out.

It was true that Seria had committed a wrongdoing. However, every matter has its weight and priority. In the context of Shreid, the significance of Seria and Karen’s situation was on an entirely different level. After all, the decree permitting it was issued under the name of the current Acting Queen, Christine.

In the face of that name, the academy’s rules, the student council’s statements, and even the testimonies of witnesses became trivial.

Who in Shreid, the supreme authority whose word was practically law, would dare to boldly assert their own claims against the Queen’s name?

Thus, Seria’s unauthorized absence became a minor issue.

If mishandled, the entire academy could be turned upside down.

Christine, the Acting Queen, was well-known for her fiery temper. If she caught wind of this incident especially that a mere first-year student had dared to make such claims what would happen?

“...!”

A chill ran down Hazel’s spine. Watching her, Ragna gave a faint smile.

Those who rely on authority to assert themselves are the ones most intimidated by greater authority.

Those who wield power through their status lose their composure when that foundation crumbles. It’s like a rat frantically scrambling to survive on a hot griddle.

With that thought, Ragna waited for Hazel’s response for the final moment when she would admit her defeat and collapse in humiliation.

That would be his way of concluding the punishment for insulting Seria. But the response came from an unexpected source.

“I’m sorry, Lord Ragna. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“...!”

“...!”

All eyes turned in one direction. The speaker, still wearing a gentle smile, gave a slight bow.

Ragna frowned slightly. The response hadn’t come from Hazel.

Answering his silent urging was not Hazel, but Noel.

She continued, pulling something out as she spoke.

“...But you needn’t worry. There’s no need for Lady Karen to contact Her Highness Christine.”

“...What do you mean?”

“It’s this. Would you please take a look?”

With that, Noel handed Ragna an envelope.

Ragna took it and carefully examined its contents, his expression darkening.

“...This is.”

“Hehe. Yes, exactly. It’s an official leave permit issued by the academy. Dated yesterday, it certifies that Seria’s absence was not unauthorized but was conducted in accordance with academy rules.”

“...”

As Ragna slipped the document back into the envelope, he glared at Noel. Her faint smile remained unshaken.

(She got me.)

There was no way this document could have been prepared on the spot.

That meant it had been ready beforehand.

In other words, this woman, Noel, had been calmly observing the situation unfold, fully prepared, even as things escalated to this point.

“...Is that so?”

“Yes, indeed. So please, reassure Lady Karen that everything is fine.”

But Ragna had no means to counter her.

Was he to let this slide, outmaneuvered? Then, a sudden idea struck him.

“Ah, please wait a moment.”

“Yes?”

“...There was something Lady Karen mentioned in a letter that I forgot to bring up. My apologies.”

“...What is it?”

“It concerns Seria. It seems Lady Karen has some thoughts about her training methods and has a request regarding that.”

“...”

“It’s probably best for you to see for yourself... Seria?”

“Huh? ...I mean, yes?”

With a slight chuckle, Ragna spoke as if it were nothing.

“My apologies, but could you show the injuries you sustained yesterday?”

“...Understood.”

With that, Seria carefully removed her black coat, revealing her arm and part of her abdomen. Noel’s eyes widened with interest.

“...This is.”

“It was mentioned in the letter. The reason she was brought to the Steiner household was for her recovery. To expedite her healing, a newly discovered... recovery technique was applied directly to her body.”

This was the solution Ragna had devised with Karen to navigate this situation.

It was, quite literally, the perfect excuse.

When Ragna had proposed this to Karen, she had initially dismissed it as absurd. But he told her to verify it later and, for now, to write the letter as he instructed.

The letter explained that Karen, believing she had been too harsh on Seria, had decided to try a newly discovered healing method. In her haste to treat Seria, she had neglected to inform the academy, and the letter included an apology for that oversight.

This reframed Seria’s issue as not an unauthorized absence but a mere mishap caused by Karen’s actions.

And this mishap became a heartwarming anecdote of a mentor concerned for her cherished student’s well-being.

While one could criticize it in terms of discipline, it wasn’t something to be reprimanded for. It was an explanation that was both simple and brilliantly effective, one that even Karen had to acknowledge with a nod.

It was, in essence, an “Ultra C” move.

And this Ultra C was completed by Seria’s fully healed condition.

As long as her body was indeed healed, no one could dispute it.

“...”

Even Noel hadn’t expected Seria’s injuries to be fully healed.

On the surface swollen face or bruises those could be treated somehow, but internal injuries, cuts, and abrasions weren’t so easily mended. Yet Seria’s body was completely healed, without a trace of such injuries.

“...?”

“...”

“Teacher Noel?”

“Oh, yes. Please go on.”

“...As you can see, this is the result of the recovery technique Lady Karen discovered. Seria’s body was fully healed in just one day.”

“...Yes, I see.”

“Indeed. Unfortunately, this treatment method is quite unique... It can only be performed at a specific location with the necessary setup. Therefore, Lady Karen has a request for the academy.”

“...What request?”

“It’s simple that Seria be allowed to commute to the academy from the Steiner family’s mansion.”

___________

“~~~♬”

Inside the carriage heading back to the Steiner family’s mansion.

Ragna hummed cheerfully to himself.

He chuckled, recalling the expressions of those present at the final moment.

The reactions to his last proposal were nothing short of spectacular.

The brown-haired girl, Hazel, had stammered, “W-What! That’s absurd!” before seemingly fainting from shock, while the surrounding girls cried out her name in panic.

Even Noel, the woman with the poker face, had shown genuine surprise, though she quickly regained her composure and said, “...We’ll consider it.” Of course, Ragna wasn’t satisfied with that response.

“I’ll be awaiting a favorable reply.”

He muttered the final words he had said to Noel, chuckling again.

Those words must have felt like a threatening ultimatum to her.

The fact that someone as unflappable as Noel had shown such a reaction brought a satisfied smile to Ragna’s face.

In any case, the matter was settled for now.

Seria’s issue had been resolved, and he had successfully brought Karen under his influence.

It wasn’t a perfect arrangement yet, but that was something to address gradually over time.

“Now, the next step is enrolling in the academy...”

The academy’s buildings, which he had seen for the first time today, were quite a sight.

The grand structures.

And the countless students.

If so, the information he sought might be somewhere within those walls.

Moreover, this incident had yielded another gain.

The strength of the women here.

Seria and Karen were, quite frankly, absurdly powerful.

Not only that, but the female officers he had occasionally encountered at the lumberyard were also highly skilled.

He had initially thought that the women of this world were all ridiculously strong. But today’s events had shown him otherwise.

Compared to Seria and Karen’s strength, Hazel’s abilities were laughably inferior. Even compared to Ragna himself, she was significantly weaker.

In conclusion, Ragna determined that Seria and Karen were exceptional cases.

After all, they were either expected to join or had previously been part of the White Knight Order, the strongest group in humanity.

Their strength was only natural.

This meant the average level of strength in this world was far lower.

Hazel was likely considered skilled in her own right.

Her strength was probably enough to easily overpower one or two ordinary men.

But compared to those two, she was outclassed.

If that was the case, there was no need to obsess over gaining power.

With his current strength, he could easily handle someone like a first-year representative.

That left him with time to spend searching for information in the library.

For Ragna, that was the best possible outcome.

He had definitely drawn the winning lot, he thought, humming once more.

He wondered how Karen would react when he told her about the conversation with Noel.

_______

But Ragna didn’t know.

There was still an obstacle lying in wait before he could enter the academy.

On a certain autumn day.

The day after Karen, shocked and leaping in surprise, learned that Seria would be commuting from her mansion.

A herald dressed in splendid attire arrived at the Steiner family’s mansion. Clad in garments bearing the royal lily emblem, everyone in the household knelt before them. And the herald announced:

In three days, Annerose Ristanok, the Imperial Minister of State, would visit the Steiner family.

And the purpose was none other than

To meet with Ragna.

____________________________________

Translated by Reversalnovel.web.I'd