Chapter 47 — Confrontation

As Damian entered the kitchen, he found Robert guiding the staff on how to prepare breakfast.

Robert was the same as ever – dressed in his butler suit with his gray hair meticulously combed.

Damian had gotten a bit closer to him over the past week.

Everyone in the council except Elizabeth, Gareth, and Arielle had been isolating him to some extent since the day that argument happened.

So usually, Damian would just sit quietly at the table, eat his breakfast, and head back to his training without a word.

Seeing Damian enter the kitchen, Robert greeted him warmly.

"Ah! Good morning, Sir Damian. You should have just called for me. I would have served you your breakfast directly."

"No need for that, Robert. And stop calling me ’Sir’ already, would you?"

Damian replied helplessly. The old man never seemed to listen.

He walked toward a small table placed in the corner of the kitchen, where the staff usually ate, and sat down.

"I’m sorry, Sir. But I will continue to address you that way. Consider it a habit of my profession, and please pardon me."

Robert smiled gracefully and gestured an apology before continuing.

"And please, seat yourself at the student council table. This place does not suit a person of your esteemed standing."

"Old man, I’m a commoner. Don’t worry so much. And can you not talk normally with me? Or is it that you talk this way even with your wife?"

"Pfft–"

Several staff members preparing food couldn’t control their laughter, but they quickly wiped the smiles off their faces as soon as Robert shot them a sharp glare.

"Sigh... Alright."

Robert brought Damian’s food over and sat down alongside him at the table.

They engaged in light conversation as both of them ate their breakfast. The other staff members had already taken food for the other council members and gone to serve them.

"From now on, I’ll be eating here only. I don’t want to ruin my mood every day by eating where I’m not wanted."

Damian finished his meal and stood up.

"Alright, I’ll head back now. Have a nice day, everyone."

Damian left the kitchen and entered the council room, where a discussion was already underway.

Robert watched his back silently. If one looked closely, they would see pity reflected in the old butler’s eyes.

He already knew about Damian being isolated by others.

****

"...So the Disciplinary Committee will be responsible for handling any disputes that arise today while the recruitment takes place."

When Damian entered the room, Elizabeth was addressing everyone.

"Take your Aura Jamming bracelets from the lockers. Today, you might actually need to use them."

Damian ignored everyone’s gazes as he simply retrieved his bracelet from the locker and slipped it onto his wrist.

He couldn’t be bothered to explain his absence during the majority of the meeting.

"Alright. Clubs Committee members, you can go organize the recruitment event. Disciplinary Committee members, stay behind."

Soon, Gareth led Victor, Micheal, and the others out of the room.

Before leaving, Victor shot a sharp look toward Damian – which was completely ignored by him.

’This guy is starting to annoy me...’

As Damian was occupied with his thoughts, Arielle’s voice snapped him back to attention.

"Damian, I made a team group earlier for communication during the event in case anyone needs assistance. I’ll add you there as well."

Damian nodded and gave her his contact information.

"Listen up, everyone."

Arielle’s grey eyes swept over the room.

"This event happens every year, and a lot of fights occur. I want all of us spread around the campus and ready to provide assistance.

When you encounter anyone using Aura, make sure you use your bracelets and de-escalate the situation. But don’t be too heavy-handed."

Her gaze paused especially on Damian.

"Alright, you can all head out now."

Damian nodded and left the room alongside the others.

****

’This is really boring.’

Damian roamed the campus area, which was far more decorated today thanks to the clubs setting up colorful stalls to recruit new students.

All around him, he could hear seniors trying to attract attention with bizarre advertisements.

"Join the Sword Club! This is the destination for all your swords!!"

"Archer Club is recruiting! We have the most female members, so hurry up!!"

"Adventure Club! Where the road to your conquests starts!!"

"Aura-Techs only recruits those who have the brains to understand its value!! Stupid people, get lost!!"

Hearing and watching the seniors desperately trying to impress new students to join them, Damian felt like he’d entered some kind of scammer’s market.

Instead of focusing on them, Damian turned his attention to the Aura Jamming bracelet on his wrist.

"So... from what I know, these bracelets only work on low-level awakeners. Although Elizabeth provided no explanation as to why."

"It’s because anyone who has a strong will can resist its effects."

Aiko, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke up to help Damian again.

"...How does that work?"

"These bracelets release a strong wave of energy that affects the mind and disrupts a person’s thoughts – resulting in them losing control over their Aura. People strong enough to have the willpower to resist won’t be affected by it. So only people below B-rank are vulnerable."

Aiko’s mature, feminine voice explained clearly.

"I see."

As Damian was pondering this, he suddenly received a message from Edrin.

When he opened it, his eyes sharpened immediately. His Aura began to fluctuate slightly.

[Boss. We’ve gathered the commoners who share similar ideologies. But it seems the Nobles have found out about our gathering. We’re currently in the gymnasium. But many Nobles are creating issues – and they seem to have called seniors as well.]

’Finally... It took them a long time...’

Damian started rushing toward the gymnasium as soon as he finished reading the message.

****

Inside the gymnasium, two groups were currently engaged in a tense standoff.

"My, my~ Look what we have here. Commoners having a little gathering."

Leonard led one group of about twenty first-year students from Section A – clearly all Nobles, as he confronted Edrin’s group of sixty people.

"...What is it you want?"

Edrin stood firmly in front of the commoner group, which was a mix of students from all sections. Almost all the commoners from Section A were among them.

Leonard smirked, crossing his arms.

"What do I want? I’m just curious, that’s all. What exactly are you all planning here? Some kind of rebellion?"

His tone was mocking, condescending.

Edrin’s jaw tightened, but he kept his voice steady.

"We’re just meeting to discuss forming a support group for commoners. There’s nothing wrong with that."

"A support group?" Leonard laughed mockingly. "Is that what you’re calling it? Sounds more like a pathetic attempt to organize against your betters."

Murmurs spread through both groups.

One of the Nobles behind Leonard sneered. "You commoners should know your place. Forming groups like this will only make things worse for you."

Edrin’s fists clenched at his sides, but he forced himself to stay calm.

’Where is he? We need him here.’

The tension in the air thickened as both sides stared each other down, waiting for someone to make the first move.