Chapter 50: Seclusion Form (1/2)
It seems that no matter what one would do, there was bound to be hate. The news of Nikolai rejecting the invitation made people have two different opinions.
The first was that Nikolai did well because he was underqualified for the job. As for the second, it was that Nikolai was too arrogant after Senior Valkyrie showed him kindness.
Thus, the hate toward Nikolai continued in the academy. He thought he would go unbothered after rejecting the offer, but a student blocked his path once he returned to the academy.
It wasn't Julian, but a student that Nikolai never interacted with in his past life. A small frame, elegant features, and a proud look that all nobles shared.
”Are you the one named Nikolai Yaran?” The young man looked down on him while taking off his white glove.
”Did you wear that just to duel me?” Nikolai blinked.
”Accept my duel!” The noble threw the glove over. ”I am Alonso Searle, the youngest son of Marquese Searle.” He said with disdain toward Nikolai. ”I duel you for the sake of Lady Valkyrie Helnes!”
”I'm sorry?” Nikolai was genuinely confused. ”I did nothing to Senior Valkyrie.”
”I know of your disrespect! After she helped you to obtain the first rank, you've betrayed her trust and rejected the offer she made you!”
'Helped me?' Nikolai smirked. 'The only thing she did was make things difficult, but if I say that to this love-struck bird, he'll just waste my time.'
”Senior Valkyrie, what do you think about this?” Nikolai looked beyond the young man's back and asked. His actions prompted the young man to turn hurriedly with panic.
”My Lady! I will restore...?” He paused when there was no one there. As he turned to look at Nikolai, he found him to be gone.
***
Nikolai went toward his room and found that his roommates weren't there, and their belongings were gone too. As for his bed, they ripped it to shreds, and they wrote words on the walls like Trash, Cheater, Coward, Ungrateful, Bastard, and someone even misspelled a word and wrote Peasent.
'This must be the act of Julian or Galen along with Valkyrie's admirers.' Nikolai squinted his eyes. There was only one word that he hated among these. 'I'm not a coward.' He gritted his teeth.
He knew better than letting these childish games get to him, but this specific word still haunts him. Everyone cared about courage and defiance of the odds, but Nikolai didn't have any odds to begin with.
They called him a coward every time he chose to stay alive. Every time Luke beat him up without him resisting, he was named a coward. When he avoided Julian and Luke, he was called a coward.
At that time, he lost the game the moment he was born. He couldn't be courageous. That was the luxury of the strong. He knew his limits and knew better than biting more than he can chew.
'Don't worry. I'll get back at all of you.' Nikolai glared at his destroyed belongings. 'This time, let's see who's the coward.'
He returned to the academy to get his clothes and leave, but they have ripped them apart as well. Luckily, he didn't keep anything in his vault, which they had broken through too.
Nikolai went directly toward Miss Jena, the only person he didn't suspect working for the Mackay family. He handed her a form in her office, which she looked at in a dazed manner.
”I reject this.” She didn't even think about it. ”You are growing overconfident; you didn't even get your monthly resources yet.”
”You can send them to this address.” Nikolai pushed the form back to her. ”I still want to take a seclusion to train. I can't keep coming to the academy.”