Faced with Montmorency's question, Guiche broke out in a cold sweat.
He hurried to explain.
"Ha-ha… we only just met."
Katie sensed something was off. She'd noticed Guiche had been holding Montmorency's hand a moment ago.
"Guiche-sama, who is this upperclassman? I prepared pastries—didn't you say you wanted to try the ones I made today?"
"Ha-ha, we're just friends," Guiche hedged.
Hayashi Maki cut in.
"'Just friends'… who also head back to the dorm together? Pretty open around here, huh."
Guiche's face changed. Together to the dorm? Montmorency's expression darkened instantly. She hadn't gone to any dorm with Guiche yesterday—so it could only be this junior.
"Guiche! You actually went after a first-year behind my back!"
"Ah—Montmorency, don't let anger spoil that beautiful face, I… um…"
"Guiche-sama… didn't you say you only liked me?" Katie's eyes filled with tears. "I went to such trouble to make these…"
So much for sincerity.
The commotion drew other students.
"What's going on? Guiche, two-timing, huh?"
"Yeah!"
"And you're hitting on a first-year? Real classy!"
Snickers spread; the crowd gathered for a show.
Guiche panicked. "Katie, Montmorency—let me explain!"
"Drop dead!"
Both girls slapped him across the face—one each—and stormed off. It wasn't that he was "open" about it; he'd chosen to hide one and lie to the other—indeed, to both.
"Haha—dumped, Guiche."
"Serves you right!"
Even the other noble boys who disliked his peacocking piled on with schadenfreude.
"How pitiful," Hayashi Maki sighed, eyeing the palm prints on Guiche's cheeks with feigned pity. Harem-building takes strength; hiding like this is asking for it—once exposed, it all goes up in flames.
Guiche's eyes went cold as he turned on Hayashi Maki.
"You're Louise's familiar, right? I was going to overlook you—but you seem to lack proper respect for nobles."
"Maybe. In my world, we don't really have nobles in charge," Hayashi Maki said, shrugging, unafraid. He was the one who set Guiche up—he wasn't exactly a paragon of virtue. But he'd only pointed out the obvious: Guiche was two-timing. Getting exposed meant he didn't have the skill—or the charm.
Guiche bared a cruel smile.
"Very well. In that case, I challenge you to a duel!"
"Oho—showtime?"
"He's Louise's commoner familiar, right? Tsk, bold."
"What's happening—who's dueling?"
Students—and nearby maids and attendants—stared in shock.
Hayashi Maki eyed Guiche, amused.
"A duel—with me? You serious?"
"Hmph—afraid already? A mere commoner—if you kneel and beg now, for Louise's sake, I might forgive you."
Classic noble arrogance, wielding status like a cudgel. In this world, a commoner couldn't defy a noble. If Hayashi Maki were truly ordinary, he'd be bargaining with his dignity to keep his life. But he wasn't—and he wasn't scared.
"Heh? Kneel? You think too much of yourself, Guiche," Hayashi Maki sneered. "Those words are mine. For the sake of Tristain's nobles—and Louise's classmate—if you kneel now and beg, there's still time."
"Wow, gutsy commoner."
"As expected of Louise's familiar—full of surprises."
The crowd stared, stunned by Hayashi Maki's audacity, already silently mourning him. Montmorency and Katie drifted back, shocked. Siesta, holding a tray of black tea, clapped a hand to her mouth—Mr. Hayashi Maki had offended a noble; what now? Duels with nobles could be deadly!
Kirche and Tabitha stood off to the side to watch, eyes on Hayashi Maki, curious. Was this arrogance—or real power? Was Louise's familiar a staged stand-in—or something else?
Guiche actually laughed.
"Good. I'll take that as acceptance."
Just then a voice cut in.
"Idiot Hayashi Maki, what are you doing? I sent you for tea—why are you stirring up trouble?"
Louise stormed over, glaring. Hayashi Maki shrugged.
"Can't help it—Guiche got dumped for two-timing and wants to take it out on me. I'm not about to roll over."
"And besides—" he leaned to Louise's ear— "this is the start of scrubbing off that 'Zero Louise' label. Trust me, okay?"
Her heart jumped. So he baited Guiche for her. She was moved.
Still, as a fellow countrywoman, she tried to dissuade him.
"Duels are banned at the academy, right? Guiche, do you want to violate the rules?"
"Heh, Louise—duels are only banned between nobles. He's a commoner. No rule broken."
"You… you're sure about this?" Louise looked at Guiche with pity. She didn't know Hayashi Maki's full strength—but anyone who could absolutely overwhelm her and wield an unknown "space" system… Guiche wouldn't stand a chance.
"Of course. Don't stop me. I'll wash away this commoner's insult myself."
Guiche was beyond angry. Hayashi Maki only snorted.
"Insult? You cheated two girls and got caught. Maybe look inward—everyone's saying you had it coming."
"Shut up—fight me!"
Salt in the wound; face ground into the dirt again—Guiche boiled over.
"Fine—duel it is. Don't worry; for Louise's sake, I won't take your life. No need for a death at school," Hayashi Maki said, patting Louise's head and stepping away. Louise sighed, knowing she couldn't stop it, and retreated to the worried onlookers.
"Good. Since you're ready—come! Learn what disrespecting nobles costs."
Guiche drew a rose—his wand. With a flick and a chant, a bronze automaton bearing a sword rose from the ground.
"I am Guiche the Bronze. As a noble, I fight with magic. Even if you kneel now, I won't stop."
"That line is mine. Bring it," Hayashi Maki said, curling a finger in lazy invitation—low on damage, high on insult.
Guiche flushed. Crooking a finger at me? That damned commoner!
"Go—teach him a lesson!" His rose flicked; the bronze automaton charged, sword sweeping. As an earth mage, Guiche's automaton was mostly dirt, bronze clad for defense.
All eyes on him, Hayashi Maki pivoted lightly, slipping the strike, then tapped the blade—sending it spinning into his own hand.
"You've had your turn—now it's mine. Brace yourself, Guiche."
He leveled the sword in a fencer's thrust. Under a chorus of gasps, light flared along the blade.
Fwoom! A white beam cannon blasted from the edge, shattering the automaton in an instant—then lanced on, shearing past Guiche's scalp.
"Ah!"
Guiche collapsed, shaking, feeling a cold breeze over his head. Staring at the shards, he stammered, "I… I lost."
The crowd erupted—standing behind him, they'd watched that beam tear toward them—only for it, at the last instant, to bend skyward. Hayashi Maki shot Louise a confident look. Collateral damage was a no-go.
His sword–aura could turn on a dime.