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."
"This form is for students with powerful and resourceful backgrounds." Miss Jena explained with a frown. "We won't punish them for going into seclusion because their families could make sure their growth isn't stagnant. For you, there's no such thing."
"I understand, but this is to ensure my safety as well," Nikolai explained. "I've been attacked twice in the past two days, and a noble dueled me."
Hearing his words, Miss Jena sighed and looked at the form with a complex gaze. She nodded and took it before stamping it. Standing up from her chair, Miss Jena walked up to him.
"I was also skeptical when you enrolled, and my father didn't say the reason for your admission. However, I know that you are going through a lot at school, and it's our fault for not protecting you."
"I understand that your hands are tied too." Nikolai nodded. "I just hope you trust me enough to let me do this."
"After your last exam, I have no choice but to trust you." Miss Jena smiled and then hugged him. "Take care of yourself and tell me if you need anything."
Being hugged like this, Nikolai flinched. He knew that Miss Jena was almost ten years older than him at the moment, but he was twenty-seven years old in mind too. Sensing something amiss, Miss Jena leaned back and looked at him, confused.
"Oh, I... am sorry. Ahem." She coughed when she saw his flushed face and backed away hurriedly. "Well, you can leave now." Nikolai noticed that her face was a little flushed because of his reaction, and he nodded and left.
'Sigh, I'm still not good with intimacy.' Nikolai bowed and took his leave from the office. He took one last look at Miss Jena and saw her pinching her nose with cheeks of a light shade of red. 'Maybe she's not good with it too.'
***
He left the academy afterward and went toward the bakery. Since he came here more than once, Nikolai walked through the backdoor once the shop was empty. The baker didn't say anything.
"Your visits are getting more frequent." Ash looked at him with a frown. "My regulars will get jealous."
"Your regulars are thieves. Should I be concerned?" Nikolai smiled. "Did you confirm Abani Ruins?"
"Let's talk inside." Ash squinted and opened the door. As Nikolai walked in, he found that a lot of items were missing.
"I guess you are preparing." Nikolai smiled. "You didn't take my advice."
"I did take it and worked overtime to make sure Hyde has troubles getting into the ruins." Ash smiled in triumph. "I sent an intel about a leak in information about the Ruins Resonance."
"That's smart," Nikolai nodded. "Then what are you preparing for?"
"A secret plan."
"Assassinating Hyde?" Nikolai sighed, and Ash's face contorted. "I gave you that information to help you reduce Hyde's strength, not to get yourself killed."
"This is the only chance I have, the only way I can take revenge." Ash gritted his teeth in hatred. "No one other than his lackeys ever saw him. It is the first time I catch wind of his movements. I wouldn't have known it was Abani without you."
"Then, trust me," Nikolai affirmed. "You will kill yourself if you go with this mission, and you won't even do any harm to Hyde. There are better ways to execute revenge than risking your life."
"Surviving and achieving happiness?" Ash snorted in disdain.
"Cute, but no." Nikolai raised a brow. "Steal what he wants and grow stronger. Then, you can take revenge easily." A dangerous light flashed in Nikolai's eyes. "Would you change your mind if I say we can steal what he wants?"