A voice, sharp with anger and even trembling slightly with excitement, suddenly rang out from in front of Greg.
It was Yelena.
This senior, who had seemed timid just moments ago, suddenly took a bold step forward, her petite frame shielding Greg.
She looked up, her round face flushed with emotion. Her large, usually watery eyes were now wide and determined as she stared down the arrogant noble girl. Her voice was much firmer than before:
"Student Greg is a temporary Disciplinary Committee member officially appointed by the Student Council and approved by the Headmistress herself! His appointment is completely in accordance with academy regulations! You have no right to question the Student Council's decision, let alone attack a Disciplinary Committee member on duty with such disrespectful language! This... this in itself is a violation of school rules!"
She finished in one breath, her chest heaving slightly. Her small hands were clenched into tight fists, as if she were psyching herself up.
The area fell silent for a moment.
The brown-haired noble girl froze, her face filled with disbelief.
She clearly hadn't expected this short girl to stand up to her so fiercely, and for the sake of protecting that piece of trash, Greg Sass?!
Greg was also stunned, looking with surprise at Yelena's thin, trembling back.
He never expected that this little senior, who had fainted from fear not long ago, would stand up for him now.
"Has she always been this brave?"
Greg couldn't help but wonder.
Silvia's gaze moved suspiciously between Greg and Yelena, her pink eyes devoid of their usual light.
Meanwhile, Victoria held a fist to her lips and coughed several times, forcing the conversation back on track:
"Ahem! So... dear Disciplinary Committee members, why are you here? Is something the matter?"
Her gray eyes swept over Greg, carrying a hint of tacit mischief.
Reminded by Victoria's words, the noble girl remembered her original purpose. She temporarily suppressed her shock toward Yelena and her disdain for Greg, turning back to Victoria with her usual condescending tone:
"Right! This damn commoner stole my glove! It's a very important piece of my personal property! Make her return it immediately!"
"I didn't steal anything!"
Victoria retorted immediately, her tone righteous and even a bit innocent:
"You clearly didn't want it anymore and threw it on the ground. I saw it and picked it up. According to the academy's 'Public Area Abandoned Property Handling Regulations'... I think that's the name?"
"Anyway, I remember there's a rule that says for items without clear identification abandoned in non-private storage areas, the first person to find them has the right of disposal. Your name isn't on this glove. You threw it away, I picked it up. Therefore, I have the right to keep it. How is that stealing?"
She cited the academy regulations with such a straight face that the noble girl was stunned, momentarily at a loss for words, her face turning red with rage.
"You—you're twisting words! I was initiating a duel! It was a ritual! Not abandonment!" the noble girl shrieked.
"A duel?"
Victoria tilted her head, putting on a confused expression:
"What duel? I have no idea what you're talking about. When you threw the glove, did you follow the 'Academy Student Dispute Mediation and Honor Duel Application Standards' and submit a written application to the Disciplinary Committee at least 24 hours in advance? Did you invite at least two neutral witnesses?"
"If none of that happened, then your duel invitation is legally... or rather, according to school rules, invalid. At most, it counts as you getting emotional and littering, while I was helping you clean up the trash. You should actually be thanking me right now."
Standing to the side, Greg almost burst out laughing.
It was exactly the same argument as in the original game, but thanks to that, he knew exactly what to say next.
Yelena was clearly a bit dazed by Victoria's rapid-fire arguments, her small face showing signs of contemplation and hesitation.
As a Disciplinary Committee member, she knew the academy indeed had tedious regulations regarding Duels of Honor, and she also knew that many students often ignored them for convenience when initiating private duels.
If they were to follow the rules strictly, the noble girl's duel invitation was indeed procedurally flawed and could hardly be considered valid.
Greg saw his opening. He cleared his throat, took a half-step forward, and spoke in a professional tone:
"According to this student's account and my personal understanding, the initiation of a Duel of Honor must follow strict procedures. If the procedure is lacking, the invitation is invalid."
"Therefore, regarding the ownership of the discarded glove picked up by another, the relevant regulations on 'abandoned property' should take precedence."
He paused, his gaze calm as he looked at the noble girl, whose face was beginning to turn pale.
"Since this student cannot prove the procedural legality of her duel invitation, and Student Victoria found the glove in a public area, under current evidence and regulations, we as the Disciplinary Committee cannot support your request for its immediate return."
"I suggest you follow the Lost and Found Claim Procedure to submit a claim to Student Victoria. Once she agrees, she will naturally return the glove to you."
"W-what?! I need her consent?! You... you're in this together! You're ganging up on me!"
The noble girl trembled with rage, pointing at Greg and Victoria, her voice cracking.
She could see it now—this Greg Sass was clearly favoring that commoner!
Yet, the way he spoke was so high-sounding and official that she couldn't find a way to argue back.
Listening to Greg's analysis of the rules, a flash of surprise crossed Yelena's eyes, followed by understanding and... deeper admiration.
She knew how common informal duels were among nobles, and she understood that Greg's argument was technically sound, even if it felt a bit like... exploiting a loophole.
But something else touched her:
"Student Greg... even though he's been expelled by his family and is in a difficult situation, he didn't side with the powerful noble. Instead, he's willing to stand by a relatively weak commoner student..."
"And his analysis just now was so logically clear. He's nothing like the rumors of an ignorant playboy... He really is working hard to change, proving himself through his actions!"
"He... he really has changed. No, or maybe he was always this upright, and it was just hidden by his family and environment?"
The feelings of moved admiration in Yelena's heart spread like an effervescent tablet dropped into water.
While Yelena was immersed in her thoughts about Greg's "noble character"—
"Fine! Fine! Just you wait! This isn't over!"
Seeing that she couldn't win and that staying any longer would only bring more humiliation, the brown-haired noble girl stomped her foot hard. She spat out a toothless threat, gave Greg and Victoria one last resentful glare, and then turned and stormed off without looking back, her retreating figure radiating frustration and fury.
Watching the nuisance disappear, Victoria weighed the exquisite gemmed glove in her hand, a satisfied glint flashing in her gray-blue eyes.
She looked up at Greg.
Greg happened to be looking at her as well.
Their gazes met in the air.
A second later, the corners of their mouths slowly curled upward in unison, revealing matching, wicked smiles.
Watching the two interact with such perfect chemistry from the side, the darkness in Silvia's eyes grew deeper and deeper.
Rate on N.U.
