WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Irevi
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ I Unleashed a Gossip Gallery in Another World ◈
Chapter 64: It’s Time to Torture the Princess (2)
──────
“Nngh...?”
Princess Ruabel jerked about and looked around wildly, then lowered her head and covered her mouth without realizing it.
“...Heh?”
And then.
Brrrrrr...
Princess Ruabel’s body began shaking violently.
“P-Princess?”
“Why are you suddenly acting like this!?”
“C-could it be another seizure...?”
The students noticed and gathered around her with worried expressions.
“N-no, it’s nothing....”
Still trembling as she watched the students around her, Princess Ruabel gritted her teeth and muttered.
“It’s just....”
“My, my stomach hurts a little.”
I stared blankly at her before finally coming to my senses.
‘I need to... deactivate it first.’
I was still in shock, but I had to turn off the Slave’s Mark first.
“Everyone, quiet down.”
“Ah.”
“Today’s class will now begin.”
But just then, a cold voice came from the front.
“Incidentally, today is our first pop quiz, so unless it is an emergency, I ask that you refrain from speaking.”
Professor Moria was already standing before the blackboard, handing out quiz papers to the students.
“...”
Thanks to that, the classroom fell silent in an instant.
‘Even if I whisper, everyone will hear me like this....’
Since I had to speak to deactivate the Slave’s Mark, this was an extremely troubling situation.
“Princess Ruabel.”
“...Yes?”
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Of course, it was still better than being subjected to inexplicable torture during a pop quiz.
“It is nothing serious.”
“...Is that so?”
“I would like to begin the test quickly.”
Princess Ruabel had been gritting her teeth for a while, but she offered Professor Moria a dignified smile and answered in a manner befitting a princess.
“That is a good attitude.”
Professor Moria smiled in satisfaction and turned away.
Twitch...
But as soon as Professor Moria turned her back, Princess Ruabel clutched her stomach again, lowered her head, and began rolling her eyes around.
(Author: Princess Ruabel)
[Anonymous: What do you guys do when you get a stomach cramp???]
Anonymous1: What the hell are you doing, bitch? Lmao
Anonymous2: What on earth did you do to get a stomach cramp?
ㄴ(Author): Had a reason to bounce my hips all night hehe
ㄴNoble Lady Gallery Eraser: You crazy bitch lmaoooooooo
As I quietly scrolled through the post, my mouth fell open in disbelief.
Church Gallery Eraser: I shall tell you the Holy Church’s remedy!
ㄴChurch Gallery Eraser: Hit your stomach hard while shouting, “Fake stomachache, begone!”
ㄴChurch Gallery Eraser: The fake holy water the previous Pope spread around still has not all been recalled, so do not buy holy water!
The Saintess’s well-meaning trolling had struck Princess Ruabel this time.
‘No matter what, Ruabel can’t be as empty-headed as you....’
Of course, there was no way Princess Ruabel would act like the Saintess of the Holy Church.
“B-be gone....”
But that thought was immediately proven wrong when I heard a quiet voice beside me.
“...Ngh.”
Princess Ruabel muttered in a tiny voice, punched herself in the stomach, then buried her head in the desk and trembled.
(Author: Princess Ruabel)
[Anonymous: I muttered “Fake stomachache, begone” while hitting my stomach, but the cramp will not go away?]
ㄴAnonymous1: Are you actually an idiot? Lmaoooooooo
ㄴAnonymous2: Is this bitch insane? Lmaoooooo
ㄴAnonymous3: I knew the Empire had plenty of empty-headed noble ladies, but this is a whole different level, fuck.
‘It’s a curse meant for torture. Why does she think it’s just a cramp?’
For the record, this was a curse used to inflict pain when slaves refused to obey.
The pain caused by the mark, which was probably glowing red by now, was not something that could be dismissed as a mere cramp.
Thud, thud, thud...
After trembling for a while, Princess Ruabel sat up, checked her surroundings, and began repeatedly punching herself in the stomach.
“...”
I looked away in horror.
(Author: Princess Ruabel)
[Anonymous: Come to think of it, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if the cramp kept going yeah]
But when I looked away, I found another insane post Princess Ruabel had made.
(Author: Princess Ruabel)
[Anonymous: Does anyone know how to deliberately get cramps?]
(Author: Princess Ruabel)
[Anonymous: The human body really is fascinating hehehehehe]
“Heh.”
Just then, I heard that familiar laugh beside me and broke out in a cold sweat.
(Author: Crown Princess)
[Noble Lady Gallery Deputy Mod1: Fucking bastard fucking bastard fucking bastard fucking bastard fucking bastard...(Rest omitted)]
(Author: Crown Princess)
[Noble Lady Gallery Deputy Mod1: I’m at a tea party, you fucking bastard. Are you seriously out of your mind?]
(Author: Crown Princess)
[Noble Lady Gallery Deputy Mod1: I’ll definitely remember this yeah]
‘...Right.’
I had only just realized that I had not made any exceptions when heating up the Slave’s Mark.
“Please wear your gallery-blocking devices on your arms.”
“...Mark, cool down.”
“Let me repeat myself. Cheating is forbidden. If you are caught, be prepared to be expelled from the classroom immediately....”
Since I really could not let this continue, I took advantage of Professor Moria giving instructions to deactivate the mark.
“Heh. Heheh....”
Fortunately, the princess beside me seemed not to have heard my muttering, perhaps because the lingering sensation still remained.
“Anyone who falls short of the minimum score will also be expelled from my class.”
“...Heh?”
However, Princess Ruabel seemed to hear Professor Moria’s cold warning.
‘Fuck....’
The same went for me as I sighed inwardly.
‘Isn’t the penalty for a pop quiz too harsh?’
Princess Ruabel had already lost her smile and was sweating profusely.
From the look of it, her odds of passing this test were approaching zero.
‘First, I need to save myself....’
However, I could not afford to be expelled either, so I began focusing on my own test.
“...”
How much time passed?
“The test is over.”
“...Phew.”
“Everyone, put down your pens.”
By the time Professor Moria announced the end of the test, I let out a sigh and raised my head.
‘Thankfully, the questions were not particularly difficult.’
It had been close, but I managed to mark every answer.
And since students only needed to get half of the twenty questions correct to pass, the other students could not have found it too difficult either...
“I’m screwed....”
“Ah, is this the end for me...?”
“Are these really questions ordinary students are supposed to solve!?”
...Or so I thought. Apparently, I was mistaken.
(Author: Lady Evergreen)
[✪Special Class students whose mental health was shattered by this pop quiz, come in lmaoooooooo]
The moment the gallery-blocking magical tools, each worth about as much as a mansion, came off, Empire Village Gossip Gallery filled with Academy refugees.
(Mage Tower’s Top Disciple Eirin): I took a quick look. Seems like maybe five people will remain? Lmao
(Lady Penelope, Daughter of a Marquess): This might be the worst one ever, fuck.
(Young Lord Winston, Viscount’s Son): Wasn’t that last question outside the regular curriculum? Lmaoooooooo
(Lady Violetta): Moria <<< Is this bitch insane? Lmao
‘Surely not....’
As I carefully watched those reactions, I turned toward Professor Moria with suspicion written all over my face.
“Let me repeat myself. Students who do not surpass the minimum score will no longer be permitted to attend my class.”
Professor Moria was saying that at the front, but her gaze lingered in my direction.
‘She isn’t doing this just to leave me behind... is she?’
Her expression was as blank as always, but somehow, I felt an itchy sensation in her gaze.
‘...She can’t be.’
The moment I instinctively avoided Professor Moria’s eyes...
“Below the minimum score. Leave.”
The execution of students who had failed to meet Professor Moria’s standards began from the front row.
“There is not even anything to grade here.”
“P-Professor, but...”
“Please stand up and leave.”
This was already the tenth student, and not one had passed.
“And you will receive demerit points.”
“What!?”
“You should have at least made the effort to fill in every answer. Submitting it with blanks is an insult to me.”
Around then, I turned my gaze to the side.
Tremble, tremble, tremble...
Princess Ruabel was still sweating as she stared down at the quiz paper she had somehow filled out completely.
‘Surprisingly... she did well?’
The surprising thing was that Princess Ruabel had solved quite a few questions.
‘But... she is one question short of passing.’
However, she had made a mistake on just one question and had not reached the passing score.
“Ugh....”
Judging from where the princess was looking, she seemed to know it too.
“Eek!?”
“Why are you moving your hand toward the quiz paper?”
However, she did not dare try to fix that small mistake.
“You will receive demerit points as well.”
“Ugh....”
“And please stand up and leave.”
Every time a student who had narrowly failed to reach the passing score tried to change an answer in secret, Professor Moria caught them immediately.
“Everyone in this row except Student Violetta and Student Penelope, please leave.”
“...”
“...You two barely scraped by.”
And she was moving far too quickly.
‘She’s grading an entire row at a time.’
Our turn, Princess Ruabel’s and mine, was almost here.
‘If it comes to this, I have no choice but to gamble....’
Having quietly made up my mind, I spoke while watching the room.
“Princess.”
“Yes?”
“If you are unwell, lean back against your chair.”
Princess Ruabel tilted her head at my sudden words, then leaned back with a graceful smile.
“Like this...?”
“Yes, stay like that.”
At that moment, I devoted my full concentration to the princess’s fully exposed quiz paper.
‘I have to succeed in one go.’
I curled my index and middle fingers, aiming them at Princess Ruabel’s blank answer sheet.
‘If I fail... we will both be expelled....’
After taking a deep breath and focusing as hard as I could, I snapped my fingers.
Flash...!
Without Princess Ruabel noticing, the answers on her desk began changing little by little.
‘Focus as hard as possible....’
I could have done this faster and more easily in my days as the previous Hero, but this was my limit now.
‘Just a little faster....’
Fortunately, there was only one mistake on the princess’s paper to correct, so there would not be any problem...
“Elrod Durgel.”
As I remotely altered the princess’s answer while swallowing dryly, I froze in my seat.
“What are you doing right now?”
Professor Moria was glaring at me with icy eyes.
Jolt...
I still needed a little more time to correct the princess’s mistake.
“I got nervous, so... my hand cramped up.”
“...”
“...I was stretching it.”
So I forced a smile and made my excuse as calmly as possible.
Slide...
Professor Moria stared silently into my eyes, then quietly collected my test paper.
Scratch, scratch...
‘Did she not catch me?’
I watched her focus on grading and inwardly relaxed as I squeezed out the last of my strength.
‘Then... just a little more....’
Bang!
Professor Moria suddenly slammed the desk while pinning my wrist down and spoke in a cold voice.
“Elrod Durgel.”
For a moment, I thought my life was over.
“...These are your grading results.”
However, Professor Moria’s utterly cold expression relaxed slightly in the next moment.
“A perfect score, Elrod.”
“Uh....”
“See it for yourself.”
With the hand pinning down my wrist, she held out my completed test paper.
“Professor....”
“Why are the circles... shaped like this?”
For some reason, the paper was covered with red hearts instead of the circles normally used for grading.
“I do not know what you are talking about.”
Still staring at me expressionlessly, Professor Moria suddenly said that.
“Anyway, sign the bottom.”
“What?”
“We normally get signatures from students who earn perfect scores.”
As she said that, Professor Moria curled her index and middle fingers, tapping the paper.
“It is only a formality, so you can do it carelessly.”
“Ah, all right. Then....”
Professor Moria seemed to be copying the exact gesture I had made earlier. I watched her suspiciously, then forced a smile and picked up my pen.
Flash...
In the blink of an eye, the contents of my quiz paper changed.
“Professor....”
“This is not a test paper. It is a graduate program application.”
I spoke to Professor Moria with a rather dumbfounded expression.
“...You swapped papers too.”
Professor Moria suddenly whispered in my ear in a cold voice.
“Then why can you do it, but I cannot?”
I think I am truly fucked.
* * *
“Take a seat, Student.”
“...Yes.”
As soon as class ended, Professor Moria grabbed hold of me and dragged me to her office.
“Student Elrod.”
This time, there was no escaping being hauled to her office no matter what I said.
“Cheating is a serious crime at the Academy.”
My cheating had been completely exposed to Professor Moria.
‘I minimized the mana used, cast it without an incantation, and even used an undetectable spell. There shouldn’t even be a trace left....’
Honestly, I had not expected to be caught after doing all that.
I had not sensed much magical power from Professor Moria, so I thought she was a theory professor rather than someone skilled in practical magic.
Apparently, that had been my fatal mistake.
“And as a visiting professor, I cannot simply overlook what happened in my class.”
As a result, I had no choice but to endure Professor Moria’s scolding without offering any excuse.
“Professor, you see....”
“...”
“What happened was....”
But it looked like this could become a serious issue, and I was just about to make an excuse through a cold sweat when...
“You were threatened, were you not?”
“What?”
Professor Moria suddenly took my hand gently and began murmuring with a serious expression.
“That wicked princess must have bullied you into cheating.”
“My Elrod would never do such a thing....”
Silence followed.
“Professor, I do not belong to you...”
“Be quiet.”
“...Understood.”
I tried to say something unnecessary in the silence, immediately got scolded, and closed my mouth again.
“Anyway, the princess is the bad one.”
“...”
“Student Elrod is innocent.”
It seemed Professor Moria had already reached that conclusion on her own.
“I... did it of my own will.”
“That cannot be true.”
“...I can even take the Oath of Veracity.”
But if I let Professor Moria go on believing that, Princess Ruabel would obviously be in trouble, so I said it with a dark expression.
“Why did you do it?”
Professor Moria silently watched me for a while before asking in a low voice.
“...Princess Ruabel needs to graduate from the Academy for the Empire to move in the right direction.”
The moment I answered while trying my hardest not to remember what had happened at dawn...
“Heh.”
I suddenly heard a laugh that sounded strangely familiar.
“...!?”
I jumped and looked to the side, but there was no one there.
Only Professor Moria, still wearing an icy expression, and I were in the office.
‘I am hearing things now, fuck.’
Apparently, I had imagined it.
‘After what happened yesterday, there is no way they’d wear that again and infiltrate the professor’s office....’
I picked at my ear for no reason, trying to force the heavy trauma of dawn from my mind.
“The Empire should be destroyed, though.”
“What?”
Professor Moria suddenly muttered that in a cold voice.
“...No, I was talking to myself.”
She waved a hand dismissively, rested her chin on one hand, and slumped over the desk.
“Ha....”
Then she sighed and glared at me.
“I did not know Student Elrod cared so deeply for the Empire.”
“...!”
“Then you must be prepared to take responsibility as well.”
After hearing those words, I had no choice but to use the last resort I desperately did not want to use.
‘I did not want to use this method....’
My relationship with Professor Moria might become impossible to repair, but I had no other choice now.
“So, as your last chance, sign...”
“Professor! There is something I need to say!”
Having made up my mind, I hurriedly cut off Professor Moria.
“P-Please do not take this too hard?”
“...?”
“Th-this pop quiz....”
I watched Professor Moria’s expression for a while longer.
“...It has an error.”
I had ended up uttering words I should never have said.
After a while, Professor Moria, who had been lying over the table in her office, spoke in a cold voice.
“Say that again.”
“Your question... has an error.”
I swallowed dryly at her murderous expression, then repeated myself.
‘Her pride must be hurt terribly.’
A great scholar like her having an error pointed out by a student? Normally, I would deserve a punch for that alone.
“The reason is, look. It is because of the multidimensional equation in this last question....”
But this was the only way to save both Princess Ruabel and myself.
“It asks for every possible solution here, but the earlier conditions state that the two operators have a noncommutative relationship....”
As I explained the error point by point, Professor Moria, still lying over her desk, silently began looking down at the question she had written.
“S-so... this pop quiz is invalid....”
“Lord Elrod.”
The cold voice that echoed through the office made me stop speaking and prepare myself.
“I was wondering when you would mention it....”
“What?”
“Seriously... are you doing this on purpose?”
However, the response I heard was somewhat different from what I expected.
“Student, putting that aside....”
“...”
“You have time tonight too, right?”
It was only then that I realized her expression had completely changed when she raised her head again.
“Shall we fucking debate again tonight?”
* * *
That dawn, in the dormitory hallway.
“Ha....”
I dragged my utterly exhausted body along blankly. Only after reaching my door did I sigh and mutter.
“...It’s dawn again.”
Professor Moria and I had fucking debated by mutual agreement.
It had only been ten minutes since I proved the error in the question and Professor Moria fully agreed to invalidate the test.
(Author: Great Mage Lugnox)
[Anonymous: Is the rumor true that a student named Elrod found an error in Professor Moria’s question?]
ㄴ(Associate Professor Yulia): Nobody other than Elrod even touched that question in the first place lmao
ㄴ(Academy Head Oswald): Hm, Lord Elrod.... If that is true, he is truly an extraordinary talent....
ㄴ(Mage Tower’s Top Disciple Eirin): Elrod <<< Upvote if we need to drag him into Lugnox’s faction before Professor Moria steals him hehe
‘The pop quiz itself was a trap....’
Seeing that the Academy faculty all knew about the process, it seemed the entire test had been a trap.
(Count’s Family Maid Dorothy): (Shock Horror Bizarre) There is a fucking lunatic with the traits of a noblesse oblige, sickly handsome boy, second male lead, and now even a smart-and-sexy man!?!?
ㄴAnonymous17: That is way too long, fuck lmaoooooooo
ㄴAnonymous18: It really is fucking long lmaoooooooo
ㄴAnonymous19: The scariest part is that none of that is wrong....
“...”
When I realized the news had even spread to the Noble Ladies Gossip Gallery, I closed my eyes while wondering whether I should block Dorothy for her usual bullshit.
‘Let’s just sleep....’
Only after calming myself down several times could I start walking toward my room again.
Creeeak...
I opened the door, intending to dive straight into bed the moment I went inside.
>DungeonMaster: Master! Master!
>DungeonMaster: Alarm! This is an alarm!
Sepi, who had just woken up due to the aftereffects of yesterday, began frantically sending me warnings through the Gallery Log.
“...”
I froze in place as a chilling message reached my eyes.
>DungeonMaster: An intruder!
>DungeonMaster: It is definitely yesterday’s intruder!
After some time passed.
>Gossip Gallery Eraser: Where are they?
>DungeonMaster: Analyzing....
>DungeonMaster: Analysis complete!
I kept a calm expression as I communicated with Sepi through the Gallery Log, though I nearly fainted.
>DungeonMaster: They are currently sitting on Master’s bed!
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