Chapter 118: Chapter 118 : A Much Needed Realization

At a quiet, dimly lit table, two elegant figures sat, sipping tea that had long gone cold. A faint shimmer in the air surrounded them—an advanced Auditory Focus Spell, perfectly tuned to pick up the hushed voices of Alex, Charlotte, and Lorenzo at the center table.

Alicia von Crestvale leaned back, a playful smirk on her lips as she sipped elegantly. “I have to say, this spell is really useful for snooping around on someone,” she said with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.

Beside her, Evelyn sat composed as always, her expression as unreadable as stone. “It’s not snooping,” she said evenly. “I just want to find out if that guy is worth investing in… and whether his nature leans toward good or evil.”

Alicia chuckled softly. “After hearing all that? I can say this much—he’s got serious guts and ambition. He’s already trying to establish a business on his own. That’s rare for someone his age.”

Then her smirk widened. “And his way of blackmailing people to get what he wants… totally reminds me of you.”

Evelyn’s mouth twitched. “I’m not that bad.”

“Are you sure?” Alicia teased, lifting a brow.

Evelyn didn’t reply. She simply turned her gaze forward and ignored the jab like a queen brushing off a jester.

A moment passed, and Alicia spoke again, softer this time. “Looks like he cares about people too. He understands that bullying helpless people is wrong. That… says something.”

Evelyn nodded. “You’re right about that.”

She turned slightly, watching Alicia’s unusually delighted expression.

“…Do you like him or something?” she asked bluntly, her tone as neutral as ever.

Alicia froze. “Wh—who said I like him?!”

Evelyn tilted her head, voice as flat as a plain. “Relax. I was just messing with you.”

Alicia puffed her cheeks and pouted adorably. “You’re the worst,” she muttered.

Then Evelyn added dryly, “He’s also bold, if he wants to smack a noble in public. That’s… unexpected.”

—

Meanwhile, back at the table where Alex, Charlotte, and Lorenzo sat, tension crackled in the air like a brewing storm.

Lorenzo’s expression twisted. What little pride he had left was wounded.

Alex’s voice dropped low and sharp. “Did you just raise your voice at me?” His eyes locked onto Lorenzo’s, a dangerous glint behind their blue hue.

Lorenzo hesitated, then tried to regain his ground. “Alex… I can agree to the first two conditions, but the third one—getting slapped? That’s going too far. And besides, you said there were only two conditions at the start!”

“Oh,” Alex said, tilting his head mock-innocently. “I added the third one just now. You should’ve thought about that before ordering someone to throw food at me in public.”

Lorenzo’s mouth opened, then closed. His shoulders slumped. “Please… not this. My reputation is already in tatters. If that happens, my father will disown me.”

Alex hummed. “Well, that would cause some problems for me too…”

He suddenly tapped on his EtherPad. “Let’s solve it, then.”

Moments later, a timid, scrawny boy walked in—Henry. The moment his eyes landed on Lorenzo, his breath hitched, and he froze mid-step.

His world, once a nightmare filled with torment, had only recently quieted after Carl Dimitri redirected his wrath on Lorenzo.

Now, standing face to face with his abuser, his instincts screamed to flee.

Alex smiled at him gently. “Relax. He won’t bite. Come, sit with us.”

Reluctantly, Henry sat down, his hands trembling beneath the table.

Without wasting a beat, Alex produced a glowing mana contract and launched it lightly toward Lorenzo.

It hovered in the air before him, filled with neat, binding clauses—the exact same conditions Alex had mentioned.

Charlotte’s brows lifted in disbelief. ’He… already had it written up? Did he predict this entire scenario?’

Lorenzo scanned the contract. “Everything looks fine but… the part about getting slapped is still here.”

He turned slowly to look at Henry.

Alex leaned forward with a grin. “Char, be a dear and set up a barrier, would you?”

Charlotte clicked her tongue at his syrupy tone but obliged. With a flick of her fingers, a transparent dome of mana shimmered into place, cloaking them from the rest of the cafeteria.

“Now,” Alex said coolly, “no one can see or hear us.”

His eyes locked with Lorenzo’s. “You can either sign it… or spend your days at the academy being bullied like a chew toy.”

Then, his tone changed—firm, sincere. “But if you do sign this contract, then I, Alex Dragonheart, promise you—Carl Dimitri or any of his goons will never lay a finger on your head again.”

Lorenzo stared at him.

The sharp edge in Alex’s eyes, the iron conviction in his voice… it wasn’t a bluff.

With a heavy sigh, Lorenzo finally said, “Okay. I believe you.”

He signed the mana contract.

It burst into radiant light and dissolved into both their bodies.

A pact made.

Alex turned toward Henry. “Now… Henry, be a dear and slap him. Here’s your chance to get revenge.”

Henry froze. His breath caught again. Tears welled up in his eyes, unbidden.

Memories came crashing in.

Being beaten until he could barely crawl.

Humiliation in public, his clothes ripped, his dignity stolen.

Lies told to his parents to hide the bruises.

Nights spent crying silently, wishing the pain would end.

Thoughts—dark, terrible thoughts—whispering that death might be better.

And yet, here he was.

Next to the silver-haired devil who changed this cycle of repeated torment.

He looked at Alex, barely managing a choked breath. ’If I hadn’t met him that day… I… I might not even be here anymore…’

His eyes hardened. He stood up.

Henry stepped forward, tears rolling freely down his cheeks. His hands trembled as he raised them.

SLAP.

The first hit landed.

He sobbed loudly, voice cracking as memories surged.

SLAP.

The second one was harder, his chest heaving.

’Why… why did it hurt so much… even now? Even though he was the one doing the hitting.’

SLAP.

The third strike echoed through the air like thunder. And with that, Henry collapsed to his knees in front of Lorenzo, bawling his eyes out.

His sobs were not just from the moment—they were months in the making. Months of being shoved into the dirt, humiliated in front of crowds, beaten until he couldn’t walk, hiding bruises from his parents, telling lies about falling down stairs… and crying alone under thin blankets in a cold room, whispering into the night, ’Why me?’

He shook violently, like a dam had burst inside him.

Lorenzo stood completely still, his face unreadable. He didn’t block the blows. He didn’t defend himself. He just watched, the sting on his cheek nothing compared to the ache settling in his chest.

Then, barely audible through Henry’s sobs, Lorenzo muttered, “I’m… sorry.”

Henry didn’t even respond. He cried harder, unable to stop. Because even if those words had come earlier, they wouldn’t have been enough. And yet… hearing them now, in this moment, from someone who once made him want to disappear from the world—it meant something.

It meant everything.

Charlotte stood silently, watching it all. Her arms were folded, but her expression was softer than usual. Even she couldn’t deny that something heavy had just shifted from both of their chests.

Alex looked down at the two of them—one broken, one regretful—and let out a quiet sigh.

’Damn,’ he thought. ’I was aiming for petty revenge. But this… this is hitting way deeper than I expected.’

After a few long minutes, the sobs finally died down. Henry sat back, exhausted, wiping at his red face and runny nose. He sniffled pitifully, blinking blearily.

Alex stepped forward, crouched slightly, and raised an eyebrow.

“Are you done now, snoopy-nose?” he said with mock annoyance. “You can go.”

Henry wiped his face with both sleeves, sniffled again, and nodded. “T-Thank you… Alex… really, thank you.”

Alex’s tone turned cold and sharp. “Don’t thank me. Listen well. You’re at Zenith now. You don’t get stronger, you die. I won’t be there to save you next time. In this world, everyone fights their own battles. Got it?”

Henry stiffened at the words. But after a few seconds, he nodded again, this time with more resolve in his eyes. “At least… you’ll help me become stronger, right?”

Alex smirked. “Of course. Discounted price, just for you—two million credits.”

Henry’s eyes widened in panic, but before he could argue, he turned around and bolted as fast as his legs could carry him.

Alex blinked. “Huh? Oi—hey! I was joking!”

He watched Henry vanish like a scrawny, terrified rabbit. Then he burst into laughter, shaking his head.

Charlotte covered her mouth, giggling beside him. “You scared him off, businessman.”

“Heh. Probably for the best,” Alex said, then glanced to his side.

Only Lorenzo remained, his cheek still red and swollen. He stood awkwardly, hands by his sides, like he wasn’t sure what to do with himself.

He finally spoke, his voice husky. “I hope you’ll keep your end of the bargain.”

Alex nodded, his smirk fading into something more sincere. “I will. That’s why we signed the contract.”

Charlotte gave a small flick of her fingers, and the barrier surrounding them dissolved into shimmering particles.

Alex dusted off his clothes and smiled lazily. “So, Mr. Chorenzo… would you mind giving us some space? I want to talk to the lady privately.”

Lorenzo sighed, rubbing his tender cheek. “It’s Lorenzo.”

“You should really consider changing it,” Alex said, completely deadpan.

Lorenzo let out a long groan, shoulders slumping as he trudged away toward the table where the group was sitting before, grumbling under his breath the whole way.

Once he was gone, Charlotte crossed her arms. Her expression was unreadable now.

Then, after a pause, she said softly, “Sorry… can you please forget about it?”

Alex raised a brow. “Forget about what? That you manipulated Chorenzo into bullying me?”

—

A/N:

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