My High School Nerd Rival - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 10
“Huh?”
Ibi wasn’t sure how to react to the unexpected compliment, so she simply stared at him with her mouth slightly open.
Cyrus, meanwhile, continued in the same flat tone he’d maintained from the start.
“Though I did think you wrote down quite a lot of unnecessary things.”
“I didn’t write down anything unnecessary!”
“At least the introduction at the very top was pointless.”
Ibi adjusted her glasses sharply.
One thing was certain: if Ibi’s social skills were hopeless, then Cyrus’s grasp of them was downright questionable.
“You really don’t understand anything, do you?”
The “introduction” he mentioned was essential information to include.
“Who would be happy being criticized for their explanation by a complete stranger?”
So Ibi had written at the very top that it was nice to meet him, along with a simple self-introduction.
It was a fabricated identity, but still—wasn’t she a Royal High School student? That much was true, at least.
“I don’t think it really matters.”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of interfering with your problem-solving.”
“Right, and I don’t think I’ll be asking you for help with this anymore either.”
“Who asked for help?”
Ibi returned the book she was holding to its place. Any longer and she wouldn’t be able to think about the important matters on her mind.
“Well, I should probably—”
She was about to excuse herself when she suddenly turned back to look at Cyrus. It occurred to her that he, too, was somehow involved in the “important matters” she needed to consider.
If she went through with leaving the school, Ibi would almost certainly encounter this man again—as a prospective marriage partner.
Cyrus probably wouldn’t even recognize her. He wouldn’t care either.
The Royal Secret Library would certainly capture far more of his attention.
And Ibi wouldn’t feel any special emotion from him in return.
‘Though honestly, I’m not even sure what this “special emotion” is supposed to feel like.’
Either way, one thing was clear: it wasn’t something she could share with Cyrus Cyrus.
His gaze had already returned to the bookshelves. He was still looking for something. She noticed his unusually long fingers moving slowly along his jawline.
Ibi’s eyes lingered on Cyrus’s sharp features for a moment. She hated to admit it, but there was something intellectual and refined about him.
As if his emotions themselves were perfectly controlled by reason.
“What?”
He noticed her gaze and turned to look at her.
“Oh, nothing.”
She couldn’t exactly tell him she was thinking about how awful it would be to marry him, so Ibi simply gave a light shrug.
And she added without thinking much about it:
“I was just considering whether it might be better to leave the school.”
“I see.”
His response was as detached as if she’d just told him what she was having for lunch.
Well, to him, it probably wasn’t any different. He had no stake in it whatsoever.
“……”
Ibi couldn’t think of anything else to say, so she genuinely decided to leave.
But then he pulled a book down from a high shelf and immediately asked:
“What do you want to do?”
“What?”
Ibi turned her attention back to Cyrus. He was flipping through the pages of the book he’d retrieved, moving quickly through them.
He didn’t seem particularly serious about responding to what she’d said.
Which, oddly, made it easier somehow.
“I…”
Ibi took a moment to think.
Setting aside all the complicated circumstances and simply asking what she wanted—Ibi realized she didn’t want to leave.
She enjoyed escaping the stifling royal life, and she liked being able to attend a variety of classes freely.
“I don’t actually want to leave. Not really.”
“Then you should stay.”
He reached a conclusion immediately, his voice utterly flat. Then, as if there was nothing more to say, he turned and left the shelves behind.
“……”
Ibi remained there a little longer, somewhat taken aback.
It wasn’t what he’d said that was confusing—it was her own feelings.

His conclusion had been hasty and poorly reasoned.
Yet there was something about it that stirred something in her—perhaps because he’d said something she’d most wanted to hear from the headmaster’s office.
Not that she was moved or anything, of course.
* * *
Ibi had a Chocolate Bar between her teeth as she made her way to her next class. She didn’t know what would happen next, but at least she wanted to finish her first semester well.
For her own sake, if nothing else.
But since she didn’t want to draw unnecessary stares, Ibi waited in the shade below the stairs until just before class began.
As the professor appeared in the corridor, Ibi finally headed for the classroom.
And the moment she opened that door.
She realized that everything she’d done to avoid the students’ glares was utterly pointless.
The chattering classroom fell silent in an instant. Every eye turned toward Ibi.
She’d thought she was used to being the center of attention, but that had been when eyes were on her as a “princess.”
The gazes directed at “Ibi,” caught up in various controversies, were far harder to bear.
Her face flushed instantly and she lowered her head, quickly collapsing into the nearest empty seat.
Thank goodness the professor came in. Finally those prickling stares would go away.
“Cough!”
But unfortunately, cookie crumbs from the Chocolate Bar she’d swallowed too quickly got caught in her throat.
At the sound—enough to make one’s breathing stop just hearing it—all eyes turned back to Ibi.
Seriously!
Ibi decided to give herself an award.
‘For attending class from start to finish.’ It seemed more prestigious than the Nobel Prize right now.
“Oh my, Angel. Were you waiting for me?”
After class ended, as Ibi was by the window cooling her head, she heard an unexpected voice from behind.
It seemed she was standing right in front of Tiffany Bance’s classroom.
“You rejected me so coldly before.”
Tiffany had offered to reveal Joie’s secret in exchange for Ibi taking on the Group Assignment alone—an outrageous deal there was no way Ibi would accept.
Naturally, she’d turned her down on the spot. There was nothing to consider about it.
“I heard the situation’s changed completely. You’re going to need my help. Right?”
“Let me tell you something, Bance.”
Ibi faced Tiffany and answered calmly.
“I wasn’t waiting for you. Does that answer your question?”
“What?”
Tiffany tilted her head slightly, as if she’d heard yet another strange thing.
“Why?”
“Because I have no business with you.”
The exaggerated smile faded from Tiffany’s face. She’d expected Ibi to come crawling back, so she was disappointed to find otherwise.
“It’s funny—I thought by now we’d agree to dislike that tedious Joie Carter.”
“I don’t know her well enough to dislike her.”
“Ah, I see. Well, if you want to know her better, there’s a way. Go to the Abandoned Memorial Building Entrance early in the morning.”
The Abandoned Memorial Building Entrance?
That place hadn’t been used in ages because of poor accessibility. No one ever went there.
What could that out-of-the-way place possibly have to do with proud Joie?
“I hope you find it interesting. That way I can repay you for all the humiliation from before. Don’t you think?”
* * *
Third Dormitory Anonymous Message Board
[Off-Topic]
Saw the class rep coming in during class
Author: Anonymous | 15:34
The second the door opened, everyone stared, and her face got all red and she put her head down lol
Felt kind of bad for her though
[Anonymous 1]
That was kinda cute
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[Anonymous 2]
The class rep showed up?
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[Anonymous 3]
Underwood wouldn’t care lol
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[Anonymous 4]
Yeah he’s not into that stuff
[Anonymous 5]
Her choking on the cookie crumbs was hilarious lmaooo
[Original Post]
But seriously, didn’t she seem different from usual??
[Anonymous 6]
Did she actually pay attention in class?
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[Original Post]
Yeah she sat through the whole thing
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[Anonymous 2]
She was even taking notes really seriously
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[Anonymous 4]
That’s some grim determination right there
[Anonymous 1]
Honestly if it were me I would’ve just run away
[Anonymous 7]
But let’s not bully her too much. Some people are taking this opportunity to go too hard
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[Anonymous 2]
Isn’t it self-inflicted?
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[Anonymous 7]
That’s true, but I’m seeing comments that cross the line too often
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[Anonymous 8]
I’ve been staying quiet about it too, but the atmosphere does feel like it’s getting out of hand
[Anonymous 9]
To be honest, did the class rep actually do something wrong enough to deserve this?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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