Spare her? Its not as if I was trying to kill her or anything. I just slapped her around a bit and pushed down on her head.

I rubbed my forehead upon hearing this.

Arghhhh, goddammit. I made the wrong choice, didnt I? Why did I have to go and choose this clique out of all the others?

I stood up from my spot to leave. It seemed like Heis didnt seem to care about someone like me from the get-go, judging from how he continued to spin his yarn. I was so damn aroused by her futile resistance, you know? So, like, I tore up her skirt like this~! But then, f*ck, those stupid student council idiots had to show up and ruin that wonderful opportunity Eh-whew, what a sad fate my life is. Those assholes, acting as if a girl doing lowly chores around the Academy was someone important and then handing me this punishment and all Mm, by the way

Heis shifted his gaze in a certain direction at a girl working diligently with a group of villagers at the distance. Specifically, at a girl with silver hair and red eyes yup, it was none other than Charlotte.

She mightve been only 16 years old, but her calm demeanor made her seem much more mature than her age.

Heis stared at her in an entranced daze.

Before long, he snickered and called out to her. Heeey, girlie over there? Why dont you give me one too?

He spoke in an arrogant tone and beckoned her with his finger.

Charlotte mustve heard his voice because she made her way to him. She presented him with a still-warm sweet potato and bowed her head as a greeting. However, Heis didnt seem to care about things like some sweet potatoes, and simply stared at her intently before stuttering a bit. Mm, ah, well Uh, Young m-miss, how old?

What the hell? You aint even a drunken boomer, you know? I didnt expect to hear such a lame pick-up line by someone so young and eager.

Charlotte didnt answer and simply stood there in silence.

Heis seemed to be mindful of the surrounding gazes as he urgently spoke up again, Hiya~, youre really pretty, arent you? Its almost to the point where its a shame to let you stay as a lowly commoner.

How about we talk some more after you finish work? Ill treat you to a warm cup of tea

Please work hard, sirs.

Even before Heis could say anything else, she lightly bowed her head and turned around to leave. The Priests began chuckling after he got so wonderfully shot down.

Maybe he got ticked off by their mocking laughter, because he suddenly reached out and grabbed Charlottes hand with a heavy scowl on his face. She wordlessly stared at Heiss hand, and then glanced at me.

Her eyes were actually trembling. Although there werent any changes in her expression, I could kind of tell that she felt rather perplexed by this development.

Whats this? You want me to help you?

I scratched my head while thinking.

Oh well although I wasnt really a fan of getting involved in headache-inducing matters, shes from the same monastery as me so I should probably help her out. Also, that Mister Termin*tor Paladin wouldnt mi

Even before I could step up, though, Heiss hand was crushed.

Eh?

I ended up muttering out a stupid-sounding gasp after witnessing that sight.

It hurrrrrrts!!

A small and frail-looking hand was gradually and oh-so slowly crushing a much larger and thicker hand.

It hurts! It f*cking hurts!! Arrrrgh!!

Heis went down on his knees. The surrounding Priests couldnt understand what was going on and tilted their heads. Obviously, none of them were thinking that such a slender girl was really crushing a much larger hand than hers.

Charlotte let go of Heis and then, rubbed her hand against her clothes as if she touched something unclean just now.

Please excuse me.

She bowed her head again and tried to distance herself. However, Heis quickly held his crushed hand and roared out at her, Stop right there, you commoner!

Charlottes steps came to a stop.

Sh*t! How dare you, you lowly commoner How dare you ignore me? You monster-like b*tch!!

She glanced at him. Her cold, crimson eyes landed on Heis, and he froze up instantly.

T-that, uh what was it again. Y-you arent even a man in a drag, so how come W-well, arent you a rather strong girl! Hah, how absurd! Are all lowborns strong like you? I, the eldest son of a Count, Sir Heis deigned to show you a passing interest, so you shouldve taken it as an honour! How dare you insult me this way?! Goddammit!

You aint even a little kid, so what gives? Im aware that youre a boy going through puberty, but that way of talking isnt cool even if youre scared, dude.

The other Priests also slowly shook their heads on the side. A series of laughter soon followed after, and Heiss complexion reddened even further.

I saw how he chose not to blindly rush forward and guessed that he was indeed scared by Charlotte and her strength that easily crushed his hand. With this, I didnt have to step forward anymore.

If Mister Eldest Son of a Count decided to get smart at a later date, I should just call up that uptight Paladin and say a few things to him. I mean, the Holy Emperors grandson was lending his support to someone, so which son of a count would dare to raise his fist at the person in question?

Charlotte mustve known this too, and that was probably why she didnt bother to confront Heis here. If she did, then the matter would have blown out of proportions later.

Yup, I should get back to work now.

I raised my shovel after thinking of this. Meanwhile, Charlotte ignored Heis and began walking away once more.

The latter anxiously bit his lower lip and shouted out again, Hey, you! Both your mother and father are lowborns, arent they?

It was then that her steps came to a sudden halt, her fists tightly clenched. Her glare had gotten so much sharper now.

I ignored what was happening between those two and scanned my surroundings.

I really needed to get back to work, but somehow couldnt see a nice enough spot to dig.

Ahaha! Thats right! Youre just a lowborn, and thats why you will never amount to anything! Hah! I guess thats why you lowborns stick around this accursed Land of the Dead Spirits.

Charlotte quietly squeezed her eyes shut. She seemed to have calmed herself down because she ignored Heis again.

That was a wise decision on her part. You avoided sh*t not because you were scared of it, but because it was dirty.

But this action of hers only served to trigger Heis even further. I can already tell, they wont live for long before getting killed off by the undead! Ahaha! I hear that half of those who die in the Land of the Dead Spirits turn into zombies. With just one word from me, and the gravekeeper of your village, plus the resident Priests, will all shut their mouths up. And youll become an orphan, all alone in this cold and harsh land!

Wowsers, he sure has a grating voice, doesnt he?

Something he said also reminded me of the memories from my past life too. I slung the shovel on my shoulder and rubbed my neck.

Why dont you come here and flirt with me instead? Ill hire you as my personal maidservant. With how your lowly life is right now, I can certainly improve it, at least by

Heis reached out and grabbed her arm again.

With her physical strength, he wouldnt be able to stop her no matter how hard he tried. She knew that very well. Charlotte could have simply ignored him and walked away but this time, she chose to look back at Heis and say something.

Im already an orphan.

Charlottes curt and cold reply caused his expression to harden.

Besides all that, I really gotta start digging out a burial pit for my job, but, mm Ah, thats a pretty good spot. Over there should do, right?

I slammed down on Heiss foot with my shovel. His leather boot got crushed.

!

Both Charlotte and Heis froze where they stood. The latter dazedly looked down at his toes before raising his head back up again to look straight in my face. He seemed rather dumbfounded at the moment.

Whats this? It didnt hurt?

I hit you at that spot so that youd feel some pain, but I guess it wasnt as effective as I hoped.

But that wont do! I mean, I stomped on you to hurt you

I raised my shovel again and slammed it back down.

Heiss complexion was increasingly getting paler by the second. As a matter of fact, cold sweat began trickling down his face now.

Ohh! Finally, some reaction!

Time to say something appropriate then.

Oopsie. My mistake.

I covered the mouth portion of the beak mask with one hand, and with the other, ruthlessly cranked the handle of the shovel currently crushing the suckers toes.

Eventually

Uwaaaaaahk!!

Just as he screamed loudly and reflexively stood upright, I swung my shovel and smacked him dead in the face. Mister Priest staggered unsteadily on his feet before falling rather lamely into the pit next to him.

Oops, my hands seemed to have slipped a bit. Are you alright there, buddy?

Uwaaahk?! W-what is the meaning of!

Dont get in the way of my work and just quietly lie down there, will ya. If youre going to act like a corpse, why dont you do a proper job?

I fixed my mask back in place and began shoveling dirt on top of Heis or whatever his name was.