Chapter 42 – I responded with a song

So far, there is only one member subscribed to the tiers of this novel on Patreon, and I need at least 10 "Class 1-A" tier members to continue with the translation. I think a little motivation can help, so here are some spoilers that might be missed if we don't reach the goal.

1. A large harem with well-developed relationships, not just a collection.

2. Shiina and Sakura are two of Yukio's four wives... I won't reveal the others here 😉 (the remaining girls will be part of the harem but won't be married, maintaining their relationships as lovers, which is a bit of a shame, but they all have a happy ending.)

3. Nagumo gets what he deserves at the hands of Yukio.

4. R-18 chapters will be introduced, created with AI, starting from Chapter 80 (of course, we need to reach the goal of 10 members for this to happen.)

Read 20 chapters ahead on Patreon!

PATREON.COM/METARLN

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"Of course, you can take your time to deal with these things when you return to the classroom later." Yukio glanced around again to make sure there were no surveillance or people around, then took out an old-fashioned cell phone. "The most urgent task now is revenge."

"Huh?" Karuizawa looked at Yukio in surprise, or more precisely, at the old-fashioned cell phone in Yukio's hand.

When all students enter this high school, they will be checked using metal detectors and other instruments. It is completely impossible to bring personal phones in secretly.

How did this person in front of him manage to do it? As for the revenge Yukio mentioned, what does it mean?

Seeing that Karuizawa was somewhat puzzled, Yukio showed his gentleness and patience. "For example, those who used to bully you before, or even the one who used a knife."

"You just need to tell me the name of your previous school, class, and the names of those people. I still know some friends outside who are willing to help find and punish those wrongdoers."

Yukio was never a good person to begin with and didn't care at all about using this method as a benefit for Karuizawa. Besides, those scum didn't deserve to live in the world in the first place, so the psychological burden was even smaller.

"!" At this moment, Karuizawa's sapphire blue eyes widened in disbelief...

"Karuizawa, you hate them too, right?" Yukio exercised his power and influence, seducing the girl's heart: "Haven't you already recalled everything?"

"How despicable they were, such scum, mercilessly oppressing you without a shred of sympathy or pity."

"Such scum, not even worthy of being called human. If they were slaughtered, it would just be the fate they deserve, wouldn't it?"

Karuizawa instinctively raised her hand to cover her heart! Because she realized, to her horror, that she was actually tempted by Yukio's suggestion!!

Hate them? Hate those who bullied her incessantly throughout middle school?! Of course! She hated them to the extent of wanting to cast them into the eighteenth level of hell, cursed them never to find peace!

Just a little thought brought back countless memories of pain for Karuizawa.

A dead mouse stuffed in her desk drawer, her school uniform jacket cut up by scissors, her gym clothes scribbled with indelible black ink with unspeakable words.

Her lunchbox filled with eraser shavings, her indoor shoe locker stuffed with trash. Not to mention the frequent dragging to secluded places for punching, kicking, and hair-pulling.

How could she not hate such a past? How could she not think of revenge?

But... after shivering, Karuizawa recalled the despair and agony of being stabbed, that sense of powerlessness on the brink of death.

She asked herself, did she want those people to experience this feeling? Did she wish for them to face death as well?

Her heart gave a negative answer, turning her bewildered eyes back to the clear blue of a tranquil lake: "No, it's not necessary."

The world kissed me with pain, yet I sang in response. Perhaps it was because of her unimaginable suffering that the girl understood pain more, knew the trauma that inflicting such pain could cause.

Lastly, if she inflicted pain, how would she be any different from the bullies? Was this to mock or deny her past self?

After contemplating, Karuizawa finally chose to refuse: "Sorry, I... I can't do it. Their class was the same as mine, Class X, their names are..."

"Huh!" Having given this information, Karuizawa exhaled a heavy sigh, her eyes shimmering like lake waters: "Let's forget about revenge."

"If possible, I'd like to ask for your friends' help, Yukio-kun. Just teach them a small lesson, like slapping them a few times."

Yukio couldn't help but smile at Karuizawa's request. The last glimmer of humanity in the girl's soul, her adherence to her own moral bottom line, amused him.

A saint? Not quite. Karuizawa did, after all, provide the information and requested slapping as punishment. Kind? That's not quite right either. True kindness would not involve seeking petty revenge.

The explanation lies in the girl's inherently pure heart. Despite enduring so much darkness and pain, she remained unstained like a lotus flower, pure and untainted.

This was the most shining aspect of Kei Karuizawa.

However, this brightness inadvertently disrupted Yukio's plans. Sometimes, a favor can also become a leverage point.

Had Karuizawa agreed to a harsh revenge, Yukio would have made her call his friends himself and recorded the entire conversation – another fatal leverage he would have had over Karuizawa to ensure her loyalty. Instead, his plan unexpectedly failed to materialize.

"Don't worry, Karuizawa, I'll arrange it." Smiling, Yukio put away his phone and made a call to his friends outside when he was alone.

He instructed them to slap the girls, take a few pictures, and then they could be disposed of. Yukio's motivation wasn't out of concern for Karuizawa; he simply wanted to relieve his irritation caused by those scum. Making them disappear was the best way to soothe his mood.

Ordinary bullying wouldn't warrant such a response, but those who dared to stab someone with a knife during middle school deserved a fitting retribution. Besides, Yukio was far from a saint and never considered himself a good person. The sporadic surges of violent emotion within him were proof enough.

Three days later, Karuizawa, in her dorm room, was crying and laughing like someone gone mad, her emotions wildly fluctuating. She kept staring at the photos sent by Yukio on her phone – images of the girls who had once bullied her, their faces swollen from being hit!

All her pent-up grievances and accumulated darkness seemed to dissipate with each comically swollen face. The nightmares of the past vanished, no longer able to instill fear in her or restrain her!

At that moment, the light in Karuizawa's eyes shone brighter than ever, as if she had been reborn.

***

400 power stones = 1 extra chapter

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