Chapter 31
* * *
Thankfully, the etiquette class started peacefully.
Piona first had time to introduce Iri and her friends to the children.
"This is Lady Iri, and over there are Karhen, Dinan, Belze, Sual, Lirid. These five are friends from the Magic Tower."
Iri, Karhen, and the monster hybrids all bowed their heads in greeting.
The monster hybrids found bowing awkward.
But thanks to practicing super diligently with Iri?
They bowed perfectly.
It was when Iri looked proudly at her classmates, pleased with this fact.
A haughty girl twisted her hair and muttered.
"Ah, seriously! Having to take class with slaves, how low-class."
Then she flung a paper airplane straight at the monster hybrids!
Karhen casually caught it, which was fortunate.
Otherwise, it would've been a big problem!
Iri's eyes widened hugely, and Cookie quietly telepathed.
[What a mess. How you gonna handle those punks?]
But still.
Iri had seen plenty of such spoiled brats at Kyung Hye Taekwondo Dojo too.
So Iri straightened her back sharply.
Then she glared fiercely around and said.
"Evewyone is impowite-nimida!"
"Impwite?"
"Awe you aww ignowing the fiwst foundew ancestow's wiww-nimikka? Gwown-up said so-nimida. The fiwst foundew ancestow vawued abiwity ovew bwoodwine-nimida!"
"Wh-who's the gwown-up......?"
"Ah! Gwamd Duke Owtejo-nimida. Anyway, both said so-nimida. Abiwity ovew bwoodwine. These fwee awe monstew hybwid but have abiwity-nimida!"
The girl who threw the paper airplane stomped her foot angrily.
"Monstew hybwid emit magi!"
"Not twue-nimida. Monstew hybwid don't emit magi! It's pwjudice-nimida."
"And they have ability? How are we supposed to believe that?"
"Obviouswy they have abiwity, that's why Gwamd Duke sent them to cwass-nimida."
As Iri directly mentioned the first founder and Grand Duke Ortejo, the chilly atmosphere softened a bit.
Piona looked amazed at Iri, who had logically seized control of the classroom in one go, then spoke.
"N-new friends' introductions are done, so shall we do today's etiquette lesson with a quiz?"
Iri's eyes sparkled.
What kind of etiquette lessons did this family really have!
*'Hope it's really hard. Then I can learn more!'*
"First quiz. If you see an old grandpa carrying luggage?"
She gave the options one by one.
"1. Kill him. 2. Beat him and take the luggage. 3. Carry the luggage for him. Which one?"
*'Wh-what kind of question is this......?'*
......Even more shocking was elsewhere.
Boys in the back muttered delinquently.
"No, the question's too hard, teach!"
......Hard? This?
Iri looked at the children in bewilderment. Then they stomped their feet and shouted.
"What's hard? Obviously 2."
"Yeah, what if grandpa accuses me of stealing? Gotta beat him first."
"1. Could be a monster in disguise? Then I'd die if I don't kill it!"
The children rationalizing in their own way were still decent.
Some kids folded paper lazily like they couldn't be bothered with the quiz and threw it at Piona.
Iri couldn't even open her mouth.
But Piona continued the lesson with a calm expression, as if used to all this.
"Anyone want to try answering the quiz?"
Iri raised her hand.
"Me-nimida!"
Right then, a small folded paper flew from behind Iri.
Karhen snatched it instantly, but Iri had already noticed the commotion.
"Teachaw-nim, pwease wait a bit to answew the quiz. I have something to say to my fwiends-nimida."
Piona nodded in surprise at the tremendous aura.
Iri turned around as if she'd been waiting and said coolly.
"Who was it-nimida?"
"......?"
The children flinched at the sudden pressure.
Iri imitated her elementary teacher and tiger instructor perfectly.
"Who was pwaying awound duwing cwass-nimida?"
It was an aura that even overwhelmed the spoiled brats.
But the leader of the brats, aspiring 'barbarian warrior' Morgan, was different.
He'd long since gotten info on Iri.
"Hey. Skip the scarecrow teach, wanna go at it with me?"
With an aura seizing control in one go, he jerked his chin.
Everyone entering the Training Hall made a 'blood oath.'
If internal conflicts were taken outside, the first Grand Duke's curse would fall.
Because of that, only 'might makes right' ruled here.
Facing the cheeky collateral, Iri had one answer.
"This is cwass time wight now-nimida?"
"Wh-what?"
A simple dismissal.
"Focus on cwass wight now-nimida. Won't you make the teachaw twoubwed-nimida?"
"Y-yeah. Please focus on class, everyone."
The scarecrow teacher Piona desperately tried to mediate.
Piona lamented the utterly collapsed teacher authority too.
But most couldn't endure the noble kids' insolence and left.
Then Iri, leaning forward, spoke again.
"Then I'ww answew the quiz-nimida!"
"Yes, Lady Iri. What's the correct answer?"
Karhen glanced at Iri. Then whispered lowly.
"Obviously 1, kill him, right?"
He rubbed his nape expectantly, wondering if he'd answered well.
Iri's mouth dropped open.
*'No way. The world will end!'*
A ku-kung sound of the world collapsing echoed in her head.
Iri shouted the answer hurriedly.
"3! Cawwy the wuggage fow him! That's it-nimida!"
The atmosphere turned icy.
Even Karhen and the monster hybrid friends looked at Iri in surprise.
Piona was the same.
First child ever to pick 3 out of those options.
Other kids muttered, "What? 3 is totally wrong!"
But Iri stood tall resolutely.
Then Piona's pointer clattered to the floor.
"Lady Iri, correct......"
Everyone was shocked.
Especially Iri, who got it right, was the most shocked.
*'Why's everyone looking like Hammuni caught sneaking yummy yakgwa!'*
It's common sense!
* * *
The tumultuous etiquette class ended, and break time came.
Iri glanced at Karhen.
[Etiquette?
Passing by. Old gwampa.
Carrying wuggage watew.
If gwuesome, weveaw.
Don't give.]
Karhen, catching Iri's gaze, muttered lowly.
"I know letters really well originally. Spelling too."
Cookie telepathed quietly from her pocket.
[Doesn't seem great at spelling but diligently taking notes.]
Iri nodded inwardly.
His earnest scribbling in crooked letters was very commendable.
At this rate, the North wouldn't perish because of Karhen, right?
Iri proudly looked at the notebook and gave a thumbs up.
Just as a faint smile appeared on Karhen's lips.
Morgan, who had said 'let's go at it' to Iri earlier, charged like a monster.
"Hey, hey. Monster!"
"Karhen not monstew-nimida?"
"Krwern mumbl mumbl whatever~ you butt out."
Iri recalled her instructor's words.
*'Saving a friend in danger is the greatest mission!'*
So Iri jumped to her feet.
"Want body fight-nimida?"
"Oho."
Morgan smirked vilely, lifting the corner of his mouth.
"Fight me? And if you lose to me, bow your head and come under me right away?"
Iri had seen such blusterers often.
Schultz she scolded in front of the Training Hall was like that, and in her past life, guys saying 'A little girl demo team leader? I can do better!' too.
*'And I beat them all with my skills!'*
If it were an adult, maybe not. But Morgan looked her age.
Then, discipline time?
Worth a shot.
