The SSS-rank Guide Doesn't Need Saving

"Get your smelly foot off the table, Reign," Vesper snapped immediately, shoving the chair back with a loud scrape behind him."

"Or what?" Reign sneered, tilting his head with a mocking expression. "Gonna cry to your professor again like last time?"

Vesper’s forehead twitched, veins protruding from how much he was already holding back. He hadn’t cried last time. But telling that to this bastard would only make it look like he was guilty.

The fight before was stopped because Kane couldn’t allow him to fight anyone before the examination day was over. And he was already on the academy’s list of mischief. It only ended because Sabel went looking for their professor, who was nearby and quickly stopped their fight.

But Reign had been singing about it as though he had actually won that day.

Vesper scoffed at his face. "Already forgot who broke your nose back then?"

The two of them began arguing. It was clear this wasn’t their first class with how the students didn’t try to mediate, but pushed their seats slightly aside and remained sitting as if they were in it for a front-row view.

Between the two, Vesper proved to be a more annoying opponent.

Then, Reign’s gaze shifted, landing on Aisha.

His brows lifted in surprise before a mocking grin spread across his face.

"Wait a second. Aren’t you that useless D-rank guide everyone’s talking about?" He looked at her carefully this time and nodded. "It really is you. You’re the one who hanged herself at her own younger sister’s birthday party."

Suddenly, the target shifted to her.

Aisha stared at this man with furrowed brows. She was trying hard to remember him, but nothing came out. It seemed he wasn’t some important character in her memories.

"Don’t involve her in our argument, Reign." Vesper tried to shield Aisha.

However, Reign completely ignored the warning in his voice. "I heard you also got demoted from the top class. It seems to be true by the way you’re hanging out with these people. Then... is it also true the prince no longer wants you? Is that why you were desperate for attention and tried doing that to yourself? Ha, such dedication. But the prince won’t want you anymore. He must be looking elsewhere and spending his time with someone much better."

"You piece of—"

Vesper tried to lunge toward him, but Sabel quickly stopped him.

Reign smirked at Vesper and Sabel before leaning against the table with his hands on it while staring at Aisha. "Tell you what, if you have nowhere else to go, why don’t you come with me instead? All you have to do is a little begging. Ask me nicely to make you my woman, and maybe I’ll reconsider it."

Despite the insulting words said to her, Aisha kept a perfectly straight and calm face. Her gaze moved from Reign toward the balcony of the second floor, where several students were spectating.

Of course, she didn’t miss Irene and her former classmates, watching from there as well.

But Aisha focused on Irene.

Irene must have wanted her to react as she did in the past. And with everyone present during lunch, this place would become the perfect stage for Aisha to further ruin her face in front of everyone.

Her schemes sure do run deep, she thought.

Aisha had a guess on how Irene was making everyone move as she wanted. But she was still unable to decipher to what extent and how long she had been doing this. Naturally, she was also very curious why Irene wanted to cross her older sister so much that she was willing to destroy their peace inside their home.

But none of that matters right now.

"Enough." Kane stood up from his seat as well. "Reign, watch your mouth. She’s still Prince Soren’s fiancée. Do you really want the royal family hearing about this?"

Reign faltered for half a second. But then he scoffed, and with renewed confidence, he said, "Please. Everyone knows she’s not a match for His Highness. A D-rank like her? I won’t even mention how much purification value she has. At least, her face is enough for praise, though. I won’t mind having her—"

That was the final straw for Vesper. With a furious growl, he broke free from Sabel’s grip and swung his fist straight at Reign’s smirking face.

Kane shouted to stop him, but he didn’t listen.

"Why didn’t you hold him tighter?" Kane looked at Sabel with an accusatory glare. "And stop them now."

Sabel shrugged. "Let Vesper land a few blows first. That bastard deserves some beating."

Kane felt a headache coming quickly. They were already at the bottom of the entire academy. If people were to know they were always engaging in brawls and flying at the top of their heads when they’re insulted, who knows how long they can keep being sentinels and guides?

"Can you help me?" Kane turned to Aisha. He knew it was unfair for him to ask her, who was insulted, but he couldn’t ask anyone else right now.

To be honest, he also wanted to slap Reign across his face and rip his mouth off, but his nature wouldn’t allow it.

The two men were still engaged in a fight. More specifically, a one-sided fight now because Vesper gained the upper hand and pinned Reign on the ground with his weight. He started pummeling his face without reservation.

Kane pressed a hand over his temple, massaging it. This should be enough.

As he was thinking about telling Aisha to support him to restrain Vesper, he saw her stand from her seat and walk past him.

Vesper was still throwing blow after blow to Reign, who could only shield his already bruised and bleeding face. Seeing that smug face, he raised his hand and aimed straight for his nose.

But before it could land—

A soft hand patted him on his shoulder.

He would’ve flown into rage and asked harshly, ’What?’ to whoever was interrupting him. But for some strange and calming reason, his body became sluggish.

"Stop. That’s enough." Aisha lowered her upper body so she could look him in his eyes, her hair cascading gently like water. "You’re very hungry and tired. Let’s finish our meal and go to class."

Her words were loud enough for him to hear and not the others.

Vesper froze mid-swing.

To everyone’s astonishment, the brawl they thought would finish with one of them being completely beaten up was over.

The fury in Vesper’s face was gone instantly, replaced by an eerily agreeable demeanor. He sat back down and started to eat.

Sabel gaped at him, looking absolutely spooked by his sudden change. She wondered what Aisha could have told him when she whispered in his ear earlier that made him turn his personality around.

Kane, however, turned to Aisha with a more knowing glance.

While everyone dispersed, unaware of what had happened just now, and left to eat their meal, he said in a low voice, "What did you just do?"

Aisha met his gaze and smiled gently. But she said nothing to explain herself.

She looked up at the balcony. Once the fight was over, no one was willing to stay standing there. They went back to their tables and continued eating. Irene and her classmates were not there either. However, Aisha acted as if she could still see her standing there.

With a smile that wasn’t one either, she thought that the method of not dirtying one’s hands and still getting what they want sure does feel incredible.

Kane stared at her in utter shock and fell into deep thought. He murmured, "Did she just... guide him?"