The Strongest Gun Magus: I Cast Bullet!-Chapter 34: Marien Is Offended

Then it turned into a poor-smelling air after the very first magic word Reynard spoke.

Like every new spell, this one had to be adapted for Reynard’s mana. Spell manuals usually had guidance on that, which made studying them easier.

But Reynard didn’t have a manual. He wasn’t even sure which failures were because the spell wasn’t adapted for his aura, and which were because he didn’t memorize the spell correctly.

Reynard exhaled with dissatisfaction and decided to put learning this spell off for now. At least, thanks to the practice, he had memorized what he had seen of it better, so he could continue his practice in the future without fear of forgetting details.

Instead, he opened the Spirit Armor manual again and tried to follow its instructions.

Although he believed earlier that he understood how to use the spell, in reality, things turned out to be much more complicated. Over and over, something went out of alignment, and Reynard’s attempts failed.

But he didn’t give up and constantly sought out his mistakes so he could fix them in his next attempts. His Inner Athanor steadily created more circulating mana for Reynard to use.

He was perfectly content sitting in this forest for days on end, if necessary, only coming to the town to eat and sleep.

***

While Reynard practiced in his seclusion, the entire Blue Bismuth School was abuzz with rumors.

Today, Carl was the center of everybody’s attention, and he enjoyed his role immensely.

"Yes, I have seen it with my own eyes!" he lied shamelessly to the small crowd that gathered around him in the mess hall. Over a dozen students forgot their food to instead listen to his retelling. "This scoundrel Reynard just seduced a woman right in the middle of a street! Kissed her... with tongue!"

The older students, male youths of Carl’s and Reynard’s edge, grimaced with anger and envy; younger kids and a few girls present grimaced in disgust.

"How ugly of him!" a younger girl shouted. "I thought he and Marien were in love! They were like... The maid and a prince from the fairy tale, but the other way around!"

"What a cheater! How could she have chosen someone like him? Even protected him with her authority!"

Carl nodded vigorously.

"Reynard was always a cheater! He only achieved something by cheating in a duel with one of those artifacts of his! Marien should get rid of him at last. She’s the face of the entire Blue Bismuth School; what sort of reputation does that give us if she’s associated with a cheater?"

"Yeah!"

"Reynard should get expelled!"

"Expelled?" Carl shook his head. "Someone should duel him for Marien’s honor! Someone powerful and brave... Of course, if the Magister doesn’t punish him like he deserves—by breaking his Inner Athanor!"

More cheers followed.

The only person who listened to this story without nodding along to Carl’s words was Terence. He was trying to blend with a wall on the opposite side of the mess hall. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

’Did this really happen?’ Terence asked himself. ’Should I... speak with Mister Artemy about it?’

Finally, he abandoned his lunch entirely. Terence was about to leave the mess hall when he saw Marien stroll in casually, only to pause at the entrance when she saw the rumor-mongers.

Terence’s heart sank.

Not wanting to see what would follow, he slipped past the girl and ran toward Reynard’s private garden.

’It’s too late to warn him now, too late! I... I will just keep taking care of Chili and the plants. That will be enough!’ Terence was convincing himself.

In the meantime, Marien’s curiosity was piqued by the gathered crowd. The students noticed her too and went quiet and wide-eyed.

They all were eager and a bit afraid to see her reaction to the news, but none was as eager as Carl.

"Miss Canseliet!" he exclaimed. "Great injustice happened to you—have you heard it already? Abandon that scoundrel you claimed as your pair. He has abandoned you already!"

"What?!" Marien gasped. "What are you talking about?"

Sure, he didn’t spend time with her in the past two weeks, but he already explained that he was going to refine. And he told her that if she ever grew bored, she could seek him out, even though refinement required great concentration...

’Of course, if he spent all this time in the town and didn’t get me a gift, I would actually have a reason to be offended!’

"You were cheated on!" Carl declared.

He repeated—yet again—every detail of what happened on the street, making sure that they sounded as sordid as possible. By his words, the harlot hired by Missus Furgund had almost fucked Reynard right then and there.

And there were plenty of other witnesses to confirm it, only a few of whom were paid to spread the rumor.

Carl had to admire the cunningness of Missus Furgund’s plan. Even though the magus assassin failed his job, the harlot was sure to destroy Marien’s relationship with Reynard. This would finally force Magister Bartholomew to punish him for breaking her heart.

Surely, a girl as prideful and spoiled as Marien wouldn’t tolerate cheating!

And indeed, Marien’s face was hot with anger after she heard Carl’s words.

"Unacceptable... Is this how he thanks me? After all I did for him? After all the time I spent on him?!" Marien flailed her hands angrily, then pointed at the gathered students. "And you! Stop spreading these vile... gross... things! Shut up, before you will have to pay a fine for slandering the Blue Bismuth School!"

Without waiting for the answer from the scared students, Marien stormed out of the mess hall. She was going to demand explanations, now!

Carl watched her leave, smiling.

Now he was going to make sure this information reached the Magister, too.