Chapter 114: The Wrath of the Fanclub

In a dimly lit underground room, a silver haired young man wearing fur cape is sitting on a throne like a king. Despite his youthful appearance, he exudes a terrifying aura that intimidates even veteran Spellswords, as expected of a man known as the Devil of Midgar. A tall man with serpentine eyes and pale skin wearing Crimson Order uniform is kneeling before him to give him reports. The young man's cold stare chilled the taller man although he doesn't show it.

Although his faction suffered some financial damage by losing the MCA, Fenrir still possess so much funds since the Necromancer worked for him in the past and produced so many Artifacts that he sold to other factions at high prices. Unfortunately he lost exclusive rights to sell Artifacts when the Necromancer was promoted to the 11th Seat of the Rounds so he lost much of his sources of income. Now he schemes to get them back by eliminating his former subordinate. But before he can do that, he have Midgar Kingdom to handle.

"Sherry Barnett... Barnett." Fenrir muttered the familiar name when the taller man reported the name to him.

"The foster daughter of the former 12th Seat Holder, is it? I recall she was assigned by Iris to identify Lutheran's Artifact. So you're saying that she's close enough to Claude Normann?" Fenrir asked the spy he planted on the Crimson Order when he remembered the name.

"Yes, my lord. I saw it myself. He went out of his way to visit the lab where she used to work in order to reminisce about their time together." The spy replied.

"And where is she now?"

"I checked the records and it says she went to Laugus to continue her studies after Lutheran's death."

"Hmph. Send our agents to go there to capture her. We'll use her as leverage against Claude Normann. As for the other student… Cid Kagenou, is it?"

"Yes. He's just a minor noble from the frontier territories and the princess once dated him in order to avoid Zenon. But according to what I saw, she continued to visit him despite no longer needing him."

"Hmm… How curious. Send some Children to capture him as well. With those two we shall remove two of our most annoying obstacles… no, all four of them at once because once we get those two, their siblings will follow suit."

"What about the Artifact you lent to the Thirteen Night Blades, my lord? Will it not be required after all?"

"It will be used on Claude Normann no matter what. He's an individual that interests even Necromancer. That Artifact will ensure that he will be our tool instead of Necromancer's." Fenrir smirked as he mentioned the Artifact he commissioned from Necromancer some time ago before he joined the Rounds.

"I see."

"Speaking of the Thirteen Night Blades… has Goethe's murderer been identified?" Fenrir asked when he remembered the recent news involving a member of the Thirteen Night Blades who was recently murdered.

"All we know is that the killer wore clown costume and used playing cards to kill Goethe. Princess Alexia is investigating the matter independently from the Knight Order with the help of the Crimson Order."

"Using playing cards? Paper cards you mean? This clown must be quite skilled. Your job would be to identify him by joining Princess Alexia's investigation team, Adder. Now go."

"Yes my lord!" The spy, whose name is Adder, confirmed his orders and left the room.

"Isn't ironic that you gave me the tools to thwart your own plans, Necromancer? Heh heh heh. In the end, you still work for me. This civil war you started has ended before it could actually begin." Fenrir remarked with a chuckle as he schemes against his former subordinate.

"Now I need to arrange a little attack on Claude Normann as an opening act and to deliver him a message. And I need to make it subtler than usual so that Shadow Garden won't interfere again." Fenrir continued scheming against another enemy, unaware that he is scheming against the same person.

I've always silently admired Claude Normann.

During the terrorist and zombie attack on this school, I argued against Isaac's suggestion of leaving behind the wounded… and I discovered how many heartless people are in my class. It is disturbing and I've been wary of Isaac and the people who agreed with him ever since.

We were led by Princess Rose, who was the Student Council President at the time, to escape the school but we were surrounded by zombies on the way. With our magic sealed I was prepared to fight to the death… until he came like a knight in shining armor… well… more like knight in crimson uniform. His figure was so dazzling… and handsome and strong and… Ahem!

Claude Normann single-handedly dispatched the zombies surrounding us and allowed us to escape from the danger… whereupon we would eventually witness the titanic battle between Shadow and Necromancer. That battle shook us all to the core. I wonder how what he thought of it… Most likely disturbed because Necromancer is his sworn enemy. I would be too if I were in his shoes.

I've never properly interacted with him despite both of us coming from Ducal families because since young age he displayed prodigious skills with the sword, which led him to be considered as prime suitor for Princess Alexia. If he wasn't so prodigious… and attracted the attention of the royal family… perhaps I could've had a chance…?

But alas he was so prodigious that eventually the late King Midgar arranged his betrothal to Princess Iris instead of Princess Alexia. And now he is the future king! I blinked for a second and suddenly he is already so far away… so out of reach.

"Haaah…" I sighed whilst in class.

"What's wrong, Miss Hope? Not feeling well?" A girl who sat beside me, whose name is Kanade if I recall… asked me when she saw me sighing.

"Nothing. Just… lamenting my fate I guess." I answered with a melancholic tone. She merely tilted her head confusedly, unable to comprehend my plight due to how vaguely I answered.

Suddenly the bell rang and I'm grateful for it because I couldn't concentrate in class.

I need to forget about this silly crush of mine. I need to forget about him.

But just as I was about to decide that, I saw him in the hallway, surrounded by his fans. His bodyguards wearing red shielded him from the crowds. Those girls… don't they know he is already betrothed?

Though… I can't blame them when I can't take my eyes off him either. So much for deciding to forget about him, huh.

"Ah. Excuse me, Miss Hope." Hm? He called me by name!? Oh! He's passing through and I was in the way! Silly me!

"A-Ahh… My apologies, Lord Normann!" I said nervously while stepping away from his path.

"Just call me Claude, Miss Hope." He said with a charming smile. Such humbleness…

"T-Then… Call me Christina!" I mustered enough bravery to get him to call me by my first name.

"Alright. Christina. Have a pleasant day!" Surprisingly, he agreed. He left with a smile and a wave. I can only stand there with a blush, completely stunned at our first interaction. My heart can't stop pounding from nervousness!

"Kyaah! Miss Hope! He called you by your first name!"

"Lucky! I wish I'm on first name basis with him too!"

"How did you do that!?"

"I'm so envious!"

The fangirls began expressing their admiration towards me who managed to interact with their idol. I can only blush and laugh awkwardly, unable to answer the barrage of questions.

"How arrogant of you, Miss Hope, to so carelessly interact with MY Claude like that." An unpleasant haughty voice silenced and stunned the crowd of fangirls and we turned to look at the source, the student council vice president Eliza who is accompanied by her minions. Everyone, including me, frowns at her declaration.

She may be a member of a high ranking noble family (with connection to the Thirteen Night Blades if the rumors are true) but she definitely underestimated the power of fangirls. Instead of replying, I just let the fangirls do the talking.

"How dare you declare Lord Claude as yours!"

"He does not belong to you!"

"He doesn't want to be with a bitch like you!"

"What makes you think you can just say something like that, huh!?"

"Blasphemy!"

"A loose whore like you doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as Lord Claude!"

"I hope you die!"

"Lord Claude is too good for someone like you!"

"Fuck you!"

"Bitch!"

"Whore!"

"Spoiled brat!"

"Go back to your papa!"

She is now on the receiving end of the fury of Lord Claude's fangirls and is unable to retaliate. Even her minions are unable to help as she is verbally abused. Tears began forming in her eyes as she gritted her teeth frustratingly.

"You'll see when he becomes mine! Then we'll see who gets the last laugh!" She shouted before storming out of the scene, with her minions following close behind. I just smile and held back my laugh as I watched it all unfold.

"What a bitch!"

"If only she's as good as Princess Rose!"

"She's just an attention whore!"

"Glad she's gone! The mood's all sour when she showed up!"

"Yeah. Where were we? Ah yes! Miss Hope!"

"Yes?" I heard my name called and when I turned around… I feel like my position has been switched with Eliza. I can feel their piercing gazes pointed at me.

"Let's talk about not getting ahead of ourselves, shall we?"

"Y-Yes…" I answered nervously.

And with that I received veiled threat from the fan club about not getting too close to Lord Claude. This makes me pity Eliza a little bit.

*CRASH*

The sound of a cup being thrown to the floor by a very furious girl. Said girl, Eliza, is currently venting her frustration in her private room in the refurbished school dorm due to the recent event.

"Curse those whores! How dare they humiliate me like that!" Shouted Eliza. Due to her fury, her room is a total mess, with her bed sheets torn apart and every plates, glass and cups she has lies on the floor in pieces. Even her mirrors, tables, chairs and windows aren't spared.

"Haahhh…. Hahh…. Hahh…" Eliza's heavy and furious breath echoes throughout the room. She eventually glanced at a pair of items that her father gave her and regained her senses.

"No matter. Soon Claude will be mine. He will be my boytoy and I will parade him before those whores before having them all executed. Especially that Christina. But not before making them suffer ten times the humiliation they caused me of course!" Muttered Eliza in order to reassure herself before taking a bell from the floor to call her servants.

*Ring ring ring*

Hearing the sound of the bell, eventually a maid entered the room after knocking.

"E-Excuse me, Lady Eliza. Y-You called?" The maid, whose hair is light red, nervously addressed her employer whose hair is dishevelled and make up ruined by her sweat.

"Clean this up."

"R-Right away." The maid said and moved to clean up her messy room. But the moment her light red hair entered Eliza's vision, Eliza began seeing red. The maid reminded her too much of the person who angered her today.

"AAAAAAAAAARGHHHH!" Without warning, Eliza roared, took a scissor from the floor and stabbed the maid from behind with it repeatedly. The maid is unable to scream as her back is repeatedly stabbed, interrupting her breathing.

"FUCK FUCK FUCK! FUUUUCK!" Shouted Eliza furiously as she kept stabbing even when the bloodstained maid stopped moving.

"Fucking Christina… How dare she get close to MY Claude. He's mine! I'll kill her… then I'll kill Iris next! Then I'll make him my slave as my father takes the throne. Hee hee hee…" She giggled creepily as she walked towards the pair of items that lied on the floor. With her bloodstained hands, she picked up the items, which is a pair of necklaces with gemstones at the center, one ruby and one sapphire, and smiled.

"With this Artifact… He shall be mine. Mine… Mine alone! Mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine!" She obsessively chanted the words while recalling the first time she laid her eyes on Claude years ago on a party, when she had the opportunity to dance with him and converse with him… and where he complimented her beauty… and where he gazed at her with his beautiful eyes… which prompted her to decide then and there that she will make him hers… though she isn't really sure why she is so attracted to him but she doesn't care. Her obsession is all that matters to her.

Author's Note:

Eliza became a psycho! Something is going on!

And the power of parasocialism is not to be underestimated.

Edit (23rd July 2024): Changed Hubb's name to Adder, following the official English volume 5 light novel's localization of his name. The name fits his features well.

A-Yellow-Lizard: Thank you so much for the chapter! I'm envious of your writing speed lol! And thank you for including my previous suggestion haha

Are those clones going to betray claude in the future? Sounds like a classic trope

Answer: I am speed! Also expanded your suggestion in this chapter. Thanks for that.

And hmm…. (casually yoinks ideas) Maybe…

HundredMasks: Claude and Cid getting their moments is always a plus, seeing cid finally get "character development"? that's a big ass plus, he's now unintentionally moving away from his intended position, which will be fun, for the readers that is, I'm itching for how the two "characters" develop now, especially from an outsider's view hehe

Answer: Is he going to be some kind of Cidlock Kageholmes? XD

Guest: Question, if your OCs had VAs, who would you like to see voicing them (japanese va and/or english va)? When reading fanfics with OCs I like to imagine how they sound for better immersion.

Answer: Hmm… I didn't think about it much. Maybe Jouji Nakata (Kotomine Kirei voice actor) as Necromancer? And Kenjiro Tsuda (Kaiba voice actor) as Claude?

Guest: What happens if Claude goes full on joker

Answer: Mayhem. You'll see.

Chevalier: Does Claude have fanatics with him because he can do the same thing the ancient order of assassin's did by shanking someone in broad daylight and accepting their death.

Or suicide bombers, carriage bombs (aka car bombs), sniper's, terror attacks and false flag attacks.

Answer: The Reaper Squad should be fanatic enough. Gilfried is already a fanatic. I have to expand them further soon. And I do intend for Claude to commit war crimes in the next arc.

Snajper: From which chapter we enter into LN spoilers territory?

Answer: Chapter 110: Sibling Reunion, Chapter 111: Brothers and Extra Chapter: Karin have some references to LN volume 6 but chapter 112: The Ace of Spades is where I actually started adding LN Volume 6 content.

Do note that I jumped from LN volume 3 content (which ends at John Smith arc) straight to volume 6 now because I'm mixing things up. Volume 4 and 5 content will be added somewhere of course but in different context like this current arc.