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Did you just call them trash? Liz-san asks, brow furrowed.

Yes, thats right, I say, my smile bright and unfaltering.

As her eyes stare directly into mine, I notice that her pupils are dilated; proof that her sympathetic nervous system is currently in overdrive.

Dont tell me. Are you actually trying to defend those girls now? Even after all they said about you? I goad. Then I smile and add, And by the way, I didnt say they were trash. I said that they were worse than trash.

What they did might have been bad, but that doesnt make them trash! Liz-san exclaims while glaring at me for all shes worth.

Oh my, what truly touching words.

Are you mocking me?

Of course not. Im appalled that you would think so. On the contrary, Im praising you. Defending the rascals that were badmouthing you moments earlier isnt something just anyone can do. I certainly wouldnt be able to do it.

Its not like Ive forgiven them. I just feel angry that you would compare them with garbage, Liz-san explains, keeping her voice under control this time.

Shes not wrong. Even I feel like I might have taken things a bit too far by calling them that. Though, even if you tortured me, Id certainly never admit that out loud. At this point, I have no choice but to stick with the trash motif.

Sucking in a small breath, I refocus myself on the conversation at hand.

Well. Its just not needed, wouldnt you say?

What is?

Those girls, I clarify, allowing my gaze to drift over to the still hollow-eyed group.

A troubled expression crosses Liz-sans face, though thats only to be expected. Even a saintess cant easily say that women like them are a vital part of society.

Theyre on the same level as trash. Theyve brought it upon themselves, really. After what they did, treating them as such is not exactly uncalled for, I whisper. My voice is cold, unfeeling, and my gaze devoid of sympathy as it skims over the girls.

And the girls, for their part, no longer react to my words at all. There are no traces of anger, sadness, or hurt on their faces. Their expressions remain blank, like lifeless dolls, their eyes unfocused.

For the last few minutes, the only spark of recognition that I saw from them was when Liz-san was defending them. It wasnt exactly hope. More like gratitude. A teary appreciation.

..Which is honestly the best development for me. If the number of Liz-san devotees increases again, I can only be happy about it. Though, it is a bit bothersome that they converted thanks to the power Liz-sans ignorant niceties brainwashing them.

Its true that what they did might be awful

Might? It was awful.

But. That doesnt make them trash. They arent trash.

Hmm, you think so? But if I were you, I would have wanted to throw them away immediately.

Why do you always say things like that?

Suddenly Liz-san is looking straight at me, her eyes bursting with compassion.

Huh? What could have prompted her to look at me in such a way?

Theyre already reflecting on their actions. Theres absolutely no reason to blame them any more than this, Liz-san tells me composedly.

From the general atmosphere of the classroom, I can tell everyone else also seems to share her opinion.

Liz-san, dont you think you are focusing a bit too much on everyones good side?

Whats wrong with that? A charming person is the type who finds the good in others!

What nonsense is that? Are you an idiot~? A charming person finds the good in others? Ha! If youre blind to others faults and weaknesses, youll never win a war, ya know? Instead of wasting time here, why dont you just go join a convent and be a nun instead~? Mel cries provocatively, her manic laughter filling up the entire classroom.

Mel, thats being rude towards the nuns, Gilles chastises her, his face remaining perfectly impassive.

Ehh~? Then, how bout. becoming an angel?

Much better. And if shes an angel, wouldnt that make Alicia a devil?

But ya know~ that analogy really makes ya think Whos actually the devil and whos actually the angel~?

True. Youre right about that.

You two are sure getting along well, Henry-Oniisama remarks after watching their exchange.

If youre going to bother interrupting them, I wish youd say something that might have a chance to curtail their conversation a bit more.

Though, now that he mentions it, Gilles really does seem to have opened his heart up to Mel by a decent amount. I somehow get the feeling that those two are operating on the same wavelength.

And thanks to their brilliant little interlude, all that delicious tension that had built up in the room is all but gone now.

I had been trying to build the conversation up to make Liz-san learn that the world isnt just made up of good people, but I got distracted by them and ended up getting sidetracked.

Well, those girls are rotten to the core. Im sure Ill get another chance to bring it up when they start scheming again.

If youll excuse me, Ill be taking my leave, I say as I fling a bright smile over at Liz-san.

So youre running away now? Eric-Sama scoffs, his thick voice filled with animosity as it echoes through the classroom.

What did you just say? Im running away? How ludicrous. What could I possibly be running away from?

Since Liz is always putting in the effort to see the good in people, everyone loves her. But you never see the good in anyone, so youre running away. You probably feel jealous seeing someone with such a pure and beautiful heart, unlike your dead, black one, Eric-Sama jeers, his eyes cutting into mine with a glare.

I swear, one of these days his eyes are going to freeze like that, cause hes given me that look every time weve seen each other for the past couple of years. Does he like Liz-san that much?

Eric-Sama slowly, threateningly closes the distance between us, his chest puffed up and a sneer ripping across his lips.

Ugh, just what is he trying to start now? It feels like Im getting caught up in these troublesome events every. Single. Day.

Sighing heavily, I turn towards him, ready to take him head on.

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T/N: I dont know how I didnt realize this til now. But Alicia must be an introvert! She wants to put on a big show, but after a certain point she just gets tired of being around people. Not that it doesnt make sense though haha. Being surrounded by people who hate you and who you consider to be idiots really would be tiring XD