The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix’s Novels Also Desires Happiness

Chapter 3: Apology

An excellent sycophant cannot just rigidly obey the master’s commands; they must learn to take the initiative.

It’s nothing; one must find trouble for oneself.

So before Mu En arrived at the academy, Emon had already planned this challenge.

In front of everyone, fiercely bullying and insulting the one Mu En despised the most, Ariel, would be the best gift he could give to Young Master Mu En!

Young Master Mu En would surely be very pleased! After all, for the entire last year, he had been mired in the frustration of constantly being outmatched by Ariel.

As long as he pleased Mu En, the son of a duke, why would he need to worry about not achieving great success in the future?

“…”

Seeing Emon’s silly grin, Mu En had already guessed his thoughts.

If it had been the old Mu En Campbell, he might have actually been happy about it.

—Provided that Emon could really take on Ariel.

“I see, I think I understand.”

Mu En said:

“You did well, Emon.”

Hmph.

See, Young Master Mu En really praised me, Emon thought, with his nose held high.

“But—”

Mu En continued:

“There’s no need.”

“Eh?”

Emon was also taken aback.

“What does Young Master mean by this…?”

“It means that…”

Mu En picked up the gloves on the ground, dusted them off, and placed them into Emon’s stunned palm:

“You don’t need to do these things anymore.”

“Don’t need to do these things… but these things…”

“These things were done because of me, right?”

Mu En patted Emon’s shoulder:

“So I appreciate you all, but from now on, you don’t need to waste your time on these silly matters.”

“W-why?”

Emon was confused: “Aren’t these things what Young Master wanted to do?”

“Because…”

Mu En smiled, his golden hair reflecting the sunlight, looking particularly dazzling.

“I’ve turned over a new leaf.”

“…Huh?”

“What?”

“I can’t be hearing this right…”

“That Mu En Campbell?”

Mu En didn’t lower his voice, so everyone heard his words.

And thus, everyone was stunned.

Ariel looked as if she had been struck by lightning.

She even wondered deep down if this guy in front of her had been possessed by some evil god or something.

The answer, of course, was a resounding no.

“Turned over a new leaf… what does that even mean?”

Only Eamon remained confused.

“Young master, are you feeling unwell?”

“Of course not. What I mean by turning over a new leaf…”

Mu En’s gaze swept over the onlookers, as if he was deliberately speaking for their benefit.

“In short, I won’t bully others anymore, I won’t tease girls, I won’t be a scumbag, and more importantly…”

Mu En turned to Ariel and said earnestly:

“Ariel Bugalde, I won’t trouble you anymore.”

“…Are you serious?” After a long pause, Ariel finally managed to squeeze out those words.

“Of course I’m serious.”

Mu En tilted his head in confusion:

“Am I not serious enough right now?”

“But…” Ariel still maintained a skeptical attitude.

And after everything you did to me before, you think a simple declaration of turning over a new leaf can erase it all? No way.

“Surely it can’t be resolved so easily?”

As if seeing through Ariel’s thoughts, Mu En let out a helpless smile.

Then, he stepped forward again, standing about two paces away from Ariel.

Stand straight.

Take a deep breath.

Then…

A ninety-degree bow.

“Although it’s quite trivial compared to what I did to you before, please allow me to apologize now.”

Mu En lowered his head and spoke earnestly.

“I am truly sorry for the excessive things I did to you, Ariel Bugalde.”

“…Ah…you…”

Ariel’s eyes widened even more, her mouth agape.

It could almost fit an egg.

She began to feel that she was really not dreaming.

Instead, she had been too reckless during her training, cursed by some strange presence that came from who knows where.

That Mu En Campbell, the one who looked down on everyone, the one who was so arrogant, was actually apologizing to her, actually bowing his head to apologize!

From noble mtl dot com

“Could it be that the world is ending tomorrow?” Ariel thought, a bit frightened.

“I originally wanted to prepare a bit more, to come with a gift and sincerely apologize to you, but it all happened so suddenly.”

Mu En raised his head, touched his body, and smiled shyly:

“Right now, aside from the one million Amiel pocket money I swiped from An, I have nothing else. But giving you money as a gift would surely be an insult, so I won’t do something so tacky.”

Mu En looked around and finally stuffed the half-eaten skewer in his hand into Ariel’s, saying earnestly:

“The skewers from the third shop on the left after you exit the school gate are really delicious.”

“…”

Ariel looked at Mu En, then at the skewer in her hand, and said nothing.

“Well, when I have time in the future, I’ll make it up to you with a proper gift. I’m leaving now.”

Mu En prepared to leave, but before he did, he leaned closer to Ariel and whispered:

“You don’t have to struggle with whether to forgive me; it’s okay if you don’t.

I’m just apologizing for the wrongs I did before, that’s all.”

“Goodbye, Ariel Bugalde.”

“I hope our relationship can become that of ordinary classmates, rather than enemies.”

“…”

Mu En walked away without looking back.

But even after he had been gone for a long time, the place remained silent.

The crowd of onlookers was silently shocked, then silently dispersed.

It wasn’t until only Ariel was left alone that she shivered violently, coming to her senses.

“Hey? Wait a minute, Mu En Campbell, you could give me a million as a gift, you know! I’m quite materialistic!”

……

The bell tower, the office.

Professor Prang, the head of the Department of Magic, with his white beard and hair, and a dignified appearance, stood by the window, gazing at the students coming and going at the school entrance.

“Is there any promising talent this year?”

A light laugh came from behind.

Professor Gran, also from the Department of Magic, walked up to Professor Prang and stood beside him, also looking into the distance.

“The new students start in the afternoon.”

Professor Prang glanced at him:

“As a professor, shouldn’t you show a bit more concern for your students?”

“Haha, I do care a lot about my lovely students, you know.”

“Save that talk until you raise the average score of your subject.”

“I can’t help it. Potions is such a dull subject, and it doesn’t directly improve combat abilities. Nowadays, hardly any kids are willing to study it.”

Gran shrugged helplessly.

“So, since the new students start in the afternoon, what are you looking at?”

“Since the freshmen can’t be seen, naturally, I’m looking at the upperclassmen.”

Professor Prang said expressionlessly:

“On the first day of school, you can tell a lot about a student’s spirit. Just by looking at their expressions, I can roughly tell whether they wasted their holiday or spent it with some meaning.”