Becoming the Guide of the Mysophobic Villain? Absolutely Not! - Chapter 128
Having an external appearance that looked too weak to stand up to Shana’s clique was definitely an advantage in this situation, too.
Though facing punishment from Shana’s clique seemed inevitable, my act might at least serve as a mitigating factor.
My emotional appeal seemed to sway the committee members.
As they exchanged glances and nodded among themselves, Shana became irritated.
“Are you saying I look bad and she looks good?”
Shana’s reaction backfired, making her look even more menacing as she got worked up.
Unable to deny it, the committee members inadvertently agreed with Shana for once.
“Should one be judged by their appearance?”
Of course, that shouldn’t be the case. But this was all part of my build-up.
I brought up a carefully premeditated story.
“When I was still a civil servant… I once accompanied Lord Claude and Miss Shana on a date… But Miss Shana, despite her beauty, lacked any charm, so Lord Claude ended up falling for me instead… That’s when Miss Shana’s harassment began…”
“…No, when did that ever happen!”
“You’ll find records if you look for them, records of me being maliciously singled out for calls about poor facility management. And then there are the absurd demands to wash their clothes… Of course, at that time, I took it in stride. I believed it was my role as a civil servant to serve for the welfare and satisfaction of the Guides…!”
“What nonsense…!”
“But I never expected to still be harassed like this even after becoming a Guide myself… hiic, sniff.”
Of course, my acting was terrible. But I did manage to force out some tears here and there, which rolled down my cheeks.
It might have been easier to avoid unnecessary conflict, thinking it was better to keep the peace.
After all, now that I was a Guide, it wouldn’t do me any good to be disliked by Shana’s influential clique in the Guide community.
Maybe it’s because I’ve spent too much time with Claude, the most fearsome person in the Center, that the petty schemes of ordinary Guides trying to bully me felt insignificant and annoying.
If I were still a civil servant who could be fired for causing trouble, I would have been more cautious. But as a Guide now, there’s no worry of being fired.
“It will be convenient if there’s evidence. Is it true, Miss Shana?”
“…That was a long time ago.”
“So, Miss Rose isn’t making up stories, you admit.”
The committee member’s last remark was almost sarcastic.
Seeing the committee members’ reactions, Shana looked incredulous.
“So what? Does what she did to me today just disappear? I’m Shana! An A-Class Guide, Shana! And she’s what, F-Class? Are you treating me like this over a mere F-Class Guide?”
“We are suggesting that proceeding with a formal dispute resolution might actually put you, Miss Shana, at a disadvantage.”
“…What!”
Oho? This seems to be taking an unexpected turn.
I hadn’t even hoped to escape punishment myself. Only I knew about Shana’s clique using the pen to annoy me, but everyone in the exam room saw me fling Shana’s bag out the window.
I was merely trying to reduce the severity of any punishment I might receive by appealing to their emotions.
Surprisingly, Shana was the one receiving the whole entire blame, not me.
“…Before this escalates further, we recommend you sincerely apologize to Miss Rose. Then, we can settle this matter without going through the formal dispute resolution.”
Faced with the committee member’s stern words, Shana clenched her fists, trembling.
Shana’s clique seemed somewhat perplexed.
They had thrived in the Guide community by simply pleasing Shana. Now, to see Shana criticized just for bullying me was unexpected.
I tried my best not to show my surprise as I observed Shana.
Would this proud queen bee actually apologize to me?
The room fell silent.
The committee maintained a solemn atmosphere, and Shana’s clique looked on nervously.
After glaring at me for a while, Shana…
…abruptly left the room without saying a word.
Her followers hurried after her.
It was the outcome I had expected.
“…You must have been through a lot, Miss Rose. Miss Shana has never bowed to anyone before.”
One of the committee members spoke to me after a brief discussion among themselves.
“If you wish, we can proceed with formal dispute resolution. That would allow us to sanction Miss Shana.”
