I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains

Chapter 120

Tularik Southern District Headquarters of the Security Guard.

Hosé, the administrative member there, tilted his head as he read information about Albino.

"Heh? This is nicely done. Why did the Traverse family send something like this?"

It was the Traverse family that guarded the eastern front.

There was no particular reason for them to send this kind of information to the southern headquarters of Tularik.

"Hm? This is..."

As he was reading, Hosé noticed a letter included in the parcel.

He tore it open with a puzzled expression and began to read.

His face shifted through several expressions as he read down its contents.

"... D-Director! Director!"

After finishing the letter, Hosé rushed urgently to the director's office.

Inside, a middle-aged man with reddish-brown hair close to brown was tending to a potted plant.

"What's all this commotion?"

Mark Rodella, the head of the Tularik Southern District Headquarters.

He was a middle-aged man with a stately beard and a leisurely-looking face, as if he were accustomed to a peaceful life.

Hosé, his hands trembling, held out the letter.

"It's, it's a letter... from the Traverse family..."

"The Traverse family? The one I know?"

"I think... it's them..."

Mark Rodella wore a puzzled look.

He took the letter from Hosé and, upon seeing the seal, furrowed his brow.

"That's definitely the Traverse family's seal, but... what's it about?"

"... I think you should read it yourself."

Hosé even broke into a cold sweat.

Sensing something unusual, Mark Rodella read the letter.

Moments later, his face turned beet red as he shouted.

"Summon the department heads, immediately!"

"Y-Yes, sir!"

At Mark Rodella's order, Hosé rushed off to call the other branches.

The department heads, curious about the rare emergency meeting, nevertheless gathered at headquarters.

"What's the rush with the old man all of a sudden?"

"I know, right? Isn't this a first?"

Once all the department heads had gathered, Mark Rodella entered the meeting room.

"Sir, what's this emergency about? Is there a war?"

Minda branch's head, Amolon, joked lightly, but Mark Rodella silently distributed a copy of the letter to each of them.

As they read it, the department heads all froze.

"This is... What the..."

Many things were written in the letter, but to summarize:

Wylde Traverse, the first son of the Traverse family, had fought and killed a crime organization Albino's officer in this southern region.

But Albino refused to accept this and even dared to issue a bounty to have him killed.

This was an insult to the imperial "fang", the Traverse family, guardians of the eastern front.

The Traverse family would officially declare the crime group Albino as an enemy of the state and annihilate them.

In a week, all the troops of the Traverse family stationed on the eastern front would be mobilized here.

Information on Albino had already been obtained.

Anyone found to be protecting them would be executed immediately under imperial law.

Do not hinder the Traverse family's knights when they arrive.

That was the gist.

"So, the eldest son of the Traverse family is..."

"The Return of the Fang."

Abel Traverse, the legendary swordsman who made Hernan into an empire.

Wylde Traverse, called his reincarnation.

That Wylde killed Albino's officer was not really surprising.

The problem was what happened next:

Albino had brazenly issued a bounty on a scion of a founding noble house.

"Hey, Gamiz. Is this for real?"

"H-how should I know what those types get up to?"

Gamiz Fergus, head of the farther southern branch near Count Lubak's territory, which was presumed to be the center of Albino's activities, shook his head in confusion.

Whether he knew or didn't, it was a problem—but knowing would be even worse.

'Those maniacs—what are they up to, causing trouble after being quiet for so long?!'

As Gamiz swallowed nervously, Mark Rodella spoke in a chilly voice.

"Are you telling me this crime group, Albino, is strong enough to threaten the state?"

"Excuse me? N-no, not really..."

"But you let them issue a bounty on a grand noble's blood, and did nothing?"

For a moment, stillness filled the room.

There wasn't even the sound of breathing.

As everyone glanced at each other, Mark Rodella spoke.

"You have three days."

"?"

Thud!

Mark Rodella tossed the information on Albino, prepared by Luca, onto the desk.

"You have three days to eliminate everyone listed here. If any branch hasn't finished by then..."

Rodella's eyes blazed with fire.

"I'll personally strip you of your uniforms."

"... Yes, sir!"

Afterward, the branch heads took the initiative, leading their subordinates in raiding Albino's hideouts and tearing them down one by one.

Some were injured in the process, but most of Albino was successfully wiped out.

However, two days after the extermination order was given, another commotion broke out at Tularik headquarters.

Because Luca visited in person.

* * *

"Master, are you really sure about this...?"

Bella pressed her palm to her cheek, looking worried.

Luca grinned slyly.

"What's the problem? Didn't my brother want to protect me? Then he won't mind if I borrow his name, right?"

Of course, half of what was in the letter was a lie.

To begin with, the Traverse family knew nothing at all about Albino.

They would never divert their forces from the eastern front for an expedition here.

Everything was a fabrication by Luca, with only one thing being genuine:

the official seal of the Traverse family.

"Anyway, it's fortunate you're holding onto the family seal."

"It's your seal, master. I'm just safeguarding it."

Luca, as a member of the family, did have a seal.

Usually, it shouldn't be used lightly, but this wasn't an ordinary situation—he was certain his parents would understand.

'Probably.'

His memories of Marquis Malox Traverse and Lady Merian Traverse, the head and lady of the Traverse family, were vague.

Not only because Luca Traverse had mostly chased after Wylde, but also simply because the couple were hardly ever at the territory.

'Maybe it'd be better to just move the territory closer to the eastern front.'

Of course, "the Traverse County had to remain the Traverse County," and the successor needed to grow up somewhere safe, so the territory hadn't been moved.

Still, he couldn't help but feel a little dissatisfaction.

"Luca, by the way, why did we come here?"

Ignorant of the truth, Ottbo wore a puzzled expression.

Luca shrugged his shoulders.

"They're people who'll help us. No matter what, how could the three of us handle an organization like Albino alone?"

"But even so, will they really help just because we ask?"

Ottbo looked unconvinced.

No wonder—the security guard who'd left Albino alone until now wouldn't suddenly act just for their request.

"Ottbo. Since we need to get our stories straight, I'll tell you now. I sent a parcel here two days ago."

Luca offhandedly revealed his plan.

"... Y-you pretended to be your brother?!"

"Lower your voice."

Ottbo stifled his shock and clamped a hand over his mouth, glancing around.

Fortunately, they hadn't entered headquarters yet, so no one overheard.

"And it wasn't pretending—it was borrowing. If my loving brother came all the way here for his dear younger brother, I'm sure even using his name wouldn't bother him."

Seeing Luca's easy tone, Ottbo blinked, then tilted his head.

"S-so, are you actually mocking your brother, saying he has nothing better to do than come all the way out here?"

"You've gotten a lot sharper."

Luca gave a wry smile at how Ottbo now picked up on the undertones instantly.

He turned to look at the entrance of Tularik headquarters.

"Even if people don't know Luca Traverse, they know Wylde Traverse. So using his name is much more effective."

"Well, that's true..."

As famous as Luca was, that only held in high society among the upper nobility.

To the average person, Wylde—the so-called "Return of the Fang"—was far more well-known.

That's why he used that name.

'It also bothers me that he came looking for me in person.'

Somehow, it bothered him to accept Wylde's help.

Perhaps it was the influence of Luca Traverse himself.

Luca, who'd once loved "Willow," no longer felt pleased about receiving help.

"Anyway, let's get going."

"W-wait. What should I say?"

"Just be quiet. I'll handle it."

Ottbo seemed nervous.

Luca cracked a faint smile and entered Tularik headquarters.

"I'm sorry, but today we're really bus—"

Hosé, the administrative officer, was worn out from handling today's emergency.

He planned to turn away most visitors, but paused at the sight of Luca's hair and eyes.

'C-could he be...?'

Hosé swallowed nervously and spoke.

"Um... are you perhaps from the Traverse family...?"

"I am the second son, Luca Traverse. I'm here about a matter concerning my elder brother, Wylde Traverse."

Hosé jumped from his seat in shock at Luca's words.

"Eek?! P-please wait right here!"

Hosé disappeared like the wind and soon returned, panting for breath.

"Th-the director... p-please head inside...!"

"Lead the way."

"Y-yes!"

Hosé composed himself and guided them to the director's office.

Inside, Mark Rodella stood with a stern expression.

"Welcome. I am Mark Rodella of the Rodella family."

"I am Luca Traverse, second son of the Traverse family."

After exchanging a slight nod as a greeting, they moved to sit on the guest sofa.

Mark Rodella cast a glance at Ottbo, who was nervously taking a seat beside him.

"And the person next to you is...?"

"Ottbo Gress, second son of the Gress family. He wanted to join me as a friend."

"Ah, I see. Welcome, Ottbo Gress."

Ottbo twitched at Mark Rodella's greeting, but managed a short bow after taking a deep breath.

"Thank you, Mr. Rodella."

"So, what brings you both here?"

Mark Rodella got straight to the point.

Luca replied flatly.

"I heard my brother caused some trouble."

"?!"

That startled both Bella and Ottbo, who hadn't been forewarned.

But Mark Rodella remained calm.

"Sir Wylde Traverse hasn't made any trouble. It was simply that we, the Tularik Southern Headquarters in charge of regional security, neglected our duties."

"No, it's just that my brother overreacted to something that could've been handled amicably."

"Haha, you put it like that and I feel even more ashamed."

Luca and Mark smoothly exchanged words, creating a congenial atmosphere.

Bella and Ottbo could only anxiously watch from the sidelines.

'What did he come here for? Is he looking for something to accuse us of?'

Beneath the cheerful air, Mark was deeply engaged in a solitary war of nerves.

'They threatened to send in their knights. What more does he want?'

Even though his life had been relatively peaceful, Mark Rodella was still the head of Tularik's southern headquarters.

He had enough political sense to know that not every word was spoken with sincerity.

'They must want something from the south, exploiting our mistake!'

As Mark fretted internally, Luca continued speaking.

"By the way, seeing how few people are around headquarters, I assume you're cleaning up Albino on my brother's behalf."

"Huh? Ahaha..."

Mark wiped away a cold sweat.

He feared what Luca might say next.

"Clearing Albino away might appease my brother somewhat, but there's really one thing I can't let go."

"And what... would that be?"

Mark braced himself for the next words.

Luca spoke slowly.

"The head of Albino."