I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains

Chapter 140

Why would I?

It was a single sentence that left me speechless.

"Ha ha! I thought you'd say that."

Amid the chilly atmosphere, only Archiond laughed cheerfully.

Luca still spoke in his usual detached manner.

"If you knew, why did you come?"

"These guys were worried."

Archiond said this as he slung his arms around Igar and Brace.

"Hey, let go. It's embarrassing."

Igar grimaced and tried to remove his arm, but Brace didn't respond and just kept glaring at Luca.

Not one to be outdone, Luca glared right back at him.

"......"

Then Brace turned his head slightly.

'...... What are you trying to do?'

As Luca clicked his tongue in disbelief, Archiond released his friends and spoke up.

"You weren't going to do it anyway. Just do it."

"I could, but now that you've come all the way to ask, I don't feel like it."

At Luca's words, Igar and Brace looked dumbfounded, while Archiond chuckled as if he'd expected that.

"You really do have a bad personality. What if we do something for you—will you help?"

"Hmm."

Archiond would know.

If Luca had no intention, it wouldn't take long before Igar and Brace would be appointed as vice president and assistant anyway.

So Luca really couldn't figure out why he was being begged like this.

'These guys were worried.'

But then what Archiond had said earlier came to mind.

Only then did he see the hidden expressions on Igar and Brace's faces.

"......"

Brace's head was still slightly turned, but his fierce eyes were full of unspoken dissatisfaction.

'Same swordsman family, both Counts' families. But one is the eldest, the other the second son. Comparisons would get tiresome, no doubt.'

The Traverse family and the Avint family weren't truly rivals, given their different specialties, but as potential heirs, it was only natural to be conscious of each other.

If it were an unbeatable wall like Wylde Traverse, he'd understand, but for the Avint family—as proud as they were—it would sting if not even Luca, the relatively unknown second son, could be surpassed.

But even that didn't quite explain such hostility.

'No, wait. Is it the opposite?'

Suddenly, an idea flashed through Luca's mind.

'What if it's not that he wants to beat me, but that he thinks I want to beat him?'

Thinking of it that way, it became clear.

If the unfortunate second son, Luca Traverse, bested the Avint family's eldest—which was also a swordsman's and Count's house—what would that look like?

'Well... I have no real interest now, but if Luca Traverse had no foundation whatsoever, that would indeed be the ideal scenario.'

To the current Luca, someone like Brace was nothing, but from Brace's perspective, it was natural to think that way.

'I see. Besides, since I officially became Kryphi's disciple, crushing him would be a simple matter.'

If Luca were to challenge Brace, who had become vice president or assistant, and get him removed from his post, it would certainly be a satisfying situation.

Brace was wary of exactly that.

'Fine, that explains him.'

Having finished profiling Brace, Luca glanced at Igar.

"......"

Igar was just quietly gauging Luca's reaction.

It was well-known that Luca and Ottbo were on good terms.

He'd even intervened when Igar had bullied Ottbo in the past.

'He's so transparent.'

Like a criminal squirming on their own.

Luca paid him no mind, but because of a guilty conscience, Igar was simply watching his moves.

'No need to worry. Not even interested.'

To Luca, most first-years—not to mention the rest of the academy—were entirely outside his interest now.

Only the original protagonist's heroine or potential friends caught his slightest notice; the rest were all but invisible.

But Archiond's gaze spoke clearly.

'You need to give them something to accept, Luca. Isn't there a way?'

If Luca, who had earned the power of being the new Grandmaster's accepted pupil, raised an objection when Igar and Brace were appointed, there would be reason to reconsider.

And there were plenty of excuses.

That bothered the two so much they asked Archiond to intervene.

'Milia even said she doesn't need Archiond's connection anymore, so there's no need to help out at all.'

But the more allies, the better; and Archiond was decent enough.

No need to be unpleasant about it.

With a faint smile at a sudden notion, Luca spoke.

"Fine. Then how about a wager, which you love?"

"A wager?"

The word made Archiond's eyes sparkle.

Luca shrugged.

"Yeah. There's a test next week, right? Why not make a bet on the test results? It's the cleanest way."

"What are the rules?"

"Simple. We add up the rankings of me and Ottbo, and your side's Igar Hetoph and Brace Avint. The lower total wins."

For example, if Luca is 1st and Ottbo is 3rd, their team scores 4.

If Brace is 2nd and Igar is 1st, their team scores 3.

The side with the lower score wins—low score rule.

"What's the reward?"

"If your side wins, you'll get the vice president and assistant positions without any controversy. If needed, I'll even talk to the student supervisor."

"Oh~ and if we lose?"

That was the most important part.

The penalty for their defeat.

Looking at an intrigued Archiond, Luca answered coolly.

"Swear, on your family's name, that when needed, you'll support me."

"...... Oh."

It was a rather heavy penalty.

To swear on the family name to support him.

You never knew what Luca might do—it wouldn't be easy to make such a vow.

'Basically, it just means don't bother me.'

From Luca's side, there was no need to bother with a wager like this at all.

But since they'd come pestering him, they deserved at least this much risk.

Brace and Igar both looked a little troubled.

"Hmm......"

Archiond too looked rather conflicted.

Luca gave a small smile.

"If you're confident, you've got nothing to lose, right? Or are you scared of losing to us two?"

"I don't mind."

Brace replied almost instantly, his eyes gleaming with challenge.

Archiond grabbed Brace's arm and spoke in a low voice.

"Calm down, just for a bit."

"......"

At Archiond's unusually serious tone, Brace flinched.

After a few more seconds' thought, Archiond beamed.

"It's a fun proposal, but the penalty's too harsh. Can you tone it down a little?"

"If not?"

"Let's tweak the wager itself. How about a practical lesson rematch?"

At that, Luca tilted his head.

"Practical lesson rematch?"

"Yeah. Remember the friend from the Alchemy department who participated last time? He and I join as well."

"Hoh."

Luca looked a bit intrigued, then pursed his lips.

"Why not include Moula Prington from Arcane Science?"

"Ha ha... There isn't really anyone from arcane science appropriate for a bet like this."

Watching Archiond's awkward face, Luca folded his arms.

"Well, fine. Hav Irid seems confident he'll win, but in case you lose, you'll have to take a penalty, too. Is that all right?"

"Sure. But about the penalty—I'm not sure about putting the family name on the line. Can we make it about personal honor instead?"

"Hmm......"

Luca narrowed his eyes, glanced at the others, then stepped closer to Archiond and whispered so only he could hear.

"Fine. In exchange, lend me the class president's authority when I want."

"And what for?"

"I wonder—there'll be a use eventually."

Borrowing authority.

Pass the class president's annoying responsibilities to Archiond, while Luca himself just takes the benefits when needed.

Archiond gave a wry smile.

"Cunning as always."

"You wanted Hav in since you think you'll win, so you can't object."

"Ha ha."

At Luca's words, Archiond forced a smile and nodded.

"All right. But not too often."

"Of course."

With that, Luca stepped back and extended his hand.

"It was an interesting proposal. I hope it's a good match."

"Likewise."

Archiond beamed and shook his outstretched hand.

"I hope it will be a fun match."

* * *

Once Archiond's group had left, Milia spoke with a bored expression.

"There's no need to care about them now. They're no use to you anymore, right?"

"Judging people solely by value is one of your bad habits. If it's by usefulness, you're not that great either."

"Well... that's..."

Milia was momentarily struck dumb by Luca's sharp retort, then puffed out her cheeks.

She turned to Isella.

"Isella, didn't you usually say something at times like this?"

"Eh? Ah... Y-you profane scoundrel. How dare you spout such nonsense to the lady!"

Isella, quiet until now, panicked and raised her voice to Luca, forcing herself to be more energetic.

Luca covered one ear.

"I liked the quiet, but now you're poking the hornet's nest."

"H-hornet's nest?!"

"Isella's been far too quiet around you lately. Had to make her talk somehow."

Milia spoke, giving Isella a knowing look.

Isella, flustered, looked between her and Luca and lowered her head.

"......"

"Jeez. So bashful."

Watching her rendered speechless, Milia giggled.

That was when Luca spoke up in his typical flat voice.

"Anyway, Milia. Are you confident you'll take first in the Magic Department?"

"Are you kidding? I could go from now until third year without studying and still be first. I just don't bother."

"Oh? That confident?"

It was true that in the original story, Milia was mentioned as an outstanding mage.

In particular, her use of ancient magic via the Dimension Core and the surveillance system she once mentioned made things hellish for the protagonist.

But the exact measure of her skill was never written clearly.

"Then, what tier are you?"

"5th-tier."

"Huh."

As mentioned before, generally, Magic Department underclassmen finish at third-tier, and even among upperclassmen, 5th-tier is considered excellent.

Given her villainous role in the original, Milia did have some talent.

But her achievements only came thanks to her background as a princess and the Dimension Core's divine relic—not the kind of overwhelming genius as Wylde or Isella.

So Luca grew curious.

Most talented students reach 5th-tier only in their mid-to-late teens. How old could Milia be, truly?

"......"

Luca glanced silently at Milia's face.

Sensing his gaze, Milia puffed out her cheeks.

"Don't even think about guessing my age."

"... Tsk."

She really was quick on the uptake.

A bit disappointed, Luca soon looked relieved.

"Anyway, that's good—it means no worries."

"Wait, is that why you were asking?"

Reading something on Luca's face, Milia sneaked a glance at Ottbo.

Ottbo seemed lost in thought.

Milia immediately shook her head at Luca.

"No way. With all I have to do, and you want me to hold Ottbo and teach him magic?"

"Now that the magic restriction is lifted, it shouldn't be a problem. He was even good at magic during training."

"Even without the restriction, Ottbo can't compare to the likes of Igar Hetoph or Maios..."

That was when Ottbo spoke up.

"It's all right."

Ottbo spoke, his expression radiant.

"After seeing it just now, I know—even Igar Hetoph is nothing to worry about anymore."

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

That's the spirit Ottbo!

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】