I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains

Chapter 151

Vroooom!

Whoosh!

"?!"

An auto-carriage was speeding through the city at a tremendous speed.

Unlike the blunt auto-carriages usually seen, this one was sleek and sophisticated—dodging all other carriages with incredible speed and impossible control.

"Damn it. What is that thing?"

"Chase it! Get after it!"

"C-captain, we just can't catch up!"

A group of people were pursuing the auto-carriage.

Some were running, and some gave chase in their own carriages, but no one could catch the modified auto-carriage.

"It's like they know the city's roads perfectly! I thought we'd overtaken them, but they're already somewhere else!"

"Hah. Interesting. I didn't know there was still someone who could stage a chase like this against our Grey Wolf squad."

Their true identity was the Grey Wolf, a special reconnaissance unit under the Lamata Empire's royal family.

Although under the direct authority of the royal family, in truth, they were essentially the Second Prince Odrima Lamata's own unit.

Grey Wolf's captain, jims Hammer, twisted his lips and said,

"Permission to use magical tools! Capture them alive!"

"Yes, sir!"

Awooo!

As soon as the use of magical tools was approved, the sound of a wolf howling rang out.

A gray, translucent wolf.

Riding these spirit wolves, created through heteromorphic alchemy, to fly through the sky was the Grey Wolf unit's trademark.

"If we use this, our true identities might be exposed... But that's better than letting them escape."

Jims Hammer muttered, recalling Odrima's orders.

― If Pasmo Thier leaves the party with another man, follow them and capture them.

― What? Why...

― Are you really in a position to question me?

― S-sorry! I'll obey orders!

― And obviously, make sure they don't realize our unit was involved.

That's what Odrima said, but Jims Hammer decided that getting caught while capturing them was better than losing them altogether.

'No ordinary citizens would recognize us anyway.'

And anyone who could recognize them would know to keep their mouths shut.

After all, since this was the Thier Duchy, there were a few who could, but anyone that skilled wouldn't want to make an enemy of Odrima, currently the highest authority.

Jims Hammer thought so as he summoned his spirit wolf and took off running.

The Grey Wolf squad closed the distance at breakneck speed.

The modified auto-carriage just sped on, whether it realized they were approaching or not.

"Ready the capture harpoon! As soon as we have a shot, lift them into the air and put them in a sealed chamber. Three, two..."

Jims Hammer was counting down when suddenly, the modified auto-carriage vanished from their sight.

"One... Huh?"

"T-the target has disappeared!"

"Damn it. Where did they go? Scatter and find them!"

As the Grey Wolf squad split up to look for the vanished carriage, inside the auto-carriage, Luca clicked his tongue.

"Tsk, what a bunch of nuisances."

"Oh my, Luca. You've gotten a lot of amazing abilities, haven't you!"

The auto-carriage had vanished from sight thanks to the power of the clouds.

Pasmo marveled at his mysterious skill and glanced slyly back.

"But I didn't expect the one after me to be Odrima."

"The emperor is after you, huh? That's something."

Luca also knew a bit about Odrima.

Though not mentioned much in the original work, he had read that Odrima was the youngest emperor of the Lamata Empire.

Pasmo smiled wryly.

"His Majesty the Emperor is still alive, so he isn't the emperor just yet."

"... What's your relationship with that guy?"

Luca was a little surprised to learn he wasn't yet emperor but soon asked indifferently.

Pasmo brushed back her hair lightly.

"I've known him since childhood, but since Odrima went to Lamata Academy, we haven't met much. Now, we're just acquaintances."

"Since he went to the Academy, huh..."

Luca had a strange look on his face.

'Even in Hernan Academy, Demonz had their claws deep. Would Lamata Academy be any different?'

If he thought that way, it wouldn't be strange if Odrima had become a puppet of the Demonz.

'As the second prince and youngest emperor, it's possible all of it was thanks to Demonz's help. Maybe he's even stirring up chaos in the empire just to assassinate the current emperor and take the throne.'

Even though Odrima wasn't emperor yet, he would surely ascend in two or three years.

It wouldn't be easy to assassinate the emperor of the empire, but causing a commotion with the Thier ducal family could provide the perfect distraction.

'Whatever the truth is, one thing is clear: I've managed to delay that future, for now.'

Luca thought this as he looked at Pasmo, who seemed quite cheerful about the whole situation.

"You don't look particularly shocked that Odrima is after you."

"It is rather shocking, but I'm all right. Thanks to you, Luca, I got through a crisis—and I know you'll keep protecting me."

"... Ugh."

Ottbo, who was listening in from the front, gagged a little, but nobody paid him any mind.

"By the way, isn't it about time we headed there?"

"We're already on our way."

"Where are we going?"

Pasmo still hadn't heard the destination.

Luca pointed upward with his finger.

"To board an airship."

"Airship? How romantic!"

Pasmo's eyes sparkled.

Airships were apparently the Lamata Empire's favorite mode of travel. She was no exception.

"Bella has already finished all the arrangements. A direct flight to the Hernan Empire is complicated, but if we go through Count Michichi's territory, then cross the Evod border, we'll get through easily."

"Oh~ Impressive! You knew all that!"

"...."

As Pasmo marveled and Luca awkwardly stiffened at the unfamiliar praise.

Ottbo, glancing at them via the rearview mirror, shivered.

'Will I ever be like that with Milia someday...?'

He couldn't even imagine Milia acting like that.

Forcing those thoughts away, Ottbo glanced back at the mirror and suddenly wrenched the wheel.

Screech! Screech! Screech!

"?!"

"Kyaa!"

The auto-carriage turned sharply several times in succession.

Luckily, everyone wore seatbelts, so there were no injuries, but they were quite shaken.

"What's wrong, Ottbo?"

"B-behind us! Something's coming! And shooting something at us!"

"Shooting at us?"

Luca looked back with a sour expression—then smirked at what he saw through the window.

"They must really be getting desperate."

"Luca... Is that...?"

Pasmo peeked outside too.

There, a gray-haired man in a black cape was riding a skeletal horse through the sky, aiming a crossbow at them.

Pasmo frowned.

"Sir Gasmor?"

Gasmor Heddal.

Known as the head of Odrima's royal guard order.

A master-class marksman said never to miss a shot.

'Good thing we were hidden by the power of the clouds.'

No matter how skilled Ottbo was as a driver, he couldn't simply dodge Gasmor's bolts.

It was only a narrow escape because Gasmor had fired by roughly predicting their presence based on faint traces.

'He definitely knows a bit about me.'

With Gasmor's appearance, Luca realized Demonz was aware of him—especially since they sent someone so skilled at tracking.

'No way the crown prince himself would send his chief lieutenant just to capture the Thier duchy's eldest daughter, unless he's lost his mind.'

If the Grey Wolf unit couldn't capture them, sending a servant of Demonz wielding devilish power would risk running into Luca's strength of the clouds.

So, even though it might expose him, he had sent his chief lieutenant.

To ensure the job was done with someone of master level skill.

"No choice, then. Ottbo, drive at full speed!"

"H-here?!"

To others, they were already going outrageously fast, but this wasn't Ottbo's top speed—just the limit he thought was safe.

Luca said calmly,

"Don't worry. Even if we crash, I'll protect everyone with my power of the clouds."

"Ugh, fine. Hold on tight, everyone!"

With that, Ottbo called upon drive magic and poured in his magic power.

Vrooooooom!

The engine roared even more aggressively as the auto-carriage shot forward at astonishing speed.

"?!"

Gasmor, chasing behind, was flustered as the faint trace's distance suddenly widened.

But the truly terrifying thing about Ottbo was not just his speed.

Screech! Whoosh!

Screech! Whiioooosh!

Seemingly impossible drifts, maintaining speed, changing direction freely without losing momentum.

Gasmor was going crazy, barely picking up the ever-fainter trace.

'How are they even moving like that?'

While Gasmor struggled desperately to track them, Luca's group had already arrived at the airport.

Screeeeech!

"Uuaaah..."

Once the car came to a complete stop, Ottbo collapsed over the wheel, groaning.

Then, he glanced back.

"That was... amazing!"

"Your skill's as sharp as ever, Ottbo."

"... Haha."

In response to their admiration, Ottbo forced a weak laugh and gave a thumbs-up.

Once again, he'd done his duty admirably.

They got out, tidied up, and headed straight into the airport.

"Master! Over here!"

As soon as they entered, Bella greeted them.

The preparations were done; all that remained was identification before boarding.

"Even after check-in, the airship will depart in about 15 minutes."

"Fifteen minutes?"

They'd arrived a bit too early while evading their pursuers.

That was just enough time for trackers to catch up.

After a moment's thought, Luca said,

"Board the airship, right away."

* * *

"They went toward the airport?"

"Yes! Some of our squad have already gone to block the airship's departure!"

Gasmor, now joined with the Grey Wolf squad, nodded.

"Understood. I'll head there too."

"We'll guard you!"

Gasmor and the remaining Grey Wolf squad raced to the airport.

There, they saw Luca standing in front of fallen Grey Wolf squad members.

"Oho."

Luca stood alone, sword drawn.

Gasmor admired him.

"So this is all?"

Luca glanced over his opponents with a detached air.

Gasmor smirked and raised his crossbow.

"They were right. You're no pushover."

"Bringing so few to chase me—seems you're underestimating me."

Luca spoke coolly, pointing his sword.

Gasmor's eyes scanned him and their surroundings.

'I can barely sense his presence at all. What a mysterious power.'

From Luca, he felt no scent, no subtle tremor, not even a heartbeat—all things any normal human would give away.

It was clear he was hiding his presence with some kind of special technique.

"Who's going to attack first?"

"......"

"......"

At Luca's indifferent question, silence fell over Gasmor and the squad.

So Luca clicked his tongue, lowered his sword, and extended his hand at them.

"Fine. In that case, just die—all of you."

"?"

Krrrummble!

Then, the starlight filling the night sky vanished.

A thunderclap sounded.

By instinct, Gasmor looked up.

CRAAACK!

"!"

Lightning struck where he stood, and Gasmor barely rolled away, escaping by a hair.

BOOM!

"Uwaaah!"

"Aaagh!"

Gasmor dodged, but the other Grey Wolf squad members did not, and were hit directly.

Few seemed to be fatally wounded, but they could not move, as if paralyzed by electricity.

Clicking his tongue, Gasmor glared at Luca.

"A mage, are you?"

"Obviously not. I'm a swordsman."

"In that case..."

Not believing him, Gasmor loaded a special bolt into his crossbow.

Rolling swiftly to the side, he shot the bolt.

Fwoosh!

"!"

A special bolt fitted with a magic circuit paralyzing technique—fired with master-level magic.

Under normal circumstances, there was no way to react.

Luca, too, seemed unable to evade, and was struck in the shoulder and went down.

"Hah. All talk."

Gasmor sneered, approaching Luca's collapsed body—then frowned.

'Why is there still no presence...?'

*Whooo! Whoooo!*

He was still thinking this when the airship's departure signal sounded from the distance.

Gasmor glanced over, then back at Luca—

Sssss—

"?!"

The Luca who'd been struck by the bolt began to dissolve like mist.

"Damn!"

Gasmor hurriedly tried to summon and mount his skeletal horse, but suddenly, the horse wouldn't move.

"What the—what's this?"

A cute-looking ghost was clinging to the skeleton horse's leg.

As Gasmor panicked, the airship departed, and inside, Luca looked back and smirked.

"That's what you get for underestimating me."