I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains

Chapter 153

― Her curly hair, falling to her shoulders, blended red and yellow in a way that evoked the sun itself.

― The sprinkling of freckles on her clear skin suited her quite well.

― Most attractive of all was that subtle smile—reflecting an absolute confidence in her own actions.

― Mounted atop her golden, gleaming feathered spear, she was at this moment an ally I could count on more than anyone else.

― Her name was Eltima Cross.

― She was a hero of the continent.

At last, the description came back to me.

Eltima Cross, restored to the prime of her youth depicted in the original work.

The sight of her hair and banner streaming together in the wind left a strong impression.

"Eh, Eltima Cross?"

"Why is she here...?"

Demonz's subordinates seemed considerably shocked at Eltima's appearance.

She should still have been in the Hernan Empire.

After all, they had destroyed the devil idol that they themselves had deliberately placed as bait to leak information.

"It was a good plan. Creating the low-ranked devil idols only in the Hernan Empire so Demonz's activity appeared to be limited there—I nearly fell for it."

Flutter!

A cape in the color of her hair opened wide on Eltima's back.

Just like Luca's celestial wings, hers was a semi-transparent energy cape.

The power radiating from it was extraordinary.

'Is that the Cape of Glory?'

The Spear of Victory and the Cape of Glory.

Those were the two sacred relics that represented Eltima.

"But now that your activities outside the country have been discovered..."

Eltima's gentle smile grew sharper, now tinged with aggression.

"You won't be able to do as you please anymore."

Creak! Whoosh!

Eltima shifted her weight, tipping her feathered spear, then used its elasticity to launch herself into the air.

Simultaneously, the feathered spear embedded in the ground vanished, and reappeared in Eltima's hand as she hovered midair.

Tss, tss, tss—

"!"

At the same moment, duplicates of the feathered spear appeared, filling the sky as if painting on a canvas.

Spinning as she floated, Eltima hurled her spear with force, and the countless copies suspended in the air followed, raining down.

"Ah..."

"Ahh..."

A shower of feathered spears poured down like rain.

Demonz's subordinates could only sigh in despair as they watched.

Sheeeek!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Each time the spears struck the ground, massive explosions erupted.

The blasts drowned out even the groans of pain.

Everyone tainted by devil energy was instantly reduced to dust.

Except for one person.

Odrima was the only one left.

Tap.

Eltima landed gently on the ground.

She spun the spear elegantly around once, then tossed it into the air.

The feathered spear vanished.

Now unarmed, Eltima strode toward Odrima, who was sitting on the ground, trembling.

Backing away, Odrima shouted at her.

"S-stay away! If you kill me, the Empire won't let this go quietly!"

"I know. That's why I spared you."

With the same gentle smile as before, Eltima approached and extended her hand.

Voom!

A sunlike light enveloped Odrima, and as he wore an ecstatic expression, he collapsed.

'Is that holy power?'

Among the natural forces, all except for the power of the sky are weak against devil power.

However, there is another power traditionally strong against the devils.

Holy power.

A different form of magic power wielded by humans blessed with divine will.

That power, akin to the gods themselves, is especially strong against devil power.

'Forget compatibility—she's just strong, period.'

Even Odrima's subordinates, those who hadn't been affected by devil energy—master-class figures like Gasmor—lost consciousness instantly under Eltima's assault, proving she was on the level of superhumans—at least a Grandmaster.

"Well then, with the situation more or less under control—"

Hoisting the unconscious Odrima onto her shoulder, Eltima stood up.

Turning to Luca, she beamed.

"It hasn't been that long, but it's been a while, hasn't it? Luca Traverse."

"... It's good to see you, Eltima."

Greeting her, Luca fixed her with a gaze demanding explanation.

Eltima giggled softly.

"I saw you in the Thier Duchy and tailed you. You have a knack for drawing Demonz, you know?"

"That's not exactly a compliment."

"Haha. From my perspective, it's a little enviable."

Eltima seemed to find Luca's curt replies amusing, giggling again before glancing at him meaningfully.

"You sure live a turbulent life. Your brother, too, but you're quite something, Luca."

"I'd rather not compete with my brother over something like that."

Seeing his continuing bluntness, Eltima shrugged.

"At any rate, thanks to you, I handled the remaining Demonz hiding in the Lamata Imperial Family as well. I'm always indebted to you."

"..."

"Once things settle down in the Lamata Empire, I'll make the rounds to other kingdoms. There's still time. Would you consider coming with us?"

Luca answered her offer without emotion.

"No."

"Haha, I thought not. I'll get going before a noisy one shows up. Take care, Luca."

With that, Eltima departed the way she had come.

It seemed Zeritz was holding off the incoming reinforcements from the rear.

As Eltima left, the people who had taken shelter in the auto-carriage came outside.

"W-wow. Luca, that was really the Eltima? Why is she here after quitting as headmaster?"

Ottbo looked back in awe, glancing repeatedly, and Luca pouted.

"She probably got tired of the headmaster life and decided to take a trip. When she saw us, she wanted to help."

"R-really?"

"Just kidding. She was chasing the ones behind the academy attack and happened to find us. Those guys were just puppets controlled by that mastermind."

Ignoring Ottbo who muttered, "This is so hard to follow...", Luca looked to Pasmo.

"Pasmo. I know it's not the best place to talk, but what just happened is going to change the political landscape in the Lamata Empire a lot. The Thier ducal family will—"

Thunk.

Pasmo placed a finger on Luca's lips, cutting him off.

She gave him a bright smile.

"You needn't worry. My family will be fine, and I've already decided to follow you."

"... Understood."

Luca nodded, then turned to look at the Evod border.

"Well then, let's get going."

"Yes!"

The four crossed the Evod border and contacted Herote.

Herote, appearing immediately, remarked in surprise upon seeing them.

"You're here earlier than expected."

"Thanks to Ottbo."

Luca spoke flatly and then, after a moment's hesitation, clicked his tongue.

"I just ran into Eltima."

"What? Why?"

Herote jumped in surprise.

Luca shrugged in response.

"She said she was tailing me. Apparently, wherever I go, Demonz show up."

"What? Haha! Well, that is true."

Herote laughed brightly.

While Luca's face twisted into a grumpy expression before he shook his head.

"And there will be major upheaval in the Lamata Empire. Now that the crown prince Odrima—next in line to be emperor—has been outed as a Demonz minion."

"What? Seriously?"

"Eltima captured him. One way or another, it's going to change."

Luca said flatly,

"It's going to be quite the headache."

"Hmm..."

Herote considered this for a moment, then smiled.

"The vice-master will handle it."

"... Ha."

Truly, a dreadful headmaster.

* * *

Back at the academy, Ottbo, completely spent, went straight to his dorm, and Pasmo went off to handle paperwork.

Luca also headed straight for his own room.

[You have completed the Pasmo Thier: Affection MAX mission.]

Since the mission was complete, he wanted to check the reward.

But in his dorm, there was an uninvited guest.

Opening the door to his dorm, Luca was startled by the person waiting inside.

"... Brother?"

Wylde Traverse.

The greatest barrier, the mountain he absolutely had to overcome, was there.

"I heard you haven't attended classes."

"...."

Looking at Wylde's flat expression, Luca found he couldn't say the words welling up in his throat.

"May I ask something first?"

"Go ahead."

"How long have you been here?"

He had come straight to the dorm after Herote's teleport brought him to the academy—so Wylde must have been there since before he arrived.

It was Sunday, but how could he have known to wait here in advance?

Wylde replied with that same flat tone.

"I started waiting here as soon as classes ended on Friday."

"...."

Luca fell silent, biting his lip, then was suddenly struck with a thought.

"Have you eaten?"

"... Not yet."

In response, Luca turned to Bella.

"Bella. Would you prepare a meal?"

"Yes, master!"

"...."

Watching them, Wylde's unreadable face betrayed no emotion.

In the quiet, Bella placed her food before Luca and Wylde.

Luca picked up his utensils and spoke.

"You mean you haven't eaten until now?"

"... I don't really need to eat anymore."

Wylde had attained the state of a master.

His body no longer required food.

"Even so, you should eat."

"... Alright."

At Luca's words, Wylde nodded, picking up his utensils and beginning to eat.

The brothers dined in silence.

"...."

Bella watched and thought to herself.

'Will he really digest that? Not that it matters with his body, but still.'

At least, if Bella had to eat in that atmosphere, she'd probably get indigestion.

After the meal, Luca spoke.

"Did you come to scold me?"

"...."

A serious topic as soon as the meal finished.

It was enough to make one suffocate, but Wylde remained stoic.

"I just came because I thought maybe you were skipping class after fighting with a friend."

"Is that personal experience?"

"Not mine—a friend of mine skipped classes for a few days after fighting with me."

"I'm not that weak."

"Is that so."

Listening to their cryptic conversation, Bella thought,

'I'm glad I didn't eat with Master as usual.'

It was a stifling atmosphere.

"If there's no problem, I'll leave. "

"Goodbye."

Wylde left, and as soon as the door closed, Luca grumbled bluntly.

"Why did he even come?"

"Haha..."

Bella could only laugh nervously, sweat beading, when a notification suddenly popped up.

[Wylde Traverse's affection has increased.]

"?"

Luca's eyes twitched.

'Why?'

He genuinely doubted anything had happened in that encounter to boost affection.

Luca said he would go rest and headed to his bedroom, pulling out his phone.

[Affection]

Wylde Traverse – Affection (??/10), brotherhood, MAX affection mission on standby.

"?"

Having seen a ? before—like with Bella—Luca wasn't surprised, but the double ?? was odd.

'Does that mean it's really high? Why?'

Luca knew Wylde cared for him.

But he didn't know exactly why.

After all, Luca's memories were of a family that had always neglected him.

'Hmm... well, I'll know when the mission shows up.'

He would have to wait for the MAX affection mission to learn more.

'That's not the important thing right now.'

Smacking his lips, Luca tapped Pasmo Thier on the affection list.

The very reason he had rushed back to his dorm—to check the reward for completing the mission.

[Pasmo Thier – Affection MAX mission]

― Pasmo Thier has survived. The Demonz conspiracy within the Lamata Empire will soon be uprooted.

― The mission was successfully completed.

Reward: 'Map' application unlocked; Pasmo Thier's location can now be shown on 'Map'; 'Treasure Hunt' system gets one additional use.

'A map? Why give me this now...'

In this world, where magic is advanced, maps were as developed as those anywhere on modern Earth.

Ottbo's knack for travel and planning routes was precisely because their maps were so good.

'A map hardly seems that useful at this point...'

As Luca's face fell in disappointment at the underwhelming reward—

A new line of notification popped up.

― In addition to the standard mission reward, a special reward will arrive soon.