I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains

Chapter 160

Devil Stones.

They could also be called the Devil's Eggs.

There were two types.

One was a stone in which a real devil was sealed.

The other was a stone containing only a devil's fragment.

The ones with a real devil sealed inside were dangerous.

Because the devil within was alive, there were cases where it could exert its power on its own, and if it absorbed enough vitality, the devil could even become corporeal.

The latter, however, was comparatively safe.

On their own, these stones could not wield power, and only by absorbing a tremendous amount of vitality could they transform into devils.

If vitality was infused gradually over a long period and the fragment inside regenerated, then the scenario of the first case could occur—but the one in front of them did not seem to be that kind.

Luca scanned the devil stone before him.

'They said it's comparatively safer, but a devil stone is still a devil stone. It truly feels sinister.'

It was only safer compared to the former; the fact remained that a devil stone with a fragment was also dangerous.

Even if it could not unleash power on its own, just existing with demonic energy made it a near-calamity.

Demonic energy itself had the power to corrupt most living beings, humans included.

"What kind of box is this that not even I could tell there was a devil stone inside...?"

Herote, looking at the wooden box as if it were fascinating, examined it.

Inside the box, a faint warmth had seeped in.

'Holy power, perhaps.'

Most likely the inside had been coated in holy power, ensuring that the demonic energy did not leak out.

Luca, hesitating as he tried to touch the devil stone, soon protected his hand with the power of the clouds before reaching for it again.

"......"

*Gulp.*

Herote's swallowing sound rang especially loud.

She seemed tense, as devil stones were not something even she often saw, and now Luca was about to touch one himself.

*Thud.*

"!"

The moment Luca grasped the devil stone, Herote flinched.

But nothing happened.

"Phew."

Luca also breathed a sigh of relief and lifted it.

*Crackle.*

Enshrouded by the power of the clouds to prevent demonic energy from escaping, Luca examined the devil stone carefully before placing it back in the box and closing the lid.

"Well, not bad."

"What are you going to do with that?"

"Is there anything for me to do with it? I'll just feed it to Whistle."

For Whistle's growth, the devil's power was indispensable.

Since there was no available demonic power for her to absorb at the moment, acquiring the devil stone was a stroke of luck.

As Luca was thinking along these lines, Herote spoke.

"Aren't you willing to give that to me instead?"

"What are you talking about?"

Luca frowned slightly.

Herote shrugged her shoulders.

"Wouldn't it be better for me to research and make something interesting out of it, rather than just using it once and tossing it?"

"Something interesting?"

Seeing Luca's puzzled expression, Herote smiled brightly.

"If I use it properly, I think I could make a device to detect the power of devils."

A device to detect Devil's power.

It was quite an intriguing proposition.

But Luca quickly raised a question.

"... If you could do that, why didn't Lady Eltima entrust the devil stone to you?"

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

Herote dodged the question.

Luca remarked dryly.

"You must have failed, or maybe something went wrong making it. Like, you almost got corrupted by demonic power."

"Success is born from countless failures. But... Lady Eltima is not a researcher by nature; she just can't stand failure."

Seeing her pout, Luca smirked a little.

"Unfortunately, I'm not a researcher either. And if a woman like you gets corrupted by demonic power, I have no intention of cleaning up the mess."

"That's..."

If by some tiny, tiny chance Herote were corrupted by demonic power...

With Eltima absent, there would be no one to stop her.

No—more accurately, there would be no one able to stop her without killing her.

'Since Master and I are here, we could at least kill Herote if she were corrupted by demonic power... but saving her would be impossible.'

Lightning could purify demonic power, but it was powerful enough to injure a person.

If using it damaged even Luca's body, it would be that much worse for someone corrupted.

'I can't lose Herote here.'

Whether she knew what Luca was thinking or not, Herote said, sounding regretful,

"Then... could you weaken the demonic power before giving me some? Just barely, so it's almost not there?"

"Heh... That's... hm?"

At Herote's words, Luca remembered something and reached into his storage pocket where he kept important items.

He pulled something out.

"I do have this..."

"What's that?"

A solidified, blackened fetus.

Herote looked at it quizzically.

Luca explained flatly,

"Artificial devil stone."

"... What?"

The artificial devil stone he'd gotten during practicals.

He'd kept it aside for later use.

'It was originally for trading with Heaven's Door or to lure Demonz... but giving it to Herote isn't a bad idea either.'

The first target for the artificial devil stone had been Heaven's Door.

Since they were usually uncooperative, he planned to trade it to gain their help, but now that he'd befriended Eltima, there was no longer a need.

Second target was Demonz.

Artificial devil stones were currently hard to make and in high demand, so he had thought they'd be a good lure.

But if Herote could use this to make a device to detect devil's power...

'There'd be no need to bait them.'

That would be an even better result.

"Artificial... devil stone?"

Apparently surprised by the unexpected term, Herote made a complicated face.

Luca nodded.

"It's a bit charred, but since it's not purified, if you imbue vitality, it should regain its power."

"W-where did you get something like this?"

Seeing Herote's astonished face, Luca just shrugged.

He couldn't be bothered to explain.

"Anyway, with this, you should be able to do your research. But even that could corrupt you..."

Luca narrowed his eyes.

"You must have wanted the devil's power from the start. I won't overlook that."

"Who's overlooking who here?"

Herote, pulling an offended face, deliberated, then accepted the artificial devil stone and wrapped it in a multitude of magic arrays, saying:

"Fine. This time I'll make sure to deliver proper results!"

"I'm looking forward to it."

Leaving those words behind, Luca left the Headmaster's office.

Once alone, Herote checked that he'd left the central building completely, then took out the artificially created devil stone wrapped in magic arrays.

She gazed at it quietly and murmured,

"So this is a creation made by the Devil of Wisdom."

She, too, seemed to know about the existence that corrupted all mages: the Devil of Wisdom.

***

Apparently, there were quite a few students who, like Luca, didn't realize the final exams were scheduled so soon.

"Lu-Luca! Did you hear that finals are in two weeks?!"

"Just found out?"

"... So you already knew..."

The prime example was Ottbo.

He was usually up to date on the academy's business, so Luca found it surprising.

"I figured all the end-of-term events would be postponed by roughly a month because of the vacation... but no..."

"Well, the academy must have its reasons. You need to register off-campus activities in advance and all."

"Oh... yeah, that makes sense."

Nodding as if convinced by Luca's words, Ottbo sighed.

"I hope I can get first place again..."

"But the test scope has been reduced, and they say they might just repeat what was on the midterm, so there's no reason to worry, is there?"

"That's true, but..."

As they talked, Archiond suddenly joined in.

"Luca! Did you hear finals are in two weeks?"

"You're saying the same thing as Ottbo."

"Ha ha! This is just about the only thing to talk about right now!"

Archiond smiled at Ottbo, then turned back to Luca.

"So Luca, are you in this time too?"

"What do you mean?"

At Archiond's seemingly random comment, Luca raised an eyebrow, and Archiond burst out laughing.

"Of course I mean a bet! We've got to have a rematch!"

"Do you enjoy losing?"

"Ha ha! It'll be different this time!"

Luca smirked and folded his arms.

"If you lose again, you're joining the organization I made—Starry."

"You made an organization?!"

"Keep your voice down."

Seeing him widen his eyes, Luca cast a fierce look.

Archiond glanced around, then whispered:

"You actually started an organization?"

"Think of it as a club. I figured things would be more convenient with you in it."

Archiond's likability was 8.

The same as Milia or Herote.

At that level, Luca felt he could trust him to some degree.

'Maybe not right now, but this guy will be useful eventually.'

While Luca thought this, Archiond, after some hesitation, whispered:

"Are Milia and Isella in that organization?"

"... Not yet, but. Is there a problem?"

Archiond's tone suggested something was bothering him, and Luca looked at him curiously.

Archiond smiled faintly.

"There's a risk with them, you know."

"... Huh."

Archiond apparently also knew about Milia and Isella's secrets.

Of course, it wasn't unusual.

Unlike the original story, Obrola Partigel no longer seemed to be hiding information about Milia.

'Anyone who needed to know probably already does.'

When he met Robentus, Obrola had already been preparing to bury Milia.

No matter what Robentus did now, it would be impossible to contain the now-widespread information.

Her identity as the fourth imperial princess was, by now, common knowledge among those who mattered.

"Hmm... but if I lose this time, the penalty's kind of hefty. Isn't it a bit much for a casual bet?"

Luca shrugged at Archiond, who sounded uncomfortable.

"Don't do it if you don't want to. I'm not forcing you."

"Ugh... true, but... hmm..."

Archiond looked troubled, then suddenly had an idea.

"Then let's make this bet long-term!"

"Long-term?"

As Luca gave him a puzzled look, Archiond raised a finger.

"We'll keep scoring points until we graduate. Whoever has the most at the end enters the other person's faction. What do you think?"

"That's tedious."

At how far off into the future he was talking about, Archiond paused, considered again, then lit up with another idea.

"Then let's reset every year! Each year, whoever wins more over that time—loser joins the winner's faction for the next year."

"Have you got a faction?"

"Ha ha, you don't think I'd form my own faction?"

With a confident smile, Archiond looked satisfied.

Luca smirked back.

"Well, that's not bad."

"So, in the end, whoever spent the most time in the rival faction after graduation will decide whose side you're finally on."

Nodding at Archiond's proposal, Luca added,

"Good. And to make it less dull, every test, the person who loses has to buy the winner a meal."

"A meal? Sure! I like that!"

Delighted that there were now more things to bet on, Archiond smiled brightly and offered his hand.

"Let's see who wins more by graduation then."

"The result's already decided, though."

Luca replied flatly.

Archiond burst out laughing.

"Ha ha! You never know until you try!"

[Archiond Robette's likability has increased.]

Archiond Robette – Likability (9/10) Rival

It was the moment Archiond Robette gained a lifelong rival.