I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains

Chapter 169

After much practice, Luca was able to unfold his celestial wings.

However, he had only imitated the form, and could not fully unleash their abilities.

Pii!

"Master! Are you sure you're okay?"

Whistle, who had been near the mansion, flew over and looked at Luca with concern.

Luca spoke indifferently.

"I can only use the flying ability, so I don't think it will put much strain on me."

"That may be true, but......"

At the moment, Luca could not shoot lightning or use other sky powers with his celestial wings.

All he could do was fly and look impressive.

But under the current circumstances, that was enough.

"M-Master. Isn't that the ability you used before...?"

"I'm not overexerting myself this time. Don't worry."

Bella looked worried, recalling how Luca had almost died during the incident with Albino, but Luca remained impassive.

Only then did Bella seem to regain her composure and slowly looked him over.

"Indeed, I can't sense any lightning like I did last time."

"Right. Anyway, Bella. Can you read a map?"

"Of course. Ah! Do you mean you want me to guide you?"

Bella quickly pulled a map from Luca's bag. Ottbo had given it to him as a backup.

As she unfolded the map, Bella glanced at Luca.

"By the way, so you're going to fly there...?"

"... It's unfortunate, but Luca Traverse probably doesn't know how to properly handle the sky's powers."

Just in case, Luca spoke to his inner self—Luca Traverse.

'Do you think you can use celestial wings?'

—I don't know. And honestly, I don't really care about you carrying Bella and flying, so don't worry about it.

Now that he knew Bella could tell them apart, Luca felt a bit more cautious.

Once he got permission from his inner Luca Traverse, Luca sighed and looked at Bella.

"The previous master said it's fine too."

At his words, Bella gave a little chuckle.

"I figured he wouldn't care much. And I don't mind either. I kind of like you as you are now."

"Huh. Is that so."

"It's just... thinking the old master is still inside, it's a bit embarrassing to be carried."

At her words, Luca pouted.

"Tsk. If you act like that, it just makes it more awkward to carry you."

"Huhu! I don't feel that way about you now, so don't worry!"

"... I don't know whether to be happy about that or not."

Shaking his head, Luca held out his hand to her, and Bella shyly tried to take it.

Knock, knock!

"?"

Just then, someone knocked on Luca's door. Luca flinched for a moment, then tilted his head.

"Big brother...?"

"I'm coming in."

Bang!

Wylde entered the room just like that. Looking expressionless at Luca floating outside the window, he spoke.

"Where are you headed, Luca?"

Luca hesitated for a moment before replying flatly.

"Something urgent came up. I'll be back in two days."

"... Is it a dangerous matter?"

Wylde still asked in his usual deadpan tone.

'Why does he keep asking things like that?'

Luca's eyelids quivered, but he composed himself and replied.

"I'm not sure. But I'll come back safely, so don't worry."

"......"

Wylde was silent for a moment, then looked at Bella.

"Bella. Is it dangerous work?"

"N-Not that I know of!"

Suddenly put on the spot, Bella flinched and turned her head slightly.

"I can't say for certain. I just follow master......"

"......"

She could have just denied it, but she spoke meaningfully. Luca glared at her.

'Just say it's fine!'

'Master. Isn't it better to get big master's help, though?'

'Are you crazy? If something goes wrong and I'm alone, the family won't be affected, but if big brother gets involved, it'll be a hassle.'

'I think if big master goes, nothing's likely to go wrong, though?'

'I still don't want that. I don't want to rely on Wylde's help for Ottbo's affairs.'

'Is that how you really feel.......'

Luca and Bella exchanged looks as they conversed in silence. Neither was entirely wrong.

If, by one in a thousand or a million chance, something went wrong, it could easily be overlooked if it was just the second sons Luca and Ottbo.

But if Wylde, the eldest and near-sure successor, got involved, it could become an issue between families.

Still, with Wylde's help, the odds of something bad happening dropped drastically.

So the deciding factor for what would come next was one thing: Luca's will.

'The one who overcomes trials should be myself. Only then can I grow and prepare for the future. If I keep leaning on people like Wylde, I'll never build the strength needed to handle what's coming.'

This is why Luca never accepted more help than necessary.

He did not know what might happen in the future, but if something could be handled alone, he wanted to do so.

'Besides, help from Milia or Isella is one thing, but with Wylde, things get messy. There's no telling what kind of change it might bring to the future.'

Moreover, Wylde was destined to become the strongest swordsman who would block the demons.

If he kept getting tangled up in these matters, things would get complicated. There was simply no reason to get Wylde involved now.

"It's apparently somewhat dangerous, so I'll come too."

"No."

"!"

Luca responded immediately to Wylde's grave tone. Wylde was visibly shocked by his curt answer.

Watching this, Luca spoke impassively.

"Big brother, just tell father and mother for me."

"......"

Wylde stayed silent, and Luca stressed his point.

"If you follow me, things will get complicated. If you try to sneak along, I'll cut all ties with you, so be aware of that."

"!"

Wylde froze completely at Luca's words.

Seeing how greater the shock was than he'd expected, Luca was impressed inside.

'Looks like I care about Luca Traverse even more than I thought.'

—... Tsk.

His inner self only clicked his tongue. Just then, as she read the mood, Bella quietly moved up to Luca and said,

"Then, master. Shall we depart?"

"Let's go."

Bella stepped onto the windowsill, smoothly dropping the map.

"Oh dear."

As she bent to pick it up, she discreetly pointed at something on it with her finger.

Wylde, lost in shock, caught this gesture.

"Let's get going."

"Yes!"

Bella quickly wrapped her arms around Luca, and Luca soared up into the sky.

"So... it's that direction!"

"Got it."

Bella studied the map and pointed the direction, and Luca flew off at once.

Left alone, Wylde fell into thought.

'The place Bella pointed to was Gress territory. Luca's friend was Ottbo Gress. Did something happen to him?'

'If it's a family matter, it'd be awkward for me to get involved. I'm not friends with Ottbo Gress.'

'But during the meal, Luca's face looked odd. This can't be a trivial issue.'

Wylde remembered noticing the change in Luca's expression as he looked at his student handbook during the meal. That's why he had come to see him.

"Luca......"

Whispering his brother's name, Wylde became lost in thought.

* * *

I still can't forget that day—the day Luca was born.

"Waa! Waa!"

"...!"

The moment I first saw him, I thought: How fragile, how unstable, and how beautiful. As he cried, I reached out my finger as if enchanted.

Grip!

"...!"

He grabbed my finger and stopped crying. Then he grinned. For a moment, I couldn't breathe.

"He must really like you."

Father commented dryly from beside me. I glanced at him, then looked back at Luca. The baby was already sleeping soundly.

He didn't release my finger. I didn't want to take it away, either.

"He's your younger brother. Unlike you, he resembles me more than your father."

Mother murmured softly, her eyes full of love despite her exhaustion.

"This child will face many trials and hardships. He's too weak to endure them alone. So you must protect him."

Mother's whisper barely reached my ears. Even if she hadn't said it, I would have sworn to myself—

"I will protect this child, even at the cost of my life."

Until the day my heart stops, I would shield this boy from all threats. On the day Luca was born, I made that vow.

Since that day, I devoted myself to swordsmanship with unyielding effort.

People called me the Return of the Fang or the future of Hernan Empire Swordsmanship, but I didn't care.

The only thing I cared about was absolute strength—the power to protect Luca at any cost. That was everything to me.

"......"

But maybe that was a mistake. By devoting myself solely to swordsmanship, I gained strength, but couldn't see those I was meant to protect.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Luca didn't talk to me, didn't talk to anyone—he only swung his sword. Just like I did.

Seeing him, I realized I'd made a mistake.

'He's lonely.'

I swung my sword only to protect Luca, but being ignored by him now made my heart ache.

Was this how Luca had felt?

Racked by guilt, I couldn't speak to him at all.

Time passed in that pain, and when I came of age, I fled to Hernan Academy.

And there I met him—

"So you're the Return of the Fang?"

"... And you are?"

"Me? Mika Welch. Noble blood."

Friends. I met friends and enjoyed life at the academy. During those times, I forgot about Luca.

Even during vacations, I preferred hanging out with friends over visiting the family.

I didn't even remember my old vow. I was simply enjoying myself.

Then came this year—

"This is the 100th entrance year. How crazy is that? Time flies."

"Weren't we 97th class?"

"Yeah, right. Wow, we're already in our fourth year."

As we joked about that, it suddenly hit me—

'Isn't this the year Luca starts school?'

At that realization, I remembered the day Luca was born, the moment he grasped my finger, and the vow I'd made.

'What have I been doing all this time?'

Then came regret—the pain of neglecting Luca and shame over not keeping my oath.

So, from a distance, I tried to watch over Luca. But he didn't attend the entrance ceremony.

"Wylde, what's wrong? You still haven't seen your brother?"

"Seems like he couldn't attend the entrance ceremony."

"Huh? Oh—there was some commotion earlier. Was that about your brother?"

"Does it bother you?"

"... Luca doesn't like me very much. Even if I cared, I can't just go see him."

"That's how it is with siblings. Want me to check on him?"

"Then please do."

So I asked Mika to check on Luca for me. Mika said Luca was getting along fine with friends. That put my mind at ease.

And I thought that was enough—I thought as long as Luca found friends, he could enjoy life like I had.

"Wylde, are you really not coming to the party, even though Luca's going?"

"Luca... at the party?"

Then one day, Mika asked me to come to a party. Normally, I would have refused, but the news that Luca would be there changed my mind.

'Luca, who hates parties, is going...?'

Luca had always disliked parties. Even when forced to attend, he would keep to himself and slip away. The idea of him going willingly was unbelievable.

"I'll go."

"Alright! See you tonight!"

It took some time to get ready for the first party in a while, so I was a little late.

And there—I saw him.

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

"Bravo! Bravo!"

"Amazing! Luca Traverse!"

"Whee! That was a wonderful dance, Pasmo Thier!"

Luca was dancing—with a beautiful woman.

'Luca... has changed so much...!'

Luca, whom I hadn't seen for so long, was more reliable, more beautiful, and stronger than ever.

Mixed emotions ran through me—happiness, and also sorrow.

As I was lost in these indescribable feelings, he approached.

"Senior Mika... big brother."

That's where everything began again.

—I will protect this child, even at the cost of my life.

Once again, I swore that no matter what, I would protect him. This time, I would never go back on that vow.

Whatever may happen.

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

The change into Wylde's POV was surprising...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】