I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains

Chapter 173

Among the neatly lined-up rewards, the addition of the special skill "Bond" particularly caught Luca's eye.

'They keep adding things. I barely use the Map, will I even use this?'

There were several systems that, even after being added, Luca did not actually use.

Just by looking at the name, this Bond skill also seemed like something he wouldn't end up using.

With a disinterested face, Luca checked the skill.

[Bond]

This skill can be activated targeting a person with max likability.

As long as the user and the target completely trust each other, their attacks do not inflict damage on one another.

Additionally, upon skill usage, both parties share each other's traits and exclusive effects.

"?"

Another literary-sounding skill had been added.

The skill explanation was hard to understand.

Luca only understood after reading it several times.

'So... if Ottbo and I completely trust each other, even if I stab Ottbo with a knife, he won't be harmed?'

Luca did not know by what mechanism this skill activated, but since it was given as a reward, it would probably work with some sort of divine authority.

However, the phrase "completely trust each other" was too vague.

'So if I'm about to stab him with a sword and Ottbo even slightly doubts me for a single moment, he'll die?'

The condition was too convoluted, and the effect a bit strange.

'At least, the fact that traits and exclusive effects are shared is good.'

Seeing that traits would be shared, it meant not only would Luca receive another person's traits, but the other person would also receive Luca's traits.

'Individual traits aside, the ability to share my exclusive effects is quite significant.'

The exclusive effects Luca possessed even now were quite useful.

- Currently active exclusive effects: Shadow Over the Academy, Eccentric Alchemist Bern Doyner, White Plague Albino.

Letting others use those would truly be a good thing.

'I didn't do this for the rewards this time, but it's satisfying enough.'

Luca had not tried out Treasure Hunt yet, so he was not sure how useful it would be.

But, judging by the fact that only one was given at a time, it had to be a good reward.

'I'll have to use Treasure Hunt just once during the rest of the break.'

While Luca was making plans for break, Ottbo said with a big smile.

"Luca, you should try to get some sleep in advance. By the time we arrive at Traverse territory, it'll be morning."

"We don't have to rush. We could go some distance to a safe place, sleep, and then set out."

"I'm really fine! I caught some sleep on the train. Besides, you had your work too—didn't you come because something came up?"

At Ottbo's words, Luca glanced at him.

By now, Luca no longer became fatigued even after missing a night or two of sleep.

But he did not dislike this kind of consideration.

"... Alright then. I'll close my eyes for a bit."

"Sweet dreams, Luca."

The road back home was expected to be peaceful.

* * *

Chirp, chirp, chirp!

With the sound of birds, dawn tickled Luca's eyes.

"Ugh..."

Luca opened his eyes, groaning.

Ottbo greeted him with a bright smile.

"Good morning, Luca."

"Where are we...?"

Glancing to the side, Luca saw a familiar road.

He exclaimed in admiration.

"We're already in Traverse territory."

"We'll arrive at the mansion soon!"

With an ordinary auto-carriage, the trip would take three or four days, but while Luca slept, Ottbo had already arrived.

To call him the continent's best driver would be no exaggeration.

"Huh? Isn't that your big brother over there?"

"?"

When they were almost at the mansion, Ottbo spotted someone and looked puzzled.

Luca also looked in the direction Ottbo was staring.

"... Big brother?"

Just as Ottbo had said, Wylde was waiting at the entrance gate of the mansion.

'As expected, he's fast.'

Just as Luca had flown, Wylde must have also dashed across the terrain, disregarding geography, so it was not surprising that he had arrived first.

Screech!

"..."

"..."

Standing before Wylde was Carivik.

Ottbo glanced at Luca, uncertain whether to get out or not.

"I'll get off,"

Luca said, unfastening his belt, and at that moment, Wylde turned away.

"?"

Wylde walked off toward the mansion without a word.

Luca and Ottbo exchanged puzzled looks but entered through the mansion gates for now.

Then, after getting off Carivik, they entered the mansion.

"Luca! Where have you been?"

There, waiting as if she had been expecting him, was Merian, looking at him with a worried face.

Luca fell silent for a moment, unsure what to say.

"Wylde waited outside all night for you!"

"... Hmm."

Coming back last night after that incident, only to hear he'd waited until their return, was rather impressive.

Merian, seemingly having worried a lot, continued pouring out her concerns.

"After dinner you disappeared, and when Wylde went out for about two hours to look for you, he came back and started waiting at the entrance. I almost dispatched the covert unit!"

"...?"

Luca sensed something off in her words.

'Two hours?'

When Luca flew to the Gress territory, it had taken just over one hour one way.

Two hours for a round trip.

But Luca had done a variety of tasks there, not just coming back right away.

'Unless Ferka was defeated instantly... no, even if he was, there's no way to come back in only two hours.'

And, as far as Luca remembered, Wylde had no sense of direction.

At first, he'd followed Luca and hadn't gotten lost, but on the way back, he'd have been on his own—did he manage to make it all the way back to Traverse territory without getting lost?

It seemed odd.

"... Could it have not been the big master?"

Bella too seemed to notice that something was wrong and murmured to Luca.

Luca glanced around and soon spotted the fidgeting Ottbo, quickly pulling him over.

"?!"

"I went to pick up a friend."

At Luca's words, Merian's eyes went wide.

"A friend...!"

Having had to spend her time tracking Demonz on the battlefield, Merian had not had time to play with Luca.

Whenever she visited the territory, she watched Luca practice swordplay alone and had wished for him to make friends.

That's why, even knowing Luca disliked it, she would personally try to bring him to parties, or ask Wylde to take him to various parties, but Luca would always end up alone anyway, which made her heart ache.

'That Luca says "a friend"...?'

Merian's eyes flushed red.

"?"

"?!"

When she looked like she might suddenly burst into tears, everyone present became flustered.

Especially Ottbo, who thought he was the cause, stared with wide eyes, unsure of what to do.

Feeling the need to quickly take charge, Luca spoke up.

"Mother?"

"Huh? Ah... no, it's just... sniff!"

"Mother?!"

As if Luca's calling triggered it, tears welled up in Merian's eyes and she suddenly burst into sobs.

Even the composed Luca was so surprised that he hurried over, and Merian reached out a hand to him.

"It's fine... it's fine... it's just... just, I'm so happy...!"

"... Go fetch Father, Bella."

"Yes, master!"

Thinking that only Malox could resolve this situation, Luca ordered Bella, and she disappeared at great speed and immediately returned with Malox.

Malox, seeing Merian crying, hurried over with a concerned look.

"Merian. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine... I'm fine... It's just, because Luca brought home a friend... I'm so happy..."

"Luca brought a friend?"

Malox, hearing that, also looked at Luca in surprise.

Luca replied flatly.

"Is me bringing a friend equivalent to a natural disaster or something?"

"No, well... it's not like that..."

With those kinds of reactions, even Luca, who was initially surprised, started to feel odd.

As Luca's tone grew a little curt, Malox gently comforted Merian.

"Merian. Calm down. Don't startle the boy."

"Yes... sniff! Whew... It's all right now."

Now barely calm, Merian.

Watching that, Ottbo whispered in amazement.

"Luca, your parents get along really well."

"Are you teasing me?"

"No, I mean, compared to my parents, they really respect each other."

Luca glanced at Ottbo.

Ottbo was looking at Malox and Merian with a slightly envious expression.

He'd grown up in a family where unless you were the heir, the children were placed under restriction.

It couldn't be helped that he would admire such a harmonious family life.

"... Whatever. Why don't you live with Milia like that, then?"

"H-huh, so sudden?!"

"You're the one who brought it up in the first place."

Luca retorted bluntly.

Ottbo scratched his cheek with an awkward expression.

At that moment, Merian, now calm, spoke.

"Did you boys have breakfast?"

"Not yet."

"Then head to the dining hall and wait just a bit! I'll have breakfast ready for you soon. Luca's friend can join too!"

At Merian's words, Ottbo hesitated for a moment, then nodded with a faint smile.

"Yes!"

* * *

From breakfast until Malox and Merian returned to the front lines, Luca and Ottbo spent time with them.

Ottbo enthusiastically talked about Luca's life at the academy.

Naturally, he omitted the more dangerous episodes.

"Luca is really popular! He even has a fan club!"

"... A fan club?"

"Oops, that was supposed to be a secret from Luca."

A fact even Luca hadn't known came out, but it wasn't particularly important.

Malox and Merian listened to the stories, as if making up for the time they couldn't spend with Luca.

Watching their warm smiles, Luca felt a subtle emotion stir within him.

-...

He could not say for sure whether it was his own, or Luca Traverse's.

Time flew, and soon it was time for Malox and Merian to leave.

"Once things wrap up on the battlefield, I'll have much more time to stay here at the family. Please endure it, just a bit longer, Luca."

"I will. As always."

"... Yes. I'm sure you two will do well."

With that, Malox and Merian left the family with smiles.

As soon as they departed, Wylde spoke indifferently.

"Luca. What are your plans for the rest of the break?"

"I suppose... I'll train a bit, and then go out here and there with this guy."

While training was important, staying in the family mansion for a whole month would be wasteful.

He had to use Treasure Hunt, and while tracking the devil's traces, he needed to complete the hint as well.

"How long do you plan to train?"

"I intend to stay about a week longer."

"I see."

Wylde replied blankly, turning around.

"If you want to spar with me, just say the word. I'll be staying here the entire time."

"... Yes."

Apparently Wylde also had no intention of staying in the family forever.

After seeing Wylde off, Luca turned to Ottbo.

Ottbo quickly asked, as if he'd been waiting.

"Are we going to train?"

"Oh? You're confident?"

"Of course! I need to get a lot stronger, especially now that I have no family to protect me!"

Now that he no longer had a family to protect him, he needed to become stronger to survive.

Ottbo was filled with determination.

Seeing that, Luca smiled wryly.

"Fine, but before that, I want you to teach me how to drive an auto-carriage."

"Automatic carriage driving?"

"Yeah. Just in case you're not around, I don't want to have to ride a slow auto-carriage."

At this point, with celestial wings, mobility wasn't an issue, but it was still worth learning just in case.

'I have a class 1 license, so I should learn quickly.'

He figured he could master it in a few hours, let alone a whole day.

"Sure. But my Carivik is a bit different from regular auto-carriages, so do you want to practice with your family's carriage instead?"

"Let's do that."

Ottbo also seemed to think it would end quickly and nodded readily.

The two of them got in the auto-carriage.

Unlike usual, Luca was in the driver's seat while Ottbo took the passenger seat.

'... Where are the pedals and gear shift?'

However, the auto-carriage was a bit different from modern cars.

It had a steering wheel, but no brake, accelerator, or gear shift.

"It's helpful if you know drive magic, but you can manage without it. Your magic power control is good enough, Luca."

"... Hmm."

Luca was a little flustered but calmed down, gripping the steering wheel at Ottbo's words.

Ottbo put on his belt and said,

"First, if you channel your magic power into the steering wheel..."

Bwaaang!

"?"

Suddenly the engine roared.

Luca panicked and tried to withdraw his magic power.

Ottbo screamed in haste.

"Don't pull your magic power out!"

"!"

That was the mistake.

Channeling in and out his magic power in quick succession caused the engine to overload.

The auto-carriage suddenly shot forward.

Crash!

"What's going on out there!"

Hearing the loud crash from outside, Wylde immediately rushed out.

He was a little startled since he hadn't sensed any enemy presence before hearing that noise.

Wylde came outside to see the auto-carriage lodged in the mansion fence, looking disgruntled.

"What... is this..."

And inside the carriage, the two sat looking at one another.

"..."

"..."

Looking at Ottbo's disapproving expression, Luca said blankly,

"What are you looking at."

Luca was not a good driver.