I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains

Chapter 187

[Hernan Academy Rumor – Jewel of Michelan]

― A long time ago, Michelan, a renowned magic stone craftsman and professor at the academy, fell in love with a student.

― She confessed her love to the student and gave him the most beautiful and powerful magic stone she had ever crafted as a gift.

― However, the student rejected her confession and also did not accept the gift, then left the academy afterward.

― Despondent, Michelan also left the academy, and it is said she hid the returned stone somewhere within the academy.

-???

*Once more than half the information has been collected, additional related details will now be marked on the map.

'Ha, so it's like this?'

This was a little different from what happened in Pia Forest before.

Back then, he knew some of the background setting, but this time, knowing nothing may be the reason things were like this.

'Or maybe, it's just that the hint isn't so difficult as to require much more information.'

Unlike Pia Forest, which had become a 'legend' at Hernan Academy, the Jewel of Michelan was merely a 'rumor'.

It seemed like a straightforward hint, with no particularly difficult challenge or extraordinary reward at stake.

'I was only half listening, and it turns out the only information I have is about what those guys said.'

Even the information gathered by automatic fragment collection was just what Ottbo and Archiond happened to mention while chatting.

The important point here is that he wasn't even consciously paying attention to their conversation.

'Nice, this really has gotten convenient.'

It gathered information on its own and turned it into a hint.

It was far more convenient than before.

'And if you collect more than half the information, it gets marked on the map, huh.'

Luca quietly activated the map app.

Of course, he'd turned off sharing.

Vwoong!

A 3D representation of the academy's grounds appeared.

There were question marks marking unknown entities throughout.

Among them was a new icon in the shape of a jewel, labeled 'Jewel of Michelan'.

'Here, huh...'

Seeing the icon's location, Luca made a subtle expression.

He knew the place well.

― This statue is usually called 'The Great Commander,' but its real name is 'My Knight.'

-'My Knight'?

― Yeah. Surprisingly, it was made and donated by a professor from the Magic Department.

― Really?

― A love between a swordsman and a mage—quite romantic, don't you think?

Suddenly, a certain passage from the original novel came to mind.

'... Ah. So, it's about that?'

The purpose of the hint fragment collection was to gather backstories.

This, too, must have been one of the fleeting backstories mentioned in the original work.

Luca let out a short laugh.

'Ha. So this really is almost spoon-feeding me.'

It was a situation where they were practically telling him to come and get it.

It didn't affect the main scenario, and seemed like a positive change that fit the original intent of the god of stories when giving this app.

'However, since I can only have one hint at a time in the fragment collection, I guess it's best to complete generated hints as quickly as possible.'

After the new term started, a lot more information would be coming from everywhere, but the hint fragment collection slots were limited.

So it was important to complete hints as soon as possible.

'Still, even if it's automatic now, isn't just one slot a bit stingy? There should be at least three, shouldn't there?'

Thinking that, Luca glanced down at the phone.

'You're listening, right?'

Of course, there was no reply, but Luca signaled inwardly to the god.

'Well, anyway, this one should be finished fast, too.'

While Ottbo and Archiond continued chatting, Luca finished his meal and stood up.

"Then let's go find it."

"What?"

Ottbo pulled a sour face at Luca's sudden comment.

Luca looked at Archiond.

"The Jewel of Michelan. Isn't it something you want to find?"

"Huh? W-well, I did think it would be nice to find it, but..."

Having brought up the topic himself, Archiond stumbled over his words, unable to say he didn't want to go now.

Watching him, Luca spoke flatly.

"Then let's go find it."

"But... how...?"

As the pair hesitated, Luca spoke in the same calm tone.

"By instinct."

"?!"

He watched their confused expressions and smirked.

"Just kidding. I've heard that story too, more or less. And I know the real story behind it as well."

"R-really?!"

"Really. I happen to have an informant."

Saying this, Luca nodded his chin.

"Let's go look."

* * *

"This is..."

"The Swordsmanship Department...?"

Luca led them to a spot that seemed out of left field.

Ottbo and Archiond looked uneasy, but Luca continued in his even tone.

"In the end, that rumor is just a rumor. It's far from what actually happened."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"It means that part of the story was reconstructed by gossips."

The moment he saw the location on the map, Luca could guess the truth behind the rumor.

It was even mentioned briefly in the original work.

Just in passing though.

"First, 'Michelan' is not a real name. It's a name that got twisted by combining Mikelro and Roelan into one."

"Mikelro and..."

"Roelan...?"

At his words, Ottbo and Archiond tilted their heads in unison.

They sounded familiar.

At least the name Mikelro did.

"You probably heard about it in history class. The champion Mikelro. He's the one who established the Command Swordsmanship School in the Swordsmanship Department."

Having said that, Luca stopped in front of something.

It was the office building of the rather obscure Command Swordsmanship School, even within the Swordsmanship Department.

There was a statue there.

"The Command Swordsmanship School isn't popular, but there are two reasons its legacy continues. One is the existence of the champion Mikelro, and the other is the unwavering support of House Sitnia."

"House Sitnia? Isn't that the 'mage' family famous for magic stone crafting?"

Ottbo looked puzzled.

Luca nodded and pointed at the statue.

"This statue is called 'The Great Commander,' but its actual name is 'My Knight'. There's a special magic stone inside it that preserves the statue as it was when first created."

"...!"

As if just realizing, Archiond's eyes went wide.

"This is the 'Jewel of Michelan'?!"

"That's right. The professor from the rumor is Roelan Sitnia, and the student is the champion Mikelro."

[Academy Rumor – Jewel of Michelan has been completed.]

[Backstory 'Jewel of Michelan' has been generated.]

[Backstory Liberation Bonus provided.]

Even as the notifications popped up, Luca continued indifferently.

"Mikelro didn't reject Roelan's confession because he disliked her. He was graduating and about to go to war, so he couldn't promise he'd return alive. He didn't want to leave her hanging, so he turned her down."

"Ah..."

"And he didn't leave the academy because he was running away after rejecting her. He left because he graduated. As for Roelan, she didn't leave because Mikelro was gone; she simply retired."

Luca watched them with an unperturbed expression.

"If you read the history books, you know Mikelro died during the war. Roelan made this statue to commemorate his passing and donated it to the Swordsmanship Department. The rumor about the Jewel of Michelan stemmed from that story being distorted over time."

"Wow, that's really..."

The pair fell silent for a moment, then shouted in unison as if on cue.

"That's awesome!"

"A love story between a swordsman and a mage—a true classic!"

Seeing how excited and noisy they became, Luca let out a small laugh.

He glanced stealthily at his phone.

[Academy Rumor – Jewel of Michelan]

Secret grade: 1

'As expected, it's grade 1.'

Given the simple story and easy solution, he didn't expect the hint to be of a higher grade.

'It feels like one of those side stories you'd never discover unless you searched for it in a game.'

He liked how it felt.

It was fun to learn the backstory by combining the information he'd picked up while living in the original's setting.

'And the rewards...'

Luca checked the rewards generated as he liberated the backstory, then grinned widely.

[As a Backstory Liberation Bonus, a grade 1 information search pass has been granted.]

[By completing a hint with automatic fragment collection for the first time, you have received an additional 'fragment collection slot' as a bonus.]

[Currently available hint fragment collection slots: 3]

'So you were listening.'

The grade 1 search pass was nice, but expanding the fragment collection slots was truly appreciated.

'Good.'

With three slots, he felt he could take his time making hints.

While he thought this, Ottbo and Archiond looked somewhat disappointed.

"Ah~ but it's kind of a letdown. It wasn't a real jewel after all."

"Right. So the only real jewel left is Aksinos's Jewel?"

"Oh! You know that rumor too?"

And just as they began gossiping about other rumors—

[Automatic Hint Fragment Collection Completed.]

"... Ah."

Another strange hint had appeared.

* * *

During the few days left of vacation, Luca spent his time completing light hint fragment collections.

Soon, the new semester began without much fuss.

"Ha... another term's started. You guys must be happy, but for me, it's just exhausting..."

"Ha, headmaster! Please, that's enough!"

Herote spouted nonsense during the opening ceremony and was stopped by Vice-master Ethylen Basta, but it was nothing more than a trivial incident.

With course registration approaching, Luca decided to take the S-class Swordsmanship class.

"Luca-kun, you'll have to serve as my teaching assistant this time as well, won't you?"

He figured just taking SA-class would suffice, but Kryphi had forcefully put him in S-class so he had no choice.

Naturally, he met someone else there.

"We'll be in the same class this time."

Archiond's friend—and, in the Swordsmanship Department, Luca's own rival—Brace Avint.

Brace looked at Luca with fighting spirit in his eyes; Luca gave a small grin.

"It's going to be much easier to get first place in the department this time."

"... We'll see about that."

To everyone's surprise, Ottbo ended up taking S-class courses in both departments.

His main was in the Magic Department, and his sub was in the arcane science department.

"Hehe, professor Sretill Magus cut me some slack."

"That's great."

Luca sincerely congratulated him—after all, Ottbo becoming close to Sretill Magus could only be a good thing.

"Still, we'll have the same general subjects as you, Luca."

"That's good. Milia and Isella, you two will have the same general subjects as us, right?"

He'd thought it would be the same as last time.

But contrary to his expectations, Milia shook her head.

"We talked to the headmaster, and this semester, we won't be taking general subjects."

"?"

Luca looked puzzled, and Milia shrugged.

"It's a busy time right now, so we had no choice. We asked to only be spared from failing, and she agreed."

"I see."

"But we'll still be there for morning classes, so we can have lunch together. So don't make that face, Ottbo."

Seeing Ottbo's rather forlorn expression, Milia said this curtly, and Ottbo immediately lit up again.

Watching this, Luca chuckled, and just then Milia seemed to remember something.

"Oh, and Luca. Isella has something she wants to say."

"... She's right next to me. Let her say it herself."

He couldn't understand why Milia was speaking up when Isella was right there.

At Milia's words, Isella looked flustered.

"Ah, milady..."

"Isella! You said you wanted to say it! Tell him properly!"

"?"

Milia seemed a bit agitated.

Whenever she made that expression, trouble was always near. Just like now.

"Ha... So—Luca Traverse."

"Wait. You don't have to say it aloud—"

"I challenge you to a duel."

Feeling a sense of foreboding, Luca tried to cut her off, but Isella blurted it out in the end.

But what came out wasn't anything big.

Luca looked puzzled.

"A duel, huh? Since we're in the same major, we can duel whenever. Or do you want a more intense match?"

"N-no... I mean..."

Isella hesitated, then squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.

"Battle me for the position of Harvest Festival dance partner! Luca Traverse!"