The Third-Rate Academy Villain Who Refuses to Become a Beggar

On an early morning with chirping sparrows.

Gerhard sat in the garden, dragging his tired body. Servants brought coffee and light refreshments.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm tired."

How many days had it been since he stayed up all night?

"Why don't you rest a little?"

"I can't do that."

He was aware that he was pushing himself too hard, but with the scheduled descent of the demon Andromalius, there was no room for leisure.

"Count Landgard frequently expresses his dissatisfaction."

"Dissatisfaction? That cranky dwarf always grumbles. But when you see him at work, his eyes never stop smiling."

Landgard was one of the most renowned craftsmen on the continent who had pledged allegiance to the Goldenheim family.

Gerhard was currently receiving help from Landgard and other family craftsmen and wizards.

"Dwarleo's help is really significant. He catches and improves parts that I hadn't even recognized."

Having the assistance of an outstanding wizard was indeed convenient.

"Hmm?"

At that moment, someone unusual caught Gerhard's senses.

It was a person he had never seen before. A tall figure of about 2 meters. His muscles looked extremely solid, and small scars were engraved all over them.

A man who appeared to be in his mid-40s.

"He doesn't seem to be from the family."

What made Gerhard's neck cold was that he couldn't sense anything from the man.

It was one of two possibilities.

Either there was truly nothing, or he was a strong individual beyond Gerhard's reach.

"Isn't that where the Duke's study is?"

"Is he coming from meeting my father?"

If so, he wasn't an enemy. Indeed, an enemy of the Goldenheim family wouldn't dare enter deep into the family quarters.

'Who could meet my father so early in the morning? His face seems somewhat familiar.'

While thinking that, their eyes met.

"...!"

Gerhard flinched at the feeling of facing a predator. Raw, unprocessed anger was boiling.

"What...!"

Hyde hurriedly blocked Gerhard's view.

"I have no intention of harming him, so step aside."

The man had already approached right in front of them.

When he gently pushed Hyde's shoulder, Hyde was pushed aside without being able to resist.

Their eyes met once more.

"So it's you. The one who sent that child there."

The moment the growling tone pierced his lungs, lightning struck in Gerhard's mind.

The world turned upside down.

["So it's you. The one who was there with that child."]

The man looked a bit older. But his aura remained the same.

No, it was even more menacing and more ferocious. The raw anger made one's heart tremble.

["Yes. I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be sorry. It's just that the child was weak, and I didn't teach him properly."]

Aint bowed his head. He also looked much more mature than now.

The man calmly forgave him, but the deeply rooted anger hadn't disappeared at all.

["How was it? The child's end?"

"...He was braver than anyone."

"...Stupid kid. I taught him to be a mercenary and to only look at money and life, not justice or courage."]

A hollow laugh flowed, empty yet somewhat proud and regretful.

["Who was it? Who killed that child."

"...A demon."

"A demon?"

"...It was Andras."

"A demon. What happened to it?"

"I killed it. With Barosu's help."

"...I've heard rumors that demon species are active. Yet I thought it wouldn't be much related to me, but it killed my disciple."]

The man gave a self-deprecating smile.

["They took Barosu from me, so I also intend to prevent them from achieving what they want."]

["I will spend the rest of my life killing demons."]

A burst of hatred and killing intent that Gerhard couldn't dare imagine was released. Just as his mind was becoming dizzy, his consciousness returned to reality.

'...Barosu dies?'

Wait, then this man is...

Gerhard tried to ignore the headache and examined the man's appearance. Somehow, he thought the man looked familiar, and it was because he had seen him through the registry.

"...The Mercenary King."

A person with the title of mercenary or knight.

One of the ten greatest knights.

"You forgot the honorific, young blood of Goldenheim."

"...It's an honor to meet you."

"I heard you made a request to Barosu. Why?"

"...That's."

An ominous feeling brushed his spine. Could something have gone wrong?

"...Because I thought Barosu was the right person."

"Yes, he is the right person. Not because he's my disciple, but because Barosu is truly an outstanding mercenary."

Hmhmm, the Mercenary King laughed lowly.

"I don't intend to blame you. It's not like you did something wrong, and there's nothing strange about making a request to a mercenary."

In the first place, it was Barosu's choice to accept the request.

"Nevertheless, I thought that if it weren't for your request, the child wouldn't have ended up like that."

"...What happened to Barosu?"

"Ask your father about that. And try to stay out of my sight as much as possible from now on. I know rationally that it's not your fault, but emotions are different."

The Mercenary King, suppressing his hatred, disappeared.

After he disappeared and Gerhard was freed from the pressure, he took a rough breath.

"Are you alright...!"

Hyde, who couldn't do anything under the Mercenary King's pressure, bit his lip and examined Gerhard.

"I'm fine...!"

His head felt like it was about to burst, but it was nothing. Nothing at all.

That wasn't what was important right now.

'Something happened to Barosu!'

That meant something had definitely happened to Aint, who would have been with him.

Surely Aint hasn't died, has he?

'What if the demon species' vigilance increased because of the future I twisted, and they deployed stronger forces?'

Damn it, Gerhard gritted his teeth.

That's when it happened.

"Young Master, here you are. His Excellency is calling for you."

A servant came looking for him. Gerhard immediately headed to the head of the family's study.

"Welcome. Judging by your expression, it seems you've encountered Garet."

Garet Schreiner. The Mercenary King's real name.

"Yes. What's going on?"

"Garet has asked for our help. He wants us to track down the culprit."

The information network of the Goldenheim family, spread like a spider's web, could be proudly considered superior to anyone else's on the continent.

That was also why the Mercenary King had come.

"...By culprit, you mean?"

"They say Garet's disciple, Barosu Drage, was seriously injured in the Abelar subjugation and still hasn't regained consciousness."

"...!"

Gerhard let out a sigh of relief.

Sorry for Barosu, but the demon species who succeeded in their operation wouldn't leave witnesses...

The fact that he's alive means...

'Aint didn't die.'

It meant hope hadn't been extinguished.

***

"What did you discuss?"

"Serious matters."

According to the original prophecy book, Aint would withstand the demon species' attack alone. But why, this time, did such a situation occur even with Barosu and the Gray Spear Mercenary Band?

'There's only one possibility.'

It meant that the future Gerhard had changed caused a butterfly effect.

And that meant the future ahead might also change unpredictably.

'I tried to make minimal preparations for Aint's growth, but that might not be nearly enough.'

Perhaps a demon other than Andromalius might appear, or instead of students simply being infected with magic energy and going mad, something more terrible could happen.