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

But that was that, and this was this. There was no reason not to seize a weakness willingly offered.

Especially when the other party was a future Royal Knight.

"I won't blame you right now. But I don't know what kind of request I might make in the future."

"One thing, anything I can do, I will accept."

"Good."

After tentatively wrapping up the conversation, Gerhard changed the subject.

"So, what does Baron Berchef of the Borderlands plan to do now?"

"Since only a small number of magic beasts have been discovered so far, he said he would investigate more thoroughly."

Does he intend to blow it open after gathering sufficient signs and evidence?

Anyway, once the demon is summoned, it can no longer be a secret, so it didn't matter as long as it was blown open after that.

"I see. There might be a battle soon."

"Is it what you mentioned in the letter?"

"Yes."

No, it was a lie. Not a demon species, but a demon.

"It's a different entity from what we've faced so far. It won't be easy, so it's good to prepare mentally in advance."

He didn't bother to correct that it was a demon. The difference between a demon and a demon species was just one character, but the weight was different.

If Luina learned about the demon, she would try to borrow external power rather than resolving it with our strength.

Such as the academy or family.

And that was also the natural course. That's why it had to be hidden until the end.

"Yes."

Luina nodded, determined.

'Honestly, it's a bit worrying, but we'll be able to stop it.'

Even if it's a demon, in the prophecy book, it was at a level that Aint could handle sufficiently. Probably because it was a hastily arranged summoning.

For the sake of the future, it had to be handled by Aint, by Aint's hands.

'It's not like there aren't points that make me wonder.'

The reason demon species move as carefully as possible is probably because their preparations aren't complete. That's why the summoned Andromalius was defeated by an Aint who was still not fully ripened.

Why would they, who had been moving so carefully, suddenly take the reckless action of summoning an incomplete demon?

'It's because they were anxious about Aint growing faster than expected.'

At least that's how it was in the original history. Probably. Attempts to kill Aint had failed several times in the original history.

'Nothing changes.'

Andromalius will be summoned, and Aint will kill it.

And he becomes a hero and grows, going on to completely exterminate demons.

That was the future ahead.

***

Veriana blankly looked up at the sky.

'What was I trying to do?'

Lately, she had been experiencing a foggy head frequently.

'I keep forgetting things, am I getting old?'

She hadn't heard of forgetfulness coming at the age of 20.

"Ah."

A clock placed on one side of the wall caught her eye. 2:10. Belatedly, she remembered the seasonal semester class at 3.

"Right. I was going to go to class. Or was I already on my way? There's still 50 minutes..."

Suddenly, her gaze turned forward. She found Ariadne who was staring blankly at a wine glass with a similar expression.

"...Why are you here?"

"I don't know either. Why am I here?"

Veriana and Ariadne stared at each other blankly.

"Eyes like rotten pollack."

"...Huh?"

"Senior Gerhard? What brings you here?"

The human and the elf tilted their heads in incomprehension.

"What are you two doing? I called you here. Is your memory at the level of a mudskipper?"

Gerhard reached out and picked up two notes placed on the table.

[To the tea house.]

They were notes Gerhard had sent to the two.

"Ah, come to think of it, I came here to meet you, Senior..."

"Come to think of it, I did too..."

The elf and human looked at each other and frowned.

"...Don't tell me."

And Gerhard recognized the seriousness of the situation.

***

A few weeks before Gerhard and Luina returned to the academy.

Veriana Kalproten was leisurely tilting a wine glass.

She was one of the few students who remained at the academy during the vacation period.

'There's nothing to gain by going home before showing something to make up for it.'

For a loser who had lost in a duel that should never have been lost, the only path left was exile.

It was ultimately an escape, but it couldn't be helped.

"So you didn't go back?"

"That's right."

Veriana took a sip of beer.

Fortunately, there was an appropriate excuse. The seasonal semester that the academy held during vacation.

After sending a letter saying she would push herself harder as a pretext for the defeat, she stayed at the academy.

"Such a childish excuse."

"...And why did you stay?"

"Who knows."

The red-haired elf, Ariadne, propped her chin and munched on a cracker topped with prosciutto and cheese. The bittersweet and salty flavor wasn't bad.

"Just because?"

The superficial reason was her friendship with the newly appointed spirit studies professor, and the internal reason was the protection of the World Tree.

"By the way, I wanted to get close to Aint, but somehow among the first years, I ended up talking to you first."

It wasn't a coincidence.

It was rare for students to stay at the academy during vacation, and the few remaining students naturally had more contact.

'The Kalproten family isn't too bad either.'

Although not a sovereign household, it was a wealthy family closely following below. With wide domains under its command and many forces, it was called a great noble family.

From any perspective, becoming friends would bring more gain than loss.

"That Aint, Aint. Are you all about Aint too? What's so lacking about me compared to Aint?"

"Skill."

"...I admit it because I lost."

Veriana barely acquiesced with a trembling brow.

"And family."

"It seems to me that the Kalproten family is much better than the Armian family, which has completely collapsed."

"But you're not a sovereign household."

"Damn sovereign households...!"

Certainly, there was a weight that came with the name 'sovereign household.'

Not just simple honor, but substantial rights as well. There was a wall that could never be crossed between sovereign households and ordinary nobles.

Especially Armian, which may have completely shrunk in power, but still remained a great family in the hearts of the people.

It's said that even Schwaben hesitates and can't change the name of the empire because of this.

"But for someone who hates Aint, you seem to get along well with him?"

"That's...!"

"Anyway, you're isolated in the department, and so is Aint. I want you two to overcome that hardship together."

"What's important is that I have a recording orb that recorded the moment you became a demon transformation."

It was because someone who held his leash wanted it.

"Aint Armian is already chasing other demon species. If you stick by his side, you'll eventually encounter the one who made you like this."

But it wasn't solely because of that.

Revenge. Veriana wanted to find the culprit who had polluted her and turned her into a demon transformation to get revenge.

"...That's your misconception."

But since she couldn't tell the truth, she shook her head and took another sip of beer.

"I'll say so."

"Thaanks for letting it go."

I really don't like these elves.

'But maybe I should have gone back home regardless of how I would be treated...'

Veriana tried to push down the intense anxiety with alcohol.

"Ah, by the way, could you come to the forest later for a moment?"

"The forest?"

"Yes, you asked why I stayed earlier? Actually, a branch of Mother Tree is planted here, and I'm guarding it."

"...What?"

Startled by the sudden secret, Veriana blinked in confusion.

"Is it okay to tell me something like that?"

"Originally, it's not. But it seems there's a problem with the branch of Mother Tree. I think I'll need help in case of an emergency."

"Why me?"

"Senior Gerhard said so. That you could be trusted to ask for help."

"...What?"

Ariadne smiled brightly and leaned forward, lowering her body.

"Demon transformation."

A quiet whisper penetrated her ear.

"He said if I mention that, you would unconditionally help while keeping the secret."

"...Gerhard Goldenheim, you damn human!"

"You have a bad way of speaking about Senior. I'll tell him everything."

"Whether you tell him or not..."

Wait a minute.

"Then you also know about demon species...?"

"I've fought magic beasts to the point of exhaustion. You could call me the Hero of Reversal."

"...What nonsense are you talking about?"

What do you mean.

"I'm saying I might need your help."

Ariadne shrugged.

"Am I such a pushover that I'll help unconditionally when you ask?"

"So you're not going to help?"

"Damn it."

Veriana cursed.

Despite getting heated, she felt like crying at her situation where she couldn't refuse.