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

"....."

"....."

Two people, a man and a woman with their hair soaking wet from holy water, stared blankly at the ceiling.

"Your lifeless eyes suggest the purification is still incomplete. As a Saint, I cannot allow inadequate work, so once more..."

"No, that's enough!"

"You call yourself a Saint?!"

Ariadne Florian and Veriana Kalproten jumped in surprise and spat out curses. Jayce smiled contentedly at their reaction.

"The purification is complete, brother."

"Good work."

"Yes, brother, could I possibly get two sheets of paper?"

Gerhard Goldenheim handed over some paper from a private room. Jayce scribbled something on them and handed them to Ariadne and Veriana.

"What's this...?"

"An invoice."

"An invoice?"

"I've removed the demonic energy from your minds, so naturally you must pay for it, don't you think?"

Veriana quietly accepted the invoice, but after checking the numbers written on it, shouted angrily.

"What, you swindler...! This is daylight robbery!"

"That's right! Veriana is absolutely correct!"

Despite their angry voices, Jayce calmly shrugged his shoulders.

"Expensive, you say? I, a Saint, personally removed the demonic energy from the minds of noble-blooded individuals like yourselves. How is that expensive?"

"...Well."

"I suppose my services aren't that cheap. I'll pay it as is, whatever."

"Your change of attitude is too quick!"

"It's good that people with large ears are so generous." The Saint smiled in an extremely worldly manner.

"That's the first time I've heard that."

Could the words 'elf' and 'generous' coexist? Gerhard snorted.

"...Fine."

When Ariadne accepted the invoice, Veriana couldn't stay angry anymore. After all, there was nothing wrong with what Jayce had said.

"Then I would appreciate it if you could pay as soon as possible. Brother, I'll be going now."

"You said you're busy?"

"Yes. As the Saint of the Order, I have many duties during the festival..."

Soon it would be the founding anniversary, when the first Emperor defeated King Colomo and declared the establishment of the Empire.

A festival would also be held at the Academy, and Jayce had to preside over the event as the Saint of the Dragon Faith Order.

"I'll let you know if we find any clues about the demonic species."

"I appreciate it."

Jayce disappeared.

"Well then, let's start properly again."

Gerhard propped his chin and glared at Ariadne and Veriana.

"What happened to you two during that time?"

"Um..."

Ariadne blinked.

"I don't think anything special happened. At least not in my memory... or did it?"

"...Even with the demonic energy removed, the memories themselves aren't fully restored."

Actually, it would be more accurate to say that the memories from before losing their memories due to demonic energy were flowing smoothly, but memories from when they were contaminated remained vague.

"What about you, Veriana?"

"...I don't think there was anything special for me either. If there's one thing that remains, it's that I listened to this pointy-eared one saying the same thing in the same place, just at different times. Several times."

"What did she say?"

"Well, that's..."

The answer came from Ariadne.

"That there was a problem with the Mother Tree! Probably. Or not? Well, it should be right. And following your advice, I was looking for Veriana to hire a reliable chess piece. Probably?"

With those words, Gerhard could more clearly conclude how the demon had been summoned in the original history.

'They put a suggestion on Ariadne, the caretaker, to prevent her from reporting the anomaly, and proceeded with their plan in the meantime.'

That future had changed with Gerhard's intervention.

Originally, Ariadne would have known about it alone and then forgotten, but because of Gerhard, it had also reached Veriana, who had remained instead of exiting the scene.

Plus now there were Gerhard and Jayce as well.

'Perhaps...'

He thought they might be able to prevent the summoning of Andromalius now.

Although he didn't know the exact date of Andromalius's summoning, he knew it was before school reopened.

It was the time when students were returning one by one to the Academy, and the island that had been quiet during the vacation was becoming lively again.

There were still two weeks left until school reopened, and considering that not many students had returned yet, there was still some time.

The plan to catch the demonic species and prevent the summoning during that time seemed entirely feasible.

Of course, it was just a possibility; he didn't actually intend to do so.

'Perhaps the demonic species are already aware of this meeting as well?'

Ariadne would be a major target for their surveillance.

"Tell me. Who are all the people you met during the vacation?"

"There were quite a lot. Professor Nania Beris, Professor Ilayer, Professor Grad Xant, Professor Deoni, Assistant Miller, Assistant Aron Praine, Assistant Pierce, Senior Nofen, Senior Clio, Oh, I also met Professor Vallenod! And Professor Rosalia Wienderk! And..."

Gerhard, who had been writing down all the names that were endlessly coming out, stopped his pen.

"Are you going to name everyone at the Academy?"

"But I met them all during the vacation."

"I'm asking if there's anyone suspicious."

"I don't know. I feel like there was someone, but it's hazy, like being in a fog."

Not helpful at all. Gerhard's gaze turned to Veriana.

"It's the same for me. No one particularly suspicious..."

"This is giving me a headache."

He thought he had found a good lead, but he was mistaken.

'Well, it wouldn't be easy to catch them anyway.'

These were beings who hadn't left a trace despite operating covertly for quite a long time. There was no way to find their traces so easily.

'When I think about it, Andromalius being summoned is clearly the opposite of their actions so far. It's certain that Aint is that dangerous to them...'

Otherwise, there would be no reason for it.

"I guess we should check the World Tree branch first."

That was the only option for now.

"...Let's go."

"Let's go!"

"Me too?"

"No, you're not needed."

Gerhard rose from his seat.

***

"Oh my goodness, Mother Tree! Why have you become like this!"

Even without Ariadne wailing loudly, the condition of the World Tree branch looked serious.

The branches and leaves were all stained pitch black, and even the surrounding ground was contaminated black.