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

The vacation that seemed so long now had only two weeks left. Even if he departed right tomorrow, it would be about a week after arriving at the Academy.

After that, the second semester would finally begin.

"...I was supposed to go too, originally."

"Get better soon and come back."

"I've taken a leave of absence for this semester."

Though he was recovering quickly, considering rehabilitation therapy, it would be unreasonable to return to school within this year.

With his body in this condition, there was no way he could keep up with the other students.

"Well, taking a semester off isn't a big deal; I can catch up diligently with seasonal courses, but it's a bit disappointing to miss the festival."

The Empire's Founding Anniversary.

This day, when the first Emperor declared the establishment of the Empire, was the greatest holiday in the Empire, continuing for a thousand years, and festivals were held throughout the territory. Naturally, the Academy was no exception.

In particular, the Knight Faculty's mounted spear competition and the Magic Faculty's magic tournament had special significance.

"It would have been the perfect opportunity to break those knights' jaws in the mounted spear competition and make the name of the Black Spear Mercenary Band known...!"

Indeed, Barosu's mounted combat skills were beyond imagination. If he had participated in the mounted spear competition, he would certainly have achieved significant results.

"I'll do well in your place."

"Why would you? Even though we've been mercenaries together long enough to call it the Black Spear Mercenary Band, I should handle my own business."

Well, still.

"Don't lose while carrying our mercenary flag. If you're going to lose, don't say you lived with our mercenary band. It would damage our reputation."

"I'm ranked higher than you, you know?"

"Individual ranking and reputation are different matters."

Aint and Barosu looked at each other and chuckled.

He felt inexplicably warm inside. For Aint, this mercenary journey was beyond merely gaining practical experience; it was about gaining a reliable friend—no, a comrade.

"Anyway, I'll be going."

"Okay, see you next time."

Aint returned to the Academy by taking a boat back the same way he had come.

After the yacht club incident, there were now quite a few patrol boats monitoring the Academy's waters.

'Come to think of it, wasn't there a new course on naval combat being established?'

After experiencing that chaos, they had no choice but to pay attention to sea battles as well.

The ship glided across the sea and arrived at the Academy. The port was overflowing with students returning, just like Aint.

<Where are you going? You should now be heading to Lavidus Hall, not such smelly places.>

"Ah. Right. That's true."

He remembered that his dormitory had changed after becoming the second-ranked student, and he had moved his belongings right after the semester ended.

"To think I'd return here based on my own abilities. It feels quite novel."

Aint admired the classical appearance of Lavidus Hall. Previously, he had been a visitor coming to see Veriana, but now he was also a proud resident.

"Welcome, Lord Aint. I'll escort you."

As he entered the lobby, the maids greeted him warmly. Aint coincidentally met Veriana, who was just coming out.

"Veriana, it's been a while."

"Aint? Looks like you're back now. Seems you've gotten lazy since becoming second-ranked?"

"Not particularly. Where are you going?"

"I'm going to see Senior Gerhard."

"Senior Gerhard? Let's go together. Come to think of it, I have something to talk about too."

About the demonic species encountered in the Kingdom of Pragia. Though he had sent a letter once in between, there were many things to discuss in person.

"...Do as you please."

Veriana nodded with a reluctant expression.

"Did you go home during the vacation?"

"I didn't go. I took seasonal courses."

"Ah, right. You mentioned that."

"What about you? Your aura seems a bit more... sharp now."

"I went to the Kingdom of Pragia for a bit."

"Pragia? Did you do mercenary work?"

"How did you know?"

"It's obvious."

There were two places in this world with the most mercenaries. One was Berchef, and the other was Pragia.

The reason was naturally because of the abundance of monsters worth exterminating for money.

"Anyway, that's why you seem a bit rough now."

"Is it that noticeable?"

"A guy who used to look gentle has become sharp; it would be stranger if it weren't noticeable."

The conversation briefly ended with those words.

"But where are we going right now?"

"The southern forest."

"Senior Gerhard is there? Why?"

"You'll understand when we get there. Ah, now that I think about it, he asked to notify him as soon as you arrived, so it should be fine if you come along."

"Me? Why?"

"I don't know that much. Stop bothering me."

Silence fell once again.

After walking for a while, they finally stepped into the forest, and a strange feeling touched Aint's senses.

"...Demonic energy?"

<It's demonic energy.>

The unpleasantness had become all too familiar to him now.

Aint hesitated. And at that moment.

Rumble rumble-

Not far away, a massive black stem rose vertically, scattering a sound that shattered the air.

"...Kuh!"

"What is this...!"

The shockwave swept the surroundings. Aint and Veriana lowered their posture and swallowed their groans.

—!

The stem that had risen into the sky emitted waves. An opaque, hemispherical demonic energy covered the forest.

<...This is a barrier!>

"...What's happening!"

"Veriana! What exactly is over there?"

"...Branch."

"Branch?"

"The World Tree branch is there. Half-contaminated."

"...What?"

He knew they had brought the World Tree branch because Gerhard had mentioned it.

But what was that?

<I thought the location was top secret, so they didn't even tell us, but how does this guy know?>

<Wait, the World Tree branch is contaminated by demonic energy? Then, could this be...?>

These crazy people. How are they managing the World Tree? Gardner spat out curses.

Immediately after.

—!

A bizarre sound, difficult to express in human language, enveloped the inside of the barrier.

——!

It was an extremely unpleasant and chilling scream.

"...Tree?"

The stems wove together, forming a gigantic tree.

And that tree grew as if to pierce the sky, and indeed broke through the sky.

"...Is space breaking apart?"

Veriana's mouth fell open. Aint's gaze followed his.

Along the path where the branch extended, cracks formed in the sky, and shattered pieces fell to the ground.

<Could this be...!>

<No, that can't be! This is absurd!>

'What is it, exactly!'

<If my guess is correct, this is...!>

At that moment, a pure white hand abruptly emerged from the crack.

Crack crack crack, as it forcibly widened the crack, the destruction of space accelerated.

Aint's complexion turned pale at the terrible demonic energy filling the inside of the barrier.

<...It's a demon.>

After the hand came an arm, then a head and torso.

<A demon is descending...!>

A monstrous being in human form, yet by no means could it be called human. And a snake coiling around its arm.

"...Andromalius."

The 72nd-ranked demon, Andromalius, had descended.