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

Whether or not a demon was summoned and stopped by students, time continued to flow.

The Academy concealed matters regarding the demon while secretly beginning to track demonic species.

Thus, the Andromalius summoning incident was settled for now.

'The riot of people infected with demonic energy didn't happen.'

The aftermath was still strongly present, unknowingly shaking the entire Academy.

Originally, people contaminated by demonic energy should have gone berserk, making the Academy even more chaotic.

Naturally, professors and assistants would have been unable to respond effectively to the demon while dealing with the chaos, which should have placed a greater burden on Aint.

But during this incident, such events didn't occur.

'What's going on?'

At this rate, there was no meaning in working with the Saint and the Order to treat contaminated people.

For what reason did the Saint take time from his schedule for missionary activities?

'No, perhaps it's because we did that that it didn't happen.'

But if that were the case, the contaminated people Jayce found weren't that many. Compared to the numbers he had seen through the prophecy book, it was woefully insufficient.

Moreover.

"Recently, I haven't found a single person. Could it be that there are no more, brother?"

"Since when?"

"About two days before you were injured?"

People contaminated with demonic energy had completely disappeared. They weren't missing; more accurately, the demonic energy that had been contaminating them had vanished.

This was certainly not a result of Jayce's actions.

Yet it seemed strange to think they had hidden out of fear. If so, they wouldn't have summoned a demon either.

"There's something I'm missing..."

But he couldn't figure out what it was.

"Missing something?"

"It's nothing."

Gerhard swallowed his words. It seemed they had come out without him realizing while he was pondering.

"So what did the Chancellor say?"

"He said he wouldn't make an issue of it with me for now."

"That's unexpected."

It might be understandable if Ariadne was still half out of her mind from being affected by the demonic species.

But to overlook the fact that she didn't take measures for the World Tree in advance despite being able to do so in a perfectly normal state?

'I do have some guesses...'

Since he roughly knew the Chancellor's personality. Still, it would be better to confirm for sure.

"That's not something for you to say, Senior! I told you we should have dealt with it earlier!"

Ariadne shouted loudly. She seemed quite resentful that a demon had been summoned because of the World Tree branch.

"Sigh, no. Calm down, Ariadne. You're a cultured elf. Pleasant words, kind words."

She's really throwing a fit by herself.

"Just tell me what the Chancellor said."

"...But why should I tell you this, Senior?"

Ariadne, having regained her composure, smiled brightly.

"My cooperation with you was for the safety of the Mother Tree's branch, but there's no longer any need for that."

"Didn't you say you wanted connections?"

"I said I wanted connections, not that I wanted to be a pushover. Honestly, you're the one who needs something now, right?"

That was true. What conversation Ariadne had with the Chancellor, and how the Academy was dealing with the loss of the World Tree would be quite significant branches for the future.

"Alright then."

But there was no reason to take a submissive attitude. He was quite familiar with people like Ariadne.

They bewitch people with seemingly innocent faces and then spread poison. Once you took a submissive stance, they would keep trying to manipulate you.

"Alright?"

"I've already heard everything I need to."

"I didn't say anything though?"

"You said he's letting it slide, right? Then it's one of two things. Either the Fridien family promised something else to smooth things over, or he had no intention of making it an issue from the beginning."

And there was only one possibility for the latter.

"A demon summoning isn't such a simple matter. It's not something that could happen just because one World Tree branch was poorly managed."

"..."

"Above all, there's no way an elf would neglect the World Tree branch, so it must not be your fault, right?"

"...It's not?"

"Whatever you say."

Having confirmed everything from her uncomfortable expression, Gerhard got up from his seat without hesitation.

"Wait a moment!"

"What is it?"

"Ah, I was just joking. Joking. We're close enough to joke around, aren't we?"

"What kind of relationship do we have?"

"The kind where we introduce connections to each other?"

"Is your measure of friendship connections?"

This was really something, being this obsessed with connections.

"I know it's strange, but if you think about it, you made me this way."

"Me?"

"More precisely, your family and the other Grand Duke families."

"Don't blame others."

"I'm just stating facts."

"What do you want to say?"

"So I'm asking if there's anything you're curious about. I'm prepared to answer sincerely."

But, you know. Ariadne carefully asked.

"...You haven't forgotten your promise to introduce me to a professor and a successor from another Grand Duke family, have you?"

"A merchant lives on credit."

"You really are a merchant. I've always believed in you, Senior."

"What if I said that Grand Duke family successor was me?"

"...You swindler!"

"I'm lying."

"I was also joking."

Ariadne let out an artificial laugh.

==

After finishing his conversation with Ariadne, Gerhard immediately prepared for the next step.

[An armored horse gallops.

A knight lowers his posture and extends his lance.

As they cross each other, a strong reverberation spreads around.

Nevertheless, there was no decision, and the knights who passed each other turned around and charged again.

Like that, three times. When there was still no winner, the two knights dismounted and drew their swords.

The ensuing duel pleased the eyes of all spectators.

"The winner, Knight Faculty 1st year, Aint Armian!"

After some fifty exchanges, a winner emerged.

"Gillet Piens lost?"

"...Aint Armian won?"

"Does this make sense? He's ranked 5th in the 3rd year Knight Faculty!"

"Losing to a 1st year! It's a disgrace to the 3rd year!"

"This is rigged! My money! I bet everything on Gillet Piens!"

"...So Armian hasn't completely fallen yet."]

At the time, he had skipped over it because the Chancellor's matter was more urgent, but the prophecy wasn't just about the Chancellor's actions.

[- Well done. Keep this momentum and win the mounted spear competition.

<Well, even if you don't win right now, you still have three more chances until 4th year, but the future is unpredictable.>

The winners of the mounted spear competition and the magic tournament earned the right to enter a warehouse created by the first Emperor and continuously managed by the Academy.

Also, the right to take out one treasure.

"What's in there?"

<There are many items. But there's only one you should aim for.>

"What is it?"

<Armor. Like me... calling the sword "me" sounds funny. Anyway, armor made by mixing mithril and adamant like the sword.>

<It's hidden so that no one can take it.>]

The mounted spear competition and the magic tournament. The Academy's greatest festival and competition. And even the first Emperor's hidden arrangements.

"How's your body?"

"I'm fine."

The importance of Aint Armian, the protagonist of the prophecy book, was once again proven.

Maintaining the relationship through occasional small interactions was a very important task.