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

Aint, Luina, and other first-year students gazed at the vast plain spread out below the castle walls.

And there they were.

Growl—

Grr—

A massive horde of monsters raising dust. Magical beasts. And at the end.

He stood there.

["...A demon? This is absurd..."

"A real demon? Haha, we're all going to die...!"

"We need to escape!"

"Is escape even possible?"]

Everyone trembled in fear before the overwhelming magical contamination and presence.

'A real demon?'

Gerhard was astonished, his mind reeling as the full implications of what he witnessed burned into his consciousness. The demon summoned this time was quite different from the previous one—an entity that radiated a malevolence so thick it seemed to distort the very air around it.

Unlike Andromalius, it wasn't alone.

Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands. It was a legion commander leading a horde of monsters and magical beasts that filled the plain.

Gerhard tried to examine its appearance, but it was too far away to see clearly.

["You struggle in vain. Wait quietly for death. That is your fate."

"Ah, no...!"

"I don't want to die...!"]

The people's fear intensified at the demon's low voice.

At that moment, Aint raised his sword high and drew upon his aura.

Warm beams of light enveloped the entire wall. It pushed away the magical contamination in the voice and stabilized their minds and bodies.

["Everyone, pull yourselves together!"

"Even if it's a demon, will you tremble in fear and wait for death?"

"Will you die just because it tells you to?"

"No. There's no reason to, nor must we."

"A thousand years ago, the first Emperor defeated all the demons and King Colomo and saved the world. They are not invincible."]

Aint's speech wasn't particularly remarkable.

But his light pushed away the magical contamination and fear, instilling courage.

The reality that there was no way back if they didn't win fostered obstinacy and determination.

Aint Armian. His very existence gave hope.

["Yes, whether we die standing still or fighting, it's the same!"

"We have Aint Armian!"

"The nemesis of demons!"]

Hope, or resentment and desperation.

Rough cheers and shouts filled the castle walls.

And at that moment.

Bwoo—, the battle horn sounded across the battlefield.

That was the beginning.

Trudge trudge trudge—

Monsters and magical beasts roared. Raising dust on the vast plain, they charged toward the castle.

["Everyone, prepare for battle!"

"Battle stations!"

"Move to your positions!"]

Knights stood at the front of the castle walls. Wizards began to chant spells.

The enemy legion approached rapidly.

Brilliant magic fell among them. Screams and howls were everywhere.

And finally, when the magical beasts reached the castle walls.

["Long live the Black Spear Mercenary Band!"

"Iron Cross Knights, stand against the enemies!"

"Soldiers! Fight the enemies and protect the kingdom!"]

["May the Armian Empire be eternal!"

"May the Armian Empire be eternal!"

"May the Armian Empire be eternal!"]

The future ended.

"..."

Gerhard took a rough breath. His eyes were bloodshot, and the veins all over his body were protruding.

"Huk, huk...!"

Having felt an intense magical contamination incomparable to Andromalius, Gerhard exhaled heavily.

A chilling sensation still remained. His fingertips trembled along with a headache that felt like his head was splitting.

"...Senior? Why are you suddenly sweating... Are you okay?"

"...I'm fine."

He wasn't fine. It was the first time he had faced such a terrible magical contamination.

'Who the hell is that cursed being?'

Gerhard stood up abruptly.

"Senior?"

"I just remembered an appointment. I'll see you later."

"Senior!"

He disappeared in an instant. Left alone, Aint stared blankly at his back.

"...What was that about?"

<It's similar to that time. For a brief moment, his focus suddenly blurred.>

"I don't sense anything special around us?"

<My senses agree. Honestly, I have no idea what's going on.>

<Maybe it's a chronic illness.>

"Hmm, that seems most plausible. I guess money can't help with everything. Whatever illness it is, it looked quite painful."

<He's rich, so he'll manage it himself.>

<If you've calmed the magical contamination completely, let's go back to the dormitory and continue absorbing it.>

<It would be quite troublesome if the same issue arises during a critical situation later.>

"Yes."

Aint returned to Lavidus Hall.

==

"Demon, demon...!"

The place Gerhard arrived at was the library.

Among the few books on demons, the one he pulled out was "King Colomo and the 72 Demons."

A book that didn't detail the demons extensively but briefly described their characteristics and appearances.

"Not this one, not this one..."

He quickly flipped through the book.

Although he couldn't see clearly from a distance, he remembered the particularly distinctive features.

And finally.

"...Found it."

Gerhard found the demon he had seen in the prophecy book.

"The 64th Demon, Flauros.

A demon that takes the appearance of a leopard. It can transform into human form, and when it does, it takes the form of a human wearing a leopard's head and leopard skin."

A human form with a leopard's face and wearing leopard skin. This was definitely it.

"...The 64th demon, Flauros?"

Gerhard's hand holding the book tightened.

Why does the 64th come right after the 72nd? What about the others?

'No, calm down. The ranking of demons isn't a measure of strength or hierarchy, just numbers.'

That's what was written at the beginning of "King Colomo and the 72 Demons."

So there shouldn't be an overwhelming difference in power between the 72nd and 64th.

'...Then what was that magical contamination?'

It seemed to be on a different dimension compared to Andromalius.

Gerhard, sweating cold, forced himself to read the book again.

There was a bit more explanation about Flauros.

"Flauros is an excellent warrior.

Flauros's red pupils are always burning, and he can control fire using his authority."

A leopard warrior who uses fire...

"...Hahaha."

He had thought this prophecy contained no danger, so he could comfortably make some money.

"I'm screwed."

The advent of a monster on a different level from Andromalius was predicted.

And true to its nickname as the commander of the hellish legion, it was leading a large army.

Damn it. How can we stop this now?