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

Waaaaaah!

The massive stadium, capable of holding up to 50,000 spectators, vibrated with the ear-splitting cheers of the audience.

"From the third-year Knight Department, Valia Anus!"

As the referee announced, Valia Anus, mounted on a horse, slowly walked out.

"And facing him, from the third-year Knight Department, Gismond Ert!"

From the opposite side, Gismond Ert appeared riding a black horse.

'So that's him.'

Sitting in the VIP section, Gerhard examined him.

Gismond Ert.

Third-year student in the academy's Knight Department.

After confirming yesterday that two predicted semifinalists had been defeated, he immediately investigated Gismond's background.

Until last year, he had been an unremarkable person.

Being admitted to the academy already meant he had talent that wouldn't be inferior anywhere on the continent, but within the academy, he was average.

First-year first semester rank: 55th, first-year second semester rank: 53rd.

Second-year first semester rank: 52nd.

Neither particularly outstanding nor particularly lacking—just average.

'But then he suddenly changed.'

Second-year second semester rank: 49th.

For the first time, the tens digit became 4.

Third-year first semester rank: 22nd.

He climbed 27 ranks in a single semester.

And then, whatever happened during the break, he defeated two Knight Department students who were objectively better than him and advanced to the top 32 of the Jousting Competition.

'...Does this make any sense?'

Gerhard had initially kept some of his abilities hidden and also had artifacts to help.

But Gismond Ert was different.

'The Ert baronial family is nothing special.'

Just a common baronial family in the Empire. A small territory where they made a living farming.

He didn't have the wealth like Gerhard to freely use artifacts. And there was no reason for him to have been hiding his strength.

'What exactly is going on?'

What kind of person suddenly appears and makes me lose money?

He was someone who had never been mentioned in the prophecy book.

Did some latent potential suddenly explode? Or did he consume some hidden elixir in large quantities?

That wasn't the only problem.

Gismond had eliminated two people who were destined for the top 16.

'Given the nature of the tournament bracket where all matches are conducted in a tournament format, the 16 people who advance to the top 16 should never meet each other before that.'

That means while one person could lose to Gismond, two shouldn't—as that would indicate the bracket itself had changed from what it was supposed to be.

'Did he not participate in the original future?'

If so, the upcoming Jousting Competition could be completely different from the content of the prophecy book.

"...Huff, this is infuriating."

"But everyone else was correct, and it's just two people, isn't it?"

"Not 'just' two people, but 'as many as' two people."

And no one could predict how many more those two might become.

'Because of the altered bracket, he'll meet two more.'

In other brackets too, people who shouldn't have met are meeting.

"Ready."

At the referee's word, Valia Anus and Gismond Ert stood at opposite ends of the stage. Holding their jousting lances, they stared at each other and took their stances.

"Begin!"

The signal dropped.

Thud thud thud-

The two horses pounded the ground.

The horses, blowing harsh breaths, approached each other in an instant.

Their riders aimed their lances at each other.

───!

A piercing sound of air being torn resonated. Unresolved shockwaves swept around, but a pre-prepared barrier protected the audience.

Neigh—

The horses whinnied in pain from the great impact and pranced about.

The students, having passed each other, turned around at opposite ends.

Thud thud thud-

The brief peace ended as the horses charged again.

Clash—

The second collision. Their lances clashed.

The horses screamed, and the students suppressed their groans.

Passing each other again, they turned around.

"This won't end as just a jousting match."

"Though it's called a Jousting Competition, it rarely ends with just jousting."

As if to prove Gerhard and Hyde's words, the third collision also didn't decide the outcome.

"Dismount!"

At the referee's call, Gismond and Valia dismounted. Putting down their lances, they drew their swords.

If three collisions don't settle the match, they dismount and compete with swords.

That was the rule of the Jousting Competition.

"Fight!"

Sharp auras were honed on their swords.

Gismond's aura was brown, similar to his hair color.

"Hyde, how does it look to you?"

"The completeness of the aura is a level higher for Valia Anus."

"But the amount of aura is greater for Gismond Ert."

"Yes."

There wasn't much need for close examination.

Valia Anus's aura was sharper and more solid, while Gismond Ert's was disorderly. But it was large and wild enough to cover all those deficiencies.

"Did he really find and consume an elixir somewhere?"

That seemed most plausible for now.

If so, where from?

In the original history, he must not have consumed it, which is why he neither stood out nor participated in the competition.

Above all, the Ert family didn't seem that wealthy.

'...Could it be magical contamination?'

He had already experienced that those corrupted by magical contamination could have their aura increased.

While Gerhard was conversing with Hyde, the two Knight Department students charged at each other.

Clash!

Sword met sword. Broken aura fragments flew in all directions.

Most of those fragments were brown. Gismond's aura instantly diminished.

But it recovered so quickly that the diminishment seemed inconsequential.

As this process repeated several times, it was Valia Anus who tired first.

His sword gradually slowed, and his aura lost its solidity. The brute force didn't miss the weakened gaps of the opponent.

"This monster...!"

Valia gritted his teeth.

In terms of swordsmanship and combat sense, he was ahead. Evidence of this was that Gismond's sword hadn't touched Valia's body once. But the reverse wasn't true.

Although he hadn't inflicted fatal wounds, Valia's sword strikes had pounded Gismond's armor more than ten times.

The issue, as always, was the aura. An excessive amount of aura was protecting Gismond's entire body.

In the end, Valia couldn't penetrate the opponent's aura.

Conversely, Gismond targeted the weak points of his tired opponent.

───!

A translucent barrier blocked the slash aimed at Valia's chest.

The bracelet on Valia's wrist was glowing.

It was a safety artifact provided by the academy, and its activation meant...

"Match over! Winner, Gismond Ert!"

...that the match had been decided.