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

As they were about to eat quietly in a partitioned area, passing through the crowded people, a woman who had occupied a table alone stood up.

"Senior. I've been waiting for you."

"For me?"

"Yes. Please sit here, here."

Gerhard frowned at her natural gesture pointing to the seat in front of her.

"Did I agree to meet you?"

"I was just waiting here thinking you might come this way."

"You thought I would come here?"

"You like the food here, don't you? You come here more often than other places."

That was true. It was a restaurant Gerhard particularly liked, run by a chef specially brought from across the continent.

"Did you investigate me?"

"No, I confirmed it personally."

She blinked with an innocent expression. Along with it, her pointed ears twitched.

How curious. Are all elves like that?

"If you have something to say, make a separate appointment, Ariadne Florian. I'm a busy person."

Just as Gerhard was about to pass by her, a quiet murmur stopped his steps.

"That's strange. Didn't you receive a letter from your family?"

"...It was you."

He felt that the question that had been occupying a corner of his mind all morning was somewhat resolved.

"That's right. You..."

"Follow me."

"Hmm, I just remembered an appointment, so I'll be going ahead."

Gert tactfully disappeared, and Ariadne followed Gerhard to a private room prepared on the third floor of the restaurant.

"Speak."

"Did you receive the letter well?"

"The Fridien family requested me as the person in charge. Was that your doing?"

"That's right. I had some influence."

Ariadne smiled.

"There are many excellent people in the company besides me. Yet you specifically picked me, and approaching me first like this means you have a good reason?"

"A reason that's big if you consider it big, small if you consider it small."

She nodded firmly.

Gerhard couldn't understand it. In a transaction, someone is bound to benefit.

But the current transaction seemed strange.

No one seemed to gain by Gerhard's participation. At least, not from what he knew.

"What is it?"

But if something was hidden, the story would be different.

"What was written in the letter?"

"There wasn't much particular content. There was some kind of agreement between the academy and your family, and various items were exchanged."

Items like spirit stones and World Tree leaves were expensive things that couldn't be easily obtained without elves.

Whatever they received from the academy in return, it must have been quite extraordinary.

"That's right. But that's just the outer packaging."

"Outer packaging? You mean there's a real one apart from that?"

"That's right."

Ariadne paused briefly.

"Don't build suspense unnecessarily, just tell me. Having grown up as a merchant, I've seen all sorts of precious things. Do you think I'd be surprised? Unless you're moving the entire World Tree..."

But that was something that couldn't possibly happen. The elves wouldn't do such a thing unless they were insane.

"That's right."

"Yes, that couldn't possibly... What did you say?"

Did I hear wrong?

"It is the World Tree. To be precise, a branch of the World Tree."

"...You're bringing a branch of the World Tree to the academy?"

It was certainly less important than the World Tree itself.

But that didn't mean the value of the branch could be underestimated. Though called a branch, it was obviously not an ordinary one.

It was a sapling that the World Tree could only produce one of every hundred years, a manifestation of the World Tree.

It alone contained the essence of the forest and deep mana, constantly influencing the surrounding environment.

"You're giving that away? What on earth did you promise from the academy's side?"

"I wouldn't tell you such things. I heard you were an outstanding merchant, but this isn't like you, senior."

"...I admit I showed an unseemly reaction."

Gerhard quickly regained his composure.

The branch of the World Tree was certainly surprising, and though he didn't know what the academy had offered in return, that wasn't the pressing issue for him.

"I understand. The importance of this matter. Is that why you specifically requested me as the person in charge?"

"Yes."

Ariadne, who had been pausing briefly, smiled.

"When the family heir becomes the person in charge, the weight changes, doesn't it?"

It meant this was an important matter for the elves.

"Plus, I have a desire to build a relationship with the future Duke through this opportunity. I told the teaching assistant last time, didn't I? That I want to maintain good relations with all Margrave families."

"Are you coming too?"

"The academy has been very accommodating. It seems I can substitute lectures with a field practice system."

Of course they would be accommodating. It's not just anything, but a branch of the World Tree they're being given.

"I'm not particularly curious about your second intention, and I understand your point entirely."

Gerhard adjusted his posture.

"After going around in circles, in the end, regardless of how, you want me to be the company's person in charge."

He leaned back in his chair, maintaining an expressionless face.

"What can you give me in return?"

Since they approached first, I'm the one in control.

***

Early dawn, Gerhard opened his eyes.

["I heard the professor of Spirit Studies is changing."

There was some kind of transaction between the Fridien Viscounty and the academy, and the Viscounty donated items related to spirit arts.

The academy made thorough preparations to receive it, and Gerhard Goldenheim, becoming the person in charge, successfully transported it.]

[- They're changing a perfectly fine professor just because they gave some spirit arts items?

"Yes."

<Hmm, something doesn't seem right.>

"Actually, Ariadne told me something I should absolutely not tell others."

<What is it?>

"She said among those items, there's a branch of the World Tree. That's why she's going directly."

<A branch of the World Tree would certainly drive the academy people crazy. But they gave such a thing? Why? Are the Fridien people insane?>]

["The branch isn't growing well? Is it because it was moved?"

<There weren't any problems in the middle?>

"No. Ariadne said nothing happened."

<Then don't worry about it. Let the pointy-eared one and the academy handle it. It's vacation now, right? Be prepared to work like a dog during the vacation.>]

[A sky stained crimson.

People rampaging, contaminated by evil energy.

And the opening rift and descending demons.

At the center was the branch of the World Tree.

<It's the branch of the World Tree! The branch of the World Tree is becoming the most powerful magic source for the summoning formation!>]

The anxiety that had been wondering why the immediate next part wasn't appearing, despite the prophecy book's content having flowed by, disappeared immediately.

But now a different anxiety surged.

"..."

It wasn't the first time, and by now he should be used to it, but he wasn't at all.

Both the pain in his head and the content were truly dreadful.

"Nothing happened, they said, so why is it becoming a medium...! And when I'm the person in charge!"

Gerhard's eyes were bloodshot, his clothes soaked in cold sweat.

A nightmare.

A truly terrible nightmare informing him of the process of taking one step closer to the path of downfall.