I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains Chapter 10

"When, when did Your Highness get here...?"

"From the very beginning."

As she answered lightly, Isella—whose real na was Lysel Pandriga—also appeared behind her. The elders of the faculty grew even more tense at the entrance of Lysel, who was responsible for "Moonlight" in the royal family's secret weapon 'Night'.

"That was so startling. Us old folks could die if we get surprised like that..."

While the faculty elders gave awkward reactions, the vice headmaster Ethylen, who had the quickest judgnt, responded first to Brid's words.

"By the way, Princess, what do you an by a recomndation...?"

"You know how it's a problem because three S-Class students suddenly went on leave? We need to promote at least one or two from A-Class to S-Class, but if we just promote anyone, the other factions will raise objections."

Currently, the Hernan Empire has three factions.

One is the noble imperial family, the proud lineage of Hernan.

Another is the Kimberly Ducal Faction, ford around the most respected mage, magpigor Kimberly.

The last one is the Partigell Ducal Faction, responsible for the economy of the Hernan Empire.

These three factions maintain a stance of rivals and collaborators, checking each other while helping at tis. However, in matters of pride, where there is no real loss, none would likely back down easily.

"That's right. It's sothing we've been struggling over as well."

"I have soone in mind I'd like to recomnd."

"Hoo... Princess, it was difficult enough to bring you here under soone else's identity, and now you want to ask for sothing more?"

"Oh my, what a disappointing thing to say between us. You're only sitting in that seat thanks to ."

"Y-Your Highness!"

Brid Hernan chuckled quietly at the flustered vice headmaster Ethylen, then handed them a photo. The three elder faculty mbers looked at the photo and wore conflicted expressions.

"This is..."

"This person will do just fine."

"They certainly are an excellent candidate... but they're also at the center of this recent incident, and there's a high chance the Kimberly Faction will object."

The children of the Kimberly Dukedom were already upperclassn, but among the vassal noble houses under them, there were several with children entering this year. If they overlooked them to send Luca up to S-Class, it was certain to cause complaints. Brid Hernan squinted her eyes and smiled at Ethylen, who spoke cautiously.

"No, what I an is that if you choose this person, there won't be any objections at all."

"... Ah."

In other words, she was saying she'd prevent any trouble from arising. One could ask what kind of power a re first-year academy student could possibly have, but knowing who stood behind her, Ethylen could only sigh instead. Yet still, he seed skeptical as he spoke again.

"Your Highness, forgive my impertinence, but why go so far as to take such a risk to promote the Traverse family's second son to S-Class? Even if you beco close to him, the Traverse family supports the Second Prince."

"If it's impertinent, perhaps you shouldn't say it?"

"...."

Ethylen fell silent, and Brid Hernan gave a little laugh as she stood up. She picked up the photo she had left on the table, tucked it back into her pocket, and turned to leave.

"I like his face."

"... Excuse ?"

"Well, I'll leave it to you, then~."

With that breezy answer, Brid Hernan left the room, Lysel Pandriga following at her side. The elder teachers were left with bitter looks on their faces.

Moving away from the senior teachers, Lysel spoke cautiously.

"Your Highness. Roben..."

"Lysel."

"... I apologize. Is it really alright to ask that person for help in this matter?"

Brid stopped Lysel from saying soone's na. After apologizing, Lysel scanned the area and referred to the person obliquely. Brid stifled laughter.

"Of course. The Duke of Kimberly wouldn't bother with sothing so trifling. The only ones making a fuss are the people who want to pick up the scraps under him."

For soone who wasn't even his child, or soone with no reputation within the faction, the Duke of Kimberly wouldn't step forward. At most, complaints might co from barons or viscounts. Stopping them wouldn't take much effort.

"And besides, they're all idiots who couldn't get into S-Class by their own rit. Even the Kimberly Faction will just let it go."

"But isn't the sa true for him?"

"Lysel, you dueled him with swords and still don't realize it? I hate to admit it, but the fact that he didn't get into S-Class was due to Hernan Academy's error."

Lysel fell silent, unable to deny Brid's words. Yet her voice soon turned grumbly again.

"Still, Your Highness, why go so far for a brute like him?"

"I told you. I like his face."

"Huh, you an, his face?"

Chuckling at Lysel's flustered expression, Brid replied,

"I'm joking. Not that I don't like his looks, but he's useful—in politics and for enjoying academy life."

"I... see..."

Lysel still didn't understand, but seed to accept it since Brid said so.

"Well, since I went this far for him—"

Brid flashed a bright smile.

"He'd better make my life interesting."

There is no such thing as favor without compensation.

* * *

"Huh? Wait, how did you...?"

A week had passed since the entrance ceremony ended. Freshman orientation and dorm assignnts were done, course registration was finished, and suddenly Luca appeared in the S-Class. Seeing him, Ottbo's eyes went wide. Not wanting to bother with a lengthy explanation, Luca spoke quickly.

"Three S-Class students went on leave all of a sudden, so they had to promote soone from A-Class. I was picked."

"R—really? Wait, of course! It would have been stranger if you weren't in S-Class!"

Seeing Ottbo go from startled to excited shouting, Luca couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"Well, you're in magic and I'm in swordsmanship, so we probably won't share many classes."

"What does that matter? We'll still have the common subjects together."

Ottbo grinned from ear to ear. Looking around, Luca asked,

"Don't you have a group?"

"Huh? Uh... no."

"?"

Ottbo replied awkwardly. Luca paused for a mont, then raised an eyebrow.

"Are you being ostracized or sothing?"

"Wh-what? Of course not! I just don't have anyone I'm close with."

"Why not?"

Staring at him, Ottbo averted his gaze, offering no words. But Luca soon realized why.

"It's because of the entrance ceremony, isn't it."

"..."

No one wanted to be friends with a guy who'd gotten knocked down so pathetically in front of everyone.

'Even if this kid hadn't stepped up, those three idiots would have gotten what they deserved... but it still bothers to see soone get hurt on my account.'

Even without Ottbo's intervention, things would have worked out fine. Still, Luca couldn't bring himself to leave this pitiful boy in such an undignified state. This wasn't how the character was in the original work, but for so reason, he found himself growing attached.

'... And he seems kind of similar to .'

mories of his own school days surfaced. Plus, with the commotion over changing classes, Luca was alone as well. It wasn't a bad thing to have a companion.

'And as for her...'

With that, Luca cleared his throat and looked away, tossing out a remark.

"Well, I guess I'm in no position to talk."

Ottbo stared blankly for a mont before his eyes widened with surprise.

"You're on your own too?"

"After switching classes, I've been busy with a lot of stuff. Didn't have ti to get to know the A-Class students. Not that I intended to anyway."

Ottbo, watching Luca's indifferent attitude, replied with growing excitent.

"How about your dorm?"

"I got the sa room the others were using."

"Wow! I'll co visit!"

"Tsk, shouldn't have told you."

"Haha!"

Ottbo looked genuinely delighted, and even Luca wore a faint, rounded smile.

"How'd you manage your classes?"

"Nothing special. I took nearly all the common subjects, and picked just the required courses for my major."

The academy's curriculum was a bit like university.

First-years had to take basic core classes and usually selected mandatory courses for their major.

"Do you have your schedule?"

"Tsk."

"Um... Wow! All our common classes are the sa!"

Ottbo didn't realize it, but Luca, through Bella, had seen Ottbo's schedule and matched his classes on purpose. From the start, Luca had intended to stick with him.

"Such a persistent connection."

"It turned out great! Academy life's going to be a lot more fun now!"

Luca just pouted his lips at Ottbo's happiness. Then Ottbo, after a mont of contentnt, suddenly recalled sothing.

"Hey, Luca, I guess fate really does exist!"

"What weird thing are you babbling about now?"

"No, wa— Ahem! I an, Milia!"

At the ntion of Milia, Luca's eyebrow twitched.

"Don't tell , all her common classes are the sa as ours?"

"Yeah! Isn't this destiny?"

"... Hmm. Is that so."

He smiled inwardly.

'Just as I thought.'

Of course, it was no coincidence. She must have anticipated Luca would arrange his schedule with Ottbo and planned accordingly.

She had already done the sa for the protagonist in the original story.

'She's really drawing a lot of attention, but that's fine. I'm interested in her myself.'

If you want to catch a tiger, you have to enter the tiger's den. Since things had gotten this tangled, he wasn't planning to run.

"Class is about to start, isn't it? What do you have next?"

"Swordsmanship major class."

"Ah, right. I have magic major, too."

With Ottbo's regretful expression, Luca smirked, turned, and said,

"Co to the second student cafeteria at lunchti."

"Oh, okay!"

Ottbo looked thrilled to finally have soone to eat with.

* * *

The SA-Class first-year swordsmanship major class was held at Swordsmanship Faculty's 3rd Basic Sword Training Hall. Arriving a bit early and taking his seat, Luca fell into thought as a man entered the podium.

— Black hair, rare on the continent, and slit-eyes that made his pupils hard to see.

— Resembling an "East Asian" on Earth, but in this world, clearly called a minority ethnicity.

— Despite a sowhat sly air, his tall, heavily trained body showed he had survived the real battlefield.

'That's Kryphi Mosto.'

Kryphi Mosto, the swordsman known as the nightmare of the battlefield.

A two-ti consecutive champion in the Hernan Empire Swordsmanship Tournant—a master among masters.

Yet in the original story, he tornted the protagonist relentlessly and left the academy after being half-jokingly, half-seriously beaten by him in a duel around second year; he never appeared again.

'When the protagonist was a first-year, Kryphi Mosto was already a swordsmanship instructor for E-Class. So why did the original SA-Class swordsmanship instructor get suddenly demoted like that?'

Luca wondered if there was a hidden secret behind it all.

'Even the protagonist's teacher acknowledged his skill. He'll provide so help in my quest to surpass Wylde Traverse, Luca Traverse' dream.'

On top of that, if he could form a connection, he might be able to extract so clues, so investing a sester of classes with him was worthwhile.

As Luca pondered these thoughts, the man on the podium began the class.

"This is our first class since orientation. We have a few less people, but at least we have even pairs now."

On the podium, Kryphi Mosto looked gentle but had a sharp, agile face, and his rigorously trained body showed he truly had skills.

"As I ntioned in orientation, my classes are all taught in pairs. I value cooperation, so from practical evaluations to tests, everything is done in pairs."

"Hm."

He was already aware of this—it was part of the original story. Thanks to this class, the protagonist grew closer to 'her'.

The real question was who would be Luca's partner.

At that mont, Kryphi approached Luca and spoke apologetically.

"I'm sorry about this, Traverse. There's only one person you could be paired with."

"That's alright. I don't mind."

"Haaa... I truly didn't want soone of your standing to be partnered with one of such low birth, but rules are rules."

With that, Kryphi shot a look of disgust behind Luca.

The mont Luca followed his gaze and saw who it was, he realized instantly why Kryphi had been demoted to E-Class.

"Tsk."

Hair gleaming silver like moonlight, more warrior than woman, strong and sharp as a master-forged blade... beautiful.

The woman wore a scowl as if sothing greatly displeased her. Seeing this, Kryphi grew more agitated.

"Oho! How dare you click your tongue at the precious young master of the Traverse family, who is responsible for the defense of the Hernan Empire!"

"It's alright, sir Mosto."

"But..."

Kryphi's sly, malicious glare matched his depiction in the original work.

'No wonder the protagonist couldn't hold back and broke his head open several tis. This man is sothing else.'

If Luca himself had been born a commoner, he likely couldn't have endured it either. But right now, Kryphi wasn't the important one.

"We know each other."

"Excuse ?"

Kryphi looked surprised at the words 'we know each other'.

Ignoring him, Luca reached out his hand to her.

"A persistent bond, Isella."

"... Don't speak to so familiarly, you brute."

"Ik! How dare a commoner address a count's child so informally!"

There stood Isella—real na Lysel Pandriga—the sword guarding the princess.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

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