Puppeteer (1)
With a piercing shriek—!
Steel fragments rained down in its wake. Hundreds of swords surged forward like a black tempest. It was a sight that instinctively inspired awe in any who beheld it. As if it were flaunting a wall of talent that could never be reached.
But.
There was one boy who refused to be cowed by such a catastrophe. Golden hair whipped by the blowing wind. He thrust his arm toward the savagely charging wave. As though he meant to stop it.
Shatter.
Everyone thought the boy was reckless. Yet the moment his lips uttered the incantation, the seemingly ordinary situation was flipped on its head.
Kwaaaaang—!
With a thunderous crash the screen shook. Beyond the violently flashing scene lay a jet-black shadow that swallowed its surroundings in an instant. It was an eerily flickering darkness.
Clang—!
Immediately afterward, the barrier covering the circular arena shattered. The wall of talent that had seemed unreachable just moments before splintered apart like mere glass. It crumbled into dust bit by bit. It returned to a state as if it had never existed at all.
All of it had unfolded in the blink of an eye—less than three seconds.
Hoo.
The blond boy calmly regulated his breathing. He looked as if the outcome were only natural. The scene froze on the final image of him flicking residual mana from his fingertips.
“......”
The faculty stared at the screen in silence. They had rewound to that exact moment several times already, yet they still could not shake off the shock. The razor-sharp killing intent. The mana waves stretched to their absolute limit. Even the audacity to remain composed in a dangerous situation. Every element far exceeded the realm of a student.
As a heavy, complicated silence stretched between them, a murmur slipped out.
“...Is this really a student who just enrolled in the academy?”
The dazed voice carried open astonishment. It seemed to speak for every faculty member seated in the waiting room.
They stuttered for a moment like malfunctioning mana devices, then erupted all at once.
“What the hell did I just see?”
“Rewind it! Wasn’t there something wrong with the recording?”
“This is impossible.”
“Magic like that is possible at a student’s level…?”
“Did he reverse the opponent’s mana to cause dispersion? That’s not a technique students should be able to handle—it’s monstrous!”
“Where in the world did someone like him come from?”
They gazed at the screen with feverish eyes. Perhaps because the result had overturned every prediction of overwhelming defeat, the faculty’s reaction burned hotter than fire. After all, this was the emergence of a gem who would carve his name into the age itself.
“I didn’t expect much since he’s the snake’s son… but what an intriguing talent.”
“To think there would be a genius who surpasses even Her Highness the Princess.”
“This is already far beyond graduate level, isn’t it?”
“At the very least he’s assistant-tier… if we stretch it, we could even call him professor-tier, couldn’t we?”
“Hey, that’s going a bit far.”
“Right?”
The young professor scratched his head sheepishly. It seemed he had overreached with his evaluation. Every single professor at Galimar Academy was a monster standing at the pinnacle of the pinnacle; they could not even serve as a proper point of comparison.
Of course… exceptions always existed.
And that was precisely what the boy had intended. He had subtly adjusted his strength while shattering the barrier and had not revealed himself beyond a certain threshold. To the eyes of others, the boy would appear as nothing more than ‘an astonishingly talented raw gem.’
“Still, it’s incredible.”
“Incredible doesn’t even begin to describe it. His skill is already better than the assistants who help with classes.”
“To reach such a realm at that age… the future truly looks promising.”
The faculty had no idea. They did not know that if the boy so chose, he could annihilate every last one of them without effort.
Sometimes ignorance is what keeps you alive.
The ignorant professors continued their heated discussion for some time.
“Everyone, settle down.”
The one who calmed the noisy atmosphere was none other than the dean. The white-haired elder responded with quiet composure. One could sense the weight of years in his unshakable gaze.
“Selena.”
“Yes, Master.”
“It appears the top seat for the class assignment test has been decided.”
“So it has.”
Selena gave a lukewarm reply. Her fatigue-laden crimson eyes blinked slowly. Purple hair spilled carelessly down her back, and her slender hand held the usual bottle of strong liquor. She was unmistakably drunk.
“......”
The dean swallowed a sigh. He wanted to rebuke her attitude right then and there, but he was currently in her debt, so he spoke in a tone of reluctant admonishment.
“I was wrong.”
“What do you mean so suddenly?”
“I’m speaking about the top new student. Didn’t I doubt the documents you approved and pressure you by attaching conditions?”
“Ah… yes, well.”
The woman shrugged apathetically. Her reaction suggested she had never cared in the first place, but the dean could not help feeling uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
“I knew you would answer that way… but is there anything you desire?”
“Desire…?”
“If it is something I can grant within my authority, I shall do so.”
“Hmm.”
Only then did Selena show a flicker of interest. She hummed thoughtfully for a moment, then parted her lips with a faint, hazy smile.
“In that case, I’ll speak. For this cohort, I……”
The request that followed from his disciple was so unexpected that the other faculty members’ eyes widened. Her fellow professors stared at her in blank astonishment. Paying them no mind, Selena simply lifted the liquor bottle to her mouth.
My plan had collapsed perfectly.
I had originally intended to lose spectacularly during the test and hand over the top seat… but the situation had become too tangled for that. It was my miscalculation for failing to account for Charlotte’s overflowing consideration.
Still, the flow was not entirely hopeless. Thanks to this opportunity I had properly acquainted myself with the young prince and even exchanged a few words of casual conversation. His reaction had not been bad. At the very least, he did not appear to be on guard.
Considering Charlotte’s personality, she probably won’t go around spreading rumors about me either.
At any rate, time cannot be turned back. Though there was one person capable of something similar… it was not yet the right time to become entangled with that individual.
Let’s be satisfied with this much.
With that thought I raised my head. The first thing to enter my blurred vision was, naturally, the circular arena.
“Hmm.”
I remained seated in the waiting area, observing the tests. Currently standing atop the arena were a girl with pink hair and a villainess with blue drill-roll curls.
I discreetly checked the matchup list.
Test #23
Regia Pirates vs Emilia Vanity
The protagonist and the villainess’s confrontation, huh…
It was something I already knew from the original work. I quietly recalled that section.
EPISODE 1. THE OUTSIDER
Regia enters the academy with a heart full of excitement. One event awaits her… the class assignment test.
Although she felt the pressure of being among the top students, her anticipation of meeting new people was even greater. She planned to use this chance to become acquainted with her fellow students.
I’m going to make friends too.
Ugh… I’m a little nervous, but let’s do our best!
Regia, who had lived a wandering life and never once had a friend, made a firm resolution. This time, she would definitely build precious connections.
Yet on the arena she stepped onto with such confidence…
How unsightly.
The girl suffered a crushing defeat. Her opponent had simply been too unfavorable. It was the Vanity Duchess, hailed as the genius second only to Charlotte.
You need to recognize your own place.
This is a place for those who are qualified… It is not somewhere a mere commoner should dare to look upon.
The protagonist who had enrolled as a commoner. Naturally, the villainess treated her like a thorn in her eye. When the class assignment test presented its opportunity, Emilia thoroughly crushed her with pure skill—until even her fragile heart lay in pieces.
Leave, outsider.
The cold voice aimed at the girl. That single harsh remark remained a scar upon her heart for a long time.
Showing the protagonist being trampled from the very beginning was the general outline of the first episode.
“...It’s worrying.”
The words slipped out unintentionally. Growth is always accompanied by trials. I knew it was a necessary process, yet I could not help feeling pity.
While I watched the test with complicated eyes, the fox seated beside me muttered.
“She really is being pushed back one-sidedly.”
“Irene.”
The girl in a maid uniform leaned against the backrest, observing the match. Irene soon tilted her head and asked.
“But that pink-haired girl… didn’t you say she was a summoner last time?”
“Correct.”
“Then why isn’t she summoning? Why is she fighting bare-handed?”
“Ah.”
Irene was right. Not even a single mouse could be seen inside the circular arena. The majestic wyvern she had displayed during the entrance ceremony was nowhere in sight; only the delicate girl stood trembling on the field.
I smiled bitterly.
“There are circumstances.”
“Circumstances?”
“You could call it… Regia’s weakness.”
When Regia falls into a panic, her power refuses to manifest. The mental strength required above all else for the summoning ritual was overwhelmingly lacking in her. In urgent situations, the summoning usually failed outright.
In fact, in the original game, being afflicted with the ‘Confusion’ status would lock all skill usage.
A powerful character who required just as much care.
She eventually overcomes that weakness in the latter half, but…
This was still close to the tutorial stage. Therefore, it was only natural for the test to unfold this way.
“It’s a shame.”
“It is. But even that is part of Regia’s charm.”
“Still, how do you know all this? It’s not like the pink-haired girl would have told you……”
“Hehe… Do you truly wish to know?”
I smiled faintly. The corners of my mouth drew a sinister curve behind narrowed eyes—an eerie, chilling smile.
“...Never mind. I’ll pass.”
“Wise choice. I was wondering how I should even answer.”
For some reason, whenever I smiled like this everyone avoided my gaze. It had proven quite useful whenever difficult questions arose or when I wished to dodge an answer.
Irene smoothly changed the subject.
“Anyway… at this rate, won’t she get hurt? The pink-haired girl looks like she can only use basic magic.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“On what basis?”
“Well.”
Although she appeared as an extra in the role of villainess, Emilia was a character who strictly observed the line she had drawn for herself. She had broken Regia mentally many times, but she was not the type to genuinely injure her.
“Even though I say that… I’m actually worried too.”
“Unexpected.”
“Hm?”
“You worrying about someone. I thought you didn’t worry about anyone.”
“Haha, how could that be? I’m only human, after all.”
“...Are you really human?”
“If not, then what exactly do you think I am?”
“A chimera?”
“...Let’s stop there.”
I was certain we had held similar conversations several times before. Psychopath, monster, and now chimera. I was almost curious what outlandish answer would come next.
I treated her so well… yet inside she’s been treating me like Edward oppa all along.
It was a truly lamentable fact. Harboring that sorrow, I grabbed the fox’s tail.
“Hiyak?!”
“Punishment.”
“W-wait…! N-not the tail! It feels weird… Hihk!?”
“Accept it obediently.”
I vigorously stroked the soft bundle of fur. As I continued educating the cheeky fox, an announcement soon rang throughout the arena. It was the voice declaring the end of the test.
Test #23 has concluded.
Students whose examinations have ended, please exit following faculty guidance.
Regia Pirates forfeits. The victor is Emilia Vanity.
No upset occurred. The pink-haired girl remained frozen for a long while, then staggered to her feet. She left the arena on trembling legs. Her retreating figure looked especially lonely.
“Then… shall we get going as well?”
“Already? There are still about ten teams left.”
“There is someone who needs me. A friend should stay by their side when times are hard.”
“What are you plotting this time…?”
“Hehe.”
Instead of answering I simply smiled. The sky I looked up at was particularly overcast. Thick dark clouds gathered; it seemed rain would fall soon.
I asked the fox casually.
“Irene.”
“What?”
“It looks like it will rain.”
“If it’s an umbrella, I brought one… There are only two of us, so why did you insist on preparing three?”
“There is someone I wish to shelter.”
I answered simply.
“I don’t want to leave her alone.”
Well then. Shall we go give our protagonist some head pats?