The New Queen of the Academy (1)
Joachim Academy was one of the most prestigious institutions in the empire. Even as the empire's prestige plummeted and the emperor's authority lay in tatters, that fact remained unchanged. Every year, its graduates secured positions of power and influence. That was proof enough. Esteemed magic academies, imperial guards serving in the palace, high-ranking officials, heads of massive merchant coalitions, mercenary captains—the list went on. Those who made names for themselves across the continent were all alumni of Joachim Academy.
And then there was Louise Violet. The young lady of the Violet family, which held the greatest wealth and power in the empire, believed it was all thanks to her family and herself. Of course, it was true that the Violet family engaged in corruption through their ties to the imperial palace, but it was also true that they donated astronomical sums to the academy every year and contributed to its development. Louise Violet was convinced that the academy was essentially hers. The buildings where lectures were held had been erected by the Violets. The dormitories where students slept had been built by the Violets. The classrooms, the faculty, the lavish gardens… everything was a product of the Violet family.
'…And yet they dare to defy me.'
Therefore, anyone who raised a hand against her was an ungrateful parasite. A traitor to the academy. Filth that didn't deserve to be associated with. A dog that bit its master. Thanks to them, Louise's mood had been foul lately.
— Louise, as a member of Joachim Academy, I cannot overlook this matter. No matter who you are, even if you're Louise Violet, you must pay the proper price for your crimes.
Two years ago. Those were the words Eden Rofas had spoken to her. A penniless orphan with nothing to his name had the audacity to say such things just because he had some skill. He was full of delusions about being the academy's hope or whatever nonsense, completely blind to how the world really worked. That was why Louise had punished Eden Rofas. She had driven out the dog that bit the hand that fed it.
But that damned dog had returned.
'How dare he… Does he even know who I am?'
Louise Violet picked up the crystal orb resting on the table and contacted someone.
"Coalition head."
— Lady Violet! To what do I owe the pleasure…
The voice coming through the crystal orb belonged to Giovanni Uelia, head of the Uelia Merchant Coalition, one of the five largest merchant coalitions in the empire.
"Find out everything you can about a man named Eden Rofas. Anything at all."
— Yes, of course. I'll see to it immediately. However…
Giovanni Uelia had agreed because it was Louise's request, but he didn't understand her intentions.
— Didn't Eden Rofas go missing two years ago? Why the sudden interest in his whereabouts?
"He's back."
— Pardon?
"I'll give you two days. I trust you'll bring me useful information, Coalition head."
— Y-Yes! Of course, I will!
Drugs were undoubtedly dangerous things. When you put them into your body, they granted pleasures beyond anything else in the world, but that pleasure tore the user's body to pieces. Even so, countless people craved the power of drugs. Even knowing it would destroy them.
If a demon had descended upon the human world, I thought vaguely, it might take the form of that red powder. I, too, was someone who had experienced that destruction. I had writhed in the grip of withdrawal symptoms that gnawed at the mind. That was why I knew the kind of power drugs possessed. So after overcoming my Phelopon addiction with Heil's help, I decided to harness the immense power that drugs held.
First, I built my strength in the underworld. I was the man who had once reached the pinnacle of Joachim Academy through swordsmanship alone. My talent was more than sufficient. I single-handedly crushed the organizations that held sway in the underworld. I tortured them to uncover Phelopon distribution routes and destroyed every single drug trafficking organization. That was how six months passed.
For six months, I ran like a train with broken brakes. I skipped meals, went without sleep, and swung my sword until I forgot who I even was. Looking back, I couldn't even remember what I had been thinking. In any case, within six months, I had crushed every Phelopon distribution network in the underworld and seized them for myself. Those who followed me lived; those who defied me died. I intimidated the Phelopon manufacturers into granting me exclusive production rights and bribed assassins and informants to establish connections in noble society. There was no need to beg them to buy Phelopon. It had already spread secretly through noble circles, and with me holding a monopoly, they had no alternatives.
Thanks to that, I managed to obtain tens of millions of gold. But I didn't stop there. The underworld was a ruthless place where fists mattered more than laws, so a single success didn't guarantee eternal success.
— Make it stronger. Strong enough that even a small amount will make them lose their original lives.
I created an even more potent version of Phelopon. It was truly the work of a demon. But I didn't care. To face a demon, one had to become a demon oneself. So I became a demon.
"......"
Alicia, who had listened to my story to the end, couldn't speak and just opened and closed her mouth. She looked like a goldfish. When she finally managed to speak, she said in disbelief, "...You expect me to believe that?"
"Then how do you explain me catching that pig in thirty seconds earlier?"
"That was… But still."
Well, if she wanted more proof, I could provide it. Even now, there were ten informants hiding their identities within the academy, and five of the continent's top assassins were under my command. But Alicia wasn't a sure card yet. She had said she would cooperate with me, but she might still believe in perfect justice in this world. If I used extreme methods, she might come to despise and betray me. Anyone could betray you. Humans would sell even their own family if a blade was pressed to their throat. It was better to keep these dirty dealings hidden as much as possible.
"Then what, want to try snorting some of this?"
"Are you insane?"
When I pulled out a pouch of Phelopon from my pocket and showed it to her, Alicia screamed at me like I was out of my mind.
"Fine. I believe you. I'll believe you."
"Good. You're quick to catch on."
"......"
Alicia glared at me before sighing and saying, "Honestly… I'm really grateful you saved me. But a drug lord… Did you really want to do this even after being expelled from the academy because of drugs?"
"There are times when you have to tolerate contradictions."
"That's just rationalization."
"To face a demon, you have to become a demon yourself."
"......"
"I can't claim to be righteous."
If I had wanted to live righteously, I could have. I had severed the drug trade in the underworld, so I could have eradicated the entire chain of drugs. But I didn't, purely out of my own greed. Revenge. Even to tell my younger self, who had firmly believed in justice, that he was right, I had to bring Louise Violet to ruin. The saying about turning the other cheek when struck was nonsense. If someone struck your right cheek, you had to gouge out their right eye. You had to cut off their hand so they could never strike again. That was the simple truth I had learned over two years.
"But for the sake of revenge, I have no choice but to become cruel."
I looked into Alicia's eyes. The lively, cheerful gaze from her first year was long gone. Despair and hatred swirled in her eyes. My role was simple. All I needed to do was ignite a small spark in the bud of hatred.
"Remember. All the humiliations you've suffered. The faces of those who betrayed you. The faces of those who raped and mocked you."
"......"
"Can you stand by and watch those bastards graduate from the academy with smiles on their faces and live happily for the rest of their lives?"
A spark flickered in Alicia's eyes. A small flame had ignited in her dried-out pupils. I didn't miss it.
"Those bastards don't deserve to live happily. They should writhe in terrible pain and die in despair."
"...... You're right."
I slowly approached Alicia and brought my lips to her ear. Then I whispered, "Don't let the spark of hatred die out. Take revenge using every means available to you. Grip the knife in your hand and drive it straight in."
"Straight in…"
"That's justice. The justice you so loved. The justice I once loved so much. The justice where the wicked fall and the good ultimately triumph."
"You're right."
"Take this."
"What is it?"
I took out a white envelope and placed it on Alicia's hand.
"It's made by concentrating regular Phelopon. Even a small amount will make you addicted forever. The worst drug imaginable."
It was the very essence of drugs. A true demon capable of destroying human lives more powerfully and horribly than anything else in the world. The pinnacle of evil that humans could create.
"......"
Alicia hesitated, slowly extending her hand. And in the end, she grasped the envelope.
"You made the right choice. Alicia Floren, the new queen of the academy."
The birth of a perfect pawn.