I'll Take You On With My Eyes Closed
"I'll take you on with my eyes closed."
To me, those words meant showing respect to my opponent by giving them my all. It meant I'd clash with my full power without holding back, just to get that sweet dopamine hit. I smiled faintly, hoping this opponent would bring me some real fun...
"Are you mocking your teacher right now? I could overlook the duel request, but fighting me with your eyes closed? There's a limit to disrespect!"
"I only recognize those stronger than me as teachers."
Whoosh—!
I shot forward as I said it, my orange hair fluttering behind me. The wooden sword in my hand flashed red like lightning, streaking forth like a beam of light.
Swish—!
"Ma... magic barrier!"
Bam—!
It meant nothing. The hasty magic barrier my teacher threw up shattered against my wooden sword. The recoil threw him off balance, and he flailed backward, tumbling to the ground. I pressed the blade to his throat.
"That all you got?"
"Hah... hah! You... you crazy bitch!"
In the end, the teacher slowly backed away from me, then chucked his wand aside in a pathetic display and bolted. Sorry, but I really needed to get stronger right now. That's why I kept chasing off these weak new teachers who showed up.
It's not just for getting my dopamine fix while reveling in my strength.
...Anyway, it's not.
Really... Though honestly, the dopamine is a nice bonus...
Whatever. The point is, I had my reasons for needing to grow stronger.
Celestia Erienne El Fredericia. The mid-story villainess of this world. Doomed to antagonize the protagonist's party and die.
I glanced at the empty spot where the teacher had fled. I'd become a mid-boss from the novel. So first things first, I needed to get strong enough to survive.
It wasn't an excuse to pick fights just for dopamine. No way.
After finishing my solo sword practice in the now-empty training hall, I wiped the sweat from my brow and stood before the mirror. A girl with narrowed eyes stared back. Her orange hair looked slightly damp. Long, slender eyes that seemed ready to close at any moment, with sparkling blue pupils peeking through. I lifted the corner of my mouth.
Hmm... Seeing Celestia in print versus the real thing felt totally different. What was it? The real version was more seductive, prettier...
Yeah, I'm a total babe.
As long as I opened my eyes properly, that is. I caught myself grinning contentedly. A life without thrills needed this kind of stimulation.
Anyway, if you're wondering how I ended up as Celestia, there's no dramatic backstory. I just lay down to sleep every night and prayed.
—Let me be reborn as a medieval noble lady, pampered and adored.
That was it. And then I possessed Celestia, the mid-boss from that fantasy novel I'd enjoyed: Tears of the Stars Flow Along the Blade.
In a way, my prayer came true. Half-true, anyway. I became a medieval noble lady... but that was as far as it went.
"There you are. Sneaking off somewhere again?"
As I admired myself in the mirror, a voice called out. I turned to see a thug-looking guy striding in.
Cedric Orpheus El Fredericia. Celestia's brother in the story.
"Brother."
"Swinging that sword like some barbarian again?"
"Yes. Teacher ran off, so I had nothing else to do."
"Ditching magic for a stick... You planning to drag the family name through the mud?"
He crossed his arms and shrugged. That punchable face screamed he was here to brag about something.
"I passed the Apprentice Mage exam the other day. And you? How long you gonna play with sticks? Huh?"
"Here to gloat?"
"Yeah. Be grateful I'm even bothering to brag to you. Family disgrace."
He turned away with that. Luckily, Cedric wasn't just here to lord it over me.
"Father's summoning you. Better hurry."
He said it and walked off. Why was his personality such a dumpster fire? Still, in this dull medieval world, it was a mild thrill, so I let it slide.
Ah, I wanna smash something.
Truth be told, life in this medieval fantasy world was boring as hell. Without distractions, I'd probably go insane. No internet, no TV, no games. All I could do was wander like a zombie chasing dopamine or smash stuff.
In other words, I needed things to smash. Like that teacher from this morning.
On my way to Father's study, I scanned for practice targets. Cedric's antiques? A magic crystal orb?
Lost in thought, I arrived at the study door.
Creeeak—
The moment I entered, a scolding voice boomed.
"Celestia. Another teacher quit on us. Do you even know how many that's been?"
The head of the Fredericia family—my father—glared sternly, blaming me for the teachers' escapes.
"They all resign because they can't handle it. What the hell are you doing to them?"
"The teachers were just weak."
"One more chance. This time I got a proper one like you wanted. Don't scare him off."
"A new teacher...?"
"Yes. A tough one to hire. Look forward to it."
Father waved me out. Whenever a teacher fled, he'd drag in a new magic tutor. Fresh sandbag acquired—score.
According to the original novel Tears of the Stars Flow Along the Blade, Celestia did have a friend. Ironic that she was one of the protagonist's main heroines.
A noble's day is busy. Still, I had to meet my girl-friend sometimes.
"So? What do you think, Cellie?"
"About what?"
"The new teacher. You were excited. What do you think?"
"Hmm... Probably weak like the last one?"
I sipped my tea. The yellow-haired beauty across from me did the same.
Mariella Yulisis El Raiklant. Celestia's friend. Thanks to a smooth handover from the original Celestia, she was mine now.
"Jealous. If only I could wield a sword like you..."
Mariella sighed wistfully. But if she got as good as me, I'd be in trouble. In the future, we'd end up on opposite sides—me with the imperial army, her with the revolutionaries. We'd fight, she'd kill me, cry her heart out, and grow emotionally. Classic scene...
Of course, the future won't play out like that.
But there was no reason it had to. I'd get stronger and avoid clashing with Mariella.
"So, what about your teachers, Mari?"
"Me? All swordmasters... Three of them now, all strict and scary. Fredericia getting magic tutors sounds nice."
"I'm jealous of you. Three sword teachers?"
I envied her right back. Three dopamine dispensers on tap... I loved a good mud-wrestle too... Not for the thrill, of course. For getting stronger.
"Maybe our positions got swapped somehow."
Amusingly, Mariella's family was sword-focused, mine magic. Perfect irony. She loved magic, I swords.
"Miss. Sorry to interrupt your tea."
As we enjoyed our quiet time, my personal maid Annette approached and bowed.
"The new magic teacher has arrived. Class time."
Already? I shoved a few macarons in my mouth and stood.
"Seeya later."
"Pfft... What was that, Cellie? My class is soon too... Next time."
She laughed, then glided away with noble grace.
Annette led me to the library classroom. Father stood with a young man I didn't recognize—the new teacher.
"Celestia. Do this right. Got it? Hard to hire this one—don't make him quit like the others."
Father glared, then brushed past me and left. Now it was just me and the newbie.
He spoke first.
"Nice to meet you, Celestia. I'm your teacher now, so casual speech is fine, right?"
"Of course."
"Good. Celestia—from now on, I'll call you that casually. Name's Edn. I'll teach you magic."
"No."
"...?"
"I haven't recognized you as a teacher, mister."
I provoked him to chase him off, like always.
"I don't accept anyone weaker than me as a teacher. Duel me, mister."
It wasn't because I craved dopamine or wanted to smash something.
No... Anyway, no.
This was for getting stronger. To find a real teacher. Just weeding out the unworthy.