Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Spoiler
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After lunch, we headed straight for the academy.
"So this is Jeomineol Academy..."
"It's not as impressive as you'd think."
Having read the whole story, I know what kind of battlefield this academy will become, so I'm not exactly thrilled to be here.
"Let's hurry inside. We need to finish our research today if we want to leave tomorrow."
"Yes."
It was probably to be expected, but with no guards around, we just walked right through the main gate.
"Well..."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just want to get out of here quickly."
For some reason, just standing here makes me feel like monsters are about to invade and demons will shatter the barrier to wreak havoc.
In fact, it wouldn't be strange if that happened right now.
-CRASH!!
Just like that.
"That's strange. No events should be happening this early."
"...Events?"
"Something like that. I'm curious, so let's go take a look."
This is only my second day since transmigrating. No matter how much the novel screws over the protagonist, it shouldn't start this soon.
Even in a growth story based on the protagonist's ridiculously overpowered potential, he should be about as weak as the pathetic Luke I was when I first arrived.
But an event is happening?
The protagonist is going to get sliced in half.
Honestly, since the protagonist solves everything up to the Demon God in the novel, I am curious what would happen if he died.
'I wonder if someone will kill him for me.'
I didn't want to do it myself.
With that thought, I headed with Luna toward the sound. We arrived at a wide, open area that was clearly a training ground.
Near the training ground, numerous students had gathered to watch a duel. I turned my gaze toward the center to see who was fighting.
"Oh!"
There stood the main heroine, Liche Winchester, with her unusual two-toned cerulean and black hair. Opposite her was the other main heroine, Tia Roseberry, with a brilliant yellow bob and beautiful sky-blue eyes.
This was my first time seeing the main heroines since I transmigrated, and they were much more vibrant than in the illustrations.
They were pretty in the illustrations, but now that 2D has become reality, I can't take my eyes off them.
And, regardless of the onlookers, Liche and Tia exchanged spells as if it were routine.
Fire and water met, creating steam, and the shockwave sent it billowing in all directions.
"It's not called an elite academy for nothing."
Luna commented, watching the duel from my side.
"Well, it is a duel between the top and second-top students."
The students admitted to the academy are all elites, hailed as geniuses in their hometowns.
Of course, the standard for "elite" is set by the townspeople, so you also get guys like that fatty I saw the other day.
In any case, even among elites, the top and second-top students are on another level, which is why the other students were gathered around, watching in a daze.
'So it's not an event I'm unaware of.'
In the novel, this duel was definitely described from Liche's perspective.
The novel just wrote 'Crash!', but for me, the ground actually shook. How was I to know?
Seeing it in person cleared up my question.
But even if they are the top and second-top, Liche can't use her full power right now, so fighting on even terms is meaningless.
"I've seen enough. Let's go."
"Huh? Are you sure you don't want to watch more?"
"I can't even use magic. What's the point in watching?"
What's a heroine without her face? Now that I've seen them, I've seen all there is to see. I can't even use magic, so why should I watch them cast spells?
They're not my heroines anyway, and I already know what kind of magic they use.
'But where's the protagonist?'
He should be training alone nearby like a loser.
'Who knows. Whatever that guy does is none of my business.'
Luna and I left the training ground and headed for the library, looking at a map.
On the way, some students' gazes were drawn to Luna, but it seemed to be because she was a beastkin, not an outsider.
Some idiot nobles bring their servants to show off, so they were probably staring out of curiosity about her being a beastkin rather than suspicion of an outsider.
The academy library was enormous, housing books on various subjects.
It was so large that it was its own separate building, apart from the academy's main hall.
As planned, we went to the shelves categorized by call number, found the section labeled 'Monsters,' and grabbed a plausible-looking book before sitting at a table.
"Alright. Let's start looking."
***
-CRASH!!
Fire and water met, creating a cloud of steam.
Sharp shards of ice flew menacingly through the steam.
She casually summoned fire to block them.
"As expected, you're amazing."
Her opponent said.
Tia Roseberry.
The second-top student of Jeomineol Academy, and someone who, for some reason, felt inferior to her.
"Thanks. You're amazing too, Tia. Your magic is cleaner than last time."
In truth, Liche had no time for duels, but she needed to become stronger for her own purpose.
So she would occasionally duel with Tia, the only one in the academy who could match her.
Besides, even if she didn't want to, Tia would seek her out whenever she seemed to forget.
"It's not much of a compliment when you say it without even looking tired."
To the other students watching from the side, the duel might have seemed like a draw, but the reality was completely different.
Neither had taken any damage, but Tia was panting from exhaustion while Liche looked exactly as she had before the duel began.
"Good work today."
"Ugh... I'll definitely win next time."
"Okay. I'll look forward to it."
As soon as the conversation ended, Liche turned and walked away.
Training was important, but she had something far more crucial to attend to.
Her daily routine began and ended in the library.
Before classes started early in the morning, during lunchtime when others enjoyed their meals together, and after classes until she went to bed.
She walked past the students who had been watching the duel and headed straight for the library.
In her eyes, the library looked no different than usual.
A few students who enjoyed reading, and the librarian at the entrance.
But today, something was different.
'...?'
The boy who had caused such a stir at the academy two days ago was sleeping with his face buried in an open book.
According to the rumors, he had dropped out, so why was he here?
And across from him, a beastkin woman sat reading, a stack of books beside her.
'I shouldn't pay it any mind.'
Of course, such a difference meant little to Liche.
Not only was she uninterested, but she also had her own business to attend to.
'I have to find any information I can about Hex.'
To escape this terrible curse, Liche had to find information about the demon as soon as possible.
The information her family possessed wasn't enough, so she had searched the library for everything related to demons. But demons themselves were rare, and unlike monsters, they existed as single entities, not in groups, which made finding information even harder.
"Sir Luke. Please wake up. I've found it."
"Ugh... Just five more minutes..."
As she was reading quietly, she heard voices nearby.
It wasn't that she was curious or interested, but they were the only voices in the quiet library, so she couldn't help but overhear.
"It says they inhabit the Jobn Plains, a short distance from the Empire."
"The Narrow Plains? What kind of idiot gave it such a stupid name?"
"...It's the Jobn Plains, not the 'Narrow' Plains."
"Same difference."
Screech.
The sound of a chair scraping echoed.
"Ugh—! Books really are the best sleeping pills. So, you found everything? Let's go."
"Yes."
Luke's footsteps grew closer to Liche.
This was because she was sitting between Luke and the exit.
She thought he would just walk past.
"There's no information about Hex in the academy. You're having a tough time."
"...!"
Liche's eyes widened at the words Luke muttered as he passed.
"Ah, was I not supposed to say that? Run away!"
While Liche was still in shock, Luke fled the library as if escaping.
"W-Wait!"
By the time Liche snapped out of it and gave chase, Luke was already gone.
'How does he know?'
The curse passed down through the Winchester family was cast by a demon that appeared long ago.
Therefore, only Liche and her close relatives knew about the curse; no one else did.
Could it be that I was so focused I misheard him?
'No... He definitely said Hex.'
He must know something.
***
"This damn mouth of mine."
I'd just woken up, so my mouth moved before my brain could catch up.
Only later did I remember it was a spoiler.
'I've already let it slip. I wonder if anything will change.'
Ah, whatever. The protagonist will figure it out.
My shit's your shit, your shit's your shit.
The protagonist cleans up the mess I make.
What a convenient world. Whether an extra makes a mess or a main character does, the protagonist is the one who has to clean it all up.
Now that I had all the information I needed, I was about to leave the academy.
"Y-You!"
"?"
Hearing a voice as I walked by, I turned my head to see a scrawny guy pointing a finger at me.
'Who is this?'
I've never seen him before. Maybe Luna knows him?
"Luna, do you know this guy?"
"...There's no way I would know anyone at the academy."
What's his deal, then? Who is this guy to point at me the first time we meet? So annoying.
"Grr...! Are you messing with me!?"
"Who are you?"
"Y-You stole my sword and now you're playing dumb!"
...Ah.
So it's that weakling from back then. My brain filters out extras, so I didn't recognize him.
"You stole that sword...?"
"What are you talking about? I won it fair and square in a duel."
The weakling must have gotten a new sword in the meantime, as one was hanging at his waist.
'...I don't have a sword for tomorrow. I wonder if I can take that one.'
It's a waste of money to buy a new sword for just one day, but my conscience pricks me at the thought of actually stealing one.
"You son of a bitch! How dare you give me a defective product!?"
"...?"
"I used the sword you gave me because it looked so high-class, but it became useless in two days! Aaaaaahhh!!!!"
"W-What kind of bullshit is this!?"
"Shut up! The consumer has the right to receive appropriate compensation for damages incurred from the use of a product!"
Therefore, this isn't stealing.
It's simply receiving compensation for damages.