Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Villainess Lady and the Mage (2)
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Effort is always rewarded.
This simple, clichéd proposition was the core of the novel Academy's Tenacious Mage.
The protagonist Kyle's hard work was always rewarded in some form or another.
In my past life, watching that gave me a kind of vicarious satisfaction.
Yeah, it might be tough right now, but someday I'll see the light too.
Clinging to that vague hope gave me the strength to get through each day.
Well, it ended up with me dying from overwork, but still.
Even so, I've been reborn with abilities far beyond what I deserved, and I've been catching up on all the sleep I missed in my previous life. In a way, I've gotten my reward too.
The rewards for Kyle's efforts weren't just magical achievements.
He obtained valuable artifacts and rose in status within the academy.
But from a reader's perspective, the most tangible reward had to be the "recognition" from those around him.
That's the real emotional hook.
People who initially ignored and tormented Kyle gradually come to respect his unyielding perseverance and remarkable growth.
Watching that makes your chest swell with pride, wondering when your own pathetic protagonist grew up like that.
Especially the changes in how the heroines treated Kyle—that was the dramatic centerpiece.
The classmate who happened to stand next to him at the entrance ceremony initially bossed around the seemingly clumsy guy however she pleased.
But she was won over by his unwavering diligence and became his lifelong companion (and potential defeated heroine candidate) who always stayed by his side.
The princess who first approached out of curiosity about Kyle's "unique magic" gradually grew interested in Kyle himself.
The sword-obsessed idiot who knew nothing but the blade suddenly became a lovestruck girl fixated only on Kyle.
Even the student council president who treated Kyle like he didn't exist ended up opening her heart, chasing after the Kyle who now admired her in return.
Ugh—when that haughty student council president confessed with regret on graduation day, saying, "I wish I'd recognized your true worth sooner," it made my chest tighten for no reason.
Like that, countless women flocked around Kyle Aquarian.
But if I had to pick the heroine whose attitude toward Kyle changed the most dramatically...
It had to be Elterion's pushover—no, "Elterion's Villainess," Miriel Adrian.
She appeared the moment Kyle started gaining favor with the princess, initially just a typical antagonist blocking the protagonist's path.
An arrogant young lady who relied on her status in the academy and her family's power to openly look down on Kyle, the princess's lackey. That was Miriel.
But once Kyle began to truly shine in the academy, Miriel's attitude did a complete 180.
To pry him away from the princess, she started showering him with gifts and fawning over him.
And after she received crucial help from Kyle with her family's issues—despite her purely transactional approach at first...
She went full simp, offering her body(?) and heart without reservation.
Miriel's dramatic transformation, unimaginable from her early days, perfectly symbolized Kyle's risen status.
Of course, looking back at how much Kyle had to suffer to turn the villainess into a simp was a bit horrifying.
It wasn't just "he worked hard" or "went through some tough times"—he barely escaped death countless times.
Just the episodes where the "Ashen Witch" had to clean up after him happened twice. That says it all.
And they expect me to go through all that?
...Wow. Just imagining it is terrifying.
"I want to get to know you a bit, Miss Lunaris."
In short, getting involved with Miriel is exhausting.
"So, could you spare me a moment?"
Unlike Edwin, who only appears as a decently skilled senior mage in the original story, or the extras bundled with "Mage Tower mages," this person is on a whole different level.
The one sitting in front of me is the worst trap I must avoid at all costs to protect my laid-back life.
*
"The top students of our years have some things to discuss."
Senior Miriel's lips curved into a gentle smile.
"Could you give us the room for a bit?"
She addressed Claire but kept her gaze fixed on me.
"Sure! Of, of course... Huh? Lunaris?"
"This is the Ghost Story Research Club room."
I grabbed Claire's wrist as she fumbled to stand.
"I'm not sure it's right for non-members to be hanging around here."
"Oh my."
Senior Miriel flashed a bright smile and leaned slightly toward me.
"We just want to talk for a moment."
"I don't really have anything to say."
I stretched out with a deliberate yawn, replying in a bored tone.
"Or what, are you hoping to join the club? If so, you'd be better off talking to Claire here than me."
At my words, Senior Miriel let out a soft chuckle.
She glanced back at her entourage, who stood like folding screens behind her.
"What do you think, girls? Ghost Story Research Club. Doesn't it sound fun?"
Her single comment unleashed a flood of fawning agreement—how exciting, how spooky, all laced with pretense.
Senior Miriel nodded in satisfaction and jerked her chin toward Claire.
"This junior here has set up an orientation session. Why don't you all go listen?"
My brow furrowed involuntarily.
Her intent to maneuver Claire out and get me alone was blatant.
Quick-witted Claire caught on, giving an awkward smile as she stood.
"Ah, haha. It's a bit cramped here anyway—shall we move to the next room?"
With that, Claire and the others left, leaving just me and Senior Miriel in the clubroom.
"Aren't you going, Senior?"
"Well, that junior might have a hard time handling them all alone. As a fellow club member, shouldn't you help out with at least one?"
A subtle pressure hid behind her sweet smile.
I folded my arms on the table and slumped forward, mumbling indifferently.
"Eh, nothing much. We light a candle and share ghost stories. Sometimes we visit haunted spots for courage tests."
I made my disinterest crystal clear.
You can't shake off someone like Senior Miriel without being this direct.
"You don't seem to like beating around the bush, huh."
But Senior Miriel ignored it, smiling as she pressed on.
"So, I'll get straight to the point."
"...?"
"Lunaris, how about I help lighten your load?"
The unexpected offer made me raise an eyebrow.
"I could handle those morning scuffles with the Linea Hall maids for you."
"Oh—"
A gasp slipped out before I could stop it.
That alone would skyrocket my quality of life.
"And all those people trailing you lately? I can take care of them too."
I scratched my head and tilted it.
"That sounds tricky."
The maids were one thing.
But the ones following me were all magic obsessives.
"Figuring out how is my problem, not yours."
The senior smiled confidently.
"Besides, I'm way more capable than you think."
"...Aren't you being too nice to me?"
So, what do you want in return?
"Oh, no ulterior motives. I just want to be friends."
She propped her chin on her hand, gazing into my eyes.
"Getting close to the freshman top student? This is nothing."
Her soft, persuasive voice had a hypnotic pull.
"So... yeah. I just want to be friends."
Wow, honestly, it was tempting.
If I knew nothing, I might have gotten flustered.
Might have even forgotten I'm a girl.
But I already knew.
How Senior Miriel reels people in.
She starts with "let's be friends," showers you with favors to create a sense of debt.
Then gradually pulls you into small favors, escalating to annoying chores.
Just look at the students who followed her here.
Later, even if I tried to distance myself, she'd hound me relentlessly.
Better to cut ties from the start.
I stared at Senior Miriel, then abruptly changed the subject.
"Come to think of it... the princess said something similar."
Senior Miriel's face stiffened subtly.
Just as I expected.
I felt a twinge of guilt dragging in someone I'd never met—royalty, no less—but whatever.
It was the only play I had.
"What... did the princess propose?"
"She said she'd do nothing."
"...What?"
I yawned, adding in a drowsy voice.
"Exactly that. No demands, no hassles."
Just occasional hellos when we bump into each other.
On a lazy day with no schedule or sleepiness, maybe grab a casual meal if it crosses my mind.
That's the perfect distance for me.
An awkward silence fell.
Senior Miriel's lips moved wordlessly.
Complex emotions flickered in her eyes.
That was when it happened.
With a creak, the clubroom door opened, and Claire and President Sylvia entered.
"Oh? Who's this? The second-year top student?"
A playful lilt mixed into the cheerful voice.
"Didn't know you were interested in our Ghost Story Research Club~ What, you all wanna join together?"
The my-way president, obsessed only with ghosts and club matters, was one of Elterion's Villainess's natural predators.
"...Weren't you in the middle of orientation?"
Senior Miriel bypassed President Sylvia and targeted the easier mark, Claire.
Claire peeked out from behind the president, beaming.
"For the orientation, I asked Vice President Thomas. Figured he'd explain it way better than a regular member like me."
She glanced at me and winked slyly.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
Yeah. For me, that's the ideal friendship— that kind of distance, that lightness.