Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Villainess (3)
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The second day of the written exams.
Having scheduled a meeting with the Swordsmanship Department Head during lunchtime, I headed straight to the meeting room as soon as the exam ended.
A muscular middle-aged man was sitting on the sofa in the meeting room, greeting me.
"Eric, come on in. If you do well, you might be able to summon a Swordmaster by next year's midterms!"
The teacher who, at my insistence yesterday to call a Swordmaster for the practical exam, said he'd contact a close junior of his.
The strongest in the academy after the Principal, an 8th Circle Archmage, and the only one capable of facing an Archdemon.
The Swordmaster, head of the Swordsmanship Department, looked at me as I took a seat.
"So, you're here about yesterday?"
"Yes. Could you possibly come to the Magic Department's side for this practical exam?"
"Huh? I have to oversee the Swordsmanship Department's exam."
The Magic Department and Swordsmanship Department practical exams are held on the same day.
The Magic Department's takes place in a flat forest 20 km east of the academy.
The Swordsmanship Department's is at the academy's training grounds.
"That's true, but..."
"You know it's impossible. Principles like that don't change so easily."
The Swordsmanship Department Head looked at my face for a moment before speaking in a low voice.
"But if there's a clear reason, an exception could be made."
"That's..."
I'd been agonizing over this moment alone.
Is there any realistic way to move the Swordsmanship Department Head?
Terrorism by an anti-empire group? An attack by black mages?
The academy isn't an easy target.
Unless it's Archdemon-level, most attacks are blocked by the guards and teachers.
After hesitating briefly, I opened my mouth.
"An Archdemon might appear. No, it definitely will."
"Archdemon... An Archdemon, huh..."
The Swordsmanship Department Head pondered for a moment before looking up at me.
"You wouldn't say something like that without reason, would you?"
"..."
What should I say?
That I sensed demonic energy at the exam site?
That I created a spell to detect Archdemons?
Or... that I know the truth of this world?
My opponent is a war hero from the Great War, a seasoned veteran.
Any sloppy lie would be seen through immediately.
Recalling the original story, I gave the answer I'd agonized over.
"I-It's a hunch. My gut is telling me that."
"A hunch... A hunch, you say..."
The Swordsmanship Department Head's intense gaze fixed on me.
Was the conclusion I reached the right one?
"As you know, I've spent a long time on the battlefield."
The Swordsmanship Department Head continued quietly, looking at me.
"On the battlefield, you never ignore a hunch. I suffered setbacks and defeats multiple times for ignoring it."
The Swordsmanship Department Head gazed at the ceiling briefly before lowering his eyes to meet mine.
"Even the hunch of the lowliest officer—if ignored—has gotten me in trouble more times than I can count."
"Then...!"
"But every hunch is based on evidence."
The verdict came down on my expectant self.
"That day's condition, a tactics manual you read long ago, the behavior patterns of an enemy commander you faced before."
The Swordsmanship Department Head's gaze upon me was chillingly cold.
"A hunch manifests from experience, not imagination. What is yours based on?"
The conclusion I reached was wrong.
I couldn't stop the Swordsmanship Department Head from leaving the room.
Where did I go wrong?
Because I couldn't find a rational reason besides the Archdemon?
From the moment I said it was a hunch?
Or... from the moment I tried to prevent the original plot?
I jumped up from my seat and dashed out of the meeting room.
I could see the Swordsmanship Department Head walking down the hallway ahead.
"Teacher! Wait a moment!"
Pushing through the crowded hallway full of students, I grabbed his arm.
"I've seen the future. This world's future. It's fragmentary and not perfect, but I'm certain an Archdemon will appear during the practical exam!"
The eyes of students walking down the hallway turned toward us.
The Swordsmanship Department Head turned to look at me.
"This time, you're serious. Much better than saying it's a hunch."
"Then...!"
"I'll send the Great Sword Department Head. I can take responsibility for that much."
"..."
My face, filled with hope, twisted.
"The Great Sword Department Head won't be enough to stop it."
"The Great Sword Department Head is plenty strong. Excluding me and the Principal, he's the strongest in the academy."
"That's not enough. The Archdemon is..."
"Twenty years ago."
The Swordsmanship Department Head fully turned and gripped my shoulder.
"The day an Archdemon appeared in the north. I was there."
His heavy voice burrowed into my ear.
"Silvermain handled the Archdemon extermination, but I fought it alongside him."
It was a story from the original work.
Of course, I knew it.
"The Great Sword Department Head can buy enough time. Then I'll arrive."
Do you know?
That Archdemon was one of the weakest among them.
The one targeting Scarlet is the second-in-command among Archdemons.
Even the Great Sword Department Head can't buy time against it.
"You're wrong."
My mouth moved before I could think.
"The Archdemon you faced then was the weakest among them."
I knew I should stop, but my mouth wouldn't.
"The one appearing this time is second-in-rank. No one but you, Swordsmanship Department Head, can stop it."
"First time hearing Archdemons have ranks."
"Soon, all humanity will know. From now on, Archdemons will appear every few months, leading hell's armies to invade."
The Swordsmanship Department Head smiled faintly and pried my hand off his arm.
"A hunch... Sometimes it's uncannily accurate, but it errs often enough to be called a hunch."
His thick, sturdy hand patted my shoulder.
"Truth is, when I was young, I thought I was the protagonist of the world too."
Looking at my face, the Swordsmanship Department Head raised his hand to ruffle my hair.
"I'll send Yorick. Now go prepare for your exam."
"Just once...!"
"Hm?"
The Swordsmanship Department Head, about to leave, turned back.
"Couldn't you just hear me out this once...? Please."
I dropped to my knees and clung to his right arm with both hands.
His muscular, iron-hard forearm filled my grasp.
"Many hardships seem trivial in hindsight."
The Swordsmanship Department Head stroked my head with his left hand, detached my grip, and turned away.
"Swordsmanship Department Head! The Archdemon will definitely appear!"
I shouted with all my might, but
he didn't look back again.
"Huh? An Archdemon's gonna appear? Did studying for exams drive you crazy?"
*
"If it weren't you, I'd have chewed them out big time. Everyone shut up and go back!"
*
"Sigh... That's why it won't... Ah, sorry. That wasn't a sigh..."
As expected, no one believed me.
Wandering in thought about where to go next, I stopped in front of the Magic Department Head's office.
"It's Eric. May I request a meeting?"
"Oh? You're here! I'm done organizing, come in!"
When I knocked and asked, permission came from inside.
The Magic Department Head, having finished grading and neatly organized her desk, greeted me with a bright smile.
"You finally came to me! I heard you're going around saying an Archdemon's appearing!"
She'd already heard about my antics.
Her eyes sparkled.
"So? What do you want me to do?"
"If you know any great mages, could they come to the exam site that day...?"
"Of course! I know an amazing great mage personally!"
"Pardon?"
Her unexpected reply made me blurt out a reflexive question.
The Magic Department Head stood up, placed a hand on her ample chest, and declared confidently.
"I'm the phenomenal great mage who reached 6th Circle at just 28! And announced 7th Circle magic theory!"
"Aren't great mages 7th Circle and above?"
"Theory counts as 7th Circle, so I'll reach it soon, right?"
She tilted her head as if I'd asked something strange.
"Besides! Lately, it feels like I could cast 7th Circle magic any day now!"
"No, it's not that simple..."
"Anyway! If an Archdemon shows up, I'll promote to 7th Circle and block it! Just trust this future great mage!"
Leaving the confidently shouting Magic Department Head behind, I exited.
The sun was already setting.
"Ah, I need to go to city hall."
I had no intention of dropping that bombshell letter and tormenting some poor official.
At city hall, I belatedly filled out the anonymous letter submission form and returned to the dorms.
The final day of written exams.
Countless gazes pierced me as I headed to the classroom.
Having stayed up all night, I didn't wait for Scarlet and went to the exam hall alone.
Students who spotted me whispered from all around.
"That's him? The one yelling about an Archdemon appearing..."
"He's handsome, so why's he like that?"
"Top of the first-years, they say. Number one in entrance exams."
"Genius comes with eccentricity, huh..."
Arriving at the classroom, I quietly sat and prepared for the exam.
Soon, Scarlet entered and approached me.
"Eric, you okay?"
"I'm fine. Exam's starting, so hurry to your seat."
"..."
After hesitating, Scarlet returned to her seat as the homeroom teacher entered.
The bell signaling the start rang, and the exam began.
I don't remember much about how I did that day either.
Time flew by, and dismissal approached before long.
"Alright, good work on the exams, everyone. Eric, come with me."
I followed the homeroom teacher to the meeting room.
As I sat, he quietly brewed tea and set it before me.
"Having a tough time lately?"
"Not yet. The practical exam day will be rough."
"Sigh... Why are you doing this? You were always so diligent."
The middle-aged homeroom teacher, balding, swept back his remaining hair.
"This tea clears the mind. Drink it, cool off, then go. Prepare well for next week's exam."
Busy with exam period, the homeroom teacher served me tea and left the meeting room.
I downed the tea in one gulp and exited.
Steam rose from it, but it wasn't too hot.
"Eric... You okay?"
Emerging, Scarlet was waiting in the hallway.
"Of course. Totally fine."
"Look at your face! Does it look okay?! And do you know what the kids are saying about you?!"
Scarlet yelled, her face scrunched up fiercely.
"Kids who haven't even talked to you once are looking at you and..."
I organized my thoughts while looking at Scarlet's face.
What if I skip the practical and run away?
If I beg desperately, maybe Scarlet would listen.
But the Archdemon targets Scarlet for her Archmage talent.
Even if we skip the practical, it'll eventually come for her.
Leaving the academy where the Swordsmanship Department Head is would be the worst choice.
"Even if you tell them to stop, they keep whispering!"
Scarlet's face, twisted in anger, looked ugly.
"Scarlet."
I grabbed both her cheeks with my hands and pulled.
Her wrinkled, frowning face smoothed out, looking much better.
"Eek?"
Unable to grasp the situation, a dumb sound escaped Scarlet's mouth.
"What are you doing all of a sudden?!"
She swatted my hands away and rubbed her cheeks.
"What the...!"
"Wanna go out and play now?"
"Huh?"
I glanced out the window, confirming the sun was still high.
"There's a great spot I scouted on the mountain behind the academy. Let's go."
"Right now?"
"Right now."
A faint smile crept onto Scarlet's flustered face.
"I'm not just going! I'm going specially because you've been struggling lately!"
"Got it, so let's hurry."
I grabbed Scarlet's arm and quickly moved down the hallway.
"Ah! O-Okay! Let's go!"
Scarlet walked with her arm conveniently raised for grabbing.
Maybe because I pulled her.
Despite her flushed cheeks, the faint smile on her face didn't fade.