Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Villainess (7)
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With the Principal's help, I arrived at his office without being spotted by anyone.
"Eric. It's been a month since you were dragged off by the Archdemon. Do you have a grasp on the situation now?"
"Yes... If I say I came back alive, I probably won't get any praise, right?"
There were cases of people who had been taken into the Archdemon's sub-space returning alive.
But even so, the reason my funeral had proceeded immediately...
"If word spreads that you've returned alive, a summons from the Papal Court will arrive right away."
"And if I can't explain it perfectly there..."
"You'll probably be dragged off to the Papal Court's basement."
Everyone who returned alive from an Archdemon's sub-space had made a pact with the Archdemon.
If I couldn't convincingly prove the process and outcome of that pact, I'd meet my death again in the Papal Court's basement.
'How should I make an excuse? Say I handed over the Archmage Talent? What if my circle rises then? No, to begin with...'
Would the Papal Court even believe me?
There were too many incidents I'd caused last week.
I'd sent a threatening letter saying I'd summon an Archdemon, for one.
Even if they smoothed over the letter somehow, explaining how I'd foreseen the Archdemon ahead of time was impossible.
'I tried to kill myself in front of the Archdemon, met the Goddess, and came back alive!'
If I said something like that confidently, it'd be a one-way ticket to the basement.
"I can block the Papal Court's summons. I still have that much influence left."
A strong-voiced old man's words reached me as I agonized.
I looked up at the Principal and recalled the original story's progression.
Scarlet, who had made a pact with the Archdemon, suffered under the Papal Court's relentless demands for her presence.
If not for testimonies that she'd been dragged away to protect her fellow students and the protection of a revered 8th Circle Archmage, Scarlet would have endured torment in the Papal Court too.
"But even so, the stigma left on you won't disappear."
Even with the Principal's protection, I could only rely on it during my academy life. After that, the Papal Court's pursuit would be relentless.
"If you're alright with it... I'll create a new identity for you."
"Pardon?"
I reflexively asked back at the unexpected response.
"You're a Space Mage, so you can pass as the disciple of one of my reclusive disciples."
"...Why go that far for me? Is there a way to tell if I've made a pact with the Archdemon?"
"If there were, no one would suffer unjustly."
The Principal approached me and placed a small circular badge on the desk in front of me.
"It's proof that you're my disciple. Pick a new name and appearance, and I'll engrave it on there. Fewer than ten kids have one of these, so any noble will recognize it."
Of course, I knew it too. The badge symbolizing a disciple of 8th Circle Archmage Khalid von Everrund.
This badge, infused with 8th Circle magic, was linked to its owner's soul, making forgery impossible.
I looked up at the old man standing before me.
"Do you believe I didn't make a pact with the Archdemon? Why go this far?"
"Sorry, but I naturally assumed you did make one."
The Papal Court tracked Archdemon contractors because, historically, they had caused immense harm.
Failing to remove a walking, unpredictable nuclear bomb wasn't praiseworthy.
As I gazed at him with those doubts, he placed a hand on my shoulder and continued.
"I'm sorry. As an academy student, it was my duty to protect you, but I failed. Will you let me fulfill that duty now?"
The Principal smiled faintly and pulled a small stone from his pocket.
A mana stone that shifted colors in real time, emitting a rainbow of hues.
The item he never used and ultimately lost in the original story.
"Philosopher's Stone..."
"Oh? You know it. Well, you did say you know the future."
Back in the Principal's active days.
It was said he'd obtained it while subjugating a dungeon where an Archdemon appeared, alongside many comrades.
The one and only in the world—even the Emperor had begged for it in vain.
"If it's something you lose, it can't be restored, but if the pact requires killing someone or taking certain actions, this will block it."
The Principal smiled warmly and placed the Philosopher's Stone in my hand.
"Of course, blocking Archdemon pacts is just a side effect. The main purpose is enhancing magical talent. The pact doesn't involve taking your talent, does it?"
"No, but... something this precious..."
"Compared to living a new life after losing family and friends, it's a tiny compensation. I'm sorry."
The Principal's hand covered mine holding the Philosopher's Stone.
Powerful mana flowed from his hand through mine into the stone.
"If you stay at the academy, I'd protect you by any means... but this seems like it will make your life happier."
Spend a lifetime chased by the Papal Court under an Archmage's protection?
Or gain immense magical talent and live a new life?
It wasn't even worth agonizing over. Especially not for someone who knew this world's future.
"At 3rd Circle, the effect won't be huge yet, but..."
"It's 4th Circle."
I looked up at the Principal.
Once you cast a higher-circle spell, it's like a dam breaking—your body's constitution changes.
Even casting a next-circle spell just once makes it far easier to do so again.
The Principal's smile deepened at my words.
"I reached 4th Circle at 17... Looks like history's about to be rewritten."
After taking a moment to adjust to my changed body, I looked at the Principal, waiting for his questions.
Reading my gaze, he spoke calmly.
"I won't ask how you knew the future. You should stop talking about it too."
"Pardon?"
An unexpected reply came back.
"I don't know how you learned it, but speaking of the future... especially about enemies from other dimensions... violates the world's laws. Nothing good comes of it."
"Principal... how much do you know...?"
At my question, the Principal gave a playful smile.
"When you become an 8th Circle mage, you learn more than you'd think. If you're curious, hurry up and follow me."
"No, 8th Circle is way too far..."
I grumbled timidly, then remembered something I'd overlooked amid the excitement of the Philosopher's Stone.
"By the way, if the Philosopher's Stone has that effect, don't I even need to hide my identity?"
"Only 8th Circle mages can verify its effect precisely. They'll pretend to believe me, but the Papal Court won't give up without 100% certainty."
The Papal Court was obsessively fixated when it came to demons.
Plus, the Principal and I weren't strangers—we were student and teacher—so they might think he was lying out of guilt.
"So, you're really not changing your name and appearance?"
"Yes. Eric isn't a rare name... and I don't plan to live under a new identity forever."
"True. Space Mages are rare but not nonexistent, so as long as they don't know your face, they'll just think it's coincidence."
The empire and the world were broader than one might think.
This damn Romance Fantasy treated medieval armies like a joke—hundreds of thousands mobilized casually in wars.
The odds of them linking a young 4th Circle Space Mage named Eric to me were low.
"Anyway, you'll reach 8th Circle someday, and then you can reclaim your identity."
8th Circle mages were half beyond humanity.
Liberated to some degree from the world's laws, Archdemon pacts held no meaning for them.
That was one reason Archdemons feared Archmage talent.
Of course, 8th Circle was too distant—I had no intention of waiting that long.
'Sorry, Principal... but I can probably only hide for about a year at most?'
As I pondered the original plot, the Principal asked.
"So, you're heading north?"
"My family's from the south, so no one should recognize me up north."
"The north is famous for its dungeons too... If you're planning mercenary work, it's a good choice."
With the Principal's help, I reached a distant city, pulled my robe's hood low over my face, and boarded a carriage north.
The northern continent.
Vast interior filled with countless tables where armed people gathered in small groups, meticulously reading requests.
One wall thick with posters seeking lost owners.
On the opposite side, burly muscular men sat at the counter, handling customers.
"Heard the news? His Highness the Second Prince enrolled at the Imperial Academy."
"Huh? Is His Highness the Second Prince already that age?"
"A count's adopted daughter is enrolling too..."
"Why care about some count's adopted girl?"
"She reached 4th Circle at 15. Youngest ever, they say."
"I heard. She's aura-talented too—might become a Swordmaster and Archmage."
"More like, that count's daughter who enrolled last year hit 4th Circle four months ago."
"Two with Archmage talent... "
"Speaking of which, isn't that guy a 4th Circle Space Mage at 19?"
A man in a black robe entered the noisy mercenary guild.
"Speak of the tiger, and he appears."
"Just 20 now? Not academy level, but impressive."
"Hah, still just B-rank."
"Says the C-rank. Rumors say he's taking the A-rank promotion exam soon."
Ignoring the chatter, I approached the counter.
"Oh! Eric! This your last one?"
"Yes. I've completed 30 B-rank requests, so now for the A-rank promotion exam."
"In just five months... Our guild's fastest A-rank record's gonna change."
"Well, gotta pass the exam first."
"Ah... maybe skip this promotion exam...?"
The burly man scratched his head with an awkward smile that didn't suit him.
"Why? Because Black Boar Mercenary Corps leadership's participating?"
"You know about them too. They haven't been caught, but they're rotten. Rumors say they killed a client recently..."
"Scared of trash like that? How'll you wear an A-rank badge?"
"Still, it's a five-man party exam, and you're solo..."
"Whoa! This pup's got some nerve!"
A man with a scar across his face, who'd been eavesdropping, approached me.
"Ugh, Kane. Didn't you leave earlier?"
"Sent my buddies ahead. Wanted to meet our cheeky mage friend."
The man naturally placed a hand on my shoulder and looked at me.
"Pretty boy, not very mercenary-like... Needs a scar to fit in."
"Sign me up for the promotion exam."
I ignored the trembling man beside me and walked out of the guild.
"Huh? Where you— What?!"
As I left, the man realized his hand was grasping empty air, not my shoulder.
"Hah... Space Mage, huh?"
I like saving people, but that doesn't mean I have to recycle trash.
I save people for my own satisfaction, not overflowing humanity.
Saving scum like that brings no joy.
Anticipating the promotion exam, I exited the guild.
"Academy entrance ceremony soon... Main story's really starting."
Thinking of the original heroine, I headed to the market district to prepare for the exam.
"Elly, why so down lately?"
"Eh?! N-No reason!"
The pink-haired girl sitting at the table dropped her fork in surprise while eating.
I picked up the fallen fork and answered the worried woman looking at me.
"J-Just! The academy enrollment's got me a bit..."
"Everyone there's nice, don't worry. Even last year's Archdemon incident is fine now with an Archmage stationed there."
"Right! I'm excited, but... a little nervous! I'm done eating, so I'll head to my room!"
"Okay! I booked your favorite riding lesson for later!"
I rushed to my room, caught my breath, and sorted my thoughts.
'Of course! I spent my life in hospitals! Suddenly possessing an insta-heroine feels awkward!'
I went to my desk, unlocked a drawer, and pulled out my notebook summarizing the original story.
'Should've read to the end! At least chapter 25!'
Blaming my past self, I read the notebook.
'After enrolling at the academy, use the villainess Scarlet to hook up with the Second Prince, then head north to the Northern Duke who lost his family...'
My notes cut off at the part where I met the Northern Duke, who'd recently lost his daughter and wife.
'Got off midway 'cause they tried whitewashing the villainess! Shouldn't have!'
I cracked the door, confirmed no one outside, and whispered cautiously.
"Status Window."
★ The 2nd Prince route has been extinguished.
★ Virus detected. Find and kill the virus.
Virus:4th Circle Space Mage Eric von Berg
'A Romance Fantasy with Heavenly Martial Body?! What does "2nd Prince route extinguished" even mean?!'
Half a year ago, when I suddenly possessed this body and grasped the situation.
A message appeared saying the 2nd Prince route had been extinguished.
'Eric von Berg... the villainess's childhood friend, right? He was definitely a 3rd Circle water mage...?'
I glared at the status window, which had changed abruptly with no explanation.
'Kill the virus... telling me to murder someone...?'
I thought of the original heroine for a moment.
Always smiling brightly, winning people's favor.
The polar opposite of me, who'd spent her life bedridden with an incurable disease.
'Still, it's a Romance Fantasy... probably full of fluff. Gotta seduce the 2nd Prince somehow, whatever the route...'
The text "2nd Prince route extinguished" caught my eye.
'No point agonizing without info... just follow the original plot for now.'
As I pondered future events, a thought struck me.
'If I possessed her... is the original heroine dead? Or did I steal her body?'
After serious deliberation, I reached a conclusion.
'I didn't choose to possess! If she wants it back later, I'll think about it then!'
I, who could barely walk due to illness in my past life, gazed at my strong, vibrant limbs.
'Super unlucky before... this is payback, I guess.'
Practicing smiles to mimic the original heroine's personality, I headed out for riding lessons.
First time on a horse, but the Heavenly Martial Body lived up to its name—I finished the lesson easily.