How To Live As An Academy Extra Villain

120 – Ellie (6)

“Step aside for a moment.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

Barion gestured to Kisha and Ergo.

They bowed their heads and quickly left their positions.

Ergo seemed to squint one eye as he looked at me.

As the tense atmosphere subsided, Barion cleared his throat and spoke again.

“Aren’t you curious?”

“…About what you’re talking about…?”

“What we discussed inside.”

“…Why would I be involved in such private matters…?”

“You are. It wasn’t anything grand. We were just discussing the reward we should give you.”

“A reward… I don’t deserve it. I didn’t do it for that.”

“I know, I understand. How could you not? But even the one who receives grace has obligations to fulfill…”

After finishing his words, Barion took something out from his embrace and handed it to me.

I could feel its weight in my hand. It was a golden medal with a diameter about the size of a plum.

The roaring lion and shield were intricately crafted, giving it a luxurious appearance at first glance.

But wait, weren’t the lion and shield the symbols of the Canias family…?

“This is a medal of equal status bestowed only upon direct descendants of our family or those equivalent to them.”

Barion continued his explanation in a composed tone.

“Now, you will be granted various rights. For example, access to the palace and treasury, the authority to command our personal knights, and the withdrawal of the royal treasury… ”

“It’s too much…”

Alcmena murmured softly from the side. Barion sighed lightly as if his headache was returning. Alcmena’s words were not easily understood.

There was not a single part in Barion’s explanation that felt lacking.

On the contrary, it was overwhelming and excessive.

Each and every detail seemed burdensome to me.

“…I cannot accept such excessive rewards. Please reconsider…”

“You seemed like you would say that. However, refusal is strictly prohibited.”

But Varion firmly lifted his head as if he had predicted my words.

“And if you don’t want any rewards, can’t you just hold on to the victory alone? Just think of it as something you received in advance.”

Now it seemed like I had no choice. I could only accept the victory with a bewildered feeling at his words.

However, his last words didn’t seem to reveal his true intentions.

No, rather it seemed like he was deliberately avoiding understanding…

“…Thank you. As a father with a daughter, any gratitude towards you would not be enough. However, as the ruler of this country… the story would be different.”

Upon seeing me accept the victory, Varion finally showed a satisfied smile. But the good atmosphere ended here. Varion, who took a breath, instantly changed his tone.

“Father… I’m certain…”

Alkmenes once again had a displeased expression. But Varion continued firmly.

“Edwina of Reed. Many stories about you are circulating in the academy. In the past, you harassed commoner students and stirred up rumors, and recently, you have been in continuous conflict with the selected warrior and Sila, the enemy of our family…”

“…”

“Furthermore, it is said that you forcibly took the warrior’s fiancee and engaged in a duel to brutally defeat him?”

As Varion’s words came to an end, a chilling coldness approached from beside me. Even without looking, I could tell who the owner was. I keenly felt the need to have a time for explanation later.

“Well, there can always be differences between rumors and reality. I also don’t take those stories at face value. However, most people aren’t like that.”

A pained expression appeared on Varion’s face.

“Since your selection as a warrior, everyone has been watching you closely. And now, your position in the academy is very clear. You are in a relationship that combines the warrior representing peace and unity with the extreme conflict, and you are also closely connected to Sila, our family’s enemy…”

“…”

“I won’t ask about your true feelings. I won’t force your actions either. However, I will not bestow anything upon you either. Those with responsibility cannot make decisions based on personal emotions. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Varion asked me. He suddenly had the face of a ruler.

His explanation was very clear. In other words, while I might personally serve and reciprocate, there was no official position from the royal family. I could only be pleased with his words.

“What else is there to know? I am grateful for all the consideration you have shown me so far.”

“…Thank you. Convincing my daughter was a bit difficult though…

“Ah… Father…”

Barrion let out a sigh, as if he had finally heard a response, and smiled lightly. Alcmena came out from the side with a flushed face, looking back and forth between Barrion and twirling her foot.

“However, if you prove yourself worthy, you may eventually be able to take a stand with confidence. And from what I can see, that possibility seems quite sufficient.”

Barrion tapped my shoulder and seemed to suddenly think of something to add.

“Oh, but there is one thing to be mindful of.”

“…I will listen carefully.”

“Of course, it’s just a rumor, but be cautious of your behavior. It seems that your father’s traits are present in you as well…”

-Slap!

“Barrion, enough with your nonsense. Let’s go already. Edwin, have a good time. Heehee…”

His wife stopped Barrion and dragged him away. Only Alcmena and I were left in this place.

The girl who had come closer whispered very softly.

“…Sorry. My father tends to be a bit overprotective…”

“…That might be the case. It’s alright. And considering what you’ve been through, it’s not really overprotectiveness…”

“And I’m alright, so…you don’t have to worry too much…”

“What?”

The girl who heard my question came closer. I could even see a single strand of her hair.

“I guess there’s no choice. It’s because I left the place empty. Even the ball might have turned out that way…”

The girl’s tone was calm. She continued speaking as if it was the most natural thing to say.

Unlike my father, I am quite open. So you don’t have to pay too much attention. How can you blame the flowers when the bugs get tangled?”

“Well…”

It seemed like there was a need to explain the situation to Alcmena. However, my voice was blocked by a thin finger, and I lost the sound.

The implications of today’s events were clear. The gold coin handed over by Barrion, Alcmena’s attitude towards me, and their demeanor.

There was no way to not notice.

“So I’m fine. Really. After all, you’re my Edwin, right? In the end, we are destined to go together. As for other bugs? You can use and discard them as much as you want. It’s alright…”

The girl remained calm. Behind her golden eyes, something sticky and heavy swayed.

***

The early appearance of the high priest could not provide a clear answer. However, it seemed that for now, it was most influential that I and Sisela had eliminated the southern necromancer.

Even their relationship with each other was a part that I couldn’t understand. Although the necromancer served the king of demons, their direct relationship with the cult was not described in the story. The high priest’s goal was also not clearly revealed.

But I had heard that something had gone awry before Beki, the necromancer, disappeared, according to Sisela.

And if there was some kind of conspiracy to cause confusion, the necromancer’s demise may have significantly disrupted its progress.

If it was a daring act to prevent that part, an attack on the palace… to some extent it made sense.

At least, if the high priest received comfort in the fact that he was cursed and unable to leave the east, it was comforting.

If not, there was no reason for him to send servants instead of himself to attack the palace.

Perhaps the area where the pursuers were annihilated was the limit of their operational zone, and if my memory was correct, their power was not yet fully restored. They would have expended a considerable amount of power in the previous event and probably wouldn’t reveal themselves directly for a while.

However, even so, there was nothing I could do immediately. The ruins of the east occupied half of the empire. Even if it were the emperor, it would be an impossible task to search there.

Moreover, the important events in the story were described from Eugene’s point of view, and the incidents mainly unfolded in the places he went.

Even if I didn’t know the exact date and time, it was almost certain that even that had been distorted from the original situation.

I briefly considered mentioning it to Barion, but soon gave up. Anyone already knew that there were hidden enemies, and the influence of the royal family did not extend to the east of the empire.

Lost in such miscellaneous thoughts, I stayed one more day. I had received a generous deadline for going out, so I had plenty of time, and they didn’t release me either.

The banquet continued, and it was late at night when I was finally able to enter my room. I could hear noisy sounds outside the door in the middle of the night. When I went out, I saw Alkmena, who was being dragged away crying, in her nightgown. She must have tried to enter my room…

“I’ll go first.”

“…Yeah. If I see you again, it will be Ely from back then… Hehe… I’m excited…”

The next morning, I was preparing to leave the inn while receiving an excessive farewell from those high-ranking individuals. The golden girl was sulking right in front of me.

It was decided that Alkmena’s recovery would be kept secret for the time being. Almost everyone agreed that maintaining the uncertain state of life or death would be more helpful for safety.

And Alkmena was decided to return to the academy with a difference of about a week. No one could break her stubbornness.

Alkmena’s forced reasoning that it was safest to be by my side surprisingly went down well. Yesterday’s incident was still vividly imprinted in the minds of the others.

In fact, it wasn’t entirely false. Anyway, the palace had a vulnerability, and the top priority for defense was the emperor and empress. Furthermore, the identity of the common girl Ely had not yet been publicly exposed.

“See you later.”

“Sir Ergo.”

“…Listen. Even now, let’s reconsider…”

“Mister, please give up now. What are you trying to say to our junior at the Magic Department…”

Ergo’s expression as he held my hand was filled with reluctance. On the other hand, Kisha simply wore a satisfied smile.

The beginning of it all was yesterday’s dinner. Ergo and Kisha had been discussing my future career among themselves for quite some time.

And when I mentioned that I planned to enter the School of Magic, Ergo’s face contorted as if the sky had fallen, and he silently drowned his sorrows in alcohol.

“Hehe. You’ve thought it through very well. Here, take this.”

Kisha extended her hand with a mischievous smile. On it were several pills emanating a brilliant blue light.

“…What is this?”

“It’s the breath of Gernika. Keep it safe, and if you ever experience a rebound, take it. It will quickly restore your mana. It’s a very valuable item, so only take it in emergency situations.”

The pills Kisha gave me were something I truly needed, especially when using the Cleansing Flame that devoured mana in large quantities.

“It’s a gift to celebrate becoming my junior and as a repayment for saving our lord.”

“This is such a precious gift…Thank you…Kisha…sis…”

“Hu…Hehe…Oh my…”

Kisha couldn’t hide her excitement upon hearing my words. She couldn’t believe that the person who had been irritated with me yesterday was actually the same person.

“Tsk tsk, why are magicians such strange individuals…”

Behind Kisha, Ergo shook his head in disapproval. Alcmena’s gaze was fixated on Kisha. The golden girl raised an eyebrow slightly, lost in her thoughts.

“…Is Kisha also a bug…?”