How To Live As An Academy Extra Villain

✦ Chapter 115 ✦

「Translator – Creator」

𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝

I took out a small vial filled with golden liquid from my pocket and handed it to Selene.

“What’s this…?” she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

“A medicine that can cure any illness in the world.”

“What? There’s no such thing… Are you teasing me…?”

“Selene. Do you trust me?”

She puffed out her cheeks, pretending to be offended, thinking I was joking. But seeing the seriousness in my eyes, her expression softened.

“…Of course I trust you… It’s just…”

“Then take this. Keep it safe and use it when you really need it. Okay?”

“…Okay… Hee hee…”

The liquid I had given her was a small vial of Elixir. I couldn’t completely ignore Eugene’s dream. I had to take some precautions, at the very least.

Selene tucked the vial away with a giggle; then, her face fell as she remembered something.

“Speaking of strange things… Eugene said something weird yesterday, too…”

“Weird?”

“Yeah… I went to see him, trying to tell him to stop with all this talk about the dream, but… he just kept saying he saw something in his dream…”

It seemed Eugene had told Selene the same thing he had told me. She shook her head, her brow furrowed in confusion.

“…He wouldn’t make something like that up, though…”

“…What if it turns out to be true?”

“What do you mean? That I’d only be happy if I stayed with Eugene?”

“Yes, that.”

Selene frowned, her voice laced with displeasure. “…Why are you asking me that? Would you actually let me go if that’s what it took to make me happy?”

“……………”

As soon as I heard Selene’s response, my heart suddenly sank. I tried to force out a response, but Selene, seeing my reaction, suddenly laughed softly and shook her head.

“…Silly. Why would I say that? It’s obvious you don’t like the idea, just looking at your face.”

“…Was it that obvious?”

“Don’t worry. How could that be happiness? I’m happy just the way things are. And even if something does happen, so what? I have the potion you gave me…”

Selene stood up and began to straighten her clothes. Then she approached me and gently placed her hand on the back of my hand.

“…But Edwin.”

“Yeah?”

“I was thinking… all the rumors, the gossip… people saying you… you forced yourself on me…”

“That? I don’t really care. It’s fine…”

“No, I mean… If you had bruises too, wouldn’t those rumors die down a bit?”

“It makes sense but… that’s too…”

“Heehee… Silly. You’re embarrassed again. Just a moment…”

Things weren’t going the way I expected. For the past few days, Selene had been the one leading me.

At first, I thought she was just trying to achieve her goal. But as time went on, a different thought kept creeping into my head.

“…Is that better? It seems a bit too light…”

“It’s fine. And we should probably head back now.”

“Already…?”

Selene asked, sounding disappointed. She then moved closer and leaned her shoulder against mine.

“What if I lose? Should we run away together?”

“Heehee… I wouldn’t mind that…”

“I’m just kidding. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to win.”

“…Okay.”

* * * * *

There was still plenty of time before the duel was set to begin, but the area was already packed with people. When they saw me, they parted like the Red Sea, allowing me to make my way to the waiting area.

Sitting there, I could feel the energy of the crowd, their cheers and jeers echoing around me, raising my heart rate, sending a surge of adrenaline through my veins.

Finally, a bell tolled three times, signaling the start of the event. A handsome young man, dressed in formal attire, stepped into the center of the dueling arena. He touched his throat, muttering a spell, then cleared his throat a couple of times before addressing the crowd.

“Welcome, everyone. My name is Hemp Ferrois, and I’m the president of the Dueling Club.”

His voice, amplified by magic, boomed across the arena.

“Today’s duel is a Trial by Combat. I have been entrusted by the academy and Baron Carson of Redville with the authority to oversee this duel and its aftermath. The result of the duel will be legally binding. Participants, come forward.”

As he finished speaking, I parted the curtain of the waiting area and stepped into the dueling arena. Opposite me, a familiar blonde student did the same.

As the distance between us closed, his face became clear. His eyes were filled with anger toward me and a desire for victory.

“Today’s duel will be conducted according to long-standing traditions. The use of real swords, mana-based enhancements, and close combat strikes are all permitted.”

Hemp continued to explain the rules as the crowd erupted in a cacophony of cheers and boos; the cheers directed at Eugene seemed to be slightly louder than those directed at me.

“If a participant drops their sword, or is deemed unable to continue fighting, they will be declared the loser. If the outcome is unclear, a panel of judges will make a decision. Now, both participants, please…”

—The Saintess?

—It’s the Saintess!

—She’s here to support Eugene? As expected…!

Suddenly, an excited murmur rippled through the crowd. I turned my head and saw the Saintess, dressed in her immaculate white robes, making her way towards the VIP section on the second floor.

This was her first public appearance since the Holy Sword Ritual. And for her to show up at Eugene’s duel… it was impossible not to attract attention. Was she here to lend him her support? Or was this simply a matter of fulfilling her obligations?

If I were the Saintess, I wouldn’t be rooting for his defeat.

Once the commotion died down, Hemp cleared his throat and continued.

“…Ahem. Let’s proceed. Eugene, what do you seek from this duel?”

“I demand that he release Eugenia from his grasp.”

“Edwin, what is your desire?”

“I seek the annulment of the engagement between Eugene and Sel… Eugenia. She never wanted to be engaged to him. She’s already mine.”

By the time I finished speaking, Eugene and I were only a short distance apart. I could see the tension in his fist as he clenched it tightly.

“All rights belong to the victor. Whatever you desire, it will only be granted after you have achieved victory. May you both attain your goals.”

At the signal from the announcer, we stepped back and drew our longswords, the blades glinting ominously in the afternoon light.

When I channeled mana through the acupoints on my palm, the sword felt significantly lighter. Eugene on the opposite side also assumed his stance

“Begin!”

Whoosh—!

Clang—! Crackle—!

The moment Hemp gave the signal, Eugene lunged at me with lightning speed. Our swords clashed, sparks flying as the mana infused within them collided.

Clang—!

Clang—! Crackle—!

The duel proceeded in a fashion similar to the last one. When Eugene attacked, I deflected his strikes. The only difference this time was that I showed no signs of counterattacking.

—Clang!!

We exchanged a few more blows. My passive defense seemed to fuel Eugene’s aggression. His supporters roared their approval, while the students who were rooting for me let out groans of disappointment.

But contrary to their reactions, I felt quite different this time around.

‘Indeed… this is much more manageable.’

If there was one area where I was undeniably superior to Eugene, it was in controlling the flow of mana and my dynamic vision. The elixir had completely unblocked the obstructed pathways within my body. And I had been practicing my family’s mana cultivation techniques since I was a child.

My eyes, now fully awakened as a Lakisia’s Eye, allowed me to react to even the fastest movements.

Eugene, on the other hand, had only discovered his mana abilities less than a year ago. His mana control was rudimentary, having only learned the basics of the Imperial standard techniques.

His movements were impressive, but they weren’t beyond my ability to track.

All of these factors combined created a sense of confidence I hadn’t felt before. If this were a simple contest of swordsmanship, like last time, it might have been a different story. But in a battle that involved mana, my weaknesses were neutralized.

My sword, imbued with mana, felt much lighter and moved as though it were a part of my body. I could deflect his attacks effortlessly.

Clang—!

Clang—!

—Go, Eugene!!

—Finish him!!

The duel was progressing much like our previous spar. But at a much faster pace. The fact that I wasn’t counterattacking meant that Eugene could dictate the tempo. He had a tremendous advantage in terms of stamina. The Holy Sword granted its owner incredible physical and mental endurance, as well as accelerated healing.

And on top of that, he had his natural, animalistic instincts, which I simply couldn’t match, even with the aid of my items. So I chose to conserve my energy. My occasional attempts at counterattacks were easily evaded by Eugene.

I was waiting for my chance, for a decisive opening. During our last spar, I had desperately searched for a way to defeat Eugene. And I had finally come up with a plan.

There was one distinct weakness Eugene had at this moment.

Whoosh—!

Crash—!

As an experiment, I intentionally left an opening, tempting him to attack. And as expected, he seized the opportunity, his sword whistling through the air. I barely managed to block the blow, but the cheers from his supporters intensified. This exchange confirmed my suspicions.

‘…..I can see it now.’

Whenever I exposed a weakness, Eugene would unleash a powerful, weight-driven attack. And my eyes had caught it — a subtle shift in his weight, a slight lean to one side, as he swung his sword.

Just like with his mana cultivation, he had learned swordsmanship after entering the academy. He had compensated for his lack of formal training with his extraordinary talent, but there were still gaps in his fundamentals.

I had been testing him, just to be sure, but now there was no need.

Clang—!

His weakness was balance. Whenever he put his full strength into a blow, his center of gravity would shift excessively. And in that state, even his superhuman reflexes wouldn’t be enough to avoid an incoming attack.

That fleeting moment was what I was targeting. Eugene would likely improve and overcome this weakness by the time he advanced to his second year and master proper swordsmanship, so if I didn’t use this knowledge now, I might never get another chance.

If it was a temporary weakness, then I was going to exploit it while I still could.

Clang—!

That being said, it was only a minor flaw, not a major one. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

Which was why I had to capitalize on this single opportunity.

—Wooo!

—Finish him!!

Before I knew it, I had been pushed completely into a corner of the dueling arena. The audience, certain of the outcome, erupted in cheers. Eugene seemed no different, preparing for a final, decisive blow.

“………..”

He had been silent throughout the entire duel, focused solely on defeating me and rescuing Selene. And his resolve hadn’t wavered.

He raised his sword, gathering his strength, and unleashed the heaviest blow yet.

Boom—!

This was it. The moment I had been waiting for. The instant he swung his sword, I made my move. I raised my sword with one hand, deflecting his attack, and with my other hand, I punched him square in the jaw.

Thwack—!

“Ugh…”

Already off-balance, Eugene couldn’t properly react to my attack. The force of my punch made him stagger, struggling to remain standing.

“Whew…”

At the same time, a searing pain shot through my shoulder. It was natural; I couldn’t fully parry his attack with just one hand. The blade, which had been partially embedded in my shoulder, ripped free, leaving a gushing wound.

But there was no time to waste. Ignoring the searing pain that felt like my arm was about to fall off, I pressed my attack.

Clang—! Clang—!

Thud—!

The impact that spread from his jaw to his entire head wasn’t something Eugene could recover from easily. I approached and swung my sword. Eugene managed to block it, but I followed through with a powerful kick to his stomach.

“Ughf!”

He rolled onto the ground, but I didn’t let up; this was my only chance to win, to finish him before he could recover.

Thud—! Clang—!

Thwack—! Thud—!

I stomped on his legs as he tried to get up. When he tried to block with his arm, I kicked his chest. I turned his face with another hit.

Thud—! Thwack—!

The audience fell silent; those who were certain of Eugene’s victory couldn’t accept the reality unfolding before their eyes.

Thud—!

“Ugh… hack…!”

Thwack—!

As I watched Eugene squirming beneath me, a strange sense of elation welled up within me. I wanted to keep him under my feet forever, to crush him completely, so he would never rise again…

“Stop! Stop it!!”

My body froze. A voice boomed across the arena. Mana surged from the bracelet on my arm, binding me in place.

“Edwin! That’s enough! Can’t you see his condition?”

At Hemp’s words, I looked down. What lay there was Eugene’s form, barely capable of moving even a finger.

“Ugh…” he groaned.

As the adrenaline subsided, the pain in my shoulder returned with a vengeance. The discomfort made me grimace, and Hemp flinched at my expression.

He quickly composed himself and turned to the crowd, “The duel is over! The winner… Edwin Reed!!”

—Wooo!

—Edwin! I knew you could do it!

—…

—No way… how is this possible…?

The reactions were starkly divided, and the cheers didn’t erupt with much fervor. More than half the audience looked on in stunned silence.

Click—!…Clack—!…

Whoosh—!...

“…Edwin, show me your shoulder.”

From behind, I heard footsteps and the sound of someone breathing mana into a spell. Turning my head at the call, I saw a woman in a pure white robe standing there.

“…Saintess? Ugh…!”

“…Hold still. Moving will only make it worse.”

She had tended to Eugene’s injuries first, prioritizing the one who was in worse condition. Now she turned her attention to me, her expression hidden behind her veil. She grasped my shoulder, her touch firm, and channeled her holy power into the wound.

A wave of warmth flowed through me.

 “…That was rather reckless of you.”

“…What?”

“Trading your own shoulder for victory. I don’t approve of such strategies. It was impulsive and dangerous…”

“…It wasn’t impulsive. It was a calculated risk. I gave up the minimum required to secure my victory…”

“……….”

The Saintess didn’t respond to my words. After infusing all the holy power she could, she turned and left without another word.

Soon, I was left standing alone in the center of the chaotic arena, a faint sense of triumph stirring within me.

— End of Chapter —

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