I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains

Chapter 195

"......"

At Luca's words, Herote was left speechless.

There were many things on her mind, but she couldn't put them into words.

Leaving the silent Herote behind, Luca looked at Miros.

"In order to save Donovan, Herote's help is indispensable. But it seems she doesn't trust you. Do you have a way to persuade her?"

Upon hearing Luca's words, Miros looked at him for a moment, then glanced at the sword hanging from his waist.

"...... Could you lend me that?"

At his words, Luca shrugged and tossed the sheathed sword to him.

Miros caught it, took a deep breath, and with trembling hands, drew the sword.

Srrng!

"?"

As Herote was deep in thought, she looked puzzled when Miros drew the sword.

'He can't use magic—what is he going to do with a sword?'

While Herote wondered about that, Miros took the sword in a reverse grip and forced a smile.

"Either way, I won't be of help in saving Donovan."

"W-what are you trying to do..."

Herote stammered in surprise.

But Miros did not stop.

"It's fine if I never use magic again, so please..."

Miros squeezed his eyes shut and plunged the sword toward the core of his magic circuit.

Thud!

The moment the tip of the blade pierced his flesh—

Whirr!

Without anyone noticing, a magic circle had formed on his wrist.

Herote looked at Miros, pouting as she reached out to him.

"Fine. I get it! I'll help, okay!"

"!"

"Ha... You really stabbed yourself. I thought it was just an act."

Herote had doubted him until the very end.

She thought Miros was just pretending to stab himself to win her sympathy.

But he had truly thrust the sword at the core of his own magic circuit.

"You know, if I had hesitated just 0.001 seconds longer, your magic circuit would have really been destroyed. You really would never have been able to use magic again. Do you get that?"

"... Yes."

For a mage, the destruction of a magic circuit is a fate worse than death.

Even so, Miros gave a bitter smile and nodded.

"Yes, Ma'am. Haaa."

At his answer, Herote sighed again and bit her lip.

"Is he that precious to you? This Donovan fellow?"

"Yes."

Watching Miros reply without a trace of hesitation, Herote wore a complicated expression.

She then approached Luca and whispered to him.

"That's not just acting?"

"Have I really been so gullible?"

"But... still... does that even make sense?"

Seeing Herote's face, filled with disbelief, Luca spoke indifferently.

"When Bella almost died because of that guy and Donovan, I reconstructed her injured area using the power of the clouds to save her. In the process, I used up so much life force that I almost died too."

"That's... Ah..."

Herote remembered that Luca hadn't been well then.

'Why?'

At the same time, she wondered why.

Why would he do something that could cost him his own life?

Seeing her confusion, Luca spoke in a flat tone.

"If it's for something precious, it's not a waste to give your life. Truly."

"......"

That single word—"truly"—tickled strangely at her heart.

Herote rolled her eyes for a moment before blurting out,

"Would you do the same if I were in danger?"

"I can't say I ever imagine you'd be in danger."

"Still... Anyway! Just hypothetically, if I were!"

Watching her force the issue, Luca chuckled.

"Anyone can say so, but you only know if it's true when that moment comes. If you're really curious, why not get into danger once?"

"Hmph. How sly."

Luca never said, "I'll protect you to the end."

Yet, Herote didn't feel too bad about it.

"Calling something precious... how strange."

Herote muttered, then shook her head vigorously.

She folded her arms and spoke.

"In any case, no matter what, going to rescue Donovan right away is impossible."

"W-why...!"

Miros's eyes grew wide at those shocking words.

But Herote stood firm.

"My magic got cut off. I was monitoring you with a special spell, but it's been interrupted. The enemy must be in a very unique space. Tracking the location and infiltrating that space will both take time."

"But you..."

"I am Herote Marcato, one of the only three great tier 10 mages on the continent. That's why I'm always prepared and always cautious. I'm not some fool who rushes about carelessly."

At Herote's calm retort, Luca nodded in agreement.

"She's right. Charging into enemy territory without thinking could mean we all perish before even saving Donovan."

"Who knows? That might be what he's after."

"You..."

Herote remained suspicious to the very end.

Luca twisted his lips.

"Well. There's no need to suspect that much."

"Hmm~ Do you have any proof?"

"Proof... hmm..."

Thinking, Luca glanced at the notification that had flashed across his eyes a little earlier.

"Maybe you could call it the will of the gods."

[Conditions met—Hint has been added.]

[Original Sin of the Mages]

― Complete at least one of the prior hints: ???, ???, or Shadow Over the Academy. (O)

― Reveal that ???, ???, or Marquis Kisen is connected to Demonz. (O)

― Find Demonz's hidden magic laboratory. (X)

-???

-???

-???

It had been a while since a proper hint had appeared.

'Feels like a kind of linked quest.'

A special hint that appears only after fulfilling others.

Just by looking, it seemed both very important and difficult.

'Looks like this has opened because of this recent incident... it must be about the final arc.'

The hint openly called this the "original sin of the mages".

And some prerequisites involved Marquis Kisen.

Even without checking, that much was obvious.

'It must be related to the Devil of Wisdom.'

And in the original story, it was never the main character, but always Herote Marcato who destroyed the Devil of Wisdom.

'If I want to clear this, Herote's help is essential.'

The hint appeared the very moment Miros made his heartfelt plea for help.

That was exactly why he'd asked Herote for a way to save Donovan.

'I figured, knowing her, she wouldn't be too pleased about it.'

But Herote clearly disliked Miros.

So he deliberately tried to push her even further.

'What was more surprising than I expected was how sincere Miros was.'

In truth, Luca hadn't expected much from Miros.

Even when Miros offered his apology, Luca was only a little moved, and that was all.

Without the hint, he might never have helped at all.

'But what he just did... that was impressive.'

There is nothing more terrifying to a mage than having one's magic circuit destroyed.

He never expected Miros would do such a thing, and by his own hand.

That single act really did leave an impression.

'I can't fully forgive him—after what happened to Bella because of him and Donovan. But at least I'll help save this Donovan.'

Thinking this, Luca looked at Herote.

"How long will it take you to prepare?"

"At the very least, until Lady Eltima and that man Zeritz arrive. I can't promise. I'll send news, but it'll probably take a month."

"A month?!"

Miros was flustered.

'A month... Donovan's mind...'

Miros knew quite a lot about Marquis Kisen's magic.

He knew a month would be plenty of time for Donovan's memories to be altered or his spirit destroyed.

"Given our goal, a month is a bit much."

"It can't be helped. Maybe you don't get it, but I can't just completely leave the academy, even if I wanted to."

When she said she couldn't leave the academy entirely, Luca fell silent for a moment.

'That's true. There are important things here.'

Herote's stockpile of excess vitality, built up over decades of research, was important.

But it wasn't just that.

In the original story, Eltima entrusted the academy to Herote and Zeritz when she stepped down as headmistress for a reason.

A very important item was hidden within this academy.

"One month..."

Hesitating, Miros swallowed hard and then made a decision.

"How long would it take to just find Donovan's location?"

"If it's only about finding his location, two days? At most, three or four."

"Then... please just tell me where he is. That much is enough."

Miros spoke with determined eyes.

Herote smiled at that.

"Why? Gonna rescue him all by yourself?"

"I can't save him alone... but I can buy time. I know the Marquis Kisen's methods well."

If he sabotaged the laboratory and caused chaos, perhaps Donovan's mind wouldn't have time to be tampered with.

If caught, he would suffer horribly, but he couldn't think of any other way.

"That won't be necessary. In the end, you probably couldn't even delay things by going in alone."

It was then Luca spoke up.

He looked at Herote and spoke.

"Let's clarify our objective. Our goal is not to destroy the Marquis Kisen's laboratory, but to rescue Donovan. And if possible, to steal some of their secrets while we're there."

In truth, they probably wouldn't encounter the Devil of Wisdom immediately just by going to rescue Donovan.

'No way that devil is with the Marquis. The point of this hint must be to use what we learn there to trace the Devil of Wisdom.'

At Luca's words, Herote nodded.

"Well, I do find the prospect interesting. There's plenty of information I haven't managed to extract from those guys that I'm still curious about."

"If that's all, then we'll only need to stay in the Marquis Kisen's secret laboratory for a day or two. Wouldn't it be enough if someone watches over the academy during that time?"

At Luca's words, Herote puffed out her cheeks.

"I am Herote Marcato, a great tier 10 mage. Do you think you can bring someone as great as me to take my place on such short notice?"

"You certainly are a great mage, but if there's someone who's one of the imperial secret weapon 'Night' and another who wields a higher god's divine relic, they could handle the academy for a couple of days, don't you think?"

At Luca's words, Herote's eyes darted.

"That is..."

She immediately knew who he meant.

Milia and Isella.

Surely, if it were those two, it should be fine to entrust the academy to them for a couple of days.

"But aren't those two pretty busy? Would they help?"

"Our move against the Marquis Kisen benefits them enormously. If all it takes is a couple of days at the academy to make that happen, they'd surely welcome the chance. And..."

As he spoke, Luca grinned.

"If I ask them, they'll stay even at a loss, at least for two days."

"... I see. That's what you mean."

Herote wore a strange expression.

She hesitated for a bit, then nodded.

"Alright. Then prepare yourselves while I try to trace this Donovan fellow's location. And you."

Herote looked at Miros.

He flinched, and Herote snapped her fingers at him.

Snap!

"!"

'My magic circuit...!'

For the first time in ages, Miros felt his magic circuit activating.

"Go practice so you won't be a burden—and so you really can use magic properly again."

"... Yes!"

Thus, the squad to rescue Donovan was formed.

* * *

After outlining the broad plan, Luca returned to the dormitory.

Bella greeted him and even prepared a late-night snack.

After eating the snack, bathing, and going back to his room, Luca found Whistle sitting on his bed.

"... Whistle?"

"Master."

Whistle looked the same as always, but Luca could tell.

Her presence had changed.

"I've absorbed all the devil stones. And—"

Around Whistle, currents of air gathered.

"I've regained the power of the wind."