Surviving as a Villain at the Academy - Surviving as a Villain at the Academy chapter 182

182 – Flipping the Magic Tower. (1)

The next day.

I gently knocked on Adrian’s door.

“Yes!”

With a knock, Adrian’s voice was heard from inside.

The door opened with a thud, revealing Adrian’s radiant figure. Despite the early morning, she greeted me in a neat attire. It seems like the morning prayers at the temple had become a habit for her.

“Senior? What brings you here so early in the morning?”

She seemed pleased that I had come at such an early hour, her surprised expression soon giving way to a broad smile.

“I need to talk to you for a moment.”

“Yes?”

“It’s about the continuation of the story I mentioned last time, about the tower being suspicious. My father will probably speak to you about it today, but in three… no, in two days, a major audit of the tower will begin.”

Adrian’s smile faded as she listened to my story with a serious expression.

I continued, telling her about the conversation I had with my father yesterday, and how His Majesty the Emperor wants to deal with the criminals of the tower.

Adrian sighed in relief at the Emperor’s decision. She too felt that this matter was quite serious.

Moreover, she was fired up. This was an opportunity to eradicate the seeds of evil that had sprouted in the empire. True to her righteous and compassionate nature, she seemed to have been secretly appalled by the use of people in experiments.

“May I join the audit?”

“I was about to bring that up. It seems my father is planning to include you in the audit… He will probably come to see you soon. What will you do? If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. It could be a very dangerous place.”

I relayed my father’s story to her without omission. If all the magicians of the tower were in agreement with this incident, they could all become enemies.

In other words, there is a considerable chance of a violent conflict. Even my father was slightly cautious while including the personnel of the Holy Kingdom in the force.

Especially, if Adrian were to get hurt in this incident… the Holy Kingdom would not stand idly by. They had allowed her to study abroad in the empire to experience the wider world, but if she were to get hurt in the empire, there would be an uproar.

…In hindsight, it was fortunate that nothing happened during our last dungeon exploration. Of course, I was confident in protecting the party back then, so I could proceed without much worry, but this time, I’m not so sure.

Even with Salus there, the power of the tower’s master was the real deal.

“It’s okay. After all, it was I who brought it up first, so it’s only right that I step forward. But…”

“Is there something you’re curious about?”

“No, it’s not so much curiosity as it is a bit unexpected.”

“Unexpected?”

“Yes.”

“In what way?”

“I would have thought the empire would rather take the side of the tower. If we were to follow reason rather than morality.”

She was right. Honestly, in most situations like this, wouldn’t one normally side with the tower?

Magicians may be a crazy bunch, but they are also a competent group. And it costs a fortune to train them. To dispose of them all at once…

Even the Holy Kingdom, which had raised the issue this time, was shocked by such a decisive action.

However, I understand the Emperor’s decision. No matter how capable they are, in the end, they are no different from cancer cells. How can one trust and support a group that has lost basic humanity due to their obsession with magic?

To leave the empire’s citizens to be sacrificed would be a fatal blow to the emperor himself. While their competence and achievements cannot be denied, they were undoubtedly beings who could dangerously consume the empire more than anyone else.

The demon named Aime was merely the one who lit the fuse. It was the magicians who succumbed to the temptation.

“Well, His Majesty must have decided that leaving them alone would be a greater loss. The position of a nation’s leader isn’t just moved by duty alone.”

“You’re right about that.”

She sighed in relief. Indeed, her feelings must have been complicated. Especially since the place tainted by something evil was the empire’s magic tower.

Without the imperial family’s cooperation, her grounds for stirring them up would have been weak… Well, it’s a relief that things worked out anyway.

“I see. Then I should talk to the others as well.”

“Oh, has the request for cooperation already been sent?”

“That was quick?”

“They said you would definitely participate anyway.”

“The duke?”

“Yes.”

“How well you know me.”

“That’s how my father is.”

Being in the position of prime minister, one inevitably becomes observant of people. Discerning someone’s character is nothing to my father.

“Alright. So I just sit back and then give the magicians a good scolding at the thanksgiving?”

“If they are uncooperative, a violent clash will be inevitable. Especially since the master of the magic tower is on their side… If they come prepared, a terrible incident could happen.”

“I always keep that in mind. If something happens to me, it’s not just about me. So don’t worry too much.”

“But I can’t help worrying…”

“Are you worried about me?”

“To be honest, yes. You’ve been caught up in this mess.”

“If we’re being precise, I’m the starting point of this incident?”

“The real starting point isn’t you, it’s His Holiness the Pope. You’re just here on a study abroad at the academy… It’s understandably unsettling. Above all.”

“Above all?”

“I can’t help but worry about a girl who likes me and might be in danger.”

“Heh, seems like my affection for you is well ingrained? I didn’t know you’d worry about me.”

Somehow, she looked pleased.

But I couldn’t share in her joy. Why could Adrian be happy?

After all, shouldn’t it be painful? If the person you’ve set your heart on is in a relationship with someone else… It would feel like your heart is not just aching, but tearing apart.

“Isn’t that hard for you?”

“Should I give up when it gets tough?”

“Well, that’s not really for me to interfere with. Besides, if you were the type to give up just because someone said so, you would’ve done it long ago. Ultimately, it’s up to you, but it’s probably going to be very hard.”

“I’m already prepared for that.”

“Why go to such lengths?”

“I guess because I want to? So don’t worry too much. I’m confident.”

“What kind of confidence?”

“The confidence to win your heart.”

“…You’re quite bold, aren’t you?”

“If I weren’t bold, I wouldn’t have made such a public confession in front of everyone during the excommunication trial.”

“Ha. That’s true. Well then, let’s see how hard you can work.”

“Of course. You can look forward to it. And you should know you’re blessed. There’s no girl quite like me.”

“Everyone probably thinks that. Honestly, even now, there are many in the Holy Kingdom who would love to see me dead.”

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“You don’t think they’d go that far, do you?”

“Who knows.”

“Ahaha. Well, whatever happens, I’ll be fine. I think I can be quite helpful this time.”

She said, smiling just so.

* * *

“Have you finished your conversation with the saintess?”

“Yes. Adrian said it’s something he should definitely be involved in. Asti agreed, of course. Has father finished his preparations?”

“Who do you think I am? I’ve already taken care of everything.”

“So, tomorrow…”

“Yes. Either the tower will maintain its status, or it will change anew.”

“That sounds dangerous.”

“It is dangerous.”

“Weren’t there any objections from the nobility? The tower has been draining the empire’s wealth, and that includes the nobles’ as well.”

“With just one word of treason, the nobles can’t do anything. Only those with nothing to lose can afford to stay silent.”

“I see.”

“What about the future of the mage talent? Weakening the mages’ strength doesn’t seem ideal.”

“It’s similar to the Holy Kingdom. We’ll gather the independent mages and the royal mages who aren’t affiliated with the tower to create a new one. The tower’s mages may be excellent, but the royal mages are no less so.”

“I understand.”

“Since the Holy Kingdom has set a good example, there’s no reason not to follow their procedure. They’re even using living people as experimental subjects, a madness beyond redemption.”

I nodded at my father’s firm words.

“I understand.”

“Do you feel anxious?”

“No. I was just making sure.”

My nonchalant attitude made my father’s eyes sparkle.

“The Tower Master is a Grand Magician. Of course, we haven’t neglected preparations against him, but we must always be cautious.”

“I am well aware. I have an exceptional magician by my side, after all.”

“Asti… I see. Can you tell me exactly how far that child’s realm extends?”

“Well, the deeper I delve into magic, the more I realize just how extraordinary a magician Asti is. To be honest, I can’t see the limits of that child’s abilities.”

“Indeed… The Royal Knights’ Commander once said, during the demonic beast invasion, that the child’s skills were extraordinary.”

“That was just a fraction of what that kid is capable of.”

“Can I rest assured then?”

“Yes.”

“…Even against a Grand Magician? You’re not exaggerating?”

“When have I ever exaggerated? To speak frankly, Asti’s realm surpasses even that of the academy professors. By a considerable margin.”

“That’s astonishing. I understand.”

“Do you need proof?”

“No. The confidence with which you look at me says it all. You spend all day with that child, so you would know better than I.”

“Haha. That’s true. Anyway… I understand. I will make all the necessary preparations.”

“Good.”