I was Reincarnated as the Youngest Child of a Villainous Noble Family Who Controls the Kingdom from Behind the Scenes

"Hey, Headmaster. Hiding away in a place like this—must be nice being someone of your status."

Erik, Ios, and Waltamine had arrived at the large underground chamber where the headmaster had taken refuge. This was a shelter for the academy's upper echelons in times of crisis. The headmaster and his group had planned to wait out the attack here.

But then the Erik faction showed up.

"Y-you're Erik, right? How did you know about this place? And weren’t you supposed to be part of the student defense?"

"Tch… The fact that we’re here should make it obvious how pointless that question is. You really are a carefree bunch, huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"Here’s a hint. How is it that we students know about this place and just waltz in like this? What do you think?"

The headmaster’s mind landed on one possibility—one he didn’t want to consider.

Erik sneered at him.

"Pfft—ahahahaha! Abandoning the students to save your own skins… Truly, you’re model educators."

"Erik! Don’t tell me you betrayed us! Why?!"

"Why…? Ever since I came to this academy—no, even before that—I’ve been bored. A privileged life, a stable future, everything handed to me by my parents. What’s fun about that?"

"You… you can’t be serious…"

The headmaster faced Erik with cold sweat running down his back.

He had anticipated this, but seeing Erik right in front of him was still a shock. Even faced with the reality, he didn’t want to believe that one of his students had colluded with the enemy.

"Erik… Do you understand what it means to turn against the kingdom? And what about your parents—?"

"You think I care about them? That man and woman who only see me as a puppet to mold into their perfect little heir?"

"Don’t act like you know everything, brat!"

"And what do *you* know? What value does this rotten kingdom even have? It’s already over."

Erik and his group unleashed the magical energy dwelling within them. The sheer pressure was enough to send the headmaster and his people flying. The sheer volume of it was enough to stagger even the headmaster, who hailed from a prestigious noble lineage.

"This kingdom’s downfall? The Allgan Kingdom has already solidified its invasion plans. This academy is just the foothold."

"A foothold…?"

"Using this academy as a base, Grimmritter’s main forces—waiting in reserve—will come pouring in. Once we take the capital from here, this pathetic kingdom will fall in an instant."

"So they’re already deployed…"

Erik grinned triumphantly.

"Ahahahaha! Fools! Absolute fools! I bet even *they* didn’t expect things to go this smoothly! The royal family and knights are useless! It’s already unstoppable—!"

Behind Erik, the door to the underground chamber creaked open.

Slowly, Erik and his group turned to see who had entered.

* * *

"Looks like you’re having fun."

Just as I stepped inside, Erik and his crew were there.

Mid-laugh, they froze, slack-jawed, at the sight of me and Roushel, who had joined me along the way.

By the way, I had Lillisha handle evacuating the students. She grumbled at first, but when I told her she was the only one I could trust with it, she got all excited and threw herself into the task.

"...You’re Alfis, right? Must have good instincts to find your way here."

"You’re just as overconfident as the rest. Every single one of you summon-possessed types is the same."

"So Muto getting expelled and Shemna taking a leave of absence… that was your doing—no, the Barufont family’s?"

"If you’ve already figured it out, then I don’t need to waste time explaining, do I?"

I threw out a threat, but Erik still didn’t lose his composure. The other two seemed just as confident in him.

"Lord Erik, even if he’s from the Barufont family, no one stands a chance against you now."

"That’s right! You, my lord, are destined to rule this continent! There’s no way some cute little boy could ever defeat you!"

"Cute? Waltamine, your tastes are a bit questionable."

"Oh, Ios, but he *is* cute, isn’t he? The last time I saw him in the hallway, he was walking around all puffed up like, *‘I’m the strongest!’* That face of his was just adorable…"

Waltamine licked her lips.

She pinched the hem of her extremely shortened uniform skirt and lifted it slightly.

What a vulgar woman.

"Well? Why not forget that scary face and have some fun with me? I’ll do things for you that those girls you’re always with never could… Hehe~"

"Sorry, not interested. You’re a third-year, aren’t you? Shouldn’t you have more important things to think about?"

"Oh my, what a child~"

Waltamine wriggled with flushed cheeks.

I couldn’t care less who she messed around with, but while she’s wasting time like this, other students are moving forward.

Especially someone like Leticia or Lillisha—they’d only polish themselves further.

"A-A-Alfis-sama! I’ll blast that perverted woman to bits for you!"

"Don’t call her ‘perverted.’ Even *I* didn’t go that far."

For someone making a fuss about indecency, she sure seems to know a lot about it.

What a dark thought—acting all embarrassed when she’s probably secretly fascinated.

"Enough nonsense. Erik, do you really think you’ve won?"

"Obviously. Grimmritter’s Sixth Division has already seized the academy, and more forces are on the way. It’s too late to stop now."

"Keh… keh keh… Is that so? Well, isn’t it awfully quiet for that?"

"What? That can’t be…"

"Try sensing for magical energy."

Erik, still putting on a tough front, hesitated but then focused.

His magical perception picked up nothing—no one but the people already in this room.

"What’s going on? Where’s the Sixth Division? Shouldn’t they have regrouped by now?"

"Keh… keh keh… Ahahahaha!"

"What’s so funny?!"

"Keh keh keh! You’ve been complaining about your circumstances, but you’re still every bit the spoiled brat. You’ve been lured into a trap."

With my words, Erik finally seemed to realize.

For the first time, his expression twisted with panic.

"No way…"

"That’s exactly it. The Sixth Division’s already been wiped out. The nobles and students have long since evacuated—zero casualties so far."

"Th-that’s impossible! How could things go that smoothly?! You’re bluffing!"

"You really think the Barufont family wouldn’t notice the movements of insects like you?"

A frantic Erik looked around, checking for safety.

What an idiot. Did he really think this would work?

"We let you in on purpose. To let you think you’d succeeded, just so we could drop you straight into hell. Even the headmaster here knew."

"You’re lying!"

"Ahahaha! You’re so stupid! All we had to do was leave a hole, and you just flew right in! Like moths to a flame!"

"B-but no one’s coming! You *are* bluffing!"

Erik was still putting up a front, but the truth was already dawning on him.

His face paled bit by bit.

"N-no way… for real…?"

"Thought you’d won? I just wanted to see that look on your face. I bet the Sixth Division was celebrating too, huh?"

"All for something this stupid?! That’s not even funny!"

"*I* think it’s hilarious."

I smirked, and Erik bit his lower lip.

Must be eating him up inside. But this is reality.

Then, as if to drive the point home, the door opened again.

"Alfis, I’m here~"

"Mirei-nee, don’t just waltz in like you’re here to hang out. You *did* handle your part, right?"

"Of course, of course~! Now, here’s your reward—a smooch!"

"Whoa."

I dodged as Mirei-nee lunged at me with a high-speed kiss attempt.

She was supposed to be backup, but it looks like her job’s already done.

My damn sister, shamelessly trying to kiss me in this sacred place of learning, missed and faceplanted at the headmaster’s feet.

Sniffling as she stuck to the floor, she was nothing but an embarrassment to the Barufont name.