I’m the Slit-Eyed Character at the Academy, but I’m not the Mastermind

Chapter 331

Indeed, the rise in Duke Aziz’s reputation—

This too was part of Dwener’s plan.

“Moreover, losing honor in noble society is no different from death. Just leave it be. Let it climb to the heavens.”

“I see. You truly have remarkable insight.”

“Incredible insight, my foot… Wasn’t that your idea in the first place?”

Dwener glared at Caron, his gaze filled with an unspoken plea to stop the test already.

Caron chuckled inwardly as he opened his mouth to speak.

“You misunderstand me. I was merely thinking we were doomed, that’s all.”

“In that case, I must’ve chosen the wrong partner. Tsk, tsk!”

In times like these, shifting his focus elsewhere was the best course of action.

“Have you thought of a name yet?”

“Hmm? Oh, you mean for the organization? I’ve been giving it some thought… but I’m not sure it’ll suit your taste.”

Dwener scratched the ground with a branch, and soon a single word emerged on the grass.

Akchamdan (惡斬團)—The Evil-Slaying Group.

“A group that beheads evildoers… Not bad.”

“It’s straightforward enough that even someone who can’t read will understand it. Well, we won’t have much use for this name right now, though.”

At the moment, it was still unclear whether there was a force dedicated to eradicating evil or not.

Perhaps that was why evildoers continued their vile acts unabated.

But they would soon learn.

That a force dedicated to eliminating evil, a group determined to exterminate the Empire’s pests, had made its debut in this world.

“May I ask what the next step is?”

“While finding the next target is important, we need to wrap things up first. Spread the word about Count Zachary and Administrator Rieur. Let everyone know of their misdeeds.”

That they were villains.

And that Akchamdan only killed villains.

This wasn’t to gain the support of the citizens.

From the start, Dwener had resolved not to be a champion of justice but a villain who kills villains.

He had no intention of earning public favor.

Indeed, this was the message they sought to deliver:

If you commit wicked deeds, Akchamdan will come for you.

The intended recipients of this message were none other than—

“Villains.”

Some actions they would overlook. But don’t cross the line. If you do—

You’ll meet the same fate as Count Zachary and Administrator Rieur.

“They’ll think we’re just naive fools drunk on a sense of justice for now, but as we continue our operations, they’ll come to realize.”

That there is a force that slays evil.

That even evil must fear the rise of a greater evil.

“I’ll spend the meantime seeking out the next target and growing stronger. Oh, and I’ll also need to find like-minded individuals.”

Dwener was well aware.

Uprooting the deeply ingrained corruption across the Empire was not something he could do alone.

‘The enemies we face will only grow stronger as we progress.’

He needed talented individuals, especially those who shared his vision.

He hoped Caron would assist him to the end, but that was unlikely.

Caron was a tool of the Emperor and acted solely for him.

“Roy and Bernstein. Use those two.”

“You mean those guys from before? They didn’t seem particularly skilled… but I don’t have much of a choice, do I? The need is mine, after all.”

Caron decided to assign Roy and Bernstein to Dwener.

Of course, they would also continue handling tasks for the rats.

A small punishment for their betrayal—however slight—that they had committed.

‘Still, they’ll accept it without complaint. After all, this is what they wanted.’

“You mentioned contacting Duke Aziz. What was his reaction?”

“He praised me. Seems he chalked it up to the luck of the incompetent.”

“Even so, seeds of suspicion must have been planted.”

“That’s fine. I expected as much.”

For now, Duke Aziz wouldn’t pay him any mind.

To him, Dwener was nothing more than an utterly incompetent fool.

But—

‘If this sort of thing keeps happening once or twice more, he’ll figure it out.’

That Dwener had betrayed him.

Duke Aziz had eyes everywhere at the Academy.

Servants, students, soldiers, instructors, and teachers alike.

He would scrutinize Dwener’s every move, attempting to discern what he was plotting.

He might even look for an opportunity to eliminate him.

‘But Duke Aziz, you should understand this well.’

When you watch me—

“I’m watching you too.”

RUMBLE—!

An immense aura burst forth from Dwener. It was so intense that it visibly conveyed his unyielding resolve.

Seeing this, Caron fell into thought.

‘I was worried he might go crawling back to Duke Aziz, but I guess I don’t need to worry about that.’

Gold, jewels, honor, power—

Countless people had abandoned their convictions to kneel at the feet of villains when promised large rewards.

But judging by Dwener’s current state, such concerns seemed unnecessary.

Satisfied, Caron let out a small smile before recalling something. He had a message to relay to Dwener.

Not as the leader of Akchamdan, but as Principal Dwener.

“Oh, right. Come to think of it, Dame Lowell visited the Academy. She wasn’t deemed a threat, so we allowed her inside…”

“Lowell? That name sounds familiar… Wait a second! Don’t tell me… You mean the Mad Lion?!”

Even Dwener was well-acquainted with Lowell’s infamy.

When Caron gave a slight nod, Dwener gasped and ducked behind his chair in fright.

“Th-that Mad Lion… Why on earth is she here?!”

“We haven’t determined the reason yet. Sir Elester brought her.”

“…Could it be? Did she figure it out? That we killed those two pigs?”

“Not a chance.”

“Then why is she here?!”

“Her younger sister, Rodelin, is at the Academy, isn’t she? After the commotion that was practically a war, she’s probably worried about her.”

“N-no! It’s me! She’s definitely here to kill meeeeeee!”

Dwener cried out, clutching onto his chair for dear life.

Caron let out a long sigh at the sight.

Where had the man’s earlier resolute aura gone?

Was he capable, or incapable?

He truly was an enigma.

“Dear child, are you off to meet those girls again today?”

“Of course! Spending time with Luna… Ah, no! I mean, holding Academy meetings to discuss its operations is crucial. A fine emperor must at least cultivate this level of discipline.”

Adonis’ expression soured.

Since coming to the Academy, the time Victoria spent with him had grown smaller and smaller.

Especially when Yuridia and Luna came to visit—during those times, she didn’t even glance his way.

‘What happened to that sweet girl who felt like my granddaughter? Where did she go… Is this adolescence?’

Despite his youthful appearance, Adonis, an old man at heart, knew he couldn’t possibly engage in conversations meant for young girls.

“So, what am I supposed to do?”

“Go for a walk or something.”

“I went for one yesterday.”

“Then you can go for another today. Oh my, look at the time! I’m going to be late!”

Victoria vanished in an instant.

Whatever had her so rushed, she’d even left behind the elegant fan she always carried as a mark of royal grace.

“…She must be happy to have made friends.”

As a knight, Adonis was technically supposed to follow and guard Princess Victoria. However, there was no need to stay too close.

This wasn’t the Holy Kingdom, but the Empire, and she was protected by three layers: the rats, the instructors, and the teachers.

‘Not to mention, I’m the final shield… Staying by her side would only seem excessive.’

Someone might attempt to approach or kidnap Victoria, but the likelihood was slim.

She held no value.

‘The heir has already been decided. Even if something were to happen, Victoria is far too distant from the throne.’

Victoria was the Emperor’s thirteenth child.

Even if all ten—no, twelve—of those ahead of her died, her turn would never come.

The bloodline of a former Emperor had a better chance of claiming the throne, and Adonis intended to support that faction if it came to it.

Victoria had no loyal faction, but more than that, she had never received proper training.

The position of Emperor was not something just anyone could occupy.

‘One day, I’ll have to tell her…’

The truth that she could never become Emperor.

But Adonis couldn’t bring himself to say it.

He couldn’t forget how Victoria, back in the Holy Kingdom, used to study royal administration every night before bed.

Even now, she was diligently pouring her energy into her studies, striving to become an excellent Emperor.

How could he possibly shatter that dream?

Just imagining the devastated look on Victoria’s face made his chest ache.

“Have I grown soft in my old age? To think I’d worry about a child’s feelings…”

Adonis shook his head and stepped outside.

What could an old man do alone?

The best he could manage was wandering around and watching the children.

CRACKLE!

In truth, it wasn’t so much walking as flying through the air, but for a 9-star knight, such activity was well within the bounds of a leisurely stroll.

As he toured the Academy, Adonis eventually found himself heading into the forest.

‘Hmm?’

Within the dense woods lay a small clearing that seemed oddly out of place.

The area looked freshly cleared, as if it had been worked on recently.

In the clearing, an old man was practicing spear techniques.

Adonis recognized him instantly.

‘That’s the Romanticist Principal. What is he up to?’

Yes, the old man wielding the spear in the clearing was none other than Dwener, Principal of Annwood Academy.

“Hah!”

With a spirited shout, Dwener thrust his spear forward.

Lately, Dwener had been secretly training in addition to running Akchamdan.

It was something he’d resolved to do after the Battle of Carpathia.

‘I realized something back then… A weak person can protect nothing.’

Neither the elderly, nor the students, nor even himself.

That painful truth had struck him hard.

‘It’s the same with demons. There’s no guarantee I won’t encounter one again.’

The Spiral Flash Great Wheel Infernal Thrust—the technique he’d used to defeat the high-ranking demon during the battle.

He hadn’t been able to perform it even once since that day.

‘It must’ve been the ancestor lending me strength temporarily.’

From now on, he had to rely on his own power.

Gripping his spear tightly, Dwener launched another strike.

“Hah!”

Watching from above, Adonis felt like he was going mad.

Not because he was impressed.

‘Ah, that’s not how you use a spear!’

Adonis was thoroughly disappointed. Dwener’s movements were no better than a beginner’s.

‘How did he even manage to defeat a high-ranking demon?’

Adonis had thrown his spear to assist back then, but still, a high-ranking demon was no trivial foe.

With Dwener’s skill, he wouldn’t have been able to scratch it.

‘Perhaps it was one of those cases where latent potential bursts forth in the face of death…’

If that were the case, it was a shame his talent hadn’t been nurtured earlier.

But now that he was old, that talent was of little use.

“Hah!”

Adonis spent several hours watching Dwener’s clumsy spear practice.

By the time he realized it, the sun was already setting.

‘…Is it because he’s a romanticist? At least he’s got grit.’

Even as sweat poured down his face like rain, Dwener didn’t stop training. Sure, he took breaks here and there, but the fact that he kept going until the end was admirable.

Especially at his age, which was far from youthful.

‘Is he about my age?’

A man of a similar age, yet someone Adonis hadn’t even known existed in his era.

Had Dwener realized his talent earlier and thrown himself into training, they might have once shared the battlefield.

“Huff, huff… Hah!”

Or perhaps—

It wasn’t too late even now.

CRACK!

The sudden crackle of electricity startled Dwener.

The sound reminded him of the lightning attack a high-ranking demon had once used against him.

Dwener snapped his eyes open—and saw it.

A masked figure standing before him.

“Who goes there?!”

Dwener instinctively leveled his spear at the intruder.

Currently, Adonis was disguised in the attire of the rats. There was no way he could reveal his true identity.

‘Did Caron send him?’

If so, Caron would have given him some sort of advance notice.

The figure was also far too small. Did the rats even have someone that size?

“Reveal yourself!”

“…”

“Do I need to show you my Spiral Flash Great Wheel Infernal Thrust to get you to talk?!”

Adonis remained silent. If he spoke, his voice might give away his identity.

But… he wanted to help.

He wanted to lend a hand to this old man who was striving so hard, albeit belatedly.

Even if just a little, he wanted Dwener to grow stronger.

And so, instead of answering, Adonis drew his spear.

“You want to fight? You insolent little brat! You’ll regret this!”

There was no way Dwener could let a suspicious individual roam the Academy freely.

‘If I fall here, the children will be in danger!’

Even if it cost him his life, he would stop this intruder!

Dwener charged forward immediately, and Adonis met him head-on, crossing spears.

Come, oh romanticist, one of the few left in this era.

And you who has finally revealed yourself—

My long-lost comrade.

–TL Notes–

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