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

Chapter 229

Rezé muttered something ominous, but I had already declared my participation in the battle.

There was no turning back now.

'It must be just a part of the game’s plot. Rezé is no prophet...'

I brushed off the anxiety and was about to grab my sword when it happened.

Twinkle, twinkle.

The eyes of the girls sparkled with anticipation, as if they were looking forward to something.

"...?"

Usually, these girls were too busy glaring at me. To see such bright, eager eyes now was unusual.

'Could it be because it’s the final showdown?'

"Hold on!"

Yuridia yelled out loud, then quickly scurried over and whispered with her hand covering her mouth.

"You need to say something to Luna."

"Excuse me?"

"It’s basic common sense to whisper sweet nothings to your lover before a fight, you know? Ah, this is why you need me, Zero."

That’s when I realized.

The girls with the shining eyes.

They were hoping I would say something romantic to Luna before heading into the battle.

Like a prince climbing a tower to rescue his princess, or like a prince in a novel promising a splendid victory to his beloved.

But.

'Do I look like I’d do that?'

Right now, that prince is more likely to have his head chopped off!

And, I’m not Luna’s prince to begin with.

We’re just friends... no, more like a master and wild beast (?) relationship.

A wild beast whispering sweet nothings? That’s absurd.

"Keke, I’ll have to decline. I need to focus now."

"But you made a promise to me."

"A promise?"

"Demon Slave. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten?"

That brought back a memory.

During the battle with Bineus, I had used the Divine Imitation to cast Yuridia’s family’s secret magic, Demon Slave.

'It ended up being recorded as if Yuridia had used it, but...'

Yuridia, who had witnessed me using Demon Slave, proposed a rather strange condition after the investigators left.

To keep quiet about my use of Demon Slave, and not to inquire how I managed to cast it.

In return.

"You promised to treat Luna nicely."

Specifically, to offer Luna sweet words or some physical affection once a day.

That was the condition set by Yuridia, who claims to be an expert in love.

"You know you haven’t been keeping that promise recently?"

"...I did it when you weren’t looking."

"Lies! I know Luna has been struggling recently because she’s been missing your kindness!"

That’s because Adonis has been tormenting Rezé.

"What if Luna’s heart drifts away? You should treasure her while you can!"

Ah, I wish her heart would drift away. Stalkers are more terrifying than you’d think.

But I sighed.

I had no choice but to comply with Yuridia’s demand to avoid further trouble.

'Not only can I use magic, but being able to cast the Rownter family’s secret magic is truly absurd.'

Unlike physical skills like One Flash and Sky Splitter, Demon Slave requires perfect casting, magical chants, and mana flow pathways.

'It’s also a magic that the Rownter Earl’s family keeps hidden.'

If the Rownter family ever heard that I cast it so effortlessly, that would lead to more than just trouble.

Honestly, it was a miracle that Yuridia kept this a secret.

'I never had a choice in the first place.'

I had no other option but to follow Yuridia’s lead.

"Keke, alright. What would you like me to do?"

"Hohoho! Now you’re making sense. Just say, 'I’ll win for you and come back.' That’s all."

Ugh, chills ran down my spine at such a cheesy line.

Hearing this, Luna might just scratch her entire body.

But I had no choice. I was out of options.

Looking at Luna who was seated in the second-floor stands, I called out to her.

"Luna."

"Yes?"

"I'll return victorious."

A moment of silence fell over the bustling arena.

Luna, who had been glaring at Adonis, chuckled and said,

"You're stating the obvious. Just try coming back defeated. You'll wish you were dead."

-Kyaaaaaaaa!

-A declaration of victory!

-Luna! Luna!

The girls started going wild.

Hmm, did they not hear the part about ‘You'll wish you were dead’?

"That's right. How lovely to see. Let's keep it this way."

Yuridia moved towards the second floor, her face beaming with a smile.

Finally, I could ascend to the arena.

Two people were already there.

One was Adonis, and the other was Alex.

"Are you here?"

"Keke, sorry I'm late. I apologize if I stole your opportunity."

"No, not at all. I was feeling uneasy on my own. I'm glad it's you fighting alongside me, Zero."

Alex's face was filled with smiles, beaming brightly.

Of course, the opposite was true for the other side.

"So, you've arrived. Are you prepared?"

"Prepared?"

"To die, I mean."

...That must be a joke?

But Adonis's aura was no laughing matter.

‘This isn’t just for show in the story, is it?’

Ha, that's impossible. 'Hero of the Academy' is a top game after all.

That was when it hit me. A phrase crossed my mind.

The Hero of the Academy is as much a god game as it is a failure.

"The preparations seem to be complete. Now, let's start the final exchange..."

"Keke, hold on a moment. I need to call a timeout."

After requesting a timeout from the referee, I rummaged through my chest.

Suddenly, something long leaped out from within.

A cylindrical object shining in silver.

Yes, what I had pulled out was a 'trash can'.

"What? Why did he pull that out?"

"It's huge..."

"Surely, it must be some demon's nefarious ritual!"

"No, more importantly, where did that come from?"

In truth, I had prepared several contingencies to avoid death after accepting the sixth quest.

And this was the first of those contingencies.

'Secret technique, Rodelin summoning!'

-It would do. The trash can was there for preparation.

If it looked like I was going to die, I'd kick it, and Rodelin would appear.

She would immediately halt this exchange.

I took out three more trash cans from the [Pocket Dimension] and placed a total of four around the arena, each at a 90-degree angle from the center.

Wherever the fight went, I could kick one in just a few steps.

"Keke, sorry. I can’t concentrate without my trash cans..."

"A trash can... At first glance, it looks like a summoning circle. Are you preparing to summon a demon?"

Hmm, Rodelin does have some devilish traits.

Every time I took a trash can into my arms, she appeared like a ghost to scour the surroundings.

She could have been called the demon of the trash can.

‘It seems this will do. Well, isn’t it obvious? Adonis is strong.’

Someone like him could easily dodge and counterattack, even if it were a real demon summoning circle.

That itself would be strong evidence that I was the 'enemy'.

‘Well, this works out for me.’

I quickly moved on to the next preparation. I opened the quest window.

The second contingency, 'Keeping the quest abandonment window open'.

‘If it seems like I’m about to die, I'll abandon the quest without hesitation.’

And the last third contingency.

"Keke, it can’t be helped. My friends trust me... I have no choice but to do my best, right?"

"Ah, so you're not planning to run away?"

"That's right. I really dislike fighting so much that I can count on one hand the times I've wielded a sword, but I have no choice. Ah, I feel like I’m going to cry now. Such violent acts! Please forgive me, oh Goddess!"

Pretending to be innocent. This was the third contingency I had prepared.

Perhaps I looked too pious, for it was then that Adonis tilted his head in confusion.

Likewise puzzled, Alex opened his mouth.

"But Zero, you don't have any friends."

...Alex, what are you talking about?

Was I mistaken in thinking the person beside me was Alex and not some Raymon?

I stared at him dumbfounded.

"Alex! Zero! Hang in there! My proud friends... ugh!"

"Who are your friends! That's mine! Hey, kill him! Kill that kid right now!"

"Ah, a duel between a demon and a monster... The world will end, it's doomed...!"

With some fervent cheering.

Thus, the final exchange began.

*

Clang-! Clash!

Five minutes into the fight. The previously heated arena was now shrouded in a heavy silence.

Only the sounds of weapons clashing and analytical discussions about the fight were occasionally heard.

"...They are skilled."

"Yeah, especially that little guy from the Holy Kingdom."

"I knew he was strong, but I didn't expect him to handle both of them so competently."

As the children had said, Adonis was holding his own against the two of us.

‘Normally, he should have overwhelmed us by now...’

Perhaps it was because there were many spectators. Adonis was holding back his power.

Clash!

"Ugh!"

"Keke, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. For now, that is..."

Of course, Adonis holding back didn’t make him any easier to handle.

His current level of power was around five stars.

Maybe Daike could handle it, but it was beyond what Alex and I could manage.

Swoosh-!

Clash!

I parried a spear thrust from Adonis aimed at Alex.

The reason I could skillfully fight Adonis.

Using Divine Imitation, Reflexes, Dynamic Vision, and Swordsmanship skills were rated A, but...

‘I never thought the hellish sparring sessions with Lucia would come in handy now.’

Swords, spears, bows, axes, hammers, fists, etc.

Lucia had trained me with various weapons. That experience was proving invaluable now.

At the same time, I could tell. Adonis was.

‘Testing me.’

Whether I was just a weirdo at first glance, a capable person whom children like Therion and Yuridia could rely on, or...

‘Someone suspicious who had made a pact with a demon.’

I had to prove it. That I was not the suspicious one.

Fighting Adonis 2:1 was undoubtedly meant for this purpose.

The conditions I had in mind that must be adhered to in this hidden piece were as follows.

First, I must lose.

Second, I must not do anything that would arouse Adonis’s suspicion.

Third, I must display considerable skill, at least beyond Daike.

It might seem easy, but it's not as simple as it sounds.

Especially the third condition.

‘I can’t use One Flash or Sky Splitter. There are too many eyes, and it would only deepen Adonis’s suspicions.’

Showing skills beyond Daike in this situation was unthinkable.

Maybe all I could use was [Zero Original, Sincere Downward Strike]?

‘Well, I’ll just do my best and focus on escaping Adonis’s suspicion.’

That’s right. I had no intention of clearing the ‘sixth quest’ now.

No, it was an impossible situation to clear from the start.

Meeting Adonis 1:1 for a conversation (0/1)

Proving I'm not an enemy (0/1)

Surviving for 5 minutes (5:00)

I couldn’t meet any of the conditions.

‘I thought I could survive for 5 minutes, but...’

5:00.

The clock hadn’t moved at all. It meant the timer only counted down in a 1:1 situation.

That’s why I decided to focus on reducing Adonis’s suspicions.

Blocking attacks, protecting Alex, and occasionally smiling at the cheering friends.

Thanks to these various efforts while fighting, Adonis's intensity had significantly softened compared to the beginning.

"...It’s about time to end this."

Clang!

Adonis gripped the base of his spear and swung it ferociously.

With its typical long reach and formidable recoil,

"Ugh!"

Alex was sent flying far away, and Adonis charged at me, wielding his spear.

He held the spear short, negating its advantages—a clear sign. He wanted to talk.

Our weapons clashed, and naturally, we came face-to-face.

"Are you not going to show your true skills?"

"Keke, as you can see... I'm doing my best for my friends?"

"I didn't want it to come to this, but it can't be helped."

Adonis's golden eyes shimmered.

Hmm, this doesn't feel right. Had I not alleviated his suspicions?

"You better give it your all if you don't want to die."

Thump!

Adonis pushed away the interlocking weapons. At the same moment,

Crackle-!

Sparks of lightning flashed from Adonis's right hand. At that moment, the hair on my neck stood on end.

'Damn it...!'

Just as I was about to hit the abandon quest button, I realized something.

Adonis was moving much faster than I could.

Zap-!

Adonis’s right hand moved towards my stomach in an instant.

‘So this is how I die.’

This damned failure of a game.

I might be the first player ever to be killed by Adonis.

Hmm, perhaps achieving a first (unfortunate achievement?) isn’t so bad for a veteran player?

Was it because death was imminent? My mind was filled with various thoughts when,

[Sword Defense (F) activates.]

Thud!

My left hand moved like lightning, deflecting Adonis's hand aimed at my stomach.

"?"

"?"

Adonis’s misdirected mana soared upward, hitting the arena's ceiling.

Boom-!

"There's a hole in the ceiling!"

"Everyone calm down! It’s just a small hole! The roof isn’t going to collapse!"

Plunk- plunk-.

Just as said, only a fist-sized hole had formed; the ceiling did not collapse.

It was proof that Adonis had used minimal mana.

We exchanged looks, bewildered.

Stay calm. Everything was okay.

I was alive, Adonis hadn’t killed anyone, and the arena hadn’t collapsed.

There were some issues, but things were progressing according to the story I knew.

But then...

Thump-.

Alex, scratching his cheek, pointed his sword at Adonis’s heart and said,

"Hmm... looks like we've won, huh?"

Yeah.

What do we do if we win?

--TL Notes--

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading

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