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

Chapter 40

A vast mansion. In it, a laboratory was situated.

A woman wearing a black mask suddenly froze in her movement.

Sss!

The tattoo on her shoulder burned away, and soon her flesh twisted grotesquely.

She was faced with the agony of her flesh burning away. Yet, the woman did not utter a single moan.

"...The Demon's Shard is dead?"

A place beneath the Sacred Sword where one would hardly think a demon could exist.

Two puzzles.

And spies secretly planted there.

An incomprehensible situation. But her confusion was short-lived.

Because reports had come in from the spies she had hidden in the Academy.

"The Lucid Family has issued an apology?"

It was absurd enough that they were apologizing for something that happened 20 years ago, but even more so, the youngest of that family had denounced her own sister.

And then.

"It was that child who killed the Demon's Shard..."

The woman fell silent in thought.

The silence did not last long. She spoke, having gathered her thoughts.

"Rodelin, huh? It would be better to deal with her beforehand."

The woman toyed with the tattoo on her forearm.

The fourth-ranked demon, Bineus.

Since the Demon's Shard was of the eighth rank, one could easily understand how formidable Bineus was.

"Eradicate her. By any means necessary."

"Yes, Lady Lizbeth."

The worst hidden piece, dispatching a demon to the Academy, was now in play.

In the game, the Demon's Shard typically meets its end after Episode 3.

By that time, Lizbeth would be too busy spreading corruption across the continent to pay attention to the death of an eighth-ranked demon. But now was different.

The episode had just begun.

Zero wouldn't know. This hidden piece.

The fastest path to a bad ending.

Until the fourth-ranked demon Bineus arrives at the Academy.

D-30.

* * *

Rolling around.

The eldest of the Lucid family, Lucia, rolled on the bed.

Although she had been repeating the same action for a month, it always felt new and thrilling.

"Ah, look at this chubby backside!"

Smack!

A middle-aged woman slapped Lucia's bottom.

But there was hardly any reaction, just a teasing laugh as if it tickled.

"Nanny, don't you know the latest trend? Men go crazy for this."

"...Yes, I suppose you're right. I'd go crazy too!"

Whack!

A strike imbued with mana.

Only then did Lucia scream.

"Kyaa! Why did you hit me!"

"You should go out and show off that crazy backside! Please, just go outside!"

"Hmm, are you done with today's sermon? Then feed me, Nanny."

Rub rub.

Lucia said, scratching her belly.

Crack-.

"No more food starting today. Go out and eat."

"Hmph! I'll just get something myself."

"All thrown out. You'll have to go out and buy something if you want to eat."

A wicked smile played on the Nanny's lips.

Lucia was now in a situation where she had no choice but to go outside.

"What? Nanny, have you lost your mind?"

"It's you who's crazy, madam. Does it make sense to be in your mid-thirties without a single man? Do you plan to live as an old maid forever!?"

Thud!

Old maid.

Those words deeply wounded Lucia's heart.

To think her lifelong Nanny would utter such harsh words.

Truly sad.

"Nanny! I'm an adult! I'll get married on my own, you'll see!"

"Adults don't roll around for a month and don't scratch their bellies asking for food! And you have to meet people to get married, right?"

Thud thud thud!

She couldn't argue back, as everything was true.

Lucia was in despair.

"If only you were half like your younger sister."

"Eh? What do you mean? She should be like me. I've grown into such a fine adult."

"Don't even speak of your younger sister rolling around and scratching her belly... that's a terrible thought."

"Waaaaaaaaaah! Nanny, you only hate me! Give me food!"

Lucia rolled around, wrapping the bed sheet around her body.

Such an annoyance, truly annoying.

'With a pretty face and a good figure, why on earth isn't she dating?'

Lucia, who looked at least 10 years younger than her actual age.

Even though suitors were lining up for arranged marriages, she stayed cooped up in her room, leading to people getting married to others and even having children before she'd consider them.

The Nanny, who had been clutching her head in frustration, suddenly thought of something.

"Right, there was a message from the head of the house. Here's the letter..."

"Another demon? Where's this one?"

Lucia, still wrapped in the bed sheet, sluggishly moved but then vanished in an instant, reappearing right in front of the Nanny.

Her eyes had turned fierce. The previously docile expression was gone.

However, after reading the letter, Lucia couldn't help but feel deflated.

-Write an apology letter. It's an order.

"Eh?"

In her mid-thirties.

Suddenly tasked with writing an apology.

* * *

"Ah, so that's what it was?"

Lucia finally understood the situation after the Nanny's explanation.

'Well, it's a bit unfair, but if it helps...'

At the time of the incident, Lucia was in her third year.

It was a time for gaining experience, traveling here and there across the empire.

She hadn't even heard the name, let alone the face of a boy named Luterus.

But a little dent in her own reputation would benefit the Lucid House, Rodelin, and Luterus.

The gains far outweighed the losses.

Lucia decided to write the apology letter.

"Our cute youngest caused a mess. How could she cause trouble so adorably like herself?"

Despite the youngest of the family putting her in a tough spot, she wasn't in a bad mood.

Instead, she felt a strong trust towards herself.

Lucia flopped down.

She had thought it was a new order to deal with a demon, but it wasn't, and the reason her sister had accused her was trivial.

If it had been a challenge, she would have taken care of it with love.

"Ah~ Why is our family so obsessed with honor?"

"Are you letting it slide? Favoring the youngest, aren't you?"

"What's wrong if my honor takes a hit? I don't care about honor, but it's not like there's anything to diminish. Just let them nibble away at it."

Such arrogant words from a lazy person.

But the Nanny had to agree.

Lucia de Lucid.

The achievements she had made to date could easily fill two chapters of the empire's chronicles.

The name Lucia and the dignity it held were untarnishable by anything.

Ah, except for one thing.

"That high honor is dropping bit by bit because of the 'old maid' label."

"Ah! Nanny! I told you to stop saying that!"

"Have you ever been involved with a man?"

"Well, a lot! The men I've met so far could fill three books!"

Yeah~ Right.

Always busy rolling in bed, tired from hunting demons.

It would be a wonder if she even had three words, let alone three books.

"So, who is it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Such a scheme couldn't have come from our cute youngest. Someone advised her. Who was it?"

"...Aren't you underestimating the youngest too much?"

Lucia laughed heartily.

"Do I not know our youngest? Such a flexible thought is impossible for her."

Integrity, uprightness, conviction.

These three old-fashioned traits were all embodied in the girl called Rodelin.

Even if it meant gaining greater honor, she wasn't the type to betray her own family.

'Besides, the two of you are somewhat close.'

The Nanny sighed slightly and began to speak.

"A student named Zero. Apart from being a commoner and ranking third in the entrance exam, there's no significant information about him."

"Ahh~ So it was just common information? I thought it was someone from a sworn enemy family."

"Does the Lucid House have such a family?"

"No. Anyone who dared to oppose us quickly realized their place."

It sounded like a light remark, but the meaning behind it was anything but.

Being able to say such a thing nonchalantly.

It was indicative of the current position of the Lucid House.

"Ahem, anyway... Maybe it's time to see the youngest's face after a long time?"

"Going to the Academy? There's no need to..."

"Hmm... I'm also curious about that Zero."

"Why?"

"Well... If he's smart, it's good to recruit him, right?"

Tsk.

The Nanny clicked her tongue. This was exactly why she had tried to hide information about Zero.

'I didn't want to give any unnecessary excuses.'

Busy enough looking for a marriage partner, now she's planning to visit the Academy.

A waste of time.

But it's fine. She had anticipated such a situation.

"I knew you would, so I have already arranged the schedule."

"Oh, really? As expected, Nanny. You're so competent!"

"Thank you for the compliment, madam. Shall we start preparing?"

The Nanny took out various items from the wardrobe.

Jewelry, shoes, and a dress. A very dazzling one.

"...Why are you taking that out for a visit to the Academy?"

"It's a noble party, of course."

"Eh? What noble party?"

"I've booked every party on the way to the Academy. While you're going, why not look for a marriage partner?"

"...?"

Lucia pressed herself against the wall.

"Ah, I don't want to go. I've gained weight, and the dress won't fit."

"I've prepared a very sturdy corset, so don't worry."

The Nanny stretched the corset's strings, her eyes sparkling and spinning around.

Hmm, isn't that something only a demon can do?

"I've got a bad reputation these days. Even the little honor I had has just dropped..."

"It's okay. You have both the family and your backside to rely on."

The Nanny's eyes spun around again.

A demon. She's a demon obsessed with marriage!

"Kyaaaahhh!!"

Until Lucia de Lucid's visit to the Academy.

D-30.

* * *

"Hmm?"

He opened his eyes, but all he could see were the sleeping children and the jolting carriage.

He thought he heard a scream from somewhere.

He tried to go back to sleep, but the ride of the carriage made it difficult.

He decided to organize his thoughts about the current situation.

'Is the dungeon still far away?'

His class was currently traveling by carriage to the dungeon.

A practical lesson in fighting magical beasts, overseen by Caron.

'I'm not worried.'

With [Divine Imitation] acquired, the beasts in the dungeon for first-year students were no longer a match for him.

What concerned him more was what lay ahead.

'What hidden piece should I aim for next?'

It was natural to be lost in thought.

Most of the hidden pieces he had in mind, especially offensive skills, had become useless.

'There are decent skills in B and C grades, but...'

That was before acquiring [Divine Imitation].

After mimicking Rodelin's [Sky Splitter], any lower-level offensive skills were meaningless.

'There's no particular limit to using Sky Splitter.'

There is no mana or mental power consumption, nor any unique cost required to use the skill.

Meaning it could be used repeatedly.

'Useful hidden pieces will only become available as the episode progresses...'

He had yet to face the boss of Episode 1.

Locked locations, items, characters – a situation with many restrictions.

'Becoming too powerful too quickly isn't good.'

The record for acquiring the [Divine Imitation] skill the earliest was in Episode 3.

He had shortened that to Episode 1, which said it all.

To have a problem because of being too talented.

Ah, I'm so scared of myself.

"Excuse me, could you move over a bit?"

"Cuddle up more. Ugh, look at that ominous smile."

"He must be plotting something suspicious."

"Is he finally going to summon a demon!?"

...Such a pathetic world, unable to accept a genius.

Maybe I should seriously consider turning into a real dark mage. I was contemplating it.

"We've arrived. Everyone, get off."

We had reached the anthill.

--TL Notes--

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