Chapter 015: An Unprecedented Batch of Students

The exams were finally over.

To cut straight to the chase: it was a total cakewalk.

Whether it was the written portion, magic aptitude, or swordsmanship, I—Weiss Fancent—must have posted some top-tier scores. I mean, I’ve been training like a madman to avoid my own execution, so I’d better have.

The only thing that weighed on my mind was the protagonist, Allen.

True to the original plot of the game, we ended up being pitted against each other in a mock duel. My instructors had told me to hold back, but I couldn’t help it. That restless, nagging itch in my soul was too strong to ignore, and I ended up fighting with everything I had.

As for the result? It was my total, crushing victory.

Allen didn’t stand a chance. My Original Magic sapped his physical stats until he was left face-down, groveling on the dirt.

But when I caught a glimpse of his face, a chill ran down my spine.

No matter how many times I beat him down, he just kept getting back up. His mana was actually swelling, growing stronger by the second right in front of my eyes. Theoretically, his magic and sword skills shouldn't have been anywhere near my level, yet it took me forever to finally finish him off.

I’ve been busting my ass for years for this, I thought. Sure, Allen probably has too, but there’s no logical explanation for that kind of mid-battle growth.

It absolutely terrified me.

It felt like the universe was hammering a single fact into my skull: This is what it means to be a protagonist.

“You looked like you were having a wonderful time,” Cynthia remarked.

“Hm? About what?”

“When you were fighting that Allen boy. You had such a smile on your face. It gave me shivers... You looked just like the old Weiss.”

I froze, caught off guard by her observation. Wait, I was smiling? I could have sworn I was internally screaming in terror the whole time, but apparently, I looked like I was having a blast.

I don’t even understand it myself. Maybe the instincts of the original "scum" Weiss and my current self are starting to blend together. It was a deeply unsettling thought.

Still, there was no denying that the first major hurdle was behind me. I should probably stop overthinking and just wait for the results... but there was one thing.

“Lilith, Cynthia, can I ask you something?”

“Yes?”

“What is it, Weiss-sama?”

“If I told you... that I wanted to utterly crush someone until they could never hope to stand again... what would you do?”

I was shocked that those words even came out of my mouth. But I had to know. I had to know how they would react to the "villainous" side of me.

“...I don’t quite grasp the context,” Lilith said firmly, “but I affirm everything about you, Weiss-sama.”

“I’m with Lilith,” Cynthia added without a second thought. “With a single word from you, Weiss-sama, I would become any kind of monster you require.”

Their loyalty—or rather, the terrifying speed of their responses—made me let out a sudden, involuntary laugh.

Ah, I knew it. I’m definitely not a good person.

I still didn't have a clear answer for my future, but I decided then and there to keep being myself. I’d avoid my ruin, but I’d do it my way.

“Thanks. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

“Weiss-sama, they say that when you’re truly torn, you should just flip a coin!” Cynthia chirped.

Heads or tails. To crush them, or not to crush them. Heh, that might actually be fun.

Nobless Academy — Conference Room

The Headmaster, the faculty, and two individuals very familiar to Weiss had gathered for a post-exam debrief.

“So, Milk-dono, Zebis-dono... what on earth did you do to Weiss?”

The man sitting in the seat of honor was an old man with deep-set, piercing eyes and a magnificent white beard, which he was currently stroking with a restless hand.

“Nothing special,” Milk replied flatly. “If I had to put a label on it, I simply provided him with the fundamentals.”

“The same for me,” Zebis added. “I merely supported his dietary needs.”

The two spoke with perfect composure, which only seemed to incense the large man across the table. He had fiery red hair that stood up like a crown of flames, and he slammed his fist onto the wood.

“Don’t give me that crap! We’re talking about a boy who mastered the Four Great Elements plus light and dark Original Magic! There is no way in hell someone picks that up with ‘basic training’!”

“Darius, compose yourself,” the old man sighed. “They are not lying.”

“But Headmaster! Honestly, I feel for that Allen kid. The boy has incredible talent, yet he was nearly killed because of Weiss!”

“Don’t howl at me just because your student lost a fair fight,” Milk countered. “Would you whine like that on a real battlefield?”

“What was that?! Listen, Milk, the only reason I ended up coaching Allen was because you took Weiss’s invitation! Don’t you dare take that tone with me!”

“Jealousy is such an ugly look on you, Darius. Are you really taking your frustration out on me because your disciple got stomped?”

Darius was practically snorting steam, but Milk remained unfazed. Zebis eventually stepped in to mediate.

“Milk, Darius, that’s enough. Headmaster, you didn’t call us here—two people who aren't even on the faculty—just to watch us bicker.”

“True enough,” Headmaster Gilles said quietly. “I’ve heard the rumors about Weiss Fancent for years. That is why I find his current ability—no, his raw potential—to be so dangerous. As his masters, I wanted to hear your honest assessment of his character.”

Milk and Zebis exchanged a small, knowing smile.

“Weiss is... interesting,” Milk said. “Sometimes he is a saint, other times he is a demon. Even I haven't fully seen the bottom of his soul yet, but I want to see the future he builds.”

“...I feel the same,” Zebis added. “However, he has changed. I can declare with absolute certainty that he will never turn that power against the weak.”

“...I see. My apologies for the interrogation. It’s just that Weiss managed to shatter every single all-time record the Academy has on file. However, there were concerns that he went too far in the combat portion. Given his reputation, the complaints are piling up. The proctors were all saying the same thing: the boy is terrifying.”

“Is that so?” Milk asked coolly. “And does that have any bearing on his admission?”

Darius opened his mouth to bark another retort, but the Headmaster raised a hand, silencing the room instantly.

“It has no bearing at all. Fortunately, this year is a bumper crop of talent. We have the commoner Allen, the Holy Daughter Shari, the Silent Witch Lilith, Cynthia of the Frozen Edge, and then Weiss, who has mastered every element... I hear there are a few other wild cards in the mix as well. Very well. I’ve decided to increase the number of passing candidates beyond our usual quota.”

“What?! Headmaster, the precedent—!”

“To hell with the rules,” Gilles chuckled softly. “Right, Milk? Zebis?”

The Headmaster broke into a mischievous grin. Seeing that look, Milk actually let out a rare, genuine laugh.

“I like that look. It’s the same one you wore when we were tearing through the Dark War, Headmaster Gilles.”

“How nostalgic,” Zebis remarked. “I could have predicted Gilles-san staying the same, but I never imagined Darius would actually become a teacher.”

“Zebis, I’m more worried about why you’re suddenly talking like a proper butler,” Darius grumbled.

The four of them shared a moment of levity, reflecting on the shadows of their past.

And so, Nobless Academy prepared to admit an unprecedented number of students. Among the new intake, the rumors of the boy who had claimed the top spot began to circulate among the current students, the alumni, and the halls of power.

The word on everyone's lips was that this year, the Academy had invited a true monster into its halls.

The "Most Menacing" student in history had arrived.