307: Disciple and Master

It all started with the Tag Tournament, followed by the ring collection during the School Trip and that desperate struggle for survival in the Battle Royale. Then came the Partner Exam—that fierce, grueling clash with the Upperclassmen.

We had overcome one obstacle after another.

The curriculum had become increasingly brutal, and by this point, several students had already dropped out of the academy. While the heavy hitters who were active in the Original Story remained firmly in place, there were also plenty of people here who shouldn’t have existed at all, like Shari and Carta.

Ever since I’d woken up as Weiss Fancent, I had met and clashed with so many different people. And every single time, there was someone there to support me.

I wasn't trying to rank her against Lilith or Cynthia, but I could say with total, heartfelt pride that she was irreplaceable to me. She was precious.

And now, that very master was the one calling out to me.

"Weiss, are your preparations complete?"

"I’ve done everything I possibly could. Today, I intend to win—Teacher Milk."

"Heh. Your high spirits are one of your better qualities, but that’s impossible. There is no way you can surpass me yet."

She stood there with her usual overflowing confidence, crossing her arms and causing a certain... sway. No, no, focus! That didn't matter right now.

I had been honing my skills with everything I had because I truly wanted to surpass Teacher Milk. Avoiding my own ruin was a given, of course, but she was also a towering wall that had stood in my way time and time again as my master.

Until now, I couldn't even see her feet. She wouldn't even show me her back; I hadn't even known where she was in relation to me.

But this time was different.

She was going to stand directly in front of me and take me on in a serious, no-holds-barred match.

In the Original Story, Teacher Milk wasn't even a member of the faculty. She’d had zero interest in others and avoided social interaction like the plague. But now, things were different. She was looking at me—she was looking at us.

The difficulty level of this exam wasn't just "high." Just like the Three-Year Joint Tag Tournament, this was a scripted defeat event. It was designed to show the players just how powerful the teachers were, meant to inspire them to reach for even greater heights.

And thanks to my meddling, even Coco was a teacher now. Just imagining how absurd the difficulty spike was going to be made me want to laugh.

But...

"I’m not a brat who’s just going to rely on your generosity forever. I’m going to prove that today."

"Heh, I’ll buy that spirit. But Weiss, you don't know the real me. I think it's time I showed you."

Teacher Milk’s words were always intense. However, it was rare for her to actually throw a provocation back at me.

Does this mean she’s finally acknowledging me as an equal? Even just a little bit?

Weiss, old boy, you’re looking forward to this too, aren't you?

Just you wait. I’m going to show everyone something absolutely incredible.

Afterword

The battle with the teachers—how will it turn out?!

I Reincarnated as a Lazy and Evil Noble, and After I Destroyed the Scenario, I Became the Strongest with Extraordinary Magic Power

Release Date: March 29, 2024 (Tuesday) (Both physical and digital versions planned)

[Amazon link & with Illustration] https://twitter.com/Kikuchikaisei/status/1755186344601804896