I’m the Slit-Eyed Character at the Academy, but I’m not the Mastermind – Chapter 398

The descent of the 2nd Legion Commander became an event that never happened in the world.

It was impossible for the Lucid family and the Northern Alliance alone to stop the Legion Commander.

In the end, the fall of Lionheart Castle was concluded as the work of an unknown highest-grade demon.

The Northern Defensive War, which had many questions.

The factions jealous of the Lucid family threw sharp questions here and there, but it ended so quickly that their efforts were in vain.

Because.

“We will name it ‘Erosion’.”

“For the land to die is surprising enough, but for it to gradually increase… this is a big problem.”

“We must guard the borders tightly.”

‘Erosion’ had appeared.

Erosion brought a great shock not only to the Empire but to the continent.

After Lionheart Castle fell, Erosion appeared in various places across the continent.

The Lucid family had managed to block it relatively well.

Most lost more than ten castles, and in places with severe damage, they lost a palm-sized piece of land on the map.

An optimal situation to start a war. But no country started a war.

There was no justification, but the bigger reason was that there was no point in conquering land where people could not live.

“If a new Erosion appears while we have pulled our forces out, how will you deal with that?”

“Hmm… must I postpone my dream of unifying the continent?”

“Investigation and response to Erosion is the priority.”

A chaotic situation in many ways.

The truth of the Legion Commander’s descent was naturally pushed to the back burner.

The honor of the Lucid family was also very high.

A blind trust that a great family would not do something foolish.

Thanks to that, the fact that the Lucid family had made a deal with a demon became something only those in the know knew.

And so, about a month passed.

“Hey, hey, can’t you do it properly? This isn’t Earth Flip, it’s Earth Scratch.”

“How is this a scratch? It broke, didn’t it? This is pretty good.”

“Is that so? You’ve invented a new secret technique called Earth Shatter. How ve~ry impressive.”

At Pleche’s teasing, Lowell’s lips pouted.

It had been a month since she had seriously held a sword. Honestly, wasn’t this pretty good?

“How about learning directly from the family head? To promote friendship and all.”

“Wanna die?”

Duke Luke, who had committed the ridiculous atrocity of pinning his hopes on Rodelin.

Since that day, Lowell had not spoken a single word to him. She consistently ignored him even when the Duke occasionally asked questions.

She was severely scolded by Lucas every time, but Lowell was more comfortable with that.

Was it the same for Duke Luke? He only spoke to her occasionally and didn’t pay much attention to Lowell.

“Tsk tsk, anyway, you’re just making things hard for yourself… that’s why you’re not growing taller.”

“What does that have to do with this!?”

“Because your heart is narrow, you can’t grow. Look at me. Because my heart is wide, my body is big, right?”

“Your heart is wide, indeed. To the point of giving up one arm to the Legion Commander.”

“Y-you little runt!”

“No more calling me a runt! That’s an order!”

Lowell and Pleche bickered.

They had said they would move on from their friendship, but maintaining a master-servant relationship was not an easy task.

The two were very comfortable with each other, but due to Pleche’s personality, it was difficult to maintain a serious demeanor for even five minutes.

“It’s serious advice. If you don’t like the Duke, then at least learn from Lady Lucia.”

“Sister is busy. It’s been a while since she’s been back home…”

She couldn’t just wait while leaving everything to Rodelin.

As a result of a long meeting, the family had established a two-track strategy.

The first was to find a loophole in the contract and break it.

Even if it was a contract with a demon, it was ultimately a contract specified in a document. There would be loopholes, and if they used them, they could nullify the contract.

In fact, they had already discovered ‘one’ method.

‘Though Sister Lucia got furious…’

Lucia, who said she could never accept it. She left the castle that very day.

It was to lay the groundwork for the second strategy.

‘To organize a small-scale subjugation squad composed of strong warriors and kill the Legion Commander.’

Lucia was a party bound by the contract, so she couldn’t fight with them, but her honor was high, so she knew many people.

Lucia, who had gone out herself to find useful talent. There was no time to teach Lowell.

‘Come to think of it, I’m also bound by the contract…’

Her promise to kill the Legion Commander alone for Rodelin’s sake.

But as long as the clause ‘cannot attack a demon belonging to the 2nd Legion’ existed, it was impossible for Lowell to kill the Legion Commander.

‘The 2nd Legion Commander is also, in the end, a member of the 2nd Legion.’

In other words, she also had to find comrades like Lucia.

Comrades, comrades.

Lowell looked around. A useful talent was right in front of her.

“Pleche, you’re on my side, right?”

“What? Why? Are you trying to aim for the position of family head?”

“No, that’s not it. What would I do with the position of family head.”

“Hmm… then I suppose it’s safe to say I’m on your side.”

Lowell wrapped her hands around Pleche’s left hand.

Pleche, looking at her with a face that said he didn’t know what was going on. Lowell shook the wrapped hands up and down.

Contract complete.

“Okay, with this, one meat shield secured.”

“Huh? Don’t tell me… it’s not what I’m thinking, is it?”

“Why, what. It’s not like you have anything else to do anyway.”

“Where is there a crazy bastard who fights a Legion Commander just because he has nothing else to do!?”

“Right here. Me and you.”

“I don’t want to!”

“That’s an order, you punk!”

“Then I’m disobeying orders!”

Bickering.

The petty fight between Lowell and Pleche began again.

It was when Lowell had plucked a handful of his hair.

A child peeked her head out from the training ground door.

It was Rodelin. In her hand was a small wooden sword.

Rodelin ran over with her short legs and stood next to Lowell.

And then.

“Hi-yah! Earth Flip!”

A wooden sword swung with spirit.

It hit the ground, and light dust flew up.

Pleche clapped his hands and cheered.

“To imitate Earth Scratch! The young lady is surely a genius!”

“Hehe, am I a genius?”

Rodelin, placing both hands on her hips and puffing up with pride.

Seeing that, Lowell let out a deep sigh.

After the Legion Commander’s attack, Rodelin often swung a wooden sword.

‘In the past, she wasn’t even interested, let alone looked at it…’

Not only holding a sword, but even training, which she didn’t do before.

She might have realized the weight of the burden she was carrying.

The duty to kill the Legion Commander and save the family.

She didn’t like it. The family that didn’t take away the wooden sword as if it were natural, and Rodelin who swung the wooden sword.

“Rodelin.”

“Yeah!”

Did she think she would be praised? Rodelin ran over with a smile.

Lowell opened her mouth, trying to avoid Rodelin’s gaze.

“Can’t you see your sister is busy? Go play by yourself over there.”

“S-sorry…”

“…”

What kind of expression was Rodelin making right now?

She might be flustered, or on the verge of tears. No, she might already be shedding big teardrops.

‘I want to hug her. I want to hug Rodelin tightly right now and say I’m sorry, that I love her.’

But.

‘I have to endure it.’

She had to get stronger as soon as possible, gather comrades, and kill the Legion Commander.

There was no time to play with Rodelin. For as much time as she played, the days Rodelin would live would decrease.

‘Don’t cry! I made a promise a month ago!’

Friends, dreams, and her beloved Rodelin.

To leave them all behind and become stronger.

It was when Lowell was holding back her tears with her back turned.

As if she had remembered something, Rodelin said in a bright voice.

“Ah! Come to think of it, you’re going back to the academy soon, right?”

“…”

“I heard the academy is a scary place where they don’t even give you food if your grades are bad. Mhmm, food is an important issue!”

No, they give you food even if your grades are bad. And it’s really good stuff.

“And I didn’t even know that… I disturbed you like a fool. I’m really sorry! It was my mistake.”

“…”

“Sister, cheer up! I can play well by myself, so don’t worry!”

The chattering Rodelin left the training ground. With a bright smile.

Lowell couldn’t say a single word. She was sure she would burst into tears if she opened her mouth.

“Sob…”

She tried, but she couldn’t completely hold back her tears.

She could tell just by this. That she was too weak.

Compared to Sister Lucia and Brother Lucas, her skills, her heart, and her resolve were weak.

A handkerchief suddenly appeared in front of her. It was Pleche.

“Aren’t you overdoing it?”

“…You said it. That I had to be prepared to give up everything.”

It would be difficult to defeat the Legion Commander even if she trained for her whole life, and Lowell had already wasted 15 years.

She had to give up everything except swordsmanship. Even if it was.

Her beloved younger sister.

“The reason I said that that day was just because I wanted to see your resolve. Because you always belittled yourself as ordinary and didn’t make an effort.”

“…”

“You’re trying to get stronger to protect the young lady, right? What’s the point if you become distant?”

“What’s wrong with that. She’ll get hurt, but… she won’t die.”

To Lowell, who had to get stronger, Rodelin was a big weakness.

Just looking at her made her heart melt, and if they talked or played together, her carefully gathered resolve would crumble like a sandcastle.

Now was the time to keep her distance. That was the decision Lowell had made.

“I’ll try again. Just check my form.”

“Haah… do as you please. It won’t last long anyway.”

Pleche gave up on persuading her.

He knew that Lowell cherished Rodelin more than her own life.

‘No matter how much she tries to push her away, she’ll end up holding her in her arms. Anyway, for a runt, she’s stubborn.’

Pleche would later greatly regret not continuing to persuade her that day, but that was a story for the distant future.

“What are you doing? I asked you to check my form!”

“For a runt, that’s a nice form.”

“…Earth Flip.”

Tukwaang!!

A month later, Lowell left the castle and headed for Annwood Academy.

Without even receiving the farewell of Rodelin, who had been waiting to say goodbye.

---

Time flew by quickly.

“The event is about to start! All instructors, assemble!”

Lowell, dressed in her uniform, left the dormitory.

Her second year as an Annwood Academy instructor. It was a point in time when five years had passed since the Legion Commander’s attack.

The swordsmanship she started late was difficult and hard.

But she endured and endured with will, stubbornness, and grit.

When things got tough, she gained strength by looking at the plush doll Rodelin had made for her.

Thanks to that, she was able to graduate from the academy with excellent grades. She even took the top spot a few times.

‘Two years at the academy, two years as a trainee, one year as an instructor. I haven’t done anything, but why is it so fast?’

Still, it wasn’t without gains.

An Annwood Academy instructor was an ultra-elite course.

Gathering strong comrades would also become much easier.

There was the hassle of having to interact, but she could endure that much.

Because Lowell could do anything for Rodelin’s sake.

“It’s the day to promote the academy. There are no fools who can’t distinguish between what to do and what not to do, right?”

The instructors chuckled. Children dreaming of admission would come, but it was also a day when many nobles and high-ranking officials visited.

That’s right. This event also served as an interview. An interview venue to spot useful talent first.

There was no way a fool would cause trouble on a day like this.

“Especially, fighting is absolutely forbidden. There is no precedent… so if such a thing happens, be aware that an unprecedented punishment will be handed down.”

It was as he was checking the instructors’ clothing and passing by Lowell.

“Understood? Especially, I’m saying this with you in mind.”

“Certainly… if it’s the little lion, then maybe not.”

“I recommend locking her up!”

“Kukuk! Who can lock up the little lion?”

Her colleagues giggled.

‘Little Lion’. It was the nickname given to Lowell.

Glare-.

As Lowell glared, the instructors pretended not to notice and turned their gazes away.

“Come to think of it, it’s strange. You’re not one to usually participate in events like this.”

“…They said my family is coming.”

A while ago, she received a message. That Rodelin was coming to see the academy.

That was probably an excuse.

‘She’s coming to see me.’

She didn’t answer mana communications well, her letters were short with only a few sentences, and during vacation, she undertook missions to catch demons instead of visiting home.

From Rodelin’s perspective, she must have been dying to see her.

‘Come to think of it, how many years has it been since I’ve seen her face…’

Two years? No, three years? She wasn’t sure. She had spent that much time in a daze.

Anyway, it was the day she would see her beloved younger sister after a long time. There was no way she would cause trouble on a day like this.

“…Don’t worry.”

With the teacher’s satisfied smile, she headed to the event venue.

–TL Notes–
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