I’m the Slit-Eyed Character at the Academy, but I’m not the Mastermind – Chapter 403

The surprise attack of the high-ranking demon, Bineus. The response of a few students, including Rodelin.

Lucia arrived in the moment of crisis and took the demon down with a single blow.

Only after hearing that Rodelin was unharmed could Lowell finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“Haah… thank goodness.”

“Thank goodness? You wrecked the house!”

Lowell dug into her ear with her pinky.

Cleaning was Pleche’s job. Not her concern.

While Pleche muttered under his breath and got to work, Lowell looked over the report sent from the family one more time.

Nothing particularly stood out. Demons with techniques that slipped through detection weren’t exactly rare.

But still.

“Can coincidences happen twice… no, three times in a row?”

The demon shard buried beneath the academy.

The teacher Lérang, who had formed a pact with a demon.

And now, the high-ranking demon, Bineus.

A string of incidents, all happening in what’s supposed to be the safest place outside of the Imperial Palace. No matter how she looked at it, something felt wrong.

Surely…

“The Second Legion Commander’s scheme?”

Rodelin is the only one excluded from the pact.

At first, it seemed like nothing. But as time went on, it felt increasingly unsettling.

Maybe they’re trying to eliminate her.

“You’re jumping to conclusions. That’s a bit much.”

“Even after three times?”

“…Even so, it wouldn’t be the Second Legion Commander. If he wanted her dead, he’d have come himself. Or sent an even stronger demon.”

“What if it’s on purpose? What if he’s toying with her like some kind of plaything?”

The trait of demons who delight in tormenting humans. Even a Legion Commander might not be any different.

Knowing Rodelin is being tormented, and yet the Lucid family can’t do anything.

Watching that helplessness, he must be feeling euphoria.

“He’ll start with a finger, then maybe an eye, then slowly start slicing off her limbs. And all we can do is stand there and watch Delin fall apart!”

“Calm down! That’s not going to happen! Even if it does… we still have the last resort, remember?”

That’s right. If it’s confirmed that the Second Legion Commander is targeting Rodelin, then Lowell can die at the hands of one of his subordinates.

It wasn’t something she wanted to even mention, but calming Lowell down was more important now.

Maybe it worked, because Lowell’s expression softened just a little.

“What’s your intuition telling you?”

“…Nothing.”

“See? If it were truly dangerous, it would’ve reacted. It always has, right?”

Lowell’s strange intuition had saved her from death more times than one could count.

It was sharp enough that even Pleche—who hadn’t believed at first—had come to trust it.

“Pleche.”

“I told you, stop worrying. It’s just coincidence. Definitely…”

“I’m scared…”

Tears rolled down Lowell’s cheeks.

Lowell, the strong, fierce, borderline insane woman.

But when it came to Rodelin, she fell apart so easily.

Every time something like this happened, Pleche would think:

‘Maybe… she’s still trapped in that day.’

Legion Commanders bring pain to everyone. Even those who survive.

No—perhaps they torment the survivors even more than the dead.

Pleche pulled Lowell into a tight hug.

Only one arm, but it felt like both were wrapped around him.

Lowell hugged him back just as tightly.

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing. They had been through a lot together.

In the past and even now—though those stories will be skipped.

This…

This was the story of grown-ups.

---

Ever since the thought struck—maybe this was all the Second Legion Commander’s doing—

The anxiety wouldn’t let up. It clung to Lowell’s back, whispering nonstop.

Saying the next demon would come for Rodelin soon.

“I’m telling you, that’s not gonna happen. Just watch. You’ll blink and suddenly it’ll be graduation day.”

“…That can’t happen.”

“Do you even hear yourself? Are you stupid?”

Lowell picked up a slipper. Pleche vanished immediately.

“Honestly… there’s not a serious bone in you.”

Still, she let out a small laugh. If it weren’t for Pleche, Lowell might’ve already lost it.

Day after day, she kept challenging stronger fighters, hunting demons. And in the middle of all that—

A major incident erupted.

“…What?”

“I-Infiltration has been detected!”

Infiltration spotted in Carpathia.

The appearance of one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Lizbeth.

Even news that Annwood Academy students had been dispatched.

She couldn’t take it anymore. Lowell was about to dash out—

When Pleche grabbed her wrist.

“You can’t go!”

“Let go of me!”

“Lowell…!”

Pleche shouted as he held her tight.

“A standby order has been issued. We’re to guard this region in case of emergency!”

The Empire rewards the strong, gives them privileges.

Lucrative rights and power that anyone would envy.

But these things aren’t handed out unconditionally. The powerful are expected to fulfill their duties.

“You know what happens if you disobey. I might get away with it, but you’ll be locked up forever! Sent to the front lines like a slave until you die!”

Break the rules, and you’re punished.

The higher your rank, the harsher the punishment.

A clause created to keep powerful nobles from abusing their position and dodging responsibility.

“Ahh… Aaaaahhhhh!!”

There was nothing she could do. Her sister had gone to the battlefield, and she was going to die. But Lowell couldn’t follow her.

She was speechless. All that escaped Lowell’s lips was an endless scream.

“…And it’s already too late. Even if you rode a wyvern right now, it’d take a week to get there.”

They were in the western part of the Empire.

Time wasn’t the only issue—riding a wyvern would be undeniable proof that she had left the region.

Even if she saved Rodelin, she’d still be punished.

Strength drained from Lowell’s body.

Pleche tightened his hold so Lowell wouldn’t collapse completely.

“It’ll be okay. You know that. She’s strong.”

“What do I do… Delin… Delin’s out there…”

“Sir Caron is with her. She’ll be fine. So please, just wait. Stay calm.”

Tick tock.

Time passed. Time that usually flowed just fine felt frozen now.

The communication orb that had been noisily updating them had gone silent.

Two nights passed with no sleep.

By now, the academy students would have arrived in Carpathia.

‘So powerless…’

Then or now—there was nothing she could do for Rodelin.

Pleche had fallen asleep behind her.

They’d tied themselves together tightly with rope to prevent either from running off.

In the end, the only thing Lowell could do was—

“Please… Please save my sister…”

She prayed. That was all.

Hands trembling, she clasped them and whispered endlessly in a cracked voice.

Dear god, please…

Please protect my sister.

---

“They did it! Carpathia has been protected! And the young lady is safe, too!”

The news of victory arrived days later.

Along with it came word of Rodelin’s safety—and her incredible performance.

“See? I told you there was nothing to worry about.”

Delin was safe.

But Lowell didn’t feel happy at all.

Tap. Tap-tap.

Rain trickled down outside, softly knocking against the windowpane.

Lowell stared at her reflection in the glass, lost in thought.

This incident had made one thing very clear.

‘Even if I gain the power to kill the Legion Commander… it means nothing if Delin dies first.’

From the start, the reason she wanted to kill the Legion Commander was to free her sister from the burden of their family.

But if Delin dies before that?

Checkmate.

‘What should I do?’

She needed a solution—a way to grow stronger and protect Rodelin at the same time.

“…”

After a brief silence, a faint smile crept across Lowell’s face.

A good idea had come to her. Simple, and effective.

Zzzzt—

Even her intuition responded. A sign that she was right.

She couldn’t believe she’d been agonizing over this when the answer was so obvious.

“I need to go to the academy.”

“Huh?”

“I’m going to see Delin.”

But Lowell didn’t make it to the door. Pleche had grabbed her wrist.

“You can’t.”

“Why not?”

“…Because you’re planning to break the young lady.”

They knew each other too well. No words were needed to know what the other was thinking.

And yes, this was the method Lowell had come up with.

To lock Rodelin away—until the Second Legion Commander was dead.

“If she won’t listen, I’ll beat it into her until she does.”

“Snap out of it! You’re not thinking straight!”

“No. I’m more rational now than I’ve ever been.”

“You’re going to destroy her dream?”

“What? Dream?”

Kii, kikik! Kikikikik!

Lowell let out a strange, eerie laugh. A bitter scoff of disbelief.

That twisted laughter suddenly stopped.

It wasn’t a dream.

“It’s a burden the family forced onto her.”

A burden born of their family’s sins. And she didn’t want to see her sister carrying it anymore.

If she refuses to let it go, there’s only one option left.

“Then I’ll just break her so she can’t carry it.”

If words don’t work, she’ll smash her limbs.

Keep her locked up where no demon can ever find her. Seal her away so even family can’t reach her.

Even if—

“Even if Delin ends up hating me for it.”

Pleche trembled.

He had finally realized how broken Lowell’s love for Rodelin truly was.

“Don’t worry. I’ll let her live.”

“I’m not worried about the young lady.”

What he was really worried about—

“Lowell… it’s you.”

Twitch—

For a moment, Lowell’s expression cracked.

Just as Pleche knew her well, she knew him just as well.

She knew he truly worried about her. That he cared for her. That Pleche…

Loved her. Deeply, sincerely.

“…You really had to say that now? That’s cheating.”

They both knew how the other felt.

But they had never said it aloud. Lowell never had the time for love, for romance.

And Pleche understood that.

Their hearts were the same.

Lowell’s face turned quietly sorrowful.

When tears started to gather in her eyes, she finally spoke.

“Sorry.”

“…Then I have no choice.”

Sching—

Pleche drew his sword. He had to stop her by force.

As a friend, as a teacher, as a subordinate—and as the one who loved her.

“I’ll stop you here.”

“See? I told you we think alike.”

Lowell smiled and drew her sword too.

As a friend, as a student, as a master—and as the one who loved him.

“I’m breaking through.”

…

…

A short while later, Lowell stepped outside.

Pleche didn’t follow.

Lowell had shattered both of his legs.

“Sorry.”

But he still had one good arm. He’d manage to call for help.

Ssshhh—

Cold rain soaked Lowell’s body.

She looked up at the sky.

‘That day was like this too.’

The day she broke out of her own cage and took a sword in hand.

The day she declared she would protect Rodelin.

It had rained that day too.

Was this the right choice? Or the wrong one?

…Her intuition gave no answer.

Even though it had responded so clearly when she wondered, ‘Is going to the academy the right decision?’

Her so-called intuition. Always so hard to understand.

“…Doesn’t matter either way.”

As long as she could protect the sister she loved.

And so, Lowell vanished into the rain.

–TL Notes–
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