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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Performance Evaluation
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It couldn't possibly lead all the way to hell, could it?
Such a foolish thought crossed my mind as the stairs I was descending seemed to stretch on forever.
'I think I'm almost there.'
The demonic energy grew increasingly distinct.
Selfish emotions crept up my skin.
Thinking of the being I would encounter at the bottom of these stairs, I felt less like turning back and more like drawing my sword immediately.
'To think I'd be facing one of the Seven Deadly Sins here.'
The being at the bottom was likely Greed, one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
My certainty stemmed from the emotions rising through my skin.
I want to take it.
I want to monopolize it.
I don't want to share it with anyone else.
Whoever covets what is mine, I want to tear their limbs off and kill them.
These unpleasant and selfish emotions tried to corrupt my mind, constantly coercing and threatening my inner world.
Only two beings in this world could evoke such avarice in me.
'Greed, and the Evil God.'
The Evil God, Bulginius, was sealed in a different space-time, so there was no way I'd suddenly run into him here. Besides, an Evil God with this level of demonic energy would be better called a pathetic cripple.
Therefore, the being at the end of this path was, without a doubt, Greed.
'She must have been seriously hurt.'
I had known for a long time that starlight had a fatal effect on beings imbued with demonic energy.
But I never imagined Greed, having been struck by it, would still be in a state of incomplete recovery.
I could confirm this fact by the level of demonic energy and emotions emanating from the bottom.
That level was only slightly greater and denser than the clone I had encountered last time.
It was only natural for me, who had always intended to kill the Seven Deadly Sins, to gloat upon discovering a weakened one before finishing her off.
'What a foolish bitch.'
I surmised why Greed had chosen to recuperate here, rather than in her safe domain, and a smirk played on my lips as I scoffed inwardly.
To exact revenge on me, who had caused her pain.
To possess my corpse and soul.
No matter how I thought about it, the only reason that bitch Greed would hide here was because of me.
'Good thing I brought it.'
Since I was about to meet an unexpectedly important guest, I had to treat her appropriately.
With that thought, I pulled a magic mask from my pocket and put it on.
—Whoosh!
I drew my sword and swung it.
—Clatter!
A massive wall made of black sludge split apart, flowing down with a loud, chaotic noise.
"Wow."
Seeing the landscape and the girl beyond, I murmured in admiration.
"I didn't think she'd leave just a clone."
"You came? I didn't actually think you would."
The black sludge, taking the form of a girl, smiled brightly and retorted.
"But do you always wear that mask? I left this clone behind because I wanted to see your face directly, but if I'd known this, I would have stayed myself."
"The same bitch who got beaten to a pulp and cried her eyes out is acting tough now. But are you okay?"
"What?"
"Even if it's a roughly made clone, you should be bawling for days."
"Oh, you're worried about me? Sorry, but I'm fine. This one, as you can see, isn't a complete clone. Heh, heh-heh."
The girl made of black sludge pretended to examine her body, then began to laugh eerily again.
'I wondered why it was going so easily for once.'
Come to think of it, ever since I possessed this body, I had never had a single situation handed to me on a silver platter.
Grumbling, I tricked the scales, then imbued my sword with starlight and swung it.
In any case, I didn't leave empty-handed.
The fact that Greed had fully recovered.
The fact that Greed would soon target me.
At least these two things had been confirmed.
****
Inside the office, where blackout curtains blocked out every sliver of light.
Beyond the black crystal ball, from which black heat haze rose, appeared a face I once loved, but now only feared.
—"Is that all the witnesses' testimonies?"
"Yes, Head of the Family."
—"And the claim that the child wielded starlight?"
"There were no other testimonies except for Fran, the next hero candidate, saying he imbued his sword with starlight."
—"I see… By the way, Jane."
"Yes, Head of the Family."
—"You're not playing any frivolous games with me, are you?"
The man I had thought of as my father frowned deeply as he asked.
"N-no, sir."
I answered, feeling cold sweat trickle down my back and my body trembling.
"You know best, Head of the Family. That I can never lie to you."
Recalling the curse the man I believed to be my father had placed upon me, I gnawed on my lips as I continued.
—"Yes, it was for the Astrea family."
"..."
My teeth ground together at the sight of the man shamelessly changing the subject with such a reply.
—"In any case, it's highly probable that this child, Camel, is the man that person spoke of."
"I… I suspect the same."
—"Then, it would be best to confirm it directly. Jane, compile all personal information about that child and report it to me. And create an opportunity for me to meet that child when I visit Adenia."
"Understood. However, if the man who wore the mask really is that child…"
I struggled to suppress the urge to smash the communication orb immediately and posed a question to the Head of the Family.
"May I ask what you intend to do? I'd like to prepare accordingly…"
—"Once confirmed, that person will act personally."
"...Understood."
—"Alright, I'll contact you in three days."
The black heat haze rising from the crystal ball subsided, and the face I didn't want to see vanished from my sight.
"Pant, pant."
The breath I had been holding burst out. My chest pounded, making a loud, frantic noise.
I wasn't surprised. This fear and rapid breathing were what always came over me after seeing my father's face.
"..."
So, the usual pain didn't matter much to me.
What mattered most to me now was conveying the contents of the conversation I had just had with the Head of the Family to Camel, that child.
I had no choice.
Otherwise, Phase and I would never survive.
"By the way…"
A sudden question arose as I was about to step outside.
How on earth could that child have predicted this situation?
****
Perhaps it was because the moon was hidden by dark clouds.
The training ground where I stood was incredibly dark.
This training ground, tucked away in the furthest corner of the academy, was one of my favorite places within the academy.
Because there was practically no one around, it was a good place to get lost in thought or practice my swordsmanship.
—Shing.
I drew both swords and assumed my stance.
I didn't draw on mana. Nor did I trick the scales.
Just as my body remembered,
As my swords desired.
I simply moved my body and swung my swords as if dancing.
The moonlight reflecting off the blades drew countless lines in the air.
Sword marks were etched into the ground, while my blade cut through the air, producing crisp sounds.
Perhaps it was because I had momentarily surrendered myself to the two swords.
My complicated mind began to clear.
—Clink.
Haa. I regulated my breathing and sheathed my swords.
"..."
Had all my distracting thoughts been swept away by the sword?
I felt a refreshing sensation and the organization of my complex mind.
Perhaps that was why. A plan, which I didn't know how many times I'd revised, was formulated once again.
'What I was originally supposed to do this semester was…'
Eliminate the demon I'm monitoring at birth.
Approach the student who belongs to 'Wings of Freedom'.
These two were supposed to be the end of it, but now two more had been added.
'Kill Greed, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, and Duke Astrea.'
Jane, whom I met earlier, told me.
That Duke Astrea, the Apostle of Avarice, suspected me and was trying to approach me.
And that Greed, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, wanted to take my life personally.
'Thankfully, that is.'
I was already after their lives anyway. I had been slowly setting the stage for it.
But those bastards have walked right into the center of the stage I clumsily set, practically offering their necks.
So what choice did I have?
Only to kindly take the heads of the guests who had entered the stage I prepared.
"Heh, heh-heh."
Thinking that, a chuckle naturally escaped me.
To be honest, I had often stumbled until now because it was an unfamiliar stage.
But this time was different.
It was a stage I set.
A stage familiar and advantageous to me.
A stage I can change as I please.
Of course, I still didn't know.
What kind of crap the uncertain future would throw at me next.
But one thing was certain.
This time, I would not be flustered or stumble like before, and I would easily achieve the desired outcome.
****
Just as my plans were progressing smoothly, the schedule for Aden Academy was also proceeding steadily.
All students of the Combat Department, including myself, were gathered at the entrance of Mount Arden, located at the edge of the academy grounds.
"As announced, we will begin the group performance evaluation. The rules and evaluation criteria are…"
Performance evaluation scores were awarded by group, not individually.
There were three ways to earn points.
First, by defeating as many different types of magic puppets in the hill as possible and collecting the orbs with scores on them.
Second, by taking orbs from other groups.
Third, by defeating the examiner waiting at the mountaintop and planting a flag to earn the highest score.
This was a story that could have been summarized in five sentences.
Yet, as usual, Professor Dian was explaining it for thirty minutes, and the problem was, he was still going.
'Suddenly reminds me of that bastard.'
Listening to the drawn-out explanation, I suddenly recalled a person.
The author of the novel I read in my previous life.
A pathetic idiot who wrote long-winded stories and failed miserably.
'Was his pen name Kunkster?'
As I recalled that meaningless name from an old memory, my group members, who had gathered beside me, spoke to me.
"Camel, what's our strategy?"
"Yeah. You're the top student, so you decide. Rahel, Daisy. You two agree, right?"
The first one to speak was Muto, and the one after was Jace, if I remembered correctly.
This was a big problem. Even after more than a month at the academy, I still couldn't remember the names of the insignificant male students.
"Of course."
"Let's hear it first."
As the male students asked, Daisy and Rahel answered in turn.
Perhaps it was because it was a graded performance evaluation.
Their reactions were completely different from usual.
Daisy seemed strangely sulky, and Rahel was unusually quiet today.
'Well, she's calculating.'
After what happened in Arbik, Rahel must have changed her evaluation of me.
From someone who just looking at made her angry, to someone who at least had some use.
"Alright, then I'll explain it briefly."
In any case, I had somewhere I needed to go urgently after completing the evaluation as quickly as possible, so I immediately began explaining.
About a perfectly rational strategy that would get us the highest score in the shortest time, with no risk of any group members getting hurt.
"...That's what we're going to do. How about it? Perfect, right?"
Perhaps my strategy was so astonishing.
When I finished explaining, I saw the students all gaping, their eyes wide with astonishment.
As I smiled contentedly at the sight.
"Camel…"
Rahel, her face filled with horror, shook her head and laboriously opened her lips.
"You're a complete psycho, aren't you?"
It was high praise.