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

"Ugh, uuuuugh!!!"

Luna's face twisted grotesquely. It was terrifying.

That such a face was possible. It might cause a convulsion if it appeared in a dream.

Everything was going according to plan, but why was she like this?

"Come on, calm down and focus. It seems like it's over there too."

"...What? He really won, that nerdy guy?"

Raymon had already dealt with three opponents.

Yet not a single drop of sweat or a wrinkle was in his clothing.

His body was shaking, but that was just because of his pure nature.

He was a carnivore in herbivore's clothing.

"Luna, use your secret technique."

"...Are you sure it's okay?"

It was natural for Luna to hesitate.

Using the secret technique might reveal her as a member of the Lester family.

But it was fine.

"Yes, it's okay. Your One Flash is so terrible no one would ever think you're from the Lester family. So use it freely!"

"...You bastard! Wait until this is over!"

Luna, bending at the waist, assumed the unique stance of the Lester family.

The stance for One Flash.

The technique involved drawing the sword in an instant from that stance, compressing the air to strike the opponent.

A famous Lester family technique, known for leaving a blade mark despite being a compressed air wave.

"Here I go!"

Lunging forward with a slight bend at the waist.

When the opponent came within range, she took a big step and accelerated.

Her left knee slightly bent, the sheath of the sword erect at a right angle.

The angle of the wrist drawing the sword.

That was exactly.

The first secret technique of the Lester style.

One Flash.

A flash of light that tore through the air headed straight for Raymon.

But.

Thud!

"!?"

Luna's eyes widened.

Raymon had blocked the One Flash by holding his sword vertically.

Even though Luna's One Flash was poor, a secret technique was still a secret technique.

She was shocked, and it seemed Raymon was too.

"Amazing. Such swordsmanship..."

"Praising me after easily blocking? Do you want to die!?"

"What? But I can't just die... Would you do that?"

"You, you?"

"Uh... sorry. Then, what should I call you? Like, aunty?"

"Au, aunty...!"

Luna's expression turned demonic.

The reason for Raymon's popularity.

His insane swordsmanship technique sense for his small stature, overpowered stats, model student behavior, cute appearance like a younger sibling, and.

‘Pure Evil.’

So pure in his actions that he himself couldn't tell if they were good or evil, but to others, they seemed evil.

Yes, the problem was that all his words and actions were filled with purity.

‘But his skills are undeniably real.’

Luna, transformed into a demon, charged with sincerity, but Raymon easily deflected her sword strikes.

Not just blocking, but deflecting.

Truly insane talent.

"Damn it!"

About 2 minutes had passed.

Luna swore as she caught her breath.

She took a few leisurely steps. The opportunity had come.

The moment Raymon stood between Luna and me.

"Well, can't be helped. I have to step in."

"Sc, scary. Lo, looking forward to it."

But it didn't take long for Raymon's face to harden.

Because I used the [Eye Opening] skill.

At the same time, I placed my right hand on the sword handle.

Lunging forward with a slight bend at the waist.

When I was about ten steps away from Raymon, I took a big step and slightly accelerated, getting into a ready stance.

The left knee slightly bent, the sheath of the sword erect at a right angle.

The angle of the wrist drawing the sword.

The eyes of both Luna and Raymon widened.

"Could it be...!"

Raymon hastily raised his sword and assumed a defensive posture.

Yes, this was exactly.

The first secret technique of the Lester style.

One Flash.

"...That's impossible."

"...!!"

That's right. This was just an imitation of Luna's One Flash.

But that was enough. The 'real' one was coming from behind Raymon.

By the time he realized he had been fooled, it was already too late.

"Go ahead, Miss Luna."

Luna's hand moved like lightning.

The first secret technique of the Lester style.

One Flash.

Perhaps because she used all her strength in One Flash.

Raymon, along with the surrounding air, seemed to split apart.

Crack!

The ground of the arena shattered, debris flying everywhere.

I quickly ducked, and a cool breeze swept over my head.

It was the wave of air created by Luna's One Flash.

'Phew... Insane power. This is still an E-class One Flash. I wonder how powerful it gets at S-class... Huh?'

Someone's figure stood in the dust.

There was no need to guess who it was.

"It can't be..."

Luna, who had somehow come beside me, muttered.

Yes, it was unbelievable.

But the unbelievable was unfolding before our eyes.

"Ah, that hurts. Really scared me."

Raymon was standing on his two feet.

He had withstood Luna's best strike.

Of course, he wasn't unscathed.

Torn clothes and skin here and there.

Blood was even dripping from his limp right arm.

He blocked that?

'No matter how skilled and evasive the character is... This is too much!'

But this was an undeniable reality.

I quickly assessed our strength.

Luna, who couldn't use advanced sword techniques, and me, in good shape.

And Raymon, who had lost at least 70% of his strength.

If we faced off again...

"So this was your plan. Nice, you got him good. What's the next move?"

"...There isn't one."

"Huh? What did you say?"

We can't win. Raymon with 30% power is stronger than us.

I, currently at level 9, have 80 stat points.

Distributing them in strength and agility might give us an edge. But.

'I can't waste stat points just for that.'

I need to defeat the final boss of this game.

Waste points on just an entrance exam?

Impossible.

"What's the plan?"

"There is no plan... What would you do if that were the case?"

"I'd rather die by your hand than his."

Wow, such comforting words.

I thought about fighting mindlessly, but I couldn't.

'I don't know the first thing about swordsmanship.'

Even pretending to be good is out of the question.

In a world where even extras are better swordsmen than me.

Just the way I hold a sword would reveal my novice status.

Not just the children's gazes, but I need to get into the Advanced Class.

If Caron, that cold-hearted judge, saw me flailing around, he would naturally give me zero points.

So, the only option was.

"Surrender."

"What?"

"It's time to back off. We've shown enough."

"..."

I raised both arms, preparing to defend myself.

I thought Luna would rush in and tear my hair out.

But she didn't. Instead, Luna muttered, head bowed.

"...Doing your best."

"What?"

"They said if you do your best, you pass. But surrendering... I can't agree with that."

"..."

I couldn't say anything.

What Caron's subjective criteria were.

So many experts had been there, but none could figure it out.

"Ah, aren't you coming? Then I'll, I'll go to you..."

Raymon had already prepared himself.

A wooden sword in his left hand, not his right.

That was exactly why I gave up on the fight.

Raymon was.

'He is left-handed.'

Then why did he fight with his right hand? The reason is shocking.

'It's because everyone else holds their swords with their right hand.'

For reference, Raymon holding his sword in his left hand happens in Episode 3, in the latter half.

'But to show his full strength in the tutorial? That's crazy.'

Luna, unaware of my thoughts, was burning with enthusiasm.

I wasn't sure if it was because she was called an auntie or because of Caron's words that doing one's best would result in passing.

"...Can't be helped."

I slightly dragged the wooden sword's tip on the ground.

Clatter, clatter.

Curiosity filled Raymon's eyes.

I had to irritate his nerves.

Confusing his mind was the only way to gain even a slight advantage.

"Okay, here I come!"

Luna's spirited charge... did not happen.

Someone had physically blocked her.

Luna bounced off and landed on her buttocks.

"Everyone, stop moving."

It was Caron, in charge of the third test.

He had somehow appeared among us from a distance.

"That's enough. The test for Group 13 is over. You pass, and you two are on hold for now."

The one who passed was Raymon. And.

The ones on hold were Luna and me.

"Why, why is that!?"

"Who asked you to use such a big technique? I said do your best, not use a skill that could kill someone."

"But, but...! It's your fault for setting such rules in the first place..."

Luna couldn't finish her sentence.

Caron's eyes were too cold.

How could he have such eyes with a face full of scars? It was impossible to continue speaking.

Well, I was an exception, having the [Mental Defense] skill.

"Keke, why am I on hold?"

"You didn't do your best. Why did you try to give up? If it's out of consideration for the injured as a strong person... that's disappointing."

Damn it.

It wasn't consideration as a strong person, but avoidance as a weak one!

I genuinely felt wronged.

"You there, what's your name?"

"Ra, Raymon."

"Go over there and get treated."

"Yes, yes!"

Raymon glanced over here regretfully.

Look at that, the appearance of a carnivore regretting not being able to catch a herbivore!

To keep attacking me, so weak and innocent and kind.

He's really a bad guy.

"As the supervisor of the third test, I will conduct an additional test for those on hold. Follow me."

An additional test for those on hold?

This wasn't something that happened in the game.

Has a hidden piece been triggered? For what reason?

"You will continue the test in my place. I'll leave the judgment to you."

"...Understood! Group 14, move quickly!"

"Move it, move it!"

The excited instructors urged the students.

It was no surprise they were excited. Caron, who is meticulous and distrustful of people, delegated authority to them, even the power to decide pass or fail.

I followed Caron, lost in thought with Luna by my side.

'Something's strange.'

As far as I know, Caron isn't this kind of character.

He has lived most of his life as a spy.

That's why he hardly trusted anyone.

A life stained with betrayal, more betrayal, and yet more betrayal.

Most of the scars on his face and body were from torture.

'But he delegated authority to the instructors? What's going on?'

However, there was nothing I could do.

Just.

Follow Caron, known as the 'Bad Ending Maker'.

--TL Notes--

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at patreon.com/MattReading