I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains Chapter 83

"This was actually the result of a very crude theory—something like, 'If you keep infusing a human's mind with mental energy, won't it become a transcendent mind?'"

"Huh."

"Every human mind has individuality. So infusing one person with various types of mental energy is extremely risky."

Every human mind possessed an individuality.

A person without any individuality would be in an extremely rare situation, so much so that it'd be hard to even call them human.

"To put it simply, the human mind is like a drink. Each drink has its own flavor. What happens if you mix drinks?"

"The flavor changes, I suppose."

"Exactly. And if the flavor's changed, can you still call it the same drink as before?"

It sounded philosophical, but the point was simple.

If Luca shared his mental energy with the inner Luca Traverse, that inner self could change.

"Of course, even if personalities get mixed, if the original mind's individuality is stronger, it could eventually return to its original state."

"Saying it might not, then."

"When it comes to magical research, I never use words like 'definitely' for things I can't be a hundred percent sure of."

As Herote said this, she shook the vial in her hand.

"So, what emerged is this refined mental energy stripped of individuality. If it's mental energy as pure as water, there's a much higher chance you can keep infusing it without issue."

"Huh. And the result?"

"What do you think happens if you keep adding water to a drink?"

It was a simple story.

Keep diluting a drink with water, and in the end, you're left with just water.

"The test subject became an idiot, I heard. The mind lost all individuality and ended up unable to think at all."

"And you're offering me something so dangerous?"

"I told you, right? It's an abnormal approach."

Herote gave a brief laugh and then placed the vial in Luca's hand.

"As long as you don't go wild and dump in tons of mental energy like those maniacs trying to create a transcendent mind, you'll be fine. Just add a little of this refined mental energy at a time, only until the mind inside your head recovers its own strength."

"... My mind is perfectly fine, though."

"Right. It was a 'what if' scenario, wasn't it?"

At Luca's blunt remark, Herote chuckled softly.

Luca inspected the vial from all angles.

"How do I use this?"

"Just hold it and use it the way you'd use mental energy. Wait, do you maybe not know how?"

"I have a rough idea. Thanks, anyway. I'll find a way to repay you for this debt later."

At his words, Herote shook her head.

"It's fine. Considering the reason you need it, I have my own stake in this too. Think of it as paying it back for that."

"... Tsk."

"Well, I'll be off now. Good luck 'meditating'."

Now that Herote finally understood why Luca was meditating, she wordlessly stepped aside.

Clicking his tongue, Luca stared at the spot where she'd disappeared, then tucked the vial into his pocket.

He stood up and headed to another hospital room.

* * *

"Ssss... huu..."

Lying on a hospital bed and quietly breathing was Bella.

The surgery had ended yesterday, but she still hadn't woken up.

"Mmm...?"

At last, she opened her eyes.

"Young... master...?"

Glancing around as soon as she woke, Bella searched for Luca.

The boy standing by her side spoke to her.

"Did you sleep well?"

"... Young master!"

Bella tried to sit up quickly, but immediately fell back.

"Ugh!"

"Calm down. The treatment only just ended."

Bella let out a pained groan.

She'd barely survived the crisis; her body was far from completely healed.

"Where am I...?"

"It's the academy hospital."

"Oh... Ah! Young master!"

Looking sour for a moment, Bella suddenly remembered something and quickly turned to Luca.

"Those people are connected by a blood pact! If the master's life is threatened, automatically..."

"You told me that already. And thanks to that, we won."

"... We won?"

Bella's expression went blank.

Luca replied flatly.

"Yeah. It's over. We won."

"... I'm glad, young master."

Bella seemed genuinely relieved.

It was only then that she looked over her own condition.

'... This is bad.'

Bella gave a bitter smile.

Her whole body was aching, and she had no sensation in her lower half.

She suddenly remembered her bones being crushed into powder.

Just surviving that was a miracle.

'For a while... No, maybe I'll never be able to serve the young master again.'

Who knew how long or how much money it'd take for a full recovery.

Perhaps her journey ended here.

"The doctor said you could be fully healed. Like I was."

"Haha. Is that so?"

"......"

Luca, trying to offer some comfort, glanced at her, but Bella already seemed resigned.

"......"

"......"

Awkward silence settled over the room.

Luca, searching for something to say, soon noticed what she was wearing.

"Now that I think about it, this must be the first time I've seen you out of uniform."

"Oh my, you're right."

Bella looked down at her outfit in curiosity and smiled shyly.

"I think this is the first time I'm—well, not in my maid's uniform in front of you."

"Even in my earliest memories, you were always dressed like that."

"It's a little embarrassing, really."

Bella folded her hands as she spoke.

"But now, won't you see me like this pretty often? Out of uniform, I mean."

"What do you mean?"

"Well... with these legs, I won't be able to serve you, young master."

Bella gave a wry smile as she said it.

But Luca was firm.

"My only maid is you, Bella. It was true then, and it's true now."

"That's so romantic, I might just swoon—but realistically, I can't serve you anymore."

Bella spoke with determination.

Even if she stayed by Luca's side, she'd only be a burden now.

Bella wasn't so weak as to stay out of sentimentality alone.

"Young master, you should ask the family for a new attendant..."

"I picked this up on the way here. Eat it."

"You picked it up?"

Interrupting her, Luca suddenly offered something.

It was candy.

Bella frowned as she looked at it.

"I'd rather not take candy you picked up off the ground..."

"It's just an expression. I got it from someone. My arm's tired, just take it."

It seemed such gestures hadn't caught on in this world yet.

Seeing her reluctant attitude, Luca pouted and waggled his hand.

"If it's something good for your health, you should have it yourself, young master."

Bella hesitantly took the candy, still looking unconvinced.

It looked like any regular candy, but she could guess it was some kind of medicine with a healing effect.

'The young master wouldn't throw a fit just to give me ordinary candy.'

Still, Bella was doubtful.

'But... even so, I doubt this is enough to heal my legs, young master.'

She knew potions that rapidly regenerate the body did exist.

But her injuries were clearly beyond the level those could heal.

"I'm already almost all healed. You eat it."

"I mean, sorry, but even if I eat this, I can't serve you again..."

"Enough. Eat it."

Luca spoke sternly.

Bella chuckled softly at him.

'If it will ease his heart, I suppose.'

Bella put the candy in her mouth.

"Mmm! It tastes better than I expected!"

"So I heard."

Bella gave a wry smile watching Luca's deadpan face.

"You gave it just because it tasted good? I had my hopes up for nothing."

"Were you hoping for something?"

"Well... it couldn't be helped, could it."

Of course, it was a joke.

Bella was chuckling quietly, but then paused in surprise.

"?"

She looked down at her lower body.

"...?"

Splat! Rustle!

She shifted her legs slightly and the blanket that covered her popped briefly into the air before slowly settling back down.

"Heut?!"

Startled, Bella shot upright.

Her lower body, which had been wrapped in plaster and bandages, was now revealed—completely shattered plaster lying around her.

"Huh...huh?!"

She stared at her now-bare legs.

Not a scratch was left.

"Young master? What is this...?"

"I appreciate your gratitude, but... could you at least cover yourself?"

Luca looked away.

Bella looked down at her legs again.

Predictably, she wasn't wearing anything at all.

"?!"

At once, Bella covered her lower body with the blanket.

Only then did Luca turn his head back to look at her.

"Well, it seems it worked pretty well."

"Yo–young master? What on earth just happened?!"

"It's just as it looks."

Luca grinned at the dumbfounded, flustered Bella.

'Truly a bratty kid's candy. The effect is no joke.'

Even if it hadn't been the restorative candy, Luca would have found a way to save Bella somehow, but he was still grateful that he managed to heal her so quickly.

"No, young master. You should've saved something so precious for an emergency!"

Bella seemed deeply shaken.

Luca replied lightly.

"I used it for an emergency."

"...!"

Just those few words.

But that was all Bella needed to calm her heart.

"... You really are... Young master."

She no longer wore a wry smile.

Only a genuinely happy one.

"Thank you."

"As long as you're better. I'm going to head back to my room, so finish your discharge paperwork and come after. Tell the doctor whatever you need."

"Okay! Hehe."

Leaving Bella humming as she pressed the call bell, Luca exited her room and returned to his own.

"Hoo—"

He sat cross-legged on the bed, taking a deep breath.

In his hand was the refined mental energy Herote had given him.

At some point, he found himself within Luca Traverse's inner space.

"Back again, are you?"

Standing in the middle of the training hall, Luca Traverse glanced over his shoulder at Luca, sounding curt.

Luca pouted in reply.

"You could at least welcome me this time. I came after solving all the problems."

"... Tsk."

He'd gotten rid of the academy's darkness, healed Bella, and now had come to help Luca Traverse recover, too.

Anyone else might have shown a little gratitude, but the man called Luca Traverse just clicked his tongue.

Luca knew not to expect any hospitality.

He simply placed the refined mental energy in his hand onto the floor.

"I'm sure you know what this is. I trust you'll use it well."

Without another word, he turned to leave.

As he did, Luca Traverse pursed his lips, hesitated, then bowed his head slightly.

"You saved Bella."

"?"

Luca turned, puzzled.

Luca Traverse, still looking down, hesitated a moment, then spoke.

"Well done."

"... Ha."

Luca let out a small laugh and turned away.

"Don't mention it."

He left Luca Traverse's mental space.

'Ha... I suppose that's everything settled.'

The academy incident, Bella's injury, Luca Traverse—all resolved.

For the first time, everything felt finally in order.

Exhaling in relief, Luca lay back on his bed.

'Now I just have to wait for the Founding Festival, and take it easy?'

Now, all that was left was looking forward to the promise with Pasmo Ti-e.

Luca let a small, excited smile form on his face.

'I worked hard for this. I deserve a little reward, right? Luca Traverse?'

Even Luca Traverse, who'd once berated him for chasing petty pleasures, couldn't find fault this time.

Luca grinned in satisfaction, only to feel a strange sense of unease.

'But I feel like I'm forgetting something important. What is it?'

It felt like something critical was slipping his mind.

As he tilted his head, searching his thoughts, someone entered the hospital room.

"Luca, are you alright?"

"... Master."

It was Kryphi who'd entered.

At the sight of him, Luca finally felt at ease.

'Looks like he's alright.'

He'd been worried Kryphi might have been injured, but he seemed fine now.

However, Kryphi appeared somewhat nervous.

"Um... Luca, there's someone I'd like to introduce you to."

"Someone you'd like to introduce me to?"

"Yes."

At those words, Luca tilted his head.

He couldn't guess who Kryphi would want to introduce to him.

'Wait. No way...?'

Then, a thought occurred to him.

It must be someone connected to Kryphi whom Luca also knew about.

"About that, well..."

Kryphi scratched his head awkwardly.

"My master said he'd like to meet you, Luca."

A man whose nickname included "Invincible," the former Empire's strongest swordmaster and current master of Kryphi Mosto.

The man destined to be the master of the original story's protagonist in the future.

The Invincible Sword Zeritz wanted to meet him.