'It's still a long time until the match starts.'
Checking the time indicated by the hands of my wristwatch, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
As mentioned slyly in the previous episode, there are no designated seats for Academy students.
It is a system where you can sit freely within a designated area, and the word that expresses this most intuitively is 'first come, first served'.
If we had come just to enjoy the excitement and heat filling the stadium, the seat location wouldn't matter much.
However, Vigdís and I came here to observe how others fight and supplement our lack of experience.
Since we can do personal training anytime, but opportunities to broaden our horizons are rare.
In short, it means we need to sit in good seats with a secured field of vision.
To do so, we had to arrive at the stadium early, so a long waiting time was inevitable.
I rented two books from the library last night, including one for Yor's share. And I told Vigdís in advance to bring a book worth reading while we waited.
'We aren't in a relationship close enough to chatter and trifle away the time harmoniously, right?'
Yor shook the Yeouiju and took out the two books borrowed from the library.
Seeing this, Vigdís also took a book out of her shoulder bag, but it looked like a textbook rather than a book for reading.
Seeing her take out writing implements as well, it seemed she intended to study for final exams while she was at it.
'Will studying even be possible in such a noisy and chaotic place...?'
Confirming the answer to that question was postponed until later.
Because the moment she tried to open the textbook, a hindrance appeared.
"Hello? Vigdís, Karvaldr. Good morning."
Not only did he call Vigdís by name, but he even called my possessed body's name without an honorific title and used informal speech.
If one encountered the above dialogue in print, they might misunderstand and think, 'Did Reisir come?'
However, he had breakfast with us, so there was no reason for him to offer such a greeting.
"Since we're in the same grade, it's okay to speak casually, right?"
This being, speaking shamelessly with a seemingly refreshing smile spread across his face.
Is the figure who will achieve runner-up in this martial arts tournament, and the villain of the original work who is destined for corruption.
It is 'Nidr Gramod'.
"...And if it is not okay?"
"Hahaha! Don't be like that, please understand. I'm doing this because I want to become close with you guys."
"You guys... you said?"
I retorted, being mindful of my expression so that wariness, not unpleasantness, would be revealed.
Since this original villain is a character who lives drenched in a superiority complex, and he has a setting where he turns evil when he realizes he is not superior.
It is dangerous to cast him aside with an arrogant attitude, treating him like an extra.
'He won't be able to harm me right now. But later he becomes extremely dangerous...'
According to the original work, Nidr becomes a monster.
This is not a metaphor. It is the literal meaning of the word.
Falling into an inferiority complex and becoming possessed by the thought that he must prove he is stronger than the Awakened Ones was the beginning of the problem.
Thus, after graduating from the Academy, Nidr becomes a serial killer who targets only Awakened Ones.
One day, a mysterious group researching 'Artificial Awakening' approached such a man.
Nidr, who wanted to become an Awakened One more than anyone, readily accepted their experimental proposal.
'The result was... a miserable failure, as can be seen from the description that Nidr became a monster.'
If I look down on Nidr now, instead of getting angry, he will sneer inwardly.
Thinking I'm an idiot who believes his father's power is his own.
That I have no eye for people and can't recognize his excellence.
'Because he doesn't doubt that the current him is superior to this possessed body. Because thoughts like that are protecting his self-esteem.'
However, this is only valid until before the graduation ceremony.
At that time, I will awaken, but since Nidr is a character for whom awakening is impossible according to the original work's setting.
He will no longer be able to consider himself special.
He would drag out the memory of being ignored by me, dwell on it, grow angry, harbor malice, and do more than merely try to kill me.
'Because his attempt to kill Reisir in the original work was also due to resentment formed belatedly.'
When the Demon Realm and awakening became known.
After realizing that Reisir, the survivor of the first Demon Realm that occurred long ago, had awakened back then.
Nidr was indignant as though Reisir had committed a tremendous foul play in the martial arts tournament.
He couldn't contain his grievance, saying that the moment he could have shone the brightest was stolen by an Awakened One.
'He thought Reisir defeated him thanks to awakening.'
Nidr, pickled in a superiority complex, pursued an easygoing and cool image, but.
After falling into an inferiority complex, even saying he held a grudge was insufficient.
Since he harbored resentment and felt murderous intent even over things he had casually passed over in the past.
'How can I not be careful?'
At the same time as I lamented this, the automatically activated Thought Acceleration Skill deactivated, and the future murderer opened his mouth.
"You heard correctly. I have an interest in both of you."
"Whaaat?! Th, does that mean you intend to take me and Kar as lovers simultaneously...?"
...Would it mean that.
At Vigdís's preposterous remark, Nidr made a bewildered expression, and I had to feel an inexplicable embarrassment.
'No, well... Yeah. I know the reason she reached such a conclusion.'
Since yesterday, Nidr had dropped words that sounded like he was hitting on her, saying it was a pity she was engaged.
She probably thought he had made a bold decision to intervene in our relationship.
No matter what, normally one wouldn't arrive at such a conclusion, so I can't [N O V E L I G H T] empathize, but.
Since Vigdís has an eccentric side, she was more than capable of it.
"Ah..., hahaha... The joke was funny."
"Joke?"
"There was... a misunderstanding, right? And a really nonsensical one at that. I just meant that I want to become friends with you guys..."
Rather than that, he had judged that we weren't bad people to befriend, so he spoke to 'become' friends with us.
According to the original work, he should definitely be ignoring Karvaldr.
But I don't know why not only Vigdís but even I passed that standard. So I asked.
"Why is that?"
"First of all, hasn't it been less than a year since Vigdís learned swordsmanship? Yet she already has that level of skill. It truly is dazzling talent. Surely she will become an outstanding swordsman in the future and make her name known."
The words coming from Nidr's mouth are not praise. They are a critique.
Whether she didn't notice that subtle difference, Vigdís smiled relaxedly and voiced words of gratitude.
Should I call this simple, or should I call it naive.
"And Karvaldr... To be honest, until a while ago, the impression wasn't very good. But recently, you look very different."
I didn't bother asking in what way I looked different.
Originally, a villain in a creative work is an existence that is always anxious because they can't babble about their thoughts or plans.
Even if I remain silent, Nidr will continue the explanation.
"You could rely on your family's power and live comfortably without making any effort. But tempering yourself and participating in this evaluation stage where victory and defeat are visible isn't an easy decision, right?"
This is also not praise.
He thought I was a greenhorn running wild while trusting only my family's power, but seeing me now, it seems that's not entirely the case.
He is saying the effort is commendable.
From a perspective that thoroughly looks down on me.
"It seems you also quit bullying others."
"......"
"Ah right. And according to the rumors I've heard, you discovered a Second Ether, and that ability makes it rain? If you polish that ability well, you will reduce enormous disaster damage and be praised by people."
Indeed. Since Vigdís and I seemed likely to make names for ourselves in the future, he thought we were worth befriending.
The standard for friendship is truly high.
It is at a level where I can't gauge how much he is overestimating himself.
"How rude. You say you want to get close, yet you're listing words that evaluate people's value right to their faces."
"Evaluation? It's just a compliment."
"As if!"
Although I cannot simply look down on Nidr and crush him with my social status.
Since he spat out rude words first, showing signs that my mood had soured should be allowed.
Thus, when I frowned slightly, my opponent showed a smile that one might mistake for a good person's if they didn't know better.
"Still, isn't it much better than those who approach you because of your family, hide their inner thoughts, and offer nothing but lip service?"
Well, I wonder about that?
If both sides are looking down on me, isn't it better to at least be careful with your words and not reveal that feeling?
It seems he wants to appeal that he is different from those mediocre others, but he has the wrong idea.
"That aside, was it Ríolíkin and Reisir...? I want to greet those two as well. Didn't they come together with you?"
It seems the people this villain selected as friend candidates are not just me and Vigdís.
Ríolíkin, who overcame fear, was active in yesterday's match, and showed promise.
Reisir, who escaped Karvaldr's bullying unlike in the original work, and showcased a powerful Lightning Ability.
It seems he has placed these two people into his group of friend candidates on his own accord as well.
'Just so happens that we often hang out together, so did we look like an assorted lunchbox prepared for him? I wish he would exclude me from the side dishes in that lunchbox, though...'
If he were the type of person who would listen if I said such words, he wouldn't have acted this shamelessly in the first place.
At this rate, once the match started, we'd end up stuck together idly all day today, so I had to prevent that.
Fortunately, the opponent provided an excuse that could serve as material for one.
"Are you asking because you truly don't know?"
"Huh...? Ah! Is it because Ríolíkin is scheduled to face me tomorrow, so he went to train? Indeed, looking at his fighting form yesterday, he defends quite well, but his attack movements were too unstable."
As I swept back my hair and questioned him, Nidr offered an extremely self-centered answer.
Regrettably, that was the correct answer.
But since I had to deny it to achieve my goal, I sighed deeply with a frustrated expression.
"Wrong. They tactfully left because they didn't want to disturb our date."
Saying that, I simultaneously tightened my grip on Vigdís's hand.
To convey the meaning that she shouldn't complicate the situation by tactlessly denying my words.
She was surprised for a moment and let out an "Ah!", but soon nodded and expressed agreement with my words.
It seems Nidr was uncomfortable for her too.
"So don't ruin someone else's date without tact, and I hope you find friends elsewhere."
"Ah..., oh my... Did I choose the wrong timing to visit?"
"If you know that, go quickly. Before my fiancée gets strange misunderstandings about you again."
"Yikes! Then see you later."
Was the misunderstanding that he was trying to seduce two people engaged to each other at the same time that shocking?
Nidr scrambled up from his seat instead of sitting down and making excuses.
And I watched his retreating figure.
Only after seeing the original villain take a seat far away.
Only then did I let go of my expected ex-fiancée's hand.
