The Master of the Villains Has Disappeared

The conversation with the dean ended in the form of a compromise.

If adjusting the difficulty of the task was impossible, then moving what was originally the first order to the very last order.

And, providing a few more clues needed to find the solution to the task.

"If we only show students struggling in front of distinguished guests, it could be embarrassing for the name of Primus."

I nodded without any particular objection to the dean's words asking for understanding of the academy's position.

Although my desire for a task closer to actual combat hadn't completely disappeared, if I pushed any further, the dean would be in a difficult position too.

What was fortunate was that there were no particular adjustments needed for the tasks for the basic and intermediate classes of Mana Design.

I think it's thanks to referring to the tasks of the previous professor who was in charge of the Mana Design subject before me.

'It was too easy to be an advanced class task, so I made the advanced one separately.'

One way or another, this is the first year that an advanced task for the Mana Design section is being set for the Stage of Advancement.

In other words, it means that the task I set will remain as a precedent and standard.

That's why I made the advanced class task a bit more complex in a practical format.

Unlike the basic and intermediate classes composed of relatively lower-grade students, the advanced class is for honor students who have only a few years left until graduation.

There's a need to set tasks focusing on what students will experience after graduation.

Crucially, fixing the advanced class task in a practical format allows us to continue preparing students for the future.

For the future Primus.

And, if we make them experience a degraded version of the incidents and accidents that will occur in the future world in advance, they probably won't die so easily.

'No matter what, it's better than dying.'

Even my disciples from long ago found it a bit burdensome, but they somehow managed to complete the task.

I thought that since most of Primus's students are also outstanding talents in the continent, it wouldn't be such a difficult task for them.

Eventually, the dean's seal was stamped on the documents modified as agreed with the dean and handed to me.

To this, I left a message to the dean saying I would prepare diligently, then left the dean's office and started walking down the long corridor.

"Ah, Professor. Hello~."

"I have something I'd like to ask about mana diagramming, can I come to your office?"

By the time I finished dealing with students who approached me, it was already afternoon with the sun starting to set.

In other words, it means there wasn't much time left until my appointment with Princess Irina.

Therefore, even after arriving at my office, I pondered and pondered again.

Wondering how and how much I should train Princess Irina.

"Hmm, should I do it like I did with Lilian..."

Like her sister Lilian, Princess Irina has also inherited the blood of the Divine Beast, so her talent for pure magic should be the most outstanding among the students.

What's concerning is that she doesn't have any notable practical experience.

From what I've observed, she's neither the type with an aggressive personality who likes to show off strength, nor the type who uses quick practical calculations to scheme.

Of course, it's not bad that Princess Irina has a kind and honest personality.

But in my experience, people of this type usually don't know even the basics of combat until they experience it directly.

...That sounds a bit strange, but anyway, that's how it is.

The fact that Princess Irina didn't win the one-on-one confrontation last year might have been due to her lack of practical experience.

-Knock knock.

"Professor. It's Irina."

"Ah, yes. Come in."

Then came the sound of a few footsteps.

Princess Irina, with a face that showed slight nervousness but also an underlying determination, carefully sat on the sofa opposite me.

The first words I gave to such Princess Irina were a question about exactly what kind of appearance she wanted to show Lilian.

"What is Your Highness aiming for in this Stage of Advancement?"

I needed to know more clearly the purpose for which Princess Irina was receiving my help so that I could also determine the direction of the training.

However, the answer that came back from Princess Irina was this:

"It might sound silly to you, Professor... but I want to become the most outstanding student in this Stage of Advancement."

It was an answer full of ambition unlike the usual Princess Irina.

I realized how heavy the weight of Lilian was for Princess Irina.

Judging from the tone and content of the letters exchanged with Lilian, it didn't seem like they were on such difficult terms.

Or was the desire to be recognized by her sister even greater than I thought?

"Although she's coming because of the Divine Beast's message, not because of me... If I achieve excellent results in the Stage of Advancement, she'll surely see me differently."

Eyes without even a hint of wavering.

Two fists clenched tightly as if the resolution was already made.

Therefore, I stood up and suggested to Princess Irina that we go to the training ground.

This Stage of Advancement is all practical from start to finish, not a written test.

First, I wanted to directly confirm Princess Irina's skills with my own eyes.

After confirming Princess Irina's level, I planned to conduct training that would enhance her strengths and compensate for her weaknesses, the most orthodox of orthodox methods.

And so.

"Now then. Please attack me with the maximum capacity Your Highness can muster."

A 'training' session after quite a long time began.

Then came a surprised voice.

"At-Attack you, Professor?"

"Who else is there?"

"How could I... attack you, Professor..."

I suppose it's as expected.

Even though it wasn't actually fighting me, aiming the staff at me was the first hurdle.

"I'll be really fine, so with the determination to somehow kill me."

"Th-That's a bit harsh..."

"I'm doing this with a plan. Come on, hurry."

Eventually, I spread my arms to the sides and persuaded her that it was all for Princess Irina's own sake.

A moment later, only after reminding her of Lilian's existence, Princess Irina closed her eyes tightly and poured a vast amount of mana into her staff.

At first, as if trying to win with an ignorantly large amount of mana, even the flow of air twisted towards Princess Irina for a moment.

After all, if you draw up mana to that extent, most people wouldn't be able to block it and would be knocked out in one go.

But if it doesn't work.

-Whoosh─!

"He-Here I come...!"

If such a powerful magic that makes you worry about your opponent without realizing it fails to fulfill its role.

-Rustle...

-Thud!

"Huh? You... blocked it?"

She can't help but be surprised like that.

The most important thing on the battlefield is the ability to respond.

Reading the situation on the battlefield that changes by the second, making the best judgment to maximize gains and minimize losses.

This is the ultimate goal that those who will step onto the battlefield should ultimately pursue.

"For the next 10 minutes, I'll stay here motionless. I won't counterattack at all either."

Certainty on the battlefield often becomes poison.

You need to have concerns and countermeasures for unexpected variables unconsciously.

"So, Your Highness, using all the methods you can use."

Therefore, I wanted to confirm how far Princess Irina could go.

And to teach her how to utilize what Princess Irina can do in the right place at the right time.

One way or another, improvisation is the most basic virtue in actual combat.

"Try to take me down."

If you know yourself and your enemy, you'll win every battle.

The first step of training had to be making Princess Irina understand herself.

Therefore, I planned to first draw out Princess Irina's limits.

Surely, until now, there had been neither a need to draw out Princess Irina's limits nor an opponent who could handle Princess Irina's limits.

○

A few minutes ago, when Leta was urging her to attack him while spreading her arms.

Irina was in a very awkward state of mind.

That's because, no matter if she was a professor.

No matter if she was someone wearing that ancient dragon's golden emblem.

-Hop hop.

-Hop hop.

'How, how could I... to such a child?'

A girl young in appearance.

Such an existence that even showing hostility required a lot of determination and resolution.

Therefore, Irina, who had a very normal set of values, couldn't help but waver in her gaze.

What was fortunate was that the training ground was closed so that no one would watch her match with Leta.

"Come on, hurry!"

-Hop hop.

-Hop hop.

'Cu-Cute...'

Even if there was no one watching, attacking that tiny girl was a very difficult thing for Irina to do.

If it had been a training dummy as the opponent, she could have attacked without any worries.

Nevertheless, there was no other choice at the moment, so she finally drew up her mana.

And then, closing her eyes tightly, she molded a huge fireball in the air and attacked.

"He-Here I come...!"

And so, boom.

The fireball that flew instantly towards the small girl over there burst, creating a thunderous sound.

However, for whatever reason.

Leta, who was still standing on both legs, didn't show even a small scratch.

"For the next 10 minutes, I'll stay here motionless. I won't counterattack at all either."

Then came the calm voice.

The calm voice without even a slight tremor instructed her to attack her until mana ran out.

Only, since she wasn't resolved to take the life of such a youthful girl.

Even though she knew that she was someone she couldn't kill with her own skills, the tip of her staff trembled.

Just pointing the staff made her heart ache.

For the current Irina, the biggest wall was not her lacking skills but the pangs of conscience.