I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains

"... Why are you in such a gea... I mean, why are you dressed like that...?"

Kryphi couldn't bring himself to say "such an appearance" and quickly rephrased his words.

'If you ask whether it suits him or not, it does suit him... but why on earth...?'

Kryphi also knew that Luca had a strong aversion when people said he looked feminine.

And yet, to come dressed as a woman of his own volition...

'How did he do that with his physique...?'

Honestly, that was what he was most curious about, but he couldn't bring himself to ask.

Kryphi's agitation was apparent, but Luca Traverse remained impassive.

"More importantly, I'd like to ask for a spar."

"Th-that's more than just 'that'..."

Kryphi had been so shocked that he didn't notice the change in Luca's tone.

No, maybe what shocked him even more than the tone was the change in appearance, so he simply didn't pay attention to the rest.

"Eltima staked her life and drove her feathered spear into the body of the Devil of Power, one of the Three Great Devils. We have to strike before it's pulled out. I'm not yet used to this body, so to get accustomed as quickly as possible, I need to spar with you."

"Eltima staked her life? Against the Devil of Power? And you need to get used to that body?"

Struck with shock after shock, Kryphi couldn't get his bearings. At that moment, someone else entered Kryphi's office.

"Kryphi, professor, just when are we going to find Luca..."

Wylde entered the office, sparks flying in his eyes. That's when he spotted Ottbo and Luca Traverse.

"?"

He stopped in his tracks.

"... Luca?"

"Tsk."

Luca Traverse clicked his tongue. He had unintentionally shown this appearance to the person he least wanted to see.

"......"

Describe the state of mind Wylde would have if his precious younger brother returned either cross-dressed, or as an actual woman.

- Hmm... Possible. At this level, it's possible.

- Hmm... I could die happy.

- Wow~ Your younger brother is cute~ Will you introduce me...

Suddenly, his friend Malcolm's words came to mind.

That guy was obsessed with women, but had said that Luca was fine even if he were a guy.

And then Ottbo, standing dumbfounded at Luca Traverse's side, came into view.

'... Could it be because of that guy next to him?'

The person who was always attached to Luca.

The thought that Luca might be dressed this way because of Ottbo made Wylde's anger flare.

'If it's what Luca wants... then it can't be helped...'

But he soon calmed down. For him, Luca's happiness was the highest priority.

Even if it was somewhat shocking, if it was something Luca wanted, he could tolerate it.

'I'll have to get our parents' approval.'

Wylde might be able to accept it, but his parents might not.

'If you want, Luca, I'll help persuade them.'

Thinking this, Wylde looked at Luca Traverse. Luca Traverse, meeting his gaze, furrowed his brow.

"I don't know what you're thinking, but I am not the Luca you know."

"... Hmm."

At Luca Traverse's words, Wylde made a subtle expression.

The appearance was certainly different, but the atmosphere emanating from him was reminiscent of Luca.

It was a bit different, but that could be explained by the slightly different outward appearance.

"Tsk. I suppose it doesn't matter if I choose a different sparring partner."

Sensing Wylde's thoughts, Luca Traverse clicked his tongue and gripped his sword hilt.

Staring at Wylde, he spoke.

"Wylde Traverse. I'm requesting a spar."

"A spar...?"

At the word "spar,"

Wylde paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright then."

Whatever else might happen, he figured he had to accept Luca's request for a spar, at least.

* * *

The training ground reserved for academy representative students.

There stood Luca Traverse and Wylde. Both had drawn their swords and stood in silence.

'Wylde Traverse. Was he always this strong?'

'Was Luca always this much?'

Just by facing each other, both could gauge each other's level.

Realizing that the other's level was more impressive than they had expected, both were quite surprised.

'But this is actually better. Only a wall like this can serve as my limit.'

'I always believed the day would come when Luca could stand shoulder to shoulder with me... but to have it come so soon. Truly impressive.'

Both seemed pleased with this situation. If anything, they looked even more excited.

'Breaking through this is what it means to carve out my destiny!'

'But I still can't lose to you yet!'

Zzt zzt zzt!

Both swords were dyed a dark green color. Luca Traverse's was a bit darker, Wylde's a little lighter.

"My god, what are these kids doing?"

Seeing this, Kryphi recoiled. Both were still students. Yet these students had reached the level of a Grandmaster.

'Unprecedented...'

Truly without precedent.

Even Kryphi himself, having only recently become a Grandmaster, was considered to be among the youngest in the ranks of the strong.

He couldn't even guess how powerful those two might become in the future.

Just then, the two moved.

Thud! Crack! Crash!

The moment their swords collided, shockwaves rippled outward, cracks forming throughout the training ground.

The level of force was unbelievable.

"Wh-whoa!"

"Be careful, please."

Ottbo, who had been at the edge of the grounds, almost got caught in the blast, but Kryphi pulled him back to safety just in time.

Kryphi gaped at the training ground being destroyed.

'Do they really think they're at a student level right now?'

Even though this training ground was made much sturdier than normal, if two Grandmasters went all out, no place could withstand such force.

'If this continues, the entire academy could be damaged...!'

― Perfect Control

Just then, everyone inside the training ground was transported into another space.

"Are you nuts? If you use that much strength, the students will get hurt!"

Thankfully, Milia had transferred them into the Dimension Core's space.

Still, the two acted as if the change in scenery didn't matter and continued fighting.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Though it was just blades clashing, the heavy shockwaves shook everything around them.

"Ugh!"

"My, my. This is no ordinary fight."

Even Ottbo, standing a good distance away, felt a jolt through his insides and doubled over.

Kryphi stood in front of him, shaking his head in amazement. Still, his eyes were full of interest.

'I'd love to fight them myself one day.'

The swordsman's blood was boiling.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Their sword strikes were only getting fiercer.

Numerous sword gusts and pressures pressed down on each other.

Yet even so, both seemed to feel something lacking.

'I know they can go even harder. There's some kind of restriction holding back the fight.'

'Maybe it's because my opponent is Luca—I can't bring myself to go all out...'

Wylde's will was the will to protect. He only reached his full power when protecting someone.

But his opponent was Luca Traverse—the very person he was supposed to protect.

And so, he couldn't go all out.

'Is it because my opponent is Luca Traverse?'

Because they were crossing swords, Luca Traverse could sense it: that Wylde's will was directed towards protecting someone.

And that someone was himself.

'If that's the case...'

Luca Traverse's eyes sharpened.

"You must have realized it by now. I'm not the Luca you know."

"I could tell you were different from the recent Luca."

Wylde spoke plainly, swinging his sword.

"But now that we've crossed blades, I'm sure. You're also the Luca I know."

"......."

Luca Traverse fell silent for a moment, then curled his lips.

"I suppose so. I'm a clone created based on Luca Traverse's memories and experiences."

"......?"

Wylde's eyebrow twitched at the unexpected statement.

Sensing Wylde's slight agitation, Luca Traverse went on.

"Don't you think it's a pretty good job? To have replicated his swordsmanship, appearance, and even his personality to this extent."

With that, Luca Traverse released an even stronger will.

"I'm even better than the original. After all, that loser wasn't able to beat you."

"......."

"I'll defeat you and prove my worth. A fake surpassing the original that created him."

Luca Traverse grinned slyly.

"What do you think will happen to the original, then?"

"... I don't care about complicated things. But—"

Wylde's eyes flashed fiercely.

"I know one thing—I can't lose to you right now."

Zzt zzt zzt!

At the same time, true protective will burned from his sword. Seeing this, Luca Traverse shouted boldly.

"Come!"

Thunk!

Their swords crashed together once more.

Screeee!

"Eep!?"

The instant the swords struck, a great tremor rang out and cracks began forming in the space itself.

Milia was horrified at the sight.

'W-what. What is this? Cracks in space? Seriously?'

Nothing like this had ever happened before. Of course, no two Grandmasters had ever gone all out in this space, either.

'Wait, can space really break? And what happens to us if it shatters...?'

Thinking this far, Milia hurriedly expelled them out of the Dimension Core.

Not to the academy, but to a remote area, far from anyone.

"Tsk. What a scatterbrained lady."

Luca Traverse clicked his tongue once after noticing the background had changed, and turned his gaze to the approaching Wylde.

Fierce eyes.

Muscles writhing like wild beasts.

The overwhelming weight of the ether blade that seemed able to split a mountain.

He truly seemed like a monstrous man.

'... He's a wall.'

Wylde, now unleashing his full strength, appeared as an endless, towering wall.

"Here and now."

But in Luca Traverse's gaze as he looked up at the wall, there was no longer any hint of despair.

What sparkled in his eyes was a will to keep carving his way forward, whatever it took.

"I'll finish it."

― Pioneer's Sword

Luca Traverse's sword flashed.

The swing he made at the end wasn't heavy like Wylde's, nor fancy like Kryphi's.

It looked simple, almost basic. But what it contained was far from simple.

Wylde could see it.

'... It's heavy.'

So much effort and struggle were packed into it. It seemed heavier than even his own blade.

'But.'

Even so, Wylde's eyes shone fiercely.

'I can't lose.'

Wylde's sword swung heavier than ever. The moment the two swords struck—

Thunk!

There was a moment of absolute stillness. And immediately after—

Rumble!

The ground behind Luca Traverse collapsed all the way to the horizon.

Crack!

The land behind Wylde split in a line stretching to the horizon.

"......."

"......."

Both of them stood still, swords touching. Wylde was the first to move.

Drip—

"... Magnificent."

Thud.

Blood dripped from his mouth. Wylde muttered a single word and collapsed.

Strangely, he seemed to be wearing a faint smile as he fell.

"......."

Luca Traverse quietly watched Wylde fall, then let his arm drop.

The sword left his grasp and rolled across the ground.

"... Did I win?"

Luca Traverse murmured, lowering his head.

As if completely spent, his body froze. It looked as if his drive magic had overloaded.

Woosh!

"Looks like it's over."

"Wha-what in the world just happened...?"

With neither moving, Milia and Ottbo appeared. They looked around in admiration.

Milia glanced at the frozen Luca Traverse and made a subtle expression.

"Ottbo. This guy's a fake Luca, right?"

"Well... fake... it's hard to define..."

The entity called Luca Traverse was difficult to define.

Ottbo scratched his cheek in thought, and Milia replied curtly.

"The real Luca never makes that expression."

"Expression?"

At her words, Ottbo tilted his head and looked at Luca Traverse—then flinched.

"Indee... d..."

Ottbo spoke with a complicated expression.

"I've never seen Luca with that kind of expression either."

Luca Traverse stood completely still, frozen with the brightest, most refreshing smile he'd ever worn.