I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains

Chapter 194

Luca responded immediately to Herote's summons.

In an instant, his body was transported to Herote's secret laboratory beneath the academy.

"How did it go?"

"It just started! Look!"

Herote seemed excited.

Her urgency wasn't due to some pressing danger, but more like the impatience of "I can't miss out on this fun spectacle!"

"Huh..."

Luca, deflated by her attitude, half-closed his eyes.

But then, seeing the screen before her, he was impressed.

"It's vivid."

"Of course! You can't watch something this spectacular in low resolution, right?"

The screen Herote created was so clear it put even 4K to shame.

On it appeared Donovan fighting an enemy and Miros stepping out of a cottage.

"?"

Then Luca's eyes caught the blanket wrapped around Miros.

It was hard to see clearly in the dim surroundings, and the fabric itself was stained, but a faint image like a trumpet could be seen.

'Ha... of course.'

He couldn't understand why forebodings always came true so reliably.

[Divine Standard Dominion]

–A divine banner adorned with the image of an angel blowing a trumpet.

–It carries the great power to proclaim God's territory.

–For now, it is merely being used as someone's blanket in a cold region.

He had thought it likely when he saw it was being used as someone's blanket; sure enough, it was.

Luca twisted his lips and watched the situation unfold.

'It would be good if I could recover it later.'

Whether Miros or Donovan died didn't particularly concern him.

They were both villains who had committed terrible crimes.

If they died here, fine; if not, fine too.

–Donovan! I permit the complete release of power!

–Donovan. I forbid the release of power.

–...!

At that moment, another Miros appeared on the screen.

Seeing this, Herote cried out in triumph.

"See? I told you it was a clone!"

"Oh?"

Luca, too, showed an intrigued expression as he watched the other Miros.

He had wondered if what Herote called a clone was the real thing, but it was.

"Are they going to capture both of them?"

"Looks like the clone will die. Even I wouldn't bother capturing that one."

Herote watched the screen with fascination, as if the situation was nothing but a fun show to her.

Then, Miros began to be attacked.

–We have no use for failures anymore!

Bang!

As he watched the explosion, Luca flinched.

'... He won't burn that easily, right?'

An unawakened divine relic is weak, but it still has some degree of durability.

It shouldn't burn from that, but he felt uneasy.

–Miros, sir. You must run.

–But... Donovan...

–Get a hold of yourself! You must survive!

Fortunately, Donovan was shielding him with his own body.

"Ahaha! Look at them! They're putting on a show, aren't they?"

Herote burst into laughter, and Luca twisted his lips slightly.

"Herote. Can you teleport just that blanket wrapped around him? Right now."

"What, what? The blanket? Right now?"

Herote looked flustered at Luca's request.

"What is it? No, but even if I'm a great mage, to summon just the blanket without being noticed in that situation... It'd be much easier to bring him over along with the blanket, but just the blanket alone is pretty tough..."

Teleporting Miros himself would be easy, but to only move the blanket he was wrapped in seemed rather difficult.

At that moment, Luca saw on the screen someone swinging a sword at Miros.

'That's... an ether blade infused with devilish power!'

A murky black ether blade tinged slightly with red.

Anyone could tell at a glance it contained devilish power.

'Even for a divine relic, if it's an ether blade with devilish power...!'

With that realization, Luca spoke urgently.

"Just move him whole, it doesn't matter!"

"Al-alright."

At Luca's urgent request, Herote summoned Miros.

* * *

The summoned Miros had a dazed expression.

Watching him, Luca clicked his tongue.

"Tsk, maybe I should have just let him die."

He was a villain he didn't even want to consider human.

Seeing him like this, Luca found himself suddenly irritated.

Herote looked incredulous at his sudden change in attitude.

"You're the one who asked for this! What's with you all of a sudden?"

Miros, who had been staring blankly at the scene, now wore an emotional, choked expression.

"You...!"

Standing before the two who had caused his current state—Luca and Herote—he could feel nothing but hatred.

Miros's anger surged, but when he looked at the screen behind them, he faltered.

"Do, Donovan!"

"?"

Miros rushed to the screen showing Donovan being dragged away.

Luca sensed that something had changed in him.

'What? His voice...?'

The old Miros had always sounded arrogant and overbearing.

But now, his voice was somewhat softer, even vulnerable.

'What happened?'

While Luca wondered, the Miros on the screen spoke.

–Hmph. Leaving a route for escape, even if it's a failure—that's just like something made by the Kisen family.

–Shall we pursue?

–No. With his magic power, he can't survive alone in these mountains. Either a monster will eat him or he'll freeze to death. We've retrieved Donovan, so our objective is complete. Withdraw.

Indeed, this other Miros's voice was different.

It dripped with the arrogance and haughtiness Luca remembered.

In contrast...

"Donovan! Donovan!"

There was none of that in the desperate cries of the Miros here, begging for Donovan.

'The hint is only considered complete when the villainous potential of the subject is entirely removed. That means this guy, too...!'

As Luca pondered this strange thought, the people in the video disappeared.

Chhhk!

"Huh? What's going on?"

The video cut off.

Herote looked baffled, manipulating the magic circle.

"Weird. If it's tracking the test subject, the video should have continued..."

"Donovan!"

Just then, Miros screamed in agony.

He collapsed to the ground, his legs giving out.

Seeing this, Herote, still fiddling with the magic circle, spoke bluntly.

"Will you be quiet by yourself, or do I need to make you quiet?"

"Ugh..."

"Oh? Did you just ask to be silenced?"

Despite her threat, Miros only groaned, his eyes hollow.

A vein pulsed on Herote's forehead.

'A way to save Donovan...'

Right now, only one thought dominated Miros's mind.

How could he save Donovan?

His rather keen mind quickly reached an answer.

'If it's these two...!'

"Fine. I'll make it so you can't even sob–!"

Just as Herote was about to teach Miros a lesson, he moved.

Grab!

"?"

"Luca Traverse! No, Lord Luca Traverse! Please save Donovan!"

Right now, these two were the only ones who could save Donovan.

That was the conclusion Miros had come to.

"...?"

Luca stiffened in surprise at his sudden action.

He could have reacted to Miros clinging to him.

But since there was no hostility and the guy couldn't use magic, he was curious as to what he was up to.

The result was beyond anything he had expected.

'Is he crazy?'

If he knew the crimes he had committed, and understood his relationship with Luca, he could never have acted this way.

"Please... I beg you, save Donovan..."

But Miros ignored such thoughts and kept pleading.

"Tsk."

Luca clicked his tongue and said coldly,

"Why should I?"

An unanswerable retort.

The moment Luca said this, Miros was left speechless.

"I'll do anything, please! Please save Donovan!"

But Miros was shameless.

No—it was as if he knew this was all he could do: desperately beg Luca.

"Haaa. Should I take care of him?"

Herote, sick of the sight, waved her fingers with a menacing expression.

Luca said blandly,

"I don't like your attitude when you're asking for a favor."

"A-attitude?"

At the word 'attitude', Miros hurriedly backed away.

He looked terrified of upsetting Luca even a little.

Yet Luca remained expressionless as he spoke.

"If you want to show sincerity, shouldn't you at least kneel naked and beg?"

"N-naked?"

At his words, Miros hesitated.

For a noble with strong pride, such an act would be more shameful than death.

Herote burst out laughing beside him.

"Hahaha! Yeah! At least kneel naked and beg, right...?!"

Slide.

But then, Miros started taking off his clothes.

"?!"

Both were shocked and froze.

Fortunately, Luca quickly came to his senses.

"Stop... stop! I have no interest in seeing you naked. Put your clothes back on!"

Miros had already removed his shirt and was about to remove his pants.

He stopped in that pose.

"......."

"......."

A strange silence followed.

After a moment, Luca sighed and spoke in a tired, exasperated voice.

"Just put your clothes back on. It's horrible."

Only then did Miros begin to dress himself again.

But in that brief moment, Luca had seen his bare body.

'... He must have suffered quite a bit.'

His body was covered in scars, proof of a harsh life.

Not just cuts, but red and blue welts could be seen on his skin.

It was unclear whether frostbite or some other illness was the cause, but he had clearly suffered.

'Now that I look, his hands too...'

His hands, in particular, were a mess—covered with scars and calluses.

He had suffered greatly for several months.

Luca twisted his lips, looking at Miros.

Fully dressed, Miros swallowed hard and looked at Luca.

"I... I know I've committed many sins. I know I've hurt you deeply. I was wrong. If you want me to apologize, I will. I'll apologize to you and... your precious person, too. I'll apologize to all those who suffered because of me. If an apology won't ease your anger, hit me. Even if it means I'll die because of it, I accept."

Miros's body trembled as he spoke.

But his eyes were clear and resolute.

He looked Luca straight in the eyes and said,

"So please... save Donovan."

"......"

Luca and Herote were silent.

Miros's sincerity was greater than they expected.

Neither could find the words to respond right away.

"... Herote."

As before, it was Luca who spoke first.

He said flatly,

"Is there a way to save Donovan?"

"!"

At Luca's words, Miros's eyes grew round, and Herote frowned.

"Are you serious? That guy did that to your maid, you know?"

"......"

He didn't forget that because of Miros, Bella almost died.

But,

"Didn't you say he was created by Marquis Kisen?"

"Hah, that's no reason to forgive what he's done."

Herote spoke with sarcasm.

The Luca Traverse she knew wasn't a man to be swayed by cheap sentiment.

But if he was moved by such a plea now,

'Then my judgment was wrong.'

It would be quite a disappointment.

"I never said it's a reason to forgive."

"Then what?"

Herote pressed him sharply. Luca replied, unperturbed,

"I never had any intention of forgiving him in the first place. He said himself he'd pay for his sins, so he'll have to atone. But—"

Luca paused for a moment, then spoke slowly.

"Is it more admirable to be born good and act good, or to be born evil, overcome it, and act good?"

"...!"

Herote hesitated at Luca's words.

He met her gaze and spoke,

"Though born as Marquis Kisen's toy and forced to lead a vile life, he now wants to protect what's precious to him by acknowledging his sins and sacrificing himself. Isn't that a virtuous act?"