The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman - Chapter 17: Academy Enrollment

In a dimly lit room, a young man was reading a book.

The book’s cover read ‘About Curses.’

“…Haah. No matter how many times I read this, there’s nothing written about techniques to improve my abilities.”

After reading through the book, he closed it with a snap. He returned it to the bookshelf with a dejected look.

His name was Ilario Salvatore.

A child born between Salvatore ducal family head Lucius and his legitimate wife Camilla. In other words, he was Luka’s brother from the same mother.

He was different from Kamren, who was born from a concubine. His black hair proved more than anything that he was the same as Norn and Luka.

He was currently very troubled. The reason was simple and clear. It lay in Ilario Salvatore’s position.

You see, he was Luka’s real older brother. He was also the younger brother of the genius Norn. In short, he was a—mediocre person sandwiched between a genius sister and genius brother.

Like Kamren, Ilario himself also belonged to the lowest tier within the Salvatore ducal family. While he could be called a genius compared to ordinary people in terms of age and talent, in the Salvatore ducal family where that was the minimum standard, he was no different from a regular person.

Therefore, Ilario was suffering. At this rate, no one would pay him any attention. He would live a garbage-like life.

“How can I become strong? How can I achieve results worthy of recognition from the head of house? Aura is questionable in my case, and the only card I have left is the curse I happened to awaken…”

Ilario had awakened another ability besides aura.

That was curses.

An ability to cause various status ailments by cursing others, or to summon special creatures.

However, it wasn’t an ability suited for direct combat. At most, he could provide support. Moreover, Ilario didn’t have much talent for aura. It was completely useless.

But Ilario was so desperate that he had to cling even to such power. He had turned fifteen, and his younger brother would soon be coming to the academy in the royal capital.

The academy permitted enrollment from age fifteen, and after that, only those who obtained graduation qualifications could graduate from the academy.

Ilario was eighteen this year. Though there was a three-year age gap with Luka, he still didn’t have the qualifications to graduate.

Teachers repeatedly told him “You’re quite ordinary for someone from the Salvatore ducal family,” and his heart had grown desolate. If a monster like Luka enrolled there… his existence would be completely erased.

Impatience dulled his thinking, and dulled thinking gradually twisted in strange directions. The next book he picked up was—

“A book about demon summoning?”

It was quite an old title with a suspicious feel.

☆

“Luka-sama, the carriage is ready.”

After knocking on the door, the maid who entered the room told him that concisely. I, having put on new clothes, lifted the corners of my mouth and replied.

“I see. Then let’s leave right away. I need to get to the academy quickly.”

“Understood.”

I passed by the maid and went out into the hallway. I went down the stairs as is and left the mansion. My personal maid Lulu followed behind me.

In front of the main gate, a carriage bearing the Salvatore ducal family crest was stopped. I boarded it together with the maid.

When the maid told the male coachman the destination, the carriage slowly began to move.

Currently, seven years have passed since the day I received Muramasa at age eight. I had turned fifteen and was at the Salvatore ducal mansion in the royal capital.

Today, I was scheduled to enroll in the Royal Academy in the royal capital. I had come from the territory for that purpose.

The nobles were amazing. They had mansions in the royal capital that were no less impressive than the grand estates in their territories.

Besides me, the ones using it were Ilario nii-san and Kamren nii-san who were already enrolled, plus the stupid twin sisters who were under suspension—four people total.

When I came to the mansion a week ago, Lynette, who had apparently sent a teacher to the temple, was really annoying with her pestering. The other one, Remiliera, clung to me strangely, and she had apparently pulverized both arms of a classmate just for being slightly sexually harassed.

They were doing whatever they wanted.

The reason they still weren’t expelled was probably the Salvatore ducal family name (Lynette’s was treated as an unfortunate accident. Remiliera’s case was even blamed on the other party).

“Terrifying bunch…”

“? What is?”

“Nothing.”

The maid picked up my muttered words. But I carelessly cut off the conversation. I spent the time quietly until we arrived at the academy.

☆

The carriage arrived in front of the academy’s main gate. Many similar carriages were lined up there. They were probably other new students.

When you enrolled in the academy, you were given a private dormitory room. If there was a dormitory, that meant I could train almost twenty-four hours a day.

“The auditorium where the entrance ceremony is held was in the back left?”

“Yes. I’ll guide you.”

“Please do.”

I got off the carriage and headed to the destination on foot. During that time, I spotted a quite familiar figure from behind.

That guy is…

“? Is something wrong, Luka-sama?”

“Ah, no… it’s nothing.”

I quickly averted my gaze.

No doubt about it. That back figure was—the original protagonist. I felt like the initial character creation skin had that kind of appearance. I had seen it many times in my previous life. The clothes were also uniquely plain.

But to think I’d really encounter that guy in a place like this. Did that mean the scenario was steadily progressing?

While harboring a trace of anxiety, I followed the maid toward the auditorium.

The auditorium was a typical type of hall. Long tables and such were arranged there. In the back was a space for faculty, where teacher-looking adults with the faces of seasoned veterans were lined up.

Nice. Several of them seemed like skilled fighters I could really enjoy killing each other with. I wonder if we could have serious sword fights?

I sat in a chair at the edge while observing them intently.

After a while, the woman sitting in the largest chair stood up. She was a beautiful woman with long ears.

“Silence.”

A dignified voice echoed through the auditorium. She was a woman from the Morgan house. She had apparently become the academy principal without inheriting the house.

Lucia would probably be the next head of the Morgan house. It was a wise decision.

“Thank you for gathering today. From this day, this moment, you are all students of our academy. Strive together and aim for the depths of all power. Magic is especially recommended.”

Hey now. That’s totally personal bias. I glared at the principal while clapping.

Then, perhaps noticing my gaze, she looked this way and smiled.

Wh-what? I had thought all the Morgan house people disliked me… what a creepy person. I wonder if she hadn’t heard about me beating up Lucia?

“Ah, that’s right. There’s something I want to tell you all at the end. Regarding today’s first and last class… I’ll have students from the divided classes fight each other. It’s a good opportunity to know your current abilities and others’ abilities, right? Do your best, strive, and become strong. —That’s all.”

This time I didn’t clap. Nobody clapped. I could even hear the sound of people swallowing nervously.

Conversely, I laughed.

—Nice. So nice! The meritocracy feeling is irresistible.

I wonder who my opponent will be?

———————————

A/N:

Along with that, from this chapter I’m changing… no, correcting some of the settings.

The correction is “name changes” for abilities.

Divine power → ‘Divine Prayer’. Curse power → ‘Curses’. Aura and magic remain the same, so please don’t worry.

Please continue to support this work and negative examples!