The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman - Chapter 40: The Academy Director

Crack, crackle—the space before me froze.

I was attacked by a piercing cold that stabbed at my skin. Still, I continued staring at the ice in front of me.

A massive ice wall stretching dozens of meters had been used to imprison a single human being.

At the top of it was a man.

He remained completely motionless in a defensive stance.

“As expected of Tiberios-nii-san. How brave to jump upward at that timing.”

My magic had activated perfectly. The ice enveloped everything, and Tiberios-nii-san had nearly died. The only reason that didn’t happen was due to Nii-san’s superior judgment.

He had escaped upward in the instant before his entire body froze.

The remaining parts of his body, including his upper half, were frozen, but only from his neck up remained safe.

He was clad in aura, so even if his whole body had been frozen solid, I thought he would survive.

“Luka… that magic just now… what was it?”

“Figure it out yourself. Also, are you okay?”

“How does any of this look okay! Hurry up and release it!”

“You look surprisingly energetic.”

I touched the ice wall I had created myself. Through my hand, I sent heat to the ice. I slowly melted the ice.

“I win this match, right? No matter how anyone looks at it, Nii-san lost.”

“…It’s annoying to admit, but that seems to be the case.”

Tiberios-nii-san truly twisted his face in frustration.

Ah, not bad. I had even used my trump card, but I was able to verify various things. Even if some of my hand was revealed, it was worth it. Just looking at that expression.

All the ice melted, and Tiberios-nii-san was freed. Various parts of his body had suffered necrosis. Ice magic could become a vicious weapon depending on how it was used.

If that had been fire or another attribute… could I have dealt a bit more damage? Oh well. To penetrate annoying Nii-san’s aura, ice-attribute magic was currently the optimal solution.

With ice magic, physical enhancement from aura was irrelevant. As long as one was a living being, there was no escaping the cold.

“Damn it! I was absolutely sure I could win! What a shame I couldn’t kill you.”

Despite the intense pain that was probably running through his entire body, Tiberios-nii-san smiled cheerfully.

He could no longer even hide his true feelings.

But this was something I had understood from the beginning. Tiberios-nii-san also understood that I was directing killing intent at him—I knew that.

“I’m disappointed too. If the timing had been just a little off… I could have killed Nii-san.”

“Haha. Nice. The other guys are cowering in fear of Norn-nee-san and rotting away, but you seem different.”

“If you think so, then work hard and challenge Nee-san. Are you scared?”

“Of course I am! Don’t tell me you forgot how Norn-nee-san beat the crap out of me back in the day!”

“That was your own fault.”

Norn-nee-san, who had exploded in rage, once beat up Tiberios-nii-san, who had been wielding a sword, with her bare hands.

She destroyed his weapon with grip strength and landed attacks while almost completely ignoring Nii-san’s aura-based defensive power.

If I remembered correctly, the bones throughout his entire body had been shattered to pieces. Divine prayer was convenient to be able to heal even that condition.

I thought about that deeply once again.

“Shut up! But I haven’t given up. I’ll challenge Nee-san again and win this time!”

“Impossible.”

“Hah?”

“If you can’t beat me as I am now, you won’t even come close to Norn-nee-san’s level.”

I didn’t know Nee-san’s current abilities, but at the very least, she probably wouldn’t suffer a single scratch even if she took my composite magic head-on.

I seriously thought that person might be a game bug.

My father, who was stronger than her, was no longer human.

However, she was an enemy I would eventually surpass. Even if I couldn’t reach her yet, my growth rate was faster.

Eventually, my blade should reach her neck.

“…Hah. How boring. I’m going home.”

“What about training?”

“I’ve been beaten up plenty. I’ll come see you again, so wait until then.”

“You still haven’t given up.”

“Of course not! I’m stubborn.”

“Yeah, sure.”

For some reason, Tiberios-nii-san left the training ground looking happy. As I watched his retreating figure, suddenly, a familiar person came by, passing him. As soon as she saw me, she waved her hand. She wore a friendly smile.

“Well, well! Hello there, young lion of the Salvatore family.”

“…Academy director.”

The academy director of the royal academy where I was enrolled, Feodora Morgan. She was the older sister of that Lucia Morgan.

“Don’t be so wary! I’m not thinking of seeking revenge for my cute little sister who was hurt by you or anything like that.”

When I directed a sharp gaze at her, Academy Director Feodora thrust both hands forward, asking me to stop.

I urged her to continue without lowering my guard.

“What do you want?”

“How cold. When I’m so interested in you.”

“I’m not interested.”

“Mmph… I’m hurt… Are you planning to hurt not just my little sister, but me, her older sister too?”

“If that’s what you wish.”

You know the Morgan and Salvatore families don’t get along, so what was this person doing?

I truly had no idea why she had come.

Hurry up and state your business.

“Good grief. You’re not a cute child. But fine. Fine. I was able to watch the battle earlier. Thanks to you, I was able to approach the depths of magic. If you’d like, could you teach me that magic from before?”

“I refuse.”

Why should I have to teach you?

“I thought so. I knew that from the beginning. So I thought I’d give you some interesting information. Of course, I don’t think it’s equivalent. Just as a token of friendship.”

“Interesting information?”

So that was the real topic.

She smiled slyly and said:

“A dragon. A dragon. There have been sightings.”