I Have been Reincarnated As a Lazy, Arrogant Noble, but When I Destroyed The Scenario Through Effort, I Became The Most Powerful With Extraordinary Magical Power - 18

018 – The Answer is Yes

Naturally, there is not just one magic academy in this world. Facilities like Noblesse Academy exist in multiple places.

However, there is a significant difference when compared to other countries— the vast expanse of the school grounds. The country willingly provides places that can be used as training sites.

From mountains to rivers, even deserts are part of the grounds, allowing for bold practical training scenarios.

All of this is done to select talented individuals and prepare for the future.

In the deep forest, dressed in pitch-black training attire, we filled our feet with magic power and moved swiftly using high-speed movement magic.

“Cynthia, Lillith, spread out from the left and right, draw the enemy’s attention, and I will take the flag.”

“Understood.”

“Roger.”

Following my command, the two spread out to the left and right.

I stopped and used Magic Sense to keep track of their positions while counting the seconds.

—5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

The moment when massive magic powers collided, I started running again.

I spotted the target, the dragon flag, in my line of sight, but just before grabbing it, something felt off.

A high-density magic thread called Magic Red was spread all over the area.

“… Shari, huh?”

It had an adhesive special magic, and touching it would immobilize you.

—Everyone except for me.

I increased my magic power and enveloped my whole body with a mix of dark and light protection magic, my own original magic.

This magic nullifies the enemy’s magic while continuously bestowing the user with protective healing.

Clearing away the traps like brushing aside grass and trees, I reached for the flag.

But—

“I won’t let you, Weiss.”

Alan appeared from above and swung his sword at my head without holding back.

I managed to evade it in an instant, but the impact of being slammed into the ground made the earth groan.

Even though it’s a training wooden sword, with magic running through it, its destructive power is almost like a real blade.

This lack of hesitation is somewhat laughable, but I suppose it’s because the opponent is me.

Leaving him alone and taking the flag would be easy, but—

“Come.”

I drew the small knife I had on me and infused it with a bit of magic power.

Whether he noticed my restraint or became frustrated, Alan rushed at me in a straight line.

“Ha!”

“—Is that all?”

It’s dull, too dull.

Isn’t the protagonist supposed to be much stronger?

—But this guy can react quickly despite being weak?

…It doesn’t sit well with me.

After that, Alan came at me again and again, no matter how many times he fell.

Only when the decisive moment came did he evade.

However—

“It’s over.”

“—Eh!?”

One punch to the side sent him into agony.

Ignoring the moaning Alan, I slowly took the flag.

At that moment, magic fireworks shot up into the sky.

“The match is over. Victory for Weiss’s team. Please gather at the schoolyard.”

The magic bird released into the sky shouted the words of victory.

“Haa, haa… Truly, Weiss…”

In a pained voice, Alan collapsed on the ground. Without saying anything to him, I left the scene.

▽

First place in Magic Stealth Training, Weiss Fancent.

First place in Magic Tracking Training, Weiss Fancent.

First place in Magic Defense Training, Weiss Fancent.

—It’s not enough.

Not enough at all.

“500 points added to Weiss Fancent.”

As always, Chloe read the scores in her usual monotone.

One month has passed since the entrance ceremony.

At this point, there are ten dropouts, and seven of them are the ones I personally guided to leave.

More than half of them were characters who had already graduated in the original storyline.

But after a certain period, it’s not a system that quickly goes back to zero.

It’s a system that takes growth stages into consideration.

The number of points in my right hand fluctuated, displaying 5700.

“Here comes Weiss again, isn’t he seriously something?”

“He’s too strong. Achieving everything with just talent and no effort.”

“He’s definitely going to graduate…”

The small fry often barks, but it doesn’t matter.

Graduating is a given; I aim to achieve more.

The one I want to drop out is Alan.

However, whenever he’s on the verge, he always displays an unfathomable power and escapes from danger multiple times.

The presence of his followers, like Shari, and the companions from the original story who help him, are also contributing factors.

Besides, he’s getting stronger every day. It’s frustrating, but at the same time, it’s interesting.

—A complex feeling.

“Cynthia, 300 points for Lillith. Next, 150 for Alan, 100 for Shari, and 50 for Duke.”

There’s no need to calculate others’ points one by one; rankings are published once a week.

Of course, I’m in first place, but Alan is gradually rising in the ranks.

The system of dropping out when the points reach zero is straightforward, but it’s not enough motivation to aim for the top.

What’s interesting is that this point system works like both a reward and punishment.

Each value corresponds to a rank: S being the highest, followed by A, B, C, D, and E.

I am currently ranked C, but as a senior, I can achieve B and A ranks.

Upon reaching C rank, you receive the privilege of a private room; below that, it’s a shared room.

It’s not that Noblesse Academy lacks money; they deliberately cultivate discontent among students to boost their motivation.

Points increase through written exams, magic studies, and mock tests, but maintaining first place in all of them is not an easy task, even for me.

Noblesse Academy isn’t just looking for strong students; there’s more to it.

The quickest way to earn points is through combat training.

You can directly compete for points, and after a certain period, you can even challenge upperclassmen.

Since there’s a risk of dropping out, combat training doesn’t happen all the time.

But I’m different. I’ll push masses of people into hell and climb to the top.

Because reaching S rank during enrollment allows you to graduate ahead of schedule.

No one has achieved that before.

But I believe that’s the best way to avoid destruction.

“Sorry, I lost to Weiss again…”

“Don’t worry, Alan, just win next time.”

Shari consoles Alan, who’s dejected about losing to me. Sometimes, watching them brings a smile to my face.

Ah, just like in the original story…

But in the next moment, intense hatred wells up within me.

At that moment, a man excitedly approached me.

The ground trembles as he walks with heavy steps.

“Darn it! Weiss, you’re seriously on your second playthrough, right?”

“Did your brain turn into muscle, Duke?”

Duke, the eldest son of the Billian family.

Short black hair, a tall and muscular body that doesn’t look like that of a student.

The Billian family excels in body enhancement and is an excellent knight lineage.

Balanced in both offense and defense, but has a weakness in long-range combat.

Yes, that was the case…

Now Duke has learned a creation magic that allows him to forge magic weapons.

After I thoroughly defeated him once, he realized that strength alone wouldn’t be enough.

This is another significant change.

Although he’s a pain to deal with, he’s straightforward, so I don’t dislike him as much as Alan.

And in the background, a small girl with white hair is trembling and being scolded by Chloe.

“Karta, you have a great talent. You are top in written exams and magic studies. But if you don’t get points in the next practical test, you’ll be dropped out. Do you understand? If you keep running away, I won’t understand why you enrolled in the first place.”

“Y-Yes…”

She has learned a very rare flying magic.

Furthermore, because of her non-attributed magic, even skillful mages find it challenging to handle, and I haven’t mastered it yet.

But Karta is timid, and even if there’s an opportunity, she can’t grasp it.

If following the original story, she would be dropped out in the next test.

And that would become the driving force for her best friend, who should be by her side, to aim seriously for graduation, creating a side story.

But I have already dropped her out.

Looking at her, I feel she is too wasted.

She has the potential to reach heights that no one else can, but she lacks the courage to seize opportunities.

“Hey, Karta, could you please lose all your points soon?”

“Huh…”

At that moment, another girl in the same room makes a sarcastic comment to Karta.

They are both D-rank students. If Karta disappears, she would temporarily get a private room. That’s why she wants her gone.

I think in the original work, there was a scene of bullying like this.

“You don’t have any motivation anyway, you just came because of your parents, right? Your annoying best friend is gone now, so I can say it clearly.”

“Why are you saying such things?”

“Just thought that it’s pitiful to see dropouts licking each other’s wounds.”

They laugh heartily among themselves, ridiculing Karta.

At that moment, my heart wavered slightly.

However, relying on that and being Weiss… is not allowed.

Such weakness is unacceptable.

I must remain true to myself.

“By the way, Weiss, can I be your partner for the next test?”

“Miss Cynthia, aren’t I the one next in line!?”

“…No, it’s already decided.”

“Really!?”

Leaving the two behind, I walk away.

And I speak quietly.

“There’s nothing uglier than the struggle at the bottom.”

The frightened girl, the exceptional mage, and Karta, who should have been a dropout.

“Weiss, you’re here… This is bad.”

“We’re in trouble. Hey, let’s go.”

“Hmph.”

The backs of the bullies leaving felt like another future me.

“Why… did you help me?”

“I didn’t help you. I just didn’t want to see a coward who takes their insults silently.”

“Why do you have to say it like that?”

“Isn’t it true? They hate you, that’s why they’re being mean to you. Put yourself in my shoes, having to watch you obediently endure their taunts.”

“I-If I don’t look, it’ll be fine…”

That may be a valid point, but oh well.

“Do you know why your points will definitely hit zero in the next test?”

Karta remained silent for a long time, but she slowly spoke.

“…Because it’s a tag team battle?”

“That’s right.”

The next test had already been announced.

A test where you form pairs and fight together.

Noblesse Academy’s practical tests are often team battles more than individual ones.

This is also for the future.

A person without charisma cannot stand at the top.

Gathering comrades is also one of the studies in the academy.

And the next tag team battle has the highest importance so far… there’s a reason for that.

I also know that it’s not good for me to remain like this.

That’s why…

“Do you want to be with me?”

“Eh? Uhm!? Why would someone like you, Weiss…-kun…?”

Karta, who is on the brink of being a dropout, and me, the top student among underclassmen—indeed, it’s an odd match.

But that’s only about points.

It’s not wise to judge solely based on appearances.

She’s a genius, and I acknowledge that.

“Your flight magic is amazing. It’s a waste for it to go unnoticed.”

“…But still…”

Is she troubled, or is she scared?

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not trying to help you. I just thought it would be more efficient to form a pair with you.”

“I see… yeah.”

“Yeah. And also, can you teach me flight magic? I can’t get it right no matter how many times I try.”

“Eh, you’re practicing it?”

“I’m always crashing head first. There was even a time when I almost died.”

Upon hearing that, Karta let out a small chuckle.

She must find it amusing that I, who always acts calm, is doing such a thing.

“…Your friend was expelled because of me. I know that. But it was a fair competition. But if you also fall, what will she think? Is that fine with you? Don’t you want to get back at them? With me, you can use me effectively, and you should do just that.”

My actions will undoubtedly destroy the original story.

Especially with Karta’s powerful magic.

It’s a dangerous act, but I’ve already decided on my path.

Karta, trembling with fear, finally stops shaking her body and loosens the clenched fist holding her staff.

Then, she faces me.

“…I understand, Weiss-kun. If you’re okay with me… please.”

“Sure, but if you’re going to be my partner, we’re aiming for first place. There’s not much time until the test, so we’ll start special training from today until dawn.”

“Eh, wha-what!?”

“Your answer is yes.”

“Y-Yes!”

…Am I starting to resemble Milch Sensei?

At the same time, Milch Sensei let out a very cute sneeze… or not.