The World's Strongest and Most Evil Noble Strives Humbly and Diligently ~ Using Knowledge of the Original Story and Unique Magic to Avoid a Destruction End ~ - Chapter 15: The Four Great Nobles - Nia Le Ainsworth

Chapter 15: The Four Great Nobles – Nia Le Ainsworth

The ranking battles at Redrick are officially recognized school duels.

Whoever wins can take their opponent’s rank.

If Nia, ranked fourth, defeats me, ranked first, she will become the new number one, and I will drop to fourth place.

There are many detailed rules, such as not being able to challenge someone more than five ranks above or below you, or needing to wait six months for a rematch.

But to put it simply, it’s a battle where ranks are on the line.

As the sudden announcement of my ranking match with Nia spread, the room erupted in excitement.

(Hollow-sama, what should we do?)

Fiona contacted me using , asking whether we should proceed with the match or stop it.

(Everything is going according to my plan. Let it happen.)

(Understood.)

With my instruction, Fiona stepped back quietly.

“Nia, I just heard that you’re challenging a ranking match… Are you serious?”

“Of course, I’m perfectly calm. Or are you getting scared?”

“Sigh… This is a hassle, but fine. It’s been a while since the martial arts tournament—I’ll have to teach you a lesson again.”

The moment our ranking match was confirmed, the classroom’s energy exploded.

“Wait, the Four Great Nobles are fighting all of a sudden?!”

“Heisenberg versus Ainsworth—this is gonna be insane!”

It looked like many students wanted to watch.

(Hmm, that’s a bit of a problem.)

Ranking battles are allowed to have spectators, but I need to confirm something in my fight with Nia.

Depending on the outcome, I might need to put her in her place.

(If other students are watching, that’ll be really inconvenient.)

I glanced at Fiona, and she gave a small nod.

“I understand that you all want to see Hollow-kun and Nia-san fight… but you will be staying here for homeroom.”

“Wait, you can’t be serious!”

“We students have the right to watch ranking matches!”

As complaints erupted, Fiona calmly explained.

“According to Redrick’s school rules, ‘ranking battles are only allowed after the first homeroom session is completed and student handbooks are distributed.’ Our class has not finished homeroom yet. That means, right now, the two of them are not qualified for a ranking match, and this is merely an unofficial duel.”

Students have the right to watch ranking battles, even during class.

However, unofficial duels are just private disputes between students and are not covered by that rule.

(That’s a clever move.)

By changing our fight from a “ranking match” to a “duel,” she effectively shut down the students’ right to watch.

Still smiling gently, Fiona wrapped up her explanation.

“Our school encourages competition among students and does not interfere with unofficial duels. However, as a teacher at Redrick, I cannot allow you to skip homeroom just to watch a private fight.”

Faced with her flawless argument, the students had no choice but to grumble as they took their seats.

“Seriously…?”

“Damn it, we’re missing out on an epic match…”

Fiona really is sharp—her personality is a mess, but her intelligence is among the best in the story.

(Though honestly, for someone who wasted the Ministry of Magic’s funds on ‘horses’ and ‘alcohol,’ it’s ironic to hear her lecture about school rules…)

Still, she did well this time.

I’ll give her some money later as a ‘horse fund.’ She’ll probably drool with joy.

Now that the stage was set—

“Follow me.”

I started walking.

“Don’t order me around.”

Nia followed behind me.

(If I remember correctly, unofficial duels can be held in the underground training grounds.)

Just as I was thinking that and heading out, I made eye contact with the protagonist.

(Don’t worry, Allen. I’ll make sure your school life is safe!)

So just grow up peacefully, okay?

And whatever you do, don’t awaken some hidden power in a crisis.

■

I’m not sure how long the duel with Nia has been going on.

“Dieeeeeeeeeeeee!”

Her furious scream echoed as flames raged around us.

But—not a single one hit me.

My defense magic, , deflected every blazing inferno away.

“Sigh… How long do you plan to keep this up?”

I let out a lazy sigh, acting as if this was all too troublesome. Nia’s face twisted with despair.

“No way… I’ve been attacking so much, so why hasn’t a single one landed?!”

Honestly, this expression suits her.

In an official “Tragic and Cute Character Ranking,” Nia was overwhelmingly voted first place.

I didn’t really get it at the time, but seeing her in real life… I kind of understand now.

No wonder she has such a passionate fanbase.

As I pondered useless thoughts, her attacks suddenly stopped.

“Hah… hah… hah…”

She clutched her chest with her right hand, gasping for air.

Well, after casting this many spells, she must be running out of magic power.

“What’s wrong? Are you done?”

“Tch… Not yet!”

Nia’s is an Origin-class unique magic, known for its extreme firepower and insane regeneration.

Most magic users would be reduced to ash before they could even fight back.

(But because her power is so strong, she never learned how to strategize.)

Her attacks are always straightforward, with no tricks or deception.

Worse, she doesn’t conceal her magic energy, so I can see exactly when and where she’s about to cast.

“Take this—!”

The starting point is above her head. The trajectory is straight. The moment of activation is when she swings her arm down.

All I have to do is avoid taking the attack head-on and redirect it using a “surface” defense.

“—.”

Timing the defense magic just right, I easily neutralized the attack.

(If your magic is too obvious, its effectiveness is cut in half.)

That’s why I completely conceal mine—my magic, my power, my techniques.

I keep my magic energy at zero, so my opponent has no idea how strong I am.

I erase all signs of casting to prevent them from predicting my moves.

And when I attack, I make sure it’s a “finishing blow.”

(It’s not a noble way to fight—it’s more like an assassin’s.)

But the Heisenberg family is built on that kind of work.

Our house preys on evildoers beyond the reach of the law.

We are so ruthless in devouring evil that we are feared as the “Most Wicked Nobles.”

(Isn’t it bad to say “die” during a mock battle…?)

I am the heir of the Heisenberg family, one of the Four Great Noble Houses.

If I accidentally killed someone, a huge political conflict would definitely break out.

But Nia doesn’t seem to care at all. She keeps using powerful magic.

“You little…!”

Well, none of her attacks hit me, though.

While I was treating this like a game and practicing my defense magic, Nia glared at me sharply.

“Hah… hah…! Hollow, stop making a fool of me! If you don’t take this seriously… I’ll get really mad!”

…Whoa, scary.

That killing intent is intense. If I were anyone else, I’d probably wet myself.

But I think this is a good time to stop.

My experiment with defense magic—without relying on <Void Possession>—was a huge success.

Plus, I got to enjoy the Origin-Class Unique Magic <Primordial Flame>.

I’ve gained enough from this fight.

There’s no point in wasting more time.

(Alright, let’s try that one last thing.)

I need to check how Nia reacts.

Depending on the result, I might have to warn her.

“Hmm, so I can go all out?”

“Of course! You should’ve done that from the start!”

“I see. Then—”

I connect my position to the space behind Nia using <Void Step> and instantly teleport.

“—Don’t move.”

Now, I’m right behind her.

I place my index finger against her back, exactly where her heart is.

“Wha—!?”

Checkmate.

Right now, Nia’s life is literally in my hands.

(Th-That’s impossible…! My ‘Heat Detection’ didn’t pick up anything. That was just like… teleportation…!)

After a brief silence, she barely manages to speak.

“…Who… are you…?”

“A lazy and arrogant villainous noble—wasn’t that what you just called me?”

“Urgh…!”

Annoyed by my little payback, Nia clenches her fists in frustration.

“Listen to me. I know everything about the Ainsworth family’s sinister plans, the burden you carry, and the wish you call your ultimate goal.”

“Don’t mess with me! What could you possibly know—”

“—Your body… doesn’t have much time left, does it?”

“…!”

This time, she falls completely silent.

“Who are you…? And that magic just now, that wasn’t <Refraction>, was it?”

“What are you talking about? That was an advanced form of <Refraction>. By bending space multiple times, I can create the illusion of teleportation—”

“—Liar. That wasn’t <Refraction>. That reaction… it was ‘Space Manipulation Magic’.”

“…Heh. I see… so you can perceive it…”

I smirked evilly.

“…!”

Nia froze in fear.

(Ah… that was worth checking. I was right to confirm it.)

Nia’s family, the Ainsworths, are leading experts in magic factor research.

Since she has one of the best understandings of magic in the entire original story, I figured she might see through my trick. And I was right.

(The bandit leader, Glaad, also noticed <Void>, but that was only because I used it so obviously. He never actually saw through it.)

But Nia…

In just a tiny fraction of a second, in less than an instant, she realized my magic wasn’t <Refraction>.

Her eyes don’t just see the surface of magic—they see its very essence.

Honestly, that’s a huge problem.

“What is your real magic? And how did you rewrite the information in the Arcana Magic Registry? Don’t tell me you bribed the judges…!”

Nia is sharp.

I need to make sure she stays quiet.

(But… she’s also pretty stubborn.)

With people like her, it’s better to take a cooperative approach rather than ruling with fear.

“Don’t dig into my business. Just like you have your own mission, I have my own goals. Let’s keep things peaceful and agree on ‘mutual non-interference’.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Hmm, well…”

Right now, Nia is acting all aggressive and picking fights with the protagonist.

But she’s actually a good person.

She refuses to bow down to the tyrant Zova and throws away her own life for the sake of others, working hard every single day.

And not just for a year or two—she’s been doing this since childhood.

That noble spirit makes her a true heroine.

I genuinely want her to be happy.

(But… Nia Le Ainsworth is a heroine on the protagonist’s side.)

She and Allen will grow together, sharpening each other’s skills.

For me—the villainous noble—Nia is nothing but a threat.

“If you refuse, then right here, right now—”

I stopped mid-sentence, suddenly snapping back to reality.

(…Wait. What was I about to do…?)

The powerful magic forming in my hands—this isn’t something I should be using here.

And if I kill Nia, a massive political war will break out.

That’s exactly what I just warned her about.

Unconsciously, dark thoughts had surfaced in my mind.

(…Now that I think about it, this has happened before…)

During my mock battle with Orvin.

When I was mastering Void Magic.

During my fight with Entia.

And just now, when I was about to eliminate Nia.

There have been multiple moments where my thoughts shifted—where the original Hollow’s mind surfaced.

It’s fine if I consciously use Hollow’s way of thinking.

It’s really useful when playing the villainous noble.

(But if it’s happening unconsciously, that’s a problem.)

Could it be that my thoughts are being influenced by the original Hollow’s soul?

(I don’t know for sure… but for now, I need to suppress ‘Laziness and Arrogance’ and hold on to ‘Humility and Prudence’ instead.)

As I was reflecting on this—

(What was that horrifying magic just now…!? The quality, the sheer amount—it was abnormal. No… I can’t win. No matter what I do, I can’t reach Hollow… This monster… He’s terrifying, terrifying, terrifying…!)

Nia suddenly started trembling violently.

“…I-I understand. I won’t ask about you again… So please… just let me go…”

She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, her voice full of humiliation and frustration as she begged.

I don’t really know why she’s this scared, but…

Well, things are going exactly as I planned, so I guess I don’t need to worry about it.