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 16: Thump
Chapter 16: Thump
After being defeated by the notorious noble, Hollow von Heisenberg, and even begging for mercy to be spared, Nia returned to the Ainsworth mansion, carrying an overwhelming sense of defeat she had never felt before.
“……”
As she opened the large front door with a gloomy expression, the butler, who was cleaning the mansion, widened his eyes in surprise.
“My lady, what happened to school…?”
“…I’m sorry. I’m feeling a little unwell today, so I decided to take a break.”
“Oh dear, I shall call for a doctor at once.”
“No, it’s fine. I think I’ll get better if I just rest.”
“I see.”
“I want to be alone for a while, so please don’t let anyone into my room.”
Saying this, she entered her room, collapsed onto her bed in her uniform, and clenched the sheets tightly.
“…I lost…”
She never imagined the gap between them would be this vast.
Hollow was ranked first, and she was ranked fourth.
There were only three places between them.
Yet the difference between them was like heaven and earth.
“…What the hell was that…?”
The first thing that shocked Nia was Hollow’s godlike magic skills.
Her own proud unique magic, “Primordial Flame,” had been completely countered by nothing more than a simple lower-tier spell—“Barrier Wall,” a magic that anyone could use.
(“Primordial Flame” is an Origin-class spell of the highest rank. In terms of magical specs, I should have completely overwhelmed him… but I didn’t even stand a chance…!)
Hollow’s strength as a mage left Nia far behind.
The difference between them was so vast that even “Primordial Flame” couldn’t close the gap.
Hollow’s magic was terrifyingly fast.
The process of constructing spells, charging mana, and altering reality—all of it was abnormally quick, yet still precise.
He cast magic as effortlessly as breathing.
(How did he even acquire such insane magic skills…?)
She was genuinely confused.
Magic skills weren’t something that could be gained overnight. It was a field where only consistent effort and small daily improvements made a difference.
(No way… That lazy, arrogant bastard wouldn’t put in effort. That’s impossible.)
Hollow’s godlike magic skills were the result of dull, tedious training…
But Nia had no way of knowing that.
(Anyway, Hollow wasn’t even serious. He’s still hiding something—a trump card…)
A memory flashed through her mind—his teleportation at the end of their fight.
(That mysterious spell that let him get behind me… That wasn’t “Refraction.” It was something more advanced—a unique space-controlling magic. Could it be… the same magic that “Calamity” Zeno used to destroy the world 1,000 years ago…?)
At that thought, she shook her head slightly.
She wouldn’t dig into Hollow’s secrets.
She had made a promise—one that she herself had chosen.
After losing the battle, breaking that promise would make her unable to forgive herself.
Nia had a pure and righteous heart—completely different from that “debt-ridden horse girl.”
(…I should forget about it…)
She quietly shook her head.
How did he know about the dark side of the Ainsworth family? Where did he hear the secret about her body? His godlike magic skills, his mysterious unique spell, and that terrifyingly massive mana she felt at the end—all of it… she locked deep within her memory.
(Hollow… That monster is an “Irregular.”)
Sometimes, the world produces “Singularities” like him.
Comparing herself to someone like that would only make her feel insignificant.
(But… at this rate, I won’t make it in time…)
She loosened her white shirt slightly and gently placed a hand on her soft chest.
(…It’s growing again…)
The magical factor of “Primordial Flame” that lay dormant in her body was growing stronger by the day.
The growth of magical factors wasn’t a bad thing.
In general, it meant the mage was getting stronger.
Most people would see it as a blessing.
But for Nia, things were different.
Once the magic factor fully fused with her body and “Primordial Flame” awakened… she would be considered a “completed vessel.”
And when that happened, “the plan” would be carried out immediately.
(Before that happens, I have to defeat my grandfather, the “Great Elder” Zova… or else… everyone will be… killed…!)
She had no one to rely on.
Not her parents, not the butlers, not the teachers.
No one could stand against her grandfather—Zova Le Ainsworth, the current head of the family.
Of course, they couldn’t.
Zova was over 300 years old.
His very existence was history itself for the Ainsworth family.
Nia had to face this monster alone.
—Kill Zova.
—Atone for her “sin.”
That was the only reason Nia had been living.
She trained her body, swung her sword, studied hard, and read magic books—continuing to push herself relentlessly.
Even when friends her age were playing, when families were enjoying time together, or when others were sleeping in warm beds, she kept training with everything she had.
She was always alone, never praised by anyone, silently sharpening her fangs.
(It’s okay, it’ll be okay… I’ve worked this hard, so everything will definitely go well… I can defeat that monster Zova. No, I have to defeat him…!)
She told herself this over and over.
She used strong words to lift her spirits whenever she felt like giving up.
If she didn’t, she felt like she would break completely.
The time she had left was running out.
She didn’t have the luxury to sit around complaining.
She understood that better than anyone.
But still, the burden Nia carried was far too heavy for a 15-year-old girl…
“…Someone, please help me…”
Trapped in a tragic fate, she quietly shed tears.
After winning the mock battle against Nia, I left the underground training hall and headed to the elite class.
The moment I opened the back door of the classroom, my classmates’ gazes hit me like a tidal wave.
“Ah, I knew it… Hollow won.”
“Nia still hasn’t come back… Is she okay?”
Without even glancing in their direction, I walked forward in silence and sat by the window.
At that moment, a <telepathic call> came from Fiona.
(Um, Lord Hollow, may I ask you something?)
(What is it?)
(I don’t see Nia anywhere… You didn’t, um, kill her, did you…?)
(Don’t be ridiculous. I wouldn’t just kill a classmate so easily.)
(R-Right… Whew, that’s a relief. Hollow, you’re so strong that even when you hold back, it doesn’t really look like you’re holding back… I was kind of nervous, like, ‘Oh no, what if he accidentally killed her?’ and—)
(—Hey, we’re still connected.)
(Uweh!? Ah, um… S-Sorry…!)
Fiona quickly cut the telepathic link in a panic.
(Seriously, what does she even think of me…?)
As I sighed, I noticed that my classmates were still staring at me.
“Hey, look at him. He fought the fourth-ranked Nia and didn’t even get a scratch.”
“No way… Even among the Four Great Nobles, is the difference really this huge?”
“As expected of the number one rank… The title ‘Notorious Noble’ isn’t just for show.”
Hmm… I might be standing out too much.
But, well, it can’t be helped.
If I hadn’t stopped Allen and Nia from arguing back then, they would have naturally ended up dueling, and the story would have followed the exact same course as the main route.
(In the original main route, the villain noble Hollow dies in the end…)
That was the one thing I had to avoid at all costs.
(By standing out a little, I managed to disrupt the protagonist’s power-up event and keep Nia in check. If I think of it in terms of gains and losses, this is definitely a huge win.)
As I was calculating my next moves in my head like always, a chilling voice called out from behind me.
“Um… You’re Hollow, right?”
“…!”
Every cell in my body screamed, and my hair stood on end.
I held down my heart, which felt like it was about to jump out of my chest, and slowly turned around—only to see my greatest enemy, Allen Fortis.
“…What do you want?”
I tried to act calm, but inside, I was shaking.
Allen was the ultimate rival of the original Hollow—the worst of the worst for him.
If we fought now, I wouldn’t lose.
Nine times out of ten, I’d win.
(But even then, I can’t say it’s ‘guaranteed’…)
Allen was a being loved by the world itself.
There was no telling what kind of convenient miracles might happen in his favor.
The best way to deal with the protagonist was simple—don’t get involved.
No good impressions, no bad impressions. Just pure indifference.
“About earlier… You protected me, didn’t you?”
“Hah, don’t be stupid. That girl was just annoying, that’s all. I couldn’t care less about you.”
“I see… But, I was happy. So, um… Thank you.”
Allen smiled gently with his androgynous face.
“I just really wanted to say that… See you later.”
He waved shyly and returned to his seat.
—Thump.
My heart skipped a beat.
(Damn it, he’s actually a really good guy…!)
Back in the real world, if I had a friend like that… maybe life would have been a lot more fun.