The mornings at Weathered Royal Academy are early.
Many aspiring knights and magicians dedicate themselves to their studies, striving to excel beyond their peers. The academy, therefore, opens its gates early, making it accessible to students.
Amidst the students’ clamor, Drew Zimmer huddled behind the school building, trembling with his knees pulled to his chest.
There were many reasons, but the most significant was Jared Murphy.
He was supposed to have degraded Jared under the orders of Emilia Alway, the fourth daughter of the Alway Ducal Family. However, he failed. Not only that, but he made the blunder of reconciling Laurentz Herring, with whom he had been on bad terms, and Jared. Because of this, the rumors about Jared and Olivier grew no larger.
It went without saying that Drew’s failure angered Emilia.
Drew knew that Emilia didn’t have much power to wield the authority of the Ducal Family. Nevertheless, for Drew, whose family had fallen from nobility to commoners, Emilia’s power was something to be feared.
What’s more, she had promised to introduce him to noble children who possessed magic power if he obeyed her. Believing he could regain his noble status if this came to pass, he had tried to manipulate the good-natured Laurentz, but it didn’t work out.
Although Emilia gave him one last chance, it was an unreasonable demand to harm Jared’s surroundings.
Still, it was better than being ordered to kill Jared.
Jared, whose combat experience was extensive from actively taking on requests like monster subjugation, was exempted from classes by the Mage Association in exchange for his skills being recognized. An inexperienced person like Drew, whose combat experience was limited to practical classes, could never win against him, no matter how hard he tried.
“—I’ll definitely be killed!”
Even so, if he touched anyone around Jared, he was sure to face retaliation. It would probably be a far worse fate than attacking Jared himself.
However, Drew was out of options. And he couldn’t move forward either.
Though it was his own fault, Drew’s thoughts, paralyzed by fear, were focused on how to escape his current predicament.
Laurentz had called out to him a few times, but he knew it was useless. It was obvious Laurentz, who was on Jared’s side, wouldn’t help him.
“I have no choice…!”
He had already decided on his target. Crysta Oken, the only commoner among Jared’s circle.
If he harmed her, Emilia would be satisfied. Jared would be furious, but Drew believed Emilia would protect him with the power of the Ducal Family as promised.
He had tried to attack her many times. Thinking this was his chance while Jared was not at the academy, he had plotted to harm her again and again.
But he couldn’t.
Partly because Drew lacked the resolve, and partly because, as if by chance, Crysta was always with someone.
Not only Laurentz and Lars, but recently, she had also become close with Bertha and Kurt Bartholam, the siblings, preventing a decisive opportunity from arising.
He had repeatedly considered giving up and acting out recklessly without caring about the eyes of others. But even if he did, in his current state, Laurentz alone could easily subdue him.
He resented his lack of power. He hated himself for having to cower due to his weakness.
Above all, he hated Jared and others who believed possessing power was a given.
“I want power.”
“Then, I shall give you power.”
“—Huh?”
Surprised to receive a reply to his monologue, Drew looked up. Standing there was a boy with a gentle smile and a friendly aura.
“Who are you?”
“My identity is unimportant. More importantly, you—you want power, don’t you?”
“Why?”
“Is it because I know your troubles? Or is it because I’m offering to give you power?”
“Both.”
Drew, spitting out words curtly, was undoubtedly flustered.
It was understandable. A boy who suddenly appeared knew he desired power. Furthermore, he offered power, something unbelievable.
However, the current Drew had a desperate desire to escape his situation, clinging to anything.
“The reason I know your troubles is that I’ve been watching you struggle with them for quite some time. Poor thing. Emilia Alway, who gave you such harsh orders, has already forgotten about you. Did you know? She wants to marry Jared Murphy.”
“—Wh—!?”
“Surprised? Of course, you are. But it’s a terrible situation. While ordering you to kill Jared and harm his surroundings, she has forgotten those orders and is infatuated with him. Besides, how can she think of something so absurd as wanting to marry him after once trying to get rid of him as a nuisance?”
Drew was speechless.
Just as the boy said, he couldn’t believe who, having the audacity, would say Emilia wanted to marry Jared.
Most importantly, he couldn’t believe she had forgotten about him and acted as if her threatening orders never existed.
“Poor thing. You’ve been troubled, scared, and suffering. But no one noticed. You are someone who deserves more attention from everyone.”
The boy’s expression hinted at his empathy, as if he understood Drew’s feelings.
“I want to help you. I want to become your strength.”
“Really?”
“Of course! You are a victim, so you have the right to be saved. And I can save you. See? We were meant to meet.”
The boy’s words felt somewhat off. Yet, for Drew, they were warm words he hadn’t heard in a long time.
He even deluded himself into thinking that perhaps this boy could truly help him—
“I will give you power. The power to not fear Jared Murphy and to get revenge on Emilia Alway.”
“I, that kind of power?”
“Indeed. Don’t you want to defeat Jared Murphy?”
“…I do.”
“Don’t you want to get revenge on Emilia Alway?”
“I want revenge!”
As Drew uttered words filled with hatred, the boy’s lips stretched into a sly grin.
“Then I shall bestow power upon you. A very strong and formidable power. You should be perfectly capable of wielding it. And why not show everyone who looked down on you?”
Saying so, the boy extended a hand to the crouching Drew.
“So, what will you do?”
Drew’s answer—
