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Join the ServerIn a few days, it would be time for the freshmen of the grade to undergo their combat training.
The teachers would lead the students through a spatial magic circle created by the academy head, Luche, transporting them to a wilderness occupied by magical beasts.
In this world, besides conflicts between humans, there was also the struggle between humans and magical beasts, if anything, the latter made up the greater part.
These beasts were the servants of demons. From studying the history of this world, Lila learned that fifty years ago, demons had once descended upon the world.
That event was known as the Catastrophe of Despair.
The demons united the previously scattered magical beasts into an unstoppable army, directing them to attack the nearest nations. Wherever they passed, the creations of civilization vanished, leaving behind nothing but ruins.
And corpses, gnawed down to scraps.
The tide of beasts swept across the continent like the whip of a god, carving paths of death for human life.
Over time, the lands they passed through became paradises for beasts, and hells for humans.
Only when the savior hero Hughes sacrificed his life to drive the demons out of the world did humanity begin to recover, slowly rebuilding strength and reclaiming land from those dark territories.
Yet even now, human territory had not reached even half of what it was before the catastrophe.
Thus, every nation placed extreme importance on children with magical talent, and the status of mages continued to rise.
After all, they were the key to expanding territory.
In just a few days, Lila’s class would be transported to a border near the wilderness of some nation for real combat training.
To let Simon focus on training, Lila, acting as the manager, told him the shop would temporarily close due to “other matters.”
Fortunately, the maid-and-butler café had earned quite a bit over the past few days. Simon should be able to live comfortably for a while.
Not that Lila cared about Simon.
The truth was, only if Simon stayed alive could she continue extracting life force to sustain herself.
And avoid falling back into the despair of slowly draining life.
Over these days, under Lila’s guidance, and punishment, Simon trained his fundamentals while gradually learning various sword techniques.
To be honest, Simon wasn’t a genius. His rapid progress was purely the result of relentless practice. Under Lila’s supervision, he swung his sword day and night without rest.
If he hadn’t improved under those conditions, that would have been the real joke.
“Simon, during tomorrow’s combat training, you are to come find me immediately upon arrival.”
Lila suddenly said this to the sweat-soaked Simon.
“Why?”
Perhaps due to exhaustion dulling his mind, Simon asked without thinking.
He immediately felt a chill.
In situations like this, the spoiled young lady had every reason to punish him. Simon knew well that everything depended on Lila’s mood. When she was in a bad mood, even if he did nothing wrong, he would still suffer harsh punishment.
He had long since learned that lesson.
All he could do was hope she was in a good mood today.
“You are my servant. No matter the time, your duty is to come to your master and await orders.”
This time, Lila didn’t take the opportunity to punish him. She simply spoke in an impatient, domineering tone.
She wasn’t someone who truly derived joy from bullying others. She wasn’t the kind of villain she once imagined in her past life.
Being a bad person didn’t mean she had to bully others. If she could simply live selfishly and enjoy wealth in peace, that would have been enough.
But she didn’t have that luxury.
At least, she could be grateful the goddess hadn’t chosen someone overwhelmingly powerful, otherwise, she might have been the one being bullied instead.
In that sense, she was quite satisfied with Simon.
His resentment… his unwilling submission…
That was exactly what she needed.
“Yes, miss.”
As always, Simon chose to endure.
If he ever became a great mage, he would return all this pain, all this resentment, tenfold, to this witch.
Thinking this, Simon gritted his teeth, enduring the soreness in his muscles as he swung his sword even harder.
Watching the blade carve silver arcs through the air, he imagined striking Lila herself.
His resentment fueled his strength.
‘Someday… one day…’
These thoughts would become reality.
He couldn’t help but believe it.
“That’s enough for today.”
Lila yawned, pretending to be tired.
But Simon didn’t want to stop.
“Miss, you should go rest first. Thank you for your ‘guidance.’ If I want to graduate, I need to keep working.”
And to repay the humiliation he suffered now, he had to keep going.
His eyes, hidden beneath messy hair, stared at Lila’s retreating red figure, no longer concealing the resentment within.
He continued swinging his sword.
It was the only thing he could do, unable to use magic.
Not far away, Lila hadn’t actually left. She stood hidden in a blind spot, secretly observing him.
Then, a man appeared before her, darkening her expression.
“Why do I keep running into you? Are you stalking me, you creepy old man?”
Ulysses, now upgraded from “old man” to “creepy old man,” felt speechless.
Why was this girl’s mouth so sharp?
“Can’t I care about my students?”
“I don’t need concern from a creepy old man.”
Lila looked utterly disgusted.
“What part made you add ‘creepy’ this time?”
Being called “old man” was already bad enough.
“I heard the great Sword Saint confesses to girls he just met.”
Before seeing it herself, Lila had thought such rumors were false. Now she knew they were true.
“You wouldn’t understand.” Ulysses scratched his nose awkwardly. “Love at first sight is the purest form of love.”
“I wonder how many girls you’ve ‘loved at first sight.’”
Lila now looked at him as if he were an insect.
“Let’s change the subject,” Ulysses quickly said.
“What do you want to talk about?”
Lila asked, bored.
“You’re deliberately making that boy hate you, aren’t you? I don’t get it. You single him out, bully him—but everything you teach him is real.”
He paused.
“Aren’t you afraid he’ll take revenge?”
Lila let out a cold laugh.
“Isn’t it interesting to watch a pet struggle with hope?”
“But he really is improving. He may not have your talent, but persistence and effort are talents too.”
Lila agreed with that.
Ordinary people wouldn’t have Simon’s level of dedication.
Still, she maintained a proud expression.
“He won’t surpass me.”
“That’s not certain,” Ulysses said after a pause. “But I don’t think you’re that kind of person.”
Lila remained expressionless.
“Then your judgment is wrong. I am that kind of person.”
If she truly took pleasure in Simon’s suffering, then she wouldn’t feel that tiny…
Infinitesimal…
Almost dust-like sense of guilt.
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