I Became A Third-Rate Villain In The Hero Academy
chapter-301

Theo calmly looked at a chair covered with cloth.

Nay urged Theo on.

─I'm terribly curious about what's inside! With such a high concentration of mana... Kid, go ahead and uncover it.

─It's not good behavior to tamper with someone else's belongings, Nay.

─And yet, you, being so moral, have taken all the hidden pieces and artifacts that a kid named Neike should have.

Nay was well aware not only of the fact that Theo was a possessor but also of everything he had done since the possession.

Theo protested.

─Those were items Neike did not need. It was also questionable whether Neike could have taken them. More than anything, it's not like I stole something Neike had.

Theo felt it was unfair.

Things like [Natural Power] and [Magic Cartridge] were things Neike could do without using anyway.

But to Nay, Theo's words sounded like cowardly excuses.

─Tsk, tsk, tsk... Kid, I never taught you to be like that. A man full of excuses is uncool. It would be cooler to act boldly and say, 'Do you have a problem with me taking it?'

─...

Theo quickly assessed the situation.

'Adding more words would get me nowhere.'

So, instead of protesting further,

─I'll ask Sonya if it's okay to uncover it.

─Good! Ask until you get permission. If she refuses, use the secret method I told you about.

Theo furrowed his brows. The method Nay mentioned had been bizarre.

─Cornering a woman against a wall and hitting the wall hard... Does that actually work? I'd be lucky not to be called a madman. The times have changed since the era of the Great Princess of Ashes.

─Hey, you! I said that title makes me uncomfortable...! The secret method I told you about was criticized as outdated even in my time. But classics always work.

Theo responded vaguely.

─Well, alright. Looks like Sonya is going over there.

Sonya approached Theo, holding a device the size of an adult man's fist in her arms.

"Oh, have you been waiting long? Here, this is it. I wanted to show you!"

"It looks like the [External Mana Engine] I saw before."

"Yeah! It looks like we've reached our initial goal. Want to try it now? It's already synchronized, so you don't have to do it again!"

"Understood, Sonya."

Theo received a piece of paper filled with formulas from Sonya.

'If the first goal is... to be able to use 5th circle magic.'

Words that Sonya had said in the past clearly came to mind.

The first goal of this device is to use high-output magic of the 5th circle at least three times while weighing less than 3kg.

Theo immediately began casting the magic written on the paper.

The spell to be cast was the 5th circle [Hard Barrier]. Unlike ordinary barriers, this defensive magic can also block debuff spells.

[Hard Barrier], a considerably difficult 5th circle spell, was not hard for Theo to interpret thanks to his increased understanding of magical formulas every time he used [Elemental Sword] and [Magic Nullification].

As he muttered the formula, the power engine Sonya held glowed with blue light.

At the same time, a translucent barrier formed around Theo.

Sonya, eyes wide, asked Theo.

"Do, does it work? For testing, can I cast some magic on you, Theo?"

"Please do so."

Sonya quickly began casting her magic.

The first to come was [Wind Cutter], followed by [Fire Ball] flying towards Theo.

Swoosh.

The sharp blade of wind and the fireball could not penetrate Theo's solid barrier and vanished.

Sonya said,

"This time, it's debuff magic!"

Sonya cast the next spell.

The spells she cast were [Confusion] and [Fear]. Being affected by these two spells simultaneously, even someone with a strong heart would show it outwardly.

However, Theo was fine. He stood in place, maintaining his upright posture and expressionless face as before.

Seeing this, Sonya's face filled with joy.

"Su, success!"

Theo smiled faintly, joining in her celebration.

"It looks like it. Congratulations, Sonya."

"No, no! Without your help, Theo, it wouldn't have been successful so quickly!"

"That's too much praise. After all, it was Sonya who achieved it."

Sonya smiled broadly, lifting both corners of her mouth.

Soon after, she slapped her cheeks.

"No, no...! It's too early to be happy... Get a grip, Sonya!"

Sonya said to Theo,

"Theo. How about we go outside and test some other magic? The goal is to be able to use up to three 5th circle magics!"

"Let's do that."

Sonya and Theo went outside.

Upon reaching a quiet open space, Theo sequentially cast the 5th circle explosion magic [Magic Rocket] and the 5th circle manipulation magic [Rise].

Both spells were successfully cast.

Sonya jumped up and down on the spot, overjoyed.

"It worked, it worked! Success with all different types of magic!"

Theo, chuckling at Sonya's laughter, returned to the room with her.

Sonya offered the [External Mana Engine] to Theo.

"Thanks, Theo. Take this. I wanted to gift it to you first."

Theo smiled genuinely.

'With this, I can somewhat participate in magical battles.'

With [Magic Cartridge] and [Elemental Sword] at hand, I should be able to take on an average mage in magic combat.

As Theo received the power engine from Sonya, he slightly bowed his head to her.

"Thank you, Sonya."

"Ye, yeah! Let me quickly show you how to use it. After using three spells, you'll need to replenish the mana stone in the device..."

Theo briefly learned how to use the [External Mana Engine] from Sonya.

After listening to her explanation, Theo said,

"Sonya, I have a question."

"What, what is it? Ask away!"

Theo pointed to a chair covered with cloth.

"What is that item? It looks extraordinary."

Theo hoped she would tell him straight away.

'I really don't want to do something embarrassing like cornering someone against a wall.'

Fortunately, Sonya answered immediately.

"Oh, that? It's a robot."

"A robot?"

"Yes. Remember when you collected the remains of a robot for me? I've been researching and developing based on that. It's really an amazing thing."

"At first glance, it looks quite different from the robots I know."

"Yes. It's really an amazing thing, but the initial creator missed or inadequately handled some parts, from the robot's learning system to the core magic power operation methods... Anyway, I've been tweaking those parts whenever I can."

Theo decided to get to the point. Seeing it once is better than hearing a scientist's hard-to-understand explanations a hundred times.

"May I take a look at it?"

Sonya fidgeted with her fingers.

"Ah, um... It's still incomplete, so I'm a bit embarrassed to show it..."

Theo, like Nay, was very curious about what the robot under the cloth looked like.

Theo stepped closer to Sonya, with a serious look in his eyes.

"Please, Sonya."

"Ah, uh... Still... I wanted to show you only the good parts. Call it a creator's greed... I haven't had much time to work on it because I was finishing the [External Mana Engine]..."

Step, step.

Theo silently moved closer to Sonya.

As he took steps forward, Sonya stepped backward.

Thump.

Suddenly, Sonya found herself cornered against the wall.

"Ah..."

There was a wall behind her. There was no more space to move back.

With a serious gaze, Theo lowered himself to match Sonya's eye level. They were close enough to hear each other's breathing.

Theo looked intently at Sonya and said in a low voice,

"Please, Sonya."

"Ah, uh, ah... Okay! I'll, I'll show you, so just stop..."

"Okay."

Theo immediately stepped back from Sonya. His movement was sharp and clean, as if cut with a knife.

'Phew. I almost had to do the wall thing.'

To achieve his goal, he was willing to do any embarrassing act.

Although he wouldn't readily admit it, that was the kind of man Theo Lyn Waldeurk was.

"Ha... Ha, ha..."

Sonya's face turned as red as a tomato.

She stood still, took deep breaths, and calmed her trembling body.

After a while, Sonya went to the chair covered with cloth.

She clenched her mouth shut, then opened it.

"Don't be disappointed..."

"Of course."

─Oh... Finally! Kid, I'm very excited.

Sonya removed the cloth covering the chair.

There sat a girl who appeared to be about fourteen years old, with long silver hair, her eyes closed.

Theo's eyes widened.

'She's like a human. There's no way to tell she's a machine from the joints or seams.'

Then, smoothly,

The girl opened her eyes. She had ruby-red pupils.

Sonya was flustered.

"Uh, huh...? I didn't even activate it, why is it moving...?"

Regardless, the girl only stared at Theo.