I Became A Third-Rate Villain In The Hero Academy
chapter-74

TL/Editor: Raei

Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun

Illustrations: Here

"She's tied up."

Jang Woohee, who brought Melon secured with rope, looked at me.

"Um, good work," I responded, my eyes resting on the unconscious Melon that was now tightly bound.

······She was thoroughly tied up.

Not just her hands and feet, but even her thighs and shoulders were tightly tied with no room for wriggle.

She resembled a cocooned insect.

Noctar seemed impressed.

"Ho, even an orc can't move if it's tied up like that. But when will she wake up? It doesn't look like it'll be any time soon."

"She should remain in this state for at least ten minutes," I said, looking down at her with indifference.

She wasn't unconscious due to external injuries.

Assassins are usually accustomed to enduring pain, possessing high tenacity stats.

A seasoned veteran like Melon wouldn't faint from just a slight cut on her thigh or a superficial knife wound in the abdomen.

The cause of her fainting was the special effect of Moonflower's 'Moon Explosion'.

It induces a random abnormal state in the opponent when after a certain number of attacks or after dealing a certain level of damage.

The current abnormal state afflicting Melon is 'unconsciousness'.

'Of course, this is not the true ability of [Moonflower].'

An effect of this caliber isn't enough to consider it a legendary weapon.

Even in the original game, Moonflower is a legendary weapon bordering on the mythical grade.

There is another special effect.

Moon Murder.

An ability that can only be used once a year.

After reaching a certain number of attacks or dealing a certain level of damage, it literally 'destroys' the target.

Though it's overwhelmingly powerful, I cannot use it.

Only individuals with a special bloodline can wield it.

In this regard, only Jang Woohee and her father—the leader of Equilibrium—can use it in the original game.

The reason why the leader of Equilibrium earned a reputation as the best assassin on the continent was, to some extent, due to Moonflower.

······I say 'to some extent' because Jang Woohee's father is a monster, even without Moonflower.

The special effect of Moonflower only matters if it lands on the opponent; if it misses, it's worthless.

Even without Moonflower, the man could take on a top-ranking hero team solo.

"Uh, ugh..."

Melon woke up.

She quickly surveyed her condition, glanced at our team, and mumbled with her head hanging low.

"······Are you going to kill me?"

"Yes," I replied, crossing my arms and looking down at her.

"There doesn't seem to be any mages around. What trick did you use? That flash of light before my eyes-"

"Too much talking," I interjected, cutting off Melon's words.

Melon let a resigned sigh.

"······sigh. I thought if I were ever caught, it would be by the professors or third or fourth-year students from the Hero Department. Yet I'm caught by five first years..."

Melon, resigned to her fate, continued to mumble.

Despite facing death, she kept talking.

'Hmm. Just as expected.'

Just like in the original game, Melon wasn't a high-ranking member of 'Turning White'.

Her position was only slightly higher than Francis'.

'It would be better to spare her life.'

In the original game, Neike accidentally killed her.

But things are different now.

Most importantly... taking Melon's life now wouldn't be beneficial.

On the contrary, it could lead to bigger problems.

If Melon was cut off from 'Turning White', they might send someone stronger to the academy.

Melon kept rambling.

"······sigh. I should have just stuck to what I was doing. I got involved in this thinking I would become rich-"

"We can let you live," I cut her off.

"······what?"

Melon looked up at me, eyes wide.

"Of course, it's up to you. Are you interested?"

"······."

Melon's gaze darted back and forth.

"Answer me."

But no matter how much she mulled it over, the answer would remain the same.

Nothing is more important than life.

In this situation, there's only one answer.

"······Spare me."

"······."

I calmly stared at her.

However, a powerful aura emanating from both my enhanced [Twisted Noble's Dignity] and [Natural Power] burst forth.

Even Jang Woohee and Amy, who were on my side, were taken aback.

Melon cried out with a terrified expression.

"Spare me. Ah, no. Please spare me! I... I don't want to die yet. As I said before, I only joined because they promised a lot of money. I had no ill intentions! Please, please... save me. Huhuhuk······."

Melon sobbed violently, writhing in distress.

I furrowed my brow.

"······You're noisy."

"I-I'm so, so sorry. Huhuk. But... please, please... show mercy. In fact, since being deployed at the academy, I haven't killed anyone."

A tear hung from her lower eyelid.

Of course, I didn't believe in such tears.

What mattered was whether she could be of help to me.

"Where is your hideout?"

"Ah. Th-that... If you, if you walk north for about 5 minutes, you should see a big tree───”

Melon immediately disclosed its location.

It was exactly where it was in the original game.

I arrived at Melon's hideout without delay.

It was a run-down log cabin, hidden by tall trees and overgrown grass.

The reason for coming here was simple.

'There should be something worth taking.'

Since Francis had the [Amplification Orb], it was highly likely that Melon possessed something comparable.

In the original game, she met an accidental death by falling off a steep cliff, so the item was never revealed.

I'd checked her earlier without success, so it must be here.

"Hmm."

I inspected the cramped log cabin carefully with my enhanced [Observer's Eye].

Shortly after, I noticed an oddity on the floor.

'There it is.'

A small irregularity that would've escaped an ordinary [Observer's Eye].

Creak--

I gently pried open the wooden cover on the floor.

Inside lay two small daggers.

I recognized them instantly.

'Romeo' and 'Juliet'.

A pair of daggers crafted by a famous dwarf artisan.

This game does love its references, even when it comes to naming daggers... Haaah.

Anyway, these paired daggers are sturdier and sharper than ordinary ones.

However, their true value shines when used for throwing.

As one can guess from their names, these daggers do not like to be separated.

So, a magic has been cast on them, allowing them to return to each other.

Of course, you need to charge it with magic power exactly like [Magic Cartridge].

'So, it was here.'

I pocketed 'Romeo and Juliet'.

A quite useful item.

Though it's a hero-grade item, it can be handier than most legend-grade items, depending on how it's used.

Perfect for exploiting an enemy's weak point.

An unexpected dagger throw could catch an opponent off guard.

Sure, for others, mastering throwing might be a challenge, but I have the [Observer's Eye].

Around me, there is Jang Woohee, Amy, and Eshild who possess excellent throwing skills.

By observing and practicing their skills, I can apply them in combat in no time.

'It's a shame I can only use these when no one's watching.'

Bringing external items or artifacts is only permitted from the third year onwards.

The [Amplification Orb] I frequently use is small and less likely to be found... but 'Romeo and Juliet' aren't as easy to hide.

Yet, they're too valuable to leave behind.

Either way, I've hit the jackpot.

Creeeeak...

With a bounce in my step, I emerged from the hideout and reunited with my team.

"······What happened?"

Melon lay curled up at my feet.

"Oh, Theo's here? After you left, she kept babbling about offering us a treasure if we untied her. So, I made sure she couldn't talk."

Noctar grinned proudly.

Melon lay unconscious, drool trickling from her mouth.

There were no visible injuries.

She probably received a solid orc beating.

"······I see."

...

"Let's go back. Jang Woohee, tightly tie her behind the tree."

"Understood."

So, we securely bound Melon and boarded a carriage back to the Academy.

'I need to meet Rok.'

I have to persuade Melon so that 'Turning White' believes nothing happened, but we can't keep her bound like this.

***

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