The Heroines All Want to Kill Me

"...Then, I'll take my leave first."

"...Alright."

It was not until the early morning that I managed to pull myself together and let Kanria, who had been comforting me, go to the classroom first. In fact, my physical condition hadn't fully recovered yet. It would have been great if I could have her support, but that might arouse suspicion towards Kanria. So, although it was a bit strenuous, it was more beneficial for our future plans to let her go first and hide our relationship.

"...Sigh."

With these thoughts in mind, I opened the skill store and began to browse for the skills I urgently needed at the moment.

- Life Recovery Speed Increase 1000pt

Description) Permanently increase the life recovery speed slightly. (Total health points will not increase)

"...Seems like I have to buy this now."

Today is the highly anticipated practical assessment day. So, if I want to endure Irina's attacks, I really need to purchase this skill.

"...Oh."

Thinking this way, I clicked to buy the skill. Somehow, my body immediately felt full of energy. Although it was just a slight increase and I didn't have high expectations, after all, it was a 1000 - point skill. It really lived up to its value.

"...I hope Irina's fireball can hit me."

I closed my eyes, feeling the vitality surging throughout my body. Then I started rummaging through my backpack, worried about Irina.

"...Well, this should be fine."

Before long, I took out the three bottles of top - grade magic potions I bought in the back alley on my way back to the dormitory from the church yesterday. Without hesitation, I opened the caps and gulped them down in one go.

"...Ugh."

I thought top - grade potions would taste good, but they were incredibly disgusting. I almost vomited, but if I did, tens of thousands of gold coins would be wasted. So I forced myself to swallow them, and immediately felt my abdomen heating up.

'...This should be enough.'

I closed my eyes, feeling the magic power gathering in my body. Sensing that a sufficient amount had been accumulated, a faint smile appeared on my lips. This starlight magic power should be enough to help Irina. Although Irina has always been eager to take my life, if I don't share my magic power with her, her grades will plummet... Then the plot might deviate. I've done my best to avoid variables, but things have still gone off - track. If Irina is downgraded or expelled, the consequences would be disastrous. So, I must act as much as possible according to what's written in the prophecy book...

'...According to what's written in the prophecy book?'

As I was sorting out my thoughts and preparing to go to the classroom, I suddenly stopped in my tracks when I thought of the prophecy book.

"...Alas."

I tried to suppress the turmoil in my heart, let out a deep sigh, and then with a serious expression, muttered in a low voice.

'The content of the prophecy book has already deviated in two places... Should I still act according to it?'

The prophecy book indeed didn't mention that all the heroines would regain their memories as a punishment when I returned. Although I was very puzzled by this, I always tried to comfort myself, thinking that it might be some variable that even my ancestors couldn't have predicted at work. However, now even Perosh's setting has gone wrong.

'According to the description in the prophecy book and my memory, Perosh has always been a simple and stupid person. When she was a child, she drank the medicine I gave her without hesitation. When I told her to go to the church, she walked towards the church with a smile, without any suspicion. However, in today's dream, she shouted at the young me in a firm voice, saying she would "expose" my evil deeds. This is the same Perosh who couldn't even distinguish between "captive" and "expose" and even asked me for grammar advice in the threatening letter. Of course, if today's dream was just an ordinary dream, it wouldn't matter... But seeing my beloved sword fade in just one day, it's obvious that some kind of thought - form residing in the sword intervened. Then... If that dream was really the truth, if I think my all - knowing ancestors were wrong, and if following the prophecy book is wrong, what should I do? Should I really follow the prophecy book, the system, and my memory?'

"...."

I stood there in a daze for a long time, thinking hard, but in the end, I still couldn't find an answer. Because denying the prophecy book and the system... means denying everything I've done so far. Moreover, if I deny all of this, I might no longer be able to maintain my sanity... So I decided to put aside this bother temporarily until more definite evidence emerged.

'...It's still within the controllable range for now. Currently, I can still handle it.'

Just like that, I barely convinced myself, let out a deep sigh, and walked out of the dormitory.

.....

"Attention everyone. Now, I will explain the precautions for the practical assessment."

All the students in Class A had gathered in the training ground.

""....""

Immediately after, a suffocating murderous aura began to pervade the air. I was wondering what was going on when I saw Klana, Perosh, and Irina staring at me with eyes that seemed to want to kill me. It was no surprise for Klana and Irina, but I never expected that even the pure Saintess would look at me with such murderous eyes.

"...Pay attention! You over there, all of you, focus!"

Just like that, they stared at me for a while. After hearing Isolte's scolding, they finally shifted their gazes from me to Isolte. I silently expressed my gratitude to Isolte, who had given me a temporary breather, and started checking the following script.

Today, I must find a way to lose to Irina. After being defeated by her, I will have to play the role of a proud and arrogant dandy who is forced to transfer his magic power to a low - born commoner because of a death oath. Of course, when transferring the magic power, I must only give her enough to prevent her from repeating a year of study within a year. Otherwise, my mortality rate will skyrocket.

"...Let me repeat. Mysterious monsters have emerged all over the country recently."

While I was thinking about these things, Isolte began to use a sound - amplifying magic item to spread her voice throughout the entire training ground.

"Although the Knights can hold them off for a while currently, if the number of monsters continues to increase, one day even the capital where we live will be in danger."

This was absolutely true. At this moment, the aftermath of the Demon King's awakening should have swept across the entire empire, and monsters were starting to emerge everywhere. These monsters would rampage across this land devastated by the great famine, wandering around and causing a large number of casualties. By then, half of the empire's people would die of famine, and the other half would be trampled or devoured by monsters. Of course, the lords would only be busy protecting their own property and turn a blind eye to the sufferings of the common people. Oh, the world was as despairing as ever.

""Therefore, according to the empire's new policy, I will train you to become the shields that protect the empire. And the first step is this practical assessment."

While Isolte calmly exposed the true face of the corrupt empire, she coldly scanned the crowd and continued, "So, this assessment will be in the form of 'full - scale actual combat'."

Seeing the children looking confused, Isolte added briefly, "...Prepare to kill each other."

After saying these words, Isolte finished explaining the precautions, sat back in her seat, and a heavy silence immediately fell over the surroundings.

"Then... The first group, Klana Sola Rising Sun and Perosh Astrad, please come forward."

In such a heavy atmosphere, Isolte announced the start of the assessment in a low voice.

"Miss Perosh. I'll say it again. This isn't a game..."

"...I know."

"Hmm?"

"...I won't be manipulated foolishly anymore."

After saying that, the two stood on the training ground with serious expressions and started a conversation. Usually, one could hear the cute and funny bickering between Klana and Perosh, but at this moment, Perosh just had a cold face, gathering divine power in her hands, ready to face the battle.

"...Ugh."

Looking at her, a wave of nausea welled up in my heart - both guilty for turning that innocent and lovely girl into what she was now, and recalling the terrifying look of her in today's dream, combined with the image of her so different from the past in my memory. These emotions intertwined and made me feel uncomfortable.

- Beep!!

I shook my head, trying to dispel my thoughts. At this time, Isolte's horn sounded. Immediately after, the Empress and the Saintess clashed fiercely. For a moment, I was worried whether they had used the protection of the Sun God, but upon closer inspection, the Empress's attack containing sunlight magic power was blocked by a white shield.

- Whoosh...

Seeing this, Klana nimbly retreated and began to gather sunlight magic power at her fingertips, while Perosh started to gather divine power in her palm.

'...Do they want to decide the winner in one go?'

The energy was so massive that I thought they were going to have a decisive battle. Just then, their attacks collided violently in mid - air.

'...Ah, so that's their plan.'

At that moment, the huge energy fragments that collided in mid - air began to fly towards me. If I was directly hit by those fragments, it would probably take ten weeks to recover.

".....!"

The surprised Kanria quietly gathered dark magic in her hand, but I gently shook my head to stop her.

- Don't worry! Because just as the fragments were about to touch me, I had already foreseen that Isolte's sword qi would fly over and sweep those fragments away.

"...For unexpected situations like this, I can fully handle them. So you can feel free to use powerful skills. Then, let's continue."

As soon as Isolte's indifferent words fell, those women who looked regretful threw themselves into the battle again. Perhaps this was just a strategy made with the mindset of 'it would be great if it works, but it doesn't matter if it doesn't'... But even so, it was quite threatening.

'...By the way, this isn't fatal yet. It seems Kanria was right.'

The primary goal of the "Heroine Alliance" that Kanria mentioned was to "destroy" me. As for the reason, they thought that directly killing someone like me who had once destroyed the world was too merciful. It was really "touching" enough to make one burst into tears.

"...Ah!!"

While thinking like this, I silently watched the battle. Before long, Klana's fist containing sunlight magic power hit Perosh, and the victory was unexpectedly easily decided. If it was the original Perosh who extremely hated pain, she would never have allowed herself to take this blow head - on. However, for some reason, Perosh forcefully rushed in front of Klana and was hit by a fatal blow.

"...Ugh."

Perosh trembled, clutching her stomach for a long time. Then she gritted her teeth and struggled to stand up.

"What... happened to you..."

"I... I... will never... be used again..."

"....."

But obviously, just relying on willpower couldn't withstand the impact of this blow. Before long, she fainted. Seeing that scene, I felt guilty for turning the once - pure her into that appearance and tried hard to shift my gaze downward.

"...This is the victory of Klana Sola Rising Sun. Then, the next group, get ready."

Before long, Isolte's calm voice came. The exhausted Perosh was carried out by the teaching assistants.

"Master, is there something wrong with you..."

"...Shh."

Kanria beside me asked in a soft voice, but I tried to push her away and started to adjust my expression. Judging from the way Kanria was biting her lips, my expression must have been extremely terrible.

.....

After that, several duels took place one after another, but most of them were decided in one round. This was because the nobles were too incompetent and the commoners were too outstanding. However, the duel between Kanria and Ariana was quite interesting. Although the victory finally went to Ariana, who completely trapped Kanria with a protective shield, if Kanria could use dark magic, the outcome would have been hard to say. By the way, it was a pity that Serena wasn't there. If she were here, one could see her unique skill of predicting all the opponent's attack routes and subduing them with just one finger again...

「...No, what's there to be pity about.」

Thinking carefully, if Serena were also present now, I'm afraid I would have died long ago. Thinking this way, her absence shouldn't be a pity but rather something to be rejoice at about. However, Serena should be back at school soon. So... I have to find a way to prepare countermeasures against her.

"...The next group, Frey Rahn Starlight and Irina Filiad, please come forward."

While I was sorting out my thoughts, before I knew it, it was my turn to face Irina.

"...Are you ready to become my slave?"

"..."

I sauntered up to Irina and said in a sarcastic tone. She immediately glared at me with sharp eyes. I calmly met her gaze, then leaned close to her ear and whispered softly, "By the way, next time I plan to hug your friend... Can you give me some advice then?"

"Woo..."

Irina gritted her teeth.

"...Then, I'll count on you?"

I looked at her with a slightly mocking expression, reached out to wipe the blood oozing from the corner of her mouth, and then walked towards the training ground, lost in thought.

'...Should this be enough?'

The angrier Irina Filiad gets, the stronger her power becomes. This isn't just a metaphor but a genuine 'official setting'. Even the great magic that once severely damaged the non - human king, the Demon King, was born out of the grief and anger of losing her close friend Ariana. This alone is enough to explain everything. So, even if she is currently in a state of magic power exhaustion, as long as she is this angry, it's entirely possible for her to hit me with a fireball.

- Beep!!

Thinking of this, I realized that Irina had already entered the training ground and was staring at me intently. Immediately after, Isolte's whistle sounded.

"...Sigh!"

Before the horn sound ended, seven fireballs appeared above Irina's head.

"Wait... S, seven?"

"What... How could that underachiever..."

The people around started whispering. In this atmosphere, Irina looked at me with a face full of hatred and said, "Although... I don't have enough power to kill you... But I'll make you suffer as much as possible..."

"Um... Seven is a bit..."

"I'll kill you when my power recovers in a year. Before that, I'll leave you with burns that will make you struggle in pain."

"No, anyway, you can't... Sigh."

Being able to create seven fireballs in a state of magic power exhaustion, if the Magic Tower knew about it, the magicians would surely be excited to study it.

Although Irina had achieved such a remarkable feat, looking at her, my mood became more and more restless. Because in her current state, controlling seven fireballs was tantamount to courting death.

"...Ugh!"

Sure enough, when Irina tried to move the fireballs, her knees went weak and she knelt down on the ground.

"D, damn... Cough, cough..."

"Really, you could just throw a few fireballs casually, and we would have conceded... Why do you have to push yourself so hard?"

I looked at her with a reproachful gaze and suddenly noticed that Isolte and Klana were staring at me, who was standing still, with strange expressions. I gritted my teeth and started walking towards Irina.

"Ah!!"

"...Hah, I knew it. You think you can control fireballs?"

I quickly came to her and kicked her to the ground.

"No matter how much you struggle... Some things will never change... Irina."

"Don't call my name with your filthy mouth... You bastard..."

"Bastard? Soon you'll be my pet... Low - born thing."

"Ugh!!"

I grabbed her hair and slammed her hard to the ground. Irina glared at me with eyes full of hatred and muttered something.

"Woo..."

"Look carefully. This dirty muddy ground is where you belong."

"Woo... Woo..."

"What's wrong? You'll have to swallow even worse things in the future."

I quietly opened the bottle of refined magic potion hidden in my sleeve in advance, poured the potion on the ground, and then started provoking her, rubbing her face on the magic - soaked mud.

"Ugh, ugh..."

"What? Doesn't it feel good to be rubbed on the ground?"

"Cough, cough..."

"However, thinking carefully, this mud should feel even worse, right..."

"...What?"

"Even if this mud is full of bugs and filth... But being rubbed by a low - born thing like you, it must feel even worse, right?"

After saying these words, I turned around and walked towards the exit of the training ground, leaving her still retching behind me, and praying in my heart.

"...Please, please hit me just once."

While praying that she could successfully create a fireball and hit me accurately, I walked forward. Suddenly, a scorching heat came from behind. I raised the corners of my mouth into a knowing smile and turned around to look.

- Boom!!

At that moment, the first fireball hit my body right on target.

"Ugh...!" Struck directly by the fireball, a sense of relief washed over me, for I could finally lose to Irina. However, the excruciating pain, far beyond what I had anticipated, left me utterly bewildered. I tumbled backward, my body hitting the ground hard.

'...Why does it hurt so much?'

Although a fireball is a rather menacing spell, the power of a single one isn't all that great in reality. Unlike a meteor, which wields astonishing destructive force on its own, a fireball prevails through rapid successive launches and sheer quantity. But this one... It seemed more like a miniature meteor than an ordinary fireball. Truly, even in a state of depleted magic power, the future great mage was still extraordinary.

"Ah, it hurts so much!!" As I thought this, I rolled around on the muddy ground. Then, wiping away my tears, I managed to stand up. At that very moment, two fireballs hurtled straight towards my face.

"Ugh! It's so hot, it's killing me!!" I "gladly" took those two fireballs, rolling on the muddy ground once again. And I began to spout the third - rate villain lines I had long prepared.

"How, how dare you... You low - born woman... How dare you do this to me...!" Although my hands and feet were almost curling up in pain as I uttered these words, the effect of such lines was immediate. Just by seeing the instant distortion of the commoner students' expressions after I said this, it was evident.

"...How does it feel to be knocked to the ground by a low - born commoner and roll around in the mud?"

"Cough, cough..."

"...Get up. It's not over yet."

"Uh... What...?"

Just like that, I rolled around in the mud for quite a while, muttering childish lines. Hearing Irina's words, I staggered to my feet and then froze in place.

- Rumble...

"Ah!" This time, a full three fireballs came flying towards me.

"Uh... Ugh..." Although I curled up in agony, I couldn't help but admire her. Even with my assistance, she was able to control three fireballs simultaneously in a state of magic - power exhaustion. I had intended to feign losing consciousness, but...

"Get up... There's... still one more..." Hearing her voice filled with hatred, I smiled bitterly and dragged my battered body to stand up.

'As expected of the Brave. Even with a significant reduction in lifespan and vitality, I should be able to endure this blow, right?'

Of course, if I took this blow as well, I might really lose consciousness. However, the evil deeds I had committed against Irina... No, from her perspective, they were malicious crimes. If she desired this, I ought to bear this strike.

"Ah, it's not over yet... That bitch..." While uttering these vile words, I struggled to my feet, gritting my teeth as I awaited the last fireball she was about to launch...

"T, take this... And go to hell..."

"I'll cut you with a knife..."

- Thud

"...Huh?"

Irina, who had been on the verge of launching the last fireball at me, suddenly stumbled a few steps and then lost consciousness, collapsing to the ground.

"....."

Then, a brief moment of silence ensued.

"I'll count to ten. Ten, nine, eight..."

'...Damn it. There's no other way now.'

Before long, Isolte started counting down. In a panic, I had no choice but to muster up my courage and use the life - force transmission brooch dedicated to Kanria, which was pinned to my chest, in an attempt to wake Irina up...

- Crackle!!

Suddenly, a huge and mysterious magic circle emerged on the training ground where Irina and I were. It began to exude a faint light. I furrowed my brows and tightened my grip on my sword.

"...What's going on?"

Immediately after, a dazzling light burst forth from the magic circle, engulfing both Irina and me in an instant.

"I, I bought a restoration scroll, didn't I...!?" Amid the blinding light, I heard Ariana's panicked cry, and then I unconsciously lost consciousness...

.....

"Ugh..." Holding my faintly aching head, I slowly opened my eyes. Towering trees loomed before me.

".....?" I widened my eyes in astonishment and looked around. Instead of the students and examiners in the training ground, I found myself in a gloomy forest.

"...Damn it." I stared blankly at the scene before me and couldn't help but curse. Because I realized that, according to the script in the prophecy book, the place I was in now should be the "Ashen Forest," which would only appear in the middle and later stages of the "game" - a lair teeming with all kinds of monsters.

"What... on earth is going on...?" I stood up before I fully understood the situation. Suddenly, my foot was tripped by something, and I was so startled that I looked down.

"...." There, I saw Irina, who had lost consciousness, breathing rapidly.

"...This is insane." It seemed that Irina and I, who was unconscious, had fallen into this den of monsters hundreds of kilometers away from the academy. At this point, I began to dread what would happen next.