I Don’t Remember the Number of Regressions of the Villainesses Who Have Returned.

My body felt refreshingly clear of fatigue to an almost unpleasant degree as I attended my first class.

“The formulas here use Garkan’s theorem…”

‘How ordinary.’

Ordinary indeed.

The classroom looked just like university lecture halls I had seen in various media.

A giant chalkboard was at the front, and students sat in auditorium-like seats taking notes.

The only real difference was this:

“The decryption of the 3rd sequential activation spell connected here uses the Bargan Gorgir equation…”

The chalkboard was filled with massive magic formulas, and the professor used those formulas to activate magic right before our eyes.

Since I wasn’t an aura user, I was naturally assigned to the magic classes.

Even though I can’t even use magic.

“So, when you activate the connected formulas, the answer to this equation is…”

The huge formulas created by the professor’s hands started turning like cogwheels, connecting to each other. Like a factory, they sucked in mana and began manifesting something.

-Fwoosh

“A green flame like this will appear.”

Doesn’t this seem familiar?

You’re given an equation, and when you solve it, you get a predetermined answer.

‘Since when was math this flashy.’

Yes.

That’s math.

It’s called magic, but it’s really just flashy math. When given a set formula, you use an equation to properly fix and activate the spell formation.

Then when you pour mana into the spell formation like that, the magic designated as the answer is activated.

You just need to memorize those complex formulas, combine them, and weave them together again, which activates the commonly known ordinary magic.

Just think of it as math mixed with English.

If you want to activate magic?

Solve the math equations and memorize the English-style grammar to weave the equations together.

Then pour in third circle mana, and it’s complete!

‘……’

Damn it.

In this world, the minimum requirement to activate magic is three circles.

No matter how well you solve the equations, memorize the formations, and arrange them, if you don’t have that one thing, it won’t activate.

If I were to make an analogy, the three circles would represent the minimum power needed to start the engine of the car called magic.

Second circle mana is not enough, so the engine won’t start.

‘I need to quickly develop it…’

I definitely have to try making fire with my hands.

What man in a fantasy world can resist using Fireball.

-Ding~dong~

Lost in my thoughts, the 1st period ended before I knew it.

“For next time, your homework is to organize the theory for the rest of the spell fission equations.”

The professor gave us homework for next class before leaving.

‘Is this what university feels like too?’

I’ve never gone because I didn’t have money, but it seems like it would be similar.

—–

“The next class is swordsmanship.”

Maybe it’s because I used a sword during the duel, but swordsmanship was a required course for me.

“What do I do.”

Is there any way for me to survive?

Swordsmanship class is, as the name implies, a class to learn swordsmanship.

It’s a den of muscle heads filled with aura users.

Since it’s a gathering of people who use their bodies, most things are settled physically.

My body is already in shambles due to my short lifespan, so if I overexert myself surrounded by those types, I could literally create a fountain of blood.

Being in so much pain you wish you were dead is a bonus.

According to Aslan, I bled so much it looked like I was going to die…

“Anyway, the problem is Gwen.”

Gwen’s words echo in my head.

‘See you in swordsmanship class.’

What does that mean?

No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t figure out the intentions behind those words.

‘Doesn’t matter her intentions. I just need to avoid her.’

Right. The Academy’s classes have multiple professors for each subject.

From what I know, swordsmanship alone has over 4 professors in charge.

‘What are the chances of being in the same class as Gwen out of all those classes?

Pretty high chances, actually.

Furthermore, since Gwen is Aslan’s rival, the two are assigned to the same classes.

The Academy’s class assignments aren’t random but carefully decided by the professors based on data from the duels.

In other words, the likelihood of trash like me being placed in the same class as the two ducal heirs and the continent’s top swordsmanship prodigies is

—–

High.

“Oh! Aaron. Good morning!”

Not good, damn you Aslan.

After anxiously heading to the swordsmanship classroom, I felt like I was rolling gacha for a limited unit, and the eye-catching Aslan was waving to greet me.

“Good morning to you too, Sir Aslan.”

I couldn’t bring myself to ignore a ducal heir’s greeting, so I greeted him back through gritted teeth.

“Sir Aslan? Who is this person…”

A girl who had approached along with Aslan when he came up to me.

She tilted her head curiously, emphasizing her sparkling eyes.

“Ah, this here is Aaron, who was the subject of much talk yesterday in various ways.”

How kind of Aslan to introduce me before I could speak.

‘Can’t you just shut up?’

I can’t even tell a ducal heir to stop when he’s introducing me with a bright smile.

“Ah…so you’re that Aaron.”

The girl who had been expressing curiosity with bright eyes just moments ago immediately lowered her voice, showing a completely different side.

‘My value has changed.’

The rumors of Gwen approaching and my duel with Aslan must have spread and became distorted among the students, changing their image of me.

Rumors tend to transform drastically as they spread by word of mouth.

“I am Haina Griece of the Griece family.”

Haina Griece carefully offered a handshake.

However, I could sense ulterior motives in her gaze between her smiles.

“I’m Aaron Dight. As for my family…well, as you know, it’s fallen.”

“…I see.”

Haina hesitated for a moment before composing herself and releasing my hand from the handshake with force as if shaking off something dirty.

‘As if I haven’t experienced such blatant mind games countless times before.’

She probably revealed her family name first on purpose so that I would be forced to do the same, attempting to gain the upper hand in the conversation through the gazes of those around us.

But for me who has lived my life carrying the name tag of an orphan, this is an all too familiar situation.

“You… don’t seem to have much emotion about your fallen family?”

She asked bluntly, no longer trying to hide it.

“Are you curious about that?”

I indirectly told her to shut up if she knew what was good for her.

“Of course. It’s rare to meet a noble whose family has fallen.”

My my… Haina seems intent on pressing the issue directly.

With each word she spoke, I could feel the gazes intensifying.

Disgusting stares.

‘So you’ve decided to toy with me from day one?’

It seems my image among the nobles is something like a convenient rope to be used.

Good to suppress with power, but useful enough in other ways.

She intends to discipline me on the first day to make it easier to use me later.

I turned to look at Aslan, but he was just watching me and Haina with the same smile as when he introduced me.

‘He’s assessing my value.’

No matter how brightly he smiles while acting foolish, he is Aslan of the Rheinhardt ducal family at the top of the empire.

A man who has to live a life constantly judging the worth of those around him.

My value to him will likely be determined by this conversation.

Even if I’m beneath him, he’ll think it’s dangerous to keep someone easily swayed by lower nobles by his side.

Amidst the ongoing contemplation, I decided what to say.

“You asked if I have any feelings about my family?”

First, I confirm the question again.

“Yes.”

To nobles who have lived their entire lives with the notion that they are noble existences who protect the weak commoners, their family name is a mental safety net proving they are not commoners.

So, denying the name of one’s family is akin to admitting one is a weak commoner.

“I don’t have any particular feelings about it.”

But what am I to do when I’ve never lived as a noble in my past or current life?

I never had any pride to uphold from the start.

“…Excuse me?”

Haina made a dumbfounded expression at the completely unexpected answer.

“Pfft.”

The man holding back his laughter with a hand over his mouth, but it finally burst out.

“Puhahaha!”

It was Aslan.

“Hahaha! I had a feeling, but to think you’d give an answer completely denying your noble status!”

As if he had anticipated it, he continued laughing as he spoke.

“Haina! This is your loss. You had already lost the moment you revealed your title first but were unable to pressure him with your authority.”

“Wh…what do you mean!”

Haina raised her voice to object to Aslan, who was holding his stomach laughing, but,

“Enough.”

A voice that felt like it was pressing down on her shoulders.

“Didn’t I clearly state it?”

It was just a single sentence, but what it contained was power.

It is not just the overwhelming individual might but the status of the social order.

“Is there a problem with my judgment?”

Aslan cruelly made her acknowledge it herself.

It was Haina who had made everyone focus their attention here.

In this situation, Aslan’s words that she lost to someone like me signaled that her academy life was over.

“That…”

She tried to backpedal, knowing this, but,

“I asked if there was a problem with my judgment.”

Once again, the same question, emphasizing that he was above her.

“It is my loss. I apologize.”

In the end, Haina admitted it.

The gazes that had already left me were gradually rising into crescent shapes.

As if sneering at something.

Of course, it’s none of my business anymore.

“You have my utmost gratitude.”

I bowed my head to Aslan to express my thanks.

“Haha. How could I stand by while they insult my friend.”

Responding in kind, Aslan referred to me as a friend of a ducal family for all to see.

It seems I left a good impression on him.

“I’m truly grateful for your words.”

The atmosphere instantly turned amicable.

‘Nice.’

But…am I forgetting something?

-Shiver

A chill runs down my spine.

It seems the others felt it, too, as they trembled slightly.

‘What is it.’

At that moment-

“Aslan…”

A voice tinged with coldness reached my ears.

The chill in just the voice was enough to freeze the surroundings.

“Huh?”

Even Aslan, who had been laughing, seemed to realize something was wrong.

“Aslan…I heard what you did yesterday.”

Slowly approaching Aslan while drawing her sword from afar was the villainess.

“You won’t be leaving here in one piece today.”

It was Gwen.

Translator’s Corner

That’s the end of the daily chapters for now. It’ll go back to every other day.

-Ruminas