I’m the Slit-Eyed Character at the Academy, but I’m not the Mastermind

A stunning offer from Teron: 100,000 gold just for signing a contract.

And Teron wasn’t done yet.

“A three-year contract, automatically terminated upon graduation, four days of work per week…”

A personal chef and servants, tutors for any subject I wanted, vacations to any destination during breaks, bonuses, equal status to him, the right to refuse commands… all these luxurious perks poured from Teron’s mouth.

“Even after graduation, the same benefits apply. If you choose to stay with me, I’ll triple all these rewards.”

As if what he’d listed wasn’t enough already—triple the benefits?

Honestly, with conditions like that, I’d consider becoming his pet if he asked.

“Oh, and you’re welcome to bring along your little pets. I can’t promise them the same treatment, but… I’ll see that they’re given at least a knight’s status.”

Pets. He was talking about Luna and Rezé.

Teron wasn’t exactly fond of them. Yet he was willing to accommodate both of them as well.

It showed not only his boldness but also how badly he wanted me.

“Keke, isn’t this a bit much? To invest so heavily in a mere student… aren’t you going a little overboard?”

“It’s fine. You’re worth it, Zero. Don’t worry about money. I could dismantle a couple pillars of my family estate if needed.”

Teron smiled with a friendly expression.

A smile that seemed to say, ‘Once those pillars are gone, you’ll be expected to replace them.’

“If there’s anything else you want, just say the word. I’ll do my best to provide it.”

Well, could you defeat the final boss for me?

—If I said that, he’d probably agree without hesitation.

Teron wanted me that much.

“Don’t you have any requests? Well, it doesn’t matter. Just tell me if anything comes to mind. What matters right now is…”

Teron leaned forward slightly. His chair creaked ominously.

“Whether you’ll stand under me, or become my enemy. That’s all I care about.”

“Keke, it’s such a generous offer that I’d like a few days to think…”

“Very well, I suppose you’d need time. I’ll give you a minute.”

With that, Teron pulled out a pocket watch.

How exactly did “a few days” translate to one minute?

But even a minute was something he granted only because it was me. Had it been anyone else, he wouldn’t have waited a second for a response.

Teron was showing me yet another form of… consideration.

Tick-tock.

The second hand of the pocket watch echoed through the underground chamber.

In the dim light of a single glowstone, I could see it.

The hint of nervousness in Teron’s eyes.

‘Teron’s never made an offer like this before.’

Kidnapping someone after midterm grades were posted? That never happened in the game.

Offering this kind of absurd reward? That was new, too.

A bit of calculation was in order. One minute might not be much, but it was enough.

‘After all, I’ve faced countless choices like this playing this cursed game.’

Situations where you had to choose the right path within a time limit—sometimes as short as ten seconds.

Compared to that, a whole minute was generous.

Closing my eyes to focus, countless puzzle pieces began falling into place in my mind.

‘Could I clear the game if I used Teron and his family’s power to grow stronger?’

Taking over the first-year class with Teron’s help.

Coaxing Alex, Raymon, Yuridia, and Victoria into forming my primary party.

There might be some issues with Rodelin, but in the end, she’d likely join too.

‘She’d probably value saving the continent above all else.’

And if I recruited Teron, he wouldn’t be the only one joining my secondary party.

Daike, his loyal hunting dog, would follow as well.

Me, Luna, Rezé, Teron, and Daike?

There’d be no party more powerful than that.

‘With Teron’s backing, securing support from the Vyuern family would make early growth much easier.’

Equipment, experience, connections, skills…

I might even get my hands on a potion better than the one we got this time.

Of course, there were concerns.

But if Teron could guarantee just a few things, or rather, if he could guarantee ‘that one thing,’ I might consider joining him.

After a brief moment of thought, I reached my conclusion.

“My choice is…”

Scratch, scratch.

“So, I’ll…”

Scratch, scratch.

“…?”

Teron’s brow furrowed.

It was only natural; our critical moment was being interrupted.

Our gazes turned to Daike. But he was doing nothing at all.

Which meant he wasn’t the source of the noise.

“…?”

But the only ones here were me, Teron, and Daike.

Our eyes shifted towards the corner of the room.

The mysterious sound was coming from there. And then, we saw it.

Rezé, busily scribbling in her notebook.

Perhaps noticing our stares, Rezé glanced up slightly.

“P-please, continue. P-pay no attention to me.”

…As if that’s possible.

How long had she been here?

Daike took a step forward, grabbing Rezé by the collar and lifting her into the air.

“A rat… no, a rabbit, hiding here. Were you sent as a spy?”

“Eeek! No, no! I-I’m not a spy! I just… wanted to hear the conversation, that’s all!”

Rezé shouted as she dangled in the air.

Rezé, that’s exactly what a spy would do.

“Remarkable. How did you find this place?”

Teron made no effort to hide his surprise. Daike’s reaction was similar.

Though he tried to maintain a neutral expression, the way his hair stood on end betrayed his shock.

‘Finding this location was impressive, but we hadn’t even noticed her.’

Finding my location wouldn’t have been difficult.

Rezé learned [Mana Tracking] from Lucia, right after I instructed her to.

‘Remember the mana of these four: Luna, Teacher Caron, Lucia, and me.’

For Rezé, slipping past Teron’s faction and sneaking into this underground chamber was no challenge.

After all, her stealth techniques were so advanced that even the mighty Caron couldn’t detect her.

Sparkle, sparkle.

Rezé, still floating in the air, shot me a pleading look. A silent cry for rescue.

“Keke, who might you be? Do I know you?”

“Eek!”

The fate of a rabbit caught by the hunting dog was all too predictable.

It seemed Rezé’s adventure was ending here.

Don’t worry. I’ll see that you have a proper funeral.

Just as I was mentally saying my final farewell to her—

Smack!

Teron snatched the notebook from Rezé’s hand.

He flipped through the pages with an amused smile.

“Teron makes various offers to Zero. Rewards akin to a mountain of carrots.”

Flip.

“Zero, as expected of a villainous force, shows great interest.”

Flip.

“To protect Luna, an alliance with Yuridia and Victoria is necessary. Downgrade the sinister Zero to a mere doormat to bring peace to the continent… it says.”

A doormat? That’s harsh.

Once we get out of here, I’ll show her who’s the real doormat.

Seeming satisfied with what he’d read, Teron closed the notebook and spoke.

“Such betrayal by one’s underling… Zero, it seems you aren’t as trusted as you might think. Isn’t that a problem?”

“Keke, don’t worry. It’s the same on this side.”

“Is that so? An untrustworthy ally is indeed a risk. Thanks to this, I’ve thought of one more thing I can give you. Absolute trust. I’ll offer you that.”

Perhaps sensing an opportunity, Teron smiled and said,

“So, Zero, you’ve had enough time to think, haven’t you? The time has come. Make your choice.”

Whether to become his ally or his enemy.

Teron extended his hand, indicating I should take it if I wanted to join him.

A noble wouldn’t extend his hand lightly; the risk of rejection was too embarrassing to bear.

This was a display of Teron’s confidence, his interest in me, and his consideration.

I was willing to take his hand, if he could guarantee ‘that one thing.’

“You said you’d guarantee me absolute trust, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“Would you be willing to help me with personal matters as well?”

“Of course. The contract I’m offering is only for three years, but you know that’s for your own benefit, right?”

Indeed, Teron had set the contract length at three years from the start.

Three years was a limited term to ease any discomfort I might feel about a lifelong commitment.

With just three years at his side, I’d receive 100,000 gold and a host of other benefits. It was undeniably generous on his part.

“I want you even after that. So, to score points with you, I’d have to help you with your affairs. Isn’t that what absolute trust means?”

Finishing his sentence, Teron smiled—a victor’s smile, as if he’d already won me over.

But it didn’t take long for that smile to falter.

“Even if it goes against your family’s wishes?”

The hand Teron had extended began to tremble.

The Vyuern family. His greatest source of strength, yet also his biggest weakness.

Sure, you could argue that all noble children were bound to their families, but…

‘Rodelin and Yuridia are different.’

Teron would never be free of his family. Even if—

Even if he died.

Perhaps he understood this as well, for Teron’s lips began to tremble, pale.

“That… might be a bit difficult. But I’ll do my best. It’s not as though your goal is to destroy my family, is it?”

“True. But there will be times when we clash. Can you support me then? If you could simply convey my opinion to Duke Zeppelin…” (TL Note: Changed from Jepherin to Zeppelin)

“…No, that’s impossible.”

“I see. Then I’m afraid I must decline your offer.”

There were multiple reasons I turned down Teron’s offer, but two stood out.

First, I couldn’t control someone bound to his family.

Teron was practically a puppet of his father, Duke Zeppelin.

If I helped Teron take control of the academy, his family’s demands would soon come crashing down on me, and I’d end up being pulled along until graduation.

‘He says he’s giving me the right to refuse, but that’s hardly absolute.’

There were countless items and fortuitous events I needed to secure outside the academy, and I couldn’t afford to be shackled by Teron.

Any allies gained from a random party arrangement were meaningless.

This was the first reason I was about 30% inclined to reject his offer.

And the second reason—the one that made up the remaining 70%.

‘The likelihood of a bad ending is just too high.’

In the game, becoming Teron’s subordinate was relatively easy.

Though the specifics varied with affection, timing, growth, and quests, one thing remained consistent.

‘A bad ending.’

And not just any bad ending—the worst kind: death.

‘Once Teron’s contract with a demon is exposed, those supporting him die in the aftermath.’

Though the story had diverged significantly by now, I wasn’t about to bet my life on an uncertain future.

Besides, Teron was the boss that closed out Chapter 2.

In this game, bosses might change depending on the story, but that only made me more determined to keep the storyline stable.

‘I have no desire to face a boss I don’t know, with unknown gimmicks and attack patterns.’

Meanwhile, I had Teron’s strategies and weaknesses perfectly memorized.

There was no reason to take a risk.

“…”

Perhaps stunned by the rejection, Teron stood there, hand extended, looking dazed.

‘If this were a game, I might have taken that hand…’

But this was reality.

No matter how tempting Teron was, I couldn’t risk my life for him.

“Lord Teron…!”

Daike, who had tossed Rezé aside, rushed to Teron’s side.

I quickly made my way to Rezé, who was still suspended in the air.

Since I’d rejected Teron’s offer, she was now a precious party member of mine.

Or rather, someone I’d need to put to work. That was the more accurate term.

Which meant I couldn’t afford for her to get hurt.

“Eep!”

I caught Rezé safely.

It turned out to be a princess-carry position, though the one embarrassed by it was Rezé, not me.

“Keke, are you alright?”

“P-please put me down…”

She covered her face with her hands, but her bright red ears gave her away.

“I’ll set you down if you promise to be a loyal doormat from now on.”

“W-what! A doormat! That’s… that’s too much!”

Oh, so it’s fine when you try to make me a doormat?

Such impudence. She ought to be sentenced to thirty minutes of being carried like this.

I was enjoying teasing Rezé, watching her squirm and avoid my gaze, when suddenly she froze.

“A-actually… is that… is that okay?”

Following her gaze, I turned my head.

In the dim basement, a figure stood, glaring menacingly from the opposite side.

It was Teron’s hunting dog, Daike, with a fierce look in his eyes.

–TL Notes–

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