Chapter 86 : The best revenge

So what I’m saying is, we’re alike.

Whether we tear out and eat the heart of a pitiful dark elf, or use forbidden magical artifacts and walk the path of demonic sorcery.

The important point is that we’re ultimately failed losers,

And that we’re comrades of pitiful souls who’d do anything to deny that fact.

Just look at Teferi’s reaction. Even if he was unsure, he never thought you and I were different people, right?

We’re similar. You could say we’re compatible.

If that’s the case—if you and I are similar—then I won’t just collapse looking that pathetic.

So? Hurry up and show me who you really are.

The written exams had long ended, and the holidays were just around the corner, yet Trea still hadn’t shown herself. That fact alone drove

Teferi crazy.

‘It’s all my fault…’

The complete breakdown of his relationship with Trea in recent days could only be blamed on himself.

He even considered purposely failing the test to lower his grades, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so—especially because of what she had

said right before the exam.

For a mage of Teferi’s caliber, memorizing answers for a retake wasn’t hard at all. In the end, he took the test again and claimed the top spot,

as if to show off.

At first, some dismissed her as lucky,

But when she took first place twice in a row, those rumors vanished.

Everyone had experienced the insanity of the final exam,

And hearing she got a perfect score, even her jealous detractors could only shake their heads.

Yet the admiration and top rank meant absolutely nothing to Teferi in this life.

‘What am I even doing? Am I really this stupid…?’

Ironically, the one thing Teferi couldn’t gain was what he wanted most.

Surely everything had been going well—there shouldn’t have been any issues.

‘Where did it all go wrong?’

The moment Trea learned he had returned from the future, she exploded with fury. Honestly, he had never imagined she would react with such anger.

He had long noticed that her competitiveness had grown even fiercer.

He deliberately hid his abilities, knowing that if she sensed he had surpassed her, she’d likely avoid him.

But deceit? That was never his intention.

Would things have been better if he had confessed everything when they first reunited?

Declaring such a thing to an imperial noblewoman? She would’ve thought him insane.

Worse, if unlucky, it could’ve turned into a charge of insulting a noble.

‘So what the hell was I supposed to do…’

His well-meaning actions ended up backfiring completely. In fact, their relationship had probably been better before his return.

Even now, days after the exams ended, Trea remained holed up in her dorm.

Her maid Arwen claimed she had a severe cold—but was that really true?

Or was she perhaps on the brink of making a terrible choice?

Each time such thoughts crossed his mind, Teferi’s heart felt like it was burning up.

Because all of this—he truly believed—was his fault.

[I’m sorry. It was my fault…]

There was so much he wanted to say,

But none of his sincere words could reach her behind the dorm walls.

‘Then why even prepare for it if you’re going to act like this?’

Morada Academy was located on a coastal cliff. From a high vantage point, the vast ocean stretched to the horizon. Amither liked that view.

An open expanse, as if you could go anywhere.

Yet lately, her heart felt like an anchored ship, bound tightly to a single person.

“Damn b*tch.”

Even cursing out loud, there was no one around to scold her.

The fact that she was so bothered by something so petty embarrassed her.

If you’re going to lose, at least don’t be pathetic about it.

She had been restless for days.

If only she could just shake it off and get over it—but in matters like this, she was irritatingly sensitive.

Amither had no advice for someone who feared being surpassed by another.

She never particularly clung to being number one, nor had she ever not been number one.

Watching someone obsess over grades so much sparked both pity and disdain.

Had she ever been this passionate—or obsessive—about anything herself?

‘Why am I even agonizing over this?’

Just six months ago, they had been complete strangers.

Now, just hearing that person’s name stirred up a storm of emotions inside her.

Was it because life had finally become bearable?

Compared to her previous life, scraping to survive or fighting in cages, this really was the springtime of her life.

‘Springtime, huh.’

And at the center of that spring stood one person.

“Amither! There you are! Did you forget today’s practical exam?”

Just as she was deep in thought, a frantic voice called out behind her.

It was Jenny, a student from the same dormitory. Her constant energy had made her unforgettable even to the socially awkward Amither.

“Practical exam?”

“Yeah! Don’t tell me you actually forgot? Written was last week, practical’s this week! What would you have done without me?”

“I’ll head over soon.”

“You better hurry! This time, it’s—”

Despite Amither’s disinterested reply, Jenny bounced off cheerfully.

Exams, huh. For Amither, they were just meaningless words.

Grades held little importance for her.

But for Trea, they mattered.

Which meant—Trea might show up.

At that thought, Amither stood up unconsciously, then paused.

“…What the hell is she to me?”

She didn’t want to think about it, but she had lived through another dozen years.

Even if not fully mature, she figured she was mentally older than Trea.

But what was this emotion she felt now?

She hadn’t had many friends,

But this didn’t feel like something one felt for a friend.

Pity? Annoyance? Affection? Envy? A protective instinct? Lust?

She thought she understood people easily. But you… you turned out to be more complex than anyone.

She tried matching every word she knew—

None seemed to fit.

‘Then I guess… it must be love.’

Amither casually accepted her feelings.

The practical exam, taught by Professor Aramade, involved direct combat with monsters or people.

Given that the academy’s goal was to eliminate monsters and maintain peace, the practical carried significant weight.

Maybe that’s why—Trea showed up at the exam site, too.

Though she claimed to be sick, she didn’t look entirely well.

And yet, something about her had changed.

She looked more feminine—her allure had intensified.

Even in casual clothes, she looked different.

Gone was the clumsy girl from before—

She seemed like a completely different person.

That alone could be a good thing,

But her eyes… her eyes looked dead, as if devoid of life.

Maybe it was just Amither’s imagination.

“Hey.”

Just as Amither was struggling with what to say,

Unexpectedly, Trea greeted her first.

She was even smiling. She looked… happy.

Caught off guard, Amither fumbled her reply.

She hadn’t expected Trea to be smiling at all.

“Oh, um… are you okay… now?”

“Why would you think something was wrong with me?”

“Well… if you’re okay, then that’s good.”

Something still felt off, but regardless of what Amither thought,

Trea slowly walked toward Teferi.

The moment he saw her, Teferi bowed his head and began to apologize.

[T-Trea, I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you the truth! But—]

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I don’t care anymore.”

[…Huh?]

Rather than getting angry, Trea was smiling brightly.

So brightly, it almost looked like she was holding back laughter—

Like she found the whole thing amusing.

She leaned in close to Teferi’s ear and whispered softly,

“Truth is, the Trea you knew died a long time ago.

So much for your promise to protect me.”

Show me who you really are.