The Villain Is Destined to Die: But as the Creator, I know All Endings-Chapter 212: It’s Just a Theory [1]

"Miss Alice Nightson, yes?"

"Yes sir."

"Mhm, we have heard a lot about you, Miss Esther here just couldn’t stop sharing just how good the first year’s are, especially you."

"It’s my honour, Professor Louise." Alice said. Despite her face burning up.

She bowed her head in front of the group of elite experts seated on the other side of the podium.

’Ahhhh..!! FUCK ME SIDEWAYS WITH A RUSTY POSE!! What the fuck was I thiking!!’

Her recent conversation with Leon just now surfaced in her mind. She kept on stomping on his foot, and that... "I’ve put my trust in you too." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

’He’s going to make fun of me. That motherfuc—!! Haahh... alright, focus. This is not the time for this Alice. And beside... it was all his fault!’

Since last light she hasn’t gotten a single ounce of sleep. She knew Leon was mysterious, and had knowledge she never dreamt of thinking. When she was with him inside the book, she had noticed just how chill he was all this time, and how he iterated with Miss Lumina the whole time.

She never asked him how he knew most of the thing, and nor was she interested at that time, but now... she can’t help but to get curious.

Maybe it was because it’s about Leon, and he was the one who she spends most of her time with in Eclipse.

She thought with her attitude no one would get close to her, and that was what she wanted. But he for some reason didn’t seem to be bothered by it.

Lifting her gaze, and controlling her embarrassment from earlier, Alice gazes at her front.

The first person she noticed was Esther. She was watching her with a quiet tension in her eyes, despite having already seen Alice’s practice.

Then her eyes shifted to Ayaka Rudward. Today’s guest and the sponsor of her club.

Madam Ayaka told her she would be looking forward to her research, that means if Alice succeeded in impressing her then Luntara would get a huge sum of sponsors in her name.

’Alright, I have done this before, this is no different, just the change of location. I can do it again...’

She handed the copies of her papers to the organizer, who then placed it in front of all the experts who would be judging her.

All of them lowered their gazes to the first page.

"Oh?" Professor Louise hummed softly.

"That is... expected," he added after a brief pause, adjusting his glasses.

Ayaka Rudward’s eyes lingered on the title a second longer than the others. She did not comment, but there was a faint interest in her expression.

Alice straightened her posture.

[A Unified Approach to Multi-Affinity Weapon Infusion]

She picked up the chalk.

"My research proposes a weapon framework capable of channeling multiple mana affinities simultaneously," Alice began.

"This goes against the current standard of single-affinity channeling."

She turned toward the board and began sketching a complex internal structure.

"Traditionally, weapons are limited to one mana affinity at a time due to interference, instability, and core overload....."

She tapped the chalk against the diagram.

Minutes passed.

"In theory, this allows a single weapon to wield more than one mana affinity without destabilizing its core."

After thirty more minutes she relaxed.

She placed the chalk down.

"That concludes my proposal." She bowed. "Thank you for listening."

"That was brilliantly done Alice," Raizen clapped first, he was one the judges too.

Alice gave him a blissful smile.

"I can’t believe you’re a first year," Madam Haibara said, shaking her head in disbelief.

"This surpasses your previous articles," Professor Theo added. "Well done."

Alice felt her chest loosen slightly. The tension she had carried since morning had been eased.

Then her eyes shifted to Ayaka Rudward, she was clapping as well.

But she said nothing.

Alice’s smile stiffened.

’Eh? Did I make a mistake?’

Her gaze flicked to Esther, then back to Ayaka.

’I followed everything exactly as I practiced though...’

Ayaka stopped clapping. She raised her hand.

"Miss Alice," she said calmly. "That was good."

Alice’s breath hitched.

"But," Ayaka continued, "I have a question."

Alice stiffened for just a fraction of a second.

"Yes, Madam Ayaka?"

— — —

"Haaah... just kill me already."

Leon glanced to his right.

Alice was leaning back in her chair, head resting against it, eyes half shut.

’What happened inside?’ he wondered.

Seeing her like this, it was obvious her presentation had not gone the way she expected.

"Did they not like it?" Leon asked casually.

Alice opened one eye and glanced at the ceiling.

"Nah. That wasn’t the issue." Her voice sounded tired. "They liked it. But..."

She exhaled slowly.

"Madam Ayaka," she continued. "She didn’t look satisfied."

"Ah." Leon nodded. "Her."

Alice turned her head slightly. "I noticed at the cafeteria that you didn’t seem surprised seeing her that day, did you know her?"

"Not personally, she visited our dukedome to make a deal with father one day." Leon replied. "But from what I’ve heard from others, pleasing her is hard."

He tilted his chin toward the panel. "Look at our seniors there. Even they don’t look too happy right now."

Alice groaned. "Ughh, I really hate it."

She rubbed her face. "I practiced. That proposal was good too, you know. I just don’t get where it went wrong."

Leon understood that feeling too well.

Back in his previous life, when he had nothing, he chased approval like it meant everything. That urge to satisfy everyone in the room.

But the truth was simple.

You could never please everyone.

Even if you proposed an idea worth trillions, someone would question it. And if they disliked your answer, they would dismiss it. Or worse, mock it.

Alice had presented solid groundwork. A blueprint detailed enough to justify confidence.

’Still... why did Ayaka reject it?’

Leon didn’t get that part either.

"If you want," Leon said after a moment, "we can go over your paper later."

"Huh?" Alice tilted her head slightly. Then she smirked. "Are you feeling guilty about yesterday?"

"...Maybe."

"Heh." She closed her eyes again. "Alright. I’ll accept."

Leon stayed quiet. Silence was better than arguing here.

"And about that blueprint you gave me," Alice added suddenly. "I understood most of it."

Leon blinked. "That’s nothing surprising. I made it that way."

"..."

"Anyways, I think I can make the first prototype in about a week," she continued. "But I’ll need you during the testing phase."

"Ah... about that," Leon scratched his cheek. "I’ll be leaving Eclipse for a week."

"Again?" Alice opened her eyes fully now.

"Yeah."

She stared at him. "Where are you going this time?"

She already knew about this, so he didn’t bother hiding it.

"Evana."