The next morning greeted Yuuji with a soft breeze, a mild headache, and a notification box hovering precisely three centimeters above his pillow.
[Main Quest Progression: Inter-House Tournament - Phase I Begins Today]➤ Report to Arena Ward Alpha for Team Assignments➤ Optional Buff: At Least Pretend You Know What You're Doing➤ Warning: Rival Characters Incoming
Yuuji groaned. "I haven't even had tea yet."
From her bed across the room, Elira flipped a page in her grimoire. "Still alive?"
"Debatable," he muttered, swiping the box away. "I dreamed about fighting a muscle wizard who kept throwing benches at me."
Elira didn't look up. "Foreshadowing."
That one word alone made him very uncomfortable.
Arena Ward Alpha — AKA: Chaos in Dome Form
The Arena looked like someone fused a coliseum, a spell-circle, and a sports stadium together during a fever dream. Domed overhead with stained-glass runes and surrounded by levitating bleachers, it buzzed with student chatter and magical energy so thick it made Yuuji's hair stand up.
Banners of all four Houses flapped above:
House Draconis — crimson and gold, all fire and pride.
House Sylvaeon — green and silver, nature-themed and smug about it.
House Nocturne — black and violet, goth aesthetic with bonus necromancy.
House Aetherlight — white and blue, full of floating accessories and glowing smugness.
Yuuji tugged at his collar and shuffled in beside Elira, who moved with her usual ice-queen confidence and general "please perish" aura.
"Where are we supposed to sit?" Yuuji asked, scanning for signage.
Elira simply pointed. "Wherever it looks the most dangerous."
"That's not helpful," he muttered, but followed her anyway.
Before they could pick a seat, a voice boomed from midair.
"TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS, ASSEMBLE."
Every student turned. Hovering in the center of the Arena, standing on a floating hexagon of solid light, was Professor Varnes, head of the Battle Integration Department. Seven feet of muscle, beard, and dramatic cape action.
Next to him floated a giant glowing cube.
Yuuji pointed. "That's the cube again. Why is it always the cube?"
[Cube Identified: Halcyon Combat AI - "SPITE" Unit v3.7]➤ Motto: "Train or Die Trying (Preferably the Latter)"➤ Advisory: Do Not Insult the Cube
The cube rotated ominously.
"Elira," Yuuji whispered, "I swear it looked at me."
"It doesn't have eyes."
"It looked at me in vibe form."
The Grand Briefing (with Unnecessary Explosions)
Professor Varnes gestured, and a burst of colored fire exploded in the air, forming glowing images of combat arenas, team symbols, and several magical disclaimers about liability waivers.
"YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS THIS YEAR'S REPRESENTATIVES!" he shouted. "EACH HOUSE MAY FIELD MULTIPLE TEAMS. BUT ONLY ONE WILL WIN GLORY!"
Someone in the crowd yelled, "What if we're here by mistake?"
"THEN DIE GLORIOUSLY!"
Yuuji whispered, "I'd like a refund on this plotline."
Elira elbowed him lightly. "Too late. You're narratively locked in."
"Today's Trial," Varnes continued, "is a Team Synergy Test! You'll be randomly sorted into trial teams of three and dropped into the simulated arena. Your objective: survive, cooperate, and complete the challenge."
Yuuji raised his hand. "Define 'challenge'?"
"UNCLEAR," the Cube replied, flashing an unsettling shade of pink.
"Great."
"TEAM ASSIGNMENTS," Varnes declared. "NOW BEGIN."
Randomized Team Roulette: Misfortune Ensues
A massive rune-wheel spun overhead, pulsing with House crests and student names.
[System Notification: You Have Been Assigned to Team 5]➤ Members: Yuuji Hoshino, Elira Vortemer, ???➤ Bonus Objective: Don't Let the ??? Murder You
A final name slotted into place.
"Team 5: Elira Vortemer, Yuuji Hoshino, and... Kael Zyrion of House Nocturne!"
Yuuji squinted. "Wait. Who?"
A faint shimmer of shadow slipped beside them, resolving into a tall figure in black robes embroidered with silver bones. Pale skin, smudged eyeliner, expression set to eternal brooding. A silver raven perched on his shoulder and hissed.
Yuuji took a cautious step back. "Hi. Uh. You're the third?"
Kael turned slowly. "I have seen death and dined with madness. This is worse."
"Oh no," Yuuji muttered. "We got the goth cryptid."
Elira tilted her head. "He's from Nocturne. That makes him our area specialist if we fight in cursed terrain."
Kael sneered. "All terrain is cursed if you stare at it long enough."
[Side Quest: Survive Kael's Vibes Without Screaming Internally (Progress: 0%)]➤ Buff Recommended: Emotional Stability Potion
Yuuji reached for imaginary tea. "Why is everyone in this world a character archetype on steroids?"
Into the Simulation Chamber
The ground vanished under their feet. Literally.
A teleport circle flared, and Team 5 plummeted downward in a shaft of light—
—only to land gently on soft grass in the middle of what looked like an ancient ruin. Vines crept up broken pillars, and faint blue runes flickered across the stones.
[Trial Objective: Retrieve the Crystal of Convergence]➤ Location: Unknown➤ Monsters: Variable➤ Time Limit: 30 Minutes
"Okay," Yuuji muttered, brushing dust off his coat. "Nice. Old ruins. Giant murder maze. My favorite."
Kael crouched near a vine and whispered something to his raven. "The spirits are watching."
"They always are," Elira said dryly.
Yuuji sighed. "Alright. Game mode on. Let's move."
The Chaos Trial
They advanced through the ruins cautiously, stepping over glyph-marked tiles and ignoring the occasional whisper in the wind that probably wasn't hostile magical intent. Probably.
Elira navigated by logic. Kael wandered toward darker paths. Yuuji's role quickly became "designated trap tester" and "person who yells warnings two seconds too late."
"Left side's glowing!" Yuuji shouted.
Too late.
A wall opened and a floating construct fired a beam of light at Kael.
He caught it on a shadow ward. "I like pain."
Yuuji stared. "Dude."
Eventually, they reached the central chamber. A pedestal stood at the center, the Crystal of Convergence hovering above it, pulsing with magic.
Naturally, that's when the floor opened up and the mini-boss spawned.
A serpentine construct of crystal and iron rose, screeching.
Kael cracked his knuckles. "Finally. Something I can monologue at."
"No!" Yuuji shouted. "No monologues! Teamwork!"
"Let him monologue," Elira said. "He's bait."
Kael smirked, stepped forward, and raised both arms. "Your sins weigh upon you, ancient machine. You—"
It punched him into a wall.
Yuuji sprinted past it. "I've got the crystal!"
Elira conjured a freezing glyph. "Move now!"
Yuuji grabbed the artifact and dove just as Elira's ice blast exploded into the construct's side, sending it spinning.
Kael groaned from the rubble. "Ow. Worth it."
[Trial Complete! Team 5 - Synchronized Success]➤ Grade: B+➤ Bonus: Zero Friendly Fire➤ Kael's Raven Gained +1 Affection for Elira
Yuuji wheezed. "We lived. We didn't explode. That's a win."
Post-Trial Fallout
Back in the Arena, teams reappeared one by one, most looking scorched, singed, or emotionally traumatized.
Liam Everhart—perfect hair intact—strutted back with two upperclassmen and a smug grin.
"Wasn't that invigorating?" he asked Yuuji as he passed.
"I want to lie down in a moat," Yuuji replied.
Kael nodded solemnly. "May your suffering be poetic."
Professor Varnes clapped his hands. "WELL DONE. You survived! Mostly. Several of you even impressed the faculty. Results will be posted tomorrow. Until then—rest, reflect, and maybe don't punch each other."
[System Alert: Tournament Ranking Phase Begins Soon]➤ Suggested Preparation: Training Arc Lite™➤ You Are Now Officially A Competitor (Whether You Like It or Not)
Yuuji let his head thunk against a nearby pillar.
"I just wanted to teach remedial spell theory."
Elira passed him a flask of water. "You're improving."
"Thanks. That's what they tell people right before they become protagonists."
"You already are."
He glared at her.
Elira just smiled slightly. "Try not to combust before tomorrow."
Kael's raven cawed.
[New System Alert: You've Unlocked Kael's Friendship Route!]➤ Warning: Contains Midnight Poetry and Occasional Necromancy
Yuuji wept internally.
Next Time on Villainess Tutor!:➤ Rankings revealed!➤ A surprise duel invitation!➤ One mysterious character who keeps smirking in the background...
And Yuuji, who just wanted a normal life, gets one step closer to the spotlight.