The next morning, Yuuji awoke to a soft chime, followed by the unmistakable sound of something crashing outside his dorm window.
He rolled over and groaned. "If that's another floating mail cube trying to murder me with a message, I swear…"
[System Notification: Inter-House Tournament Rankings Released!]
➤ Current Standing: Team 5 – Rank 6 out of 22
➤ Congratulations: You've Exceeded Expectations!
➤ Reminder: Expectations Were Very Low
Yuuji blinked at the message. "We're... sixth?"
From across the room, Kael — who had apparently materialized overnight like some sort of fashionable ghost — sat upside down on a floating meditation platform.
"The ravens foretold this. Sixth is the number of upheaval," he said solemnly.
Yuuji rubbed his eyes. "What happened to knocking before appearing in my space?"
"I phase in through gloom," Kael replied, sipping black tea.
Elira, brushing her hair near the mirror, chimed in. "You should be pleased. Sixth puts us within finalist range."
"I'm still processing the fact that we didn't implode," Yuuji muttered. "Do I get a badge for that?"
[Achievement Unlocked: Functionally Competent]
➤ Reward: +10 Self-Esteem (Temporarily)
"Oh, good," he said. "My self-esteem has patch notes."
A second chime rang. This time, a glowing scroll slammed into the wall beside the door, stuck like a dagger.
Elira frowned. "Fan mail?"
Kael floated over, peeled it from the wood, and read aloud in a surprisingly theatrical voice: "You are hereby challenged to a formal duel—"
Yuuji's eyes widened. "Please let that be metaphorical."
"—by Liam Everhart," Kael continued, eyes flicking to the signature. "For reasons of honor, clarification of rank, and personal principle."
A pause.
"And because, and I quote, 'the tutor is getting cocky.'"
Yuuji slumped face-first into his pillow. "I'm not cocky. I'm exhausted."
Elira set her brush down and gave him a long, analytical look. "He's baiting you. Public duel. Glory, humiliation, all the noble theatrics."
"I don't want theatrics," Yuuji mumbled into the bedsheets. "I want breakfast and non-plot days."
Kael tapped the scroll. "You could refuse. It's not a mandatory challenge."
[System Notification: You May Refuse the Duel]
➤ Side Effect: -2 Respect (Liam), -3 Rumor Mill Hype
➤ Optional Outcome: Peaceful Obscurity Route Unlocked
Yuuji hesitated. It was so tempting.
And yet.
He slowly lifted his face. "But if I win, he shuts up, right?"
"Unlikely," Kael said. "But the whispers would shift. Your stock would rise. The ever-churning social narrative might reassign you from 'lucky support peasant' to 'unpredictable wildcard.'"
Elira added, "Also, it would be hilarious."
Yuuji groaned. "Fine. I'll duel him. But only because being called 'the tutor' like it's an insult is weirdly motivating."
[New Quest Acquired: Duel of Unexpected Relevance]
➤ Objective: Win the Duel
➤ Optional: Don't Die Trying
➤ Bonus: Look Cool While Doing It (Style Multiplier Active)
Training Montage Lite™
That afternoon, Yuuji found himself on a practice field with Elira, Kael, and a floating chalkboard labeled: "Areas Where You Will Most Likely Fail."
Category 1: Defensive CounterspellsCategory 2: Stylish LandingsCategory 3: Not Panicking When Liam Flips His Cape Dramatically
"I hate all of this," Yuuji muttered.
"You'll do fine," Elira said. "We'll drill the defensive layering again."
"You're good at reacting," Kael added. "Instinctive. Sloppy. But poetic."
"Thanks... I think?"
He blocked a firebolt. Countered a wind spike. Nearly tripped over a rogue pebble that might've been enchanted. (Kael claimed it was.)
And yet—bit by bit—he improved.
By sunset, Elira finally gave a curt nod.
"You're still going to lose in style points. But magic-wise? You might survive."
"That's all I needed to hear," Yuuji panted, hands on knees. "Survival. Not glory."
From the edge of the field, a voice drifted in like silk over knives.
"How charming."
All three turned. A new figure leaned against the fence—tall, smiling faintly, and wrapped in charcoal-gray robes threaded with starlight motifs.
Elira narrowed her eyes. "Who's that?"
Kael's raven hissed.
Yuuji just sighed. "Great. Another smirker."
Enter the Wildcard
The stranger bowed lightly. "My apologies. I'm Arin Vale. Exchange student. Observer for the upcoming exhibition match."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "No House crest. No sponsor badge. No assigned dorm."
"You noticed," Arin said, smile widening. "I'm... between allegiances."
Yuuji stared. "So you're not even a student?"
"Oh, I'm enrolled. Technically. I've just... slipped under the radar. Until now."
Elira's voice sharpened. "Why now?"
Arin turned his gaze directly to Yuuji. "Because your duel has the Academy buzzing. And I do love a good upset."
[New System Tag Detected: Arin Vale — "??? Role: Unconfirmed"]
➤ Hidden Status Effects Active
➤ Warning: Unknown Agenda
Yuuji rubbed his temples. "Can I just duel Liam first before dealing with the mysterious smirking guy?"
Arin's grin widened. "Oh, don't worry. I'll be watching."
Then he vanished. No teleportation circle. Just gone.
Elira blinked. "That... was advanced."
Kael muttered, "I hate foreshadowing with perfect hair."
Duel Day: A Lesson in Dramatic Entrances
The dueling platform hovered in the center of the Arena like a floating stage for personal grievances.
Students packed the bleachers. Teachers hovered in protective bubbles overhead. The Cube loomed silently from its tower perch.
And at the center stood Liam Everhart, already glowing faintly with enchanted polish and smugness.
"Ah, there you are," he said as Yuuji stepped onto the platform. "Did you bring a notebook? I'd hate for you to miss your own downfall."
Yuuji adjusted his coat. "No notebook. Just trauma and caffeine."
A laugh rippled through the crowd. Liam's brow twitched.
Professor Varnes floated above. "THIS IS A FORMAL DUEL. BEGIN ON MY MARK. NON-LETHAL SPELLS ONLY."
[System Engaged: Duel Mode]
➤ Countdown: 3... 2... 1…
"BEGIN!"
Duel: Tutor vs. Heir
Liam opened with a precise air lance, fast and aimed for a clean disarm.
Yuuji ducked. "That's adorable. He thinks I play fair."
He flung a misdirection glyph left, cast wind right, then blinked behind Liam's guard with a short-range step.
The crowd gasped.
Liam twisted mid-air, using a polished wind spiral to regain distance. "You've been practicing."
"Magic duels are just resource management and improv," Yuuji muttered. "I lived in that game's combat tutorial."
Liam countered with a flame-dash, forcing Yuuji onto the defensive.
Back and forth they went—fire, wind, illusions, counter-glyphs—until even the Cube began to emit faint sounds of mild interest.
And then Yuuji saw the opening.
An overcharge.
Liam's final blast was too big. Too fast.
Yuuji whispered, "Redirect."
He pulled the spell's mana signature with an override glyph, reversed the vector—
—and Liam's own wind burst flung him into the barrier wall with a comedic thud.
Silence.
Then: applause. Cheers. One kid yelled, "THE TUTOR STRIKES BACK!"
[System Update: Duel Won!]
➤ Public Perception Increased
➤ Liam Rivalry: Temporarily Pacified
➤ Arin Vale Interest: Intensified
Liam groaned from the ground. "This isn't over…"
Yuuji grinned. "It never is."
Aftermath: Cooldown and Complications
Later, back in the lounge, Elira raised a glass. "Well done."
Kael nodded. "You didn't combust."
Yuuji flopped onto the couch. "That's my bar now. No combustion."
The notification rang softly:
[Main Quest Updated: Rising Star Path Activated]
➤ Arin Vale Event Chain Now Unlocked
➤ Tournament Arc Continues...
Yuuji sighed. "So much for obscurity."
Elira smiled faintly. "You were never going to stay invisible."
He groaned. "Next time, I'm losing on purpose."
Kael passed him a tea cup. "No you won't."
Next Time on Villainess Tutor!
➤ Arin Vale makes his first move
➤ Rumors stir across the Houses
➤ Elira starts training in secret?
And Yuuji? He's starting to suspect this school is definitely trying to turn him into a protagonist.