Misfit At Magic Academy: They Wanted a Godly Summon, Got Me Instead
Chapter 32: This Trio is a Walking Disaster!

Chapter 32: This Trio is a Walking Disaster!

Aimer had spent the entire night in the infirmary, waiting for her brother to wake up.

The next morning, Lirael came to visit my bed. She spotted Aimer sleeping in the hallway and gently opened the door before quietly sitting on the chair beside me.

I lay unconscious, wearing only a light robe.

But in my mind, I kept replaying what Aimer said to me before I stepped into battle.

"Why would you sacrifice yourself like this? Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone that you’re a high spirit!"

"Nonsense. Whether you tell or not... it doesn’t matter to me anymore. I’m helping you because it matters to me."

"I don’t get it. I’m just a stranger to you."

I turned to her.

"I’ve been through the same. Back when I’d hit rock bottom, when it felt like there was no way out, someone reached out and gave me a second chance."

Meliora.

"You’re in a similar place. That’s why I’m helping you. Is that really so hard to understand?"

At first, Aimer looked down. Then she raised her brows... and gave me a genuine smile.

"You’re weird.

My brother’s probably trying to scare you off. But if you prove you’re worthy of being my partner, he might just back off."

I smirked.

"By the time he realizes that, he’ll already be face down on the floor."

...

At last, I opened my eyes.

Where am I? The infirmary?

I turned my head and saw Lirael sitting calmly in the chair.

"Finally awake?"

"Lirael... Skipping class is frowned upon, you know."

"Actually, I came during break!"

"I see. I’m glad. Thank you."

She looked surprised, maybe even a bit flustered, before shifting into a scolding expression.

"Idiot. What were you thinking picking a fight like that? Trying to prove something? What if it had been you instead of him?! What if you’d died? I’d have lost my summon!"

Cute little fool. As always, she’s bad at hiding when she worries about me.

"What about Sylas?"

"He’s fine. Professor Meihua healed him, remember? You two meatheads just love swinging fists at each other!"

"Right... Sorry for making you worry."

"I swear, Atheron, one day I’ll use Control on you. You’re going to drive me insane."

"You didn’t see a girl with hair like this?" I mimicked twin tails with my fingers.

"So, she’s that important to you? Enough to fight her brother over her? She’s been sitting in the hallway. Waiting for both of you to wake up."

"That fool... She really didn’t go home..."

And Sylas survived. Good.

It’s not like I meant to seriously hurt him. But the things he said...

An hour later, Aimer came to visit me.

A knock on the door.

"Come in."

She entered quietly. Her eyes looked tired.

"How are you? Recovering okay?"

"Let’s just say I’m lying here to get out of going to class."

"Somehow I expected as much."

She sat down and crossed her legs.

"You blockhead. Did you really have to go that far? You did all this... for me? For someone who blackmailed you at the start?"

"You’re still on about that? I didn’t do this for a particular person. I helped because you needed it—when it mattered."

"...You’re both idiots. Especially Sylas. You know what he said when he came to? That it was the price for being rude to you! Can you believe that? What a dumbass."

"So he’s awake already?"

"Yeah. He’ll need a couple more days to recover. Professor Meihua says he’ll be back on his feet by Friday."

The price for rudeness, huh...

"Yeah," I smirked. "He’s definitely a dumbass."

"Told you! He’s completely brainless for thinking that was the right thing to do. He could’ve just raised his hand and said, ’I surrender.’ Is pride really worth dying for?"

I saw it differently. An admission of guilt and a gesture of respect. Still, dumb and meaningless.

"Anyway, speaking of Friday," I said. "Walk me through the plan. How are we going to win the tournament?"

"Ah, right."

She began explaining the tournament’s format. I listened, watching the fire in her eyes.

Aimer’s a beautiful girl — radiates confidence. With her, I don’t feel like I’m dealing with a child.

"Are you even listening?"

"Yeah... Keep going."

"Listen... Thanks. For helping me. I know I’m asking a lot. It actually makes me feel a little guilty... that you’re doing this without expecting anything in return."

Expecting something... I’d completely forgotten about that. When did I change so much?

A few days later, we met on the street by chance.

"Oh hey, Atheron!"

"It’s really him!"

Next to her were two of her brothers. Sylas—the tall, muscular one—and another I didn’t recognize.

"I’m Tyrion Grimmveil!" the stranger said. "Nice to meet you, new partner of our wild little sister."

"H-Hey! Who are you calling ’little’?!"

I shook his hand. Compared to Sylas, Tyrion was shorter and slimmer. His strength likely lay in magic.

I glanced at Sylas. He smiled at me, looking oddly cheerful. Aimer elbowed him in the gut.

"You idiot. What are you supposed to say?"

"Ah, right," he scratched his head. "Listen, sorry for all that. I caused you a lot of trouble..."

"A ton of trouble!" Aimer cut in.

"Yeah, yeah. I’m sorry."

In real life, this musclehead seemed cheerful, even warm. But the apology clearly didn’t come easy. Still, it mattered to Aimer.

"So... you kids are triplets, huh?"

"You didn’t know?"

They stood in perfect formation and shouted in unison:

"We are the Grimmveil triplets, ready to help the weak in times of need! Brace yourselves, for Sylas, Aimer, and Tyrion will soon be known across the world! Together—we are the Unshakable Grimmveil Trio!"

The second they finished, they burst into laughter.

"Sorry for the cringe. Haven’t done that catchphrase since we were kids," said Aimer.

I couldn’t help feeling out of place around them. I grew up without warmth, born without family. A little envy crept in.

They even studied in the same class. A picture-perfect family. But I knew deep down, Aimer still resented how her brothers left her alone right before the tournament.

The next time I met Sylas, I pulled him aside for a private talk.

We stood in an empty corridor by a window.

"So. You planning to win the cup for Aimer?"

"Yeah," I answered.

"It won’t be easy. She’s a workaholic—will do everything in her power to win. But your opponents won’t just be us. It’s almost the entire academy."

"I know. It’s not an easy task. But I’ll go all out."

Sylas sighed.

"Still... Why are you helping her? What’s in it for you?"

"Nothing, really. She said she’d do anything to win. I’m just giving her a hand."

Rather tell me. Why did you surrender during our fight?"

"Hm. Because... there was no point in continuing."

"No point? You broke the rules. That seal exploding on your stomach nearly killed you. What if they hadn’t saved you? Is that what your sister deserved—your death?"

"..."

"If you couldn’t think of anything better in that moment, then I pity you.

You’re a sheep in wolf’s clothing. Just saying it as it is."

"Yeah. I’ve got no excuse. Sometimes... pride kills a man," he said with a smile.

That smile pissed me off. Drove me mad. Why the hell are you smiling? Is life just a toy to you?

"Stop being a child and get a grip," I told him. "You’re the one who’s supposed to have her back. Foolish knightly pride means nothing in our world."

He didn’t reply. We just stood there, watching Aimer and her class run laps around the stadium during P.E.

"The Aimer you know built herself from the ground up. We’re triplets, but ever since we were little, she looked after us. Tyrion was always sick. I always got into trouble. She helped us. Scolded us when our parents couldn’t.

Sometimes I wonder—how can one person carry so much strength?

You helped me remember why I became who I am. She doesn’t know it yet, but Tyrion and I... we’re going to bring her those first and second place trophies. Pay her back, properly.

Don’t fall behind, Atheron. I’m leaving her in your hands."

Then Friday arrived—the day she’d been waiting for.

The Academy Mage Tournament. And I planned to steamroll through it—

To take first place.