Reincarnated with an SSS-rank Tamer System: My Harem of Villainesses-Chapter 36 – Consequences and Preparation

Adam arrived at the classroom just as Professor Vane was closing the door, slipping inside with barely a few seconds to spare before the lock clicked shut.

He walked toward his usual seat beside Piers, who was already settled in with his notebook open and a curious expression on his face.

As soon as Adam sat down, Piers leaned slightly toward him while the professor began writing on the board.

"Why were you late?" he murmured quietly, trying not to draw attention.

Adam didn’t even look at him. "I overslept."

"You overslept?" Piers repeated in a tone that made it clear he didn’t believe it for a second. "You, who wake up before the sun every day to train..."

"Yes, I overslept." Adam cut him off in a tone that didn’t invite further questions.

Piers watched him for a moment longer before giving a faint smile and shaking his head. "Alright, alright. I won’t ask anymore."

"Wise decision."

There was a brief silence as they both pretended to pay attention to what Professor Vane was explaining about the elemental theory of fire, though Adam could tell Piers was itching to ask more questions.

Eventually, the boy couldn’t resist any longer. "Although... I heard some rumors in the hallway before coming in."

Adam closed his eyes briefly, already knowing where this was going. "Don’t tell me."

"Something about you and a certain green-haired girl..." Piers murmured casually, glancing at him from the corner of his eye.

"Piers."

"Yes?"

"Do you want to keep all your teeth intact?"

Piers let out a muffled laugh before raising his hands in surrender. "Message received. No more questions."

Adam nodded in satisfaction as he turned his attention back to the front, though knowing that wouldn’t be the end of the conversation eventually.

Rumors at the academy spread faster than any wind spell.

It was at that moment that the translucent screen appeared in front of him.

[Tamer System]

[Congratulations! Mission successfully completed]

[Reward: Immediate social recognition. Now everyone in the academy is aware of your intimate encounter with Alice Velmoor right at the start of the academic year. Your reputation as a womanizer has been successfully established!]

Adam clenched his jaw as he read the message.

’Screw you.’ Adam thought with annoyance directed solely at the system.

[Hahaha, don’t get so angry, host. By the way, fun fact: there is no rule in the academy’s regulations that specifically forbids entering other students’ rooms to maintain intimate relations. Technically, you didn’t break any rules]

[Although you should probably prepare yourself for the envious looks and comments for... well, the rest of the year]

Adam simply sighed tiredly as the screen disappeared, feeling the weight of the consequences of his decisions beginning to settle on his shoulders.

He hadn’t even intended to have relations with Alice...

Piers glanced at him upon hearing the sigh. "Are you okay?"

"Perfectly." Adam replied in a dry tone that clearly suggested otherwise.

***

The next class was with Professor Ironvale, which meant everyone moved to the outdoor training field where the imposing woman was already waiting for them with her arms crossed and that expression suggesting she was about to make them suffer.

The students quickly lined up in rows, some still sore from the previous training, but not daring to complain openly.

Brenna observed them all for several seconds before speaking. "Listen carefully because this is important." She said as she walked slowly. "In exactly one week there will be a mini tournament among all first-year students."

That immediately sparked reactions; some murmured excitedly among themselves, others visibly tensed at the news.

Piers was one of the latter. Adam noticed it right away by how his shoulders stiffened.

"The tournament will be one-on-one combat with practice swords." Brenna explained without reacting to their responses. "No magic. Only physical skill, technique, and strategy. The matchups will be random."

"I’m done for." Piers muttered under his breath, low enough that only Adam could hear him. "If I get paired against someone strong, I’m completely done..."

Adam turned slightly to look at him. "If you train properly, that won’t happen."

"Train properly?" Piers repeated in a skeptical tone. "Adam, half the people here come from families who’ve been training them since they could hold a sword. I barely learned the basics a couple of years ago..."

"Everyone here is still more or less at the same level." Adam replied, aware that Brenna was watching them. "The real difference will be made by whoever makes the best use of this week to prepare."

Piers simply listened before asking with some concern, "And what about Evelyne? She’ll probably end up against people who surpass her in training."

Adam hadn’t thought about that until Piers mentioned it, but he was right. Evelyne was competent, but she hadn’t shown an exceptional level in physical combat so far.

He knew that perfectly well, since she had mentioned it several times during lunch...

"Well... you’re right to be concerned." He admitted after a moment.

Then there was a brief silence between them while Brenna continued explaining the tournament rules until Piers finally spoke again, this time in a more determined tone.

"Could you train us?"

Adam glanced at him. "Why me?"

"Because you were one of the few Professor Ironvale didn’t correct during the entire previous training." Piers explained while subtly pointing toward where she was standing. "That means your technique is good enough that she didn’t find any obvious mistakes."

Adam considered that for a moment. It wasn’t that he felt like becoming an improvised instructor, but he also couldn’t deny that his combat experience far surpassed most of the students present.And if Evelyne really needed help...

"Alright." He finally accepted with a resigned sigh. "After classes we’ll find Evelyne and train. But don’t expect miracles in a week."

Piers smiled broadly at that, clearly relieved. "I won’t expect miracles. I just... don’t want us to completely embarrass ourselves."

"That I can handle."

Brenna had finished explaining the rules and was now observing them all. "We’ll start with warm-up exercises." She announced while pointing toward the other end of the field. "Ten laps around the perimeter. Now."

A collective groan barely contained spread among the students before they all began moving, knowing that openly complaining would only result in more exercise.

Adam ran alongside Piers, maintaining a steady pace while his mind was working on how to structure the training sessions he had promised.

He would have to focus on the basics: stance, footwork, timing. Nothing too complex, but effective enough to give them a decent chance in the tournament.

’One week,’ he thought as he completed the first lap effortlessly. ’It’s not much time, but it might work.’

When they finished the laps, Brenna had them practice attack and defense combinations in pairs.

Adam was paired with a tall dark-haired boy who had clearly trained before, as his movements were precise, though somewhat mechanical.

They exchanged blows for several minutes while Brenna walked between the pairs correcting mistakes with that characteristic verbal brutality that spared no one.

"Ashcroft, your guard is still too rigid. Relax your shoulders."

"Hawke, if you keep thinking your attacks through that obviously, you’ll get destroyed in the tournament."

When she passed by Adam, she had the same reaction as before: she simply looked at him for a few seconds and moved on.

When the class ended, more than half of them were once again sprawled on the ground, panting.Piers was one of them. "This... is going to be... a long week..." he managed to say between breaths.

Adam, though somewhat tired as well, remained standing as he extended a hand to help him up.

"We still have training afterward."

Piers groaned at that, but accepted the hand and stood up, swaying slightly. "You’re going to kill me before the tournament."

"Only if you can’t keep up."

"How comforting."

As they left the training field, Adam was already mentally preparing what they would need to do: find Evelyne, locate a place where they could train without too many interruptions, and establish a routine that would be effective without leaving them too exhausted for regular classes.

’It will definitely be a long week.’ He thought in silent agreement with what Piers had said.

But at least now he had something concrete to focus on besides dealing with the rumors about Alice that would surely keep circulating for days.