My Measurement: The Villain Desires a Satisfying Payback

The remainder of my time spent at the Chiba-Wallace household was not much more than basic tutoring.

All it really consisted of was seeing what material Liam Chiba-Wallace was behind on and focusing on solidifying his understanding of the fundamentals.

What the Measurement of Truth informed me is that one of the most effective ways of teaching is to let the student figure something out for themselves instead of just giving them the answer, so I only went as far as to give him clues towards the correct answer.

When I thought about how Yuu Shimura's grades continued to roam the abyss despite me practically telling him exactly what the exams were going to be about each time, it adds up that he never actually learned anything from it.

If you are only told the answers and not taught the way to figure out the answer for yourself, then it makes sense that it isn't learning, but in fact ignorance towards erudition.

In other words, it's nothing more than temporary knowledge―a superficial method of education.

As a matter of fact, I may have subconsciously realised this myself. After all, I am generally aware that overreliance on the Measurement of Truth would only serve to dull my intellect and logical reasoning, which is why I tend not to abuse it.

From my experience, there are some things learnt only when you think about it yourself and figure it out with your own ability rather than using a tool separate from oneself.

After all, it is the distinction between learning capabilities that sets human intelligence apart from any other creature on this planet.

After that Saturday, in any case, there wasn't a whole lot I needed to do until the Winter Break, and so time passed rather peacefully, yet with people running diligently around the school.

It was hectic since most of everyone was preparing for the Winter Festival―clubs had stalls and other events they wanted to run, and there were all kinds of other preparations going on behind the scenes that I didn't know nor particularly care about.

It was good for me, personally, as it meant people were too busy to bother me with nonsense, so it was a good break away from that kind of thing as well.

School days were, put briefly, uneventful yet pleasant.

Classes were always dreary anyway, but they were even less intense than usual during this time of the year when everyone was hyper-focused on the upcoming festival, so that was a bit bland, but time flowed all the same.

On break and at lunch times, I would eat on the roof with Sophie Asanami as usual since nobody else usually came up there to bother us.

Most days, during the two-hour club slot after school, Sophie and I would sit on the rooftop together or take a walk around the school together to pass the time until it was time to pick Selina and Emir up from their school.

We seem to argue a lot, but it gave me a different kind of feeling compared to when I disagree with other people. In any case, arguing can be fun if it's her, so it's not like I was bored during that time.

Once we arrived home, we would meet the twins who would have returned sooner than the rest of us. Then, because it would already be quite late by that time, we would all eat dinner together shortly after settling in.

The six of us; myself, Sana, Sona, Sophie Asanami, Selina, and Emir all sat at the same table, and as the mansion's servants brought us our food, we ate.

Sana and Sona would go off to finish their homework and train diligently.

Sophie Asanami would laze about or train a bit.

Selina had her room moved to our mansion due to our contract, so she and Emir would do their own thing whether it be playing games or doing homework or whatever.

For the record, Minami lived in a different house by herself as that was her personal preference. I also don't think she liked the idea of living in the same place as me.

As for myself, I would do various things.

I had already sent off all the documents and evidence of the Order's wrongdoings, so with that paper trail in grasp the government, or more precisely the Wardens, should soon start preparing to take them down.

On that front, I decided to take a step back and see what comes of it. There's no real need for me to risk harm or to risk bringing attention to myself by getting unduly involved, after all.

Normally, I do basic chores like managing my equipment, ordering supplies and checking on the training progress of the others.

Saturdays are when I tutor Liam Chiba-Wallace for a couple of hours; I'm still concerned about the 'luck' he saw within me, but there's nothing I can do about that so I've been storing it at the back of my mind.

Furthermore, I often spend time contemplating my plans for future events, such as the high-class birthday party I said I was going to attend, which is scheduled for around the end of the Winter Break. Well, for that one there isn't really anything to prepare since nothing crazy should happen, but anyway.

What I did catch during my routine 'incoming attack check'―asking a series of questions to check whether there are any plans to launch an attack on me from anyone such as the Wardens or the Order―was that, rather surprisingly, the Order plans to cause an incident during the upcoming Winter Festival.

To be precise, it is a certain Professor Marcus Lynton's plan, not a plan of the Order.

It may seem like a minute difference, but it is, in reality, an exceedingly important one, as such distinctions can easily determine whether or not I am killed or captured.

The Measurement of Truth is irritatingly anal about such details.

The way it happened, put briefly, is like this:

When I asked, "Does the Order have any plans to try and attack and/or capture me that I don't already know about?", the following answer came back to me:

「No」

Naturally, this would make you think that there is no need to worry about the Order for the moment.

Putting aside the fact that this only remains true in the current moment and can in fact change at any time if they do happen to make a plan after I ask this, it is important I ask the same or a similar question multiple times or in a different manner.

For example, after asking that question, I asked, "Does Professor Marcus Lynton have any plans relating to me that I don't already know about?", and the answer to that was:

「The individual Marcus Lynton plans to see and perhaps talk to you in person at the Weinstell High School's upcoming Winter Festival」

If it is only one person in the organisation who has a plan to interfere with me, then the Measurement of Truth does not define that as the entire organisation having a plan but rather the individual alone.

In this way, it is very particular about the wording used to ask a question, so I always need to be careful with the way I go about asking something.

Still, sometimes I slip up and ask all but the right questions; as was the case with Saburou Fushigimi.

Anyway, I didn't expect the head of the Order, Professor Marcus Lynton, that bastard, to go out of his way to meet me in person.

It wasn't that he didn't understand the risks of coming out himself, and it wasn't that he had lost his sanity to the point where he didn't care for his own safety either.

Taking that into consideration, something came to mind.

I wondered.

If he was really coming by himself, then that meant he was confident in protecting himself against me.

After all, if he's alone, then even if it was during a bustling festival I would kill him.

The tradeoff of that bastard's death and maintaining an untroubled school life was incomparable in value.

If it meant he would die, leading to the Order perishing permanently, then I would take that deal in a heartbeat.

There's no doubt he is aware of that and has thus prepared for the eventuality of facing me at the festival.

Perhaps, has their research on manufacturing Supernatural Abilities progressed to the point where the head of the operation has felt safe enough to give himself some sort of power?

Asking this, the Measurement of Truth responded with an affirmation.

In that case, I would need to prepare. Since he would be coming to me by himself, his goal wouldn't be to capture or kill me―well, killing me would be the very last thing he would want to do―but instead, as the Measurement of Truth has already informed me, to talk.

Dialogue.

Frankly, I don't want to look at that greedy bastard any more than necessary, let alone listen to his repulsive voice, but I don't think that's an option.

Of course, I could simply not go to the festival, but talking with Professor Marcus Lynton one-to-one has some invaluable benefits.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more I find it absolutely necessary for me to go and speak with him.

Why? Well, the answer is simple.

To what extent he was involved in the incident of my escape, I don't know. But, what I do distinctly remember is a very important fact.

Former San Cinelia Playground Facility Administrator, Professor Marcus Lynton.

―That bastard managed the Playground I was raised in.