How to Survive as a Villain in a Novel

1 – The Advent of a Top-tier Villain

I posted a malicious comment.

– [Me]: Damn it, you just called the title ‘Villain’ but the protagonist is freaking nice

– [Author]: Who threatened you to read my story at knifepoint?

– [Me]: It seems like the author bastard is more of a villain than the protagonist.

– [Author]: Yeah, you try possession.

– [Me]: ?

And so, I was possessed.

The earth started being invaded from the demon realm through a sudden rift one day.

It was a modern academy story where various superpowers and villains appeared.

[The ‘Villain’s Destiny’ is activated.]

“What is this?”

A status screen I’d never seen in the novel had been activated.

———「Villain’s Destiny」———

◆ Overview

: Each time you commit evil acts, ‘Evilness’ is accumulated. Collect as much ‘Evilness’ as you can.

: Currently collected evilness: [ 1.3 % ]

◆ Details: …..

◇ Penalty

: A corresponding mental and physical penalty if the act is recognized as a good deed rather than an evil act.

———

… This isn’t good.

Suddenly, the author’s last comment comes to mind.

– [Author]: If you want to be so villainous, you do it.

“Narrow-minded bastard.”

Despite it all, is this the way to force me into becoming a villain?

“Nope. I’m not gonna be the villain.”

Why, you always feel it inside, don’t you?

Overdoing it only makes me want to do it less.

Anyway, I know all the events that will occur in this novel.

If I sit back and enjoy life for a bit, and only step up in absolute crises, it should work. That was the plan.

[ Scenario Quest: Great Rift of Orbis ]

A disaster arrived.

A disaster that only I, the possessed, knew about.

A disaster that would kill hundreds of academy students.

I had to save people.

Not saving would make it harder to return to the original world.

I went against the ‘Villain’s Destiny’.

— Crack!

[ ‘Scenario Quest: Great Rift’ has been cleared! ]

I had just barely managed to prevent disaster.

But.

【The penalty of ‘Fate of the Villain’ will be applied.】

A sudden, sharp pain made my eyes close.

My vision disappeared.

Mockingly, the system lit up a status window.

———「Fate of the Villain」———

◇ Penalty

: If actions are recognized as good deeds instead of evil, a corresponding mental and physical penalty will be applied.

———

“……”

I realized.

That the damn author was serious.

– [Author]: You’ve realized you’re not the villain, haven’t you?

– [Author]: If you try to become a hero, I will take away everything you have.

– [Author]: Wasn’t it the villain’s role you wanted?

“Damn.”

… Insane bastard.

I covered my lost eyes.

But it wasn’t over yet.

The people of Orbis Academy, those I had saved, began to gather around me.

It was not praise or gratitude.

– “The situation got worse because of you.”

– “If it hadn’t been for you, so many people wouldn’t have died.”

– “The student council will announce that all responsibility lies with you. Please leave the student council.”

They were trying to pin the unexpected accident on me.

… Right.

They didn’t know.

Of the disaster that could have killed hundreds if not for me.

They didn’t know.

That I lost both my eyes as the price for saving them.

“……”

I realized.

Even if this novel is filled with clichés,

I am not above those clichés.

“Fine.”

I’ll give up.

On becoming a hero.

I activated the ‘Fate of the Villain’ interface.

[ Remaining ‘Evil’ to Next Fate Upgrade: 93.7% ]

“So, I just need to gather malice?”

There was still time until the main scenario.

About a year’s time.

“I’ll become a villain if I have to.”

But, not just any villain.

Those who laughed and ridiculed me.

The ones who would hinder the ending of the novel.

And lastly,

The system.

I’ll become your villain.

“Just wait and see.”

◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆

One year later

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

A foggy dawn.

– Clang! Clang! Clang!

The vibrating railroad track along with the train siren.

A woman hastily darted under the railroad track.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

Half-unbuttoned shirt.

Torn skirt.

Blood was flowing beyond the scratch-like wound on her thigh.

Unable to walk more, the woman collapsed, clutching onto the pillar of the railroad track.

“Why? Not running anymore?”

A man leisurely approached from behind.

He twirled a portable knife in his hand.

Bloody spots was dispersing.

“Do you feel like confessing now?”

His mocking voice reminded her of a warning she’d heard at school.

– Recently, there have been many rape incidents thought to be the work of villains in the area around the University. Be careful…

She clearly remembered. The villain was called ‘Reaper.’

The girl tried to scramble back, but was stopped by the pillar.

“Ugh…”

Although she wanted to scream, her mouth refused to obey.

Tears streamed down the girl’s face.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

“Cry. Your tears excite me.”

“Oh…”

“Your struggle also excites me.”

Stagger. Stagger.

As if relishing the moment, the Reaper slowly took steps towards her.

“No… no…”

– Ssshrreeek.

The Reaper’s hand roughly tore through the stockings.

A sound as if the woman was losing her breath escaped her lips.

“Someone… save me…”

“hehehe. Don’t worry too much. I’ve already blocked the surrounding view with my ability. It’s just you and me…agh!”

Something flew and hit the Reaper’s face. The Reaper’s neck briefly twisted to the side.

The girl quickly raised her head towards the direction the object came from.

A silhouette was emerging from the dark alleyway.

“…!”

Black activewear.

Dark gloves and shoes.

Above all, pupils that were completely out of focus,

And a pitch-black mask concealing half the face.

Beyond that, the voice of a man reached them.

“Passing villain enters.”

The woman’s pupils slightly fluttered.

… A villain? He introduced himself as one, but does a villain normally announce his identity like that?

She didn’t know if he was a savior or a new villain.

But soon, she stared at him with hopeful eyes.

Because the confrontation between the Reaper and the ‘villain’ had begun.

“Who are you? How did you break through my ability to block vision? No, besides that. Do you know who I am…”

Even before the Reaper could finish his question,

The masked villain swung his wooden sword.

– Whoosh!

“Gargh!”

The Reaper’s wrist was bent at an unnatural angle.

Clatter.

The knife slipped out of the Reaper’s grip and fell to the ground.

The woman quickly kicked the knife away.

“You b*tch!”

“Ah!”

The Reaper promptly sent a punch her way.

The woman shut her eyes tightly.

– Thud!

A dull impact sound.

Somehow, it didn’t hurt.

The woman cautiously opened her eyes.

“!”

Standing firm as if protecting her was the back of the masked man.

Beyond him, half mangled, a thug lay face down on the ground.

The thug was trembling with hands raw and begging.

“I… I apologize, please forgive me just once!”

No way! That guy is bad! Before the woman could even yell out, the masked man leaned into the thug and whispered.

“Wouldn’t it be less painful if I send you off in one go?”

The colour ran from the thug’s face.

“Pl… Please.”

However, the masked man swung the short sword in his hand as if not seeing the thug.

– Thwack!

“aaargh! Sa… Save me!”

“My eyesight isn’t good. I didn’t hit properly. It’s annoying.”

He deliberately missed.

The female was certain.

– Thwack!

“Don’t worry. This time, I will send you off properly.”

The thug’s screams and the sound of his leg bone breaking spread throughout the room.

Blood sprayed everywhere.

“Ah, I’m so sorry. It should be more comfortable if I finished you off in one go. Really, hahahaha.”

The masked man swung down his sword.

Behind the emotionless black mask, the woman was certain, the author was laughing.

“Gurgling…”

Blood gurgled and the thug collapsed.

He seemed dead.

The woman blankly stared at the man’s back.

He’s the savior.

He should be.

But…then.

The masked man slowly turned towards her.

The black mask.

Above it, a splash of vibrant red blood.

Almost like, a grinning face.

“……!”

Without realizing, the woman took a step back.

She felt an indescribable fear.

“Do you want to die too?”

“…ah.”

He’s not the savior.

This guy… is evil.

Just a demon who enjoys killing people.

“aaah!”

Using all her remaining strength, the woman ran away from the monster with all her power.

* * *

“Haah…”

Once I was sure that the woman had gotten away safely, I removed the mask that was making it hard for me to breathe every time I wore it.

I looked down at the villain I had just killed.

[ Side Quest: Killing the Villain is now complete. ]

The alias this ugly villain used was Reaper.

He was the villain who stalks around the school intimidating the students.

Despite appearances, he was unique, having risen to the rank of a class [A] villain.

Among the numerous ‘rapists’, the fact that he chose the alias Reaper proved his danger in reverse.

Thankfully, I cut him down in time.

“It’s easier when dealing with scum like these.”

Thinking of the despicable villains at Orbus Academy, I let out a small sigh.

“But…did the penalty not activate?”

What I did just now was surely a ‘good deed’.

Because I saved a woman who was going to be violated by a villain.

But the ‘Fate of the Villain’ penalty didn’t appear to have triggered.

I found a way to undermine the ‘destiny’ that the writer had personally bestowed upon me to turn me into a brutal villain.

[ You have collected ‘Evil’. ]

Instead, I even managed to accumulate ‘Evil’.

I subtly lifted the corner of my mouth in satisfaction.

—- ‘Fate of the Villain’ —-

◆ Description

: Commit as many evil deeds as you can, accumulate ‘Evil’.

◆ Detailed Information

: Current Evil Accumulation Progress

＞ [ 91.9 % ]

: Currently Enforced Effects

＞ – Increase in power of villains within a certain range.

◇ Penalty

: For actions recognized as good deeds, corresponding mental and physical penalties.

—-

If they thought they could handle me with something like the ‘Fate of the Villain’, they were mistaken.

After a long and painful year, I managed to lose even my eyes.

[ ‘Evil’ remaining until the next change of fate: 8.1 % ]

Studying the penalty conditions of the ‘Fate of the Villain’ and collecting ‘Evil’ was worth it.

Now the main scenario will officially start at the academy.

‘They must have planned to screw me over with the fate penalties.’

Hoping that I would play the role of a villain in every scenario quest and remain trapped in this novel forever by using ‘the fate of the villain’.

“That lowbrow writer.”

I am ready to break through those scenarios.

– Brrring!

The alarm rings.

[ 06 : 43 ]

“It’s time to go to school.”

I strip off my mask and outfit, throwing them toward the reaper.

And the weapon.

I use this wooden sword because disposal after use is convenient.

I throw it without regret toward the reaper.

Now.

Just light it up with a specially made lighter and it’s all cleaned up.

– Woosh.

– Report to sector A-3! Depart immediately!

I leave behind the belated siren sounds

Surrendering my body to the shadows of the alley, I murmur.

“An elite villain has arrived.”