How to Survive as a Villain in a Novel

9 – Black Cat

After the emergency professor’s meeting.

Yoon Hyun-jin’s face was rather puffy as he emerged from the conference room.

“It’s unfair.”

After being silenced by Professor Ee Man-eok.

– “I’m the victim here! Why are you people deciding on your own!”

Yoon Hyun-jin, who had just managed to dispel, cried out. This was how Professor Ee Man-eok and Jo Yoo-kyung reacted.

– “You lack sensitivity.”

Sensitivity in school regulations?

Are they crazy?

What’s even more unfair was that the majority of professors agreed.

Of course, Yoon Hyun-jin also noticed it.

Seo Yoo-kyung.

It must have been because of that woman from that damn group, whether it’s Sanyeon or Sanyang. More precisely, it was because of the money she was pouring into the school.

He experienced the bitterness of society firsthand.

Suddenly, a thought crossed Yoon Hyun-jin’s mind.

‘Should I ask my parents for a favor?’

“Ah, we’re not exactly wealthy.”

Our financial situation is modest, given our reputation and fame. That’s mainly because my parents are scrupulously honest.

In other words, it means I shouldn’t hope to rely on their connections.

“Oh, this is frustrating.”

It’s like swallowing a box full of sweet potatoes in one go – it suffocates me.

I could use a cider right now.

Just then, a vending machine caught Yoon Hyun-jin’s eye.

Cider. Cider.

Fortunately, it’s not on the top row.

She’s not tall enough to reach that.

“…”

In any case…

Yoon Hyun-jin, rummaging through her pockets, slumped in resignation.

‘I left my wallet in the dorm.’

Being friendless, she rarely had a need for a wallet.

She remembers her careless behaviour in the morning, tossing her wallet on the bed.

Desperately hoping to find even a coin, she thoroughly checked her pockets but all that came out was…

-A student handbook (Special Edition that includes all the school regulations).

-A precious bookmark she always carries around.

-A piece of trash picked up from the floor.

-Cellphone.

“Ah! So unfair!”

Thud-thud.

Yoon Hyun-jin stomped her feet.

But her act didn’t seem to hurt the earth.

Which made her even more frustrated.

“Sigh.”

However, the frustration quickly subsided.

She had bigger things to worry about.

“The Disciplinary Committee…”

In principle, it’s a special committee that only convenes to penalize students who leave a big blemish on Orbis’s reputation. And evidence must be clear-cut.

The problem is…

Most students who face this committee get expelled.

“Best case scenario, a suspension, or re-admission…”

Her mouth turned dry as she came to this realization.

She needed a strategy, pronto.

But speaking of which.

“Ah, really.”

Where has that punk, Lee Han, disappeared to?

Come to think of it, I’m not sure where he is most of the time.

We’ve built some kind of an inner intimacy, but we’re not actually close.

“Let’s do this on the phone.”

She pulled out her mobile.

[ ＜!＞ Charging is needed for the use of the mobile phone. ]

Ah. I didn’t charge the battery.

I hardly ever use my phone.

“No. Just a minute.”

I realized we hadn’t even exchanged phone numbers.

Haven’t we properly said hello?

“……”

I’m going crazy.

* * *

Meanwhile, at that point.

Unaware of Yoon Hyun-jin’s worry, I was chuckling to myself.

[ ‘Malice’ has been collected. ]

[ ‘Malice’ has been collected. ]

[ ‘Malice’ has been collected. ]

“Ha, ha, ha…”

My villain laugh flowed out naturally.

It’s not like villains laugh all the time.

Looking around, luckily there was nobody else.

“Honestly, I was flabbergasted at first.”

It was when I was momentarily relaxed after going through a full-fledged role-play.

I lost consciousness.

When I woke up, I was in the bathroom.

‘It must have been some brainwashing magic.’

A camera was in my hand.

Not just that, I was in the ladies restroom.

And in front of my eyes, Yoon Hyun-jin was breaking down in real-time.

‘This is bad.’

I either had to save Yoon Hyun-jin or prove my innocence with the camera as evidence.

It was a moment of choosing one of two.

‘There’s nothing to think about.’

I know the intertwined past of Yoon Hyun-jin with the manipulated pictures. I have no reason to mess with Yoon Hyun-jin’s mentality.

Besides, anyone can see that I’m in a crime-like situation.

If I save Yoon Hyun-jin, who is clearly ‘good’, I can meet the conditions of ‘the Fate of the Villain’ perfectly.

That being the case,

Isn’t it advantageous for me to take someone’s anger?

And so, I smashed the camera.

Thanks to this, ‘evil’ is accumulating in real time.

———『The Villain’s Destiny』———

◆ Summary

: Commit as many evil deeds as possible and gather ‘evil’.

◆ Details

: Current progress of evil collection

＞ [97%]

: Currently forcibly activated effects

＞ Increased growth rate within a certain range of villains.

◇ Penalty

: If an act is perceived as good rather than evil, a corresponding mental and physical penalty.

——————

“No matter how I think about it, I’m definitely a genius villain.”

He nods affirmatively.

There’s too much sense in my words and my head automatically nods.

Look at the ‘Evil Collection’ category skyrocketing.

Considering I’ve used evil in the duel…

It’s been up 4 percent for the past few days.

The number may look small, but it’s monumental.

It’s not really easy to raise it by even 1 percent.

“A good villain knows how to use his opponent’s strategy too.”

It was definitely a keen strategy that could ruin both Yun Hyun-jin and me at the same time.

Who came up with the strategy?

The Saint? The student council?

Anyway, it’s become too difficult to figure out these villainous bastards.

All thanks to whatever destiny, the power of the Orbis Academy villains has strengthened.

“They probably haven’t given up yet.”

In the absence of the principal, the balance in Orbis is heavily tilted towards the villains.

Thus. The discipline committee to attack me must be formed somehow.

“Expulsion is dangerous.”

Because the moment you step out of the academy scenario, you’re out of the quest.

It’s really a life of walking on a tightrope at the academy.

And I’m a villain who walks the tightrope well.

* * *

“Hmm. It’s not here.”

I searched all the tall trees in Orbis, but it was hard to find.

The two main characters who are the key to the scenario strategy among the second-year students in Orbis can be identified.

Yun Hyun-jin with the scale of Dike, and Han Chaeyoon with the black staff.

Yun Hyun-jin, who struggles to make sense of things in the beginning of the scenario, grows steadily and shows amazing actions.

‘Thinking about it, Yun Hyun-jin is extraordinary.’

I recovered from the shock of this hidden camera incident rather quickly.

Mind you, the key to Yoon Hyun-jin’s recovery is human relationships.

‘Does she have someone she likes?’

I’m not sure who, but I want to cheer for them.

Because her mental state isn’t exactly stable, be careful with your words.

She always gives more than she receives.

If you’re confident you can look after her, it’s not bad at all.

Anyway.

Apart from Yoon Hyun-jin, there was one person left.

I had been looking for her.

Help from her was essential to deal with the disciplinary committee.

“I found her.”

In the central plaza surrounded by several buildings.

From the top of the high tree bathed in warm sunlight, I found the mark I was looking for.

I quickly climbed up the tree.

– Meow.

A cat that recognizes me and greets me joyfully.

It’s that black cat I used to take down from the roadside trees on my way to school.

You may ask, how do you know it’s black when you can’t see?

Sometimes, pedestrians yelled, asking about the black cat.

Because I used to take it down, it has forgotten how to get down on its own.

‘Almost equivalent to denying nature itself.’

I brought the cat down and leaned against the tree.

And I started to gently stroke the cat’s belly.

Purr purr.

The cat, closing its eyes and making a noise.

It seems happy, which is a relief.

As if it were nothing, I began to speak as if muttering to myself.

“I checked my mailbox for the first time in a while before coming to the academy today.”

Purr.

Watching the black cat purr thoughtlessly, I continued my words.

“Contracts sent by Heukmyodan.”

Purr… twitch!… purr.

“Heukmyodan is one of the leading guilds all over the world. You might not know because you are a cat.”

Nod nod.

“There’s a rumor that the successor of Heukmyodan attends Orbis, you know?”

Twitch!

“Then, it would only make sense that the successor of Sunyang Group is the student council president of Orbis. Honestly, Heukmyodan is a rank above Sunyang.”

Slyly.

I could feel the cat’s head turning away from me towards the distance.

Looking at a distant mountain is futile.

“Since losing my eyes, I have honed my other senses. Especially my sense of smell, it turned out to be quite useful?”

The cat now curled up in my arms.

This little one smelled like wood.

To be precise, it smelled like older wood with black ink stains.

A rare and distinctive smell.

And there was one person in Orbis who had such a scent.

“Ms. Han Chaeyoon.”

The demeanor of the cat changed momentarily.

It was as if a notable individual was gazing upon me with a serious expression.

For this moment, I should regard her as a human, not a cat.

Technically, it’s our first face-to-face interaction.

It would be sensible to start with a polite greeting.

“Nice to meet you. And, I have a favor to ask since our first meeting.”

But the traits of a villain. No sense and manners.

“There will be a disciplinary committee meeting soon. I’d like you to help me there.”

– Meow?

Was it asking if I meant everything?

“No, I will handle the main issues. I’d just appreciate if you could stall the Sunyang Group.”

– Meaow.

“Compensation?”

The cat proudly nodded.

I answered.

“Treats?”

– Meow!

I got hit by a cat punch!

I took one damage.

Was it too rogue villain-like negotiation?

“Ten treats.”

– Meow meow meow meow!

I got hit by ten cat punches!

All damage received has been recovered!

“I understand. It won’t be an easy task for you either. Given you’re also likely going through a hard time.”

Nod. Nod.

I could feel the very relaxed face of the cat swaying.

So, there’s no other way but this?

“I’ve brought the contract you proposed.”

The spirit of the cat changed dramatically as if it had tasted a treat for the first time.

Could it be me? A human treat?

… It doesn’t make sense.

I held out the file I had brought.

Inside it, there was a brand-new contract that I had taken out this morning, specially made for visually impaired people.

The title of the contract was clearly – Exclusive Contract for Guild Sub-Butler –

“Let’s take a look at this positively.”

– Meow!

In an instant, the cat snatched away the contract.

And, as if grooming its paw, it licked it.

– Contractor: Han Chaeyoon ＜signature＞

Squawk. It stamped a pawprint on the signature line.

I couldn’t help but laugh at this sight.

* * *

On the day of the Disciplinary Committee.

In the basement of the Academy main building where the committee was located, a solemn atmosphere flowed.

The defendant of the Disciplinary Committee felt a sense of crisis in the purposely designed interior.

Standing in front of the cold iron door, I chuckled.

‘The solution to a villain’s crisis is always simple.’

Violence. Assault. Threats.

The Disciplinary Committee will be stained with blood.

Very red.

“Well, shall we loosen up?”

As I pushed the door open roughly, I headed inside.

An elite villain.

Here I come.