How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 118

After experiencing a nightmarish ordeal, I woke up to see the Red Mage, Beatrice, standing before me.

“B-Beatrice?”

In the sudden and confusing situation, I blurted out her name without thinking.

“Hm? Do you know me?”

“Well, that is…”

Damn it, I made a mistake.

Realizing the problem instantly, I quickly came up with an excuse.

“No, it’s just that I’ve heard rumors about you, so I reacted unconsciously. I apologize.”

“Rumors?”

As she looked at me curiously, I continued speaking as naturally as possible.

“A blonde beauty whose red dress suits her better than anyone, with beautiful emerald eyes and a charismatic gaze. The only one on the continent is the Red Mage Beatrice.”

Hearing this, Beatrice chuckled, seemingly pleased.

“Have you oiled your tongue or something? How can you say such things so effortlessly?”

“Well, I just spoke the truth.”

‘You love hearing praise and being put on a pedestal, don’t you?’

Recalling her personality from the original work, I responded with a straight face.

‘But what was that I saw earlier?’

My mind was still a chaotic mess. However, I couldn’t focus on that right now, not with the Red Mage Beatrice sitting in front of me.

‘Why is she here anyway? It’s not like we have any prior acquaintance.’

The woman conversing with me was on equal footing with the Yellow Mage Jamie. She was Beatrice de Atlante, known as the ‘Crimson Witch,’ responsible for the red in the primary colors.

“Hmm, really?”

She moved her finger in a curious gesture, exuding an alluring atmosphere that would naturally attract many men. I awkwardly nodded with a smile.

“Of course.”

‘Isn’t it too early for her to appear?’

While it was true that Beatrice eventually became the Dean of the Flance Imperial Academy, her initial appearance wasn’t supposed to be like this. She was supposed to appear when the conflict between the swordsmanship and magic factions had escalated…

“You seem quite normal for someone who took the assettoran drug, yet you say such things so casually. You’re certainly unique.”

“What?”

I tilted my head at Beatrice’s words.

Assettoran drug?

That sounded familiar… Oh, the mushroom! Professor Senoa had explained it during herbology class. It was that fungus that induces hallucinations or shows memories within one’s subconscious.

‘Could that be the real memory hidden in Kamon Vade’s subconscious?’

As I pondered that thought, Beatrice spoke again.

“So, are you feeling better? It must have been quite a shock.”

“Oh, yes. I think I’m fine.”

“Hmm. I still don’t understand why students fight like it’s a matter of life and death in an academy. But it’s a relief if you’re okay. Maybe the drug was effective?”

Oh, right. The honor duel.

How did that turn out?

“Excuse me, but…”

“Hmm?”

“What happened with the duel?”

I remembered breaking Kyle’s sword but passed out afterward, leaving me clueless about the outcome. Beatrice, with a peculiar look, smirked.

“That honor duel?”

“Yes.”

‘It should be a draw, or I should win.’

If I lost, it would be a disastrous situation.

“…”

Beatrice remained silent, making me anxious. I asked again, holding my breath.

“What happened? Did I lose?”

‘But I broke his sword. It should at least be a draw.’

Beatrice finally laughed and shook her head.

“No, nothing has been decided yet.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just that, given the situation, it ended inconclusively.”

Her nonchalant explanation made me cheer inwardly.

‘Great, that’s a relief.’

Since I broke Kyle’s sword and no outcome had been declared, I still had a chance to argue it as a draw. I needed to find Professor Phelan or Beroen…

“By the way, I have an important question for you. I need to ask you something.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”

Beatrice nodded firmly, then slowly continued.

“You…”

Suddenly, her demeanor changed dramatically. The soft and seductive air was gone, replaced by a sharp and cold charisma that pressed down on me like a harsh winter wind.

Then.

“What’s your relationship with Jamie Hasellion?”

“Well, that is…”

Her pointed question left me speechless.

“Answer clearly. Where and how did you learn that magic?”

Her questioning was stern, and she continued, shaking her head.

“No, how did you even think of using such magic in that situation?”

“What?”

“If I had been a bit later, your opponent would have definitely died.”

“…!”

“You didn’t realize your magic was going out of control? If it had exploded, it would have caused significant damage, including to the spectators.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s indeed remarkable that an ordinary student could cast such magic, but you should never have done such a reckless thing.”

Beatrice’s reprimand was stern. She then asked again.

“So, answer my question. That magic, it was Jamie Hasellion’s, wasn’t it? How do you know it?”

“Well, that is…”

What’s going on?

Should I be honest here?

But the bigger question is…

‘Why was my master just standing there at that time?’

No matter how half-crazy and perverted Jamie is, she’s not someone who can be considered evil. She would have definitely tried to prevent unnecessary sacrifices or harm to civilians.
So why?

Ouch.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, a sharp pain in the back of my neck made me cry out involuntarily.

At the same time.

Riiip!

With the sound of something tearing.

“You’re spewing nonsense again, brat.”

A very familiar voice came from behind me.

“M-Master?”

“Jamie?”

A small girl with green hair appeared in front of me, smirking as she looked at the Red Mage Beatrice and asked,

“What’s so interesting about my disciple, you little red brat?”

At this, Beatrice stared back at Jamie with a sharp gaze and retorted,

“What’s this, Jamie? What are you doing here?”

“Why? Can’t I be here?”

“It’s against protocol for a mage of the primary colors to stay at an educational institution without the permission of the Board or the Seven Table…”

“Ah, there you go again, just like that old man’s disciple. It’s so tiresome.”

Jamie cut her off with a strong sigh, while Beatrice retorted with a mocking smile.

“I’m not that rigid. But Jamie, I can be a bit inflexible with you.”

“If you keep calling me Jamie, Jamie, you’re asking for a beating.”

Jamie’s threatening tone made Beatrice laugh and shrug her shoulders.

“If you want to be treated like a senior, act like one. Don’t you agree?”

“You crazy bitch…!”

Fuming with anger, Jamie cursed, and I, confused, asked,

“How did you get here, Master?”

“Is that really important right now?”

Jamie answered as if she found my question frustrating, and then Beatrice snapped back.

“What are you thinking?”

“What?”

“You said this student is your disciple. It’s insane that you took an academy student as your disciple in the first place, but…”

Trailing off, she continued with an annoyed expression.

“Why did you teach such dangerous magic?”

Jamie proudly placed her hands on her hips and replied.

“I taught my disciple. What’s the problem?”

“…”

“It’s not strange for a master to teach magic to their disciple, is it?”

“Hah, really.”

Beatrice, dumbfounded by Jamie’s response, let out a sarcastic laugh and glanced between Jamie and me.

“So why don’t you keep your useless meddling to yourself?”

“I knew you were a bit unhinged, but I didn’t know you were this crazy.”

“What?!”

“Do you even think before you act? Why on earth would you teach such dangerous magic to a student, no, a disciple? If I had been a little late…”

Beatrice’s exasperated tone was met with Jamie’s calm but firm response.

“Hey, little red brat. I think you’re mistaken about something.”

“…?!”

“That magic, even if it went out of control, wouldn’t have killed anyone.”

“Nonsense.”

Beatrice immediately refuted Jamie’s words firmly, but Jamie gave a peculiar smile and looked at me.

“He doesn’t have enough mana for that.”

“What are you talking about? The amount of mana and the speed I felt back then…”

Frowning, Beatrice started to argue back, but Jamie grabbed my hand with a grin.

“Look at this.”

“Hm?”

Jamie showed her the ‘Orb’ ring on my finger and said,

“My disciple has a special body. Want to check for yourself?”

Beatrice’s eyebrows raised slightly at her words.

“Check?”

“Yes, with mana. See what this kid’s body is like…”

Wait a minute.

Shouldn’t I be the one to give permission for that?

Why are they doing whatever they want?

“No, wait…”

But before I could finish speaking, a gentle touch of mana brushed against me.
And soon after.

“What is this?”

Beatrice looked at me with a very surprised and intrigued expression. Jamie nodded.

“No matter how much oil you have inside, if there’s no outlet, you can’t set it on fire properly, right?”

“…”

However, Beatrice ignored Jamie’s explanation and continued to observe me closely.

‘Ah, this is so uncomfortable.’

At that moment.

“Interesting.”

Our eyes met as she nodded with a peculiar smile.

‘Ugh, what’s this?’

I quickly turned my head to avoid her gaze.

‘Why is my heart suddenly racing like this?’

For some reason, it felt like her emerald eyes had a magical charm that could stir a man’s heart.

And then.

“Is your name Kamon Vade?”

“Yes? Oh, yes.”

When Beatrice suddenly asked my name, I reflexively nodded.

She then whispered softly with an even more seductive smile.

“Good, I’ll remember you.”

But Jamie coldly interrupted her.

“Remember, my ass… Just get lost already.”

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