How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 119

The next day.

“…Thus, I have been appointed as the acting dean of the Flance Imperial Academy. I am Beatrice, and I look forward to working with you.”

As the Red Mage Beatrice waved with a bright smile in the hologram projection, I could only stay silent.

“…”

Beatrice de Atlante.

She earned the title of Grand Mage from the Seven Table at the tender age of twenty and became the successor of the red in the primary colors before she turned thirty. And now, she was standing before the entire student body, delivering her inauguration speech as the acting dean of the Flance Imperial Academy.

‘She’ll probably be promoted to the official dean later anyway.’

If the original story went as it did, Beatrice would become one of the main character Kyle’s key allies. She was a character who played a mentor and older sister role, garnering considerable popularity.

‘Too bad she didn’t make it as a heroine candidate.’

The age difference played a part, but mostly because she wasn’t interested in men, she never had any romantic involvement with the protagonist Kyle.

However, she had an alluring and voluptuous body, a cold yet charismatic personality, beautiful blonde hair, and sharp features. Her naturally seductive and sensual behavior attracted endless admiration and affection from others, making many readers lament her not being a heroine.

‘I was one of those readers, secretly.’

“With that, I conclude the inauguration ceremony of the new acting dean…”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Just as the inauguration ceremony was about to end, Beatrice suddenly raised her hand and called out.

“Do you have something more to say?”

“Yes.”

Nodding to the host’s question, she stepped back to the podium and grabbed the microphone.

“Ahem, I understand that there has been considerable turmoil within the academy recently.”

At her sudden mention of internal chaos, both students and faculty wore puzzled expressions.

“Hmm?”

“What’s this about all of a sudden?”

“Is she really going to address this openly?”

Her voice echoed again.

“It might be natural for people with different goals to gather and end up clashing and splitting apart.”

Her words seemed to target the factional strife between the swordsmanship and magic departments, making everyone, from students to faculty, listen intently in surprise.

“However, this academy is an institution for educating and nurturing talented students, not a place for power struggles. So, as long as I am the dean, such disputes will no longer be tolerated.”

“…!”

“What, what is she saying now?”

“Is she really planning to eliminate the factional battles between the swordsmanship and magic departments?”

Most people stared at the podium in shock, thinking it was too aggressive for an acting dean to make such bold claims on her first day.

But Beatrice, undeterred, pressed on.

“And the honor duel that occurred recently, its outcome hasn’t been decided yet, right?”

Her candid mention of the still contentious issue between students and professors alike made everyone freeze, waiting for her next words.

“Let’s settle that here and now. Since I intervened during the duel, the result will be….”

She paused, feeling everyone’s gaze on her, and then smiled lightly.

“The duel between the two will be declared a draw.”

With that brief declaration, chaos erupted.

“What?!”

“How can that be a draw?”

“No way, Kyle won! How can that be a draw?”

“This is insane!”

Reactions exploded around me.

‘As expected, but she really went for it.’

I thought, shaking my head with a sigh.

* * *

“So, this is all of it?”

The Red Mage Beatrice, who had stirred up the entire academy, asked as she sat comfortably in her office chair.

“Yes, Dean. This is all the information we could gather within the academy.”

Isabel, who had originally served as the secretary to Dean Elmon, had been promoted to the office manager to assist the newly appointed acting dean, Beatrice.

The first task assigned to the newly promoted Isabel was:
– Gather all information about Kamon Vade.

She handed over a hefty stack of documents.

Rustle.

Beatrice began to flip through the papers spread out on her desk.

“Shall I bring you something to drink?”

Isabel asked with a soft smile, unable to break her secretary habits.

“Yes, that would be nice. Something warm, please.”

“Understood.”

Beatrice replied with a bright smile, and Isabel quickly moved to fulfill the request.

Soon.

Plop!

A steaming black coffee was placed on the desk.

“Thank you.”

“If you need anything else, please let me know.”

Isabel left after completing her task.

Time began to pass.

One hour, two hours, and so on until the coffee had lost its warmth.

Plop!

Finally, Beatrice placed the document she was holding on the desk and smirked.

“…This is really interesting.”

At first, she thought Jamie, the Yellow Mage, had taken on a trivial task out of boredom.

But after discovering that Kamon Vade’s mana routes were blocked and reviewing all the information the academy had on him, she was intrigued.

“To think there’s someone so strange and unique.”

Despite his blocked mana routes, he could use magic and remain calm in life-threatening situations, executing his objectives precisely.

Moreover, the most peculiar point was.

“He was originally incredibly powerful.”

Beatrice’s impression after reading the evaluations and annotations from Dean Elmon and several professors.

Princess Francia, who drew everyone’s attention.

Chelsea Artein, the top student.

Kyle Perrion, the academy’s monster.

Though they were all extraordinary, the one who initially caught the eyes of influential figures upon entering the academy was someone else.

“Kamon Vade…”

Beatrice whispered his name, recalling his figure lying on the bed.

Those who had once possessed great power often experienced a profound sense of loss and helplessness upon losing it, sometimes to the point of losing the will to live.

But this guy…

“At first, I wondered if I should expel him.”

Beatrice murmured with a grin, lightly tapping her fingers on the desk.

Tap! Tap!

Her extended index finger tapped rhythmically on the desk, filling the room with soft sounds.

“I see. Is this why Jamie took you as her disciple?”

As she tried to reason Jamie’s actions, her eyes sparkled with interest.

“But what should I do?”

Then, with a deep smile, she continued,

“I want you so much.”

* * *

“Feeling good?”

“Pardon?”

At Jamie’s sudden question, I tilted my head in confusion. She answered with a displeased expression.

“You got the outcome you wanted from the duel. Are you feeling good?”

“Oh, yes. Of course. A draw… it’s the best result.”

As I nodded and answered, Jamie sat down heavily in front of me with an annoyed look on her face.

“So, are you going to run to that red brat if she calls you?”

“What?”

“The look that crazy woman gave you wasn’t normal!”

Jamie’s frustrated tone almost made me burst out laughing. What was this? Was she jealous? She looked like a puppy afraid of losing its bone, pouting with her lips pushed out.

“Come on, I wouldn’t leave you, Master.”

“You never know.”

“No way. Even if a hundred Red Mages begged me, I’d stay with you. Without you, I would never have gotten this result in the duel.”

“Hmph, so you do have some gratitude.”

Seeing Jamie’s reaction, her nose twitching with a mix of joy and embarrassment, I struggled to suppress my laughter.

‘Well, it’s not a bad feeling.’

Although becoming Jamie’s disciple was more a series of fortunate accidents than a deliberate plan, seeing her react this way made me feel like I was truly her disciple.

“So, are you feeling better now?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

“Always the words…”

Despite her continued grumbling, I finally asked the question that had been on my mind.

“But Master, I’m curious about something.”

“Hmm?”

“You’ve known Beatrice for a while, right?”

“…Yes.”

She answered awkwardly, prompting me to press further.

“Can I ask what your relationship is? You seemed to know each other quite well…”

In the original story, they appeared at different times and under different circumstances. They never interacted or appeared together.

Considering that I would frequently encounter these people in the future, it was better to understand their relationships.

‘The blue was hostile, the red an ally, and the yellow neutral, right?’

Thinking about the relationships with the protagonist Kyle, I nodded to myself.

‘All three are among the strongest in the world, so it’s best to know in advance and prepare.’

Since I was now officially the disciple of the Yellow Mage, Jamie Hasellion.

“Hm, why are you curious all of a sudden?”

“Well, since I’ll be staying at the academy, I’ll probably run into her often. It would be good to know what kind of person she is and her relationship with you, Master.”

With a slight smile, I teased Jamie.

“If she’s really someone I shouldn’t be involved with, I should know to avoid causing you any trouble.”

“Geez, you talk too much…”

Jamie muttered, seemingly exasperated but with a slight smirk showing her good mood.

“Beatrice de Atlante is the granddaughter of the Blue Mage Edward Belmont, which makes her related to him. And her master was my senior.”

“What?”

I blurted out in surprise at the unexpected background.

‘The blue and red are related by family? And the red and yellow are connected through mentorship?’

“I used to be in the same magic tower as that senior. He was quite an eccentric, but his curse magic was top-notch. Of course, we had a big fight later and split up.”

“A fight?”

“Yes. Oh, and I won, of course.”

“Ah, I see. But why did you fight?”

“He was just annoying.”

“Oh…”

Although I didn’t fully understand the reason, it made sense when Jamie said it.

At the same time.

‘Well, I get the gist.’

Knowing the original settings, I could infer their relationships from a few pieces of information.

‘If Jamie had a fallout with her master, it makes sense that her relationship with Beatrice isn’t great either. And maybe Beatrice became an authority on curse magic because of her master?’

In the original story, the mages of the three primary colors each had unique characteristics. Blue focused on defensive and enhancement magic, red on offensive and curse magic, and Jamie’s yellow…

‘Research, artifacts, and creation magic.’

While the Blue Mage Edward and Red Mage Beatrice frequently interacted with the protagonist Kyle, the Yellow Mage Jamie appeared sporadically, maintaining an air of mystery. She moved freely like the wind, not bound to any one place, making her a difficult character to pin down.

With these thoughts, I felt a playful urge seeing Jamie’s fluctuating emotions.

‘Should I tease her a bit?’

“Then, Master, you’re essentially Beatrice’s grandmaster?”

“What? Well, if you put it that way, yes.”

Seeing Jamie puff up with pride at my words, I couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

‘What mystery? She’s just a crazy researcher with no sense of decorum.’

“So, by that logic, Beatrice and I are peers. Got it.”

“What? Is that how it works?”

Jamie mumbled, confused, just as the door creaked open.

“Hello, I’m back.”

“You red brat, why are you here again…”

Jamie growled, but Beatrice ignored her and fixed her gaze on me.

“Hello, Dean.”

I greeted her respectfully, bowing my head.

Then, Beatrice spoke again.

“Kamon Vade.”

“Yes?”

“Would you consider becoming my disciple? I can treat you much better than Jamie.”

Her sudden and bombshell declaration left the entire room frozen.

—————–

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