How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 123

“I-I’m sorry. I’m still a new hire and haven’t been here long… I promise I’ll make sure to properly train them.”

The restaurant manager, who appeared in the sudden situation, repeatedly bowed his head and apologized profusely. I lightly shook my head and accepted his apology.

“No, it’s fine. No one was hurt.”

At the same time, Lady Cecilia asked,

“Is the server alright?”

“Yes. Fortunately, they just lost consciousness for a moment and there’s no problem.”

“That’s a relief.”

Cecilia nodded, but some others were only fixated on the ‘Black Kyvon’ steak scattered on the floor.

“Why… why…”

“The meat is dead…”

In response to Elliot and Lois’s reactions, Rosen Ravenia frowned and said,

“Are you guys starving? Why are you making faces like the world has ended?”

Then the manager hurriedly added,

“We will bring you a new dish. So please bear with us… What?”

At that moment, a server approached the manager quickly and whispered in his ear. The restaurant manager’s face soon turned pale.

‘What is it? Did something go wrong?’

Rosen Ravenia seemed to have the same thought as me, crossing her arms and asking,

“What’s going on? Is there a problem?”

“Uh, well…”

The manager stuttered for a moment, then with a resigned look, he made a serious expression.

“I’m sorry. We are currently out of stock of the ‘Black Kyvon’ steak.”

“W-what?”

“Nooooo! No way!”

As if they heard that a demon king had descended, or that the end of the world was near, Elliot and Lois screamed and collapsed, to which Bren said in a flustered tone,

“S-senior. Lois. Please stop. It’s embarrassing.”

Indeed, as Bren said, their behavior was too embarrassing to consider them as comrades.

But despite their reactions, someone was calmly assessing the situation.

“Then what about the cost of the uneaten food and compensation for the inconvenience?”

“We will definitely compensate you later. Once we restock, we will provide at least two free meals. And the same goes for today. Besides the ‘Black Kyvon’ steak, we have many delicious dishes. Please have a meal with another menu.”

The manager of ‘Hoguwanten’ restaurant tried to handle the current chaos and problems in a very professional manner. Rosen Ravenia seemed to like the manager’s problem-solving ability, as she nodded with a faint smile.

“I see. Cecil, what do you think? Shall we eat here?”

“Huh? I…”

Cecilia Romanoff, the student council president of Flance Imperial Academy, turned her gaze aside without answering Rosen’s question.

‘Why are you suddenly looking at me?’

“I’ll do whatever Kamon wants. Kamon, are we eating here?”

Feeling a bit burdened by her question, which shifted all the decision-making to me, I asked the others.

“What about you guys? Are you eating here?”

At that moment, Elliot shouted in a very serious tone.

“No, no way. I won’t eat anything else. I will only eat ‘Black Kyvon’ here!”

“What?”

With his resolute declaration, Lois also nodded in agreement.

“Me too, senior! It’s been a long time since we agreed.”

“Yes, comrade. Truly worthy of brothers who decided to die together on the same day.”

They both turned their gaze to Bren and asked,

“Bren, what about you?”

“Are you with us?”

“Huh? Me? S-suddenly?”

As the atmosphere turned to one where not joining them would make him a traitor, Bren looked at me with a very unfair expression.

“K-Kamon.”

Anyone could see he was asking for help, but I subtly avoided his gaze.

‘Sorry, Bren.’

Somehow, I felt that if I got involved with those two here, I would get dragged into it too.

“Bren, answer!”

“Will you join us or become a traitor?”

But at that moment,

“Hey, how about you guys cut it out? We’re not the only ones here.”

Rosen Ravenia muttered in a low tone, as if she were ventriloquizing through gritted teeth. Just like she said, the restaurant manager and other servers were waiting with slightly embarrassed expressions for our conclusion.

“Fiancé? Are you going to keep doing this?”

“Uh, uh. I’m… sorry, sister. I won’t.”

“Lois, how could you betray me…”

“Ah, senior Elliot, that’s enough, don’t you think?”

“Ugh.”

Eventually, the rebellion of the comrades sworn by brotherhood was easily suppressed by the cold charisma of Rosen Ravenia. And then,

“Kamon, what about you?”

Lady Cecilia, unconcerned about what they were doing, asked me. I looked at my friends, who were now looking dejected.

They did look a bit pitiful.

‘Anyway, we have to eat.’

“Let’s just eat here. They said other dishes are good too.”

“Okay. I’ll eat here too.”

“Good, it’s decided. Everyone, let’s eat from another menu.”

“I, I…”

“Sigh?”

“I’ll eat here.”

With Rosen Ravenia’s final decision, everyone’s opinion was ignored, and it was concluded that we would have our meal here.

* * *

Elliot and Lois, who had been intimidated by Rosen Ravenia’s charisma for a moment, regained their pace after the meal started.

“It wasn’t bad.”

“What do you mean not bad, everything was delicious?”

“Right, senior Elliot. You ate two dishes by yourself.”

“There’s always a reason for a place to be famous.”

“Since we got two free meal vouchers, let’s come again.”

“Yeah. ‘Black Kyvon’. I will definitely eat it.”

As soon as the meal was over, the two, along with Bren, talked highly of ‘Hoguwanten’ restaurant.

And seeing them like that,

“…Did I lose the election to those idiots?”

Though it was due to an unavoidable force majeure like Princess Francia’s voluntary resignation, Rosen Ravenia, who had fought neck and neck in the election, showed a frustrated expression.

At that moment, Lady Cecilia added with a smirk,

“That was all thanks to Kamon. Whether it was me or those people, we just followed Kamon’s words.”

“….”

Rosen Ravenia nodded at me with deep eyes.

“Yeah, that’s why you’ve been bothering me for a long time…”

“Rosen?!”

“Ah, sorry. I was just talking to myself.”

At Lady Cecilia’s urgent outcry, Rosen Ravenia waved her hand with an awkward smile.

“No, I just provided some ideas. The choices and execution were all yours, President.”

“Of course, what else could it be?”

Rosen Ravenia chuckled at my comment and nodded. She seemed to still harbor some lingering resentment or hostility toward me deep down.

‘But what can you do?’

Since we had already crossed paths in the election, there was no need to try and improve the first impression that had already been made. Rosen wasn’t going to deliberately antagonize me or attack.

‘I just need to avoid getting more involved with them.’

Given that the academy was filled with such crazy people, it was best not to get entangled with them.

At that moment, Lady Cecilia called my name again.

“Kamon.”

“Yes?”

“Where are you going now? Do you have any more plans with your friends?”

“Ah, yes.”

We had already talked about going to the commercial district to buy some clothes.

“But I prefer chicken over shrimp. It has a better savory taste.”

“Hey, that’s just the sauce. The original flavor of shrimp is better.”

“Oh? Did you hear that, Bren? This guy just made a very dangerous statement.”

“Huh? Why is that a dangerous statement?”

“The Continental Chicken Association might send an assassin someday!”

“Continental Chicken Association?”

“Hmph, let them come. I’m with the National Shrimp Association, and I’ll face them.”

As they continued their silly conversation, Rosen Ravenia asked,

“Are you seriously going to stay with those idiots?”

“…”

Hmm, should I just go alone now? Considering the barrage of questions I’d get from those guys if Lady Cecilia or Senior Rosen weren’t here…

‘Wow, that’s terrifying.’

I shook my head firmly and then smiled faintly as I asked Cecilia and Rosen,

“Do you have other plans?”

“Hmm, we’re thinking of having a light dessert first.”

“Dessert?”

“Yes, Kamon. Pouncen Bakery has just released a new raspberry cake.”

“Pouncen Bakery?”

“Don’t you know? It’s one of Velium’s specialties.”

“It’s a bakery that Flance Imperial Academy’s female students are obsessed with. How about it, Kamon? Want to join us?”

‘Bread? Not really appealing…’

She then lowered her voice and continued,

“Leave those idiots behind.”

And just as she finished her suggestion,

“Which is stronger, the Chicken Association or the Shrimp Association? Obviously…”

“Ah, senior. Stop insisting. Of course, chicken is better!”

Listening to their still meaningless conversation, I nodded without hesitation.

“Yes, let’s go together.”

“Okay, it’s settled. Cecilia, let’s go.”

“Alright!”

We quietly left the place, leaving Bren, Elliot, and Lois behind.

* * *

“Ah, it’s so nice to be out together like this.”

Mellin stretched and exclaimed, and Elaine nodded in strong agreement.

“Me too. It feels like it’s been ages.”

“…Really?”

As Chelsea tilted her head in doubt, Elaine quickly nodded.

“Yeah, it’s the first time this semester.”

“Come to think of it, we went out a lot more last semester. Is this semester tougher?”

“I think so. The professors have become relentless in the second semester.”

Seeing Elaine’s dejected expression, Mellin patted her shoulder comfortingly.

“That’s why we came out today. We even brought our busy top student.”

“…Don’t tease me, Mellin.”

“Oh, you’ve gotten quite perceptive. You even noticed I’m teasing!”

“Chelsea’s always been quick on the uptake!”

Chelsea couldn’t help but smile at Mellin and Elaine’s playful exchange. As they said, it was a precious time to heal and find stability away from the stressful academy life.

“The raspberry cake was really delicious. As expected of Pouncen Bakery.”

“I liked the bagels more than the cake.”

“Whether it’s bagels or cake, Pouncen Bakery is the best!”

They were coming out of the famous bakery in Velium’s commercial district.

‘Is it really that good?’

Although Chelsea didn’t have much interest in bread or desserts, today was an outing with Mellin and Elaine.

“Yes, the bread was delicious.”

“See, Chelsea? I told you it was great.”

Elaine beamed at Chelsea’s remark.

“Wow, Chelsea. You usually don’t care about desserts.”

“Mellin, Pouncen Bakery is different from regular desserts! Chelsea, let’s come again next time, okay?”

“Yes, I got it.”

“Promise!”

Feeling a warm glow in her heart from her friends’ cheerful atmosphere, Chelsea smiled gently.

“Alright, promise.”

She nodded with a faint smile.

“Now, let’s go shopping for clothes next.”

“Clothes?”

“Yeah, I saw a few things I liked before.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Despite not being interested in clothes, Chelsea followed Mellin and Elaine without complaint.

Then,

“…?”

She heard a familiar voice from somewhere far away.

And soon she saw them.

‘Kamon? Lady Cecilia?’

Seeing the two walking leisurely as if on a date, Chelsea stood in a daze for a moment before pushing Mellin and Elaine in the opposite direction and shouting,

“Guys, let’s go this way.”

“Huh? All of a sudden?”

“…Chelsea?”

“Quickly.”

With a firm and cold demeanor that allowed no objections, Mellin and Elaine could only follow her lead without resistance.

After walking for a while,

“…”

“What’s going on? Is something wrong?”

“Chelsea, why are you acting like this? Are you okay?”

“Is there a problem?”

With worried voices from both sides, Chelsea shook her head with a faint smile.

“No, nothing’s wrong. It just seemed crowded that way, so I suggested this way.”

“…Huh?”

“Mm.”

Though Chelsea tried to offer an explanation, neither Mellin nor Elaine seemed to fully believe her. They stared at her with suspicious eyes before laughing and threading their arms through hers.

“Alright, we’ll let it slide this time. Today is a day for us to have fun together. Elaine, let’s go.”

“Yes. We’re going to that dress shop, right?”

“Yes, I’m definitely buying that dress this time!”

Not wanting to ruin her rare outing with the two, Chelsea kept a bright smile on her face and nodded.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

She glanced back once, just for a moment.

—————–

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