How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 128

“Is this for real?”

“How is the participation rate 95%? Isn’t this unprecedented?”

“Hey, don’t exaggerate. It’s not that big of a deal.”

“No, it is. This is the first time in the academy’s history that the rate has surpassed 90%. So yeah, it is unprecedented.”

“…Wow.”

The reason most freshmen decided to participate in the “Novice Challenge” was clear. Despite its difficult nature and the fact that it only offered “honor” as a reward:

“Although it’s not finalized, it is planned that significant rewards will be given to those who pass the Novice Challenge. Of course, all participants will receive a small prize as well.”

This bombshell announcement by the newly appointed interim dean, Beatrice the Red Mage, had put tangible rewards on the table.

And…

‘What is this… This wasn’t in the original story!’

I was taken aback by the completely unexpected situation. In the original novel, there was no mention of rewards for passing the “Novice Challenge.”

Even the participants getting something?

“Why has it changed so much?”

I had expected some degree of variables and butterfly effects, but I never thought the changes would be this significant.

‘Could it be because of me?’

Was it because my very existence, which is a variable itself, continued to stay at the academy and influenced all the characters?

Or…

‘Is it because of my relationship with Beatrice the Red Mage?’

“Sigh, seriously.”

Regardless of the actual cause or the reasons behind this turn of events…

‘If this keeps up, the original story itself might change completely.’

That was something I couldn’t allow, so I couldn’t just stand by idly.

Hence, I quickly moved to meet Beatrice the Red Mage.

“Ah, please don’t push!”

“I was here first! If you have any decency, keep your place!”

“What are grown adults doing here?”

“I said don’t push!”

By the time I arrived, there was already a long line of professors in front of the interim dean’s office, seemingly waiting for someone.

From inside the dean’s office, fragments of words could be heard through the closed door.

“…What… nonsense… without any consultation…!”

It seemed that a professor was strongly protesting about the current situation. From the bits of words, I could deduce that…

‘Did she do this without consulting anyone?’

It looked like Beatrice the Red Mage had acted on her own without any discussion or meetings.

Bang! Slam!

The door to the dean’s office burst open, and a familiar face appeared.

“Professor Everett, what’s going on here?”

“Is this really happening?”

“How can an interim dean make such an official decision on their own…?”

Everett Lithrich, the head of the swordsmanship department and a strong candidate for the next dean, had a grave expression on his face as he ignored the barrage of questions directed at him.

At that moment…

“Move aside!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Someone was pushing through the crowd towards the dean’s office like a charging boar.

“Hey, please don’t push… Oh? Professor Phelan?”

And then…

“Hey! Interim Dean…”

Bang!

The door slammed shut behind him as he stormed into the office, shouting.

“So, even Professor Phelan has stepped in.”

“I never thought they would side with the mages like this…”

“This isn’t about taking sides. There are rules and procedures to follow in the academy.”

“That’s right. Rules and procedures must be followed.”

Their words, each making their own points, conveyed a sense of relief, as if they had gained a strong ally.

‘So, this is how it’s turning out.’

I was impressed by the power and authority of Beatrice the Red Mage, who had inadvertently unified the previously divided swordsmanship and magic factions within the academy.

At that moment…

Tap!

[Kamon?]

A familiar voice whispered in my ear as someone poked my side.

‘Beatrice?’

I was startled and was about to turn my head when…

[No, stay still. No one knows you’re here yet, so let’s quietly slip out.]

As she spoke…

Whoosh!

‘What the…?’

I felt my entire body suddenly drop to the ground.

And then…

“Okay, done.”

“Huh?”

I found myself standing in a quiet office, having just been surrounded by professors moments before.

“What is this?”

“Don’t be alarmed, just sit down. It was a simple teleportation spell.”

With a faint smile, Beatrice the Red Mage, interim dean of Flance Imperial Academy, gestured for me to sit.

“Is this some sort of summoning spell?”

But why don’t I feel any traces of mana moving? No, the flow of mana is completely unchanged.

“No, it’s not a summoning spell. But it is magic.”

“Then why…?”

“You don’t feel the traces of mana, right?”

“…”

I was slightly creeped out by her ability to seemingly read my thoughts and preemptively answer my questions.

‘What is this, really?’

As I stared at her in a daze, she smiled and muttered.

“As expected from Jamie’s student, asking straight if it’s magic.”

She snapped her fingers.

Snap!

As she snapped her fingers.

Whoosh!

“…!”

The floor beneath me transformed into what felt like a swamp, absorbing the surrounding items. And then, soon after…

Swoosh!

The items piled up in a corner of the room as if summoned.

“Did you see that?”

“Yes, I did.”

“What do you think? Can you still not see the flow or trace of mana?”

“…Yes.”

I kept my eyes wide open, observing closely, but I still couldn’t feel or see anything different. At my answer, Beatrice smiled faintly and muttered to herself, her eyes narrowing.

“Well… I guess it can’t be helped?”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing, it’s nothing.”

She quickly brushed it off and continued with a bright smile.

“The magic you just saw is a combination of several layered and fused spells.”

“Layered and fused?”

Intrigued by this unfamiliar concept, I listened closely as Beatrice began her explanation.

“Yes. It starts with a curse spell that disrupts perception…”

As expected from a red mage, her special magic started with a curse spell and was an extremely advanced and specialized form of magic. This must be how she was able to summon me here without anyone else noticing.

“But, Dean…”

“Dean? When it’s just the two of us, just call me sister.”

“Pardon? Sister?”

“Why not? There’s not much of an age difference between us.”

Actually, if you calculate our actual ages, we’re pretty close.

‘Still, asking a teenage student to call her sister is a bit…’

Of course, I had the wisdom to keep such thoughts to myself.

“Alright, sister.”

“Great, I like that. Yes, sister.”

When I called her sister, Beatrice responded with an ecstatic expression.

“Anyway, aren’t you currently talking with the other professors in the dean’s office?”

Curious about something that had been bothering me, I asked, and Beatrice gently touched her lips.

“Oh, that?”

She shrugged nonchalantly and continued.

“That’s just my clone. It’s all being recorded, so I can listen to it later.”

“A clone? Recording?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“…”

There would obviously be several problems with that, but since it didn’t directly concern me and wasn’t the main issue right now, I decided to move on.

The more important matter was…

“So, Kamon, why were you there? Did you come to see me? Or have you decided to become my disciple…?”

Swoosh!

She turned her head suddenly, as if wary of something, and then sighed in relief.

“Phew, it seems that old man got distracted.”

“Pardon?”

By the old man, she must mean Jamie, right?

“Your guess is right. It’s Jamie.”

“…”

“He keeps bothering me every time I try to talk to you properly.”

I felt a sense of discomfort at her words.

‘She wants to talk to me? About what?’

What could Beatrice the Red Mage possibly want to discuss with Kamon Vade?

My thoughts spiraled, but I couldn’t come up with a clear answer. Then Beatrice continued.

“Anyway, Kamon, you still don’t want to become my disciple, do you?”

“…I’m sorry.”

I bowed my head slightly as I replied, and Beatrice nodded lightly.

“Yes, I knew that.”

Then she continued.

“Even though I knew, it still feels a bit melancholic to be rejected outright. It’s my first time being turned down by a man. Sniff!”

Watching her suddenly fake crying by wiping her nose, I couldn’t help but feel my expression harden.

‘What is she trying to do?’

Was Beatrice always this unpredictable in the original story?

She wasn’t supposed to be this erratic and spontaneous. The discomfort and suspicion I had felt since earlier merged, transforming into caution towards her.

‘There’s definitely something off about her…’

Just as these thoughts crossed my mind.

“By the way, do you know why your mana pathways are blocked?”

“…?!”

Shocked by her unexpected question, I quickly asked her.

“What do you mean? Do you know why my mana pathways are blocked?”

“Yes, roughly.”

Beatrice nodded with a faint smile.

“Then…”

“Yes, and I know how to fix it too. Jamie doesn’t even know about this; only I do.”

“…”

Her words left me speechless. I wanted to demand the answer immediately, but…

‘Who exactly is this person…’

While I struggled to find words, Beatrice spoke again.

“So, Kamon, how about participating in the Novice Challenge?”

“Pardon?”

“I need to become the dean, and for that, I need results. The Novice Challenge is a great opportunity to maximize participation and success rates.”

Her tone turned serious as she continued, staring straight at me.

“And I want you, Kamon, to help me achieve that by either making a significant breakthrough or achieving notable results in the challenge.”

“…”

“If you do as I ask…”

She paused, her lips curling into a smile.

“I’ll answer your questions.”

—————–

Bonus chapter for every rate/review on Novel Updates