How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 134

Just because we were accompanying the protagonist, Kyle Perrion, we were constantly caught up in random encounters and events. However, we managed to overcome all these interruptions and finally…

“Wow, amazing! Look over there, Kyle. The sea is completely green.”

“Oh, really? It’s so beautiful!”

Kyle responded quickly with a bright expression to Fabian’s shout.

“It looks like an emerald.”

Chelsea, who was beside them, murmured in a low tone, and Princess Francia nodded with a faint smile at her words.

“That’s right. This is the port city ‘Califa’, known as the Emerald Jewel of the Northwest.”

Just as she said, the city that unfolded before our eyes was a magnificent port city built on a beautifully emerald-colored sea. It was evident to anyone that the city was in its prime, bustling with countless people coming and going, and the guards at the city gates seemed quite disciplined.

“Halt!”

“Here you go.”

The guards who stopped us soon bowed their heads after seeing the pass that Princess Francia handed over.

“You are students from the academy. The mayor is waiting for you at the city hall. You can go straight there.”

It seemed that quite a few students had already entered, as the guards recited the instructions smoothly.

Princess Francia, perhaps having a similar thought, lightly questioned the guard at the city gate.

“Many students have passed through, I see. Are we a bit late?”

“I’m not sure, but several students have already passed through starting three days ago.”

“Three days ago? I see. Thank you for answering.”

With a momentarily hardened expression, Princess Francia soon smiled again and replied, and we entered the port city of Califa.

Shortly after, as we passed through the bustling streets,

“I made eye contact with that kid.”

“Then just avoid eye contact.”

“But…”

“Kyle, look at the princess’s expression before you speak. This isn’t a good time.”

Fabian stopped Kyle’s actions with a shake of his head. Indeed, as he said, Princess Francia’s mood seemed quite unpleasant at the moment.

It was understandable since other students had entered three days ago and started the ‘Novice Challenge,’ while we were significantly delayed. To find out the exact goal and destination of the ‘Novice Challenge,’ we had to quickly perform and complete the intermediate tasks.

Perhaps that’s why Princess Francia was moving faster than ever before.

“There’s the city hall.”

Chelsea’s unwavering voice revealed the building behind a giant trident statue that stood with its two prongs crossed.

“Let’s hurry inside. We need to meet the mayor to properly carry out our task.”

“Hey, um…”

“Let’s go in.”

Fabian, who quickly covered Kyle’s mouth as he tried to speak again, gestured toward Princess Francia. We entered the city hall without any issues.

Soon after,

“You’ve finally arrived. We’ve been waiting for you.”

The mayor of Califa, who greeted us with a bright smile, was a middle-aged man boasting a rather plump belly.

“Sorry, we’re quite late, aren’t we?”

“Hahaha, not at all. Though among the students assigned to us, your group was indeed the last to arrive.”

“The last?”

“Yes, the last. Judging by your late arrival, I assume something happened along the way.”

“Well, that’s…”

As the mayor questioned, all our gazes naturally turned to Kyle. Thanks to him constantly getting us involved with strangers and incidents, we were delayed quite a bit…

At that moment, the mayor of Califa spoke again, still maintaining his smile.

“I forgot to introduce myself. I am Everdon Parcell, the one managing this port city of Califa. Our family has been overseeing this city for generations.”

“You must be Everdon of the Parcell family. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“It’s an honor for me as well to meet the princess and the students.”

After the introductions, Princess Francia urgently spoke up.

“So, if we are the last, we must be quite late. We need to hurry.”

But Everdon the mayor shook his head, signaling not to worry, and spoke.

“No, princess. There’s no need to worry at all. Even though you arrived last, it won’t hinder continuing the ‘Novice Challenge.’”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Hahaha. You see, the intermediate tasks assigned here in Califa are very simple. Anyone can easily handle them.”

“Simple tasks?”

“Yes, simple tasks.”

His round face continued to smile as he spoke, giving off a very friendly vibe toward Princess Francia. Everdon then gestured for us to follow.

“Please come this way.”

He led us to a large window in a corner of the office. Since his office was at the top of the city hall, we could see the entire port city of Califa from there.

“The intermediate task you need to complete here is very straightforward. You just need to…”

Everdon, stretching his arms and pointing out the window, continued to speak with a smile.

“…resolve the complaints of the citizens here and get their signatures.”

“What?”

“Complaints?”

“Do we have to handle only those complaints submitted to the city hall?”

Various questions arose, but Mayor Everdon answered each one without any sign of annoyance.

“You can handle the complaints submitted to the city hall, or you can meet people separately and get their signatures. The important thing is to get a signed certificate from the citizens themselves.”

“…Certificate.”

“Yes, I have given the same task to all the students assigned here in Califa. Most of them finished the task in less than a day and moved on. So, princess, you and your team can also quickly complete the intermediate task and continue with the ‘Novice Challenge.’”

With his words, everyone’s expressions brightened. But then, Mayor Everdon added more information.

“Oh, one more thing. Each of you needs to get one.”

“What?”

“One signature per person.”

With a warm expression, Mayor Everdon answered confidently. Fabian muttered confidently.

“Well, that’s not too difficult. Let’s move quickly, everyone.”

Princess Francia also nodded and shouted briskly.

“That’s right. Everyone, quickly go downstairs and find the easiest complaint. As soon as we solve it, we can leave right away.”

Following her command, we headed to the city hall’s complaint office faster than ever. However,

“There are none?”

“Yes, currently, there are no complaints registered within the city.”

We were told there were no complaints registered at the city hall of such a large city.

“No complaints in the city?”

“Is that even possible?”

Fabian and Kyle shouted in disbelief, and Chelsea explained in a firm tone.

“We were told that others received the same task three days ago. They must have resolved all the complaints, so there’s nothing left.”

“Chelsea is right. All the city complaints are completely dried up, and there are only a few remaining complaints outside the city…”

As Princess Francia continued, I glanced around to confirm.

“Hunting sea monsters, subjugating a drake colony, exploring Bank Mountain? Each of these would take at least a month.”

All of these tasks required a long time and a lot of effort. We were already significantly behind other students. Moreover, the ‘Novice Challenge’ had to be completed before the Festival of Demeter’s Birth. We didn’t have much time to spare.

“Damn, what should we do?”

“Phew, there’s no other choice. Everyone, we’ll have to go out and find complaints ourselves.”

Princess Francia decided with a deep sigh. It was an obvious outcome, but…

‘I feel a bit uneasy about this.’

At this moment, my eyes turned to the protagonist, Kyle Perrion.

“From now on, let’s quickly handle this individually. Solve the complaints and get a signed certificate. Let’s try to finish by tonight at the latest.”

With Princess Francia’s final words, we scattered in all directions.

‘It’s a bit annoying, but complaints are usually similar, right?’

Based on the games I’ve enjoyed, these types of side quests were typically very trivial.

“It would be something like delivering a letter, running an errand, or finding a lost child.”

In this kind of fantasy world city, tasks were generally limited, so I decided to look for the easiest one.

“Errands, errands. That’s the easiest.”

Errands like moving objects or delivering things were the quickest and simplest complaints to resolve. And most of these would be…

“There must be a lot in the commercial district where extra hands are needed the most.”

With that thought, I headed to the commercial district of the port city, Califa.

“Oh my, what a cute child. Would you like to come to our shop?”

“Who are you? A new face? Where are you from? The North? The South?”

“Here, try this. It’s a delicious candy.”

“Even a child can drink alcohol. Right? Come to our shop; it’s the best.”

As soon as I arrived in the commercial area marked on the map, many women came forward and started soliciting me.

“……”

‘Is this really the commercial district?’

It seemed more like an underworld where minors should be banned from entering. However, my doubts were soon cleared up.

A middle-aged man, rough-looking and covered in scars, hurriedly ran over and shouted.

“Madam, quickly give me seven scissors. That new idiot broke a few.”

One of the women who had been soliciting me nodded quickly and answered.

“Oh dear, that’s common for a first-time sailor. Wait a moment.”

“Heh, that’s true. By the way, madam, your beauty blossoms more every day…”

“Ugh, if you’re going to talk nonsense, just take the scissors. And save those words for your wife!”

“Why bring my wife into this!”

“Oh my, did you hear what Captain Jackpal just shouted?”

“Alright, alright. Here’s the money. Now give me the scissors!”

“Here are ten scissors, with three extra.”

Listening to their banter, I understood that this place had the rough charm typical of a port city.

‘Are they sea folk or something?’

People from coastal or port cities are known for their rough demeanor, so it might be the case here. Anyway, that wasn’t important now. I needed to find and resolve complaints quickly.

“Excuse me, sir. Do you need any help?”

“No, go away.”

“……”

He was extremely firm.

“Ma’am, do you need any assistance?”

“Ma’am? Do I look like a ma’am? Oh, go away! You’re bad luck.”

‘She looks like a ma’am to anyone.’

Despite several attempts, I only encountered useless conversations and couldn’t find any proper task. Then, I met an elderly man.

“Excuse me, sir…”

“Recently, there have been many disappearances in the city.”

“Disappearances?”

“Yes, be careful of disappearances.”

This definitely smelled like a quest. Judging by the scale of the incident, it seemed like a task to avoid, but I decided to ask just in case.

“Who has disappeared…?”

“Existentialism. I am an existentialist scholar.”

“What?”

“Just give me a silver.”

The old man spoke while drooling, and I could only shake my head.

“Hah, this isn’t easy.”

I sighed deeply and left the old man behind. I continued to wander around the commercial district and nearby areas but couldn’t find any suitable complaints or tasks.

“Have they all been taken care of already?”

It seemed that the other students had taken care of all the complaints within just three days. Then, I saw something.

‘Oh, what’s that?’

There was someone standing in front of a young girl, looking restless.

“Chelsea?”

What are you doing over there?

—————–

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