How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 143

While Kamon and Princess Francia’s team were busy uncovering the details of their official ‘Novice Challenge’ mission, far away at the Flance Imperial Academy, a beautiful woman in a red dress wore a bored expression.

“Sigh, when will this ‘Novice Challenge’ end? I’m so bored.”

Thanks to the ongoing ‘Novice Challenge’ throughout the Demeter Festival, the academy was unusually quiet.

“Still, a lot of them passed the first test.”

Beatrice, reading the report on her desk, smirked.

“With more than half passing the first test, the official missions should be interesting.”

Knock, knock. Creak.

At that moment, Isabel, the office manager, entered with a new report.

“A new report. The first test of the ‘Novice Challenge’ is now complete.”

Thud!

“All finished?”

“Yes, Dean. The last test in the Port City ‘Califa’ has concluded.”

“Califa… That’s where Princess and Kamon went, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Beatrice, hearing Isabel’s response, picked up the report on her desk with a bright smile, as if she had just heard some interesting news.

Quickly scanning the report, she burst into laughter.

“What took them so long? Still, they managed to rescue dozens of innocent people?”

“They also eradicated the long-standing ‘darkness’ of Califa.”

“The darkness of Califa? What is that?”

“I’m not sure. It’s the first I’ve heard of it as well. But that’s what Mayor Everdon reported.”

“Hmm, find out more about this ‘darkness,’ Isabel.”

“Yes, understood.”

Thud!

Beatrice set the report back down and began tapping her fingers lightly on the desk.

Tap! Tap!

She tried to suppress the laughter that kept threatening to escape.

“I’m quite curious to see what they’ll show us this time.”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, nothing. You may leave now, Isabel.”

“Yes, then.”

After bowing politely and leaving the dean’s office, Isabel disappeared from view. Beatrice clasped her hands and rested her chin on them, muttering to herself.

“This time, I hope you’ll show me your true self, Kamon Vade.”

Her murmured words, accompanied by a faint laugh, did not reach Kamon Vade, who was far away.

***

The day after acquiring the treasures from the vault, we gathered at Mayor Everdon’s office in the Port City ‘Califa’ at dawn.

“Did you like the treasures you received yesterday, Kamon?”

“Ah, yes.”

Feeling a bit awkward with the mayor’s familiarity, I nodded reluctantly.

[Heh, does that pig even know you spent all night deciding whether to keep those treasures?]

‘Shut up, Airsya.’

[Nobody can silence me… Ugh.]

I silenced her by rubbing the ring again, reminding her of our power difference.

“Fabian, I see you’re pleased with that spear.”

Fabian, stroking the sharp-looking spear, nodded with satisfaction.

“Yes, it’s a fine weapon. I’ll use it well and return it later.”

“No need for that. They’re yours to keep or discard as you wish.”

Shaking his head, Mayor Everdon smiled as he looked at Princess Francia and the rest of the team.

“Now, it’s time for you to receive your official ‘Novice Challenge’ mission.”

“Finally, the official mission.”

“Yeah, it feels like ages.”

Kyle nodded in agreement with Fabian’s statement. Then, Princess Francia, looking both tense and determined, addressed the mayor.

“What is our official mission?”

“That…”

Mayor Everdon hesitated briefly before moving to his desk.

Step, step.

He opened a drawer and took out a golden letter.

“It’s in here.”

With a faint smile, he also took out a small needle.

“And this letter can only be opened with my blood.”

Pricking his fingertip, he let out a small sigh.

“Ouch, I hate doing this.”

Shaking his head, he let a drop of his blood fall onto the seal of the golden letter.

At that moment,

Whoooosh!

A magic circle appeared on the letter, emitting a strong magical aura.

Then,

Click!

The letter opened easily, as if nothing had happened. Mayor Everdon, seemingly familiar with the process, took out the letter and handed it to Princess Francia.

“Here you go. This is your official ‘Novice Challenge’ mission.”

“Thank you.”

Princess Francia received the letter with as much grace as possible. She then slowly read its contents, nodding as she understood.

“So, what is our mission, Princess?”

“……”

Fabian’s question went unanswered as Princess Francia’s eyes met mine.

[What’s with her? She’s staring at you.]

‘I know.’

She looked at me with a gaze that seemed to pierce right through me. As I was about to say something,

“Princess?”

Kyle interrupted.

“Yes, Kyle?”

“What is our mission? Is it very difficult?”

Without any tact, Kyle’s question made Princess Francia shrug and smile slightly.

“When has the ‘Novice Challenge’ ever had an easy mission?”

“True.”

Everyone chuckled, feeling the weight of the upcoming mission yet ready to face it head-on.

Kyle nodded in agreement to her words. Observing this, Chelsea took a step forward and asked, “Princess, is something wrong?”

“Wrong? No, nothing at all, Chelsea,” Princess Francia replied firmly, shaking her head. Then, she rubbed her stomach and mumbled, “But isn’t anyone else hungry?”

“Huh?”

“We’ll find out soon enough anyway. How about we eat first? I missed breakfast, so I’m really hungry.”

“……”

“Um.”

Fabian and Chelsea exchanged puzzled glances, sensing something odd about her behavior.

[What’s with her? She’s acting suspiciously.]

Even Airsya, the spirit of jealousy, pointed it out, indicating that everyone present sensed something off about Princess Francia.

“Come to think of it, it’s already lunchtime. Let’s eat first,” Kyle said, cheerfully agreeing with her suggestion.

Well, not everyone noticed. Kyle nodded with a bright smile, aligning with Princess Francia’s words. Watching this, Mayor Everdon quickly spoke up.

“Then, let’s head to the city hall cafeteria. I’ve arranged a place for you all.”

“Thank you, Mayor.”

“No need to thank me. You are the heroes of the city.”

With Mayor Everdon’s hospitality, we were treated to a delicious lunch. Eventually, only a few desserts and cups of tea remained on the quiet table. Everyone was waiting for Princess Francia to speak.

[Hey, she’s glancing at you again.]

‘I know, just shut up for a bit.’

Princess Francia’s frequent glances in my direction were hard to ignore.

Finally, she began to speak.

“Let’s discuss this properly now.”

Glance.

[There it is again!]

‘I saw it. Can you please be quiet?’

[Why do you keep telling me to shut up? If you keep nagging me, I won’t be able to stand it anymore!]

As Airsya’s voice echoed with a dark blue glow, I pleaded silently.

‘I’m overwhelmed right now. Please, just be quiet.’

Then, Princess Francia’s voice resumed.

“The official mission we received for the ‘Novice Challenge’ is…”

After pausing, she looked at me again and continued slowly.

“We have to steal the family crest from the Vade Marquisate.”

“What?”

“V-Vade Marquisate?”

“……”

Everyone turned to look at me with shock and confusion. Given the situation, they couldn’t say much else and remained silent.

“Since things have turned out this way, I must ask for your help, Kamon.”

“……”

Her unwavering gaze pierced through me as she spoke.

‘Did she already know about this?’

Recalling the moment when she first received the letter, I noticed something peculiar about her behavior.

Normally, someone would be surprised or confused, like Kyle, Fabian, and Chelsea, when they found out the mission involved the Vade family. But she…

‘She nodded as if she expected it.’

From the beginning, her sudden request for help with the ‘Novice Challenge’ had seemed odd. It was possible that Princess Francia had known about the mission to some extent from the start.

‘Maybe that’s why she insisted I join.’

Of course, she might not have directly decided the mission involving the Vade Marquisate, but the person who did decide that…

“Are you okay, Kamon?”

Kyle’s concerned voice brought me back to the present. He stood there with a worried expression.

“What?”

“Well, because the Vade Marquisate is…”

His unfinished sentence made me laugh lightly and shrug.

“What about it?”

“Huh?”

“It doesn’t matter to me anymore.”

Speaking firmly, I turned to Princess Francia.

“I don’t know what you’re asking for, but if it’s troublesome, I’d like to decline, Princess.”

“I don’t think it will be troublesome. I’m planning to have you lead the mission until we reach the Vade Marquisate.”

‘That sounds really troublesome,’ I thought, but kept it to myself.

“Princess, are you asking us to follow Kamon’s lead?”

“Yes, Fabian. Among us, Kamon has the most information about the Vade Marquisate.”

Princess Francia responded decisively, then looked back at me and asked, “So, Kamon, will you help us?”

“……”

I didn’t answer right away because…

‘I don’t know anything about the Vade Marquisate.’

That was Kamon Vade’s knowledge, not mine. I’m Kang Hyunsoo.

Then, Princess Francia’s voice broke the silence again.

“Just in case you forgot, you remember our conditions, right?”

“Yes, I remember.”

She was now demanding compliance with the condition that I follow her orders.