How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 15

“Ugh, come on! It’s my turn to prove myself already.”

“Give it a rest, Angela.”

“Why do you keep saying no? When do I get my initiation?”

“…When the right opportunity comes, I’ll let you know.”

“Oh, whatever! You’re so annoying, brother.”

Bang!

Angela Sailin, a girl with striking short red hair, slammed the door and stormed out.

“Welcome… Oh, it’s you, Angela.”

“Mind your own business, sis.”

“Sigh, that brat… I wish she’d talk a bit nicer.”

“Hmph!”

Snorting, Angela walked out of the building with the sign “Senbran General Store” and sighed deeply.

“Sigh, really…”

She was the younger sister of the head of the ‘Bellium’ branch of the dark guild, which dominated the underworld of the empire.

The dark guild, dealing in theft, pickpocketing, intelligence, contract killings, and slave trade—essentially handling all the under-the-table, illicit activities—had one key rule:

‘Those who haven’t undergone initiation are not family.’

As a highly secretive organization, the dark guild operated through compartmentalized cells. Those who hadn’t completed an initiation mission were not considered part of the guild.

“They keep saying ‘later, later!’ So when can I finally join the dark guild?”

Angela had long admired the dark guild, and she was proud that her brother was the branch leader. She was deeply frustrated that she hadn’t undergone the initiation to be recognized as a member of the guild.

“Pft!”

Spitting on the ground in frustration, she muttered to herself.

“Fine, who needs an official initiation anyway? If I can pull off a big enough accomplishment, that’ll prove my worth. Yeah, that’s the true spirit of the dark guild.”

Normally, initiation involved completing a mission assigned by the branch leader. But occasionally, if someone achieved an extraordinary feat or performed a deed that shocked everyone, they could bypass the initiation.

“…Should I just rob the mayor’s house?”

If she, a mere teenager, managed to rob the home of a city’s leader, that would be a significant accomplishment worthy of the guild’s recognition.

“Nah, robbing the mayor’s house is too risky. I might get caught and then my brother would kill me.”

Angela knew her own limits well. She didn’t have the skill to rob the heavily guarded mayor’s house alone.

Instead…

“Oh, I wish some high-ranking noble or the emperor himself would just pass by on the street.”

Her greatest skill was pickpocketing, a talent that was nearly unrivaled in the empire.

Step by step.

“Alright, who’s my target today?”

Angela, her face partially hidden by a yellow scarf, roamed the streets of Bellium, searching for a suitable victim.

Just then…

“Ka-Kamon, why did we come here?”

“I told you, we need to buy these things.”

“Why do you need me for that?”

“Because I don’t know where to get them.”

“Huh?”

“I need you to guide me, Bren. I can pay you well for your help, don’t worry!”

She spotted two academy students in white uniforms chatting and laughing.

‘There.’

And they practically announced they had money to burn, which was like an invitation to her. Angela wasn’t one to miss such an obvious mark.

So…

After ensuring her scarf was properly in place…

Step by step!

She quickly approached the taller of the two students—the one who had mentioned having money.

Bump!

“Ah!”

“Hey, watch it!”

Angela expertly bumped into him and smoothly slipped her hand into his pocket.

And…

Heavy.

‘Oh, yes!’

“Sorry about that.”

She apologized quickly, then briskly walked away.

The weight in her hand and the faint jingling sound were immensely satisfying. Angela disappeared into the crowd like a wisp of smoke.

* * *

“Come on, come on! It’s not every day we have a sale. All items 10% off today only!”

“Books, materials, mana stones for sale.”

“Basic equipment, specialty equipment, all sold at fixed prices, no bargaining.”

“Get your drake meat skewers here! Buy two, get one free!”

With Bren leading the way, I finally reached the bustling marketplace in Bellium.

In the chaotic and noisy market…

“This way, right?”

“Y-yeah. But… Kamon! S-slow down, you’re too fast!”

“We need to hurry!”

I urged Bren to move faster.

‘We’re running out of time.’

With only three days left until the exam, I needed to buy materials here to refine and synthesize.

It was a simple process of combining and mixing a few ingredients, but it required time.

And that time was at least…

‘Two to three days.’

“Bren!”

“Just up ahead and then turn right!”

Following Bren’s directions, I turned right.

[Senbran General Store]

A large sign and an even larger store came into view. It looked like a department store that sold everything imaginable.

“Here, you can get almost anything!”

Bang!

Bursting into the store, I shouted without looking around.

“Do you have salamander feathers, white nightshade powder, paralysis mushrooms, mandrake roots, and Graydon tree bark?”

“Welcome… What?”

The shop assistant, who was about to greet me, looked startled. Other customers turned to stare.

But I had no time to worry about that.

Rummaging through my pockets, I pulled out a list.

“Here!”

I immediately threw the list of items on the counter and shouted at Bren behind me.

“Bren, what are you doing? If you see anything, grab it quickly!”

“Oh, right! Got it!”

Bren quickly started searching through the store. The store clerk, looking flustered, spoke up.

“Uh… I’m sorry, but we only have paralysis mushrooms and mandrake roots in stock.”

“Then give me those.”

“Pardon? Oh, alright. One moment.”

The clerk hurried inside and brought out the items I mentioned. She then showed me the box containing the items and spoke again.

“…We have red monkshood powder, which has similar toxicity and effects to white nightshade powder. Would that be okay?”

“No, I don’t need that. How much for the items?”

“Uh, 28 silver.”

“Hold on.”

I reached into my pocket to get the money, but then…

“What? Where is it?!”

“What’s wrong, Kamon?”

“Wait a minute!”

I frantically searched my pockets again, but the pouch that had the gold coins was nowhere to be found.

“It’s gone.”

“What?”

“My pouch is gone…”

Suddenly, I remembered the yellow scarf and the person who had bumped into me earlier.

“No way…”

Did I get pickpocketed?

“If you can pay 28 silver, there won’t be a problem. But if there’s an issue, should I call someone?”

The clerk, sensing the situation, asked in a slightly cold voice.

“No, it’s fine. We’ll be back later.”

“Kamon?”

“Let’s go, Bren. We have a problem.”

“A problem?”

Bren, looking confused and worried, followed me out of the ‘Senbran General Store.’ Just then…

Bump!

“Ah!”

Bren, who was slightly ahead of me, collided with someone who was hurrying into the store.

“Hey, move!”

The person, annoyed, tried to push past Bren and rush into the store.

“Bren, are you alri… Oh?”

That yellow scarf, it’s the same person!

Yes, it’s definitely them!

I grabbed the person’s shoulder immediately.

“Damn it, let go!”

The person in the yellow scarf shouted irritably, trying to shake off my hand. But I held on tightly and shouted back.

“Where do you think you’re going, thief? Give me my money back!”

“What? Thief?”

The person turned to face me, their face pale with sweat dripping down.

“Dammit, it’s you, you bastard!”

“Bastard? You’re the bastard! Give me my money!”

“Let go, damn it!”

The person struggled fiercely to free themselves, and I urgently called out to Bren.

“Bren, help me grab this bastard!”

“Huh?”

“This guy pickpocketed us! Grab him!”

“Uh, okay!”

Bren quickly got up and helped me pin the yellow-scarf person to the ground.

“Please! Fine, I’ll give it back! Just let me go! Please, just let me go!”

The person, held by both of us, started flailing wildly, sweating profusely.

Like I’m going to let go that easily. Meeting the pickpocket here is a stroke of luck, there’s no way I’m letting them go.

“Not a chance. Give me my money! Bren, search him.”

“Okay!”

Bren followed my order and searched the person, finding a small pouch.

“Is this it?”

Jingle.

The sound of coins confirmed it. I nodded.

“Yeah, that’s our money.”

“Damn it! Now you’ve got your money, so leave… Ugh, please… No, I can’t take anymore… Please…”

As the person continued to struggle and cry out, more people started to gather around, curious about the commotion. Even the store clerk came out to see what was happening.

At the same time…

“Angela?”

“Vail… Please help me. I’m really… I’m going to…!”

The yellow-scarf person, now looking deathly pale and speaking in a near-death voice, cried out to the clerk.

‘What? They know each other?’

Thud!

The person suddenly stopped struggling beneath us.

Then…

Pfft, crackle!

A popping sound reached my ears.

‘…Crackle?’

What was that noise… Oh, what’s that smell?

A strong, pungent odor started to spread around us.

“What’s that smell? Did they… Did they just…?”

Bren, who was helping me hold the person down, jumped back, covering his nose.

“Ugh.”

I too backed away, covering my nose as the foul-smelling yellow-scarf pickpocket lay there.

Pfft, crackle!

More popping sounds followed, filling the area in front of the ‘Senbran General Store’ with a terrible stench.

And then…

“Sob… I’m ruined. I’m finished.”

The yellow-scarf pickpocket lay on the ground, crying, tears streaming down their face.