How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 153

The sky was still dim, with the sun not fully risen yet. As we hastily packed our belongings and prepared to leave the village hall, we took in the ambiguous colors of the dawn.

Just then, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Chelsea, speaking in a very low voice, whispered to me.

“This must be the work of that Shadow Organization, right?”

“Who knows.”

[What do you mean, ‘who knows’? It’s obvious. They wiped everything out to cover their tracks.]

Airsya, the jealous spirit, chimed in confidently, swinging an imaginary fist as if she had solved the mystery. But I shook my head slightly.

‘If that were the case, wouldn’t people have shown up after the branch manager died?’

[Well…]

The spirit hesitated, seeming momentarily stumped, before frowning and continuing.

[But who else could make all the bodies and evidence disappear like that? And what about the fire?]

‘Maybe they all melted away like the village chief did, like ink.’

[What? All of them?]

‘That’s why I said I don’t know. I can’t figure out what’s really going on.’

It was difficult to draw any firm conclusions when the truth was still unclear. If the Shadow Organization was behind this, why hadn’t anyone tracked the branch manager’s death? And if it wasn’t them, then where had all the village chief’s relatives disappeared to?

‘Still, it’s almost certain it was their doing.’

Given all the circumstances and speculations pointing to the Shadows as the culprits, I couldn’t help but think they were involved.

“…Let’s just move quietly for now.”

“Got it.”

Chelsea nodded slightly and responded quietly to my suggestion.

Just as we all stepped out of the village hall—

“Princess? Where are you all going?”

Sherry’s father, who seemed to have been looking for us, approached with a puzzled expression.

We had intended to leave quickly and unnoticed, but as soon as we stepped outside, we ran into a village resident.

“Well, uh…”

“Oh, right, that’s not the issue. Something remarkable was just discovered.”

The middle-aged man quickly continued, apparently unaware of Princess Francia’s hesitation.

“Excuse me?”

“At the village chief’s house, we found items that had been stolen from us before. Just like that student said, it seems the chief was using that bratty noble as an excuse.”

“……”

“And when his guard confessed the truth, the chief must have feared being exposed, so he fled with his family in the middle of the night.”

As he clicked his tongue and explained, we all exchanged bewildered glances.

‘Did things really turn out like this?’

[Wow, this luck is unbelievable.]

My luck? Ever since I found myself in Kamon Vade’s shoes, I’d felt nothing but the world’s unfairness bearing down on me, with no trace of good fortune. So this unexpected stroke of luck left me speechless.

Just then, Sherry’s father spoke again.

“By the way, do you know what happened to that guard who spoke out? He hasn’t been seen since, and I’m starting to worry…”

“Then, the village chief and his family really did escape?” Princess Francia asked quickly, and the man nodded.

“It seems so. There are signs they left in a hurry, with their belongings still left behind.”

“Ah…”

Finally, Princess Francia sighed in relief, turning to look at us.

“I can’t believe a man who was supposed to be a leader would betray his own villagers like that… Pretending to be kind and wise all this time, only to run away and set fire to his mansion. Truly, there’s no one trustworthy in this world.”

After venting his frustrations for a while, Sherry’s father shook his head and continued with a question.

“Oh, I’m sorry for rambling. So, where were you all headed?”

As he asked, he noticed the packs on our shoulders and backs, and his brow furrowed in confusion.

“Are you planning to leave right now?”

“Yes, we don’t have much time. We were planning to leave before dawn.”

Princess Francia answered with a slightly awkward smile.

Sherry’s father waved his hands dismissively and raised his voice.

“Oh no, you should at least have breakfast before you go.”

“We’re fine. We appreciate the offer, but…”

“Oh, come on. The whole village is preparing a meal to show their gratitude.”

“Excuse me?”

“As soon as the items were found in the chief’s house, word spread throughout the village. Everyone is saying we need to repay the heroes who saved our children, especially after treating you so unfairly.”

“Really, we’re okay…”

“It’s just breakfast. Everyone’s getting it ready, and it’ll be done soon. Having a meal won’t delay you too much, will it?”

With Sherry’s father’s persistent suggestion, Princess Francia turned to us with an uncertain expression and asked,

“Since the villagers seem so insistent, what do you all think?”

“I’m all for it. A hearty breakfast is a must.”

“Me too. I’m so hungry that my stomach feels like it’s glued to my back.”

Kyle and Fabian both nodded in agreement.

“……”

Chelsea, however, looked a bit reluctant, silently deliberating before she finally spoke.

“Hmph, I don’t mind. I’ll go along with whatever Kamon decides.”

Suddenly, the choice was left up to me, and everyone, including Princess Francia, turned their eyes to me.

“Kamon?”

“Uh, well. I don’t think we really need to stay for—Whoah!”

Just as I was about to politely decline, Sherry’s father suddenly grabbed my hand with both of his.

“Young master, you saved my daughter, didn’t you?”

“Uh, no, it wasn’t just me. Everyone here played a part.”

“I’ve been hounded by my daughter all day. She’s been upset, saying I slandered the hero who saved her. She even told me she was disappointed in her father and hasn’t spoken to me since. So please, young master, or rather, Lord Vade, I beg you…”

His plea, filled with the anguish of a father, caught me off guard.

‘Seriously? Now he’s bringing up his daughter?’

[Come on, just stay for the meal. It seems like they’re genuinely sorry, both him and his daughter.]

‘Weren’t you supposed to be the jealous spirit? Why are you being so understanding?’

[Jealousy is one thing, but fairness is another. As a spirit, I have nothing to be ashamed of.]

Airsya’s firm tone made me shake my head in disbelief. Unable to continue rejecting him, I finally nodded in agreement.

“Alright, we’ll stay for the meal. It’s almost ready, right?”

“Yes, yes, absolutely! Thank you so much!”

“Then we’ll all agree to have breakfast before we go.”

Princess Francia made the decision as soon as I voiced my opinion.

“Thank you, Princess, and thank you all. We’ll make sure the meal is worth your time, so please wait inside for a moment.”

With that, Sherry’s father ran off at top speed before any of us could respond.

“Well… shall we wait inside, then?”

Sensing the odd atmosphere, Princess Francia tried to keep things from getting too awkward.

“Since we’re already here, we might as well enjoy a good meal before we leave.”

“Thank you, Kyle.”

Princess Francia nodded in appreciation at Kyle’s support and then addressed everyone.

“Now that things have turned out this way, let’s all enjoy the meal. Don’t let anything I said earlier weigh on your minds.”

She then turned to me, gave a slight nod, and was the first to head back into the hall.

“What are you waiting for? Come on inside.”

“Yes, yes, we’re coming.”

“…”

With that, we all returned to the village hall.

* * *

It wasn’t long before breakfast was served in the hall, but it was far from a simple meal. The villagers had piled the tables high with food as if they were hosting a festival or a grand banquet. The lively chatter and the clinking of utensils filled the room as everyone ate and drank with enthusiasm.

Despite the early hour, even alcohol was being passed around.

“Ahh, this is the life.”

“Hey, what are you doing drinking so early in the morning?!”

“Come on, we’ve got guests in the village. We can’t just let them leave with a bad taste in their mouths, can we?”

It seemed the villagers were still unsettled by what had happened with the village chief, so they were indulging a bit more than usual.

As I watched this scene unfold, I felt a growing urge to join in.

‘Man, I could really go for a drink.’

[Oh, alcohol. The last drink I enjoyed was a 45-year-old Portrian…]

Ignoring Airsya’s nostalgic rambling, I slipped into the group of older men and held out my cup.

“Excuse me, could I have a drink too?”

“Huh? Young master?”

“Hey, don’t call him ‘young master’! He’s a hero! The man who saved our village!”

“Yeah, that’s right! We should be calling him ‘heroic lord,’ not ‘young master’!”

The men, who were already quite tipsy, shouted with flushed faces. I couldn’t help but smile slightly.

“At this rate, my hand might start shaking.”

It felt like a chance to change the image of Kamon Vade, if only a little. So many people had cursed or kept their distance at just the mention of his name.

Of course, this small gesture wouldn’t erase his infamy entirely.

‘But at least I’ll feel better.’

After all, I was Kang Hyunsoo, a man from 21st-century Korea, not the real Kamon Vade.

“Oops, we shouldn’t keep our hero waiting. Here, drink up.”

The murky apple wine was poured generously into my wooden cup.

It was a humble drink, akin to a rustic rice wine.

“Ah, but I wonder if you’ll like this. It’s pretty cheap…”

The man who poured the drink looked a bit worried, but I immediately lifted the cup and downed it.

Gulp, gulp!

“Oh no, that stuff’s really strong.”

“Whoa, you shouldn’t drink it like that.”

Some of the villagers shouted in surprise at my bold move.

But…

‘It’s not bad. Reminds me of the old days.’

[‘Old days’? You’re too young to be nostalgic! Ugh, the smell alone is awful. You’re really drinking that?]

Ignoring Airsya’s complaints, I smiled and added,

“Ahh, this is good. It’s got a nice bitter finish with a hint of apple—delicious.”

And I meant it.

The taste reminded me of the homemade drinks the elders used to make when I helped out on farms during middle school.

“Wow, look at this guy. He knows how to drink!”

“See? Didn’t I tell you? This stuff isn’t bad at all.”

The men erupted in cheers, clearly pleased with my reaction.

Moments later, Sherry’s father returned to the group, beaming.

“Haha, I knew a hero like you would appreciate a good drink. To down that rough apple wine like it’s nothing!”

He reached for the bottle and added,

“Here, let me pour you another. I want to toast to the hero who saved my daughter.”

“Of course, of course!”

More apple wine filled my cup.

“Thank you again for saving our children, my lord.”

“Not at all. I’ll drink to that.”

“Cheers!”

And so, the morning drinking session with the village men began.

Meanwhile, one person quietly watched the scene, her gaze dark and unreadable.

TL Note: Rate us on NOVEL UPDATES