How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 154

“Fabian, did you eat a lot?”

Kyle asked, approaching with grease smeared all around his mouth. Fabian nodded in response.

“Yeah. As for you… I guess I don’t even need to ask.”

“There’s so much delicious food. It’s not like I’ve been starving, but I just can’t stop eating.”

Kyle chuckled as he spoke, and Fabian returned a light smile.

“Yeah, eat up.”

Kyle tilted his head in confusion at Fabian’s response.

“Hmm? Fabian, are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. You don’t look like you’re in a good mood. Did something happen?”

“……”

At Kyle’s continued questioning, Fabian fell silent. His eyes were fixed on Kamon Vade, who was laughing and chatting with others.

Everyone around seemed to be paying more attention to Kamon than to any of their other companions. It was as if he were the main character in this place.

“Kyle.”

“Yeah?”

“Tell me straight.”

“About what?”

“What exactly happened during that fight, and why are the villagers being so friendly to him?”

“Oh, that? Well, you see…”

Kyle wiped the grease from his mouth and then began to recount everything that had happened while Fabian was unconscious.

A little later.

“I think they feel a bit guilty, so they’re treating him like that. Kamon’s probably aware of it and is playing along.”

“……”

As Kyle finished his story with a positive remark about Kamon Vade, Fabian unknowingly bit his lower lip.

Grit.

It was at that moment.

“Oh, students, don’t just stay there by yourselves. Come over here and try some of this. These vegetables are unique to this area…”

“Yes, thank you! We’ll eat well!”

Kyle, who was called over by the old ladies, darted off toward the food like a moth to a flame.

Left alone, Fabian scanned his surroundings with a deeply sunken gaze.

Kyle, who had run off for more food, Kamon, who was mingling with the people, and Princess Francia, who was surrounded by several women.

Chelsea was nowhere to be seen, but everyone seemed to be getting along well with the villagers, enjoying their breakfast.

“Sigh.”

With a brief sigh, Fabian shook his head forcefully.

“Get a grip, you idiot.”

It wasn’t that he couldn’t blend in or get along with the others that made him uncomfortable.

Since some time ago, the group had felt like it was slowly coming apart at the seams, and it was beginning to subtly irritate and anger him.

‘But when I think about it, I’m the one who got swept up in everything.’

He was the one who had been deceived by the bandits hiding their true identities and lost consciousness due to the dryad’s magic. All of it was his own mistake, his fault.

There was no one else to blame; it was entirely his fault.

‘Who am I to judge anyone’s mental state?’

And hearing Kyle’s story, he realized that his being under mind control had put the others in great danger.

If Kamon Vade hadn’t shown up when he did, even Fabian wouldn’t have been able to save everyone.

‘You idiot.’

Fabian, who was always hardest on himself, would usually whip himself into shape, vowing not to make the same mistake again.

But.

“……”

Crack!

Suddenly, Fabian unknowingly gripped the cup in his hand so tightly that the wooden cup started to crack.

“Ha, so I almost ruined everything?”

Fabian muttered in disbelief, then shook his head.

“Ridiculous, no way.”

Denying it strongly, Fabian shot a sharp glance at Kamon Vade.

“This is all that bastard’s fault.”

As he muttered to himself, Fabian’s voice felt strangely unfamiliar.

He realized that he wasn’t acting like his usual self. But despite that, the rising anger was too intense to ignore or suppress.

“It’s all Kamon Vade’s fault, that bastard.”

Fabian unknowingly voiced his thoughts out loud, and then, suddenly looking around, he made a decision.

Clank!

Instead of his usual weapon, he grabbed the impressive spear he had acquired in the port city of Califa.

And then.

Clomp, clomp!

Fabian began to move at a rapid pace, heading straight toward one person.

“Haha, can you drink more?”

“As much as you’d like.”

“Wow, our hero is strong with alcohol too!”

“This much won’t get me drunk easily.”

Kamon Vade was chatting with the villagers, who had grown very close to him.

***

Fabian had been downing several glasses of the harsh cider, creating a lively atmosphere with the older men when…

[Hey, you. I don’t think this is the time to be laughing and chatting.]

Airsya’s sudden serious tone made me frown slightly.

‘What’s with you all of a sudden?’

[Ha, you fool. Don’t tell me you’re drunk?]

‘What are you talking about? Why are you picking a fight out of nowhere?’

[Can’t you sense this? All the energy is focused on you.]

‘Huh?’

As if frustrated, Airsya’s tone was pointed. I focused my senses and noticed it—something sticky and unpleasant was being directed toward me.

‘Killing intent?’

[No, it’s not killing intent. This is…]

At that moment.

“Kamon Vade.”

Hearing my name, I turned my head to see Fabian standing there.

“I need to talk to you.”

There was a sharpness in his tone that felt unsettling. I excused myself from the group and followed him outside, to the back of the town hall.

Once we were there, Fabian wasted no time.

“Let’s fight, Kamon Vade.”

“What?”

“I said, let’s have a proper fight.”

‘What the hell is he saying?’

Airsya muttered quietly in my mind.

[He’s being consumed by his emotions.]

‘What?’

[It seems he’s been affected by my influence, given the turmoil of his emotions.]

‘Wait, what do you mean? Affected by you?’

I asked, confused by Airsya’s unexpected explanation. She continued, looking thoughtful.

[I am the Spirit of Jealousy. Even though I’m bound to your ring, the power I possess still radiates outward… and it seems he was exposed to it while his mental state was weakened by the dryad’s magic.]

‘Fabian’s jealous of me?’

“Kamon Vade, duel me.”

Fabian’s bloodshot eyes repeated the same demand. He didn’t look like his normal self.

So, he had lost control under the influence of the Spirit of Jealousy, especially since his mental strength was already compromised?

‘He was never this type of character.’

In the original story, Fabian was a cool-headed and rational character, an excellent sidekick to the protagonist, Kyle. But in this “Novice Challenge,” it seemed like he was constantly getting into trouble.

“Kamon Vade!”

Fabian called my name again, his tone more aggressive.

“Fabian, Kamon. What are you doing there?”

Kyle, who had been with the older women, noticed us and hurried over.

“Let’s have a real fight, you bastard.”

Fabian’s tone grew more hostile as I continued to ignore him, and I felt a surge of annoyance.

‘How long do I have to put up with this idiot?’

“Huh? Fabian, what’s wrong with you?”

Kyle approached, trying to calm him down.

“Kamon Vade, answer me.”

“……”

He kept badgering me with the same demand.

Slap!

I knocked away his hand, which had grabbed my arm, and spoke.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“What?”

He had been getting on my nerves ever since this “Novice Challenge” began.

Maybe it was time to put him in his place, once and for all. Whether he was influenced by jealousy or not—that wasn’t my concern.

‘That’s not my problem, is it?’

“Kamon, why are you doing this too?”

Kyle, looking genuinely flustered, tried to mediate between us.

But.

“Kyle couldn’t beat me, so what makes you think you can?”

“You crazy bastard!”

“Fabian, Kamon, stop it!”

As the commotion drew attention, several people, including Princess Francia, came outside from the town hall.

“What are you two doing?”

“Your Highness, it’s…”

Kyle tried to explain to her while still trying to separate us. At that moment, I spoke up in a casual tone.

“Fabian challenged me to a duel.”

“What?”

“And I’ve decided to accept.”

My declaration hit like a bombshell.

“Kamon!”

“No, don’t!”

Both Kyle and Princess Francia shouted simultaneously, but.

Drip, drip!

“Good. That’s what I wanted. I’ve been meaning to teach you a lesson, and today’s the day.”

Fabian nodded eagerly, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“What’s going on all of a sudden?”

“Why are friends fighting like this? What happened?”

The villagers were clearly bewildered, whispering among themselves.

“Ah, leave them be. Sometimes friends fight when they drink. They’re still young; it happens.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Get back inside if you’re drunk!”

“I’m not drunk!”

One drunken old man muttered such nonsense, only to be pushed back inside the town hall by a woman.

“Kamon, Fabian, stop this right now. What are you two thinking…?”

Princess Francia stepped between us, trying to mediate.

“Your Highness, please don’t interfere. This is between Kamon Vade and me.”

But Fabian, with his bloodshot eyes, didn’t seem to care about her at all.

“Fabian!”

Princess Francia called his name once more, but realizing that reasoning with him wasn’t working, she turned to me.

“Kamon, you stop this. We can’t be doing this here.”

“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but please understand my position.”

“Kamon!”

She called my name in frustration, but I shook my head and responded briefly.

“Backing down after a duel challenge is shameful for a man.”

At that moment, Fabian turned to Kyle.

“Kyle, be the referee.”

“What? No! Why are we even having a duel here…”

Kyle shook his head, refusing firmly.

“I’ll be the referee.”

“Chelsea?”

Chelsea, who had been missing for a while, appeared and volunteered to be the referee.

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