How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 185

In the original novel, Lucas and Arian were minor characters who only appeared briefly before fading into the background. Their personal relationships, romantic affairs, and deeper background settings were never explored.

I wasn’t sure if their relationship was something the original author had planned or if it was just a coincidence in this world’s reality.

Regardless…

‘The top students from the second and third years, dating each other, huh?’

Come to think of it, their interactions on the way here had been somewhat off, different from how they treated others.

‘They acted weird, trying to hide something or afraid of being noticed over things that didn’t even matter.’

Since these characters weren’t fleshed out much in the novel, I had assumed that was just their personalities. I didn’t expect there to be this kind of backstory.

But that wasn’t the issue at hand.

“So, you’re saying Duke Romanoff hired assassins to kill me?” I asked.

“Well, calling it an assassination might be a stretch, but it’s basically the same thing,” Lucas replied with a grimace, nodding his head.

I glanced over at Arian, still unconscious.

Lucas quickly spoke up in her defense.

“I was against it the whole time. Arian struggled with the decision too,” he explained, his voice filled with guilt. “I’m not asking you to understand our situation, but… Can I at least ask that you don’t harm her?”

“……”

I stared at Lucas without responding.

[What’s your plan, Kamon?] Airsya’s voice whispered in my mind.

‘I’m not sure.’

To be honest, part of me wanted to make them both pay—Lucas and Arian. After all, they had tried to kill me.

But then again…

‘Is there any reason to make them my enemies?’

If Lucas was telling the truth, almost all the merchant guilds present at the Romanoff estate might be plotting against me.

Especially…

‘…Diana Fren must be thrilled right now.’

With that thought in mind, I met Lucas’s gaze and spoke in a low tone.

“Alright, senior.”

“Huh?”

“I won’t hold either of you responsible. But there is one condition.”

“C-condition?”

“Yes. From now on, you both have to help me. In exchange, I’ll guarantee Arian’s safety.”

Lucas fell silent, his expression darkening as he glanced at Arian, who was still groaning softly, clearly far from waking up.

Finally, he looked back at me, and after a moment, he nodded.

“Fine. I’ll agree to that. I’ll help you, Kamon.”

His voice carried a solemn determination. I smirked and spoke again.

“In that case, let’s put it in writing.”

“Huh? In writing?”

“Yes. A contract, if you will. Wouldn’t it be better to have something binding? It would establish trust between us.”

Lucas forced a smile, the corners of his lips twitching. “Hahaha… Of course, our meticulous Kamon wouldn’t leave things to chance.”

[Where did you learn how to draft spirit contracts?] Airsya asked, a hint of amusement in her tone.

‘I made one once before, thanks to my time with Princess Francia.’

Indeed, I had some experience with spirit contracts thanks to a past encounter. That memory came in handy now.

I snapped my fingers.

*Snap!*

A translucent contract appeared in front of Lucas, outlined by the same mystical energy as the spirit contracts I had seen before. The terms were clear and simple.

Depending on how I used it, this could easily become an extremely unfair and dangerous contract for them.

But I didn’t plan on exploiting Lucas or Arian too harshly.

‘I just need to secure my safety from a stab in the back.’

Having secured their cooperation with the contract, I turned my attention back to the real threat.

“So, Duke Romanoff placed a bounty on my head?”

I had felt a strange hostility from him the moment he asked if I would become his son-in-law or his enemy.

But I hadn’t expected him to move this quickly—or this ruthlessly.

[What about telling that girl? You know she’s on your side.] Airsya suggested, referring to Cecilia.

I shook my head.

Now that Duke Romanoff had placed a death warrant on me, there was little even Cecilia could do to change the situation. The gears were already in motion.

“No, it’s actually perfect.”

[What?]

“This gives me a perfect excuse to get rid of the nuisances, don’t you think?”

I had already been thinking about dethroning Diana Fren and securing Elliot as the rightful heir to the Fren Merchant Guild.

With Romanoff’s assassination plot in play, I now had all the justification I needed to take out Diana.

And Duke Romanoff… well, I would deal with him in time.

“Let’s go,” I said abruptly.

[Go where?]

“To the hidden location we found.”

***

We arrived at the hidden chamber where Airsya had previously discovered the essence of the hot springs. The translucent barrier still stood in place, shimmering faintly as it blocked the entrance.

[Don’t tell me… You’re going to try and absorb that?] Airsya asked, her voice dripping with disbelief.

I chuckled and nodded.

“Of course I am.”

At first, when I discovered this place, I knew there was much to explore and examine. The sheer power contained within the gemstone—the source of the *Vishran* hot springs—was overwhelming. I hadn’t dared to touch it then.

But now…

“This is the perfect way to turn the tables, isn’t it?”

[A risky move, though. That power is far greater and more dangerous than you realize. You could die if you’re not careful,] Airsya warned.

“I’m well aware.”

I nodded, glancing down at the *Orb* ring on my finger.

The last time I’d tried to absorb the power, I had been caught off guard, and it had nearly overwhelmed me. This time, I had to prepare myself better.

“So now I’ll be ready. I’ll absorb it properly.”

Muttering to myself, I tapped the red gemstone hanging from the necklace around my neck.

*Tap tap.*

“Hey, Beatrice, can you hear me?”

*Tap, tap tap!*

“Hurry up and answer, or I’ll toss this thing away…”

This necklace, which I had reluctantly accepted thanks to Beatrice’s insistence, allowed us to communicate. I knew there was a risk she could monitor me, but I hadn’t taken it off because…

‘She’s a partner in this. If my life is in danger, she’ll help me. It benefits her too.’

*Tap tap!*

“Not answering? Fine, I’m throwing it away—”

Before I could finish my threat, a voice crackled through the necklace.

[…Ah. …Can you hear me?]

“Oh, there you are. Glad you’re finally listening, Beatrice.”

[Ugh. Do you know how far away we are from each other? It’s not exactly easy to keep in touch, you know,] she replied irritably.

I smiled, amused by her tone. “Well, that’s not really my problem, is it?”

[What?]

“The important thing right now isn’t that. I need your help.”

[Help? You suddenly contact me out of the blue for help? What’s going on?]

“I think I found something. It might be a trace of the Red Mage.”

Beatrice fell silent for a moment before responding in a low, cautious voice.

[…Are you serious?]

“I’m not entirely sure, but it looks like it. I need to confirm it.”

[So what exactly do you need from me?]

“This necklace isn’t just for communication, right?”

[Huh? It has several functions, but what’s that got to do with anything?]

“I’m about to absorb an immense amount of power. If it becomes too much for me to handle, can you use this necklace to help disperse the energy?”

[What?! Wait, what are you trying to—]

“Beatrice, we don’t have time for a lengthy conversation. Just answer me: can you do it or not?”

[…You really have a way of getting on my nerves, you know that?] she grumbled.

After a pause, she sighed heavily.

[It’ll be troublesome, but yes, I can do it.]

“Perfect. I’m counting on you, then.”

[W-wait! Hold on a second—!]

Without hesitation, I placed the *Orb* ring directly against the translucent barrier.

*Ziiiiiing!*

Instantly, the ring began to absorb the overwhelming power emanating from the gemstone beyond the barrier, just as it had before.

“Krrgh…”

[You crazy bastard, you’re really doing it,] Airsya muttered beside me, shaking her head.

But I didn’t have the luxury to respond. All my focus was on the immense power being drawn into the *Orb*. It was like a dried-up tree, desperately soaking in rainwater after a long drought.

*Ziiing!*

The energy flooded in relentlessly, and before long, I began to feel the strain. My breathing grew heavier, and the pressure on my body became overwhelming.

Just then—

[I don’t know what the hell you’re doing, but I’ll start splitting the energy now.]

Beatrice’s voice echoed in my ear, and I felt the flow of energy in the *Orb* ring begin to divide. The necklace around my neck glowed brightly, channeling the excess power.

*Ziiiiing!*

The combined power of the hot spring’s essence was absorbed into both the *Orb* ring and the ruby necklace. The raw, potent energy flowed through me, nearly overwhelming but barely manageable with Beatrice’s help.

“…Huff.”

After what felt like an eternity, I finally felt the surge begin to subside. The *Orb* ring, now glowing white-hot, had reached its limit.

And then—

*Shatter!*

With a loud cracking sound, the translucent barrier broke apart.

“Huh?”

In disbelief, I watched as the gemstone, the source of the overwhelming power, shattered into countless pieces.

[The gemstone’s broken!]

Airsya’s startled voice pulled me from my thoughts. I glanced at the remains of the once-powerful gemstone, now reduced to shards on the ground.

“…It’s completely destroyed.”

The gemstone had been unable to withstand the force of its own energy being drained.

And just like that—

[Phew, is it over?]

Beatrice’s voice came through the necklace again.

“Yeah, it’s done,” I replied calmly.

[Good. Now explain yourself. Where are you, and what exactly are you doing? Is it true you found a trace of our teacher—]

“Oops, hold on a second, Beatrice. Hello? I can’t hear you very well,” I said, feigning confusion.

[What? That’s impossible, you— Kamon Vade, are you messing with—]

*Click.*

I quickly cut off the connection, severing the flow of mana to the necklace.

Airsya, watching from the side, sighed and shook her head.

[You cut off the Red Mage just like that? You think you can handle the consequences?]

“I’ll deal with it later. Right now, that’s not what matters.”

I dismissed her concerns and closed my eyes, focusing on the new energy coursing through the *Orb* ring and the ruby necklace.

It was warm and vibrant, yet powerful and revitalizing. It felt different from ordinary mana or spirit energy. It was as if it was capable of healing and restoring anything.

‘This energy… Could I use this for self-healing?’

The sheer life force contained in the energy suggested that with enough control, I could potentially use it to heal myself without the need for a priest or healer. The idea made me grin, but then—

[Kamon!]

Airsya’s urgent voice jolted me back to reality.

“What?”

[Look over there.]

I turned my gaze toward the shattered remains of the gemstone.

Around the broken pieces, a swirling gray aura began to gather, swirling ominously in the air.

“What the hell is that?”

Airsya muttered, sounding uneasy.

[Damn it… why is that thing here…?]

The swirling gray aura began to coalesce into a solid form.

As it took shape, a figure began to emerge from within the mist.

[Kamon, get ready. We’re about to fight. Hurry!]

Airsya’s voice was filled with urgency, as the figure stepped out of the gray mist, and the tension in the air grew thick.

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