How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 199

Everything had finally come to an end.

Or rather, the battle was over, and there was a clear, overwhelming victor.

“…….”

The knights of the Bellington Order, along with the forces of House Romanoff, knelt on the ground, completely defeated. And at the very front—

“Ugh, Your Grace…” muttered Vitell Romanoff, the leader of this territory and one of the Empire’s five Elector Lords.

“Just kill me.”

“Why would I do that?” came Jamie’s sharp reply, her tone dripping with irritation.

“I’d rather you grant me the mercy of death than subject me to such humiliation after losing in battle,” Vitell replied, still kneeling.

“Mercy? Battle? You and your men just ganged up on my Disciple,” Jamie scoffed, her voice laced with disdain.

At this, Beatrice, the Red Mage, chimed in.

“Technically, they’re our students, not just your Disciple,” she said smoothly.

Jamie shot her a glare. “Stray cat, why are you here?”

“Why wouldn’t the Dean come to rescue her students in distress? Isn’t that reasonable?”

“I mean…”

“And if I hadn’t shown up when I did, your Disciple might be dead. I think a thank-you is in order, don’t you?”

“…”

Caught off guard by Beatrice’s tone, Jamie was momentarily speechless, her expression sour. Their rivalry was infamous, with neither of them ever willing to back down. Yet this time, the atmosphere felt slightly different.

“Fine, thanks,” Jamie finally muttered.

“Wait, what? Did you just say thank you?” Beatrice asked, her face showing genuine surprise.

Jamie rolled her eyes. “What, are you deaf? I said thank you for saving my Disciple.”

“Wow, I lived long enough to hear that from you, Jamie. Amazing.” Beatrice shook her head in disbelief.

Just then, Vitell Romanoff, who had been kneeling silently, ventured to speak up.

“Esteemed Mages, if I may—”

But Jamie cut him off immediately.

“Shh. I’m not in the mood to talk to you right now.”

“…….”

Turning away from him, she looked back at Beatrice. “So, stray cat, how did you get here?”

“Anything you can do, I can do as well. We’re both among the Three Primary Colors, aren’t we?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I’m asking how you even knew the students were in trouble here.”

At Jamie’s probing question, Beatrice hesitated for a moment, her gaze shifting.

Then, she looked directly at me.

‘What the hell? Why are you looking at me?’ I thought, mentally panicking. ‘She’s only going to get more suspicious!’

Jamie still didn’t know about the hidden powers of my ruby pendant. If she discovered it now…

‘Honestly, dying might be the better option.’

“Hm?” Jamie’s eyes narrowed as she followed Beatrice’s gaze.

Just as her attention was about to land on me—

“We contacted her!” an unexpected voice called out.

“Huh?” Jamie turned to see Cecilia and Rosen, looking utterly exhausted, stepping forward.

“We broke through the magical barrier surrounding the Romanoff territory and sent an emergency rescue request to the academy,” explained Rosen Ravenia, her voice clear and precise.

Beatrice nodded quickly. “Right, I came as soon as I got the message.”

“…….”

Jamie’s gaze remained skeptical. “Then why didn’t you answer me right away when I asked?”

“Oh, come on,” Beatrice scoffed. “The student council was on an emergency mission, and I got an urgent call for help. Why wouldn’t I rush here?”

Jamie raised an eyebrow. “Then why didn’t you answer immediately?”

“Because I wasn’t sure who sent the message at first, obviously.”

Jamie let out an exasperated sigh but chose not to pursue it further.

Others nearby, unfamiliar with Jamie’s identity, looked at her in bewilderment, wondering who she was to speak so forcefully with Beatrice, one of the Three Primary Colors.

Finally, Rosen Ravenia, her voice filled with curiosity, started to speak.

“But who exactly is—”

“Rosen, one moment,” I interrupted, quickly stepping up to her.

Turning, Rosen’s eyes widened as she took in my battered and bloodied state.

“Oh, Kamon, are you okay? You look pretty badly hurt…”

“I’m fine. Just another day,” I replied casually.

“Wh-what?” Rosen’s expression was a mix of disbelief and concern.

“K-K-Kamon?” Cecilia stammered, her face pale as she looked at me. She then turned her gaze toward the front, where her father, Vitell Romanoff, was still kneeling, defeated.

Rosen quickly reached out to Cecilia, trying to speak softly.

“C-Cecilia…”

Smack.

It was finally over.

Or more accurately, the battle had concluded with an undisputed victor.

“…….”

The Bellington Knights and Romanoff retainers knelt on the ground, their spirits crushed. At the front of the defeated group knelt Vitell Romanoff, once the proud ruler of this territory and one of the Empire’s five Elector Lords.

“Just end it and kill me,” he said, his voice resigned.

“Why would I do that?” Jamie replied, her tone sharp and dismissive.

“Rather than subject me to this humiliation, grant me the mercy of death, as is fitting for a defeated warrior,” Vitell said, his voice steady.

Jamie scoffed, “Mercy? This wasn’t some grand battle. You all just ganged up on my Disciple.”

At that, Beatrice, the Red Mage, interjected smoothly, “Actually, they’re our students, not just your Disciple.”

Jamie shot her a glare. “And why are you here, stray cat?”

“Because it’s my job to rescue students, obviously,” Beatrice replied with a shrug.

Jamie frowned, about to retort when Beatrice cut in, “And if I hadn’t arrived in time, your Disciple might be dead. Don’t you think a thank-you would be more appropriate?”

Jamie pursed her lips, momentarily speechless at Beatrice’s pointed tone.

After a moment, she sighed. “Fine, thanks,” she muttered grudgingly.

“Wait… what?” Beatrice blinked in surprise.

“You’re hearing fine. I said thank you,” Jamie repeated, looking more annoyed than grateful.

Beatrice shook her head, visibly amused. “I never thought I’d live to hear that.”

The awkward exchange was interrupted by Vitell Romanoff, who, though still kneeling, ventured to speak again.

“Esteemed Mages, if I may—”

Jamie silenced him with a curt wave of her hand. “Shh. I’m not in the mood to hear you right now.”

“…….”

Turning to Beatrice, Jamie asked, “How did you even get here?”

Beatrice smirked. “Anything you can do, I can do too. We’re both in the Three Primary Colors, after all.”

“No, I mean, how did you even know the students were in trouble?”

At that question, Beatrice’s face momentarily faltered, and she glanced in my direction.

‘Why is she looking at me?!’ I panicked. ‘She’s just going to make Jamie more suspicious!’

Jamie still didn’t know the true nature of my ruby pendant. If she discovered it now…

‘It might actually be better to just die,’ I thought grimly.

Jamie’s eyes narrowed as she began to follow Beatrice’s gaze toward me, but at that moment—

“We contacted her!” a familiar voice called out unexpectedly.

Jamie looked up, surprised, to see Cecilia and Rosen approaching, looking exhausted but resolute.

“We broke through the magical barrier around the Romanoff territory and used the only means available to send an emergency rescue request to the academy,” Rosen Ravenia explained.

Beatrice nodded immediately. “Exactly. I came as soon as I got the message.”

“…….”

Jamie, however, eyed her skeptically. “Then why didn’t you answer me right away when I asked?”

Beatrice scoffed. “The student council was on an emergency mission, and we got an urgent call for help. Naturally, I came right away.”

Jamie raised an eyebrow. “Then why didn’t you respond right away?”

“Because I wasn’t sure who sent the message at first,” Beatrice replied.

Jamie sighed, but she let the matter drop, though others nearby, unfamiliar with Jamie, exchanged curious glances, wondering who could speak to Beatrice, the Red Mage, with such audacity.

Rosen Ravenia, filled with curiosity, started to ask, “Who is—”

“Rosen, wait,” I interrupted, stepping forward to cut her off.

Rosen turned to me, her eyes widening as she noticed the bloodstains and bruises covering me.

“Kamon, are you okay? You look… really hurt.”

I managed a small smile. “This is nothing. Just another day.”

“What?” Rosen gaped at me in disbelief.

Beside her, Cecilia stared at me, her face ashen as she realized the extent of the injuries and pain I’d endured. She then turned, her gaze hardening as she looked at her father, who knelt in silence.

Seeing her expression, Rosen quickly reached out, whispering, “C-Cecilia…”

Smack.

Without a word, Cecilia raised her hand, silencing Rosen.

Step, step.

Slowly, she walked toward her father.

“Father.”

Vitell Romanoff, who had always stood proud and looked down on everyone from his position of power, now knelt before her, though he still maintained a faint smile.

“There was no need for you to come here. Why did you? I clearly told you to stay at the mansion…”

Vitell began to reprimand his daughter for disobeying him, but Cecilia cut him off.

“Did you really say that?” she asked quietly.

“…….”

“Did you really order them to beat Kamon like that? To imprison my friends and the student council?”

“…….”

“Why?” she demanded, her voice filled with emotion.

“Cecilia,” he began, his expression bitter.

“Why? Tell me why you did it!” she shouted, her face reddening as if on the verge of tears.

Vitell looked at her, sighing deeply. “Why indeed, Cecilia? Perhaps I had a lapse of judgment.”

“Father.”

“If only it were that simple,” he said, his gaze a mixture of conflicting emotions before he composed himself, his face firm.

“Listen carefully, Cecilia.”

“Yes?”

“You are part of House Romanoff. And they… they are our enemies. I acted to protect the family, to safeguard our legacy.”

“…….”

“This is a responsibility you will inherit as well. As a Romanoff, you are duty-bound to uphold our honor, and any insult to our ancestors deserves retribution. Ce—Cecilia! What are you doing?!”

His serious words were cut short by the sight of Cecilia raising a small dagger to her own neck, her hand shaking as she held it.

“Cecilia!”

“P-President?” Rosen gasped in shock.

“Put that knife down this instant, Cecilia!” Vitell shouted, his voice panicked, his usually stoic demeanor breaking.

“Our enemies?” Cecilia repeated, her voice steady. “You said you were protecting our legacy?”

Vitell’s eyes were wide as he watched her with desperation. “Cecilia, I meant… I did what I thought was necessary. Kamon, he—”

Cecilia’s hand moved, and a small line of red appeared on her neck.

“Stop!” Vitell cried.

“If you keep talking about Kamon like that, if you keep treating my friends and the council as enemies…”

Her hand inched closer to her neck.

“Enough!”

Desperate, Vitell closed his eyes tightly and relented. “Alright. Cecilia, please stop. I admit it. I was wrong. I won’t speak ill of him again. I apologize for imprisoning your friends and the others from the council. Just… please, put down that knife.”

He exhaled a long, defeated sigh, admitting his defeat.

Then he turned to me, his voice hoarse as he called out.

“Kamon Vade, I apologize. This was all my fault and my mistake. I accept responsibility and offer you my sincerest apology. Please… please, talk her down.”

Rosen nudged me gently. “What are you waiting for?”

“Huh?”

“Go on, go to her. And if anything happens to her, you’d better be prepared to pay with your own life.”

With a slight shake of my head, I stepped forward, approaching Cecilia.

“President, please, put it down,” I said softly.

She didn’t respond, her hand still trembling as it held the blade to her neck.

With a deep breath, I knelt down next to Vitell Romanoff, then spoke calmly.

“Alright. I’ll accept your apology, Your Grace. And I’ll forgive everything that happened.”

“Thank you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Cecilia, did you hear that? Kamon has forgiven me. Please, let this end now.”

His words were filled with earnestness.

“President?”

I spoke to her gently, my tone soft and reassuring.

Finally—

“Kamon…” Her voice cracked, and then she let out a sob, dropping the knife as she collapsed into my arms.

“P-President?”

“Waaaaah…” She buried her face into my shoulder, her body shaking as she sobbed uncontrollably.

Although her sudden breakdown left me taken aback, I gently wrapped my arms around her.

“Alright. It’s okay. You’ve done well,” I murmured, hoping my words would offer some comfort.

Whether she found solace in my embrace or simply succumbed to exhaustion, Cecilia soon went limp in my arms, drifting into a deep sleep.

Everyone watching remained silent, the weight of the moment filling the air.

After a brief pause—

“What’s her deal?” Jamie muttered, stepping over to Chelsea. “Who is she, anyway?”

“That’s President Cecilia,” Chelsea answered quietly. “Daughter of Duke Romanoff.”

“Oh, his daughter?”

Jamie nodded, accepting the explanation before tilting her head in confusion again.

“But then, why is she crying in Kamon’s arms? Her father was the one who lost.”

It was a reasonable question, but no one had a clear answer.

“…….”

In the silence that followed, Chelsea’s gaze deepened as she looked

at Cecilia, who lay quietly sleeping in my arms.