How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 202

Whoooosh.

Somewhere, I could hear the sound of wind blowing.

Then, another familiar sound echoed in my ears.

Splash!

‘Is that… the sound of waves?’

Though my vision remained pitch-black and I couldn’t see a thing, I felt oddly calm. It was hard to tell whether this was a dream or reality, yet I felt strangely at peace.

‘This is strange. I feel… grounded.’

It was as if I were lying on a luxurious bed, one that fit me perfectly.

“….”

And then, the darkness around me slowly began to brighten.

Or rather—

‘A screen?’

In front of me, a massive, rectangular white screen appeared, as if I had walked into a movie theater. I couldn’t help but feel even more puzzled.

‘I can’t move at all, though?’

Although I felt comfortable and relaxed, my body wouldn’t respond to my will. But then again, did I even have a body right now?

Unable to even lower my head, I could only focus on the huge screen in front of me. A change was occurring on that screen, once blank and white.

Sploosh!

The screen showed a cliff with high waves crashing against it, and standing there was…

‘Kamon Vade?’

Not the Kamon Vade that I inhabited, but the real Kamon Vade, standing there alone.

He faced the fierce sea breeze, cold enough to sting, without any hint of expression or movement.

Though he’d once been a minor villain in a third-rate story, carelessly discarded by the protagonist and dismissed without much thought, his presence on the screen was nothing like a mere extra.

“Haa.”

Kamon Vade brushed his hair back with a sigh.

Dressed head to toe in a black uniform, he looked like a picture-perfect aristocrat, composed and refined.

“Heh, how ridiculous.”

With his trademark sneer and mocking tone, he muttered cynically, and as I looked closer at him, I noticed—

‘He looks… a bit younger.’

He seemed slightly—no, considerably—more youthful than the version I had seen in the mirror or in past visions.

Then—

Shwiik, thud.

“Have you made up your mind, Young Master?”

Out of nowhere, a mysterious figure appeared behind Kamon Vade and asked.

I recognized him immediately.

‘The Shadow Organization?’

He was wearing the distinctive cloak of their group, making his identity unmistakable.

“Is there any decision to make? I’m simply moving as fate dictates.”

“A wise choice, sir.”

At Kamon Vade’s nonchalant response, the member of the Shadow Organization nodded slowly, bowing his head.

“Wise? Me? Heh.”

Kamon Vade chuckled, unable to suppress his laughter.

“Yes, that’s right. I’m very wise. While fools continue to ignore the truths of this world, I confront them proudly.”

Watching his twisted smile, I couldn’t help but feel a slight cringe, as though he was going through a rebellious, melodramatic phase.

‘Looks like he’s fully in his edgy teen phase.’

“So, what am I supposed to do now?”

“Wait patiently. When the time is right, he will come to you with his word.”

“Fine, I got it.”

With a casual nod from Kamon Vade, the Shadow Organization member disappeared once more, as silent as the wind.

‘What is this?’

Could this be showing how the original Kamon Vade joined the Shadow Organization?

Just as I was pondering this, Kamon Vade continued gazing out at the crashing waves and muttered softly.

“Haa, a book… So, I’m inside a novel?”

‘What?’

That revelation hit me like a shockwave, completely blindsiding me.

Bam!

The screen changed again.

“Mother!”

A much younger Kamon Vade was running toward a woman.

He looked barely six or seven years old, and the servants of the Vade Marquisate watched his small steps with warm smiles.

But—

Smack.

“Don’t touch me!”

The woman harshly slapped away Kamon Vade’s hand as he tried to cling to her dress.

“Ma-Madam Marquis!”

“Milady!”

Alarmed, the servants rushed over, but—

“Stay back. I’m disciplining my child.”

“…!”

The woman’s sharp gaze kept them at bay, and none dared approach.

Then—

“M-Mother.”

Kamon Vade’s hand, the one that had been slapped, was held by his other hand as he whimpered.

To anyone watching, it was clear that this child was being mistreated.

‘So, this is the childhood he went through?’

Yet, I’d read Kamon Vade’s own diary before. Not a single word in there spoke ill of his mother or hinted at any unpleasant memories with her.

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“I… I won’t run around or touch things without permission anymore.”

“Ha, is that all?”

“P-Please forgive me, Mother.”

Kamon Vade lowered his head, his voice trembling, but his mother did not relent.

“Get out of my sight, now!”

She dismissed her son coldly, leaving me wondering if she was truly his mother. Otherwise, I couldn’t understand her behavior.

‘Why is she treating him like this?’

Just then, the scene shifted again.

Night had fallen, the sky darkened, and a chilly wind blew through the empty corridors of the mansion. There were no servants in sight, and silence engulfed the halls.

There, moving carefully and cautiously, was young Kamon.

‘Where’s he going?’

He headed toward the room of the mother who had been so harsh with him earlier, holding a small cake and a rolled-up parchment.

‘Is he going to ask for her forgiveness again?’

This young version of Kamon, so different from the chaotic and selfish adult villain I’d come to know, seemed almost unrecognizable.

When he finally reached his mother’s room, I could hear voices from inside.

“…More time… it’s not over yet.”

“I’m sorry, truly sorry.”

It was Kamon’s mother, speaking to someone in a pleading tone.

“If you would allow me to try just once more… I share a bed with him every night. With just a little more time, I might succeed.”

“Enough. Didn’t you say that last time? And what did that get you? You birthed Yuria, who will never become ‘Arrogance.’ So stop wasting time and return. There’s no need for you to stay any longer.”

“But…”

“What’s with that expression? Did you get so attached to playing the role of Marchioness that you want to stay for the ‘taste’ of it?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just… if I were to leave suddenly, would the Marquis not react poorly…?”

“Hah. Have you forgotten who you serve? No matter how formidable Baron Vade might be, he can’t hold a candle to that person.”

“Yes, but…”

Kamon’s mother hesitated, her tone weak and unsure.

“You insolent wench!”

The person speaking to her finally lost his patience and shouted, his voice seething with anger.

“We took a wretched street woman and placed you in the role of Marchioness, and now you’ve lost your mind.”

“M-Mother…”

“Do not call me that. You’re a failure who couldn’t even bring forth ‘Arrogance.’ I have no daughter like you.”

“…”

Kamon’s mother fell silent, and the man resumed his harsh tone.

“I have no desire to talk about this any longer. By tonight, you’ll wrap up everything and leave.”

“No! You can’t make me leave!”

“Really, you—!”

“Just one more month! No, give me a week. I swear I’ll bring forth ‘Arrogance’ in that time.”

“You fool. Do you really think you’ll succeed in something you’ve already failed at? The task has already been passed on to others.”

“W-What…?”

“We’ve decided to use the bloodline of the Northern Grand Duke or the Royal Family to produce ‘Arrogance.’ So stop this nonsense and follow orders.”

“….”

“Do you understand?”

Kamon’s mother finally responded in a dazed tone.

“…Yes, I understand.”

“Good. Be at the front gate in half an hour. If you fail to show…”

“I’ll be there. I will come.”

She repeated it several times, her voice trembling.

Then the screen went dark again.

‘What… did I just see?’

I couldn’t shake the familiarity of the word “Arrogance” from that conversation.

If my guess was right, they were talking about one of the Seven Deadly Sins, the fallen spirit known as the Spirit of Arrogance.

But they were trying to conceive such a spirit?

‘Is that even possible?’

While I grappled with these questions, the screen brightened once more.

This time, the scene was chaotic.

“Mother, please!”

“You need to die! This is all your fault! Just die already!”

With bloodshot eyes, Kamon’s mother raised a sharp dagger, attempting to kill him.

‘So this is how it turned out?’

It seemed likely that these scenes were memories from Kamon Vade’s past.

Failing to birth “Arrogance” as commanded, Kamon’s mother had become consumed by her obsession, which transformed into hatred for her “failed” son.

And, at the breaking point, she turned her rage on Kamon, whom she saw as the cause of her suffering.

A child barely six or seven years old stood no chance against an adult’s violent intent.

Her dagger was already at his throat.

Kamon, tearfully calling out to his mother again and again, could do nothing to stop her hand.

“Just die already!”

“M-Mother…”

Kamon’s consciousness began to fade as he teetered on the brink of passing out.

Slash.

The dagger’s edge finally nicked his throat, drawing a line of crimson blood.

“Hehe, die… What? Ahhh!”

Whoosh! Crackle!

“Aaaagh! What is this? What’s happening?!”

Kamon’s mother suddenly lifted into the air as though some invisible force had seized her.

“Who’s doing this? Who’s interfering?!”

Her face twisted with madness, she flailed helplessly in the air, screaming at an unseen enemy.

“Arrgh! Kamon, just die!”

At that moment, Kamon, who had been lying on the ground, slowly rose.

He lifted his right hand, his eyes opening, though unfocused.

“…?”

His eyes were devoid of focus, but his hand was raised, directed toward his mother.

“Kamon! What are you doing? Stop this!”

Sensing something, her frantic screams intensified, but her body, suspended in mid-air, remained motionless.

And then, as Kamon’s hand clenched tightly into a fist—

Crack, squelch, crunch, thud!

A series of brutal, sickening sounds filled the room, like something out of a gory horror film.

‘Ugh.’

Simultaneously—

Thud, thud! Bang!

The door burst open, and familiar faces appeared.

“Kamon!”

It was the Marquis of Vade and his brother, Rowan Vade.

“This… What…?”

“…”

They stared, horrified, at the corpse of the Marchioness, twisted and broken on the floor.

As Baron Vade began to speak—

Thud!

Young Kamon collapsed to the floor.

And the screen shifted again.