How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 5

“This student cafeteria is quite dazzling.”

It was just a cafeteria for students to eat.

But there were spires, gold bells, and stained glass.

It looked like a very luxurious restaurant in Europe.

No, I had to correct myself.

“The dormitory and now the cafeteria are practically palaces.”

Tall, grand, and beautiful architecture that seemed to reach the sky.

And the sight of academy students lined up to enter.

“But why is my dorm falling apart?”

Feeling a surge of emotion, I quickly shook my head to calm myself.

‘Phew, I’m a commoner now. Commoners stay in places like that.’

It had only been a few days since I landed in this world, but I had already been completely gaslit into accepting this reality.

Nobles live like nobles, and commoners live like commoners. Right?!

“…Wait, does that mean this is a noble-exclusive cafeteria too?”

No way.

Would they really segregate even meal times?

Growl.

Forget it, let’s just eat.

“Students can eat for free here, right?”

This was a real blessing.

Compared to the dorm I used to live in, this was unimaginable.

‘I once fell for an ad that promised meals, only to find moldy rice and near-rotten kimchi every day…’

I even got food poisoning twice.

Recalling the miserable days of my early twenties as Kang Hyunsoo, I quickly shook my head to erase those memories.

I then joined the line to enter the cafeteria.

Beep!

‘Huh?’

Hearing a sound from the front, I looked over.

Beep!

“What’s that?”

Every time a student entered, they tapped their student ID on some kind of pillar.

‘…Is that a transportation card?’

Beep!

Suddenly, I felt as if the original novel’s author appeared in front of me to explain.

My novel, you see.

It’s a **classic** fantasy.

A world filled with swords, magic, and fairies, full of romance and adventure.

Since it’s a medieval fantasy world.

Ah, but modern conveniences are a hassle, so let’s make everything else modern.

Refrigerators, showers, air conditioning, or even card readers.

Is that okay?

‘Of course, it’s okay. I welcome it with open arms.’

Imagining the author winking, I quickly nodded.

Come to think of it, the novel **Heroic Legend – The Sacred Sword’s Choice** had many settings that were extremely convenient for the author.

I didn’t pay much attention while reading it…

Damn, I’m liking this author more and more.

“Well, then…”

I confidently placed my student ID on the card reader that combined magical engineering and modern technology.

At that moment.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The pillar, which looked like a card reader, started flashing red lights.

Buzz!

“What’s this?”

A staff member at the entrance of the cafeteria hurried over to the pillar.

“What’s going on?”

He quickly ran over, looked at the flashing pillar, then turned to me.

“Can I check your student ID?”

“Of course.”

As he examined it slowly, he tilted his head, then glanced at me.

“Kamon Vade?”

“Yes.”

Nodding immediately, the staff member cleared his throat a few times and looked away.

“Ahem, ahem. This ID is not allowed to enter here.”

“What? Why not? I heard there are no restrictions on using the cafeteria.”

“Well… this is a noble-exclusive cafeteria.”

The staff’s finger naturally pointed somewhere.

I followed his finger and saw the inscription.

[Noble-exclusive Cafeteria]

Ah, it was because of my status after all.

“Kamon, you are no longer a noble, so you cannot use this place. Please go to the commoners’ cafeteria.”

Damn this class system.

They even segregate meal times like this?

But wait.

“Why did that maid tell me to come here?”

She knew I was a commoner now…

Wait, hold on?

This feels familiar?

The image of the village chief with a sinister smile and the maid, no, the dormitory manager, looking at me with the same expression flashed in my mind.

“No, no.”

I shook my head hard, trying to dismiss the strong suspicion that had momentarily surfaced.

“No, it can’t be… or maybe it can. Damn it, they both did it on purpose.”

As I muttered to myself,

“Ha, haha.”

I heard mocking laughter from behind.

I turned around and saw the Monster Trio, who had fled earlier, standing there.

Of course, Sol couldn’t even meet my eyes.

“Can’t even use the cafeteria now, huh?”

“Haha, of course not. He’s a filthy commoner, trying to dine with nobles?”

The other two burst into laughter, mocking me.

“Hey, stop it.”

Sol turned his gaze away, trying to stop them.

But.

“Why? It’s true. He’s a dirty commoner.”

These guys still didn’t get it.

I had no choice. I’d reveal all their secrets too…

“Who just called someone a filthy commoner?”

A cold, low voice interrupted.

“…!”

All the students, and even the staff lined up at the cafeteria, turned to look.

And then.

Clack, clack.

The sharp sound of high heels echoed around.

It felt like time slowed down, like in a movie or drama scene.

‘She is…’

As if she were parting the Red Sea, a figure emerged through the crowd, walking a path of her own.

With striking golden hair, porcelain skin, a sharp nose, and full pink lips, her stunning appearance embodied the word “beauty.” I stood there, mouth agape, until I heard the shocking words that jolted me awake.

“P-Princess Francia?”

The words hit me like a bucket of ice water.

‘P-Princess? That’s her?’

“Didn’t you hear what I just said? Who used that word?”

Her cold voice rang out again, and the students in front of the cafeteria turned their heads, averting their gaze and making way for her.

The Monster Trio was now directly facing the princess.

“Well, you see…”

The trio, who had been confidently insulting me moments before, now stuttered in obvious discomfort.

“Was it you?”

“…It wasn’t me, Your Highness. It was him.”

“Yes, it was him alone.”

The loyalty of the Monster Trio extended only so far. Sol and Crollin quickly assessed the situation and threw Mork under the bus.

“Is that so?”

“Y-Your Highness, I mean, I was just…”

Abandoned by his friends, Mork broke into a cold sweat, unable to meet her eyes as he stammered.

Seeing him quivering, the previously icy Francia’s lips twitched slightly.

Then she asked,

“Why are you shaking so much? It’s not like I’m going to eat you.”

With a chilling smile, Princess Francia’s words finally broke Mork.

“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness. I was only directing my words at Kamon Vade. I had no intention of insulting other commoner students.”

You idiot.

Why did you have to mention my name?

Damn, this situation is getting worse…

“Kamon Vade?”

“Yes, Your Highness, he’s right there.”

Thinking he found a way out, Mork quickly pointed at me.

Her gaze shifted to me.

‘No, this isn’t just bad, it’s the worst, absolute hell.’

When a victim meets their would-be murderer, especially one with immense power, what happens?

They’d want nothing more than revenge.

In this obvious scenario, as Princess Francia and I locked eyes…

“It’s been a while, Kamon. Nice to see you.”

S-She smiled?

Caught off guard by her reaction, I hesitated, then awkwardly responded.

“Uh… Ha, haha. Nice to see you too, Your Highness.”

What’s going on?

Why is she smiling at me?

Why?

All kinds of questions swirled in my head, but I couldn’t find any satisfying answers.

The only possibility that came to mind…

‘Could it be that she’s forgiven Kamon?’

An utterly impossible thought that I quickly shook off.

No, that’s not possible.

Even in the vast world, there’s no one with such an angelic heart.

“It’s not good to use words like that. You should be more careful with your word choices next time.”

Princess Francia explained calmly, and Mork, like a mute, could only nod.

“And Kamon has already paid for his actions and received sufficient punishment, so don’t bother him anymore.”

“W-What? Oh, yes, Your Highness.”

…Wow.

‘Is this the main heroine of the original story?’

She’s an angel.

She’s a true angel.

Someone who can understand and forgive an attacker just because they’ve been punished sufficiently.

‘But was this really her character in the original story?’

Princess Francia, as depicted in the original, usually had passive reactions to the protagonist Kyle’s words and actions, so it was hard to grasp her true personality.

Well, in any case…

‘What’s important is that she stood up for me.’

Other students seemed to be thinking the same, glancing between me and the princess, whispering.

“She’s treating the person who attacked her like this?”

“Our princess is really an angel…”

Hearing the murmurs around me, I could feel Princess Francia’s status rising even higher.

Then,

“Um, Kamon?”

Having finished her conversation with Mork, Princess Francia approached and called my name.

“…Yes? Uh, yes, Your Highness.”

“Can we talk for a moment?”

Alone?

Taken aback by her sudden request, I quickly nodded.

“O-Of course.”

Absolutely, anytime.

For an hour, three hours, or even all day, if needed.

Following Princess Francia to a quiet spot behind the cafeteria, a few students’ gazes trailed us but didn’t linger.

Soon, we were alone.

“So, Your Highness, what did you want to talk about?”

“How does it feel?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m curious about how it feels to fall from being revered to being expelled from your family and hitting rock bottom.”

“……”

The benevolent smile on Princess Francia’s face made me feel a strange discomfort.

‘Something feels off.’

She shrugged and continued.

“It’s not a question that requires an answer, so you don’t have to if you don’t want to. Also…”

Her voice trailed off, and her smile faded as she leaned in close to my face.

What is this?

Why is she acting like this?

“Hey, Kamon Vade. Or should I call you just Kamon now?”

“…?!”

“Never mind, you’ll be kicked out soon anyway, so who cares about your name. Anyway!”

Her expression turned to one of disdain as she glared at me.

“Until then, just keep quiet and stay out of trouble if you don’t want to die.”

W-What?

Did she just say what I think she said?

I tried to respond, but my voice stuck in my throat.

“Did you understand?”

Princess Francia, returning to her original distance, smiled warmly once again.