How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 94

“The explanation about the root of Philalos ended last time, right? Then today, we’ll learn about the mushroom commonly known as the Sleep Mushroom or Hallucinogenic Mushroom, the Asettoran Mushroom. Everyone, please turn to page 74 in your books.”

At the voice of the Herbalism professor, Senoa, the students opened their textbooks.

Freshmen generally attend theory-based classes rather than practical ones. Although classes that require practical work like Swordsmanship, Magic, and Crafting do have practical exams or group projects at the end of the semester, proper practical lessons for other classes only start in the second year.

“Yaaawn.”

I barely managed to suppress a yawn and tried to lift my heavy eyelids.

‘What’s going on? Why am I so sleepy?’

As I looked around, I noticed most of the students were attentively focused on the class, with no sign of drowsiness.

‘Aren’t they sleepy?’

“The Asettoran Mushroom induces a powerful sleep when ingested. Even if not ingested, exposure to it can cause hallucinations or make you see memories from your unconscious mind. It was used for religious purposes in ancient times.”

Wow, this is unbearable.

With that thought, I glanced at Bren next to me. Surprisingly, he was diligently taking notes.

“Bren, aren’t you sleepy?”

“Huh? I’m fine.”

“That’s impressive.”

I responded, watching Bren shrug his shoulders nonchalantly, then rubbed my face with both hands. However, the overwhelming drowsiness continued to wash over me, and I could no longer resist.

‘Screw it, I’ll just sleep.’

“The Asettoran Mushroom is used for communicating with the unconscious, creating illusions, or for certain clinical training…”

The professor continued talking in the front, but I figured I could just borrow Bren’s notes later.

Thunk!

With that thought, I planted my head on the desk, feeling like I was falling into endless darkness, drifting into a sweet dream…

Slap!

“Ow, what the…?!”

The sharp pain in my cheek jolted me awake immediately.

In front of me was…

“Huh? Professor Senoa?”

Professor Senoa was looking down at me with sharp eyes.

She asked me in a low tone, “Did you perhaps consume the Asettoran Mushroom we studied today?”

“No, I didn’t…”

“Then, did you mistake this classroom for your bedroom?”

At her cold question, I could only bow my head and admit my fault.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry, huh…”

She seemed to be deep in thought, and I began to feel more anxious.

“I was just so tired and wanted to rest for a moment. I really planned to wake up within five minutes.”

I quickly pleaded, trying to look as innocent and genuine as possible. But Professor Senoa didn’t seem interested in my excuses and asked again.

“Did you not sleep last night, Kamon?”

“No, I did.”

“Did you do any strenuous exercise or sparring, or engage in physical activities this morning?”

“Not at all.”

I hated physical activity. If it weren’t for Bren, Elliot, and Lois, I would have stayed cooped up in the dormitory without ever coming out.

“If not, did you feel tired or fatigued before coming to this class?”

Her relentless questions only increased my anxiety.

What’s going on? Why is she doing this?

“No. I don’t remember feeling that tired…”

“I see.”

Professor Senoa nodded slowly and reached out towards my face.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“Huh?”

She carefully examined my eyes, then touched my cheeks, forehead, and head in turn. Then she concluded.

“Just as I thought.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’ve been exposed to the Asettoran Mushroom powder. That’s why you couldn’t resist the sleep.”

“…?”

I couldn’t understand what she was saying, so I stayed silent with a blank look.

Realizing my confusion, she twisted her lips slightly and reached into her pocket.

“This.”

She pulled out a transparent glass jar containing a dried mushroom fragment.

“What’s that?”

“A sample of the Asettoran Mushroom I brought for today’s class. As I explained earlier, this mushroom has a very strong sleep and hallucinogenic effect.”

“But I haven’t ingested it.”

“Right, but exposure is enough. When I put the dried mushroom in the glass jar earlier, some powder might have stuck to the outside of the jar and dispersed into the classroom.”

“The mushroom powder spread in the classroom?”

“Wow, no wonder I felt slightly sleepy.”

The other students looked intrigued by Professor Senoa’s explanation.

“But…”

One student looked around and murmured.

“It doesn’t seem like anyone else fell asleep.”

“That’s right. Although the Asettoran Mushroom has strong sleep-inducing effects, a very small amount of powder won’t have a noticeable effect.”

Professor Senoa complimented the student who murmured.

“We can consider two possibilities here. Either Kamon is naturally more susceptible to hallucinogens, or…”

She paused, shaking the glass jar slightly, looking at me.

“My class might have felt incredibly boring and uninteresting to you.”

“Professor, no! Your class is definitely not boring or uninteresting! Just looking at the mushroom… Oh? I feel my body getting heavier. I must be weak to hallucinogens.”

Trying my best to act pitiful, it seemed to have worked as Professor Senoa laughed softly and shook her head.

“When exposed to or consuming this mushroom, the main symptoms are dilated pupils and a rapid heartbeat. Particularly, if the forehead and cheeks flush, it’s a clear sign.”

Professor Senoa masterfully used the current situation for educational purposes.

“Look at that, his pupils are really dilated.”

“His cheeks and forehead are also flushed.”

The other students turned their attention to me, whispering among themselves.

Suddenly turned into a teaching aid or experimental subject, I bowed my head under their gazes.

‘This is so embarrassing.’

“As such, you can distinguish between natural sleep and exposure to the Asettoran Mushroom by the different physical reactions.”

With her perfect explanation concluded, Professor Senoa patted my shoulder.

“Since you fell asleep due to the mushroom exposure, I’ll let it slide this time. But make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

* * *

After meeting Jamie, a few uneventful days passed. In the meantime, I was torn between my desire to learn magic and the potential problems related to the ‘Orb’ that might arise.

Because of that.

“Kamon, why do you look like that?”

“Is something wrong?”

I lightly answered Lois and Bren’s concerned questions.

“No. Nothing special.”

Then, noticing their worried expressions, I quickly shook my head.

‘Do I really look that bad?’

After checking my expression again, I smiled faintly and changed the subject.

“How are your classes going these days?”

“Oh, don’t even mention it. Midterms are coming up, and it’s killing me.”

“Keeping up with note-taking is a bit tough, but it’s manageable.”

From Lois’s groan to the model student Bren’s proper answer, it felt like the second semester had just started, but here we are, already midterm season.

Time sure flies.

“At least you don’t have to take the Intermediate Magic exam, Kamon. Aren’t you exempt because of your assistant work?”

“What? Assistant? Wow, I want to do that too. I’m jealous, Kamon!”

Lois said, widening his eyes at Bren’s words.

“Jealous, my ass.”

“Huh? Why?”

Lois, still not grasping the situation, asked, and I shook my head without saying anything.

‘Hoo, seriously…’

If he knew what kind of situation I’m in these days, he wouldn’t be saying that.

Professor Beroen Clarence of the Intermediate Magic class was going all out, as if he had a vendetta. Every class, he took shots at Chelsea, comparing her to me and treating her as if she had no talent. It was almost an obsession.

‘Did he get rejected by Chelsea or something?’

It was to the point where such questions arose. As time went on, Chelsea’s expression worsened, and her growing dissatisfaction was visible, making things unbearable for me, caught in the middle.

‘I just want to feed him some Asettoran Mushroom and put him to sleep forever.’

At that moment, Bren next to me murmured in a cautious voice.

“…The professor is a bit of a problem.”

“Professor? What’s up, are you guys in trouble with him?”

“Hah, if I were in trouble with the professor, would I still be working as his assistant?”

“Ah, that’s true. Then what’s going on?”

Nodding, Lois kept probing, and I sighed and waved my hand dismissively.

“It’s nothing you need to know.”

“Kamon, why are you talking like that? There’s nothing we shouldn’t share between us…”

Lois pouted, and I grabbed my throbbing head.

“What kind of relationship do we have?”

“Wow, that’s harsh. Aren’t we comrades who fought together, risking our lives on the same ship? Right, Bren?”

“Huh? Oh, uh, yeah, right.”

Bren nodded awkwardly at Lois’s words. However, Bren’s reaction only seemed to provoke Lois.

“What’s with you, Bren? Why are you reacting like that? You guys are making me feel…”

“What are you all talking about without me?”

At that moment, Elliot appeared among us, and Lois began to complain.

“Ah, senior. These guys are excluding me. They have some secret they’re sharing among themselves.”

“What secret? What is it?”

With Elliot joining in, things were sure to get more complicated, so I immediately spoke to Bren.

“Bren, I’m leaving first. You handle this.”

“Huh? Ka-Kamon, you can’t just…”

Grab!

“Bren, you can’t leave now.”

Leaving Bren, who was caught by Elliot and Lois, I escaped from the questioning hell.

My head was already aching from the ‘Orb’ issue, and I didn’t have the energy to talk and explain any further.

As I walked, I looked at the ring on my finger. It still sparkled brilliantly, as if it were showing me the world of magic I had dreamed of for a moment…

“Kamon!”

At that moment, someone called my name. Turning around, I saw…

“Lady Cecilia, I mean, President?”

It was Lady Cecilia, my comrade from the student council election.

“Where are you going? Are you alone?”

She ran towards me with a joyful expression. Although I felt a slight headache, I nodded without showing it.

“Yes, I was heading back to the dormitory. What about you, President?”

“I just finished my class. Oh? But something feels off. Do you dislike me talking to you?”

“Yes.”

“I knew i… what? Really? Why? You don’t want to talk to me?”

Lady Cecilia, who looked like she didn’t believe it at first, shouted in surprise at my firm answer.

“Just kidding. Why are you so surprised?”

“That joke wasn’t funny at all. You scared me.”

“…”

I chuckled at her reaction as she put her hand on her chest, trying to calm her breathing.
Although there was a bit of truth in my joke…

“Tch, don’t laugh. It wasn’t funny. It might work among commoners, but between nobles…”

“Yes, yes, I understand. But be careful, others might misunderstand and think the student council president is a classist.”

“What? No, that’s not what I meant…”

“Of course, I wouldn’t misunderstand. I know your true intentions better than anyone.”

“…”

Lady Cecilia, who had been glaring at me, soon burst into laughter and nodded.

“Right. If you don’t know, no one would. So, you’re heading to the dormitory?”

“Yes, are you heading back too, President?”

“I was thinking of stopping by the cafe. Want to join me, Kamon?”

Suddenly, images of Elliot and Lois’s sinister faces flashed in my mind.

“Ah, no.”

“Huh? Why not? I’ll treat you. I owe you a lot, Kamon.”

“I’m fine, really.”

Politely declining, I bowed my head to her. At that moment, Lady Cecilia seemed to remember something and quickly spoke up.

“Oh, right. Kamon.”

“Yes?”

“That ‘Vishran’ hot spring… You promised we’d go there for the field trip. We really have to go, right?”

“That’s up to you, President.”

“What? How can you say that? You planned it. If you start something, you should see it through.”

“But I’m no longer your election team member, so it’s out of my hands. The newly formed student council should handle it.”

Why should I bother with such a troublesome matter? It was just something I blurted out to get votes, and it should be over now that I helped her become president.

Wait a minute. This sounds familiar.

Thinking of those who wore gold badges on their chests, I quickly shook my head to rid myself of unnecessary thoughts.

“…”

In the meantime, Lady Cecilia, who was dissatisfied with my defensive attitude, spoke up again.

“Fine, then. Join the student council.”

“What?”

Out of the blue?

“There are two vacant positions, secretary and assistant. Which one do you want?”

It seemed the word ‘refusal’ didn’t exist in Lady Cecilia’s mind.

But.

“I’m sorry, President. I have to decline your offer.”

I wasn’t going to get involved in any more troublesome matters.

______________

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