The Villain is Too Good at Sniping

10. Irregular Admission (2)

-Even if you don’t go to Arsene, remember this face. You might meet her someday.

Dian Esferand’s parting words before I left the Esferand mansion. The red-haired girl in the photo I saw back then was standing in front of me.

“…Nice to meet you.”

She, who exuded elegance, was the daughter of the Grandeur family, the ones who held the real power in Arsene. As an Arsene student, everyone had to look up to her.

I expected it, but she was already at the guesthouse, probably waiting for me. As Dian Esferand said, as an Esferand member, I had to pay my respects to the Grandeur family.

“Yes.”

I had a private meeting with her.

She was a beauty who would stand out even in Arsene, no, even in the entire world.

One glance from her could make men go crazy, and she must have already received advances from many nobles.

She must have also left a mark on the upper echelons of Arsene. Her appearance must have played a part in her rise to this position.

…But, putting all that aside.

To me, her face was one I couldn’t forget. I had died exactly 18 times at her hands in the game.

“Arsene’s student council president, Rebecca von Anastasia Grandeur.”

“I’m Si-on Illeionheart.”

Rebecca greeted me first.

It was a strange fate, indeed. As an Esferand member, I was meeting Rebecca, who had killed me 18 times, in person.

The hidden route I had discovered by dying multiple times in the game was now just an old memory.

“You’re greeting me by name.”

As much as I didn’t want to get involved, this meeting was an unavoidable tradition between the two families. As an Esferand member, my encounter with the Grandeur family was an inevitable fate.

Then.

“Now, I’m Illeionheart.”

I had no choice but to accept it willingly.

A fleeting glimmer appeared in Rebecca’s eyes in response to my answer. But that was because I possessed [Cheonrian], and if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have noticed it.

Rebecca’s verbal skills were indeed sophisticated, and her expression was flawless.

“…Is that so.”

A brief silence fell. Rebecca was the first to break it.

“I’m not looking for Illeonhart, but Sion Esferand.”

“There’s no Sion Esferand here. There’s only Illeonhart.”

“Are you trying to play word games with me?”

“No, why would I do that?”

Rebecca curled the corners of her lips.

“I’ll take care of what needs to be taken care of. Chairman Rebecca.”

Of course, that was none of my business.

“I don’t think you didn’t understand the meaning of saying you came as Illeonhart, not Esferand.”

I couldn’t back down here.

Right now, she was my superior, but if I handed over all control to Rebecca, I’d end up like that guy in the original story.

The one who took my place, Camil’s loyal servant.

I couldn’t remember his name, but I knew his ending.

…Exactly like being treated like a dog and getting abandoned.

He had been thoroughly used by Rebecca, too.

–Are you abandoning me, Rebecca-nim!

Rebecca’s support for him ultimately ended. And it was at the most critical and desperate moment.

…Rebecca von Anastasia Grande.

Like Professor Biern, Rebecca also walked the path of a villain for some reason.

Right now, Rebecca was sizing me up.

She was evaluating what kind of person I was, and how much use I could be to her.

It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, but it was an inevitable result of Rebecca’s character.

Rebecca, who was always cautious and calculating, had it ingrained in her nature.

And I knew that Rebecca very well. She had killed me 18 times, after all.

“…Yes.”

In the end, Rebecca was the first to take a step back.

“I’ll treat you as Illeonhart, not Esferand, as you wish.”

“That’s enough.”

“Really?”

“Yes. As long as I’m in Arsen, I’ll treat you as the student council president, not as Grande.”

…It was a conversation like a cryptic message. If Professor Exion were here, he would have asked why they were talking like that.

‘I want to make you my subordinate. Come under me.’

‘No.’

‘Why not?’

‘I didn’t come as Esferand’s assassin, but as a student.’

‘…….’

‘So, when I’m here, please treat me as a student, not an assassin.’

It seems like it’s going to be like this.

Of course, Rebecca isn’t someone who would easily back down. If she were someone who would yield to this extent, I wouldn’t have died 18 times.

“If I…”

“Yes.”

Rebecca’s eyes grew heavy.

“If I report your illegitimate admission to the higher-ups, what would you do, Sion El’Heart?”

She threw a new arrow at me.

“You know that won’t happen.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Right now, the most desperate person is you, Chairman Rebecca, isn’t it?”

Rebecca is resisting her fate right now. She’ll do anything for that, and for her, it’s more important than graduating from Arsene.

That’s why she tried to put me under her control.

I know Rebecca’s fate. I know her story, which ended up walking the path of a villain despite her resistance.

“…….”

My words shut Rebecca’s mouth. Although it didn’t show on her face, her eyes were filled with various emotions.

For a moment, Rebecca’s brow trembled. Then, she opened her mouth again.

“What are you talking about? Sion Esperand.”

“It’s Sion El’Heart.”

“No, I’m asking ‘Sion Esperand’ right now. Not the trainee ‘Sion El’Heart’.”

Her tone and voice were the same.

Her expression was the same too.

But I know the true face of Rebecca hidden behind this mask. She desperately wants to hide it, but as the original player, I can see it.

“…Are you angry?”

“No, not at all.”

Although she said that with her mouth, her body was saying otherwise.

Her long hair was drenched in cold sweat. It was an extremely small amount, but my eyes could see it. It was because of my uselessly good intuition.

Rebecca wasn’t extremely tense, but she was clearly shaken.

The reason was probably because her intentions had been touched.

“I’ll say it beforehand, but threats won’t work. You know that, Chairman Rebecca.”

“It seems like my words were taken as a threat. I just wanted to have a conversation.”

“I thought this was a transaction, not a conversation.”

As expected, Rebecca didn’t back down even a single word.

But thanks to that, the situation flowed in a favorable direction, and my 18 deaths weren’t in vain.

“A transaction… you say?”

For a moment, Rebecca was shaken.

She didn’t even have the leisure to hide her flustered expression. During that brief moment, I could see Rebecca’s bewildered face.

“There needs to be mutual benefit for it to be called a transaction.”

However, soon, she narrowed her eyes.

“I can give you what you want, but what can you give me in return? That’s what I truly need, and only then can we call this a transaction.”

Rebecca, with her arms crossed, nodded slightly, as if to say “go on.”

“What you’re looking for is in the eastern part of Arsen, in the underground caves of Lachnia.”

“What are you talking about—”

“You can’t believe me, but that’s not my problem.”

Before Rebecca could say anything, I cut her off.

“I know more about you than you think I do, Rebecca-nim.”

“Me? You?”

The atmosphere suddenly changed. A chill ran down my spine as I sensed a sharp, icy energy emanating from her.

“You should take responsibility for your words. Sion Esperanza.”

Rebecca was genuinely furious. It seemed my words had struck a nerve—

“As you said, Rebecca-nim, I am Esperanza.”

“I already know that.”

“You said you’d expose my false enrollment earlier, but you won’t actually do it, will you? I trust you, Rebecca-nim. Or rather, I trust the Grandeur family.”

“…….”

Rebecca fell silent for a moment, as if she couldn’t say anything else.

“You know that the Grandeur and Esperanza families are closely cooperating, don’t you?”

“If you’re from both families, it’s not a story you wouldn’t know.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

My face was reflected in Rebecca’s eyes. I didn’t avert my gaze. I had no reason to.

“I won’t ask for anything from you, Rebecca-nim. As Sion Esperanza, if I had to ask for something, it would be to acknowledge me as Illeonhart.”

In reality, that was the main point.

I had unintentionally struck a nerve with Rebecca, but what I wanted to say was just one thing.

“That’s why I call myself Illeonhart.”

In her own way, in her own tone.

“The information I provided is a gift for your enrollment. That’s all.”

“That’s—”

“Yes. No matter what happens, I won’t be swayed by you.”

Rebecca didn’t say anything more.

It seemed like she had lost her words, but her eyes didn’t die out. Instead, they burned even stronger.

“So, let’s consider today’s conversation never happened. The value of the information I provided is worth that much, don’t you think, Chairman Rebecca?”

I returned the arrow she had shot at me.

My words were simple.

No matter what you do, I won’t be swayed.

I won’t be the one to break the trust between our families. I won’t touch you, so please leave me, Sion Esperanza, alone.

…That was all.

I didn’t know how Rebecca would take it. But I believed in the Rebecca I had seen. I hoped she wouldn’t make the worst of the situation.

That’s why I gave her a gift.

Whether she would accept it or not was up to her in the end.

I had fulfilled my role for today.

“…….”

Rebecca didn’t say a word. Nor did I.

In the oppressive silence, we only exchanged glances, unable to express any opinions.

Suddenly— the door opened a few minutes later.

“I’m so sorry. I’m late.”

Professor Biern smiled as he spoke, but only he was smiling.

“Welcome. Professor Biern.”

“What’s going on? Did something happen?”

We simultaneously replied to his awkward question, sharing a moment of understanding for the first time.

“No, nothing.”

“There’s nothing, Professor.”

Rebecca was expressing her discontent with her eyes, but eventually accepted my proposal.

“Then, let’s eat. Zion Illeonhart.”

And so, we had an uncomfortable meal in an awkward atmosphere.

Among the things I learned at Esperand, etiquette was included, so it wasn’t too difficult.

My hand naturally grasped the fork and knife, and I elegantly cut the steak.

Clang-

But Rebecca’s hand, holding the knife, was trembling visibly.

It wasn’t just because of the uncomfortable meal.

I was just hoping.

Rebecca wouldn’t become the villain, following the original story.

That’s why I challenged 18 times and found the one and only clue to save her.

I secretly handed it to her, without anyone noticing.

[Achievement Unlocked: Student Council President Rebecca]

◇ Reward – Magic +50