How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 201

“Haa. It’s not my house, but it feels like I’m back home.”

Just as Lois sighed deeply, this trip to the Vishran hot springs had truly turned into a series of colossal events.

For most of the Student Council members and academy students, it ended with just being confined in the mansion.

“…I need to train harder.”

Chelsea murmured with a determined expression on the way back.

“If you ever need any help, just let me know, Kamon.”

“I… I’ll help too.”

Lucas and Arian glanced nervously at me as they insisted.

But more than their concerns, something else was making me wary.

“Kamon, are you hiding something from me?”

Jamie asked, her tone as if she were picking a fight. I shook my head several times to answer her.

“No, there’s nothing.”

“Hmm, sure feels like there is.”

“Sigh, I’m telling you, there’s really nothing.”

Whenever Jamie would nag me like that, I could hear Beatrice chuckling quietly from afar, but I just ignored it.

‘Just wait. I’ll remember this for later.’

Among us, someone else had faced a bigger change.

“There’s a summons from your family?”

“Y-yeah, I was just as surprised.”

Elliot responded in an awkward tone to Bren, who looked shocked.

‘Seems like things went well.’

I’d resolved to finish off Diana Fren, who had tried to kill me repeatedly.

When I casually mentioned Diana Fren to Duke Romanoff, he said he would personally contact the Fren Merchant Guild.

With Duke Romanoff’s influence involved, it was likely the Fren family and guild would erase all traces of Diana.

If that happened…

“Is everything alright? Did something go wrong?”

“It doesn’t seem that way. My father contacted me directly to discuss succession matters.”

Elliot glanced subtly in my direction as he spoke, and I grinned, nodding in return.

‘I kept my promise.’

I recalled the words I had said when we first met.

– “I’ll make you the head of your family, Elliot.”

Now, Elliot would be the sole heir of the Fren Merchant Guild.

As for Diana, after her failed assassination attempt on me, no one knew her whereabouts…

[Although it’s faint, there’s still a trace of her energy, so she seems to be alive.]

Surprisingly, the Spirit of Sloth, Frilla, had left a part of her mark on Diana without even being told. Thanks to that, I could at least sense if she was alive.

If I put in more effort, I could probably even track her location.

‘Forget it. Whether she lives or dies, she’s no longer my concern.’

The real fear of Diana Fren had always come from the background and the sinister cunning she wielded, not her pure strength.

In terms of her own power, she posed no threat whatsoever.

And then—

“I guess we won’t see the Student Council members until next year now.”

“You’ll miss them, won’t you, Lois?”

“What’s there to miss? They were people I wouldn’t see once I went back home anyway.”

“Heh, you don’t have to hide your feelings.”

Before long, even Senior Lucas had joined Elliot, Bren, and the others to tease Lois.

As they mentioned, all the Student Council members were staying at the Romanoff estate with Lady Cecilia.

Even Sol Crensh, the former leader of the Monster Trio, had miraculously been recruited into the Student Council.

“So, when is everyone leaving for home? I’m planning to go tomorrow.”

Trying to change the subject, Lois brought it up, and Elliot mentioned he needed to leave right away because of his father’s summons.

Most others said they’d leave the academy within three days.

“What about you, Kamon?”

Bren asked, and I shrugged.

“I don’t really have anywhere to go, so I guess I’ll just stay here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Cecilia, Elliot, Bren, Lois, Lucas and Arian, even Chelsea—all of them were leaving the academy to return home.

‘Home…’

The word stirred something nostalgic and bittersweet within me, but I shook my head to rid myself of any useless thoughts.

Just then—

Tap!

Someone tapped my shoulder and murmured quietly.

“Don’t stop training. When I come back, let’s spar again.”

Looking into Chelsea’s steady gaze, I gave a faint smile.

“Sure, let’s do that.”

***

“Haa, I was genuinely sweating. I thought I was going to get caught.”

“What? Who’s the one who was nervous? You kept laughing like it was nothing!”

“Well, I couldn’t help it. Seeing your face made me laugh… Pfft!”

Beatrice, the Acting Dean, burst into laughter again, and I shook my head.

[This woman really is something.]

[I didn’t much like her from the first time we met, either.]

Both spirits seemed to share my thoughts, shaking their heads along with me.

“But I should be in the clear, right? That old guy has such a sharp intuition that sometimes it creeps me out.”

“I wouldn’t know. But since you kept denying it, I doubt he’ll pursue it any further.”

“Right, you really came through back there. Thinking about it again… Haha!”

Beatrice barely stifled another laugh.

“What… are you trying to pull right now?”

“Phew, sorry. But I did show up just in time to save you, didn’t I? In a way, I’m like your savior, right?”

“If I hadn’t gone there in the first place, none of that would’ve happened.”

“Oh, come on, it all worked out for the best, didn’t it? Are you planning to keep carrying around that curse?”

“…”

With her usual, laid-back tone, Beatrice’s words left me silent.

After returning to Flance Imperial Academy, everyone headed to their rooms.

But I…

[Stop by your dorm first, then come straight to my office, got it?]

At her secret summons, I found myself standing here.

‘Well, not like I had a choice.’

Despite the fatigue weighing on me, I had to report on what I’d discovered and the current situation.

“Come on, relax that face. I did apologize, didn’t I?”

Her attempts at playful charm made me sigh deeply.

“Alright, sis.”

“There, that’s better!”

Plop!

Beatrice grinned, pleased by my response, and flopped onto the plush sofa.

“So, let’s talk about what happened. You’re probably tired, so don’t give me the epic version. Just keep it short and to the point.”

With a casual wave of her finger—

Clatter!

Drawers opened on their own, revealing fine teacups, tea leaves, and hot water floating over.

Ssshh!

“Sit down, Kamon. You’ll get tired if you keep standing.”

“Haa, alright.”

Flop!

I took a seat on the sofa without protest. Before I knew it, a steaming cup of tea had been set in front of me.

“Alright, let’s hear it,” she urged.

I picked up the cup, letting the subtle rosemary aroma wash over me, and began to speak.

“So, here’s what happened…”

Even though I tried to summarize, there was a lot of important information, so it took quite a while.

Finally, when I finished explaining everything—

“So, your master is both the founder and leader of an organization that aims to overthrow the Empire and the Royal Family, and she’s looking for something? And she’s alive?”

“Yes, that’s everything.”

I nodded, having shared the information I’d learned from Duke Romanoff.

Of course, I didn’t tell her everything. I kept secret my acquisition of the Grand Mage Katryzin’s essence and the complete absorption of the life energy.

Still, Beatrice seemed plenty overwhelmed with what I had told her.

“Haa, alright. You really went through a lot.”

She sighed and nodded, giving me a faint smile.

“Well, hardships are part of the job. So, are we tracking down the shadow organization next?”

“Hmm, let’s think that over a bit. You’re tired, so go rest for now. You did well, Kamon Vade.”

Her gentle words of encouragement made me chuckle as I replied.

“What? Just words?”

“Oh, come on! Didn’t I support you from afar? Even remotely when I contacted you? You didn’t do it all alone!”

“True enough. Just kidding.”

“Why, you little…!”

Realizing I’d been teasing her, Beatrice looked at me with exasperated eyes.

“Well then, I’ll head back now, sis.”

I quickly got up and bowed, then exited her office without hesitation.

Back in my dorm, I threw myself onto the bed I’d missed.

The soft embrace of the mattress filled me with a sense of safety, finally home.

“Haa, it’s all over.”

There were still things unresolved, and plenty of issues that kept my mind busy.

But for now…

‘Might as well enjoy the break.’

It wasn’t like I was going to die or face some disaster tomorrow.

For a while, I could afford to take it easy, moving at a slower pace.

Flance Imperial Academy had become a place that felt as comforting and safe as home to me.

[Rest well, Master.]

[You did well, Kamon.]

Even Airsya and Frilla, who usually bickered, were peaceful and gently wished me well this time.

“Thanks.”

Smiling faintly at them, I let the waves of drowsiness finally wash over me.

***

How much time passed?

Deep in a sleep free of dreams, I heard familiar voices calling urgently.

[K-Kamon!]

[Master!]

Barely able to open my eyes due to exhaustion, I recognized the voices of Airsya and Frilla.

“Airsya? Frilla?”

My fatigue was too heavy to even fully open my eyes, but as I murmured their names—

[Wake up, it’s an emergency.]

[Get up at once, Master!]

The two spirits, looking as pale as ghosts, shouted at me.

“What’s… going on?”

Their abrupt urgency had me rubbing my sleepy eyes as I quickly sat up in bed, slapping my cheeks to wake myself.

[Kamon! Look over there!]

Following Airsya’s whining, I turned my gaze.

“What’s with that light?”

From the ‘Orb’ ring I’d set aside, a deep teal glow was erupting wildly.

It was the life energy—one of the legacies left by the Grand Mage Katryzin that I’d mentioned before.

“Why is it glowing like that?”

[Master, that’s not the same energy. It’s similar, but it’s different.]

Frilla said in a tense voice.

“What? Different energy?”

Taking a closer look at the ring, I could see that it wasn’t quite the same; the glow was slightly darker, tinged with gray.

“So, what is it…?”

As I pondered in confusion—

Whooosh!

The gray-tinged teal energy began swirling around the ‘Orb’ ring, eventually coalescing into a human shape.

Then—

[M-Master! It’s the Red Mage Anne Carson!]

With Frilla’s urgent cry, a woman with red hair, fully formed in human shape, muttered softly.

“At last, I’ve found you, Arrogance.”

And with that, I blacked out completely.