How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 205

“I’m going to become a hero.”

It was the moment when young Kamon Vade, having been moved by a fairy tale he read, first revealed his dream.

A hero who would defeat the Demon King who cloaked the world in darkness, basking in the admiration and praise of all.

Thus, he truly wanted, with all his heart, to become a “hero.”

To be the protagonist of the world, just like in the stories from his book.

Kamon Vade was a child filled with dreams and hope for a bright future, eager to forge his own path. But the world was not so kind.

Instead, the fate given to him, who had aspired to be a “hero,” was to be an “extra villain.”

And not just any villain—he was destined to be nothing more than a stepping stone for the one chosen to become the true hero.

Even his end was predetermined: a lonely “death.”

Though he was conceived as the fallen spirit “Arrogance,” he somehow grew up as an ordinary human.

And only after he killed his own mother did he awaken as the true “Arrogance.”

Yet Kamon Vade still thought of himself as human, with no intention of being manipulated or controlled by anyone.

On the contrary, he harbored only the desire to strike back at this filthy, infuriating world.

Having endured a childhood filled with misfortune and hardship, Kamon Vade grew up far from what could be considered a “normal” child.

He became more cynical, more skeptical, viewing the world through a lens of bitterness and disdain.

But at the root of all that… lay his anger and frustration at a fate that had been predetermined, at a life forced upon him.

If he were given even a single chance, he wanted nothing more than to strike back at the creator who imposed this fate upon him.

Whether that meant securing his own survival or landing a direct blow!

And then—

“Isn’t it laughable, how everything is already predestined?”

The beautiful woman with red hair who reached out her hand to him—Anne Carson.

Leader of the shadow organization, the fallen spirit of “Wrath” among the Seven Deadly Sins, and the one who possessed a fragment of the Demon King’s soul.

“There’s a way to change your fate. Want to hear it?”

Without hesitation, Kamon Vade took her hand.

The chance to carve out his own destiny.

The promise that he could alter the predetermined ending of the world.

That, more than anything, appealed to him as the ultimate rebellion against the creator’s fate.

And if what she said was true, he might even escape the “death” that had been bound to him.

However—

“I’m going to resurrect the Demon King. And then I’ll destroy this world. It’s the only way to meet the ‘god’ who created it.”

Listening to Anne Carson lay out her plan, he felt a surge of intense discomfort.

“You want me to help destroy the world?”

If he were to follow her will and act according to her goal…

Wouldn’t that be fulfilling the role of the “villain” this world had already assigned to him?

From a young age, his dream had always been to be a “hero” and to defeat the Demon King.

If he were to resurrect the Demon King and bring ruin to the world…

“That wouldn’t be Kamon Vade.”

What he wanted was to overcome the fate that had been forcibly imposed on him by this world.

He had no intention of destroying the world itself.

“I’m going to become a hero.”

Repeating those words to himself, Kamon Vade began to move solely for that purpose.

While technically part of the shadow organization led by Anne Carson, he acted in pursuit of his own goals.

He worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the Demon King would not be resurrected.

In silence, he devoted himself to researching ancient magic and the Vade family’s inherited techniques, honing his power so he could overcome any situation.

And on the fated day—

At last, he stood before Princess Francia and Kyle.

In the original course of fate, Kamon Vade was destined to lose to Kyle here, but things were different.

No, to be precise, the moment he faced Kyle, his mana pathways began to twist and block.

As if this had all been predetermined, or as if it were part of a plan crafted by the god.

His once-stable power started to distort and shatter, and he should have lost everything.

However—

Crackle.

With an artifact imbued with Anne Carson’s curse and the ancient magic he had mastered, he defied the fate set by the god.

And with overwhelming strength and skill, he subdued Kyle and approached Princess Francia.

A single swing of his hand would be enough to completely upend the destiny laid out by the god.

But at that moment—

Kamon Vade found himself cut off from the world.

Summoned to an empty space, he stood face to face with the very “god” who had created this world.

The god asked him,

“Why do you resist your fate?”

To which Kamon replied,

“Who gave you the right to decide my fate?”

“This world has already been completed as a single story. Therefore, it must proceed according to its design.”

“And I ask again, who gave you that right?”

“The one who created this world, and those who enjoy its story.”

Hearing the god’s response, exactly what he expected, Kamon Vade let out a mocking laugh.

“So even gods are just powerless administrators, huh? Unable to change predetermined fates or stories… Tch, and you call yourself a god.”

Whether it was because Kamon’s taunt hit its mark, or simply because the god needed to patch together a fate that was already unraveling—

“I want to make you an offer.”

The god proposed a deal.

***

“Finally showing up, huh? ‘Arrogance.’ Or should I be calling you the real Kamon Vade now?”

Anne Carson’s face twisted into a smirk as a black dragon coiled in the air around her.

“After causing such a ruckus, it’s only right that you’d make an appearance, don’t you think?”

“Looks like your mouth is still working fine, huh?”

“Not just my mouth—I’m alive and kicking. And now, here I am as the ‘Arrogance’ you’ve been searching for all your life.”

“Hah, that’s right. I finally found ‘Arrogance.’ Which means the resurrection of the Demon King is within reach. All I need is to absorb you, and it’s over.”

“Oh? You’re going to absorb me? You think you can?”

“…Of course. You’re the last one. With ‘Arrogance,’ the Demon King’s power will be mine. So just give up already, Kamon Vade. You’re finished.”

“Funny. If you could have done it, you would have done it ages ago. You couldn’t even find me, but all you ever did was run your mouth. Pathetic.”

Grind

“Kamon Vade!”

Anne’s face contorted in rage as she spat out his name, then extended her hands to unleash a powerful surge of energy.

But—

Clang clang clang!

Her power was blocked, repelled by a black shield that Kamon Vade seemed to have formed.

“You…!”

“Hey, Anne. Did you forget already? You and I, we’re pretty much evenly matched in terms of power. So don’t think you can settle this with magic.”

“How dare you compare yourself to me!”

Booooom!

With a roar of anger, Anne Carson unleashed an oppressive force that seemed to weigh down on the entire area.

But—

Clang, clang!

Her power still couldn’t pierce Kamon Vade’s shield.

“Ugh, this damn ancient magic. It’s so annoying!”

“What? Weren’t you the one who told me to study it more thoroughly? Didn’t you even find that spellbook for me? You said nothing beats ancient magic for defying fate.”

“Kamon Vadeeee!”

Anne Carson, enraged by his constant taunting, poured even more power into her assault.

Meanwhile, I—

“…”

—I could only watch in stunned silence, lying on the ground, taking in the chaotic scene before me.

What the hell is going on?

With each new development, my mind grew more muddled, struggling to make sense of it all.

The entire storyline had gone off the rails, and the plot was so twisted now that it barely resembled the original story.

The real Kamon Vade had appeared out of nowhere, the former Red Mage was trying to resurrect the Demon King, and—

‘She even knows who I am.’

Then, at that moment—

[Hey, Kang Hyunsoo!]

I heard Kamon Vade’s voice, speaking only to me.

[Stop zoning out and get it together. If you fall here, it’s really all over.]

“What?”

[Right now, all I can do is block her power. So you’re going to have to handle the rest.]

“Handle the rest? What does that even mean?”

[It means you have to face her, genius.]

“What? With what? Anyone can see she’s the strongest person in this world.”

[You already have plenty of power, Kang Hyunsoo.]

“…”

Yeah, over the time I’ve been here, I’d accumulated quite a bit.

The Orb, summoning and spirit arts, various magical techniques, an artifact containing ancient magic, and even the power of healing.

And lastly, the essence of the legendary Grand Mage Katryzin.

But so what?

Anne Carson had already neutralized the power of the Orb…

“I can’t. I can’t even use magic right now.”

[Hey, Kang Hyunsoo. When did you become someone who gives up so easily?]

“What?”

[I’ve been watching all the things you’ve done, the actions you’ve taken, and the struggles you’ve endured.]

“You creepy bastard. Are you some kind of voyeur?”

[Because you’re not originally from this world, this world has tried to reject you by constantly showering you with misfortune and bad luck. Yet you overcame all of it.]

“…”

Finally, I started to understand.

Why this world had constantly thrown absurd challenges and relentless disasters my way.

It was all because…

Ah, now I’m starting to get really pissed off.

But before I could even begin venting my anger, Kamon Vade continued speaking.

[In that sense, you’re one of the strongest people I know. Someone who doesn’t fear failure or despair, someone who dares to stand against the world. I don’t dislike people like that.]

“What does it matter if you like me or not?!”

[I’m going to restore your body now. Your blocked and twisted mana paths will be instantly healed. And I’ll also unlock the power of the Orb for you.]

“…What?”

[But once I do, I won’t be able to face you in this form again.]

Just like a cliché I’d seen countless times, Kamon Vade was saying he’d sacrifice himself to heal me.

But come on, isn’t this technically your body, not mine?

Well, whatever.

“I’m going to kill you, Kamon Vade!”

And now I’m supposed to fight this crazy red-haired maniac?

“Honestly, I don’t think I can handle it…”

[We don’t have much time, Kang Hyunsoo. But here’s some good news.]

“Good news?”

[If you defeat that insane bitch, you’ll be able to return to your original world.]

“What?!”

[So, how about it? Are you ready to give it a shot?]

Kamon Vade, in the form of a black dragon, asked with a sly grin.

And I shouted back at him without hesitation.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and heal me.”

[That’s more like the Kang Hyunsoo I know.]

And so, I had finally found a way to return to my original world.