How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 86

“You managed to bring it?”

Jamie said, looking at the ring in her hand.

“Yes, somehow…”

“Well, you risked your precious life to retrieve it. If you hadn’t, dying might have been the better option.”

“Why do you always say things like that?”

“I was just joking. No need to look so disappointed. Anyway, you did well.”

Waving her hand dismissively, Jamie chuckled and began infusing mana into the ring she received from Princess Francia.

While I was momentarily captivated by the dazzling colors emitted by the artifact,

“As expected of a high-grade artifact, its mana absorption rate is impressive.”

“Do we just wait now?”

“Yes. At most four days, or as little as two.”

Nodding her head, her green hair fluttering, I clenched my fist quietly and pulled it back in a gesture of triumph.

‘Yes, I did it!’

Thousands, no, tens of thousands of thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant.

‘From the Orb incident to now. Or even earlier?’

If I were to pinpoint it, it was since I woke up in Kamon Vade’s body and was expelled from the family that I started struggling to adapt and survive in this world.

Anyway!

In the end, I managed to survive in this dirty, treacherous world.

At that moment, Jamie muttered in amazement.

“But the princess is quite something, handing over such an artifact without hesitation.”

“Well, I did save her life, so she could give it to me.”

“Who was it that attacked last time?”

“That was…!”

“I’m joking, I’m joking. You looked so smug, it annoyed me a bit. Sorry, I’m naturally mean.”

Jamie burst into laughter again at my momentarily speechless reaction.

“…”

Honestly, I never expected Princess Francia to hand over the ring so easily.

‘I thought she’d mock me endlessly, claiming victory…’

Fortunately, things went smoothly before any unpleasant incidents occurred, but in hindsight, I thought it happened because I was too complacent.

‘But honestly, how could I predict that someone would target the princess?’

Oh, right.

But is Jamie okay with all this?

After all, we had a sort of non-aggression pact with that faction back then.

Did I cause any trouble by getting involved?

“Uh, Master.”

“Hmm? You’re still here?”

“Ah, yes. But is everything okay?”

“Problem? What problem?”

“I was worried that the organization that attacked the princess might cause you trouble.”

“Oh?”

Jamie looked at me with an amused glint in her eye and made a strange sound.

“…?”

“Our student is worrying about their master, you’ve grown quite a bit.”

“No, it’s just that…”

“Look over there.”

Before I could finish my sentence, Jamie pointed to the opposite side.

Turning my gaze, I saw transparent boxes filled with massive blue mana stones.

“What’s that?”

“That’s the compensation I received to drop the matter.”

“What?”

“They almost killed my disciple. This much is only fair, don’t you think?”

“…”

I was at a loss for words as Jamie shrugged and asked me.

“Well, they must have someone smart over there, since they immediately brought double the amount to beg for forgiveness… But I couldn’t just let it slide, could I? After a few ‘discussions,’ they prepared that much. I’m not cruel enough to keep berating someone who knelt and begged, so I accepted it.”

Accepted?

Wait a minute, I’m the one involved here.

Why did Master make the deal on my behalf…?

And how is that even a deal?

It’s more like extortion.

Perhaps the other side quickly realized that reasoning with us was futile.

Even though we blatantly breached the agreement, why is Master the one receiving compensation?

At least I learned one crucial lesson from this incident.

‘In the face of overwhelming power, normal and abnormal don’t matter.’

Is this what true romanticism is?

I pondered this as I shook my head and bowed politely to Jamie.

“Then, I’ll come back later, Master.”

“Yes, once it’s done, I’ll call for you. Go rest.”

Without even looking my way, Jamie waved her hand, and I wheeled myself out.

Creak.

Outside, I encountered an unexpected person.

“Chelsea?”

“…”

She seemed to have rushed here, as there were slight traces of sweat on her forehead.

“Are you here to see Master? She’s inside…”

But.

Whoosh!

Before I could finish my sentence, she turned and walked away, leaving me puzzled.

“What the heck, what’s her deal now?”

Since the dungeon exam, Chelsea’s behavior had been increasingly hard to understand.

‘Does she just dislike being associated with me?’

I shrugged off my thoughts, dismissing them as unimportant for now.

* * *

Soon, rumors began to spread around the academy that Princess Francia was voluntarily withdrawing from her candidacy for student council president.

“No way.”

“Is it true? She’s really withdrawing? Why? Why would she suddenly withdraw?”

“Did something happen?”

“Could it be that the wounds from the attack haven’t healed yet?”

“Those damned bastards, who the hell dared to harm our princess!”

Naturally, sympathy for Princess Francia grew stronger among the academy students.

And their anger towards those who attacked her increased exponentially as well.

But at the same time…

“So, does this mean Lady Cecilia will be the next president?”

“Yeah, normally that would be the case, but something feels off.”

“Wasn’t Kamon part of Lady Cecilia’s campaign? How did he end up rescuing the princess?”

“Could it have been some kind of plot?”

Conspiracy theories began to spread, creating a complex public opinion.

“No way… Anyway, it’s a fact that Kamon saved the princess. Kyle and the other guards testified.”

“Yeah, but it still feels off.”

My close friends weren’t much different in their reactions.

“K-Kamon, you didn’t really blackmail the princess, did you?”

“What’s going on? Why is the princess suddenly withdrawing?”

“What did you do this time, Kamon?”

They all crowded around me, looking half out of their minds, which was starting to get on my nerves. Annoyed, I shouted back.

“Blackmail? Do you think she’d listen to me if I tried?”

“Well, otherwise, it doesn’t make sense. Why would she?”

“I didn’t do anything like that.”

“Ha, what the hell is going on?”

Even though it was just a rumor, it had already caused such an uproar throughout the academy. I couldn’t imagine what would happen once Princess Francia officially announced her withdrawal.

“How’s her campaign team reacting?”

“They’re in complete chaos too. Vice President Obern and Senior Rosen are constantly fighting, I heard.”

“Really?”

Given that they were like oil and water from the start, it wasn’t surprising they were clashing over this. With less than two days until the official vote, everyone was bound to be unsettled and react in various ways.

Thinking of Rosen Ravenia’s likely twisted expression made me feel oddly satisfied…

So what?

If the princess herself says she’s quitting, what can you do about it?

I felt a surge of satisfaction as I silently mocked her.

Shortly after the rumor of Princess Francia’s withdrawal swept through the academy, her official announcement followed.

[…For these reasons, I am voluntarily withdrawing from the student council president election.]

Her once grand and illustrious campaign team, which had captured everyone’s attention, was now more than half disbanded.

Aside from Obern, who stood by her side, key figures like Rosen Ravenia were nowhere to be seen as Princess Francia announced her withdrawal.

‘Lady Cecilia must be thrilled with this.’

I imagined her jumping for joy and chuckled, then tilted my head in thought.

‘But I haven’t seen her around lately. Is she really busy?’

Just as I was processing various matters,

Screech!

“Kamon!”

Lady Cecilia burst through the closed door, calling my name loudly.

“Lady Cecilia, it’s been a while. And congratulations…”

“K-Kamon. No, what’s going on? I, I really…”

Seeing her in such a dazed state, I smiled brightly and nodded.

“Yes, Lady Cecilia. Congratulations. Should I call you president now?”

“…”

Step, step.

Lady Cecilia slowly walked towards me, head lowered, without saying a word. Her shoulders trembled slightly, as if she was deeply moved…

‘Is it really that great?’

I couldn’t fully grasp the emotions she was feeling, not being in her position. But it seemed like a mix of various complex feelings.

Suddenly,

Smack!

Lady Cecilia stopped in front of me and raised her head, her eyes glistening with tears.

“W-What do we do now, Kamon?”

“Huh, what?”

Wait, is she crying?

Why? Her expression looks strange.

It wasn’t the reaction I expected; she looked more confused and close to despair…

But she won the election.

She’s about to become the student council president, so why does she look like that?

“Becoming president means I have to open our family’s sanctuary. I haven’t even discussed it properly with my father. No, it’s not something we can just discuss. I might get expelled from my family. Kamon, I might get exiled like youuuu!”

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