A Third-Rate Villain’s Sweet Life Exploiting Academy Bugs

In the dark room of Aria,
creak
the light from the hallway seeps in as I open the door.
“…Mr. Lev?”
Hmm… I’m still suspicious of you.
The girl who had looked at me with a questioning gaze in the Restoration Chamber after the selection test… was no longer there.
Perhaps it was the moisture, but her hair hung straight as if deflated today, giving her a delicate appearance.
Not like Aria at all.
I closed the door and stepped closer to her.
“…Please don’t come… closer.”
“…”
“…”
She was bare, and her voice still echoed emptily.
“Please don’t… come to me.”
Thud.
?!
I managed to grab Aria’s wrist and bring her down onto the bed.
Thud…!
Her silvery hair, tinged with shades of lavender, spread across the bed sheet.
“…I’m not in a state of encroachment, so please don’t play with me…”
Did she cry?
Even when I couldn’t see well, I could feel something was there.
Yeah, it’s time to speak now.
Now that I understood her feelings, it was truly time to say it.
“Aria.”
Just as I prepared myself to speak,
Splash!
‘?’
Today, there’s an ominous sound effect.
Classic UI elements accompanied by system text separated me from Aria.
——————————————————
[Supporting Role Quest]
[Main Event ???]
[Mission Object: As a supporting role, you know the answer. Help the healer ‘Aria Bluebell’ with her revenge]
[Aria Bluebell’s revenge: Defeating Andras with her own hands]
[Reward: Aria’s Awakening, ‘Game Over’ activation (when the Foundational Gamer trait reaches MAX level)]
[Remaining Time: 444 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds (count starts when the quest popup appears)]
——————————————————
‘…….’
Back when I had the Supporting Role trait before defeating the Tarchangel Tobiel attempting to corrupt Yeriel.
It was a clear trap left concerning Aria, not realizing it at that time.
——————————————————
[Supporting Role Quest]
[Main Event 3]
[Mission Object: As a supporting role, you know the answer. Inform healer ‘Aria Bluebell’ of Andras’s whereabouts]
[Reward: 300 Supporting Role Points]
[Remaining Time: No limit]
——————————————————
This quest,
was modified by that author whimsically.
He probably set it up right before giving me the quest about Yeriel becoming a Tarchangel.
Was he planning for a tie?
The reward, essential for ‘Game Over’ and the True Ending, is Aria’s awakening.
He hasn’t played games with rewards so far, so it must mean what I think it does.
When I was absorbing Andras’s abilities and it didn’t go as he planned from the start,
it seems he tried to give me a way out to prevent the character-daughter story from collapsing, even slightly.
Author… it’s already too late, right?
I triggered an unexpected situation because I was intending to clear the quest way later than he expected.
This is actually good.
I calmly looked into Aria’s planet-blue eyes and said,
“Andras… right?”
“Yeah?”
“The target of revenge.”
“……”
Lying flat on the bed, staring into space, Aria averted her eyes and nodded slightly.
I covered her with the covers, murmuring softly,
“I’ll help you. With that revenge.”
“…Mr. Lev, you?”
“…Yeah.”
After those words, we fell into silence, facing each other like before.
…
My gaze roamed over Aria’s face, and the lovely lines she had embroidered my heart.
Almost as if calling out to me.
“…”
“…”
With only one step left,
“Sorry.”
I had no choice but to pull away from Aria.

…
…
…

*

…
…
…

After the vacation ended, the new semester at Claris Academy began.
The chaotic incidents from Neldaran were behind me.
All of it felt like a midsummer night’s dream, as my sense of reality rapidly returned.
Is it starting?
The first-year Class A students were greeted with vibrant autumn leaves.
“These two are… Edwin Gwynn and Lev Denec, who have been promoted to Class A this semester. So please treat them well…”
Instructor Bella gave a brief introduction of Edwin and me to the assembled students in the same grade,
“Afterwards, I have an announcement, so let’s take a moment here to do some self-training.”
She instructed us to return to our positions for training.
-That’s him, right? The lucky one who caught Caeran and shot to fame.
-Right. He looks not so pleasant either.

On one side, whispers about Edwin flowed,
-What about him…?
-He made a name for himself in the Pitbit Jae hunt…
-Something about every incident having him in it feels ominous.
-I agree.

On the other side, evaluations of me continued.
I had somewhat expected that Edwin ascending to Class A in the second semester would be considered luck, just as fanfic considerations would.
“Lev! Are you my partner?”
“…Sure.”
“I won’t lose today!”
Getting paired for physical training with Edwin, I glanced toward the guy in glasses training alone from a distance.
…
With his navy blue hair, he had a rather ordinary-looking back.
Nicolseta Haisman.
He was the recent subject of engagement discussions with Yeriel’s family, Artiina.
On the surface, he appeared kind-hearted with a gentle personality,
but in reality, he lacked skills and was indecisive.
Furthermore, not making an effort, he clung to Edwin’s coattails, fulfilling the role of a burden.
Edwin’s failure to cut ties from Yeriel at the right time was due to this guy as well.
Sighing lightly, I looked at the hapless Edwin, who greeted me cheerfully.
“What’s up? Are you already tired?”
“Ugh, it’s exhausting because of someone.”
“Who are you talking about??”

But Nicolseta isn’t the only one in question.
His older brother, Maclead Haisman, a third-year at Claris Academy, is the real concern.
Chairman of the Marksman Department, Violet, and the Chairman of the Magic Department, Yellody Latashia, share a position with him.
Recalling Haisman’s business with the appraisal scroll used at Anchorpol’s workshop for the “Ring of Induction,”
it’s certain he has excellent skills in magic sensitivity and auxiliary magic.
If this continues in line with the fanfic content, Edwin would lose Yeriel to him,
and with Melissa and Aveline siding with Caeran, he would completely break down.
That’s when Caeran would have Edwin entirely at his mercy.
–Hmm, I still have one burden left in my party.
–Huh…?
–I’m asking you, Edwin. What will you do?

Did I just think that…?
…From that point, the ultimate conclusion. Edwin would show signs of reawakening and ultimately be swayed by Caeran.
That can’t happen…
For now, I plan to sever all ties between Yeriel and the Haisman family.
That way, the future situation would improve, unlike in the fanfic.
Secondly, Caeran must have returned from break, so there won’t be such opportunities.
If I can hit two targets at once… I’ll make my move.
According to the story, Caeran aims for Violet and Edwin.
And if he has even the slightest clue, he should see me as a target…
It seems he decided to embrace the demon’s powers, so I have no reason to hesitate any longer.

…
…
…

“Gather around.”
All eyes turned toward Bella.
“To cut to the chase, you students are aware that several unfortunate incidents occurred last semester.”
As expected, Bella’s announcement was about the schedule for the second semester.
“However, from the moment you set foot in this academy, I believe all of you have prepared yourselves. The academic staff has discussed this conclusion, so to elevate each student’s abilities more rapidly, we have decided to focus the academic schedule more on practice and real combat rather than theory.”
There were murmurs of approval about the decrease of written exams and, on the other hand, some faces stiffened knowing that practical training in Claris isn’t easy.
We’re heading straight for the main plot.
Fortunately, the main story arc remains intact.
Chapter 4, meaning from the second semester at the academy, the demons would appear more cunningly and chaotically.
And the reason connected to the story: Crow Pay was behind it.
“Therefore, starting from the second semester, each student committee will select aspiring heroes. The reason for selecting aspiring heroes should have been announced beforehand, right?”
–Yes!
A brief response from the students passed, and Bella continued explaining.
“There are two ways to be selected as an aspiring hero. First, receiving recommendations from the heads of each department.”
Just like how I was recommended by Violet.
Of course, I declined and passed it to Selena.
“The second is to prove your abilities through practical adventure training.”
–No way… is it that?
–What? What is it?
–What did you hear from the seniors last time…?
Sighs began to emerge from various corners.
Adventure training.
The words in themselves don’t hold much weight.
It’s the unmissable event at the academy, Chapter 4, the deserted island survival!
And here, I must…
I must ensure Violet survives.

*

Those six letters had remained in Aria’s mind all day long until returning to Sellafi Hall on the first day of the new semester.
‘…What do I do? Am I really… an idiot?’
Because of the atmosphere back then and the emotions that surged at that moment, she had completely forgotten.
She had just taken a shower, meaning she had been naked.
And that scene had been shown to Lev Denec.
Logically, it was an inconceivable situation.
‘We live in the same dorm…’
How should she face him now?
And what about Yeriel…
‘But…’
Fortunately (?), he had skillfully pushed Aria’s body towards the dark bed and tucked her in nicely.
Then he had said,
I’ll help you. With that revenge.
He promised to help with her revenge.
‘…’
So much suspicion and doubt before, and now it wasn’t Andras.
A bashful smile appeared.
With this simple truth, Aria felt the relief of all the restraint she had experienced until now loosening slightly.
Close your eyes.
“!”
At that moment, she also recalled his seemingly careless yet gentle voice that followed.
Just thinking about it made her heart race.
It was on another level of emotion compared to when she received the ring.
‘…’
Of course, as he suggested, when she closed them, his figure approached and then vanished.
‘…!!’
Swish.
Feeling a bit disappointed, Aria discreetly stood up.
She opened the dormitory door and confirmed that she was alone in Sellafi Hall.
Click.
She returned to bed and tightly hugged a pillow bigger than herself.
Woosh…
She whispered to herself quietly, again and again.
It might be a word she wouldn’t be able to say for a while.
A feeling she no longer needed to hide.
“I like you, Lev Denec.”
The rhythm sounded quite nice.