How To Live As An Academy Extra Villain

✦ Chapter 111 ✦

「Translator – Creator」

𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝

It was then that I finally understood why Selene’s expression had been so troubled lately. And if it were under normal circumstances, I might have simply tried to console her earnestly.

“Huh…?”

But this time, the feeling was completely different; the shock was so great that I could barely open my mouth. I barely managed to open my mouth and say one syllable, and Selene began to unveil the situation that had been weighing on her.

“…I received word from home. The Council of Elders has decided to betroth me to Eugene, and they’re demanding our compliance.”

Selene and Eugene’s hometown was a small rural village. However, precisely because it was not easy to communicate with the outside world, the customs there were even stricter. There were not a few such settlements in our territory.

In Selene’s hometown, elderly elders led the village, making major decisions through their council. News of Eugene’s selection as a Hero must have spread quickly to his hometown, and there would be nothing but joy for the people there.

Naturally they would want to be more closely connected to Eugene somehow. Hasrak, the hometown of Valerio, the first Hero, was once a backwater village, but now it had grown into a metropolis that rivaled any other in the entire empire. The leaders of the village must have had this idea.

The fate of his hometown’s 100-year plan rested on Eugene’s hands, and the elders promoted the engagement of Selene and Eugene as a way to do so.

In truth, it wasn’t a bad match. They have grown up as close friends since childhood and even entered the prestigious academy together. It would have been perfect, if not for the fact that one party vehemently opposed the engagement.

“…Did you speak with your parents about this?”

“Of course… I sent them several letters saying I didn’t want to…”

“And their response…?”

“They told me not to be childish… My parents adore Eugene… They say there couldn’t be a better prospective son-in-law… They even consider it a blessing…”

Selene’s voice was now half-choked with emotion, as if the thought that no one was taking her side was unbearably disheartening. To be fair, her parents had no reason to object. What parent would oppose their daughter’s betrothal to the neighborhood boy who had become a Hero? They would naturally dismiss it as their daughter’s immature whims.

“…What did he say?”

“…Hah.”

Selene now knew who I meant by ‘he’ without further explanation. She heaved a deep sigh. It was a peculiar coldness, unfamiliar in the usually warm Selene.

“He said he was truly sorry for disappointing me all this time. That it won’t happen again… He even blushed… It’s infuriating…”

Hearing Selene’s words, I felt my own irritation surge; the mere thought of that person blushing made me nauseous.

“What should I do… Should I just reveal that I’m a spirit mage?”

Selene seemed to oppose this betrothal beyond my imagination. If her identity as a spirit mage were to be revealed, her power would far surpass that of mere village elders, though perhaps not quite matching a Hero. It could certainly facilitate breaking off the engagement, which was Selene’s goal.

However, disclosing this fact now carried significant risks. Although her growth had accelerated, she still had many areas where she lacked experience.

But it was true that there was no other way. What should I do…?

“…What do you think I should do…?”

“…I…”

Selene glanced at me cautiously as she asked. I realized I was genuinely considering ways to nullify the engagement; this wasn’t exactly a rational decision.

I had momentarily forgotten, and the timeline was different, but in the original course of events, Selene and Eugene’s betrothal had indeed proceeded after his selection as a Hero. And back then, Selene’s reaction had been markedly different.

While my presence had considerably strained Selene and Eugene’s relationship, this engagement could potentially have been an opportunity to mend their discord. Moreover, this aligned with what I had initially considered an ideal situation.

However, my thoughts were now dominated not by cold logic, but by a viscous mixture of anxiety, displeasure, possessiveness, and a desire for exclusivity. I was surprised at myself for harboring such emotions and pondered their origin.

Suddenly, I recalled the words of Tespira, the therapist. If it was true that greed, ferocity, and deceit resided within me, then these current feelings were undoubtedly rooted in greed. Come to think of it, when had I last taken the medicine Tespira gave me? It couldn’t have been more than three hours ago.

However, when I recalled the holy sword ceremony, I was surprisingly devoid of any thoughts even when faced with the holy sword and Saintess. Not for a moment had I considered that position as rightfully mine.

What about Selene, then? What were these emotions I felt upon hearing her words? Had I perhaps grown overly attached to our close friendship?

After much deliberation, I finally managed to give her my answer.

“I… don’t like it.”

My response ultimately aligned with Tespira’s advice. In a way, it was also a powerful self-justification — the hope that things would work out somehow even if Selene and Eugene didn’t end up together.

“Edwin…!”

Just before I spoke, Selene’s expression had been dark and heavy; her gaze had enveloped me continuously. But upon hearing my answer, her face lit up with sheer joy.

“Honestly… it’s not just that I dislike it, I really hate the idea…”

“Right…? Right…!”

She nodded repeatedly; then, as if steeling her resolve, she pursed her lips. She lowered her head and exhaled deeply twice. She approached me and grasped both my hands. Even in the darkness of night, her flushed face was clearly visible.

“Edwin. We’re friends, right?”

“…? Yes. Of course.”

For some reason, her words made me feel suddenly uneasy, causing me to stutter.

“What kind of friends?”

“Um… best friends…?”

“Then Edwin, can you help me…? If you help, we can call off this engagement…”

“What? Really?”

My ears perked up at her words. What method had she come up with? I’d be willing to sell my soul if it meant nullifying this engagement.

“…Yes. I know I’m always relying on you, and it’s terribly shameless of me… but you’re the only one who can help me…”

“I told you not to say things like that. Tell me. I’ll help in any way I can.”

“…Thank you…”

She expressed her gratitude, her voice thick with emotion. She moved even closer to me; her soft, sweet scent wafted over me. Her face was even redder than before.

Thud—!

“Selene…?”

I felt a substantial weight on my lap as I sat on the tree stump. Selene had straddled me, sitting sideways. Unlike her usual self, she was remarkably bold. While I was still trying to process this sudden action, her next words were even more shocking.

“When I went to the village, I heard something from the older girls…”

“What…?”

“…Haa…”

She took a deep breath, “…Edwin. Can you suck on my neck as hard as you can? Somewhere visible to others. And on my wrist too.”

I finally understood why her face had been so flushed all along. And why she had approached me like this. I realized what method she was proposing to nullify the engagement.

She was asking me to leave marks as if we had been intimate.

“…No matter how I think about it, this is the only way.”

The unwritten rule of the academy was actually in effect, and many had benefited from it. After graduation, no one would question what happened during student days, allowing for a life free from past indiscretions.

But that only applied to private matters between two individuals; the repercussions of showing such visible marks publicly would be incomparable.

“…Let’s think of another way. While this method might be effective, it could jeopardize your future marriage prospects…”

“…It’s fine. I’ll handle that when the time comes.”

She flinched momentarily but then shook her head, her expression hardening. My persuasion had no effect.

“But…”

“This is the only way…!”

She cut off my attempt at further persuasion; her high-pitched cry was strikingly unfamiliar.

Seemingly surprised by her own outburst, she quickly softened her tone.

“…This is the only way… you idiot… why don’t you understand…”

Selene unbuttoned the top button of her school uniform shirt. She pulled back the collar, exposing her pale neck defenseless. This wasn’t the first time I had been close to Selene. It wasn’t even a rare occurrence. Last time, I even patted her head. I had always just thought her wildflower scent was pleasant.

However, the emotions that overwhelmed me now were utterly foreign. A burning heat flushed my face, and my heart pounded fiercely. Even the tiniest hairs on my skin seemed hypersensitive. I struggled to maintain my composure as a sweet fragrance threatened to carry away my reason.

“Wait… Selene… just a moment…”

“Huh…?”

Perhaps due to our proximity, she seemed to quickly notice my unusual state. I covered my reddened face with one hand while waving her off with the other. She merely gazed at me with a calm expression.

“Edwin… what’s wrong?”

I couldn’t properly respond to her question. I didn’t want her to discover this viscous mass of emotion within me. I feared that such a revelation would expose the depths of my depravity.

“Edwin, your face is red…”

“Selene… please, give me a moment…”

“Edwin, could it be that you’re… embarrassed?”

“………..”

Selene’s words hit the mark. My silence served as an affirmation.

Through the gaps between my fingers, I glimpsed the green-haired girl’s face, adorned with a faint, relieved smile.

“I see… thank goodness… I’m truly relieved…”

“Selene, just a second…”

—Thump

My words were abruptly cut off as something pressed against my lips. Selene had brought her upper body close, cradling the back of my head as if embracing me.

“Edwin, my dearest friend. I trust you. So… it’s okay.”

I was on the verge of losing my mind, but fortunately, her words helped me regain some semblance of reason. She trusted me, and I couldn’t betray that trust with base desires.

I struggled to gather my scattered thoughts. Certainly, in the current situation, I couldn’t think of a better solution than what Selene had suggested. Even as a minor noble of the Empire, I could easily crush the will of some rural council of elders.

But the problem lay in the fact that the subject was a Hero. The aftermath would be significant. Could I handle all of that? Just because I didn’t want to hand Selene over to Eugene?

I turned my head. At an incredibly close distance, a pair of green eyes awaited my response; their slight trembling transmitted directly to me.

At that moment, my decision was all but made.

“Are you really sure this is okay?”

Selene nodded silently in response. As I lowered my gaze, I saw her white, unblemished neck exposed like a defenseless sacrificial lamb.

I brought my lips to it; like a vampire craving blood, I toyed with that purity.

“Hnn… ahh…”

Selene trembled like a small rabbit; even so, the strength of her hands enveloping me intensified.

Worried that I might have been too rough, I hesitated for a moment, but Selene moved her hand to my head, gently stroking it. She whispered in my ear, “It’s okay… don’t rush… Edwin… a little lower…”

Selene undid another button and pulled her shirt aside; the shape of her collarbone was clearly visible on her pale skin. A thin strap hung precariously on her shoulder.

“What does it matter… you’ve already seen… it’s fine…”

Selene’s hand pressed me down.

“Ahh…”

Her hand didn’t stop. I followed her guidance like a docile lamb; from her neck to her collarbone, then to her shoulder, arm, and wrist — there wasn’t a part of Selene’s upper body that I hadn’t touched.

“Hnn… ahh… hah…”

With each moist contact, high-pitched sounds escaped her lips incessantly; a viscous liquid glistened between her tightly closed lips. I tried hard to ignore those sounds, focusing all my attention on leaving my mark clearly on her body.

“………..”

Our frenzied actions finally ceased after about ten minutes. Selene, buttoning up her shirt hurriedly, kept her head down and remained silent.

Vivid red marks were clearly visible on various parts of her white skin.

“But they don’t look that prominent… won’t they fade by tomorrow?”

“Probably not… they’ll turn dark purplish like bruises by tomorrow… my sister told me…”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. So don’t worry. You were quite… intense…”

Selene replied in a voice barely above a whisper; then, as if suddenly remembering something, she murmured—

“Maybe we should have done it on the legs too…”

— End of Chapter —

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