How To Live As An Academy Extra Villain

✦ Chapter 113 ✦

「Translator – Creator」

𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝

“Come on, say ‘Ah’.”

“Sister… I’m not a child…”

“Hush. Our Edwin. You have to listen to your sister, right?”

Somehow, I managed to calm Estelle down and get her into a nearby café. Once seated, she began taking out her frustration lightly on me. She cut a piece of cake and held it up to my mouth with a fork.

I tried to refuse, but Estelle was insistent, and eventually, I gave in.

“Good boy.”

“Ugh…”

After I reluctantly ate the cake, Estelle’s mood began to improve. It took a few more bites of cake before she was willing to start a conversation. Rumors were like a horse with quick legs—they spread fast. What happened yesterday had already made its way through the entire academy.

Most people treated the rumors as mere gossip, but there were quite a few who spread them with an agenda. Everyone in the classroom heard Selene yell that she didn’t want to be engaged, but the truth mattered little to those spreading the rumors.

To them, I was the villain who forcibly took Eugene’s fiancée; they speculated that I was trying to deliberately screw over the Hero and the central nobles who backed him.

Some students, upon witnessing the spread of such absurd rumors, tried to correct them. In fact, in the morning, I even saw a scuffle over it.

But people tend to believe what they want to believe, especially when the story is sensational.

Only a few dozen witnessed the actual event, but many more spread the rumors.

However, Estelle didn’t believe for a second that I had forcibly taken Selene.

“There’s no way. That wench must have been scheming something. A lowly girl who doesn’t know her place, who does she think she is…”

Estelle muttered with anger.

She believed that Selene, who didn’t want the engagement, had used me as a shield. To her, I was still the pure, innocent brother she always knew.

Just seeing this side of Estelle again made me realize how much people only hear what they want to.

I tried to persuade Estelle that I acted of my own will, assuring her that nothing improper had happened between Selene and me—it was merely a transaction.

It seemed that if I didn’t put it that way, convincing her was impossible.

“Alright, alright. If you say so, I’ll believe you. All sorts of things seem to happen when I’m not around.”

Estelle finally accepted my explanation with a noticeably lighter heart. She then cleared her throat and, in a much lighter tone, asked me, “What about the other rumors? Is it true that you deliberately set up those westerners?”

“That’s”

When I heard Selene’s proposal, I did have some thoughts. I didn’t want to hand her over to Eugene, but I also recalled the stories I knew about him. In his story, various types of enemies appeared: demons and their worshippers, renowned monsters, dark mages, and the armies of the demon king and his kin.

But the enemies in Eugene’s story were not just external threats. Old-fashioned, greedy nobles and power brokers constantly sought to destabilize him and his companions, and at least half of the story depicted these internal adversaries.

In Eugene’s narrative, I was the villain. And it wasn’t just me. Estelle, the adversary of Patricia, and countless other students were portrayed as his enemies.

We mocked, harassed, and belittled Eugene and his companions. We prioritized personal gain over the greater good, placing obstacles in his way. In his story, we were naturally the enemies that needed to be defeated.

However, experiencing it from my perspective, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Eugene’s story was heavily biased. Specifically, from the viewpoint of the protagonist and his entourage.

Good and evil existed everywhere, and one couldn’t simply divide them based on sides. What they decried as greed and corruption were our legitimate rights and properties.

Too precious to give up simply for the sake of reform and progress.

This situation was no different. Eugene had the overwhelming support of commoners and central nobles, and they were increasingly emboldened with each passing day.

Our position was dwindling, both in the academy and in the imperial parliament.

Up until now, I had waited for things to flow naturally, but it was increasingly clear that it wasn’t an easy task.

So I needed to find a way myself, and I decided to use this incident to turn the tide.

When I conveyed these thoughts, Estelle’s face broke into a wide smile.

“To be honest, I was quite disappointed with your actions until now. Oh my, I couldn’t be happier.”

“I’ve realized that letting things slide isn’t as easy as it looks. So I have a favor to ask regarding this matter…”

Eugene and Selene’s hometown was located in a small territory called Redville. And Redville was very close to Estelle’s territory, Vandrook, and was significantly influenced by it, almost a vassal territory.

What I wanted from Estelle was to exert that influence.

“…It won’t be easy. No matter how strong our family’s influence is, the right to hold a trial is the lord’s exclusive authority. We can’t infringe upon that.” Listening to my words, Estelle frowned in frustration. “Besides, as far as I know, the lord of Redville is trying to develop the region in collaboration with the Hero. They wouldn’t deliberately want to antagonize him.”

“I understand that. But wouldn’t it be possible to change the trial’s format to a trial by combat? One of the parties doesn’t want the engagement, so while the outcome is uncertain, the trial itself would be valid.”

“What? A trial by combat?”

“Yes. Such an arrangement would likely not cause much trouble for the lord. The justification is strong, and most importantly, they wouldn’t think the Hero could lose. They’d likely see it as a mere formality.”

“That much is possible, but… are you sure? You’d have to step forward yourself…”

Estelle looked at me with worried eyes. She probably knew about my previous duel with Eugene.

I could understand her concern.

Though the duel ended without a clear winner due to Professor Melissa’s intervention, I was slightly on the defensive against Eugene right before the conclusion. Therefore, although opinions varied, a significant number of people claimed Eugene’s victory by decision. These judgments didn’t sit well with me either.

“Don’t worry. If I wasn’t confident, I wouldn’t have asked this favor. This opportunity will help me to not only clear my personal disgrace but also to alter the current biased atmosphere.”

“…Alright. Since it’s a request from my little brother, I’ll believe in you. Don’t worry about that part. I’ll exert as much influence as I can.”

“Thank you, Noona.”

Hearing my assurance, Estelle gave me a faint smile and then made a lighthearted comment mixed with a bit of seriousness.

“But Edwin. If I’m going to put in all this effort, mere words of thanks won’t be enough, will they? That’s a bit disappointing.”

“…I’m sorry. What do you wish for me to do…?”

Estelle pondered for a moment upon hearing my words. Then she suddenly moved closer, presenting her arm to me, “It’s nothing big. Today, how about you just forget everything and spend some time on a date with your Noona.”

* * * * *

Returning home after finishing things with Estelle, I found a letter from Ellie. I hoped it might say she was returning to the academy, but it still didn’t contain what I hoped to read.

‘I have some matters to take care of, so it might take a bit longer.’

The letters were getting shorter, and her handwriting became more and more messy. She had mentioned it was because she had injured one arm and was writing with the other, but for some reason, it left me with an uneasy feeling.

When I asked the professors, they only insisted that they couldn’t reveal personal matters.

After wrapping up these current matters, I resolved to find out what was happening with Ellie.

I opened the window and sent off a paper crane towards Ellie. Just as I was about to close the window, a bird suddenly flew in through the gap.

— Chirp! Chirp!

As soon as it entered, the bird began to fiercely peck at my hand. This was unusual for the usually gentle bird, and it had been this way since yesterday. Yet, despite its changed demeanor, it continued to visit me daily.

Guessing what goes on in the mind of such a small animal was nearly impossible.

— Thud! Thud!

While I was trying to calm the bird, there was a sudden knock at the door. Who could it be at this hour? I went downstairs and opened the door to find two female students standing there.

“…Cecila? And behind you…?”

At the door stood Cecila, the student from the Holy Kingdom. And behind her was—if I remembered correctly—Fiore, who was always with her but behaved very subserviently.

Fiore, once again looking exceedingly nervous, stood there just watching Cecila.

Regardless of Fiore’s reaction, Cecila stared intently at me.

“Hello, Edwin.”

“What brings you here?”

“I have something I want to ask you. Can I come in for a moment?”

“What? But it’s quite late…”

At my words, she scoffed as if she found it ridiculous.

“What are you talking about? We’ve already spent a whole night together before. Don’t you remember? You even slept on my lap.”

“C-Cecila…?!”

It seemed Cecila was referring to the day we encountered the necromancer. Fiore looked like she was about to faint.

“The way you’re saying it, people might think it’s true. When did I ever sleep on your lap? Plus, there were other inquisitors present that time.”

“…Anyway, just let me in. It won’t take long.”

“…Fine. Come in.”

“You should have said that from the start. Fiore, could you wait out here for a bit? I need to talk to Edwin alone.”

“Cecila? Wait…!”

— Bang!

As I made way, Cecila quickly stepped into the house and shut the door behind her, locking it.

Fiore kept knocking on the door, but she paid no attention.

“…Is this really okay?”

“It’s fine. Fiore is overly protective. But Edwin, you live more modestly than I expected…”

“This is more than enough. So, what do you want to talk about?”

“Hoo…”

In response to my question, she took a deep breath.

“…Is it true?”

“What is?”

“…Did you…”

“What?”

“Did you… with that girl… you know…”

Surprisingly, Cecila stuttered over her words, her face turning red as an apple.

— End of Chapter —

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