How to Survive as a Villain in a Novel

2 – I’m a villain, but quite vicious.

The main scenario of the novel I’ve taken over hasn’t started yet.

During this time, I’ve transplanted a magic circle to a heroine about to explode from not controlling her magic.

I’ve collected quite a lot of ‘malice’ for the past year.

Above all, it seems I’ve found a way to bypass the penalty of ‘the fate of the villain’ which conflicts with scenario quests.

Based on the original, I’m ready to greet the ‘main scenarios’ that will begin in earnest from now on.

The original itself takes place in an academy, so the scenarios also take place in an academy.

For this reason, I have consistently attended the academy even after deciding to become a villain.

Of course, there are quests too.

【 ‘Main Quest: Academy Graduation’ 】

◆ Death in case of graduation failure.

— Academy Station, you have arrived at Orbis Academy Station, exit from…

It’s such a setting that a malicious villain like me has to attend school.

The author seems to have disappeared any semblance of consistency.

‘I should have just deleted instead of leaving destructive comments.’

Now that I’m regretting it,

A villain who’s late to the game.

That’s me.

* * *

Orbis Academy serves as the main setting of the novel.

A training facility with a purpose of nurturing ‘Gifted’ individuals who emerged after the Demon World started to infiltrate our world. It can also be seen as a kind of special college for adults who have graduated high school.

In reality, it’s not a college for ‘heroes’, but rather a prestigious university that houses people of various abilities, renowned even at a global scale, as it’s clear from the original work with its academy setting, Orbit Academy’s magnitude and influence has inevitably been portrayed as massive.

Important characters and villains exist within the academy in significant numbers.

The academy currently hosts an unconventional character known as ‘The Scale of Nike’ and a successor from the most important guild.

A ‘super-elite newcomer’ is about to be admitted during the upcoming fresher’s initiation.

There are also students who lead an ordinary life like me but happen to be top-tier villains.

Of course, there are many vile weaklings as well.

From the sporadic extras to the villains who have influential backing, for example, a saint carrying a church on her back or a student council president who is the heir of a huge conglomerate.

‘Even those who struck me from behind without any remorse.’

I mean to straighten these guys out someday, but their influence is too strong, and they only help me accumulate more ‘evil’ for free, so I am waiting for the right time.

[Current Evil: 95.1%]

I’m nearly there.

I must fill it up before the main scenario starts.

I don’t have anything to worry about.

That’s because I am a top-tier villain.

* * *

There is a profound taste in a villain’s path to school.

What makes a wonderful villain?

A good villain demonstrates wickedness as naturally as breathing.

And that’s the case with me.

Hoo-

Plan wicked deeds as you inhale.

Hah-

Commit them as you exhale.

For a villain at my level, this sort of lifestyle pattern becomes second nature.

No exception exists even on the sacred path to school, the place of learning.

Hmm.

I just happened to find a good opportunity for some wicked deeds.

– Meow!

The cry of a cat resonated from a significant height.

The sound seemed significantly anxious.

She probably climbed up to the topmost branch of a tree and can’t come down because it’s too high.

‘What an astonishingly foolish creature…’

I have no choice but to punish it, in my role of a villain.

I looked from right to left and then tilted my head toward the source of the sound.

It’s time for a wicked deed.

* * *

“Okay.”

I could reach the top of any roadside tree with just a few jumps.

“Meeoww―”

The escalating cry of a cat, seemingly out of fear.

“Resistance is futile.”

I roughly nabbed the creature.

Its neck is surprisingly soft.

A distinctive cat, faintly smelling of wood. The one that often appears around here.

I kept hold of its scruff just like that.

Just like that…

Carefully came down to the ground.

“Gently now.”

And then released it.

“Meeowww―”

“Always remember, I can do this again at any time.”

Really…

This is truly…

Truly one horrific misdeed.

Even for me, an SSS-ranked villain, it brings shivers.

“Whew…”

Some may ask,

Isn’t this not a wrongdoing, but simply a case of rescuing a cat? A good deed?

Tsk tsk.

There lies the difference between a top-ranked villain and a third-rate villain.

Third-rate villains, they produce bad outcomes.

Top-ranked villains, they generate bad processes.

Now, let’s think about this.

I have just deprived that little cat of a learning opportunity.

The chance to overcome fear, to take a brave step downward.

‘Now, that little guy will never learn the courage to descend from great heights.’

Can such a creature still be called a cat?

Damn.

In essence, I have negated even its ‘species.’

‘I must admit, this is quite horrific.’

Not stealing a fish,

But stealing the ability to catch a fish.

Top-ranked Villain.

That’s me.

* * *

In summary.

Third-rate villains deceive humans.

Top-ranked villains deceive the system.

* * *

The continuing journey home from school.

“Please buy some fruit…”

Is this time an old fruit vendor?

hehehe.

For some reason, today seems to be filled with acts of wickedness. Maybe I should start an Evil Amazing YouTube channel. I’ll consider that later.

Anyway.

She seems to be an old lady living alone without family.

I can feel the solitude.

‘The more they’re like this, the cleaner the wrap-up.’

Her residence is probably uncertain.

Even if she goes missing, there would be no one to report it.

The inner pocket of my school uniform jacket.

I always carry something heavy and thick here.

‘This should do with one strike.’

In one go,

I could probably send this old lady off.

“The fruit is cheap. Please buy a little.”

I approached the voice with my hand in my pocket.

“Please buy a little… student?”

A sudden silence.

Hmm.

She must have sharp senses because she’s old.

But it’s too late.

I quickly pulled out the thick and heavy object from my pocket and thrust it forward.

The crisp sound filled the air,

Along with the sharp scent of paper money.

“Give me all the remaining fruit.”

“Oh my… Three bills are enough. Thank you… Thank you, student.”

hahahaha.

I bought off all the fruit.

This old lady, who confirmed that I am blind, will bring rotten fruit tomorrow.

But I’ll still buy that fruit.

The moment this old lady realizes that she won’t be able to sell anything without me will come eventually.

She will slowly be consumed by the cold and hunger.

‘What a meticulous and calculated act of evil.’

Yes,

I admit it.

Sometimes I scare myself with how terrible I can be.

“aaahhh!”

This time, a child is crying.

Hmm. Did they fall?

The road is right next to us.

The standard teaching method in these situations is to sternly tell them to get up.

But.

“Are you okay? Want some candy?”

“Yeah!”

“Here.”

But if I give them sweet candy in this context?

They might unconsciously link sweetness and falling, falling more frequently as a result.

…Moreover.

“Eh… This isn’t candy, it’s a tangerine!”

In reality, there is no candy, kid.

I’m a villain.

What villain carries around candy?

hehehehe.

hahahahaha.

“Oh. It was a tangerine?”

“I love tangerines! Thanks, big bro! Have a good day at school!”

Oh dear.

This kid. A formidable opponent.

But I am a top-tier villain.

It’s a double trick.

Eating the tangerine will turn their fingernails yellow,

And their classmates will point it out and they’ll end up crying.

‘Ah, am I a monster?’

“Villain’s Fate.”

My fate, which I must carry all on my own.

At first, this fate was unbearably painful.

But as time passed.

I turned into such a cruel villain.

A villain who tricked even the system.

A villain who deceived not humans, but the system itself.

A villain who no longer has to suffer the “Villain’s Fate.”

“Lee Han, are you going to school?”

“I appreciate your help today too!”

“Hey! Be careful of the puddle ahead!”

“I’ll walk with you to the school, bro!”

Why can’t they recognize such a vicious villain?

‘Foolish humans.’

And that’s why they’re ordinary people.

The wicked deeds meant for them ought to be executed a bit more meticulously. And for a great while.

Come to think of it.

‘No one was watching, right?’

Even though I’ve figured out how to outwit the “Fate of the Villains,” the method isn’t entirely complete in places with numerous ‘eyes.’

There’s that saying.

To keep what the right hand is doing a secret from the left.

Swish, swish.

It’s not the sound of turning heads, but more like the sound of spreading my vibe.

‘No one’s here.’

After confirming that there were no academy students around me,

I moved forward with satisfaction.

* * *

A student hiding behind a nearby small fish-shaped bun cart rubbed her eyes.

‘…Isn’t that Lee Han?’

She is the student council president of Orbis Academy, Yoon Hyunjin.

She was patrolling around the school as part of a student council activity.

Though it wasn’t something specifically that the student council should handle, Yoon Hyunjin was notoriously inflexible, strictly adhering to principles.

Then she noticed it.

A student of Orbis approaching a woman who was alone.

‘Extortion?’

Initially, she thought he was attacking elderly people to rob their money.

Because Lee Han’s reputation wasn’t very good at school.

He was treated practically like human trash.

Just as she was about to rush over and stop him.

– Give me everything that’s left.

‘…Huh?’

– Shall I help you pull the cart?

– Are you hurt anywhere? Have this to eat.

‘…???’

While observing him continually performing good deeds,

Yoon Hyunjin’s eyes quivered harshly.

‘…But he’s clearly…’

A boy who was indicated as a suspect in an accident that involved many victims. A boy who is hated by most academy students.

But then what’s this demeanor about him?

‘He’s behaving exactly like an exemplary student.’

Moreover, he’s not making a show of it, but rather his kind deeds felt inherent.

‘What are you…?’

For a moment, she blankly stared at him. Then, he turned his head.

Suddenly, Lee Han started looking around.

“Humph!”

Yoon Hyun-jin quickly crouched down even further.

Her already small body seemed to have shrunk even more.

‘…Has he gone?’

She had held her breath for a moment, then followed behind Lee Han.

As soon as he stepped into the Orvus, he was met with a barrage of insults. And Lee Han calmly walked through them all.

This was the familiar sight of Lee Han at the academy.

‘…But.’

What on earth?

What was the image of Lee Han she had just seen?

The inflexible chairman of the student council.

Questions about Lee Han had piled up in a corner of Yoon Hyun-jin’s mind.

It seemed she would need to investigate a bit more.