The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 77

Only one representative per department can directly greet the ministers. It was a position I genuinely had no interest in. Besides, having been a representative twice already should be enough; they’re quite greedy.

I wanted to snatch away the representative position, but as long as there was a risk of people in the imperial palace remembering my father when they saw me, I didn’t want to encounter them.

‘If the president is really the culprit, I should spread even non-existent rumors to make sure he’s sent away. Make it so he can’t even set foot near the imperial palace.’

To make him pay for ruining my quiet academy life, spreading a rumor or two isn’t a big deal. I’ve already become a famous figure in the academy, so making things bigger won’t change much anyway.

‘I’ll decide on this depending on the situation. Norman is a common name, so as long as Luwen doesn’t see my face, it should be fine.’

It was a bit worrying, but it was a decision made to send him away cleanly. Maybe Luwen wouldn’t be interested in the person from the rumors. I planned to test this out when I met him later.

“I’m worried you might hurt yourself.”

Little Norman looked up at me with a sad face, his lips barely moving as he spoke carefully.

“I’m really frustrated… If I don’t do this, I feel like I won’t be able to endure. Since I can’t sleep well anyway, it’s better to study during that time.”

“Everyone is really too much. They talk recklessly without really knowing you. I’m so angry… but it’s frustrating that there’s not much I can do…”

“That feeling alone is enough. Thank you, Norman.”

“Everyone should know how kind you are…”

I just smiled without answering. I just quietly packed my things.

“I’m going now. Tell the others I said hi and that I’ll see them tomorrow night.”

I looked at the beds of the two guys still in dreamland, filled with affection. Little Norman, who followed my gaze to Nadian and Cadin, nodded.

“Okay. Don’t push yourself too hard. See you tomorrow.”

“Sure.”

After nodding lightly and smiling at him, I picked up my bag and left the dormitory room.

Maybe I packed too many books. It was terribly heavy. I was fighting the temptation to take a carriage just as I was about to leave the academy. Suddenly, a shadow jumped out from the tree shade and blocked my path.

“Oh, you startled me… Adrian?”

“Norman. Didn’t we agree to be friends? I feel hurt that you keep avoiding me. Even when I visit your dorm room, you only send out that big guy as your proxy. Why are you doing this?”

Do you really need to ask? I looked around hurriedly, pretending to be flustered. It was to check if anyone was watching us.

Sure enough, I spotted a medical department student watching us from a distance. Inwardly smiling, I immediately hardened my expression.

“Go away.”

“Why are you avoiding me?”

It’s all because of you. Because of your careless talk, many people now believe in absurd rumors. I’m already a hot potato, and being with this guy would be like adding firewood to a blazing furnace. No matter how important the ledger is, there’s no need to stick together right now.

If I can’t even go see Luwen, why would I be with you?

“Haven’t you heard the rumors?”

“What rumors?”

“The rumor that I… entered the academy to seduce people.”

“Oh, that? So what? It’s not true, is it? If it were, you’d have been mine long ago.”

He couldn’t be any more shallow. If it weren’t for the ledger, I wouldn’t have gotten involved with him at all.

“…I don’t like that such rumors are spreading. I’d prefer if you didn’t come looking for me for a while.”

This time I needed to draw a clear line to prevent him from spreading more nonsense in the future. Considering how frequently he came looking for me while I was avoiding him, he seemed more obsessed with me than I thought. I planned to take control of the situation with this opportunity.

‘It’s one step back for two steps forward, you idiot.’

Adrian let out a laugh as if he’d heard something ridiculous. Then he muttered in disbelief.

“That’s the only reason you’ve been avoiding me?”

But I heard it clearly.

“…’Only’? Did you just say ‘only’? Do you really not know what kind of harm I’m suffering?”

“You acted so confidently in front of me. I didn’t think you’d be swayed by mere rumors.”

This guy is surprisingly perceptive, isn’t he? It was me who revealed my true self in a moment of confusion, but it was praiseworthy that he saw through to the essence.

To cover up that mistake, I looked at him with a proudly hurt expression.

“How can I not be affected? Do you think many people could remain unaffected while hearing the whispers and feeling the stares directed at them?”

“You don’t care about people’s gazes. On the entrance ceremony day, I spotted you walking through the Business Department’s garden and followed you while staring openly, but you didn’t even notice.”

So it wasn’t a chance encounter at the Swordsmanship Department? You followed me? This is crazy. How much have I revealed to this guy?

“Do you think just being stared at is the same as hearing defamatory and slanderous words about me? I’m hearing all sorts of filthy things… Can you really be unaffected by that? Would you be able to handle it if it were you?”

“Well, that…”

Adrian lowered his tail. Just as I was about to feel relieved inwardly, he sighed and said,

“I’m sorry. The truth is, there were many people targeting you, so I deliberately spread rumors that you were swayed by me, wanting to mark you as mine. I only mentioned the family story because people didn’t believe it, but I didn’t expect it to be distorted like this.”

Well said. I had already thought about how to use Adrian after he committed this sin. I didn’t expect to encounter him like this today, but since we’ve met, I might as well resolve this too. Therefore, the conversation from now on was crucial.

“It was you? The culprit who spread such rumors was you? I heard it from the president, but I didn’t believe it… I can’t believe it was really you…”

“No, that’s not true! I didn’t mean it that way. Please believe me.”

Adrian desperately tried to explain.

How ridiculous.

“Would you believe it if you were me? It all started because of you, didn’t it?”

I filled my voice with resentment, but I made it tremble to give him some leeway. Adrian bit his lip hard.

The standoff continued. Me, hurt, and Adrian, looking deep in thought. I couldn’t speak first, so I kept silent and waited for his next words. Would this guy reflect on his actions? Or would he act shamelessly?

Whatever it was, I hoped he’d hurry up. I wanted to finish this conversation and return to the mansion.

‘I need to remove the hair color and prepare to welcome Luwen quickly.’

Just as I was starting to feel a bit anxious from the delay, Adrian spoke in a hollow tone.

“…I guess even I wouldn’t believe it. Have you come to dislike me?”

So he’s going for the remorseful approach? That makes it easier.

Actually, I had considered Adrian as a suspect before. However, the reason he was quickly excluded from the list of suspects was that these rumors about me didn’t benefit him at all. How many people have started to treat me lightly and flirt with me because of this?

I had already concluded that either someone had misinterpreted Adrian’s words or someone had deliberately distorted them for their own gain. That’s how I arrived at the president as the culprit.

“Right now, honestly, I’m confused. I believed you when you said you wanted to be friends, but how could you do this to me…”

“I’m sorry. I was greedy because I didn’t want to lose you to someone else. I admit I acted thoughtlessly because it was the first time I fell for someone at first sight. I have no excuse.”

His confidence seemed to have disappeared as his shoulders slumped. He looked just like a depressed dog that had been scolded by its owner. However, it was true that the rumors gained credibility because of this guy. Go face the wall and reflect on your actions for a while. You bastard.

But you can’t just quietly face the wall. You sowed the seeds, so you need to put in some effort too.

“I don’t want to continue my academy life with these misunderstandings. When everything is resolved, I’d like to think about how to get along with you again.”

“So if the misunderstanding is cleared up, it’s okay? Since it’s my fault that things got bigger, I’ll do whatever it takes to resolve it. So, please don’t hate me. Give me a chance to make amends.”

Yes. That’s how you should respond.

People like sensational things. They’d find the current rumors about me more interesting than the boring story of two people becoming friends. So no matter how hard Adrian tries, he’ll only be able to clear up the misunderstandings of a few people close to him.

‘There’s no evidence to move the majority, right?’

That’s why I’m pretending to be obsessed with studying.

But we can plant a small seed in the Business Department. It will sprout when I create the opportunity. The extent of its growth will depend on this guy’s relationships.

“…Really?”

I looked up at him, pretending to believe him, my eyebrows trembling slightly.

“Really. I can do it.”

Adrian hastily replied, as if worried I might not believe him. His voice sounded like he was making a promise to himself.

“Then please help me…”

When I gave him the okay sign, his face immediately brightened. Though he quickly tried to compose his expression.

“Yeah. I promise. I’ll definitely resolve this.”

“Can I trust you again?”

“I won’t disappoint you from now on. I’m sincere.”

It was a satisfying answer. I hope this attitude is maintained when uncovering the ledger issue.

“Okay. I’ll believe you. Then… you won’t come looking for me until the misunderstanding is resolved, right?”

“I, I guess that’s necessary…”

It seems he had a different opinion on this matter. But because he felt guilty towards me, Adrian couldn’t object and could only agree.

“I feel burdened by the eyes watching us, so… can I go now?”

“Oh, y-yeah. Go, go quickly.”

“Thank you, Adrian.”

I smiled at him, intending to encourage him to work diligently. To the medical department student still watching us, it would probably look like I was cozying up to Adrian, right? The number of people believing the rumors would increase even more. It was welcome to have more people who would criticize enthusiastically once the target changed.