The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 89

Luwen turned his steps in the opposite direction of his destination. His pace naturally quickened. It couldn’t be Fei. There’s no way he could be here. Even though he knew this, it was so similar that he wanted to confirm.

But he stopped just before reaching the western stairs when he heard the sound of someone rushing down. A person with a gait similar to Fei’s and the same scent.

But it’s not him. He doesn’t run around like that.

‘Ah, there’s no way the young master would be here.’

If he had come to see him, he should have gone to the Swordsmanship Department, not the Medical Department. Moreover, didn’t he prohibit visits to the mansion, saying he didn’t want to interfere with his studies? Luwen, unable to shake off an inexplicable lingering attachment, stared blankly at the western stairs before turning away with a hollow laugh.

Due to the exam period, he thought there might not be any empty seats, but fortunately, one was vacant.

However, the moment he pulled out the chair to sit, he caught that familiar rose scent again. It was so faint that others wouldn’t notice, but Luwen could never miss this scent.

‘Was this where that person sat earlier?’

Roses aren’t common enough to be easily seen on the streets, but it’s a different story in noble gardens. Luwen knew several people at the academy who used rose perfume.

So it wasn’t particularly special. It was just experiencing the same misunderstanding he had when he first entered the academy. Thanks to that, even if it was the same rose scent, when mixed with that person’s unique body scent, they were all different-

‘Right. They were slightly different. But this scent is too similar to the young master’s.’

It might not be Fei. But… if not, how could there be such a similar scent? Luwen stood up again. He needed to follow and confirm, even now.

But it was already too late. When he went outside the building, time had passed and all traces were gone. The wind had scattered the faintly remaining scent.

‘No matter how I think about it, it’s strange. There’s no reason for the young master to be in the Medical Department.’

He might have been invited as a temporary professor like Honorary Duke Cromwell, but if so, he would have surely mentioned it to him. If not that, then as a student-

‘No. This makes even less sense.’

There’s nothing for Fei to learn at the academy. His teacher was a famous doctor and medical authority in the empire, and Fei was his recognized top disciple who was running a clinic.

Rationally, it couldn’t be Fei, but all his senses told him that the person he missed was his young master.

“Isn’t it Luwen? What brings you here?”

As he stood still, lost in confusion, a person carrying a thick book approached him cheerfully. Though he had never seen the people behind him, the face of the approaching man seemed familiar, as if he had seen it a few times. However, he wasn’t someone he knew well enough to greet familiarly.

Luwen was about to ignore him but changed his mind when he saw the man’s white necktie.

“I came to browse books needed for my graduation thesis.”

“Ah! Don’t you know where the library is? I’ll show you. Want to follow me?”

“No, it’s fine for today. But I have a question.”

The man adjusted the book that looked particularly large due to his slender body. Now that he looked closely, the book was also from the Medical Department.

“President, let me carry that for you.”

As the man in the center of the group behind spoke, stepping forward half a step, the man, Alteo, shook his head with a smile.

“No, it’s not that heavy. You can go ahead.”

A gentle smile and soft speech. It briefly reminded him of Fei, but lacked the grace and elegance compared to him. If he hadn’t been reminded of Fei by the rose scent earlier, he wouldn’t have made this connection.

“There’s a comfortable bench to talk over there. Shall we go?”

“It’s not a question that will take much of your time. Just-“

“Ah, I also have something I want to confirm since we’ve met.”

Luwen was reluctant but nodded, recalling the title of Medical Department President. It was probably related to the practical exam.

‘Does he want to exchange information?’

If it wasn’t related to Fei, he would have told him to deliver the message to the Swordsmanship Department’s student council room, but he didn’t want to carelessly dismiss something that might be related to him.

The place they went was the Medical Department’s main garden. One corner of Luwen’s mouth curved upward slightly. While the Swordsmanship Department’s rose garden narrowed towards the center, the Medical Department’s was wide open in all directions to illuminate the fountain in the center.

Luwen from the Swordsmanship Department and Alteo from the Medical Department. The sight of these two famous figures in the academy naturally drew attention.

‘With so many people around, is this really a comfortable place to talk?’

The president, who sat down first and placed his book on the edge of the bench, looked up at Luwen. Under the gaze that seemed to ask why he wasn’t sitting, Luwen asked,

“Is your business lengthy?”

“Hmm. It could be, or it might not be. Depends on your answer?”

“Just tell me.”

“Is sitting next to me burdensome?”

“Yes. I don’t like pretending to be close.”

Alteo’s eyes widened at the firm answer.

“Don’t you know me?”

“I do. The Medical Department President.”

“No, it’s not pretending, we’ve greeted each other before.”

He had no memory of it at all. As he remained silent, Alteo burst into laughter.

“The Knights’ Monster Subjugation Team. Still don’t remember?”

“Ah. You were the Medical Department representative?”

“Yes. We even introduced ourselves, I didn’t think you wouldn’t remember me. I consider myself quite memorable.”

He remembered now. But the introduction was just a sudden visit before departure. He seemed to have said something proper about being a model and example to other students as the academy representative.

“Is that your business?”

“Of course not. Luwen, you’re quite interesting in your own way.”

Alteo laughed loudly again.

“I don’t think you misunderstood my meaning.”

Luwen looked around. There were plenty of Medical Department students he could ask about Fei. It didn’t seem necessary to waste time with this person.

‘If someone saw the young master, it would have left a strong impression, so they should recognize him just by mentioning his characteristics.’

The president, who seemed to know everything about the Medical Department, might have more accurate information, but he disliked this way of avoiding the topic and dragging out time. He much preferred someone like Drabis who directly stated what they wanted and pleaded.

“Oh, Luwen is really stiff. Alright. I’m sorry, so I’ll listen to your story first. What are you curious about?”

“I thought I saw Young Lord Vinter, so I wanted to confirm if he’s here.”

“Huh? Young Lord Vinter?”

Alteo tilted his head, then shook it with a sigh.

“It’s probably not him. I’ve also heard the news about the young lord’s splendid outing with Luwen. They say he’s a person with beautiful silver hair and attractive purple eyes.”

“Yes.”

“If the young lord had officially visited the academy, I would certainly know.”

Luwen thought this person’s way of speaking didn’t suit him. What was the reason for leaving room with the expression ‘officially’? Was it implying that there was something unofficial, or was it to avoid responsibility if it was later revealed that Fei had come here?

It might just be the literal meaning, but hadn’t he just denied it by saying it probably wasn’t him? And he said it with a sigh, as if he knew something.

“Are you saying I was mistaken?”

“Probably. That’s what I think.”

Fei is a unique person in the world. There’s no way he could be mistaken for someone else. But Luwen couldn’t confidently say so because he hadn’t seen him properly. Moreover, the only reason he suspected it was Fei was the familiar rose scent, just one thing.

‘…The hair color was different, and it seemed like he ran down the stairs.’

With one similarity and two differences, he couldn’t be certain it was the young master.

“What made you think you saw the young lord, Luwen? If you tell me, I might be able to give you an answer.”

“I think I smelled his unique body scent, but it’s a rose scent.”

“I’m not sure about the rose scent, but I think I know who it might be.”

“Who is it?”

Alteo smiled slightly. Like someone from an information guild saying you need to pay extra for the next piece of information.

“I don’t want to talk about that friend…”

“Then forget it. I’ll ask someone else.”

“You should listen to the end. I’ll tell you because Luwen is special. It might take a while, won’t you sit beside me? My neck hurts from looking up at you.”

Alteo tapped his nape playfully with a smile. As Luwen frowned, he added,

“He’s a friend with a lot of backstory. That’s why.”