The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 97

‘Quite a few eyes are watching us… Will rumors start spreading that we’re dating?’

Luwen’s proximity was that close. It’s familiar to Fei, but too much for country Norman. I felt I should point this out, so I turned my head.

“Luwen.”

“Yes, Norman.”

Luwen’s smile as he turned to look at me was so beautiful it could make even the dazzling sunlight seem faded. I should push him away for being too close, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

Just then, water shot up from the fountain. The high-rising stream broke in the air and was carried by the wind. Luwen spread his hand above my head as if making a shield.

“Why?”

Seeing Luwen’s innocent smile, oblivious to everything, I wondered if I really needed to point out the distance. Well, if someone asks if we’re dating, we can just say no. Besides, it seemed better than hearing rumors about Luwen dating someone else like last time.

“The weather is nice.”

“Shall we walk a bit more today?”

“If you have time, senior.”

“I, I’m fine…”

When I uttered the magic words that instantly broke Luwen, he looked away awkwardly, rolling his eyes. It’s unbearably cute. Wanting to tease him a bit more, I gently poked his side.

“By the way, when are you going to start speaking casually to me?”

“…Please give me a little more time.”

“Hahaha.”

When I burst out laughing, Luwen, who had been looking at me somewhat reproachfully, soon ended up laughing too. The exam results would be announced tomorrow, ending everything, so it seemed nice to enjoy this peacefulness a day early.

* * *

“Norman-!”

I woke up startled by a loud voice, having finally fallen into a deep sleep.

“Norman, Norman! They say the exam results are posted on the bulletin board!”

Of course, I’d be first. But I jumped up with a face that showed sleep had completely left me. Country Norman wouldn’t have thought about banging his head on the ceiling…

Thud!

“Ugh.”

Maybe I should have hit it more gently. I held my head with both hands, feeling a dull pain.

“Are you okay?”

Little Norman, hanging from the ladder, looked up at me with a worried face.

“I’m okay… More importantly, is it true? Are the results really out?”

“Yeah! Let’s go see quickly. You must have been curious. Nadian! Cadin! You guys wake up too!”

Little Norman started waking the others. I quickly got down from the bed and started preparing to go out.

I moved to the main building with the guys, receiving Nadian’s bombardment-like congratulations. The main hall was already full of students. I first looked for the president, but he wasn’t visible.

‘If he were here, he would have stood out, so he must not be here.’

Anyway, rumors couldn’t be ended in just one day. What was important today was the attitude I needed to show.

‘Playing the role of the outwardly steadfast Norman was all for today.’

Although I showed moments of wavering at times, I just needed to reveal that the cheerful country Norman who quickly regained his smile was actually in tatters.

I pretended to be very nervous, biting my lower lip. As if my fate was written on the bulletin board, looking solemn.

One step, another step. With each step forward, the surroundings grew quieter. I’m not sure if the noise around really disappeared or if it just couldn’t be heard by country Norman’s ears.

Standing in front of the large bulletin board, I squeezed my eyes shut with a long sigh, then opened them. To avoid looking arrogant, I slowly moved my gaze from the very bottom, gradually upward.

Finally, I saw the name “Norman” at the very top. Since commoners don’t have family names, age and place of origin were written together to distinguish those with the same name. To make sure it wasn’t another Norman, I checked repeatedly and confirmed it was indeed country Norman.

“…First place, is it really me?”

My voice, thick with moisture, trembled pathetically. Unable to take my eyes off the bulletin board, like someone witnessing an unbelievable miracle.

“Y-yeah. Norman, it’s you. It’s really you. You’re first place…”

Little Norman choked up. Then Nadian shouted loud enough for all the students gathered in the main hall to hear.

“Norman! Congratulations on being the top student! You studied day and night, and you finally did it!”

As if in response, a faint voice saying “Congratulations, Norman!” was heard from a bit far away. It was a female student who had always greeted me.

Led by her, people who hadn’t believed the rumors about me started offering congratulations one by one. It was just as Nadian had said. There were people who had promised to respond first when he gave the signal.

Originally, the flow was important in such battles, so I had subtly guided it, and they had understood perfectly and acted accordingly.

‘It’s cringeworthy, but… I have to endure it because it’s effective.’

I desperately put on an expression of being moved. Tears welling up in my eyes was a bonus.

“I, I…”

As I opened my mouth, the surroundings fell silent. Many people were listening intently to my voice.

“The, the me in the rumors… it’s not, me… I, I came to the academy to study.”

I sobbed and stumbled over my words. But if I kept speaking like this, it would frustrate the listeners, so I picked up speed afterwards. Like someone bursting with emotions piled up inside, I gradually increased the speed until it was faster than usual at the end.

“I’ve never thought about meeting someone to change myself. I’m not looking for a sponsor. I, I love myself. Not the me that someone whispers about behind my back, but my true self, the me that can stand proud in front of all of you.”

Now it was time to slow down. I loosened the strength in my voice and added sobs again. To make them feel my resentment.

“I wanted to prove that. So I studied… hard. Really… hard…”

I shed tears as I finished speaking. Since it was time to show weakness, I lowered my head and buried my face in my hands.

Then Nadian hugged me and shouted.

“Norman studied until he got nosebleeds. He even collapsed. All because of someone’s thoughtless words. Is there still anyone who agrees with those rumors?”

No one answered. It was time for the second tactical group to move. If this flow was properly established, more people would believe in my innocence. Afterwards, I just needed to plant doubts about why such rumors had started.

But then.

“Norman, Luwen’s here.”

An unexpected figure intervened. Little Norman, who whispered this, was flushed as if he had met a reliable ally who would take my side, but honestly, I felt dismayed.

‘What? Why is he here already? Didn’t the Swordsmanship Department announce results too? This is too early…’

If I showed my crying face like this, he would obviously worry. But if I suddenly stopped crying just because Luwen arrived, wouldn’t that look strange?

‘No, even if that’s okay, the problem is that the flow has been interrupted…’

At the moment when I needed to emphasize the pitiful aspects of the innocent victim country Norman, the idol of the academy appeared. Luwen would surely come to me, and country Norman would no longer look pitiful.

‘It feels like everything’s falling apart…’

But I didn’t want to blame Luwen. Luwen, knowing nothing, probably rushed here simply because he wanted to see me. I couldn’t reproach him for that feeling.

‘I’d like to plant doubts all at once today if possible, but I guess it can’t be helped.’

In that short moment, Luwen had come right up to me.

“Move aside.”

At the stern voice heard close by, I slightly raised my head. As Nadian looked at me, Little Norman pulled at his collar.

“Norman.”

“…”

This time, with so many eyes watching, I couldn’t abandon my act midway. But I didn’t want to keep showing a crying face either. Hah, sigh… What should I do?

While I hesitated, Luwen reached out and caressed my cheek. His touch wiping away my tears was very gentle. His furrowed brow was full of displeasure and worry.

“I know your integrity and purity. I’m different from those stupid fools who believe in rumors full of dark malice.”

The comfort he offered gently was soft but based on solid trust. Country Norman should have broken down crying here. How happy he must be to have someone who believes in him. The current situation was enough to touch on already overwhelming emotions.

‘Should I cry more? It would be effective if I did…’

The only thing that bothered me was that Luwen would believe my tears were real. But I didn’t have the courage to confess that this too was an act after everything was over.

‘Being discovered once is enough.’

It was a matter of my credibility as a person. While the first time might be overlooked somehow, a second time would make him doubt my sincerity.

‘I don’t want that…’

I bit my lip hard and smiled with a distorted face.

At that moment, Luwen suddenly pulled me close. After a moment of surprise, having my face hidden against his chest actually made me feel at ease.

Pat, pat. The hand stroking my back felt good. I trembled, making small sobbing sounds. Luwen lowered his voice to a whisper only I could hear.

“I will always be by your side, young master.”

I nodded and tightly grasped Luwen’s side. In my heart, I wanted to hug him back, but since I was country Norman right now, this much should be enough.