How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 195

A throng of knights, mages, and soldiers surrounded Kamon Vade in a perfect encirclement, each of their eyes trained on him. He let out a brief sigh.

“Impressively fast.”

Barely moments had passed since he’d left the secret lab of Grand Mage Katryzin, and they’d already tracked down his and Chelsea’s whereabouts. They’d swiftly alerted their forces, and within minutes, the scene before him had unfolded.

“They’re definitely well-trained,” Chelsea muttered under her breath, her expression slightly tense as she stood by his side.

Seeing her, I nodded, a faint smile tugging at my lips.

“Not bad at all.”

“What?” she asked.

“Well, with them all gathered here, I don’t have to go looking for them. Makes it easier to let them experience my upgraded magic firsthand.”

With that, I snapped my fingers and murmured a spell.

“Fireball.”

Fwoosh!

Instantly, dozens of flames burst into the air, but unlike before, the fire wasn’t just blue—it was blazing white.

Smiling, I began chanting the most basic spells.

“Ice Spear, Magic Missile, Chain Lightning!”

And then—

Zzzt.

Crackling.

Whoosh!

As the spells appeared with a piercing sound, their size and intensity were anything but basic. A massive violet lightning bolt flashed vividly in the air, and the ice spear, pitch-black, looked more solid than anything in the world.

And then—

“Is that… Magic Missile?”

Even Chelsea, beside me, widened her eyes in shock.

“See? Quite the upgrade, don’t you think?”

I smiled as I looked at the energy mass floating before me. Normally, it would’ve taken the shape of a fine needle, but this time…

“It’s practically a spear!” Chelsea exclaimed.

I nodded. “Exactly, a spear.”

The enlarged energy spear was about the same size as the Ice Spear, radiating a force that seemed capable of piercing through anything that dared to stand in its path.

And then—

“What… what is that?”

“An academy student can use magic like that?”

With the sky filled with scorching, freezing, and stinging spells, the members of House Romanoff were left staring at us in disbelief.

“Those are just basic spells, but why are they so… massive?”

“It’s not just the size. The heat, the intensity, even the mana concentration are on a whole different level.”

The mage corps, who could feel mana and cast similar spells themselves, murmured in stunned amazement.

“Of course, it’s different,” I responded with a light smile.

Thanks to what I’d learned from Professor Beroen previously, and now, with the essence left by Grand Mage Katryzin, my mastery over magic had reached new heights.

In other words—

‘There’s no one in this world who can wield mana as efficiently and aggressively as I can right now.’

Not even the mages of the Three Primary Colors or the members of the Seven Table.

And one more thing.

Snap!

With another snap of my fingers, a teal aura spread through the basic spells I’d cast.

“…?!”

“What… What is that now?”

It was the essence the Grand Mage had left behind for her successor.

‘There’s no way it was just meant to enhance my magic or improve its versatility.’

And as soon as the teal aura fused with the basic spells, some of them began to notice the shift.

“The… the mana’s attribute has changed.”

“What?”

“Ridiculous! Mana attributes can’t just change! That’s impossible!”

“But you felt it too, didn’t you?!”

“Nonsense. It’s a trick. It has to be some kind of manipulation.”

Some mages instantly objected, and it was only natural. Once a mana attribute is established, it’s difficult to change. In fact, there were only two situations where a mana attribute could shift: either after countless years of gradual change under some unparalleled force or through an immense magic spell, like when Frilla transformed her power into the energy of life.

But…

“She’s called the Grand Mage for a reason.”

Of course, I couldn’t just alter my mana’s attribute on a whim. But—

‘With the life energy stored in the Orb, I can change it.’

And this life energy was anything but simple.

In essence, magic is a process that uses mathematical formulas to harness the mysterious force known as mana and apply it to reality.

“If life can be healed, then the opposite is also possible.”

That’s right.

The attribute imbued in my basic spells now was death—a force meant to snatch life away.

[What did you acquire this time?]

[Changing mana’s attribute… How is that even possible?]

Both Airsya and Frilla stared at me in shock, muttering to themselves.

“K… Kamon?” Chelsea called my name cautiously, sensing the ominous shift in the air.

With all my preparations complete, I called out loudly to those surrounding us.

“If you’re going to just stand there, I’ll make the first move!”

With my shout, the wave of spells I’d prepared surged toward the encirclement of House Romanoff with tremendous force.

Whoosh.

“What… what is this…!”

“Damn it, get out of the way!”

“Move? What are you talking about? Get the barrier up, now!”

Zzzt.

The mages hastily cast defensive spells, but—

Boom! Crash!

Shatter!

“It broke? Our defensive magic broke?”

The defensive spells crumbled instantly under the initial few basic spells, leaving the mages in a state of shock.

“We… we can’t stop it. There’s no way to stop that!”

“We’re finished.”

“Run, everyone!”

As the wave of spells descended upon them, the soldiers fell into utter chaos.

“What are you doing?! Don’t retreat!”

“They’re just basic spells! They won’t kill you if you take them head-on—guh!”

Only a few knights and commanders gritted their teeth, shouting proper orders, but…

The spells, now closing in, obliterated their targets without hesitation.

Boom!

“Aagh!”

“Arghhh!”

“S-save me!”

“Dammit!”

“This… this is madness! He’s a demon!”

The overwhelming explosions tore through the encirclement, leaving a swath of casualties in their wake.

Knights, mages, and soldiers, regardless of their roles, either scrambled away in panic or slumped to the ground, their fighting spirit shattered.

“……”

Stunned, they gaped at the destruction wrought by these “simple” basic spells.

Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed Chelsea’s arm.

“Chelsea, let’s run…”

At that moment—

“Who said you could leave?”

Thud, swoosh!

With a resolute voice, a slicing sound came from behind.

Tak!

“…?!”

“Watch out!”

Instinctively, we dodged, swiftly pulling ourselves back.

*Thud!*

A massive greatsword struck down where Chelsea and I had just been standing. Embedded in the ground, the sword radiated a fierce aura as if it could split anything in two. Standing behind it was a sturdy man, his eyes blazing as he looked at me.

“Are you Kamon Vade?”

Feeling his overwhelming presence, I tilted my head slightly and responded.

“…And who might you be?”

“I am Markon, Captain of the Bellington Knights of House Romanoff.”

As he confidently introduced himself, I frowned for the first time.

‘Markon Benestern.’

The head of the Bellington Knights and the pride of House Romanoff. In the original story, he served as a worthy opponent for Kyle, ultimately becoming valuable “experience” for his growth.

During the Sacred Sword Selection, he had displayed frightening skill before being taken down as one of Kyle’s opponents… but…

‘Damn, he feels even stronger than I remember.’

[His aura is no joke. Be careful, Kamon.]

[He certainly doesn’t look like an ordinary opponent, Master.]

Airsya and Frilla also narrowed their eyes at him, sensing the threat.

At that moment—

Rumble.

Heavy-armored knights appeared among the decimated encirclement.

‘The Bellington Knights?’

It seemed they were, in fact, the most elite knights of House Romanoff.

And then—

“…Well done, Markon.”

An all-too-familiar voice came from behind.

“Vitell Romanoff.”

I murmured his name under my breath.

Swish!

In an instant, Markon’s greatsword was swinging again.

“How dare someone like you speak His Grace’s name?!”

Tap tap tap.

Dodging his attack effortlessly again, I quickly chanted a spell.

“Fireball, Ice Spear, Magic Missile.”

Once more, I summoned the wave of basic spells that had decimated the encirclement earlier, launching them without hesitation.

Whoosh!

The wave of spells flew toward them, cutting through the air.

But in that moment—

“How dare you!”

Woosh!

Markon swung his greatsword, twice his own size, horizontally with immense force.

An overwhelming gust followed.

Boom, pop!

“…!”

The wave of spells didn’t even reach him; they fizzled out in mid-air, thwarted by his sheer force.

‘Magic doesn’t work on him?’

Realizing that facing someone as powerful as Markon wouldn’t be easy with ordinary magic, I quickly switched tactics.

“Fireball.”

This time, I directed the white fireballs toward a specific target…

“Futile!”

*Woosh!*

The fireballs flew toward Markon and the knights, but they vanished into nothing in front of the massive swords they wielded.

“Captain, over there!”

Just then—

“…!”

Only a single fireball veered off in a different direction.

Whoosh!

“So, you’re aiming for me directly?”

The fireball was heading straight toward Vitell Romanoff.

“Duke!”

Markon and the knights tried to rush to Romanoff’s side, but having spent time swinging their weapons, they were too slow to beat the fireball.

The white fireball drew closer to Vitell Romanoff’s face—

Swoosh!

With a clean slicing sound, the fireball split in two and vanished just inches from him.

“….”

It was a small dagger in Vitell Romanoff’s hand that had cut my spell in half.

‘Did anyone manage to see that?’

[…I missed it.]

[He’s a formidable opponent too.]

Airsya and Frilla were watching Duke Romanoff with intense focus, clearly shaken by his unexpected prowess.

Vitell Romanoff was proving to be an even more powerful adversary than anticipated. He shook his head slightly and spoke in a flat tone.

“How pitiful, Kamon Vade. Did you think you could defeat me with such trivial magic?”

‘Was the Duke of Romanoff always this strong?’

This was something the original story had never hinted at, and the new information made my head throb.

“Your Grace, are you unharmed?” Markon, who had finally reached him, knelt quickly and called out.

“Don’t worry, Markon. I’m not so rusty that I need your protection just yet.”

“O-of course, I would never doubt Your Grace’s skill. However, as your shield, I…”

“Enough, spare me the unnecessary words and capture him already,” Vitell Romanoff commanded, cutting Markon off.

Markon lowered his head at once.

“Yes, Your Grace!”

Then, he lifted his greatsword, his tone resolute.

“All Bellington Knights, hear me.”

He raised his greatsword high and continued.

“Capture Kamon Vade alive, no matter what it takes.”

At his command, the other knights shouted in unison.

“Yes, sir!”

The Bellington Knights advanced toward us, radiating intense, intimidating energy.

“….”

I clicked my tongue, realizing how dire the situation had become.

I’d had the upper hand after wiping out the initial encirclement, but the arrival of the Bellington Knights and Vitell Romanoff had completely reversed the situation.

‘This isn’t just a simple threat—it’s a serious crisis.’

Markon Benestern alone was trouble enough, but now the elite knight order had me surrounded, and the Duke himself was an unknown factor…

‘If I’m not careful, this could be the end.’

As I briefly weighed my options, I noticed Chelsea drawing her sword, ready to face them.

Seeing her, I shrugged my shoulders and sighed.

“Hah… Well, I guess there’s no other choice.”

I began to chant a spell.

“Gladys Sector Caelum.”