How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 34

Chelsea had finished cleaning and organizing the place where Jamie stayed and was now quietly sitting, waiting for her return.

“….”

However, despite the considerable amount of time that had passed, Jamie had not yet returned, causing Chelsea to feel increasingly anxious.

‘Could something have gone wrong?’

At that moment.

Creak!

“Hmm? You’re still here?”

Accompanied by a familiar voice, the green-haired girl, Jamie Hasellion, appeared.

“You’re back, Jamie.”

“Yes, indeed. Oh my, you’ve tidied up the house quite nicely. Thank you, Chelsea.”

Seeing Jamie’s satisfied expression, Chelsea spoke up again.

“Did you meet Kamon well?”

“Yes, I met him very well, just as you requested.”

With a faint smile, Jamie licked her upper lip seductively and continued speaking.

“It was quite—no, very interesting. That guy was really entertaining.”

Jamie spoke playfully, but Chelsea felt an inexplicable chill.

Jamie, who usually showed no interest in anything other than her research, had given such a high evaluation of Kamon Vade?

“By the way, Chelsea. I’m going to start my research again.”

“Re…search?”

“Yes, I got a pretty good sample this time.”

‘She met Kamon and got a good sample?’

Chelsea felt a slight sense of unease at Jamie’s words.

“Well then, I need to start my research right away, so see you later, Chelsea!”

“Wait a moment! Jamie!”

As Jamie snapped her fingers with a bright smile, Chelsea tried to stop her in a hurry.

Whoosh!

But Jamie was already outside where she resided.

“…It should be fine.”

Although a little uneasy, Chelsea shrugged her shoulders and began heading towards her dormitory.

* * *

Thud.

Having just met my new mentor, Jamie Hasellion, I returned to my dormitory and collapsed onto my bed.

All the tension drained from my body as I lay there, completely exhausted.

“Sigh…”

I let out a deep sigh and stared at the dark ceiling, speaking to myself.

“So, for some reason, my mana pathways are blocked.”

I began to slowly piece together the conversation I had with Jamie.

“Because of that, mana keeps accumulating inside me, and if enough time passes, I’ll explode and die?”

I hadn’t expected to be given a terminal diagnosis.

Although she did provide a temporary solution.

“Use external items to draw out the mana within me? And those items have to be at least…”

A dragon heart or a lich orb, huh?

Each item was enough to make anyone gasp just at the mention of their names.

In the original story, such items only appeared briefly near the very end, and acquiring them was nearly impossible.

But…

‘There’s no need to get such amazing items if all I need to do is draw out the mana, right?’

The problem was the endlessly accumulating mana inside me.

And.

‘I know about an item that’s perfect for drawing out and absorbing mana.’

“Orb.”

In the original story, it was an item introduced as a trap with the effect of ‘Mana Drain.’

And I knew very well about that item.

Why?

I recalled my memories from before I was reincarnated into this novel world.

Title: Oh, the Orb Looks Promising.

Date: May 16th.

Content: The ‘Orb’ I got this time seems awesome? The setting is that mana drain can’t be used as magic, but this item makes it possible? Won’t this be a crucial item later on?

Title: Why Isn’t the Orb Showing Up?

Date: August 13th.

Content: Why haven’t they utilized the item with the ‘Mana Drain’ characteristic found in the trap yet? It’s been mentioned as something amazing, but still no use of it? This was from over a volume ago.

Title: Seriously.

Date: September 9th.

Content: They could have used that mana-absorbing item against this boss. They described it as significant when they found it early on, but why isn’t it being used?

Title: Did the Author Forget?

Date: November 22nd.

Content: Ariel’s mana rampage? Couldn’t they resolve it with the Mana Drain? They obtained the Orb, so why not use it? Fuck, did the author forget about it?

Title: Just Go Die Already

Date: February 30th.

Content: How can you be a writer if you forget your own settings and plot points? The only item in the world that absorbs mana? Ah, MacGuffin? Hey, a MacGuffin keeps showing up with importance, but this was mentioned once and hasn’t appeared for over 100 chapters. This isn’t a MacGuffin, it’s just neglected bait, you fucking idiot author.

Those were posts from the community forums that had stirred up a lot of discussions.

And I couldn’t help but deeply relate to them.

Because the person who wrote those posts…

“Was me, you idiot.”

An item the third-rate author had given importance to but ultimately forgotten, never to reappear.

‘Orb’ was an item with the extremely special ability of ‘Mana Drain.’

There was nothing better for simply absorbing and drawing out mana…

“Forget the flow from less to more; just extract it.”

Moreover, with the title of the Yellow Mage, if I told Jamie about this item, she might be able to refine or modify it into an artifact.

‘Although she’s a bit crazy, her skills are exceptional.’

This could solve the problem of not being able to use magic…

Moreover, acquiring the ‘Orb’ wasn’t too difficult.

‘It’s just at the end of the hidden ruin.’

The ‘Orb’ was a trap at the final barrier of the hidden ruin left by the first Golden King, Dranthe Fren.

And…

‘The timing is perfect.’

In the original story, Dranthe’s Hidden Vault is discovered just as the second semester of the first year ends, kicking off a new episode. Everything was perfectly set and prepared.

“But there’s one major problem.”

I leaned back in my chair, repeating the name written in my notebook.

“Diana Fren.”

She was the character I had to confront to obtain the ‘Orb.’

“Of all people, why does it have to be her…”

She was the one character from the original I wanted to avoid the most.

‘The Golden Calamity,’ Diana Fren.

‘A woman of iron will who will do anything to achieve her goals and interests.’

‘Repays kindness twofold, repays grievances tenfold.’

‘Diana Fren never forgets a debt.’

‘To her opponents, there are only two outcomes: submit now or be forced to submit later.’

These phrases all had one thing in common:

‘A person you should never have as an enemy.’

Even the protagonist of the novel, Kyle, had endured numerous hardships due to his entanglements with Diana Fren.

“Sigh, is there no other item besides the Orb?”

I desperately combed through my memories, but there was no other item as effective as the ‘Orb’ for solving my problem.

“Damn it, what good is knowing useful information if it’s just one mountain after another…”

Currently, Diana Fren and her brother, Elliot Fren, were likely in a fierce competition to claim Dranthe’s Hidden Vault. They were fighting for the leadership of the Fren Merchant Guild.

‘Dranthe’s legacy was the crucial tipping point in that power struggle.’

In the original story, the one who claimed Dranthe’s legacy and won the succession battle was Diana.

“So, in the end, I have to face her.”

I just wanted to live quietly.

I didn’t want to cause any trouble or stir up any incidents, just hiding quietly in the academy until the protagonist, Kyle, defeats the Demon King and brings peace to the world and the continent…

“It’s all just my selfishness. Yes, it’s my greed.”

I sorted out my thoughts and decided not to resist the fate approaching me.

“Alright, I have no choice. I’ll meet Diana Fren and join her quickly.”

As I mumbled this to myself, there was a knock at the dormitory door.

…What?

Who could it be at this hour?

The unexpected situation made me tense, remembering my meeting with Jamie.

Knock, knock!

There was another knock at the door, but I remained silent, observing the situation.

Then.

“Are you really not there?”

A very familiar voice came from outside.

‘Huh? That sounds like Chelsea’s voice.’

Why is she suddenly looking for me?

Surprised by the unexpected visitor, I was momentarily confused, but then a thought crossed my mind.

‘Could Jamie have sent her?’

After all, Jamie came to see me after contacting Chelsea.

Creak!

At the same time.

“Kamon Vade!”

Chelsea called out my name in a slightly higher-pitched voice than usual.

“…What, what is it?”

Startled by the sudden situation, I looked at Chelsea with a confused expression.

“Oh, you were here?”

“What? You came to find me and then…?”

“Alright, then. See you next time.”

She turned to leave immediately, leaving me speechless.

“Huh? Hey, what’s with you? You came and now you’re just leaving? Hey, Chelsea!”

I shouted hastily at her retreating figure, but…

“…”

Chelsea left without paying any heed to my words.

‘What was that about…’

Both the master and the disciple were utterly unpredictable.

* * *

The next morning.

I woke up earlier than usual and prepared to head out.

‘In the original story, the protagonist Kyle and Diana Fren first met in Dranthe’s Hidden Vault, right?’

That meant Diana’s victory was supported by Kyle’s actions.

‘I just need to follow along and grab the opportunity when it comes…’

Oh, wait a minute.

This feels strangely familiar, like a déjà vu.

Wasn’t it similar during the dungeon studies test?

“Eh, it’s fine. That time it was Princess Francia who messed things up. She’s not here now, so nothing should go wrong this time, right?”

With Kyle, the ultimate cheat character supported by the creator of this world, I just needed to stay alert and seize my chance when it came.

So.

‘Meet Diana and join her.’

It felt like walking into the lion’s den voluntarily, but there was no other choice if I wanted what I needed.

Currently, she was attending the Flance Imperial Academy where I resided.

Was she a second-year now?

Should I call her senior when we meet?

Ah, whatever.

Anyway, I needed to meet her first and see how things unfold.

With that in mind, I headed towards where Diana Fren would be.