I Enrolled as the Villain

I woke up early just before dawn when a loud crash echoed outside.

My body snapped upright.

Moments later, my door opened.

Liora stood there, damp with sweat, breathing fast. "Apologies for the intrusion," she said. "The Rain Cycle has started again."

I stood, stretching my arms lightly. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes," she said. "Since the rain began, the stronghold's been under constant assault. The beasts are back."

My jaw tightened.

Rainbitter

The rain-born monsters. The ones that only come when the sky turns.

I moved quickly, taking the stairs two at a time until I reached the upper level. I pulled aside the heavy curtain by the window.

Outside, the world was drowned in early morning stormlight. Grey skies. Endless rain.

Below, the rainbitter were already here pounding against the outer wall. Some clawed at the stone, others tried to climb.

And in the distance, the mist shifted.

Something larger was moving behind them.

As I activated the Mythrigan, the world warped. Edges rippled. Time felt slower. Then—

The beasts at first glance twisted and feral now revealed something else. Their shapes bent and blurred… until I saw them clearly.

Human.

Moving in formation. Brown uniforms. Coordinated squads.

Not monsters.

Commoner Union squad.

No wonder the beasts outside had multiplied. They weren't just wandering in they were being directed.

I turned on my heel and sprinted toward the command room.

So much for sleeping in peace after the celebration.

By the time I arrived, the room was already packed. Maps hovered above the table. Students were barking into comms. Urgency simmered beneath every breath.

Marlen looked up the moment I entered. I didn't wait.

"It's the Commoner Union."

She raised an eyebrow. "I thought it was just a beast surge. How annoying."

I nodded grimly. "They're using a relic. Something that's drawing more beasts here than usual. Way more."

"How's the turret situation outside?" I asked.

Marlen turned to one of the students beside her, who responded quickly.

"Some are still operational, they're cutting through the frontlines fast. But a few near the front wall were damaged"

"Any students currently engaging the beasts outside?" I asked.

"No," one of the students replied. "We were waiting for your order."

I exhaled through my nose, eyes scanning the flickering map.

Should I lead them out myself… or issue orders from here? No. It's too risky. The rain's just begun. And those brown uniforms… they're waiting for something.

"I'll go alone," I said.

Before the silence could stretch, Marlen grabbed my shoulder.

Her grip was firm. "What do you mean, you'll go out alone?"

I coughed once, clearing my throat. "It's too dangerous to send others blindly. The rain. The beasts. And if the Union's out there, they're waiting for us to make the first mistake."

"That's exactly why you're not going alone," Marlen shot back. "We already have a squad on standby. Cendric and Silas are prepped and ready."

"But—"

"No," she said flatly. "You're not the only one willing to bleed for this stronghold."

Silence stretched for moment then.

"We know you can handle it," Marlen said, her eyes flicking briefly to my left eye.

"But we're not here to watch you do everything alone."

She folded her arms, voice steady but low.

"You gave us a reason to believe in Valery again. You trusted us with that name. So let us carry some of the weight, too."

As Marlen's words settled into the air, something in my chest loosened. The tension I hadn't realized I was carrying… eased.

Is this what it feels like? To be trusted, to be cared for, even just a little?

A faint smile touched my lips.

"Alright," I said quietly.

The door hissed open. Six students entered in formation raincoats slung over uniforms, eyes alert. Cendric stepped forward at the center, Silas just behind, hands already flexing in anticipation.

They saluted in unison, fists over hearts.

Cendric met my gaze. "What's the plan, Leader?"

I stepped out and stood before them, cold air hissed through the vents, carrying the scent of wet metal.

"Cendric. Silas," I said, locking eyes with each of them. "You're on the front wall. That's our most critical point right now."

I glanced toward the window the turret sparks had stopped. The wall was getting hammered.

"The defense there is failing. Clear the area or at least hold the line long enough for repairs."

I pointed to a student with a toolkit strapped to his side.

"He goes with you. Keep him safe until he gets the turret back online."

Cendric cracked his knuckles. Silas nodded, no hesitation.

Then I turned to the other three.

"You'll be stationed on the rooftop. Maintain aerial control protect the banner and coordinate wide-area spells. I don't want anything flying over or crawling up."

The rooftop team exchanged looks, then gave firm nods.

I took one last breath.

"I'll be moving between fronts… but my main target is the Union. If you see anyone in brown uniform, don't wait. They're not here to negotiate."

They straightened at once.

"Understood, Leader."

We moved together, footsteps steady as we approached the exit.

Rain thundered against the stronghold walls, a constant drumbeat of warning.

I stood at the front, fastening the high-collar raincoat over my uniform. The air was colder now thick with the scent of wet metal and distant smoke.

I reached for the goggles strapped to my side.

"Prepare for the rain," I said, voice calm but firm.

I pulled the goggles down over my eyes.

One by one, the others followed suit snapping them on in practiced sync, coats billowing slightly in the wind as they adjusted gear and spells.

The door unsealed with a low hiss.

Beyond it, the storm waited.

And we walked into it.

Hiss…hiss

As I stepped out of the stronghold, the rain hit hard sheets of cold water drumming against my raincoat, soaking the outer layer in seconds.

The hood weighed down on my head. My goggles blurred slightly, droplets clinging to the edges. I didn't wipe them off.

The others followed close behind, raincoats zipped, eyes steady beneath fogging lenses.

This rain used to rattle me.

Now… it was just part of the noise.

I glanced at the squad. "Do your best," I said.

Then I ran boots splashing through puddles, coat trailing behind me, into the blur of storm and war.

——

As soon as Kael vanished into the rain, Cendric, Silas, and the others moved.

The rooftop team broke off without a word, scrambling up the slick outer ladders toward their post, while Cendric and Silas led the front wall squad through the flooded walkway.

"Let's go," Silas said, his voice sharp over the rain.

When they reached the wall, blades were drawn but Silas suddenly raised a hand to stop Cendric.

"Wait," he muttered, narrowing his eyes.

A heartbeat passed.

Then Silas whipped his sword to the side, the edge of his blade slamming into a nearby crate.

The impact cracked it open and out tumbled a student in a soaked brown uniform.

He scrambled upright, hands in the air.

"I surrender, dude! Chill!" he yelped, grabbing another boy by the arm. "We're out I'm pulling us out!"

The second boy shoved him off with fury in his eyes.

"You snitching bastard!"

Silas narrowed his eyes.

"Wait. There's two of them?"

Before either could move, he flicked his wrist two blades shot through the rain like streaks of silver.

Both brown-uniformed students lit up with disqualification markers as academy staff shimmered into view, teleporting them out in a blink of light.

Cendric blinked. "Uh. Harsh."

Silas didn't look at him. He just muttered under his breath, "Why did that remind me of something…"

Then he turned and shot Cendric a look.

Cendric held up his hands. "Hey, that Red Line thing was different! It was part of a plan—"

"Uh-huh."

Silas walked ahead.

Cendric jogged to catch up, grumbling, "It worked, didn't it?"