I suddenly became the villain and I liked it

I open my eyes and look around.

“It seems we have made it back.”

We were in the forest. Time seems to have passed as the sun was already setting. The cave was nowhere to be seen.

“Tsk. Argh.”

Lyn was sitting on the ground holding her head.

“Did you see anything after we passed through the door?”

“Yeah. I didn’t really get it but someone just told me good luck or something. Argh, why does my head hurt so much!?”

Lyn shouts as she scratches her head and tries to stand up.

“What about you? Saw anything?”

“Let us just say some meddlesome people wanted to fix me.”

“Fix you? Hah! Why the hell would they wanna do something like that?”

“I know, right. I denied them outright.”

“Nah, you should’ve said yes. Maybe your head will be fixed.”

“Are you implying that there is something wrong with me?”

“Why are you even asking? Of course there’s something wrong with you! Wait, are you dense? You don’t know it yourself? You poor thing.”

“Why are you speaking as if we are close friends? Did knowing my name suddenly make you like me?”

“Psh. Yeah, right. I just don’t really care that much about your antics. Bring them on.”

This girl is suddenly getting close to me. Weird, why is she weirdly friendly.”

“I will remind you that we are not friends. You are a commoner and I am a noble. I am better than you and therefore above you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say. Where are we anyway?”

“That, I do not know. Stop acting friendly.”

“We can just wait here since these things will probably tell them where we are but it’s a waste to just stand around and do nothing. So, let’s go and look around.”

She ignores my complaints and walks ahead. I do not follow her.

“Are ya still skulking? Come on, let’s go already.”

“No. I refuse to go with you unless you stop your current way of interacting with me.”

“Sheesh, how big is that stick up your ass anyway?”

Grrr. This girl is really getting on my nerves.

“Fine. I’ll go then. See ya.”

Lyn leaves and walks in a direction. I decide to wait around here. I look at my body checking for any injuries or any anomalies.

“Good. I seem to be fine.”

Those vestiges were speaking of a new path but I refuse to take part in it. I need the current storyline to happen for my goal to be achieved consequence be damned. But what prompted this new path? Is it related to how Lyn is currently being friendly to me? Did she consider me a friend which is why a new path has appeared. Just from context clues alone, this path is one where I walk beside Lyn but even if this outcome is the best for me. It will not let me achieve the specific goal that I desire. My goal to-

“Hey! You’re still here. Come on, I found a stream maybe it leads to somewhere.”

Lyn grabs my wrist and pulls me.

“Who gave you permission to grab my wrist!? I did not! Let go of me!”

I am too weak to resist so I reluctantly let myself be dragged. We got to a steep incline and below was a stream. Wait, that looks familiar.

“All we gotta think about is how we get down there.”

Ah, I remember now. That is the stream where the male and female protagonists would meet during the hunt.

“I have an idea.”

“You do?”

“Yes. Please look over there.”

I point at the direction of the stream. Lyn looks there and turns her back to me.

“Here you go!”

I raise my foot and push her towards the stream.

“What the fuck!? Damn you, you bastard!”

Lyn tumbles down the incline towards the river. She will be fine. Magic prevents most injuries, especially from falling. Although it still does hurt.

“Gah. Damnit.”

Lyn was writhing in pain as we hear a voice call out.

“What happened? Is anyone hurt?”

Prince arrives in the scene. He sees Lyn and then looks up and notices me. After a brief glance, I turn around and leave.

“Are you okay? Did she do that to you?”

I leave them be as I walk in a direction. Luckily, I find some upperclassmen facilitating the trials. It seems we were not too far from everyone. After walking for a while, I reunite with Sylvia and Melanie.

“Mistress! Are you okay? What happened to you? You were gone for so long.”

“Are you okay, miss Athena? Did you get hurt?”

“No need to worry. I was just in a trial and it took me some time.”

“A trial? With who?”

“With our resident red hair.”

“Why would you go in a trial with her?”

“Just treat it as a whim.”

“Okay. So, where is she mistress?”

“Ah, we parted ways after the trial was done. So, I have no idea where she could have gone. Now, I must go to Emilia and ask about the proof.”

We went to see Emilia. I approached her and whispered.

“Emilia, there is a concern. I did not receive the proof of clearing.”

“No need to worry, mistress. The proof is already in your tracking device. Whenever a student clears a trial, the facilitator puts the proof in it. I have already inputted yours before you entered.”

“So, doing the trial was a waste of time?”

“The fact that you could see it determined that you have cleared a trial. I needed to give it to you beforehand as I do not know how long it takes for you to complete it.”

There is some logic to her words. I did not expect that clearing the trial would take half a day.

“Hey, look at that.”

As we were talking, I could hear murmurs from everyone around us. It seems that there is something attracting everyone’s attention. I look over and see it.

“There it is.”

The prince and his boyband as well as Lyn and blue hair were all walking together. How some of them met up is beyond me but it happened nonetheless. This would be catalyst for future problems. Since the prince seldom has other people with him, this scene makes certain nobles take note of Lyn and view her negatively. And, this is when I properly show up against them.