How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 55

“Major cleaning? Do they really do that?”

“Commoners really love to make their lives difficult.”

Bren and Elliot reacted this way after hearing my story, as we gathered after class.

“Shut up, you bourgeois bastards.”

For people like them, a strong guillotine should be presented…

“Well, it’s a relief that it was resolved without any issues. Kamon, I heard you were the only one who passed?”

As Bren nodded and spoke, Elliot showed a displeased expression.

“Ugh, do you have to stay there, Kamon? No matter how it is, a noble like you living with those commoners…”

Uh, in this case, the guillotine punishment is a bit much.

Is there anything else?

Hahaha.

“Elliot, are you going to pay for my dorm fees then?”

“What? I-It’s not that I can’t, but right now, due to personal circumstances, it’s impossible to arrange… If that’s solved, then I will immediately…”

“Forget it. I’ll just take the sentiment.”

As expected, this guy is perfect for the guillotine punishment.

A revolution, a great and mighty revolution is needed!

Just then, Bren, who was looking at the clock, urgently shouted.

“Oh, sorry. I have to go to the library first.”

“What? Suddenly?”

“Yes, senior. I have a lot of assignments from class, so to finish them today, I need to start as soon as possible.”

“Assignments? When is the deadline?”

“Um, is it next week or the week after? There’s still plenty of time, but it’s better to finish early…”

“You little!”

Wham!

Elliot reached out and smacked Bren on the head.

“Ow, what was that for?! Why did you hit me out of nowhere?”

“Bren, listen carefully with those two ears of yours.”

“…?”

“There are two types of people I hate in this world. First, those who are better than me and annoying. And second…”

Wham!

“Argh! Senior, please stop!”

“People who act like goody two-shoes like you!”

As Elliot smacked Bren on the head again and shouted, Bren held his head, looking teary.

“You’re ditching us to go to the library over some measly assignments?”

“But, students should study…”

“What? You haven’t had enough yet?!”

“K-Kamon. Help me!”

“Hmm? Me? With what?”

“I mean, Elliot keeps using violence… Ah, and Kamon, you’re in the same class as me.”

Seeing Bren looking to me for help while glancing at Elliot, I couldn’t help but feel playful.

“Hmm, why should I help someone who says they don’t need friends to study just because of some assignments?”

“No, that’s not…”

“And the deadline is still a long way off, isn’t it?”

“…”

As Bren hung his head and fell silent, Elliot and I laughed and continued.

“Haha. Bren, I’m kidding. Go ahead to the library. But show me your finished assignments later, okay?”

“Yeah, okay.”

Seeing Bren nodding weakly, Elliot placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke.

“What’s wrong? Feeling down? Are you sulking because of this? A man shouldn’t be so petty over something like this!”

“No, it’s just that you, senior…”

Seeing Bren regain his strength from Elliot’s taunting, I couldn’t help but smile warmly.

It felt like being back in the memories of playing and enjoying time with friends during school days.

‘Not bad.’

So, I simply enjoyed the current situation.

If it’s like this, adapting and living in this world might not be so bad…

* * *

“Hello, I am Beroen Clarence. Due to Professor Genjin Deytan’s personal circumstances, I will be taking over the Intermediate Magic Studies class this semester.”

With perfectly slicked-back hair, a tall stature, sharp eyes, and a monocle on one eye that hinted at a deep backstory, he was the epitome of a dashing gentleman.

But.

‘What the hell, why is he here all of a sudden?’

Beroen Clarence.

The villainous boss responsible for the early-mid part of the original novel. He torments Kyle and meets a miserable end out of jealousy. And now, he’s my professor for Intermediate Magic Studies?

“…”

Well, fine. I can understand up to this point.

But then,

“Some of you might know me, but I usually teach Advanced Magic Studies. I’ve been quite troubled by the stupidity of students who took Intermediate Magic Studies before moving up. I don’t expect this time to be any different.”

Suddenly, Beroen was provoking all the students in the current class at once.

‘What an asshole.’

Hearing such words from someone who looked like a gigolo made it incredibly hard to tolerate.

Of course, other students seemed to share my sentiment as their faces turned slightly red.

Then, Beroen continued speaking.

“…However, I heard there’s someone quite remarkable among you this time. Kamon Vade?”

“Huh? Me?”

Startled by my sudden name call, I asked back in a surprised voice, and he nodded and added briefly.

“Your performance at the academic seminar was quite impressive.”

“Oh… Yes.”

Wait, why is he suddenly talking about the academic seminar?

The murmurs spread around, and soon, my story reached even those who hadn’t heard about the magic seminar yet.

‘Seriously, just stop paying so much attention to me.’

I’m already having headaches from constantly getting entangled with that protagonist kid. If I get involved with a villain character like Professor Beroen…

“I look forward to your future endeavors, Kamon Vade.”

Did I say that living in this world might not be so bad?

‘….’

No, I take that back.

I can never adapt to this world!

“Regardless of what curriculum was followed last semester, this class…”

Professor Beroen’s voice droned on, but I couldn’t pay attention. The other students were still whispering and staring at me.

Damn it!

Once again, I’ve attracted unwanted attention.

Despite my feelings, the class continued.

“So, I have decided that through this opportunity, we should elevate the level of students taking Intermediate Magic Studies. For this semester, our classes will be entirely practice-oriented.”

At his firm declaration, a girl with aquamarine hair, the top student and model of the year, Chelsea, raised her hand.

“Do you have a question?”

“Yes, Professor. You mentioned that from now on, the classes will be practice-oriented, but we haven’t yet fully mastered the theories of Intermediate Magic. So, the theories…”

“Of course, you will have to study them on your own.”

Interrupting Chelsea’s words sharply, Professor Beroen fiddled with his monocle and smiled faintly.

“But since today is the first class, I’ll give a light ten-minute theoretical explanation.”

And with a snap of his fingers,

Tadak, tatatatak, tadak!

Chalk started moving on its own, writing and drawing something on the blackboard.

“This is the basic formula for mana operation, the most fundamental aspect of magic. You all know this, right?”

[Φ±ш^3∊⊕㎷³Ω]

Huh? What kind of alien language is that?

“And if you transform this…”

Tadadadak, tadak! Tatatatatatak!

[2S^ζþ₄∧∭ð㎷³Ω]

“You get this kind of application.”

What the hell is he talking about?

It seemed like a new academic concept that far surpassed any notion of mathematics.

‘Should I just give up on this magic class too?’

As I was lost in thought,

“Kamon.”

“….”

“Kamon Vade?”

Huh? He’s calling me again?

“Uh, yes?”

“Explain the difference between these two.”

“Ah.”

Startled by Professor Beroen’s sudden question directed at me, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

‘Damn it, how could he ask something like that out of the blue?!’

I didn’t even understand what he was talking about, so how could I know the difference?

“Explain it.”

“Uh, well, that’s because…”

As I fumbled for words, a familiar voice spoke up.

“The transformed mana operation method subdivides the properties of mana from the basic mana operation method. When it comes into contact with external mana…”

“Enough!”

With an extremely annoyed voice, Professor Beroen stopped Chelsea’s explanation, glaring at her sharply.

“I asked Kamon Vade the question, didn’t I? Are you Kamon Vade?”

“No, I am Chel…”

“I’m not interested in your name.”

After shouting firmly, Professor Beroen turned back to me.

“Kamon, answer. What’s the difference?”

“Chelsea is right. The difference between the two is whether or not the properties of mana are subdivided, isn’t it?”

Listening closely to Chelsea’s words, I quickly responded.

‘Thanks, You always save me.’

“….”

Professor Beroen, who had been staring at me with deep-set eyes, burst into a small laugh.

“Yes, you’re correct.”

Then he hardened his expression and glared at Chelsea.

“But you, who interrupted without knowing your place, lose points.”

At his sudden declaration, Chelsea stood up with a shocked expression, and I was equally taken aback.

Screech!

“What?!”

“No, Professor, she was just…”

Thud!

Slamming his hand on the podium, Professor Beroen twisted his lips and looked back and forth between me and Chelsea.

“Do you have any complaints?”

“N-No, sir.”

Sensing that arguing would only lead to more trouble with this villain character, I quickly shook my head.

“But I can’t accept this. How is answering a professor’s question in class a point deduction?”

Naturally, Chelsea protested boldly.

Beroen shrugged as if finding her defiance amusing and answered shortly.

“Didn’t I say? For interrupting.”

“But that’s…”

“Hmm, you seem to be mistaken. Adjusting student grades is a professor’s prerogative. I’m exercising my authority, what’s the problem?”

Gritting her teeth, Chelsea sat back down reluctantly. It was clear to everyone that his actions were unjust, but there was no immediate way to correct it.

“Are you going to keep standing there? Then I’ll deduct more points…”

Screech!

Before Professor Beroen finished speaking, Chelsea sat down, her face flushed with anger. Satisfied, he nodded and continued the lesson as if nothing had happened.

“Now, let’s continue the class.”

Seeing Chelsea glaring at him with her lips tightly sealed, I couldn’t shake off a bad feeling.

‘This doesn’t look good at all.’