How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 78

“Kamon?”

“Yes?”

“What’s with that expression? Do you dislike being associated with me?”

“…”

As Lady Cecilia kept looking at me and asking, I let out a deep sigh and shook my head.

“Do I look that displeased?”

“Yes.”

She replied, lowering her head despondently, but then soon smiled and continued speaking.

“But don’t worry. I’ve made it clear to my father and the other elders in the family that it’s not true.”

“Oh, right.”

Am I supposed to be happy about that? Seeing Lady Cecilia constantly smiling and chattering away, I earnestly wished I could live as carefree as she did.

“By the way, should I have sent a letter to Marquess Vade as well?”

“No, it’s fine.”

I quickly shook my head to stop her and then nodded quietly. This incident was bound to cause a huge stir.

Lady Cecilia was a member of the Romanoff Duchy and had ties to the Grand Duchy of Axelion. Even though I was kicked out of my family, I was still the eldest son of the prominent Vade Marquessate in the Empire.

The relationship between us was not just an academy affair; it had the potential to create significant political repercussions throughout the entire Empire.

“Oh, the Dean also contacted me a while ago. So I told him it wasn’t true. I did well, right?”

Like a puppy seeking praise, she kept asking me in such a manner. I rubbed my face dryly and replied.

“Lady Cecilia, please calm down. The election isn’t over yet.”

“Oh, right. Got it. But hasn’t our support rate risen quite a bit? From rock bottom, it feels like we’ve climbed up to at least knee level…”

“The problem is the opposition is at shoulder or even head level.”

“So what’s our next strategy? What should we do next?”

At least she seemed motivated, which wasn’t bad.

“We have a few things prepared, but let’s proceed as usual for now. We need to continue announcing our pledges and campaigning.”

“Huh? Will that be enough?”

Having been exposed to more provocative strategies, Lady Cecilia seemed no longer satisfied with ordinary measures.

“So what do you suggest? Should we launch an attack on the princess?”

“Oh, a revenge match?”

Revenge, my foot.

“Stop having such pointless fantasies. Let’s get on with the campaign.”

“Fantasties? When did I ever say that?”

Knock, knock!

Just then, a knock sounded at the office door, and Cecilia’s secretary, Albion, entered.

“Lady Cecilia, it’s time to go. Please change your clothes.”

“See you later then, Lady Cecilia.”

“No, Kamon!”

I quickly left the office, escaping outside as Lady Cecilia tried to continue her argument.

* * *

“Princess Francia should be the next president.”

“Everyone, it’s Francia. Please vote for her. The true choice for the academy, Francia Flance!”

“The only suitable president for Flance Imperial Academy is Francia Flance!”

“The ruler of the Empire is the Emperor, and the president of the academy is candidate number one, Princess Francia!”

From early morning, a huge number of volunteers gathered, chanting slogans and campaigning vigorously.

Even to the naked eye, the scale and resources of Princess Francia’s campaign team were overwhelmingly superior to those of Lady Cecilia’s.

Academy students started voicing their opinions.

“Wow, this is overwhelming.”

“It really seems like all the truly capable people are on Princess Francia’s side.”

“Is this even a contest?”

“But the support rate has caught up quite a bit, hasn’t it?”

“Isn’t it practically a victory just to have fought this much? They were in completely different weight classes from the start.”

They began discussing and evaluating the current president election.

Indeed, at the beginning, the support rate seemed insurmountable at 9:1, but it had now closed to about 7:3 or even 6:4.

“But it’s not over yet. There’s still some time until the actual voting day.”

“Oh, that’s just wishful thinking. How can they overturn such a big gap?”

“By the way, where is Lady Cecilia’s campaign team? Are they not campaigning?”

“They probably are? My friend said they were recruiting volunteers yesterday.”

Just as people were questioning Lady Cecilia’s campaign efforts.

Tada-da-da-da-dan!

A loud sound started coming from one side.

Simultaneously,

[Candidate number four, Cecilia. Kind-hearted Cecilia, loving Cecilia, perfect president Cecilia with no accidents. The ideal president for Flance Imperial Academy, candidate number four, Cecilia Romanoff.]

A catchy song, reminiscent of a commercial jingle, began to play.

Naturally, people’s attention and interest were drawn to the direction of the song.

[Kind-hearted Cecilia, loving Cecilia, like a refreshing oasis in the desert, Cecilia who doesn’t miss a thing, perfect president Cecilia without accidents, vote for candidate number four, Cecilia.]

With a full orchestra, including flutes, oboes, trumpets, harps, lutes, and timpani, they kept repeating the song.

Then,

“This is a song solely for Cecilia, by Cecilia, and for Cecilia. Please vote for candidate number four, Cecilia.”

“Everyone, over here. Please take a flyer. Candidate number four, Cecilia.”

“Remember candidate number four, Cecilia. Here’s a business card.”

“Good things might happen if you take a business card?”

On the other side, students were distributing flyers with Cecilia’s face on them.

Bren, Elliot, and Lois were among those quickly handing out the flyers…

“Excuse me, is what’s written on the back of this true?”

“Shh!”

Elliot quickly put a finger to his lips, looking around.

“It’s true. Go to Room 3 in the basement of the Oblate Hall.”

“Really?”

“Yes, please remember candidate number four, Cecilia.”

Winking as he spoke, Elliot watched as the bespectacled student nodded rapidly and ran off somewhere.

The student, Charlie, soon arrived at the Oblate Hall, which housed mainly social science classrooms.

Usually, classes were held on the ground floors, while the basement was used for storage or as a library.

“I’ve never been here before.”

Step by step, Charlie descended into the basement, which had a strangely dark atmosphere despite the bright daylight.

Quietly descending into the basement of Oblate Hall, Charlie soon encountered someone wearing a mask.

“Have you come seeking a miracle?”

“What?”

The masked person held up a business card, pointing to the back.

“…Have you come seeking a miracle?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Then, go to room 3 over there.”

The masked person pointed to a closed door a short distance away. Charlie felt quite scared and anxious, but he still stepped towards it.

Step, step.

Finally, standing in front of room 3, Charlie slowly reached out and grasped the doorknob.

Gulp.

Swallowing once, he cautiously opened the closed door, not letting his guard down.

Creeeeak!

With a loud creaking noise, the door opened, and there…

“Welcome, customer. This is the miracle warehouse of candidate number 4, Cecilia. Please show me your flyer.”

Claire greeted him in a very business-like tone.

Charlie quickly handed the business card he received from Elliot to Claire.

Then, thump!

Claire placed the card on the table and punched a small round hole in it with a sharp metal punch, wearing a professional smile as she murmured briefly.

“Miracle, confirmed.”

Jingle!

At that moment, a small pouch on the desk caught Charlie’s eye.

“Is it really okay to take this?”

“This is a miracle from candidate number 4, Cecilia.”

“Are you sure I can take it?”

“This is a miracle from candidate number 4, Cecilia.”

Repeating the slogan over and over, Claire’s reaction made Charlie eventually snatch the pouch.

Jingle, jingle.

“Money!”

Seeing the pouch filled with dozens of coins, Charlie’s eyes widened more than ever.

“The miracles of candidate number 4, Cecilia, will continue. Remember room 4 after the election.”

“Oh, I understand!”

Having unexpectedly received a considerable amount of pocket money for a student, Charlie nodded vigorously, unable to hide his joyful expression as he ran outside.

Watching his retreating figure, Claire sighed briefly and muttered.

“Is this really okay?”

But soon after,

“I was here first.”

“No, I got here first!”

“Everyone, please line up. Let’s receive the miracles one by one.”

“Don’t cut in line, damn it!”

Room 3 in the basement of the Oblate Hall was nearly bursting with people rushing in hopes of witnessing a miracle.

And those who experienced the miracle…

“Candidate number 4, Cecilia! Candidate number 4, Cecilia!”

They wandered around the academy, chanting the slogan repeatedly.

Thunk!

In the midst of it all, a business card fell to the ground.

On the back of the card…

Do you wish for a miracle? Then vote for candidate number 4, Cecilia. We will grant you two miracles in your life: one before the election and one after the election. Oh, what kind of miracle, you ask? (laughs) Coin illustration. Maybe a good miracle? OV. B1-3.

* * *

The student council president election at Flance Imperial Academy was no longer a one-sided affair.

“Vote for Princess Francia.”

“Candidate number 1, Francia Flance.”

Though Princess Francia still had the upper hand in terms of campaign manpower and support…

“Miracle! Miracle! Candidate number 4, Cecilia!”

“The miracle cannot be stopped. Candidate number 4, Cecilia!”

Lady Cecilia’s supporters, spreading her message covertly, were conducting intensely passionate promotions.

Naturally, Princess Francia’s team discovered what they meant by ‘miracle.’

“What is the election committee doing? This is clearly vote-buying!”

“I’ll personally meet with the election committee members.”

Vice President Obern himself stepped in, making complaints and filing protests through various channels, but no effective measures were taken.

The surprising reason…

Flutter!

“I’ll make sure this photo is handled discreetly, so just keep quiet during the election period.”

“This is unacceptable.”

“What’s not to accept? We all need to make a living. Isn’t that right? Do you want to be expelled from the academy for righteously managing the election?”

“Understood. So, the photo… please…”

“Good, deal made?”

“Deal.”

Watching the election committee student, whose face had turned pale, I smirked and nodded.

“Then, I’ll count on you next time too.”

“……”

Step, step.

As I walked out, Elliot, who had been intimidating someone else, asked with a slightly anxious expression.

“Kamon, is this really okay?”

“What?”

“Blackmail is one thing, but won’t this cause trouble later?”

“Well, it might.”

Nodding as I answered, Elliot’s expression stiffened.

“What? Then what do we do?”

“What do you mean? We’ll think about that when it happens.”

“What?”

Seeing Elliot’s bewildered expression, I responded with a faint smile.

Whether it was vote-buying or anything else…

We had to do whatever it took to win right now.

We’d worry about the consequences later.

For now,

‘I need to survive first.’

______________

Rate us on Novel Updates to motivate me translate more chapters (For every rating new chapter will be released).