How To Live As An Academy Extra Villain

111 – Expression (3)

Correction at the Academy. On the way towards Class C. Today, the gazes around me felt even sharper. And the reason for that might be the green-haired female student walking beside me.

Celen had her arms crossed, pressing her body firmly against mine. Despite being covered by school uniform, the traces of yesterday were still vividly visible underneath the thin fabric.

And just as Celen confidently promised, yesterday’s bruises had turned into deep, dark purple marks. To an outsider, it might have seemed like I had been beaten somewhere, but upon closer inspection, it looked different.

“Ha…”

Celen let out a small sigh, bowing her head deeply. Her embarrassment reached up to her reddened ears. Even though it was an action she proposed herself, she couldn’t overcome her shyness.

“What’s that…?”

“Unbelievable…”

The sound of students whispering could be heard as they passed by. Depending on the person, their expressions varied greatly.

Those who knew me displayed expressions of astonishment, while those who guessed the meaning of the marks veered their gazes away as they passed by. Every time the whispers reached our ears, Celen’s grip on my arm tightened, but she didn’t try to hide the marks.

“Are you okay?”

“…It’s a bit embarrassing… but it also feels good… hehe…”

“What feels good? This just sounds like trouble for you…”

“…Hmph.”

Celen made a displeased snorting sound, as if she didn’t appreciate the joke. As we walked, we eventually arrived beneath the monument of Class C. This is when it becomes real. I started feeling a bit nervous. There’s no turning back now.

“…Celen, think hard about this. If we go in like this, it’ll be the end…”

“…I know. And it’s fine.”

I asked one last time, but Celen’s resolution was firm. I couldn’t stop her anymore.

I pushed open the wooden door, and the view inside the classroom came into sight. Celen still hadn’t uncrossed her arms.

There were students who tried to greet me when they saw me, but upon seeing Celen in that state, they all startled and quickly backed away.

Even those who were looking away in the distance turned their gaze towards us and hurriedly whispered to their friends.

I made my way towards the back seat as usual. And next to my seat, as always, Sisella had already come and sat down.

When Sisella saw Celen, who was sticking closely to me, she tilted her head in confusion. But when she noticed the bruises, her confusion turned into astonishment.

“…??”

“Hello, Sisella.”

“Um… Hello…?”

As I greeted and took my seat, Celen stood silently right next to me. I found myself sandwiched between the two of them, alternating between living with Sisela and Celen. Then, Celen tore a piece of paper and started scribbling something with a pen.

“What’s going on? Did you hit her or something?”

Sisela pushed a hastily written note towards me. As I read the contents of the note, only fake laughter came out. I shook my head left and right in response, but Sisela’s question still remained unanswered.

-Please…

I suddenly felt a strong force applied to my arm where Celen was standing. I turned my head and saw Celen looking at me with puffed cheeks.

“Why?”

I asked Celen with a puzzled expression, but Celen still didn’t release the distressed look on their face.

-Swiftly!

I heard the sound of the wooden door opening. Finally, the person involved appeared in the classroom. A blond-haired male student emerged.

It didn’t take him long to notice us. The male student, who was talking with his friends, instantly displayed an expression of disbelief. And soon after, he frowned and confidently walked towards our spot.

“…Hey. What’s this?”

“Our hero doesn’t know any manners? Just barging in without even greeting us?”

I stood up from my seat and responded to Eugene’s words. The Tespira potion definitely had some strange effects.

I still disliked him. But the boiling emotions definitely dwindled in intensity. It was enough to calm them down to the point of taking a deep breath.

“I didn’t mean it like that. Why is Eugene here next to you? And what are those wounds?”

“I don’t know either. And why does it concern you?”

“Why does it concern me! Of course, I…!”

Although I managed to maintain my composure, my attitude towards Eugene did not change.

If anything, I intentionally mocked him more contemptuously. Seeing Eugene getting agitated also gave me a small sense of thrill. This was also my instinct…?

“…Stop it.”

When I said those words, Eugene was about to retort, but Celen stood up and interrupted him. Whether it was because they didn’t expect such a move or not, Eugene looked at Celen in surprise.

And in the next moment, Celen’s surprise turned into astonishment as he moved.

“…Eugenia…?”

Celen, who had stood up from their seat, stood next to me. Then, they pushed their hand between my arms and assumed a polite and close manner.

“…Yujin, I have something to say to you. I hope you listen well this time.”

“…”

Yujin remained expressionless as ever. Selene let out a deep sigh and calmly spoke her words, looking at Yujin.

“Yujin, I can’t get engaged to you.”

“…? What are you suddenly talking about…”

“…I belong to this man already. Both my body and my heart.”

Selene’s grip on her crossed arms tightened, and the classroom became chaotic at her last statement.

“What…?”

Yujin still couldn’t grasp the meaning behind Selene’s words. One of Yujin’s friends, who had been murmuring behind, urgently approached her and whispered something in her ear, causing her face to instantly turn angry.

The anger, now understanding the meaning of the insult, was undoubtedly directed towards me.

“You!! Edwin!!!”

“Stop it!!”

The erupting anger, resembling a volcano about to explode, was stopped by Selene’s shout. Yujin, with a bewildered expression, mumbled to Selene.

“Yuzenia…?”

“I told you. I don’t want to get engaged to you!! We are friends, that’s all!! Please, listen to what people say!!”

“But…”

“But is not the case. I really don’t want to get engaged. And everything I just said is true. I belong entirely to this person. Both my body and my heart.”

“Why on earth…of all people…”

Yujin muttered while looking at me. A faint anger still lingered in her eyes as she stared at me.

“Because he fills me up. There is no room for anyone else. So…please let me go.”

Selene pleaded with Yujin in a desperate tone. Yujin still didn’t answer. On the neighboring seat, Sisela looked at me as if I were some sort of criminal.

***

“I told you. It would be hard to convince your friend with that.”

“…I thought she would understand…”

After lunch, Selene and I walked together on the school grounds. Selene mumbled with a tone filled with regret.

Eugene didn’t respond to Céline’s words. She merely postponed the conversation, saying they should talk later. Céline’s confident plan had completely backfired.

“How did it come to this… He must have thought of me as a friend… He’s been acting strange since the ball…”

“The ball…?”

“Yeah… His attitude has been different since then and it’s weird…”

Céline let out a deep sigh.

“This is so frustrating…”

According to Céline, their engagement had already been guaranteed by the local lord. While a guarantee for an engagement rather than a marriage was uncommon, it seemed that an exception was made because one of the parties was a warrior.

In this situation, they couldn’t break off the engagement even if one of them refused. They could take it to court, but in this case, the blame lay with Céline. So it was difficult to achieve the desired outcome, especially if the other party was a warrior.

“What should I do…? If I continue like this, I’m…”

Céline’s face was filled with tears. It held all the worries and despair of the world.

“Don’t worry. I’ll try to find a solution.”

In truth, I had some expectation from the moment Céline first brought up the topic. Eugene’s emotions couldn’t be swayed by something so trivial. I needed someone else to help me bring him to a fundamental realization.

***

In the square near the bustling streets around the Academy, I saw a woman standing next to a fountain. She had long black hair and was wearing black-tinted glasses to obscure her appearance.

The woman was my appointment for today. As I walked towards her, I suddenly noticed a man approaching her. Judging by his uniform overcoat, he was a male student from the Academy.

“Um… Beautiful lady? Would you give me the chance to spend the day with you…”

“Hey, buzz off.”

Watching that scene, anger welled up inside me. I immediately approached and roughly pushed the man by grabbing his shoulders. His face turned pale upon realizing that I knew him.

“E… Edwin Reed…”

“How dare you approach anyone…”

As I was about to scold the male student, the woman with the tinted glasses grabbed my shoulder and shook her head, urging me to stop. In the meantime, the male student quickly retreated.

Turning around, I saw a woman standing there with a happy smile on her face.

“Hehe. You’re quite dependable. When did our little brother grow up like this?”

“Sister. You should have immediately chased that guy away.”

“It’s fine. Flies are everywhere. And with you here, why should I worry about anything?”

The woman patted my head. The woman’s true identity was Estelle. She used magic to dye her hair black and used colored contacts to hide today’s meeting from the outside world.

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In addition, Estelle was the one who helped break off Selene’s engagement and could help me gain favor with that faction.

“Lady, let’s go to a quiet place first…”

“There’s something I want to ask you first.”

I tried to leave the square, but Estelle suddenly grabbed my sleeve.

When I turned around, Estelle had taken off her colored contacts and was staring at me intently. There were two blazing eyes there, like fire.

“Who on earth are you? The woman who seduced you with a vulgar body.”