How To Live As An Academy Extra Villain

112 – Expression (4)

“Come, ah-ha.”

“Lady… I’m not Adele…”

“Tsk, Edwin, you should listen to your sister.”

I barely managed to calm Estelle down and entered a nearby cafe. And Estelle began venting her frustrations to me. She cut the cake and pushed it towards my mouth with a fork.

I resisted firmly, but I couldn’t win against Estelle, and in the end, I surrendered.

“That’s right. You’re kind.”

“Ugh…”

As I ate the cake, Estelle’s mood began to lighten. After eating a few more pieces of cake, I was finally able to start a conversation with Estelle.

The rumor spread like wildfire. What happened yesterday quickly spread throughout the academy.

Most people simply treated the rumor as an amusement, but there were also those who spread rumors with a definite purpose.

Although every student in the classroom heard Selene shouting that she didn’t want to be engaged, they didn’t pay any attention to the truth.

To them, I was the villain who forcibly took Eugene’s fiancee.

And there were speculations that I intentionally provoked the central nobles who wanted to support the hero and give him strength.

Some other students who witnessed the spreading of false rumors tried to correct them. I even witnessed some students arguing about it in the morning.

However, people tend to believe what they want to believe, and sensational news is even more deeply ingrained.

Only a few dozen people witnessed the scene, but the rumors spread dozens of times more.

But Estelle didn’t believe a word that I forcibly took Selene.

“There’s no way. It was just a fabrication. How dare that clueless woman…”

Estelle muttered with anger in her voice.

Estelle saw Selene, who didn’t want to be engaged, as a shield to protect me. To Estelle, I was still the innocent person I had always been.

Just by looking at Estelle’s appearance, one can understand how much people only listen to what they want to hear.

I convinced Estelle that I had taken action of my own free will and that nothing had happened between Selene and me. I told her that this was simply a transaction.

If I didn’t say that, I didn’t think I could convince Estelle at all.

“Hmm, fine. I’ll believe you since you’re saying it so strongly. It seems like all sorts of things are happening when I’m not around.”

Estelle finally accepted my persuasion with a noticeably brighter face. Then, she cleared her throat and asked in a lighter voice.

“So, what about the other rumors? Is it true that you intentionally fed the Westerners false information?”

“About that…”

When I heard Selene’s proposal, I had thoughts. It was true that I didn’t want to hand Selene over to Eugene, but at the same time, I remembered the stories I knew about Eugene.

In his stories, various types of enemies appeared. Devils and their worshippers, demons with many names, black sorcerers, the army of the demon king and demons.

The enemies weren’t limited to external forces. The stories constantly depicted corrupt aristocrats and powerful individuals consumed by greed, and at least half of the story was dedicated to describing them.

In his stories, I was the villain. And not just me, but Estelle, Patricia’s rival, and many other students appeared as enemies.

We ridiculed, tormented, and despised Eugene and his allies. We put obstacles in their path, prioritizing personal gains over justice. Naturally, in his stories, we were supposed to be defeated.

However, when I looked at it from the perspective of the characters, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Eugene’s stories were heavily distorted. More precisely, from the perspective of the protagonist and his allies.

Good and evil existed everywhere, and it couldn’t be divided simply by factions. What they called greed and bad habits were the property and rights that we should rightfully enjoy.

They were all too precious to be taken away in the name of reform and progress.

This time was no exception. Eugene received overwhelming support from the commoners and the central nobility, and they were becoming more and more powerful every day.

Our position was shrinking, and it was the same in both the academy and the imperial council.

Until now, we had simply waited for things to unfold, but I was increasingly aware that it was not an easy task.

So, I had to find my own path, and I decided to overturn the atmosphere surrounding this incident.

As I conveyed these thoughts, Estelle now had a smile on her face.

“To be honest, I’ve been very disappointed with your actions all this time. I mean, can anyone be so happy like this?”

“Just by letting things go, I realized that it’s not as easy as it seems. That’s why I want to ask you something related to him…”

The hometown of Eugene and Celine was a small territory called Redville. And Redville was very close to Vanderrock, the territory of Estelle, almost to the point where it could be considered the same influential family.

What I want from Estelle is to project that influence.

“…It won’t be easy. Even if our family’s influence is strong, the jurisdiction is the lord’s exclusive right. It cannot be easily violated.”

Upon hearing my words, Estelle frowned as if she had a headache.

“Furthermore, as far as I know, the lord of Redville is planning to establish a development plan for the region in collaboration with the warriors. I don’t intend to do anything deliberately antagonistic, you know?”

“I understand. However, is it not possible to change the form of the trial to a duel? Since one of the parties does not want the engagement, the outcome may be uncertain, but the trial itself can be valid enough.”

“What? A trial by duel?”

“Yes. I think it won’t be too difficult for you as the lord. There is sufficient justification, and above all, I don’t think the warrior will lose. It will be seen as a mere ritual.”

“That might be possible… Are you sure you’ll be okay…? But then, you’ll have to step forward…”

Estelle looked at me with a worried look. She probably knew about the previous duel between Eugene and me.

Although Professor Melissa intervened and could not determine the winner, towards the end, I was slightly behind Eugene.

So, although there were arguments about the result, there were quite a number of people claiming Eugene’s victory. And I didn’t find such evaluations particularly pleasant.

“Don’t worry. If I didn’t have confidence, I wouldn’t have made this request. In addition to washing away my personal shame through this opportunity, I will also change the biased atmosphere that currently exists.”

“…Alright. I’ll trust my little brother’s words. Don’t worry about that side. I’ll do my best.”

“Thank you, sis.”

Estelle smiled faintly upon hearing my assurance. Then, she threw a half-jovial half-serious comment.

“But Edwin, my brother. You’re just going to end it with a simple thank you, even though your sister is putting in this much effort? It’s a little disappointing, isn’t it?”

“…I’m sorry. What should I do to…”

After listening to my words, Estelle pondered for a moment. Then, suddenly moving closer and pressing her arm against mine.

“It’s nothing. I don’t expect much. Let’s just go on a date without thinking about anything today.”

***

After finishing my business with Estelle and returning home, I found Ellie’s letter waiting for me. I wondered if it was about her returning to the academy, but the content I desired was still not written.

“I have some matters to attend to, so it might take a bit longer.”

The content of the letter became shorter as time went by. The crookedness of the handwriting also worsened day by day. There was an explanation from Ellie that she injured her one arm and was using the other to write, but for some reason, it didn’t feel very reassuring.

Even when I asked the professors, they only repeated that personal matters cannot be disclosed to others.

I feel the need to somehow assess Eli’s situation once I finish this task.

I opened the window and sent a paper airplane to Eli. And just as I was about to close the window, a bird swiftly flew in through the crack.

-Chirp!! Chirp!!!

The bird immediately began to peck at my hand fiercely as soon as it entered. It all started yesterday when this docile creature suddenly turned aggressive. I wonder why it always seeks me out with such persistence.

It is nearly impossible to guess what this little animal is thinking.

-Bang! Bang!

I managed to hold the bird in my arms to calm it down when suddenly I heard a knock on the door. Who could it be at this hour? I went downstairs and opened the door to find two female students standing there.

“…Cecilia? And behind her…”

Standing in front of the door was Cecilia, a foreign exchange student from the Holy Empire. And behind her was probably… Fiore. Cecilia’s friend, although she always had an aloof attitude towards her.

Fiore was once again standing there awkwardly, just glancing at Cecilia.

“Hello, Edwin.”

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“I have a question I want to ask. Can I come in for a moment?”

“What? But it’s a bit late…”

Cecilia chuckled as if my words were amusing and said, “What? Haven’t we spent the whole night together before? Don’t you remember? You even slept on my lap.”

“C-Cecilia?!”

It seemed as if Cecilia was recollecting the day she met a necromancer. Fiore was about to faint at this point.

“You saying it like that makes it sound real. When did I sleep on your lap? And there were other Inquisitors with us at that time.”

“…Forget it. Just let me in for a bit. It won’t take long.”

“…Fine. Come in.”

“You should have said that earlier. Fiore, can you wait for a moment? Cecilia and I have something to discuss.”

“Cecilia? Just a moment…!”

-Bang!

When I turned the corner, Cella suddenly appeared at the front door. She closed the door and locked it.

Pierre kept knocking on the door, but Cella paid no attention.

“…Is it really okay like this?”

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“It’s fine. Pierre is too overprotective. But Edwin, surprisingly simple-minded…”

“This is enough, isn’t it? So what do you want to say?”

“Hmm…”

In response to my question, Cella took a deep breath.

“…Really?”

“What?”

“…Did you do it?”

“What?”

“Did you…with that child…between a man and a woman…”

Cella interrupted my words. Her face turned as red as an apple.