I’m the Main Villain but the Heroines Are Obsessed With Me

32 – 14. Ariel’s Suffering (3)

Looking at Ariel, who stammered like a mute, Isabella sneered.

‘As expected… I knew this would happen.’

The truth was, Isabella didn’t hold Ariel in high regard.

Of course, Ariel hadn’t done anything particularly wrong to her.

They were in the same grade, but their departments were different, and their friends were also different.

The reason Isabella disliked Ariel was simple: jealousy.

‘There’s nothing more entertaining than watching someone who shines brightly lose their light.’

Isabella couldn’t stand Ariel, who received everyone’s attention.

No matter how wealthy her family was, how hard she studied to improve her grades, standing in front of Ariel made her feel powerless.

She went out of her way to make connections, staying up late at night to socialize. And yet, Ariel effortlessly drew people in, even when she did nothing.

Isabella thought that it was truly irrational.

Jealousy gradually turned into envy, and in the end, Isabella saw an opportunity to bring down Ariel.

And now was the perfect time.

“Finally, the time has come, Ariel. It’s time for your downfall!”

During this recent war game, Ariel had faced humiliation. Was it not enough that she had ruthlessly eliminated her squadmates with a reckless plan, displaying a despicable demeanor that even the nobles couldn’t ignore?

Ariel’s once confident demeanor had long vanished. Now, there was only a cold and desolate woman left.

Naturally, her response was equally disappointing.

“Become a hero and incite war?”

How could she provide such a foolish response?

Isabella couldn’t help but chuckle as she pondered Ariel’s response. Was that really a statement that should come from the mouth of a supposed hero?

Who was a hero? Wasn’t it someone tasked with safeguarding the empire, if not the entire continent, from the threat of demons?

It was inconceivable for someone in such a noble position to make a statement that could disrupt the continent.

“Well, even if you said something else, I wouldn’t let it go, but…”

This opportunity was hard-earned, and it couldn’t be wasted.

Wasn’t Isabella the one who had eagerly awaited a day like this? That’s why she understood the importance of the present moment.

This was a golden opportunity for Isabella Pinel to make her name widely known in the Ark!

Through this incident, Isabella intended to redirect some of the attention that had been focused on Ariel.

Of course, she would have to endure some unfavorable comments along the way, but that was something she could tolerate.

After all, one couldn’t forgo gains due to the fear of criticism.

That was the reason.

“Sigh… Sigh…”

“Ariel, are you okay? Uh, are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m, I’m fine. Really, I’m fine…”

“That woman…”

“hehehehe.”

Isabella was able to stride confidently while observing the struggling Ariel. The expressions of Raina and Dias, who were looking at her, were fierce, but Isabella paid them no mind.

There’s no reason to respond to Ariel’s minions when we need to maintain the flow.

She playfully teased her way towards Ian Volkanov.

“Oh, by the way! Didn’t Senior Ian also attend this class?”

Even if it’s not an exaggeration to say that Ian Volkanov is currently running the highest stock in the Ark.

How happy would she be if she could even bring him down.

Even though it was just a brief daydream, Isabella felt a thrill running through her body.

Of course, there were no ill feelings towards Ian. It couldn’t be helped.

“Sorry, but I have to step on up.”

If she could steal people’s attention, she could tolerate her current self.

Isabella, with a wide smile, stared intently at Ian, but he remained silent.

Leaning back with his arms crossed and arrogantly staring at himself, Ian…

“Did you not hear?”

It was then that she tried to ask again, just in case.

“If you were angry because I didn’t know what I should rightfully know, how should that anger be expressed?”

The moment Ian’s tightly closed mouth opened.

When the dignified voice echoed in the classroom, the attention of the people quickly focused.

However, as if Ian didn’t care, he continued speaking.

“Is pointing fingers at the ignorant the only way to spend one’s time? No scholar ever mocked an illiterate fool.”

Ian raised his head and stared at Isabella with a mocking gaze.

“Only the barely literate merchants bothered to ridicule the illiterate fools.”

“…”

“The future saint will surpass those superior to oneself and raise one’s status, and the humble one will seek those inferior to oneself and revel in false superiority.”

“W-What…”

“Even a peasant’s child can become a saint through endless contemplation, and without contemplation, even noble bloodlines cannot escape lowliness.”

With that, Ian’s words ended.

But no one dared to speak. Isabella was no exception.

She, who had been trying to swallow Ian’s pride, just stood there with her mouth open.

“Uh,”

Her head turned completely white.

Ian produced an unexpected response. It was because his atmosphere was not ordinary.

“Well, what is it?”

Ian was sitting comfortably in his chair, but Isabella clearly saw it. A monster with thousands of hands behind him staring at her!

Isabella’s body stiffened, feeling the chill in his eyes.

“Ah… Ahhh!”

From that moment, the conversation was over.

Isabella had to prepare a new question due to the unexpected response. But she couldn’t think straight under Ian’s aura.

A situation where they could no longer continue the conversation.

Looking at Isabella, Ian only slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

“I was watching your conversation with Ariel. I wanted to say this. Did you get an answer?”

“Yes. Yes, it’s enough… Thank you for the answer…”

Trembling, Isabella walked back to her seat.

She weakly sat down on the chair.

Isabella couldn’t raise her head from her fixed gaze on the desk until the lecture was over.

***

Is this the price of an ignorant choice?

Ariel held her breath as she looked down at herself.

Her chest felt suffocated. It felt like everyone in the classroom was laughing and pointing fingers at her.

“Haah.”

Tears began to flow. Fortunately, it was prevented from showing a pathetic appearance thanks to Reina and Dias.

The situation still hasn’t been resolved.

“How on earth should I handle this?”

Ariel chewed on her lips as she thought about her words from earlier.

She couldn’t understand why she made such a thoughtless comment.

Although she couldn’t grasp it at all, Ariel couldn’t give up.

She was destroying the reputation she had worked hard to build with war games, and it couldn’t be accelerated any further.

She had to salvage the situation as much as possible.

“What should I say…”

Unfortunately, her mouth didn’t open.

She needed to think, but her head just wouldn’t function.

In the midst of this, time flowed endlessly.

In the end, Isabella shrugged her shoulders as if there was nothing more to see and turned away.

Ariel was filled with a sense of impending defeat, and despair consumed her.

Helplessly, she watched Isabella walk away like a broken doll. And finally, when she asked Ian what he thought of their recent conversation.

She had a feeling that this was the end.

“How do you think of it… You don’t even have to look to know it’s obvious.”

Ian would probably say something foolish and cowardly, to preserve his reputation. Because the worse it got, the better it was for him.

Ariel finally closed her eyes.

If she continued to look at the faces of others here, she felt like tears would burst forth.

Although she had tried to accept the future calmly.

“If she gets angry because she doesn’t know what she should know, how should that anger be expressed?”

“Huh?”

Ariel’s eyes flickered at Ian’s words.

Ian wasn’t blaming Ariel. It was Isabella who he criticized.

Ian pointed out Isabella’s attitude of tearing down the ignorant.

However, that didn’t mean he blindly protected himself.

“I can’t stand to see someone mocking me for not knowing. And if you know you are lacking, then study.”

That’s what she thought Ian meant.

Ariel was speechless at Ian’s words, just like Isabella.

Isabella returned to her seat with a lifeless expression.

After seeing her, Ariel let out a bitter laugh and bowed her head.

Thud!

Tears began to fall from the tightly clenched fist on her knees.

She felt like she couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Why. Why are you like this,”

It was pitiful. To show that she was better than Ian. To show that she too could do it. But she was too ashamed of herself for not being able to do anything.

But what was even more unfair was that despite showing herself in such a pitiful state, despite constantly threatening him, Ian continued to protect her.

As if saying, “Go on, keep going.”

That fact tormented Ariel’s heart.

“Really… Am I incapable of doing anything?”

Does this mean that everything I have done so far has been pointless?

I have asked countless questions, but Ariel still couldn’t find the answer.

However, one thing was clear.

“Yes… If you truly want to.”

There’s no harm in trying to have some willpower.

Ariel lifted her head and gazed at Ian as if she were shooting him.

The corners of Ian’s mouth slightly turned upwards as he looked at Ariel.

***

The plan to provoke Ariel’s willpower while distracting Isabella was executed perfectly.

Isabella was silenced by the unexpected response. And since Ariel, who had been down and out, had regained some composure, she should be able to give a passing score.

“hehehehe. Did you see Ian’s expression earlier? He got scared when he saw me! Good job!”

Ian looked at Nellatilion, who was laughing softly in his arms. The truth was that Nellatilion was the one who contributed the most to silencing Isabella.

As Ian recalled that moment, he smiled faintly.

“I was quite surprised when Nellatilion suddenly intervened.”

At the moment when Isabella was responding to her words.

Nellatilion had gathered a powerful force, saying to wait for a moment.

He disliked seeing her looking at Ian with dirty thoughts. He had even thought of completely destroying her.

Of course, it was an impossible task to embody the Aura of the Celestial Emperor, which was once called the Emperor of the Heavens, but now it was possible because he had grown through quest rewards and the total amount of mana Ian could use had increased.

“But next time, at least say something before you do it. It’s surprising if you suddenly interfere.”

“…Sorry, but nobody noticed anyway! I made it so that only that woman could see me! I even controlled my power appropriately.”

“Yes… You did well.”

Heinen, who only targets Isabella instead of the entire group. It was something that the ancient god’s peacock, who was a lowly human, couldn’t stand.

Well, thankfully, everything worked out well. The professor in charge of that lecture wasn’t particularly skilled in manipulating mana, so things went smoothly.

It was a resolved matter. There was no longer any desire to say anything more.

“Since the result turned out fine.”

They succeeded in silencing the despicable Isabella’s mouth and raising Ariel’s willpower.

Certainly, it may seem a bit exaggerated. Nevertheless, it was a significant advantage for Ian.

“If Ari becomes stronger, there’s nothing better than that.”

The stronger she became, the closer they got to a happy ending. Ian didn’t forget that fact.

“hehehehe. When I grow up even more! I’ll show you an even cooler side!”

It was the moment when he affectionately petted Natalian, who was swinging her cute little fists.

Ring!

What’s this?

A device suddenly rang. Curious, Ian checked the message and could see it.

[Ian Doyeonnim! I have something important to discuss. Can you come to the mansion soon?]

– Oliver

It was a message from Oliver, who was responsible for the family’s affairs.

Ian nodded gently as he carefully looked at the message.

“At last, the time has come.”