There Is No Hidden Villain in This Novel Chapter 4

Returning to the original rules, Ryuseong, who had vowed to break the associate professor’s arrogance, defeated him in a single strike and decided his next step.

“…I will become your watcher.”

He could not leave the one destined to destroy the world unchecked. If there could be a watcher who would dedicate their life to safeguarding the world, it could only be him.

Now, Ryuseong’s life was solely arranged for protecting the world, nothing else.

His own emotions were irrelevant.

Even your emotions meant nothing.

—Unlike Cassis de Millang.

＊＊＊

“Wow, damn. That was insanely cool.”

The scene where the protagonist, who had tried to take me down, faced off against an irritated associate professor in the entrance exam was far more overwhelming than I had expected.

—Boom!

One strike. With a single swing of his sword, the associate professor was sent flying, and gasps of awe echoed from all around.

Thanks to my self-brainwashing mantra of “This body is the Cassis de Millang of this turf!” I managed superhuman restraint, maintaining a subtle smile instead of gaping in admiration. But damn, it was the kind of cool only a true fantasy novel protagonist could pull off.

That handsome face and body, swinging a sword to flatten his opponent and casually sheathing it afterward…

“Goddamn, that’s unreal.”

I couldn’t help but feel bitter that the body I possessed was Cassis de Millang’s. If I were in some random side character’s body, I could’ve at least thrown out some sleazy flirt like, “Wanna hook up?” But doing that in Cassis de Millang’s body would cause a character collapse of epic proportions.

In short, the relationship between the original protagonist and the final villain requires meticulous scheming just to share a blanket.

“But what suits a final villain better than scheming?”

Running that delightful mental circuit, I stood up from my seat. The professors made a fuss, asking if I was leaving already, but whatever. Sure, there was an unexpected hiccup, but after witnessing the protagonist’s performance, I didn’t feel the need to stick around watching extras bumble about.

“….”

“….”

When I flashed the signature villainous noble’s suspicious, enigmatic smile, everyone shut their mouths and accepted it. No explanation needed. Truly, the heir of the world’s most prestigious noble family.

“The best…!”

＊＊＊

Didn’t I mention earlier that this novel has a patriotic setting where pure energy flows only on the Korean Peninsula?

If so, you might wonder why the world’s most prestigious noble family isn’t from Korea but is instead the de Millang family, a massive clan formed through the marriage of eccentric European aristocrats.

The reason is simple. In this novel, the Korean Peninsula was frequently targeted by foreign invasions.

Why they were so obsessed with tearing into this small piece of land, I don’t know.

“Of course, there’s plenty worth targeting, but anyway.”

In this world, the Korean Peninsula held its own. It was only in modern times that it failed to fend off Japanese colonization. By maintaining a pro-China strategy, it fell into ruin alongside China’s collapse due to opium.

This mirrors the original history. As soon as Japan occupied Joseon, they drove stakes into the land according to feng shui to sever the people’s spirit and prevent rebellion, performing all sorts of nonsense.

And that’s where European imperialist aristocrats found their opportunity to intervene.

“We must not harm the purest energy!”

“We cannot leave the Korean Peninsula, a world cultural heritage, to the Japanese!”

“Let’s manage it together!”

Land with pure energy boosts the efficiency of energy cultivation and mana circulation with a random double multiplier. That’s why everyone was scrambling to claim the peninsula, but honestly, whether it’s the Japanese or the Europeans, it’s all the same to us.

If the Japanese bastards stormed into someone else’s kitchen and cooked a feast with their ingredients, the European imperialist bastards just rushed to put their spoons on the prepared table.

Anyway, as the war atmosphere intensified, instead of a nonexistent United States, the European imperial alliance dropped a specially developed magic bomb on Japan, its power rivaling an atomic bomb. While the world was in shock, the de Millang family stepped in.

“Shall we begin the coordination?”

And so… as with many colonies, the Korean Peninsula gained independence. Of course, there were tremendous independence movements in the meantime.

The independence movements on the peninsula were truly fierce and breathtaking. But it cannot be said that the de Millang family had no influence on the smooth and swift independence process. Thus, our de Millang family secured prestige, image, and profit. The title of the benevolent, world’s greatest noble family.

“Damn, that’s so annoying.”

Now, the fact that they were practically kings among European imperialist aristocrats, watching their forces greedily swarm the peninsula with their hands behind their backs, didn’t matter.

Everyone just praised them.

Life is inherently dirty, but this family has a particularly infuriating edge. Truly a house that produced the final villain.

Is trashiness inherited through blood or what?

“Oh, but this is my body now? What do I do?”

For reference, my guess as to why there’s no United States in this novel is that, with a setting that values history and tradition from a thousand years ago, they excluded a country with a short history.

In that sense, the de Millang family was a grand aristocratic clan holding titles and citizenships across nearly all major European imperial powers—England, France, Russia, Italy, Germany, and more.

“If I become the head, I’d have to carry dozens of surnames besides de Millang.”

Of course, China has plenty of noble families too.

While Europe’s nations didn’t fracture and instead formed a tight alliance under de Millang’s leadership, in terms of sheer numbers, China has far more. However, they’re currently stalled due to the aftermath of civil wars and defeats.

Just a century ago, China was the epicenter of energy and martial arts that could swallow the continent, so now they’re rebuilding internally, dissatisfied with their current state, aiming to dominate the world.

In contrast, Europe is the birthplace of mana, magic, knights, and sword masters.

“To put it simply, the East builds energy in the dantian through internal techniques, while the West gathers mana in the heart through mana circles.”

Each developed their power according to their respective histories.

Additionally, some indigenous peoples wield shamanic powers, the Vatican’s pope has prophetic abilities, and priests possess healing powers, but let’s set that aside for now.

“…So.”

Witnessing the scene before me, my heart raced.

After finishing watching the entrance exam and holing up in a pre-booked hotel near the academy, I pored over textbooks.

The result: I didn’t understand a damn thing about the mana awakening manual, and for about five hours, I screamed, “What the hell is this nonsense?!” while furiously kicking the blankets.

Then, tripping over the blanket on the floor because my toes couldn’t reach it, I got so mad I lost it.

“Ah! Damn mana! Mana! You damn bastard, come out already! I just want to pick up the blanket!”

The moment I felt something boiling up in my dantian, a storm-like wind swept through the room. A massive current, too strong to even keep my eyes open, surged in.

And this was the result I was given.

“…This is the life of a genius, huh?”

Even without understanding a thing, I could unleash this kind of destructive power…

Looking at the shattered hotel room, I smiled with satisfaction, then immediately went to the front desk to request a room change.

Anger sparked my competitive drive.

You damn mana bastard, acting tough while sitting in my dantian, huh?

“Okay, let’s see who wins.”

You’ll find out who’s in control now.

You lump of power, you bastard. The one wielding power is the person. You’re just a tool, you jerk.

“…Phew. Inner peace.”

Balancing sudden outbursts with mind control, I sat cross-legged in the new room, meticulously dissecting the original story in my mind.

In the original story, Cassis de Millang was a rare case who could use both European mana-based magic and Eastern energy-based martial arts. This was because he stored mana in his dantian.

It’s not like others hadn’t tried. For over a thousand years, curious individuals defied the rule that mana belongs in the heart and energy in the dantian. They tried storing energy in the heart and mana in the dantian.

The conclusion? “Don’t do it.”

“No more, no less.”

Energy and mana, derived from the roots of the World Tree, are similar yet distinct forces, with different accumulation points and pathways. Storing them in the wrong place makes circulation harder, meaning unstable energy control.

What happens when you can’t control your blood flow or nerve signals?

You might end up spewing brain-mixed blood from all seven holes in your head and die.

“…Or go berserk like a lunatic, blowing up nearby terrain and taking everyone down with you.”

But Cassis de Millang was born with a weak heart. He couldn’t store mana there. This was why the de Millang family didn’t fully recognize him as heir. They claimed his maternal heart condition tainted the de Millang bloodline.

A de Millang who couldn’t use magic wasn’t a de Millang.

So young Cassis stored mana in his dantian. And he wielded magic.

That was the story.

“Still just a side character’s backstory to get beaten by the protagonist.”

You know how it goes.

It’s to highlight the protagonist’s coolness by defeating an arrogant genius noble, with a “Even the rival is awesome, but he’ll still get crushed by the protagonist” kind of flashback.

It was just a fun narrative device, but thanks to it, I, the possessor, found a clue. Cassis de Millang was a genius who could amass tremendous misdeeds despite walking a tightrope that could destroy his body.

Textbook approaches are useless for geniuses. All I need to do is “command” what I want.

—Mana is already under my control.

That self-assurance is key. A mage must be arrogant.

I stretched out my hand and shouted.

“Kneel before me, you mana bastard…!”

—Boom!

…And so, after destroying the room fifteen times in one night, I got tired of tossing tips to the terrified hotel staff and just threw stacks of checks at them. Heh.

No shame, but training in a facility might get my clumsiness recorded on CCTV, so I spent a week like a wreck, covering up destruction with money.

Until the day before the academy’s enrollment, I had zero progress, wondering if I was heading for a dead-end death route.

“Oh.”

Shockingly, that day, I somehow learned to control mana decently.

Of course, not as perfectly as the original Cassis. Even now, I could feel the mana in my dantian growling, resisting my commands. But it looked convincing enough, so it might be fine for now.

“Now I don’t have to pick up the remote with my toes!”

Grinning ear to ear, I summoned a gust with a gesture to pull the remote, which zoomed straight into my nose. Ow! Damn you, mana!

＊＊＊

When the de Millang heir was said to be staying at their hotel, the staff steeled themselves to serve a VVVIP. His reputation for being demanding and sensitive was well-known.

But the Cassis they met wasn’t as difficult or prickly as expected.

“Maybe it’ll go smoothly?”

Everyone held that hope.

That hope turned to dust by nightfall.

Bang! Boom!

The VIP room was protected by robust formations and barriers to prevent external entry. Naturally, bullets couldn’t penetrate, and bombs couldn’t collapse it. That sturdiness was the hotel’s selling point.

Rumble—!

And Cassis de Millang was tearing through those barriers like paper, demanding a room change.

“Even if high-level energy or mana can break barriers compared to formation experts…”

To the hotel manager, who had only glimpsed the world of conquerors, it was utterly overwhelming.

Just in case, he asked the de Millang security team if it was a dangerous situation, but the loyal dogs gave no answers. True to de Millang’s dogs, they wouldn’t bark without orders. Trembling with rising fear, the manager collected the checks thrown as tips.

What the hell was going on…?

He only hoped for a peaceful checkout without incident.

＊＊＊

When the morning of the academy’s enrollment day arrived, I was so thrilled to have mastered mana control that I threw checks around during checkout.

It’s not my money anyway, and tipping is noble etiquette.

But why do the staff and security team look way more haggard than when I arrived? Must be my imagination.

“Young Master.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve obtained and brought the dormitory assignment details.”

At that moment, the head of the security team quietly approached and whispered. For reference, this was before the dorm assignment ceremony was even prepared. In other words, they’d pulled some strings.

“Wow. So bold and badass.”

I loved this kind of thing.

Law-abiding? Screw that.

Finally, something worth praising.

“Well done. Show me.”

“…! Thank you…!”

His over-the-top reaction made me wonder if Cassis rarely gave praise. Was I off? But that thought was washed away the next moment by the contents on the screen.

“….”

“….”

“…Well, well.”

Below the list stating I’d be roomed with the second son of a noble family if the dorm assignment was finalized was this:

[Note: Cadet Ryuseong of the Hanla Sect has requested to be roommates with Cadet Cassis of de Millang. We respectfully ask for your opinion and will reflect any feedback.]

A very intriguing.

Intriguing note.

“Young Master…”

“This is interesting.”

I smiled brightly.

“Ready to throw down, protagonist?!”

Hiding my overly radical thoughts, I maintained an endlessly elegant and beautiful demeanor.

I can’t help it if people around me were trembling at the sight.

Right?