There Is No Hidden Villain in This Novel Chapter 71

“Have you heard?”

The words, repeating like a round song, created rough ripples.

“I hear Lord Cassis isn’t withdrawing from the academy.”

Students who didn’t know the situation well reacted only to that extent, but those who prided themselves on knowing a thing or two about how society worked had a different reaction.

“What? This is going to get big…!”

Their prediction was not wrong. The news that Cassis de Millang had reversed his decision to withdraw from the academy quickly turned the outside world upside down. While most of Cassis de Millang’s actions were like this, this particular case was a hotter topic than usual.

If you are wondering why all the fuss over a single student almost leaving school and then changing his mind, well, for starters…

‘We will have to consider just how far the influence of a mere civilian can extend.’

The minor head of the de Millang family bears a weight befitting a crown. How could he act rashly when the stock price of a major corporation could waver with a single trivial decision of his? There was virtually no instance of him ever reversing a decision, except for when he was a newborn who didn’t know how to speak. This was especially true for matters that had been officially announced to the public.

Do not try to deny the official nature of his statement just because it was a casual remark made to a professor at the academy. The truth that Cassis de Millang uses even the gazes of others like chess pieces is something any intellectual with a decent grasp of the world can easily discern. Cassis de Millang must have anticipated the ripple effect that the murmurs of loose-lipped students would spread. Though it is unknown what he sought to gain by revealing his withdrawal.

‘The head of the de Millang family confined Cassis de Millang to the academy, suppressing his opportunities to build a reputation. So that he could not threaten the family head’s position…’

Consequently, that declaration was an act of defiance against the family head.

‘The young, dormant dragon, ceasing his long clandestine activities, is about to emerge from the water. Where is the dormant dragon’s movement headed, and who will its ripples engulf…’

Cassis de Millang began conquering dungeons at the young age of thirteen, and at fourteen, after about a year of terrifying activity, he suddenly vanished. Rather than vanishing, he began interacting with politicians in back rooms thick with the scent of cigars instead of on the front lines of dungeon conquests, and it was from then on. That was when Cassis de Millang was imprinted as a fearsome strategist and schemer.

The political and financial worlds stirred as they tasted joy and sorrow in the grip of the young boy. Even though he sat in a position to wield the power of the de Millang family, all he possessed was the seal of a minor head, yet in an instant, prestigious families were broken and great clans collapsed. As if he were a boy born for intrigue, every time he smiled, a succession of downfalls followed.

However, after another year, from the age of sixteen, Cassis de Millang had truly stopped his activities as if he had gone into hiding. Even when discreet inquiries were made to his family about him, the only answer that came back was that he was receiving education as an heir, and no other information could be obtained.

Named conquerors, watching Cassis de Millang’s change, would often disparage him, saying that his time on the front lines was just a scheme to pad his career or medals, and that he didn’t show a shred of genuine will to save the world. This history was also part of the reason why named conquerors did not truly acknowledge Cassis de Millang.

However, there were also those who grew terrified, namely the old retainers of Kazen, people like Professor Apel. In short, those from prestigious families or prestigious clans. Those who understood just how solid the crushed families and clans had been. Those who could fathom how terrifying a scheme that could completely crush such groups was.

The fact that a fifteen-year-old had accomplished all that was despairing enough, but what on earth could such a person do once he was fully developed…

Apel would sometimes have such thoughts.

This was a fact unknown even to Jung Ian, but it was the reason why no one had objected to Cassis de Millang entering Aletheia Academy as the top student. The versatile achievements Cassis de Millang had shown in the brief span of one year sparked opinions on whether he even needed to attend the academy, so who could possibly rebuke him for becoming the top student without an entrance exam?

If one had to nitpick, the only thing to say was to ask why he was muddying the waters by coming to an academy where kids play.

‘There was a named conqueror who boasted that he, too, could pull off destroying a family.’

Well, he probably thinks he could manage it with brute force. Just striding through the main gate and smashing everything.

However, the kind of fear that breaks even the will to resist, that severs even the pity or helping hands of those around—that was something that could not be drawn out by force alone.

Cassis de Millang wielded fear. That was the problem.

That was always the only problem…

‘…Now what kind of move will you make to throw this peaceful school into turmoil! Cassis de Millang!’

And so, the next move of Cassis de Millang, who threw the crowd into confusion with a simple reversal, as if a child were toying with a marble in his hand, was…

“Where did the person who said he wouldn’t sleep with me go? You were the one who jumped at the chance. Weren’t you?”

“…”

“Haha. Surely you wouldn’t say two different things with one mouth? If you have a conscience, you couldn’t possibly do that. Right?”

Ryuseong is glaring at me as if he’s going to kill me right now. There was a good reason why Ryuseong’s long-cultivated composure had broken. It was because I was making an expression so detestable that I wanted to punch myself.

If you were to rank people by their talent for driving others crazy, this body I’ve possessed, Cassis de Millang, would overwhelm everyone in the world with his absolute superiority in being an asshole and take first place. Seeing me like this, how could he possibly stay sane…

Shliiing.

“…Wait a minute, why are you drawing your sword?”

“It is because I trust you. Because a firm trust exists between you and I that even if I stab you with this sword, you would avoid a fatal wound…”

Are you crazy, you bastard!

If you stab me for real, Cassis de Millang might survive, but Jung Ian will die, I’ll die!

“Let’s stop. I’ll let you off the hook.”

“Whether you are letting me off or I am letting you off is something we will have to wait and see…”

Ryuseong muttered grimly and slid his sword back into its sheath. Clank! Although I had the grand ambition of corrupting Ryuseong’s character, I had no desire to become the target of a murder, so I decided to shut my mouth at this point.

‘Still, seeing him show his temper is satisfying. Hmph!’

After all, Ryuseong is someone who needs to let his personality out. As long as it wasn’t to the extent of killing me, I was prepared to put up with a reasonable amount of his temper.

‘…I’m definitely not scared!’

For the record, Aletheia Academy does not permit students to carry real swords. It’s fine to carry weapons in a subspace, but wearing them at your waist is not allowed.

So, the fact that Ryuseong could draw and sheathe his sword at will would probably give people a hint as to what our next move would be.

It meant that Ryuseong and I were already preparing for a field trip.

‘And to Russia, of all places.’

There is a reason why I’m not canceling the plan that started because of a lovers’ quarrel, even though Ryuseong might not kill me. First, it is not certain whether Ryuseong intends to kill me or not. And also, there is nothing wrong with becoming the family head.

To put it bluntly, the head of the de Millang family dislikes Cassis de Millang, so I thought, what reason is there that I can’t take that position?

Still, someone might ask why I’m preparing in such a hurry.

But this is what I think.

‘When a man draws his sword! Huh?’

He should at least slice up three or four monsters!

And hunt a named one too!

‘That’s the proper way!’

Of course, the world’s common sense dismisses my thoughts as bullshit, but they are the ignorant ones. I know. Ryuseong’s skills make that possible. There is no reason not to go on a reputation-building raid.

Me? What about me?

I smiled contentedly on the spot.

‘You think I could do it?’

Of course I’ll get my ass kicked. I’ll get so thoroughly beaten that I’ll go to the underworld and be forced to kneel before King Yeomra, only to hear him say, ‘You know your sins! You damn mastermind bastard!’

This wasn’t a matter of being strong or not; it was a matter of practical experience.

As you know, I had no problem dealing with people. I didn’t just deal with them; I sliced them up, burned them up, and did everything. But my current state is that I have never fought a monster.

What? Didn’t I fight plenty in the training room?

That was literally ‘training.’ It wasn’t real. I had never truly witnessed the moment a mud monster tried to pounce on me. For my current self to boast that I had the confidence to slap a monster in the face would be arrogance and impudence.

I am an arrogant person, but I know how to be humble when my life is on the line. You have to be, to survive.

‘In short, I’m going solely on my faith in Ryuseong!’

“Your butler is waiting at the airport with the private jet. He said he has a limousine parked out front too. Well, are your preparations finished?”

Just then, Teacher Damyeon approached and asked in an annoyed tone. We were currently occupying an empty room, cross-checking the supplies the teachers had provided with the items procured by the de Millang side, and packing our bags while discerning which side had more luxurious materials. I was having trouble because the things the teachers gave us didn’t look very expensive, and I was hesitating over what to say because I’m a kinder person than you might think, when Ryuseong tattled.

“It is not finished because that person won’t stop spouting nonsense.”

“That is quite an impudent slander, isn’t it? Should I say you’re brave for plotting against me…”

As I was smiling with my eyes gracefully curved as if to say, “Are you trying to start another fight?” Damyeon shot back with a very indifferent expression.

“I heard everything, you crazy bastards. It’s a good thing I was here to chase the other professors away. If I hadn’t been, who knows how far your private lives would have spread.”

“…”

“…”

Wow, I never imagined this…

‘Is this what they call a teacher’s grace…?’

For the first time, the principal looked cool.