Surviving as a Villain at the Academy - Surviving as a Villain at the Academy chapter 140

140 – So, even if we’re not on such terms. (14)

Watching Prach ruthlessly beat up the gangsters, Dantalion spoke to the head of the organization,

“The author and the woman next to him. How should we handle them?”

“…Hmm. Judging by appearances, the man seems like someone who has been in a fight before… It doesn’t seem too difficult. So, is the detailed request about dealing with those wealthy nobles?”

“That’s correct.”

The head of the organization seemed a bit hesitant and said to Dantalion,

“At first, I heard it was just about causing a ruckus at the festival.”

“That’s also true. Look. Those thugs picking a fight with that noble over there, don’t they look familiar?”

“…Hmm? Ah.”

“No matter how you leave the kingdom based on the commission fee, they have been causing trouble so far, haven’t they? A little payback wouldn’t hurt, right?”

Throughout Prach’s plan, Dantalion had slightly refined the parts that were lacking. By utilizing the power dynamics of the Sacrum Redlight District, they could attract more attention effectively.

Originally, if a ruckus broke out at the Redlight District festival where thugs were targeting Prach and the maiden, it wouldn’t be much of a spectacle. A simple brawl wouldn’t cut it.

Prach’s plan was to manipulate the inquisitors into action under the pretext of the maiden’s inquiry. Therefore, the larger the scale, the better.

If a full-scale battle took place at the Sacrum Redlight District, it would resonate loudly in the ears of the inquisitors.

From there, Dantalion had slightly twisted Prach’s plan. Instead of a simple brawl, they would engage all the hostile figures in the Sacrum Redlight District in a fight.

And with the maiden appearing alongside Prach, it would become an even bigger spectacle.

Since the maiden’s goal was to subdue the hostile figures in Sacrum, there was no need to object. Dantalion just needed to instigate things properly.

“That doesn’t sound bad.”

“Well, I’ll help too.”

“…Really?”

“I also received a message to ensure the success of a high-ranking individual… Even if it means lending a helping hand, right?”

“If it’s you, it seems more like cat’s paw than anything else.”

“Well, anyway… let’s start slowly. It seems like those guys from the other organization are starting to gather.”

“Alright. Summon the kids.”

“Yes!”

It might have seemed chaotic to others, but to Dantalion, it wasn’t much different from a gathering of thugs. He looked at them, smiling as if amused, then passed a message to Frah.

– Lord Frah.

– What?

– I’ve instigated those guys for now, and coincidentally, the guys you’re dealing with are enemies of the ones who commissioned them. Planning to escalate the fight a bit… How about having Lady Saint reveal her identity once the fight intensifies?

– That would be much better. Good idea.

– I think it would be far better than just creating a scene with a few thugs. It wouldn’t look good if the Lady Saint revealed herself over some minor thug mischief, right?

– Exactly. Anyway, understood. It’s a message to keep things under control until the fight escalates, right?

– That’s right. Since I’ll be joining in soon anyway… please pretend to fight me properly. Of course, it would be awkward if you got too serious. I have no match in weakness, so I might just die.

– Don’t worry.

***

Dantalion, surprisingly, seemed to handle things better than expected. Certainly, since the plan that the Inspectorate had initially spread was nothing but pathetic, there were doubts about how this would turn out.

…No matter how much I think about it, without Dantalion, it would have been a disaster. Just the idea of creating a crisis with a few thugs. After cooling my head a bit, I realized that I am not skilled in devising any schemes.

Yes. If it’s a fight between organizations across the entire Sakrum Red District, it might be a scenario suitable for the Lady Saint to make an appearance. Dantalion would need to be dealt with separately later.

Slowly, the lackeys of the fanatics began to swarm towards me. They were about to rush at me as soon as they saw my comrades fall.

But before that, there was Dantalion, slyly dressed in a robe, and his lackeys pouring out behind him.

And then, they started fighting on their own accord.

“These damn bastards…!”

“Hey, back off!”

It was like a scene from a cheap gangster movie. They were slashing wildly, shooting arrows, throwing knives… but to me, it just looked like a neighborhood scuffle.

Then, Dantalion approached me discreetly.

“Good job.”

“Well, I have to at least pretend to fight properly, right? To make it look like a standoff?”

“For now, yes.”

“Um, senior? Who is this person…?”

“Someone I hired. Quite useful, isn’t he? Apparently, those guys fighting there are the largest organization in the Sakrum Red District.”

“Oh.”

“Probably, the fight will escalate to the entire Red District soon. The Knights won’t be able to ignore it.”

“I see. So, it’s best if she reveals herself at that time, right?”

“Exactly.”

It will probably spread throughout the entire Holy Kingdom. The Lady Saint visited the Duke of Ransel and the Red District.

The Inspectors will continue to provoke in a malicious way.

– Dantalion.

– Yes.

– Have you found any evidence? Evidence of the Inspectorate’s misconduct.

– Yes, I found that as well. They thought they hid it well, but I found everything. These people are even dirtier than I thought.

– Send it to me later. Oh, naturally, the seal proving the Inspectorate’s identity will be on the document, right?

– Of course.

– Alright.

At that moment, the entire Red Light District began to stir slowly. The knights sensed something strange amidst the thugs’ fighting.

The conflict was escalating. It was becoming difficult to subdue with just a few knights. Well, during the festival season, seeing those fellows who had been lying low in the Red Light District suddenly engaging in a group brawl…

“What’s all this commotion about!”

“Hey! Don’t mess with the knights! Leave them alone, deal with those bastards first!”

Of course, they knew better than to mess with the knights. Especially those who had initiated the brawl were full of thoughts of toppling the Holy Empire, so they wisely avoided the knights. Provoking them would not only make toppling the Empire difficult but also risky.

– Why are they so eager to overthrow the Empire? Wouldn’t it be better to just live by preying on other organizations? It’s not easy to conquer other regions either.

– Well, it seems the Empire has been squeezing them tighter than they thought. That’s why they left in search of freedom.

– …Well, even during the festival, they could have lived well, but they were trapped in the Red Light District under the Empire’s control.

– Anyway, it seems like the fighting is intensifying. Now might be a good time.

Upon hearing Dantalion’s words, I whispered to Adrian.

“Arlin, it seems like the right time to step in.”

“…Do you think so?”

“Yes. The knights are finding it hard to control the situation.”

“Understood. Um… It might tarnish my reputation a bit.”

“It’s inevitable. We revealed ourselves in the Red Light District. Nevertheless, have a plausible excuse ready. You don’t need to let your entire reputation be ruined by getting swept up in their opinions.”

“Of course. I plan to briefly investigate the darker side of the Empire. Still… the Inquisitors will likely spread malicious rumors about me.”

Adrian discreetly pressed the brooch enchanted with a glamour spell. As a result, her disguise faded away, revealing her true appearance.

“What are you doing! Stop!”

Of course, amidst the chaos, no one recognized her.

However.

“Stop.”

With a radiant aura bursting forth, Adrian began to exude a commanding presence.

“Cease.”

Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent.

Everyone, including the knights and thugs, stood in awe, gaping at the revealed figure of the holy maiden.

It was quite… an incongruous sight, to say the least.

—

The conflict was swiftly quelled, and the thugs looked at Dantalion with bewildered expressions. They had much to say, but seeing Dantalion sticking close to us, they sensed that something was amiss.

Amidst the unexpected tranquility that had befallen the Red Light District, Adrian spoke up.

“I came here with trustworthy individuals to secretly investigate those within the Sacrum who have strayed from the divine path. However… it’s worse than I anticipated.”

As the surroundings were so quiet that not even a breath could be heard, her voice, though not loud, resonated in everyone’s ears.

“People fighting each other, chaotic streets, a place devoid of restraint. Of course, I understood that such places exist where people reside. No matter how splendid a city may be, darkness always lurks within. It seems that Sacrum has not managed to eliminate that darkness.”

The color drained from the faces of the thugs. For them to turn ashen-faced from drunken flushes was a rarer experience than expected.

“Such places cannot be left as they are.”

And thus, the holy maiden’s decree was issued. A declaration to rid this Red Light District of unrestrained behavior.

The thugs dared not protest. Perhaps the knights who failed to stop the thugs earlier had requested reinforcements, as their numbers had suddenly increased significantly.