Surviving as a Villain at the Academy - Surviving as a Villain at the Academy chapter 173

173 – Can We Stop Being the Villains?

It was the very next day that Asti brought information about the other demons.

And as soon as I saw the list, I was certain.

We can stop being the villains.

I’ve been lost in thought a lot lately. No matter how much I think about it, I don’t feel the need to remain a villain. What was the reason I wanted to be a villain in the first place?

Wasn’t it to help Ruslan grow? But looking at the demons currently infiltrating the academy… they’re threatening enough that I don’t need to step in.

In the original, there were only a few insignificant demons hiding, but now, the academy itself seems like a miniature version of hell.

…What on earth are these creatures doing crawling into the academy? I wish I knew their purpose. Demons never move without a purpose.

What could they possibly want from the academy? If they’re up to mischief, there are plenty of other places to do it.

Is it to accumulate evil deeds? Or is there some other purpose?

Frowning, I asked Asti.

“Asti.”

“Yeah?”

“Why did the demons come to the academy? What for?”

“Well… Unless we hear it directly from them, it’s hard to say. And there are hardly any who would actually tell us their reasons. Some of the demons we saw at the academy were so scared of me because they’re just mid-level, but the higher-level demons aren’t intimidated by my presence. Do you think those kinds of demons would just spill their objectives? They’ll probably just brush it off.”

“You’re right. Oh, Asti. Is there anyone on the list you brought that we should be particularly wary of?”

“Well, they’re all demons to be wary of… but among them, this one is definitely the worst.”

“Aim? What kind of demon is that?”

I knew about the demon named Aime already, but just in case the information I had was different, I asked Asti for details about Aime.

“Yeah. That guy is a similar type of demon to me.”

“Similar to you in what way…?”

“A kind that feeds on human desires. Similar to me, but… after all, human desires are the source of his power. In other words, he’s skilled at inciting greed and making people yearn for something.”

“And the reason to be cautious?”

“You never know what a human crazed by desire might do. They could even terrorize the academy.”

“Ah.”

“He can intentionally create such humans. A formidable guy indeed.”

“…What a headache.”

It seemed that Aime was the same character as in the original work. The problem was, this wasn’t the time for him to appear. And then, something flashed in my mind.

The mad magician’s dungeon. It must have been Aime who created that dungeon. Damn it. Why did I only think of this now? I couldn’t remember which demon had made it, but as soon as I heard the name Aime, I could finally recall.

It’s been 10 years, so it was a mistake not to remember every little detail.

Damn it.

If that’s true, I shouldn’t have handed over the research data I obtained from the dungeon to the royal family. Aime leaves his mark in the human world, and through that mark, he stirs up human desires.

The moment someone gets their hands on that research data, Aime will approach them, and something will happen.

In other words, Aime might reach out to Magic Professor Elaine and her superiors who received the research data.

If it’s the professor’s superiors, then naturally, it’s the Imperial Magic Tower. Having one of Aime’s minions in the Imperial Magic Tower could be… more troublesome than expected.

After all, those people would do anything for magic.

Especially since the Imperial Magic Tower sometimes does strange things under the guise of research… They might even conduct experiments that sacrifice people.

Most of the time, the events at the tower are hushed up by the magicians and subtly covered up. And the empire also turns a blind eye as long as the magicians don’t commit any serious crimes.

“Ah, Duya.”

That exclamation just slipped out. My head hurt. And it wasn’t just Aime; the other demons were a problem too.

Why on earth did those things crawl all the way to the academy?

* * *

The cause of Frah’s headache at the academy was, of course, Baal, the great lord of hell.

The reason why the higher demons went to the academy, different from the original work, was because of Baal’s orders.

When Baal realized that Deus was on the move, he immediately summoned the demons.

And he commanded them. Watch the movements of the saint. The saint and the holy kingdom are Deus’s servants. If you find out what Deus’s servants are doing and how they move, you’ll surely figure out what Deus is up to.

The sudden infiltration of powerful demons into the academy was all because of that.

Baal, seated on the throne of hell, tapped the armrest of his throne as if amused.

-Sanctum. Those who spread the influence of Deus in the human realm. Come, tell me again. What does your master desire? What does he yearn for? And at the end of it all, how I wish there lies the holy war you so desperately seek.

Holy War. To Baal, the cries of heaven and the sanctum for a holy war were nothing but delightful. All he desired was to stain his hands with blood once more.

If they wish for a holy war, then it’s only a matter of providing a suitable pretext.

Namely, by killing the saintess cherished by them and beloved by Deus.

No matter how strong the saintess may be, no matter how weakened the higher demons become as they venture into the human realm.

A demon is a demon, and a saintess is merely a saintess. That too, a young saintess. Could Baal’s higher demons not manage to kill a mere saintess?

Yet, Baal was not certain.

He had often tried to hasten the holy war by killing saintesses or saints… but he had always faced unexpected interference.

It was irrelevant to the strength of the saints and saintesses. There were always those who appeared to thwart Baal’s attempts. Beings stronger than the demons he sent.

Whether he dispatched higher demons or superior demons… Baal could never hasten the holy war.

It had always been so. Always. As if it was meant to be.

Baal couldn’t help but feel skeptical about this strange phenomenon. As if the world was turning according to someone’s will. The holy war always occurred at a predetermined time. Like a squirrel in a wheel, always.

Baal could not advance that time.

So, would it be the same this time?

Would he be unable to hasten the holy war again?

It’s an unknown. However, Baal did not cease his attempts.

For what he desired had always been the same since the distant past.

More wars, screams, blood.

Only that, and nothing more.

* * *

Delazio trembled with awe. After making a pact with Aym, he felt as if the walls blocking his path had been torn down.

The deal with the demon was incomparably sweet. Not just simple chimera research, but Aym had also granted him magical knowledge powerful enough to tear down the walls before him.

Because he had realized that Delazio was a rather useful human. Whether by status or by the desires he harbored.

By using him, Aym was confident he could further amplify his power. Such fiercely desirous humans were not common.

Even more so than a mad sorcerer, Delazio harbored a tremendous longing. His craving for magic was pathological, and he was obsessed with it.

For Aym, who feeds on and draws power from the pure desires of humans, there could be no better contractor.

Thus, Aym decided. To fully support Delazio.

From noble mtl dot nete

What pleased Aym the most was that Delazio’s actions were not excessive. He conducted experiments to a manageable extent, and with Aym’s appropriate pranks, there was almost no chance of being discovered.

The imperial magic tower was an ideal place to hide something, and Delazio was a royal of considerable high rank within that imperial magic tower.

Delazio’s improvement in skill was immediately apparent. The lectures he taught became more passionate, and his magical prowess consistently improved.

His disciples rejoiced, finally believing their master had attained enlightenment. They sought his teachings, and Dellazio bestowed his knowledge upon them willingly.

Indeed, the magic granted by the demon had transformed his once static life.

Dellazio couldn’t help but adore the situation he found himself in. And then, he realized. If he could tear down just one more wall, he could become a grand sorcerer.

Despite his resolve not to rush, the closer his lifelong goal of becoming a grand sorcerer came, the more impatient he grew.

For an impatient sorcerer, there was only one thing to do. More fervent experiments and research.

However, the experiments and research conducted by him, who had gained knowledge from a demon, were all unspeakably evil. Suddenly, the number of disappearances in remote villages began to rise.

It was too frequent to blame on mere beasts.

Dellazio’s impatience soon made his trail longer, and… unfortunately.

There were those who hunted those with long trails.

The inquisitors of the Holy Kingdom. They had caught the scent.