A Third-Rate Villain’s Sweet Life Exploiting Academy Bugs – Chapter 126

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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-Bang!

The magic flare exploded, signaling the start of the selection test, and the eager students all rushed into the first area, the forest.

The goal of the test was to reach the 4th and 5th areas, the Valley of Death and the ruins of the magic tower, but ultimately, it was a relative evaluation based on points.

Points corresponding to each monster, named monster, or boss defeated were recorded on a magic tool carried by the party leader.

Of course, exploring the island freely during this process was left to the students’ discretion. Additional points and supplies hidden by the academy could be found throughout the island.

Since higher-level areas yielded more points, quickly moving to the deeper parts of the island was key to maximizing points within the time limit.

The five members of the party with the highest score would be reported to each council and become Hero candidates, and this standard also partially applied to the second and third-placed parties.

And Group 11, Edwin’s party, was also traversing the forest, keeping pace with the leaders. Aria Bluebell, the girl positioned right in front of Lev Denec, the rearguard of this party, recalled the events of last night.

-Shall we go to your room?

-I like you, Aria… truly.

‘The Mr. Lev I know…’

While focusing on the selection test was her top priority,

‘Before we left… I thought he would apologize.’

Aria had been waiting for his apology since their long exchange of gazes a while ago, no, even before that. When Lev stole her first kiss and she returned to her room alone that night…

‘Bad person… you’re bad… so bad…!’

Holding back tears, she had sworn not to speak to him again. But now, things were different. They were comrades who had to face this test together, and she couldn’t avoid him forever.

So she had decided that if he sincerely apologized, she would reluctantly accept it.

But he,

the one right behind her…

hadn’t said a word to her.

However, it wasn’t complete disregard either.

-I’ll carry that…!

-Grab.

-…

Whenever the path became rough, he would take the luggage Aria was supposed to carry… and he always made sure to clear the area around her so she could cast magic without interruption.

Then,

“Aria, barrier.”

His low voice, which had been playing out in her imagination, came from behind.

“…Yes?”

When Aria snapped out of her thoughts and returned to reality, it was already too late. A monster ambushed them. The battle had begun.

“Aria, snap out of it! Barrier!”

Edwin, the party leader, gave another order.

“Y…Yes!”

Just as Aria tried to focus,

-Growl!!

Wolf-like monsters with spiky black flames manes lunged at Aria all at once.

“Ugh!!”

The moment she squeezed her eyes shut,

-Swish!

-Thud!

-Growl!

Lev, his expression unchanged, swiftly threw a dagger to force one back, and with another dagger held in reverse grip, he pierced the neck of the remaining one.

-Kyargh!

However, perhaps it was the leader with the violet mane, it didn’t die from a single blow.

-Crunch!

It bit Lev’s hand, but he only frowned slightly, then

-Stab…!

-Gasp…

finished it off.

-Thud.

“Are you two alright?!”

“Lev…! Aria!”

Edwin and Yeriel, who had been at the front, finished off the remaining monsters and rushed over.

“I’m fine.”

“I’m… alright.”

She had been lost in thought and failed to perform her duties as a healer. Because of that, Lev, who was at the very back, was injured.

“Even though it’s the early stages, please focus! Even Lily is working hard.”

“Lily’s right. Aria is our only healer. We’ll do our best to protect you, but…”

“I’m sorry, everyone.”

“…”

Lev, as if it was nothing, simply took out a bandage and wrapped it around his hand. Seeing this, Aria cautiously approached him.

“Let me heal that…!”

“Conserve your divine power for now, we don’t know what will happen. Let’s do it all at once when we set up camp.”

“Okay…”

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When we reached a stream in the forest,

-Ding!

A magically amplified voice echoed.

-Group 3. Judging further progress impossible, we’ll be waiting here. Please send a guardian to this location.

Just a few hours after the test began, the first eliminated group, as determined by the student council, was announced.

“Already?”

“Group 3 started quite early… they were in the lead, so they must have had a lot of battles.”

Listening silently, I stopped the party as we came across a large rock.

“Let’s make this our base camp for today.”

Lily and Edwin, who were in charge of the middle and vanguard respectively, asked me simultaneously,

“Huh? Lily isn’t tired yet!”

“Um… Lev… isn’t it too early to set up camp already?”

I slowly explained to the four of them,

“From the 2nd area, the reed field, the atmospheric magic pressure gets denser. Since we’ll need to rest for a long time anyway, it’s better to set up here at the edge of the 1st area and prepare as much as possible.”

Thankfully, they all listened to me quietly.

“Besides, this is your first time spending a night outdoors, right?”

“That’s right, Lily’s excited!”

“Indeed.”

“So you need to get used to it. Darkness falls quickly in the forest, and we need extra time today to allocate roles.”

“Roles?”

Yeriel answered Edwin’s question this time.

“He’s talking about assigning cooking duty, watch duty, and setting up a resting space, which is also a lot of work.”

“Yohoho!”

Lily nodded vigorously and said, puffing out her chest,

“As expected of Lev! This Lily didn’t choose him for nothing!”

I brushed the fallen leaves off her oversized training clothes and said,

“Edwin, from now on, search this area. Just check for any dangers. And the four of us will split into two groups for cooking and setting up tents.”

“Okay!”

“Got it.”

.

.

.

“So it’s like this.”

As a result of drawing lots, Yeriel and Lily were in charge of cooking, and Aria and I were in charge of setting up the tents.

“I’ll make some light but filling dishes…!”

“Mmm… Lily wants to be with Lev…”

“Now, now, don’t be like that, Lily…! I’m counting on you!”

“Okay~”

Yeriel gave me a bright smile and disappeared with Lily. It felt like she was telling me to talk to Aria and make up.

-Thump… Thump!

As I silently started clearing the ground for the tents, Aria approached me.

“Your hand, please.”

“Ah, it’s okay. Conserve your divine power…”

“Please.”

At her cold tone, I held out my hand. Aria flinched slightly, then gently touched my hand.

-Whoosh.

There was a slight tremor in Aria’s hand as she cast the healing spell.

Soon, the healing was complete.

“Thank you.”

At my words of gratitude, Aria slightly raised her head.

“I won’t be distracted from now on and will keep watch.”

“Yes, keep an eye on me with all your might.”

“Not keep an eye on you, but keep watch… I was the one who was distracted and failed to fulfill my duty.”

As I nodded and turned away, Aria, seemingly wanting to continue the conversation, followed closely beside me.

-Thump! Thump!

“You said… you would help me get revenge, right?”

“Yes, I did.”

“So, I’m just helping you by preventing any problems. As a party member. It doesn’t mean anything else.”

“As expected, Aria is kind.”

“…”

At my muttered compliment… she stopped moving.

“…Is that all?”

“…?”

“What Mr. Lev has to say to me.”

“…”

“…I see.”

Aria slightly clenched her fists and continued,

“The Mr. Lev I know, the Mr. Lev I’ve come to like…! isn’t like this…”

“…”

“Are you trying to distance yourself from me because of Yeriel? If that’s the case, you can tell me comfortably! Just being comrades with Mr. Lev is enough…!”

Why was she so kind?

“So please stop acting so mean, like someone I would dislike…”

“Aria.”

“…?”

“Your feelings of revenge towards Andras… are genuine, right?”

“…Yes?”

“I know it’s shameless, but will you promise me something?”

“What…?”

“If we encounter Andras, that you’ll finish him off completely, so he can’t revive.”

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say…”

“Please, do it with your own hands.”

Aria avoided my gaze and spoke anxiously,

“…W, why are you suddenly saying this to me?”

“…Please.”

“If you don’t tell me the reason… I can’t promise you.”

“……”

Aria’s expression was firm.

Now… there was no other way.

‘The resurrected soul of [Crimson Ash]… spreads its fiery wings for a greater leap…’

-Hero, Krune

This was the only way to deal with Marcosias. And the only way to save everyone was for me to die by her hand. There was no other way.

.

.

.

I forced my tightly closed mouth open.

“Aria, this might be hard to believe, but please hear me out.”

“…?”

I covered my eyes and forehead with my hand and confessed,

“…The Great Demon Andras is dead.”

“…Yes…?”

I spoke in a trembling voice, appealing only to the truth.

“Because I… killed him.”

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