A Third-Rate Villain’s Sweet Life Exploiting Academy Bugs – Chapter 72

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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-Ding!!

“Easy peasy.”

The Pleasure Lord’s subjugation was simple.

The [Pleasure Lord]’s only difficult pattern was ‘Pleasure’; everything else was a cakewalk.

My strategy involved deploying Wind Arrow, then focusing on the tentacles.

Once it lost all its tentacles, it became a predictable target, only using ‘Scale Powder’ and ‘Legion’.

‘Scale Powder’ was easily blocked by my preemptively deployed Wind Arrows,

and ‘Legion,’ which involved controlling the zombified corpses of Ronald’s group, posed no real threat.

-Ding!

The biggest gain was my improved control over Demonization and the Ash Grey Scatter Shot.

Perhaps because my Demonization didn’t involve a physical transformation like in the closed beta,

my body remained unchanged regardless of the duration.

Only black magic swirled around me,

which I could now precisely control and channel into the Ash Grey Scatter Shot, enhancing its power.

By mastering this simple process, combining it with Wind Archery, the resulting damage was beyond imagination.

And it also meant I was unlikely to be caught using Demonization.

-Thud. Thud.

I approached the center of the sanctuary, where the Pleasure Lord had been, the remnants of its presence still lingering.

In the center of the moonstone altar,

a treasure trove of rewards awaited, the very rewards Ronald had coveted.

“So it was here all along.”

This ring, originally destined to fall into Regillus’s hands and fuel his villainous acts, was mine.

In its unidentified state, once appraised by a specialist, it would become the [Memorize: Ring of Inscription], I presumed.

Then, using both Fallen Angelization and Demonization simultaneously would no longer be a dream.

The ring wasn’t the only reward.

Even in the ‘Reincarnation Hero’ universe, easily equippable accessories were highly valuable.

Healing Wave, Call of Vitality, Essence of Mado, and more.

There were several useful accessories.

Like in the original game, I couldn’t equip them immediately due to the requirements.

I pocketed the rings, easy to carry.

‘And… more mana stones than I expected.’

Sparkling stones pulsing with magical energy.

No wonder Ronald had been so greedy.

If the Pleasure Lord had remained in its larval form, as he had assumed,

the rewards would have been absurdly high considering the low difficulty.

In the end, they made the sacrifice, and I reaped the rewards.

It was their own fault.

‘Hmm…’

To be honest, I hadn’t anticipated soloing the [Pleasure Lord].

I hadn’t even brought a magic bag, having underestimated the potential rewards.

“Ah!”

I suddenly remembered the young receptionist who had stamped my certificate.

‘She seems trustworthy… right?’

Even considering the commission, it would be best to have the Adventurer’s Cooperative handle the loot.

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“H-how…?”

Adjusting her glasses, Venia stared at the ash-gray-haired man in disbelief.

When she and the other Cooperative employees arrived at the scene,

the Pleasure Lord was already dead.

Just a few hours ago, seeing the urgent magic message,

Venia had assumed the subjugation had failed, again.

– I’m alive! I’m alive!

– Ronald and his group… are all dead!

– We need to contact a guild… a major guild… before it evolves!

She was about to request support from a major guild, having heard the accounts of the few surviving mercenaries who barely managed to escape, when —

-There’s too much loot; I need help transporting it.

-Excuse me? You defeated the Pleasure Lord?

-Yes.

-Alone?

-Yes. So, please come here. As soon as possible.

Of course, she hadn’t believed him.

Not until she risked her life and arrived at the scene…

The ash-gray-haired man asked casually,

“How are the rewards distributed?”

“Well… technically… those who abandoned the raid forfeit their share. The Cooperative compensates the deceased with insurance benefits, and the raid leader decides on the distribution of the remaining rewards.”

“I see.”

“Since Raid Leader Ronald… also perished during the expedition… you’re now the acting raid leader…”

As Venia explained, those who abandoned the raid were not entitled to any rewards.

Therefore, the rewards for subjugating the [Pleasure Lord] belonged entirely to him.

He pondered for a moment, then said,

“Just distribute the mana stones… fairly.”

“What?”

“Exclude the dead mercenaries and Ronald’s group. I’m not obligated to compensate those who were bribed.”

“I… suppose so.”

Venia was taken aback, again.

Not because she didn’t understand his words,

but because this was the mercenary world, a world of cutthroat competition.

These mercenaries, strangers from all over the Empire, had abandoned him and fled. And yet, he wanted to compensate them?

However, just like his delicate features, he seemed unconcerned with material wealth.

“If you handle the auction and everything, what would the commission be?”

“60/40. We take 40%…”

“That’s fine.”

“!!”

Even with handling the loot,

normally, after subjugating a monster of this level, one would want to maximize their profits by handling the sale personally.

Yet he remained unconcerned.

Then, after a moment of thought, he added,

“I’ll collect the payment later.”

“Of course! We’ll make arrangements for you to receive it at the Imperial Bank!”

Venia didn’t care who he was.

‘With this much loot, I’m getting a huge bonus…!’

To her, he was simply a man who had made a civil servant’s day, someone who brought a bit of excitement into her mundane, low-paying job.

‘He’s… rather handsome, too…’

While she hoped he would utilize their services again,

perhaps he was a Shadow Mercenary, preferring to remain anonymous.

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.

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While the Cooperative wasn’t a specialized cleanup guild, and their commission as a government-affiliated organization was high, I had no other choice. I didn’t know anyone else in Ebenbahu.

Besides, civil servants were most passionate when they were young, right?

Judging from her concern and instructions, she wouldn’t embezzle or skim from the earnings.

And participating in mercenary work while enrolled at the academy was a violation of the rules.

I had to return to Clarice immediately and didn’t have time to handle the loot myself.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes! Safe travels!”

I turned to head for the magic tower that would transport me back to the academy, hearing Venia’s excited voice, then…

I stopped.

“Is there… an appraiser in Ebenbahu?”

“We do have appraisers, but… if you’re looking for someone truly skilled, you’ll find the best ones in the capital, where the major guilds are located!”

The capital…

[Divine Valhalla]’s headquarters would be there.

I had to visit the capital soon anyway.

The award ceremony for the Dungeon Exploration Practice was being held there.

‘First… let’s get back and rest.’

I had plans for tomorrow.

Now that the ‘Supporting Character’ trait was gone, I needed to check the updated system and rewards…

My body already aching, I urged my horse towards Ebenbahu.

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Royal Class Circle Room, Clarice Academy.

This lavishly furnished clubroom… was officially disbanded.

“Has anyone… heard from Kaelan?”

Despite Aveline’s question, everyone remained silent.

After his duel with Edwin, Kaelan had suddenly taken a leave of absence due to illness.

They had planned to continue their circle activities until the break to share information about the various guilds that were vying to recruit them.

With the break fast approaching, they had to resolve this situation. Melissa, Aveline, Lily, and Selena, the four remaining members, had gathered one last time.

“Well, Kaelan… will come back eventually, won’t he?”

“Eventually… you say…?”

“So, until then, the circle is… temporarily disbanded.”

Melissa readily agreed with Lily’s assessment.

And she thought to herself,

‘How did things turn out like this…’

-I also plan to become a Hero, so Melissa, will you join my party?

-You said you wanted to restore your duchy, right? Then help me. A Hero from House Prominence. Can’t you just imagine it?

She had joined the circle, believing in Kaelan and his promises of a shared future.

But things had gone downhill since the ranking matches.

-I don’t like jealous women.

-Ha, I really misjudged you.

She hadn’t even made up with him after their argument about recruiting Aria,

and then he disappeared after losing his duel.

She felt distanced from those she had considered close friends.

Surely, kind-hearted Edwin and Aria would forgive her, but…

-…

Silence filled the room once again.

With the conversation stalled, Lily rubbed her eyes and stood up.

“I’m tired… I’m going to go…”

“Ah, it’s already this late…”

After saying her goodbyes, Lily left the room, her steps sluggish with sleep.

Click.

-…

Melissa and Aveline were preoccupied with another thought.

Edwin’s sudden surge in power.

Melissa couldn’t help but voice her surprise.

“I… was shocked.”

“…”

“To think Edwin had become that strong…”

“Indeed,” Aveline agreed.

Annoyed, Melissa asked,

“But is it even possible for Edwin to beat Kaelan? Aveline, you sparred with him, didn’t you? Did you… hold back?”

Aveline bristled at the insinuation.

“I swear I did no such thing! He… he wasn’t strong enough to defeat Kaelan!”

“So you’re saying he had some kind of… growth spurt…?”

“…Well…”

Aveline hesitated, then replied,

“That… ash-gray-haired man… was helping him with his training recently. Perhaps you should ask him.”

“Ash-gray hair…? Lev… Denec?”

Something didn’t feel right.

Why was he always… somehow connected… whenever something unusual happened?

Recently, he had dueled Kaelan in the ranking matches before Edwin.

‘What’s the connection…?’

Just as Melissa’s suspicions intensified,

“You two are rather amusing, aren’t you?”

“??”

A cool, logical voice

cut through the tense atmosphere.

“Is there some rule that says Edwin isn’t allowed to win?”

“…What?”

“Or are you… switching sides now?”

It was Selena, the half-elf.

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