22 - Three-Way Confrontation

Clarice Academy, Lilith's study. Furniture crafted from the finest oak of Dale Mountain, harmonizing like a single symphony in an antique space—now shrouded in thick fog.

"…Hoo…"

Seductive black hair, expressionless face. Lilith simply stares ahead, burning an expensive cigar with lips like flower petals, exuding an air of decadence. Naturally, smoking or any behavior that impairs cadets' studies is an absolute taboo in the academy, but

"Hoo……"

Ever since hearing the news about Lev Denek, all she could do was sit here and do this.

She'd acted too hastily. Pouring that many resources into a ragtag nobody—it was emotional, plain and simple.

The academy was currently investigating the truth behind this monster incident. Pulling off stunts like that would only get harder from now on. And Lev Denek knew all about the student council's corruption.

Yet the man who'd cornered her like that hadn't shown his face since. His intentions were unclear.

Lev Denek… hadn't demonized. He wasn't targeting Edwin, either. Maybe he hadn't even been angry in the first place. Perhaps it was all just an act.

So his real goal lay elsewhere?

'Junior…'

Maybe everything she'd built was already in his hands. Should she go beg him now to keep it secret?

"Hoo……"

Lilith briefly imagined herself groveling at his feet. It sent a thrilling shiver through her… and a hollow laugh escaped her lips.

She had to have what she wanted—no exceptions—and if she couldn't have it, she'd smash it so no one else could. That was her. Until now, acting on emotion had always satisfied her.

She'd always viewed men with contempt inside. For her to feel this way about a mere junior—a total nobody, no less…

This blind obsession was the first since meeting that red-haired man, Kaeran.

And that stress coursed through her spine like venom, muddling her thoughts. It felt just like the first time she'd decided to worship a demon—exhilarating, exalted.

Lilith's cheeks flushed. It was too twisted to call it a normal ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠girl's emotions.

"I want ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠him……"

She wanted to tangle with him more. To pledge absolute submission to the one who'd humiliated her.

"Kaeran… Lev… Which one is the real you…"

-Hoo… The smoke billowed from her lips once more, enveloping her private world.

Yeriel is depicted as a great cook in both Reborn Hero and Reborn Academy. But when her mind is cluttered, she gets flustered and tends to make things a bit messy.

Maybe because she was anxious about me, during meal prep there were some dishes to wash, so I just helped out a little…

"…Thank you for the meal."

"No, no! Eat up…!"

"Feel free to speak casually."

"Got it!"

How did it end up like this?

Aria. Yeriel. Right before my eyes, two core characters were exchanging names.

To anyone, it was a picturesque scene—and for a Reborn Hero fan like me, the ultimate gift.

Though they were both pure-hearted heroines befitting their names, they had oddly little overlap in Reborn Academy. Separate routes, and above all, the author sidelined both in the late game without further mention.

As far as I recall… Aria doesn't open her heart easily due to past trauma, while Yeriel shows nothing but angelic smiles until her corruption.

That said… Even amid this awkward dinner, Aria kept shooting me glances that screamed, 'Can you explain why you're here?'

"Do you two know each other?"

Quick-witted Yeriel caught that split-second look.

"Yeah, we were grouped for an exam."

"Oh. What a coincidence. Lev's… staying in the Selafi Black Dorm starting today."

"Pardon…?"

Aria's utensils froze at Yeriel's innocent smile.

"Any other cadets…?"

"Embarrassingly… just us two."

Her words, ripe for misunderstanding, made Aria's eyes tremble fiercely.

"Just… us two…?"

She probably meant it was embarrassing since only two lived in such a big dorm, but…

'Hah.'

In the end, I had no choice but to speak flatly.

"Got kicked out of my dorm, so the professor reassigned me here. We barely know each other."

At my firm tone, Yeriel seemed to catch on, starting to ramble.

"Uh, anyway, girls use the third floor… and guys the second, so no issues between genders…"

"…"

"And Lev… I know why he came, but anyway…! He helped with cooking… said the food was good… and he likes the dorm…"

"…"

The more Yeriel spoke, the worse Aria's expression grew.

"So, nothing for Aria to worry about will ever happen!"

"…Lady Yeriel."

"Uh… Yes?!"

And Yeriel's trust and consideration toward me backfired. Aria fixed her gaze on me and spoke.

"I, uh, came to check out this dorm because I'm interested."

"Re…ally?"

Lies. You came because of my mana signature…

"So, could I stay here too?"

-Could I stay here too?

Back in my room, I spread out some paper and sorted the situation.

Yeriel < Lev (me) < Aria

I'm watching Yeriel to prevent her Taicheonsa transformation, and Aria's watching me, thinking I'm the black curtain villain.

Three-way cohabitation begins… At least to Aria, I'm truly nothing, right? I want to tell her the truth, but logically, how could a third-rate villain who'd picked on Edwin explain, 'I ended up slaying a great demon by chance! And inherited its power!'?

With my villain trait plus her current affinity, she'd report me to the academy on the spot.

So I have to hide it until the story progresses… Wait, no?

This might actually be good.

Tomorrow, classes get assigned, and the official curriculum starts. Meaning I'll run into non-core characters like the author-favored Kaeran.

If things follow Reborn Academy canon, core heroines like Aria, Yeriel, and Selena get drawn to Kaeran and then discarded.

Better if I have their attention—a hundred times better.

And to back that up, I need to get stronger.

Clarice Academy has incidents every quarter. Kaeran could steadily flag the heroines and hold the mid-story because he was always stronger than the perpetually fainting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Edwin.

I pulled out the Aqua Dragon Orb from the hidden dungeon.

Thankfully, Aria's off handling dorm paperwork—this is my chance.

"Use."

As I declared it aloud—

-Ching!

The orb shattered instantly, absorbing into my body.

No pain or anything.

[Remaining Side Character Points: 5]

I dumped all side character points into luck, ending up like this. Average stats excluding luck: 1.86. Still way below the mains, but about average for academy cadets.

Next status window…

Checked the item first. Funny that essence yields items, but that's the gamer trait for you.

Dragon slayers covet gems embedded in foreheads, hides, orbs, or hidden chests. But for archers drooling over loot, dragon sinew is prime—for bowstrings tougher than any other.

Anyway, solves my issue with weapons outside the academy.

The inherited skill was a standard attribute infusion from the four-element dragon drop. Kaeran uses this to go berserk as a magic swordsman. Applies to any attack, fueling Reborn Academy's power creep—but now I can too. Plus, toggleable, so pairs great with hermit passives.

Thanks to luck, another skill too.

"Simple enough."

Top high mages—like academy professors—can dispel up to level 7 curses on their own. Levels 8-9 are hard to detect, often from demons or witches, requiring premium reagents and catalysts.

One-time use. Where to deploy for max efficiency?

…Got it.

One person flashed in my mind.