True Villainess

"How about it? Why don't you cooperate with this noona and try to properly climb the social ladder here?"

"Uh... what do you mean by that?"

In truth, I understood immediately what intention she had behind those words, but I just asked anyway.

I need some time to organize my thoughts.

Cherne looked at me, who was staring back at her with eyes that said I truly didn't know anything, and opened her mouth while meeting my gaze with eyes that were still impossible to read.

"Hmm... I think you understood perfectly well, though?"

"I really don't know."

"Is that so? Well, if you say so."

She shrugged her shoulders lightly and took a couple of steps back.

She took out a pouch with five glowing magic stones attached to it and pulled out a platinum coin.

Then, she handed it to me and began her full-fledged explanation.

"Ever since that kid Sereniel entered the academy, I, who had no one to be compared to, have always been compared to her. At first, I didn't think much of it, but it started getting annoying, you know?"

Afterward, as the explanation, which was no different from TMI, continued, I was gradually able to grasp the essence of this situation.

"It's not that I'm just jealous because that kid's talent is outstanding. It's the rumors floating around in high society and the academic circles since she enrolled that are disgusting. Things like, 'Is the era of Cherne Ropellert finally coming to an end?', 'Even the youngest genius is just a has-been spirit user in front of a new genius.' Garbage rumors like that."

Seeing Cherne's two fists trembling with rage, I felt a little relieved.

'Ah... so it wasn't because of some terrible inferiority complex or deep-seated malice that she came to hate Sereniel.'

She was just stressed because of the hasty comparisons and arrogant gazes of the people around her who love to belittle others. The arrow of that annoyance had simply gone astray into blind hatred for Sereniel, the one who provided the cause.

This changes the story completely.

If she were a genuine villainess filled with evil to the bone, getting involved would definitely be dangerous.

But if she's just sulking because her pride was scratched?

'If I soothe her well and butter her up, she might become quite a useful card.'

Having quickly finished calculating in my head, I put the platinum coin in my hand into my pocket and opened my mouth.

"I've roughly understood the situation. In that case, what would you like me to help you with?"

At my concise question, Professor Cherne smiled brightly as if she were very satisfied.

"Ho-ho, I quite like that you're not a man with whom one cannot communicate at all."

She lowered her voice as much as possible, after checking her surroundings once more, as if she were ordering a massive assassination plot that would threaten the peace of the continent.

Her brown eyes even shimmered with a sense of determination.

"Tomorrow at lunchtime, there will be a limited edition 'Lychee Berry Tart' at the cafeteria dessert corner. I heard that kid Sereniel goes crazy trying to eat that every single ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lunch."

I gulped and waited for the plan that would follow.

Should I secretly drug the tart?

Or should I steal it and stomp on it?

Whatever it was, it didn't seem like there would be a direct threat to my life, so I listened without much suspicion.

And I was shocked.

"You go early and hoard all of those tarts. Don't leave a single piece, take them all."

"...I beg your pardon?"

"Afterward, when that kid is in despair because the dessert is sold out, you eat the tarts right in front of her, looking very annoying and delicious. You'll be delivering a perfect humiliation that will make her cry. How about it? Isn't it a very cruel and elaborate revenge drama?"

"......."

For a moment, I wondered if I had misheard, so even though the villainess was right in front of me, I couldn't help but pick at my ear with my finger.

I thought it was naturally a joke and carefully examined her expression, but her eyes were so serious, and she even seemed to be admiring her own perfect revenge plan.

'Does this make any sense...?'

For a revenge plot by a villainess who is the continent's greatest genius spirit user and who commits terrible evil deeds in the original work only to have her throat slit by the male lead, this is too childish and trivial.

'Ha, this is driving me crazy.'

This isn't some bloodless, tearless villainess's conspiracy; isn't this just on the level of kindergarteners stealing snacks?

I barely held back the laughter that was about to burst out and cleared my throat.

From Sereniel's perspective, it was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just a fleeting disappointment at not being able to eat a single sweet dessert.

It wasn't something that would cause major physical or mental harm.

If it's this kind of small and cute revenge, there's no risk of me intervening and ruining the flow of the original story terribly.

No, rather, I was already a bit angry at how much she scratches at Rihel's nerves, so a good opportunity has arisen.

"Understood. I will gladly carry out your cruel and terrifying plan, Professor."

At my confirmation, Cherne finally showed a refreshing, villainess-like smile, as if a painful tooth had been pulled out.

"I'll be looking forward to it. If the results are good, I'll continue to use you, the commoner student, usefully from time to time."

"It is an honor."

After bowing very politely to her, I turned around without hesitation.

Of course, the whole time I opened the back door of the lecture hall and slipped out into the hallway, this absurd and cute revenge drama wouldn't leave my head, and I couldn't control the corners of my mouth that kept twitching.

"It's funny, seriously funny."

And the next day at lunchtime.

I appropriately cashed the platinum coin Professor Cherne gave me, then tipped the cafeteria staff extra and succeeded in sweeping up all the Lychee Berry Tarts in the dessert corner.

In front of me, twenty tarts giving off a sweet fruit scent were piled up like a mountain.

And not long after, Sereniel, who ran into the cafeteria, saw the 'sold out' sign and despaired, then soon discovered the mountain of tarts piled on my tray and approached me.

"Zenon... I really wanted to eat that... can't you give me just one piece?"

Her eyes were like a drooping puppy's, as if she had lost the whole world.

The moment I saw her two sparkling eyes and her two hands clasped together earnestly, I almost lost my grip on reason and pushed the whole plate of tarts to her.

However, I barely managed to hold onto my reason by pinching my thigh.

'No. It's better to be disliked like this and keep my distance.'

That way, I'll at least be able to see a chance for the original story to find its track.

Having finished rationalizing in my head, I shamelessly ignored her earnest gaze and stuffed a whole tart into my mouth with a very exaggerated motion.

"Mmm! It was worth paying extra for, indeed. It's very sweet and delicious."

At my annoying appearance as I chewed and swallowed, Sereniel's mouth dropped open.

And that evening, in the dining room on the first floor of the Denius dormitory.

Sereniel, who would normally be incessantly chattering while gently scratching at Rihel's nerves, was sighing as if the earth would collapse, poking only at her innocent salad with her fork today.

"Haa...."

Rihel tried hard to ignore her as she was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blatantly showing how sulky she was, but she eventually couldn't even last 5 minutes and slammed her cutlery down.

"Ugh, seriously! Why do you keep sighing and ruining my appetite? What's the matter!"

At Rihel's annoyed question, Sereniel opened her mouth with a tearful voice as if she had been waiting for it.

"Well... my favorite Lychee Berry Tart came out for lunch today, you see? But Zenon hoarded it all by himself... and then he ate it all in one bite right in front of me, acting all annoying."

As soon as Sereniel's long-winded tattling ended, Rihel's two eyes slowly turned toward me.

Her red eyes were chilled so coldly that it felt like she would crush me like tart dough right then and there.

And beyond that murderous gaze, I was the only one who clearly saw the cunning sight of Sereniel, who had been sniffling, biting her lip tightly and holding back laughter.

'...What a fox-like wench.'

"Zenon."

I swallowed hard at Rihel's icy voice.

"D-did you call me?"

"You usually act so slick and pretend to be all gentlemanly, but to think you'd do such childish things in front of a girl over just one dessert. No, should I say you've finally become like a rootless commoner?"

She set sharp thorns on every single word and began to denounce me with all her sincerity.

"How can a person be so petty and pathetic? Do you think I feed you in the name of Denius so you can covet such tart scraps?"

"No, Young Lady. That wasn't my intention, but..."

"Shut up. You don't even deserve to eat, so put down your cutlery right now."

"So... understood."

I couldn't even make the excuse that it was Professor Cherne's instruction.

If I made a mistake, it could escalate into a diplomatic issue between Denius and Ropellert.

So I quietly listened to Rihel's continued verbal abuse and put down my cutlery.

Only after confirming my miserable state did Rihel's anger subside a little, and she snapped her fingers to call the mansion's exclusive chef who was waiting behind her.

"Go to the kitchen right now and make a Lychee Berry Tart. Use only the highest quality ingredients that can't even be compared to the cheap stuff sold at the academy cafeteria, and make it very sweet."

"Understood."

Afterward, not long after, a freshly baked, warm, and splendid Lychee Berry Tart was placed in front of Sereniel's seat.

"Wow...! Young Lady, you're the best! It's so delicious!"

Sereniel started a tart mukbang with a very happy smile, as if she had never been sulky, and Rihel turned her head as if she didn't care at all, but she couldn't hide the proud smile hanging on her lips.

Watching the two women in that harmonious atmosphere from the corner, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I ruminated on my situation.

I ruined my stomach by forcing myself to eat tarts I don't even like. I've been disliked by Sereniel as a petty guy. I got cursed at by Rihel until I was covered in dust, and now I'm going to starve for dinner.

What on earth have I gained from this childish revenge drama?

'Ah... Cherne Ropellert.'

I looked down at my empty tray and swallowed bitter tears.

'You were the true, vicious villainess of this area.'

You damn wench.

I will definitely conquer you.