Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Villainess (1)
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"What the hell? It's a romance fantasy, so why the hell is there a gate!"
"Huh? You still reading that thing?"
"Is it actually any good?"
"I dropped it ages ago, so no clue."
"Huh?"
A romance fantasy story my buddy had recommended.
The heroine's unyielding spirit, pushing through trial after trial without giving up—it really resonated with me.
Even though the novel had wrapped up three years ago, I was still hooked.
"That one's famous in the community forums. Doesn't humanity get wiped out in the ending or something?"
"Why spoil it!"
"Honestly, I recommended it just to mess with you... Didn't think you'd actually finish it..."
My friend grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
I was about to grill him more when the siren blared through the station.
"Fire alert. Fire alert. Hospital fire reported."
I bolted for the truck on instinct.
Team members piled in, filling the cab as the engine roared to life.
As we suited up en route, the team leader turned back to us.
"We're doing rescues. Steel yourselves."
His face was set like stone, a far cry from his usual gentle guidance.
We were racing into danger, but shamefully, I felt a thrill.
Three months back, pulling that kid from a burning house...
The mother's grateful eyes, the child's face—it stuck with me.
'Would my deadbeat parents regret it, seeing me live like this?'
Abandoned as a kid, raised in an orphanage.
Maybe because of irresponsible parents.
I wanted to be the responsible one. Firefighting? It called to me like nothing else.
While I drifted in thought, the truck screamed toward the blaze.
That day, I saved two lives.
The best day of my life.
And the last of my first one.
I opened my eyes to a familiar ceiling.
I turned my head, scanning the room.
A plain desk and chair by the bed, even a tiny bathroom—this single dorm room had it all.
I rubbed my pounding head, past-life memories crashing in.
'So... the world I reincarnated into is the one from that last novel I read?'
I could've called it possession since I'm a character now, but these 16 years? Crystal clear.
The day I first cast magic.
Meeting my childhood friend.
Passing the academy entrance exam.
A life like the novel's character, sure—but it was mine.
'Did that kid make it...?'
Last thing I remembered: shielding a girl from the collapsing ceiling, then face-down on the floor with her in my arms.
If I died right there, she probably didn't survive either.
"Eric! Still sleeping? You'll be late!"
A woman's voice called from outside.
Another reason I knew this was reincarnation, not possession.
I tousled my messy hair and swung out of bed, opening the door.
"Not a kid anymore! Get up earlier!"
A redheaded, red-eyed girl in academy uniform glared up at me from the doorway.
"Sorry, gimme a sec to get ready."
"Move! I'll wait inside."
"I gotta change..."
"Figure it out!"
She plopped on my bed, watching me rummage for clothes.
My childhood friend. In a year, she'd mess with the heroine, get disowned, and crumble into ruin.
The classic villainess, jealousy-fueled bully.
A spoiled princess used to being waited on by her friend.
"Whoa... How's your body this ripped, Eric?"
No way a same-age girl says that casually.
Changed from the novel—my influence, probably.
"How old are you? Not embarrassed?"
"What, it's just you. Anyone else, maybe."
I recalled the novel's version: the shy lackey egging on the jealous villainess.
Not a speck of that in my 16 years.
I'd lived exactly like my past self.
"Dressed? Let's go!"
"First class magic theory, right?"
"I'm taking first this time! Not you, sleepyhead!"
"Give it your best. Perfect score's joint first anyway."
"Ugh... Joint first's the best for theory... We'll see in practicals!"
Scarlet bounded out, full of fire.
She'd shifted a bit because of me, but deep down, she was always bright.
One week until she turns full villainess.
In the original, the author tried redeeming her, got flak, gave up.
This time? Different.
I sorted the rising plot details in my head and followed her out.
"Hurry! We'll actually be late!"
Scarlet called from outside the men's dorm.
I asked the question that popped up.
"How do you always get into my room?"
"Huh? I just say I wanna come in, and they let me."
Come to think of it, the heroine visited the hero's room a lot in the novel.
One more confirmation of my reincarnation.
I followed Scarlet out.
Imperial Academy.
Where nobles and talented commoners enrolled. Next year, the earl's adopted daughter—the heroine—and royals too.
Convenience store setting? Standard in modern romance fantasies.
"Spatial teleportation magic hinges on preparation. Improvise, and efficiency tanks."
Thirty students filled the classroom, listening to the Spatial School mage.
"Teacher, question."
"Go ahead, Eric."
"How do you swap positions with someone else using spatial magic?"
"Position swap? You're 3rd Circle, right? You could pull it off now."
The mage began explaining.
"To swap with another, prep a magic circle via catalyst ahead of time."
"What about someone in another dimension or sub-space?"
"Other dimension... Dungeons are prime examples. Possible with prep, but you'd need 4th Circle control and 5th Circle mana minimum."
"Impossible at 3rd?"
"Nail that, and you're beyond 3rd. Keep at it—you'll hit 4th soon."
The mage answered kindly, then resumed.
"To cast spatial magic, cycle mana through your circuits first..."
I reflected on the spatial magic I'd used since childhood.
'Spatial perception tests? Always perfect, even past life.'
I'd had killer spatial sense before reincarnating.
Let me navigate smoke-choked infernos, spot and extract victims fast.
'What was the original character's talent...?'
So minor, it slipped my mind.
Then it hit: dumping water magic on a fainted heroine.
'Water magic... Talent and personality? Zero overlap.'
Time flew; the end bell rang.
"I'll be at the academy through the week—hit up the Magic Department with questions."
The Spatial mage left; a middle-aged man entered.
"Finals start Wednesday. Practicals Monday—prep hard."
Class A homeroom teacher wrapped up; students filed out.
Scarlet approached, hair tousled from dozing.
"Where to? Straight to dorms?"
"Nah, library today."
"Me too!"
I followed her down the hall.
She glanced over.
"Spatial magic's wild. Teleport anywhere unseen."
"Visiting prof said it—needs catalysts or precise arrays."
She pondered, then teased lightly.
"What if your clothes don't come and you're naked?"
"Magic's imagery-based. Mage doesn't picture themselves nude, it won't happen."
Her ears flushed.
She ducked her head, changed topics.
"Y'know, no Spatial School mages at the academy?"
"Rare talent. I'm the only spatial specialist in our year."
We reached the exit amid chatter.
Out the main gate with the crowd.
A massive building loomed apart from others—academy library, two stories tall.
High ceilings, endless shelves filled my view.
Finals looming, it buzzed with students.
"Pick your books, meet at our spot."
"Got it. Be quick."
I watched her head for elemental magic, then sought demon lore.
Rifling shelves, I spotted my target.
About Archdemons
-By Volkan Silvermain-
Book in hand, I joined Scarlet and cracked it open.
8th Circle archmage's lifelong demon hunt, penned here.
I flipped fast to my page.
One line jumped out.
- Archdemons face constraints, can't linger long in the human world.
Why'd the one that hit Scarlet vanish without other casualties?
The novel glossed over demon patterns; this book detailed them.
- Archdemons appear in the human world with purpose, vanish swiftly once fulfilled.
My eyes raced on.
- Never accept an archdemon's offer. Agreement drags you to a sub-space beyond world laws.
- Once in sub-space, archdemons can't return for ages.
Matched my memories perfectly.
I paged ahead for my next goal.
But no premonitions of archdemon appearances.
No special omens before they showed.
Sun dipped low; time slipped by.
Scarlet whispered.
"How long? Closing time."
"Right. Borrow this and bounce."
I'd finished reading, but...
Couldn't let go; checked it out and left.
"Sudden archdemon book? Demons aren't on the test."
"Just caught my interest."
"Hmm... Not some special practice exam, right?"
"Demons are second-year stuff. Test that? Disaster."
"True."
Heading to dorms, a big tree caught our eye.
"Help with magic practice?"
"Sure! What?"
I grabbed two fist-sized rocks, infused mana.
"Trying position swap. Take this behind the tree."
"Okay."
She vanished from sight; I closed my eyes, pictured her spot.
View if I were there: massive tree bark.
Faint wood scent.
Foot snag on roots.
Her scene unfolded in my mind.
Mana surged through me, fingertips to toes buzzing.
Linked it to the rock in my hand.
-Crush...
Rock crumbled; I opened my eyes.
Huge tree right ahead.
"Whoa! Eric! You did it!"
Scarlet ran around from the other side.
"I wanna cast stuff like that!"
"You do what I can't."
"Yeah! Just call you when I need!"
I walked her to the women's dorm, then headed to mine.
Last resort secured—for total failure.
Best: Scarlet never gets caught by the archdemon.
All night, I pored over the borrowed book.
No rational way to warn of its coming.