Chapter 82: Impossible, Absolutely Impossible!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 82: Impossible, Absolutely Impossible!
"Hiss—"
Seeing Professor Prang play for such high stakes, Professor Glen couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.
"Is that really necessary? What if he’s actually being serious?"
"Being serious? Heh..."
Professor Prang sneered. "I’ve been a teacher for fifty years. I can tell what kind of students they are with a single glance. Let me put it this way: unless Muen Campbell has been possessed by an Evil God, he’ll be a piece of worthless mud that can’t be propped up for the rest of his life."
"Well, I find it hard to believe too, but... Eh? Look! Muen Campbell... is he apologizing to Ariel?" Professor Glen suddenly cried out in surprise.
"Apologizing?"
Prang was also stunned and instinctively turned to look.
There, at the academy’s main gate, amidst the crowd of onlookers packed like sardines, Muen Campbell had actually lowered his noble head to Ariel.
"You’ve got to be kidding me..."
Prang thought he was hallucinating.
He was actually seeing that Muen Campbell—the one so arrogant that even the professors had heard of his reputation, the one who used his status as a Duke’s son to run rampant in the academy—bowing his head, admitting his fault, and apologizing to Ariel, the illegitimate child he had always looked down upon and intentionally marginalized?
What happened?
Was the world about to end?
"No, this must be an act. He must be brewing some new scheme! Hmph, if you think you can fool my fifty years of experience, you’re still far too green, Muen Campbell!"
Professor Prang gripped the windowsill with both hands, leaning his body far out of the window, his neck stretched long.
A sharp, wise glint burst from his aging eyes.
You might intentionally disguise yourself in front of others, but once you reach a place where no one is looking, your true nature will naturally reveal itself! Just watch. I won't take my eyes off you for a second until I tear off that ridiculous, hypocritical mask of yours!
"Ah, he’s entered the school," Professor Glen provided the commentary.
"Huh? He picked up some trash from the ground and even set a fallen trash can upright."
"He put a bird's nest that fell on the ground back into the tree. Those birds seem quite fond of him."
"He handed a handkerchief to a girl who just got dumped, though she was scared off by him immediately."
"He took out a book. He’s reading while walking... and he’s reading so fast!"
"And..."
"He’s actually saluting the statue of the First Dean!"
Even the drama-loving Professor Glen was shocked. "What kind of ultimate model student is this? I’ve never seen a student salute the First Dean’s statue!"
"..."
"Um? Professor Prang?"
Noticing the sudden silence beside him, Glen instinctively turned his head.
He found Professor Prang staring fixedly at Muen’s position, looking as if he had been turned to stone.
After a long silence, Prang spoke, his voice sounding a bit dry.
"Forget the students... even I haven't saluted the First Dean’s statue."
"..."
Silence.
Silence was the anthem of the night.
Muen Campbell’s behavior today was so bizarre that even these two professors, who prided themselves on being well-traveled and knowledgeable, found it difficult to process.
It wasn't until Muen entered the dormitory area and vanished from their sight that Professor Glen broke the silence. He looked at Professor Prang and said softly, "So, are you going to eat the whole desk at once, or shred it and eat it bit by bit?"
"..."
Professor Prang’s cheek twitched. He looked at his precious antique mahogany desk, then at Professor Glen, who wore the signature smile of someone enjoying the show. After a long silence, he squeezed a sentence through his teeth:
"It’s only been one day. That proves nothing. I’ll be watching Muen Campbell like a hawk. I’ll prove to you that I’m right."
With that, he turned and left without looking back.
"Ho~"
Watching Prang’s retreating figure, Professor Glen let out a whistle and muttered to himself, "Still as stubborn as ever. But..."
Glen turned back toward the dormitory area, the smile at the corner of his mouth growing more lively.
"I have a feeling the academy is going to be very interesting this year."
*
"I remember I accidentally kicked the head off this statue once, didn't I?"
Muen looked at the statue of the white-bearded old man, tilting his head. He immediately spotted the clear traces of adhesive on the statue's neck.
"Has no one noticed yet?"
Muen’s lip twitched.
He really didn't know who this statue was supposed to be. Was he so unpopular in the academy? Did no one ever come to pay their respects?
As for the name on the base... it had long been covered by vines, making it illegible.
"Regardless, it’s better to apologize first."
Muen respectfully bowed to the statue.
"Consider this a farewell to the old Muen Campbell."
From now on:
Read books.
Study.
Cultivate to become stronger.
Be a good student.
Completely escape the fate of a yellow-haired villain.
After making such a wish, Muen walked toward the dormitory area with a light step.
*
"Room 526, Muen Campbell."
Muen first went to the dormitory matron to get his key.
"Muen Campbell?"
The matron looked at Muen, her face full of shock. "You’re here this early? And... just by yourself?"
She still remembered the first time Muen came to the academy. He had descended from the sky in a carriage pulled by griffins, followed by a dark cloud of dozens of maids who came to help him organize his room.
That scene... tsk tsk, she still couldn't forget it.
"Everything is prepared, so naturally, I came alone," Muen said with a smile. "I’m not a child anymore."
"Oh, right, right."
The matron was momentarily dazed by Muen’s handsome smile. She quickly handed him the key.
"Here’s your key."
"Thank you."
Muen nodded in thanks and turned to head upstairs.
After he left, the matron clutched her chest, her plump cheeks slightly flushed. "My goodness, how is it that after just one break, this Muen Campbell has suddenly become so charming?"
*
"I didn't expect I’d actually come back to the academy."
Opening the door to his single-occupancy dorm, Muen couldn't help but feel a bit emotional as he looked at the room that was both familiar and strange.
Originally, he hadn't planned on coming. After all, the academy was not only the place where he’d clash with the protagonist, Ariel, and where he’d have to face Celicia without knowing how, but it was also the stage for several dangerous future events.
For a yellow-haired villain like him, it was simply too dangerous.
But...
Fate plays tricks on people, and it plays even more on a yellow-haired villain like him.
He had to come.
Muen closed the door, walked to a mirror, and took off his shirt.
His muscle definition was now quite clear; compared to when he first transmigrated, he was significantly stronger.
However, on his somewhat fair skin, one could still see faint, strange lines.
They looked like fingerprints.
Those were the marks left on him by the Evil God, the Withered King.
"As I thought, they won't dissipate naturally."
Muen reached out, and a cluster of crimson flames ignited in his palm.
However, compared to the terrifyingly boundless power he had used when facing another Evil God head-on, the flame in his hand now seemed quite weak.
It was roughly equivalent to the flames the assassin had obtained through sacrifice.
"It’s just like the first-recharge bonus in some unscrupulous game."
Come, come, just top up six yuan and experience a different kind of power! How is it? Is this power that holds the world in its palm amazing? Does it feel good? What? You want more? You’ll have to pay extra! No money? That’s fine too; you can pay with other things. For example... your soul.
Muen didn't even need to think to know that the reason the Withered King hadn't fully reclaimed this power was because he was banking on exactly that.
"How could I ever let you have your way?" Muen muttered as the flames vanished.
This was precisely why he had come to Saint Maria Academy.
Being targeted by two whole Evil Gods meant he had to become stronger with even greater urgency. Moreover, perhaps he could find a way to completely sever his connection with the Evil God here at the academy.
*
"But Muen Campbell, you’re way too much of a loser!"
Just after making his resolution, Muen couldn't help but clutch his head and wail.
Of course, he wasn't calling himself a loser, but the original host.
Because just by reviewing his empty memory, Muen could feel just how dissolute and unbridled the original host’s first year had been.
He wasn't worried about the martial artist side of things. With the foundation his Duke father had built for him, plus the Black Book, Muen was confident he could catch up quickly even after a year of neglect.
The problem was magic. To this day, Muen Campbell only knew one pathetic spell: the Illumination Spell!
What kind of magic was the Illumination Spell?
It was the ultimate simplified version of the Holy Light spell. Aside from turning oneself into a human lightbulb, it was a completely useless spell. Its principle was basically gathering light-element mana in the palm and then releasing it.
It was incredibly simple.
Yet Muen Campbell had only learned this one spell in an entire year! His theoretical knowledge of magic was also basically zero! It was easy to imagine that this guy had either been sleeping or daydreaming during every single magic class.
It was a miracle he hadn't been beaten to death by his magic teacher!
To make matters worse, the Black Book couldn't help Muen learn magic, because magic wasn't something that could be learned through actual combat or by mimicking someone else's movements.
But he couldn't not learn magic.
If he wanted to sever the connection with the Evil God, magic was likely the only path.
As for taking the path of faith... given how much those fanatics hated Evil Gods, he’d probably be seized as a cultist and burned at the stake before he even stepped through the doors of the Life Church.
"So, the situation is..."
Muen looked at the magic textbooks on the desk, which looked as good as new. He flipped through them and found they were indeed like a book of gibberish. He smiled bitterly.
"I, a brute with an intelligence of only nine, have to start from scratch and learn magic?"
It was a bit difficult.
But...
It was also quite interesting, wasn't it?
Since he had decided to stop being a slacker, he might as well utilize the resilience of a wage slave. He wasn't even afraid of the 996 grind; why would he fear mere magic?
Let's go! Full speed ahead!
*
Once he had determined his direction, Muen stopped wasting time.
He spent a little effort tidying up the room. Then, he went to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat.
On the way, he happened to run into the newly arriving freshmen. The freshmen didn't know Muen Campbell’s reputation yet. Quite a few young girls even got stars in their eyes when they saw him. If their parents hadn't been right there, they probably would have rushed up to strike up a conversation.
"It seems my charm is even more potent than I imagined."
Provided those rumors that stink like a sewer don't get in the way.
Muen rubbed his chin, feeling that improving his public image was truly an urgent matter.
In the afternoon, he returned to the dorm.
Muen took a shower and lay down on his bed earlier than anyone else.
He closed his eyes.
He opened his eyes.
The familiar black space entered his vision.
He looked at the spot not far in front of him.
A naked man stood there, an aura radiating from him invisibly, like a beast that had been hungry for a long time.
"Have you been waiting long?"
Muen gripped his short blades, a ferocious smile appearing on his face.
"For the 197th time... I’m definitely going to make you hand over that weird lightning move."
The man bared his teeth.
It looked like a silent laugh.
*
"Hey, hey, Ariel! I heard Muen Campbell apologized to you. Is it true?"
In Ariel’s dorm, Liya was leaning over her bed, asking curiously.
She had just returned from outside, and it was clear she had been walking fast; a thin layer of sweat covered her forehead. But she didn't care about that; she just stared at Ariel, wanting an answer immediately.
"Mhm, yeah."
Ariel was focused on an ancient book in her hand and nodded perfunctorily. "Muen Campbell did apologize to me."
"It’s actually true?"
Liya let out a cry of surprise and couldn't help but slap her forehead, which caused her ample chest to heave.
"I thought it was just another baseless rumor."
"So many people saw it today. How could it be a rumor?" Ariel rolled her eyes.
"Is that so? Then the story about Muen Campbell tricking you into getting an abortion isn't a rumor either?"
"Of course not... Wait? What did you say?"
Ariel sat up in bed like a bolt of lightning, looking at Liya in shock. "Did I just hear something as ridiculous as 'abortion'?"
"Yeah, it’s spreading like wildfire outside."
Liya counted off on her fingers. "They say Muen Campbell hates you because you’re his ex-girlfriend who couldn't let go and followed him to school, so he’s been trying to kick you out. You two supposedly had a child, but for the sake of the Campbell family’s reputation, he forced you to get an abortion. The reason he apologized is that his conscience finally got the better of him. Also, while he was dating you, he was actually two-timing thirteen other girls, and you were the one with the highest combat power, so he secretly called you..."
"Stop, stop, stop, stop! Enough!"
Ariel hurriedly signaled Liya to stop, looking horrified. "Where on earth did you hear these beyond-ridiculous stories?"
"Outside."
"Where outside?"
"Among the students. Mostly the girls are passing it around."
"How dare they spread such nonsense?" Ariel slammed the table in fury. "Do they think I won't tear their mouths apart?"