Chap 71-Rumors

 

My hands trembled.

‘Really… is this okay?’

The academy cafeteria usually had two kinds of menus prepared for each meal.

Students would usually choose one of them to eat, and I had always done so until now.

But… today was different.

Yesterday, I received Master’s inheritance through Professor Emilia.

Having suddenly become incredibly rich, I decided to splurge a little, just for today.

“Here… all of both menus.”

[SYSTEM]

-20 Gold

Payment complete!

Balance: 1,000,000,130 Gold

Is this… really okay…?

Am I really going to hell for splurging like this…?

I sat down in a secluded spot as usual and waited for a while, and soon the food I ordered was brought to the table.

A mouthwatering steak, soft mashed potatoes, warm stew, and soft bread that seemed freshly baked.

The fragrant smell tickled my nose.

I carefully picked up a fork and knife.

Perhaps because I hadn’t eaten properly for a while and had been starving, my mouth seemed to water at the mere smell of the food.

I cut a piece of steak and put it in my mouth, and the rich juice and fragrant spices spread throughout my mouth.

However…

Was it because I had been eating too little for a while, or was my stomach surprised because I was eating proper food after so long?

I felt full quickly, without being able to eat much.

I hadn’t even finished half of the steak, and the stew and bread were almost untouched.

‘I shouldn’t have been so greedy…’

Looking at the food left alone on the table, a light regret washed over me.

How many people in the world are starving without even being able to see proper food…

To leave food behind just to indulge in such luxury.

Realizing that, I felt a little… uncomfortable.

‘Should I donate through Professor Emilia…?’

It seemed like having too much money was making me think unnecessary thoughts.

“Hey, did you hear the rumor?”

“Of course, I did! How can she be so carefree after doing such a terrible thing? How can she be so shameless?”

“I know, right? So, that rumor was actually true.”

“What rumor?”

“You know, the one about Yeon Bennet spending every night in the red-light district with women, or beating and kicking out her maids if they don’t satisfy her properly.”

“Ew… disgusting. She’s the worst.”

“Hey, aren’t we in danger too? If she’s doing that to Lady Rapellasia, what about commoners like us…”

“…….”

Listening to those terrible rumors about me from behind, I couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

Of course, they weren’t saying it for me to hear, but they were talking so openly that I couldn’t help but hear it.

‘How far is my image going to fall?’

Combining the rumors about me circulating among the students these days, I was nothing short of a sex-crazed pervert.

A villainess who changes women every night and doesn’t hesitate to use violence if she doesn’t like them.

Of course, the fact that my infamy was spreading widely was quite good for me.

The Evil God’s seal would become more solid based on people’s malice and fear, and the Evil God’s power that I could use when my level rose would become that much stronger.

Everything was going according to my plan.

“…….”

Still…

‘Wouldn’t it have been possible to have an image like a charismatic and intelligent mastermind young lady…?’

I grumbled inwardly.

A cool villain who manipulates the world from behind with meticulous plans.

But what’s the reality?

Just a pathetic, incompetent, perverted lesbian who lusts after women…

Even so, this is too much!

“Hmm… I’d rather she just pounce on me, though?”

‘…Huh? Did I hear something wrong?’

“Wh… what crazy thing are you saying!”

Another female student said in horror.

I glanced back to see who had said such ridiculous things.

And I couldn’t help but doubt my eyes.

“Le… Lea???”

She was speaking with a calm expression, even with a slightly expectant look in her eyes.

“Wh… what… Even so, doing that kind of thing with such a villainess is a bit…”

Another female student said, looking disgusted.

“Why? She looks pretty hot, doesn’t she? Don’t you think?”

Lea asked innocently.

“Hey…! Even so, there are nobles here, so say something like that…”

“Ah, then how about this?”

Lea suddenly suggested, her eyes sparkling.

“We pounce on her instead! We make her pay for all the sins she has committed with her body!?”

‘…No, what the hell are you saying…! Lea, you’re going to get bullied if you do that!’

I was horrified inside.

She looks normal on the outside, but she’s completely rotten on the inside!

But what was even more absurd was…

“Oh? That’s… kind of good?”

The other female students were showing a tempting reaction to Lea’s ridiculous suggestion.

“??????”

“That’s right! We’re taking revenge on behalf of the women who have suffered!”

“Well, she looks innocent and cute, so if she loses all her power and falls into slavery later… Hehehe, just imagining it is thrilling?”

Are they all crazy?

I was so dumbfounded that I could only stare at them blankly.

At that moment, Lea and I made eye contact.

She gave me a meaningful smile.

‘…Crazy bitches. They’re insane. Insane. Insane. Insane. Insane. Insane. Insane. Completely insane!!!’

I was overwhelmed by the fear of what might happen if I stayed there any longer.

Without them knowing, as quietly as possible, I ran out of the cafeteria.

…

“Haa, haa.”

My heart was racing like crazy.

I was panting, but I couldn’t calm down.

I couldn’t tell if it was because I was running or because of the ridiculous nonsense I had just heard.

[SYSTEM]

Unique Ability ‘Masochist’ is activated.

‘Ah?’

“No. No. No. No. No!!!”

I shouted almost hysterically.

Some students passing by looked at me strangely, but now was not the time to worry about that.

“This is really not it! I don’t have such a perverted taste!!!”

Y-yes, this wasn’t my true feelings.

It certainly wouldn’t be.

That damn crazy ability just reacted on its own again!

No, and in the first place!

I was originally a man, right?

If, just if, I were to do that kind of thing with a woman…

Of course, I’d be the man!

So, I should be the one leading, right?

Being pounced on by a woman!

That’s ridiculous!

Y-yes!

I was out of breath and my heart was racing because I ran away from those crazy bitches in the cafeteria, so that’s why the ability was activated on its own!

There’s absolutely no other reason!

Yes, that’s what it was.

Yes, of course.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

Hoo… it’s okay.

I’m not a pervert.

It’s just that my Unique Ability is acting on its own…

“…….”

I glanced at the cafeteria.

I was worried that Lea and her crazy friends might come after me.

Just thinking about it made cold sweat run down my spine.

‘Brooch! Yes, let’s use the brooch!’

I hurriedly took out the silver brooch that Master had given me from my pocket.

This was my only hope now.

‘I’ll have to hide completely during breaks so that no one can recognize me for a while.’

I thought she was just a quiet and diligent child…

From now on, I firmly resolved that I should never be alone with Lea.

“Yeon?”

At that very moment, someone called my name from behind.

I was so startled that my hand lost strength, and I dropped the silver brooch that I was about to attach to my collar on the floor.

With a small clatter, the brooch rolled on the floor.

‘Damn it!’

I quickly bent down and picked up the brooch.

And after taking a deep breath, I raised my head to see who had called me.

“…Camilla?”

Red hair, ruby-like eyes.

It was Camilla Medici.

She was looking down at me with her arms crossed and her unique arrogant expression.

…

A strange silence flowed between us for a while.

She didn’t say anything, I didn’t know what she was thinking, and I couldn’t open my mouth rashly either.

Since that day, after seeing my head explode, she had been openly avoiding me.

Even when doing group assignments together, she wouldn’t even say a word to me.

But why now?

It was Camilla who broke the silence.

A seductive yet somewhat dangerous smile appeared on her lips.

“We have something to… resolve, don’t we…? Yeon?”

‘Hmm. She ignored me for a while, treating me like I didn’t exist. Is she finally going to confront me head-on?’

I tried to figure out her intentions inside.

Camilla continued without waiting for my answer.

“Let’s talk. Just the two of us. In a quiet place.”