Eek! Become the Villainess! Eek! 5

-Welcome.

-Virtual Dungeon Instance 3851 – Multicolor Corpse Farm

-Monster Type: Unknown

-Time Dilation: 240x

-Sensory Activation: 100 percent

Similar to knowledge injection, words forcibly implanted into my head blurred my vision slightly.

【Virus Undetected】

【Judged as Safe Knowledge】

【Injection Permitted】

Seeing that Theresa had deemed it safe, it seemed to be just enough information to give the students a brief overview of the virtual dungeon.

My vision cleared as I blinked, revealing a vast, ancient wasteland dotted with sparse buildings.

True to the name Multicolor Corpse Farm, the space and light here were distorted by a kaleidoscope of colors.

Beyond the crumbling ruins stretched an endless expanse of wasteland, along with fields and paddies where something unknown had once been cultivated. On the horizon of this desolate farm, something shimmering with distorted colors flickered like a mirage.

The mirage seemed to beckon me, a seductive hue gesturing me to come closer.

There was absolutely nothing natural about this.

Rainbow colors, impossible in reality, flowed on the wind, and some horizons were stained crimson. Others shimmered with yellow and blue.

Staring at it for too long would likely make my head spin.

“This feels like an American cornfield.”

As soon as I deployed a cluster of mechanical tendrils from my spine to scan the surroundings, I realized I was utterly alone in this vast wasteland.

Where did Taylor and Fira go?

Judging by the complete absence of any sign of life in this expansive space, were they quite far away?

No, Professor Bailak, who adjusted the virtual dungeon, had told us to form teams, so Pyon and Taylor should be nearby.

‘The reason I can’t sense anyone is probably because of the spatial color distortion right in front of me.’

Okay, good.

First, I’m abandoning Fira.

It’s not that I dislike Fira.

What’s so scary about the Lord of the Flies expressing affection for me?

‘However, Fira’s presence is too dangerous for me right now.’

Even though I might seem absent-minded, I’m currently on a critical undercover mission to expose traitors.

And Fira is a masterpiece of the Dunhill Family and a First-Class Overseer.

Even if her appearance and other information have been manipulated, her immense position as the commander-in-chief of the expedition team means that some people in the upper echelons must know about her.

Especially the people in the Ruincrest layer who are leading the rebellion are all high-ranking officials, so if they cast a suspicious glance, thinking, ‘Isn’t that Fira Dunhill?’ my infiltration mission would likely fall apart.

I was quite lucky that Perdain Arbentaine was tricked by his own schemes, but I don’t think the same luck will work twice for Fira.

【Finally, the human is engaging in rational thought. This auxiliary personality is deeply moved.】

“Theresa, you’re human, right?”

【Of course not.】

“Did you even learn to be shameless?”

【Shameless? Please, refer to it as an efficient method to smoothly navigate the reactions of a demanding human.】

“You and I are going to have a serious talk later.”

Anyway, there’s nothing I can do for now.

Should I start walking?

Since the time dilation is quite significant compared to the outside world, I can afford to take my time.

The texture of the soil crunching underfoot is identical to reality.

No, it’s not just similar to reality; it’s reality itself.

This virtual dungeon, much like the ability testing device in the Barrier Agency, primarily aims to assess the test-taker’s capabilities by creating virtual monsters and objects.

Theresa said that the terrain and monsters can be arbitrarily adjusted and displayed, and even if an Academy student has their limbs severed or suffers a life-threatening attack from a monster, their body will never be harmed. Once the session is over, they can go home without feeling any fatigue—a very safe device.

However, according to Theresa’s analysis, this virtual dungeon, as described by Ruincrest, has a fundamentally different structure.

【It seems the higher-ups needed a special teaching tool, driven by some elitist consciousness.】

The reality of this virtual dungeon is not a virtual world rebuilt by AI, but a real dungeon that has been completely conquered and its monster-generating abilities nullified.

【Ruincrest Academy seems to be using the dungeon as a kind of playground and training ground by embedding various formulas and safety devices into it.】

“The training ground part I understand, but what do you mean by playground?”

【You can experience all actions, including murder, rape, crime, assault, and torture, with the senses of reality, not virtually. Since you can return to normal after engaging in the aforementioned stimulating behaviors, I judged the expression ‘playground’ to be appropriate.】

“Oh my. The antics of those self-proclaimed high and noble people are truly pathetic.”

【For once, I agree with the human.】

On the surface, it looks no different from the virtual dungeons of other academies, but the clear fact is that Ruincrest’s virtual dungeon is reality, not a game or a virtual world.

The true nature of the Ruincrest virtual dungeon is that what happens inside is not a data-driven setting or phenomenon, but a reality that actually applies to both the experiencer and their companions, which is quite appealing to the students.

The computational system that protects this virtual dungeon records the body data before entry. After the training or games inside are over, the system deletes the dangerous data close to death and fully restores the body, so what does this mean from the students’ perspective?

-Ah! I can do whatever I want here!-

“Even so, isn’t it just the same as a virtual dungeon?”

【Virtual simulations made of AI and data fragments were not enough to satisfy the pleasure threshold of the higher-ups, I suppose.】

Since you can feel the senses of reality, you can experience genuine sensations different from virtual simulations.

The safety devices are quite reliably installed, and there are regeneration formulas, time dilation adjustment formulas, and internal and external spatial isolation devices, so even if you die here, you will be restored to your original state when you come outside. This means that the thugs who acted like barbarians in the virtual dungeon can return to being dignified young masters or elegant young ladies.

As a result, the Academy’s high-ranking noble ladies and young masters, who outwardly value elegance, often display monstrous cruelty and barbarism once they enter the virtual dungeon.

Even if they commit murder, torture, or rape, it’s just something that happened in the virtual dungeon, separate from reality, and since everything will be restored no matter what happens inside.

Anyway, that’s why the virtual dungeon is quite brutal and also a suitable place to see human nature and desires.

Besides, who would make an issue of what happened in the virtual world, even if someone raised a problem with what happened here?

Apart from the effectiveness of the training, everyone comes from high-ranking families with at least one hidden preference they don’t want to reveal to others.

In the first place, this is a world where the logic of power is everything.

The same is true in the Ark and in the Ruincrest layer, and the virtual dungeon is no different. If you don’t like it, you can become stronger, equip yourself with stronger and more expensive equipment, take elixirs, and come back after training.

Of course, it costs an enormous amount of money and energy to operate this virtual dungeon once, but in the Ruincrest layer, that problem is virtually nonexistent.

Anyway, as I walked and walked, everything I saw was the same.

A space distorted by dizzying colors, fields, and surprisingly intact farms and lonely buildings.

Purple cornfields and swirling apple trees.

Even though it felt eerie, it wasn’t that scary since it was only at the level of an Academy student.

“I thought they would lock us in a narrow space and make us do a battle royale since it’s a dungeon where students are allowed to attack each other… but this seems to be more about survival skills?”

【After analyzing the oxygen concentration, water vapor, mana concentration, and surrounding environment in the air, it is an environment that can quickly promote a phenomenon known as ‘forced march’ in humans.】

If you become an Overseer or Executor through the regular route, you will have to deal with monsters and calamities, so the education will focus on simple combat power, but this seems to be focused on enhancing the student’s survival skills rather than simply catching monsters.

‘This is more focused on enhancing survival itself than on how to hunt monsters.’

It could be said to be typical of Ruincrest’s education, which prepares for war between humans,

【Human, the safety device has been deactivated.】

“What device?”

【I have confirmed that the device isolating the internal and external space of the dungeon has been neutralized. If you are injured in this state, it will not be restored outside. The possibility of all abnormal conditions in the dungeon being resolved also seems small.】

I stopped for a moment at Theresa’s words and thought about it.

Is it a malfunction?

Or a coincidence?

That’s unlikely.

A malfunction in the facilities of Ruincrest Academy, where money is overflowing?

“Someone deliberately tampered with it?”

【Could it be the work of Perdain Arbentaine?】

“If it were, he wouldn’t have been quiet for the past four weeks.”

It’s a really unexpected fact, but Perdain trusts me.

For the past four weeks, I have maintained the dignity and prestige of a successor from a distinguished family and blended well into the Academy.

Moreover, I can perfectly display etiquette and elegance that Dehite can’t even imitate, so even if he doesn’t know my true feelings or emotional side, Perdain, acting as the head of the family, has definitely started to like me.

What did he say?

He even said that I was definitely more elegant and pleasing to the eye than Dehite.

He said that if I wanted, he could drive away the meddling retainers.

For reference, those retainers meant Jess and Taylor.

Perdain originally had no feelings for Jess and Taylor, but he has become even more blatant since I became the successor.

“Anyway, it’s not Perdain. If he wanted to assassinate me, he wouldn’t have needed to do something so troublesome.”

【Currently, there is not enough information to make a judgment.】

“If they really targeted me, they’ll show up soon.”

-Creak!

At that moment, I suddenly felt countless presences around me.

It was orcs.

Monsters of just the right level that would appear in the Academy’s virtual dungeon.

“Kyaaaaaa!!!”

“■■■■■■!”

“whaaaa!!!”

They weren’t ordinary orcs.

Who would call them ordinary orcs when half of their bodies were made of prosthetics, unknown machines, scrap metal, and screws?

Still, in terms of grade, they would be around B to C level depending on their scrap metal armament.

There weren’t that many of them.

Fifty.

Those guys suddenly rose up all at once from the empty wasteland and started marching towards me.

Screaming and shooting bolts attached to their bodies instead of bullets.

-Tat-tat-tat!

“Ouch.”

The accuracy was terrible, but the rate of fire was good, so a few rusty screw-like bullets hit my forehead and bounced off.

“You bastards.”

I pointed my finger with anger.

The energy, electricity, and mana that made up my body, just like in reality, were consumed in clumps, and a gray sphere gathered like dew at my fingertips.

[Liquefied Breath]

-Kwaaaaaa!

Molten metal containing immense mass pierced through the field in the form of breath.

The scrap metal orcs, with their estimated C-grade ability, couldn’t resist and were swept away. In the place where they were swept away, a huge river of molten metal remained, melting even the organic flesh and scrap metal.

“Woo-ooo-ooo!”

“Krrr…!”

No sooner had the scrap metal orcs’ lives disappeared than new visitors appeared from beyond the farm, where the colors were distorted.

This time there were more of them.

One hundred.

The scrap metal orcs’ momentum was also subtly more hostile than before, and they seemed to be definitely targeting me.

‘Monsters suddenly attack as soon as the dungeon’s safety device is deactivated…’

The circumstances are suspicious, but nothing has been clearly revealed.

Saying it would be this or that is just a matter of speculation.

Well, I can handle those guys quickly, so it doesn’t really matter.

I flick my finger.

The river of molten metal that had already been shot out and was polluting the field slowly began to rise at my gesture.

Originally, I couldn’t do anything after shooting Liquefied Breath because the energy consumption was too severe, but after going through fusion several times, I can now control that huge mass.

The shape is a wave.

Fine-tune into the shape of thorns.

Adjust the intensity to the point of destroying flesh…

Okay.

Fire.

-Thwack, thwack, thwack!

The droplets of molten metal that sprang from the river of molten metal pierced through the orc horde all at once.

“Tan, tan, ta-ran.”

I flick my finger, and the wave of molten metal covers the scrap metal orcs.

The orcs didn’t just stand still.

They screamed and dodged my molten metal wave or fired guns made of bolts and screws. Some even approached me.

However, as long as they were scrap metal orcs, they couldn’t do anything effective even if they approached me.

【Magnetism Activated】

-Squeak!

“!?”

The scrap metal orc that approached me swung its disproportionately modified crank arm, but the crank arm stopped in mid-air, exactly 10cm away.

Theresa stored all the energy and mana I absorbed in the form of electricity, and naturally, my body has its own magnetic field.

This meant that metal attacks wouldn’t work on me in most cases.

‘But wait a minute. Why did those orc bastards’ bolts and screw bullets hit my forehead earlier?’

【You weren’t going to get hurt by them anyway.】

‘You son of a bitch. Theresa, did you deliberately not block them?’

【It is judged that wasting resources on something that does not cause damage is unnecessary.】

This beep-boop doesn’t even know human feelings.

★

★

★

★

Gresus’s family, the Reikingdon Family, was one of the families in the Ruincrest layer that opposed the rebellion.

The Arbentaine Family, a meritorious family, led the ’cause,’ which eventually became the mainstream opinion of the layer, but the Reikingdon Family saw the possibility of success as low even if they rebelled.

Arbentaine’s cause is plausible, but whether it succeeds or fails, they would have to give up all the stable life and privileges they have as the upper class.

Of course, this was the thought of the head of the family, his father, and Gresus had slightly different thoughts.

‘Weak.’

His father is too weak.

Gresus knew well how inefficient the central administration was and how unqualified the rulers were, thanks to the knowledge injection that had been going on for a long time at the Academy.

Of course, that knowledge injection is also Arbentaine’s extremely subjective opinion, but biased knowledge and thoughts tend to become trapped on one side.

Anyway, Gresus regarded his father and family, who opposed the rebellion, as mere cowards. On the contrary, he had thoughts of defying his father’s will and throwing himself into the Arbentaine Family if he had the chance.

Arbentaine’s power and wealth were considered to be true nobility and close to kings even among the nobles of Ruincrest.

However, Gresus also knows that his power is still weak and he has no foundation, so now is the time to lie low.

Even if Gresus reported his father to Arbentaine, the opposition, including his father, would escape with the characteristic tail-cutting of the nobles, and Arbentaine would not look favorably on him, who has no foundation.

But such Gresus heard a strange rumor.

‘Is that the girl named Alice?’

The fact that a commoner girl who had transferred to the Academy killed Dehite Arbentaine in a Duel Trial.

When he first heard this news, he thought it was fortunate that the good-for-nothing bastard had finally died and prayed for the soul of the girl named Alice.

The Duel Trial was said to be fair, but that was only limited to those without power. For a meritorious family, it was easy to kill someone they didn’t like, regardless of the Duel Trial.

But what surprised Gresus was when rumors spread that Alice had not only been adopted by Arbentaine but had also been chosen as the next successor.

‘I’ve heard that the Arbentaine Family has an absurd obsession with strength, but to think it applies even to their own children…!’

So, Gresus had this thought.

If I kill Alice, won’t the Arbentaine Family accept me?

Rather than quietly hiding in a cowardly family, wouldn’t it be better to burn myself for a grand cause and aim for greater success and goals than I have now?

‘In fact, that bastard Dehite would have collapsed from ice magic immediately if it weren’t for his ability to distort space…’

Alice might not even remember Gresus’s face, but Gresus was also a student in Class A-1.

It was only natural for him to be proud of his abilities.

However, a young master who grew up without lacking anything in life has never experienced the bottom and probably doesn’t know the meaning of losing something.

Anyway, Gresus decided to seize the opportunity with this liberal arts course’s virtual dungeon.

The professor in charge of the liberal arts class happened to have connections with the Coffee Tree. Although not actively involved, he received a promise to share the source code of the virtual dungeon and remain silent about whatever happened inside.

Gresus unlocked the safety devices of the virtual dungeon with the source code and adjusted the internal time multiplier.

Just in case.

Isolate Alice in another space, increase the time multiplier by 2400 times, and continuously generate monster waves to drain all her stamina and mana.

And if he kills the exhausted Alice with the safety devices disabled…

‘Even though there were some tricks involved, the fact that I killed Alice remains, so the Arbentaine Family will take notice of me. I might not be adopted or made a true successor, but just being watched by a meritorious family where the law of the strong prevails will pave the way for a bright future. I might be able to steal Coffee Tree information from my father and his opposition, and if that happens, Duke Perdain will value me greatly for the sake of the cause!’

Gresus thought it was a perfect plan.

Until he saw Alice tirelessly building mountains of corpses for 24 days of perceived time.