Villain Extra: Rogue Reader

Crestellan Academy, Professor’s Lounge

Belva stood in front of the door, dazed.

How long has it been since she was last here?

...

Unknown years ago

”Ahh, Belva, you arrived at the correct time. I’ve just finished up some research and wanted to get it tested.” Margaret’s face lit up when she spotted Belva by the door.

”Professor Margaret, you finally completed the Reverse Chemical Thunder?” Belva exclaimed excitedly and entered the lab located in the interior of the Professor’s Lounge.

”Indeed. The Chemical Thunder was a deadly spell designed to corrupt and lightning a collective horde. But with this Reverse version, we can nullify the negative side effect and eradicate the corruption that affects allies.”

”This is amazing! With this, the academic award for scientific theory would be yours this year.”

”Let’s not get too excited now. We can’t get ahead of ourselves.” Margaret giggled and explained, ”According to my research, we’ll need some volcanic ashes that are blessed by elven magic. The ashes contained in it have special properties that could contain corruption and contamination.”

”You’re going on a field trip again? Can I come along?” Belva asked.

”Not this time. The elven region has gotten quite tense lately, and we’re advised to not go there without a somewhat good relationship with the elves.” Margaret shook her head.

”I see...” Although disappointed, Belva didn’t insist when the professor had already made her decision. She was probably going to become a burden if she followed along anyway.

End of the unknown years ago flashback

...

Those memories were the last time Belva had with Margaret before the said tragedy struck her.

Did she blame the professor for not letting her tag along back then?

Truth be told, Belva truly did. She always wondered about the ’What if’ situation, but there were never any ’if situations’, only reality.

’Will the Professor even remember me after all these years?’ Belva didn’t really know what to say when she met her.

’Forget it, those were the past anyway. There’s no need to deliberately meet with her.’ In the end, she decided to turn around and walk away.

Belva remained completely unaware that Margaret was just standing on the opposite side of the door.

”So she’s not willing to see me...” Margaret smiled bitterly. Given her power, she could naturally conceal her aura and presence from Belva. She didn’t want to leak them out and affect Belva’s decision on whether or not to meet with her.

Although the result was already somewhat expected, there was still an aching pain in her heart when it really did happen.

Margaret pursed her lips and shifted her attention to a dusty trophy.

Scientific Theory Academic Award: Josephine Margaret

Margaret was her surname, with her first name being Josephine. But many simply addressed her by the family surname, Margaret.

That was the norm, but Margaret never felt so disgusted in having such a noble surname, yet she was actually powerless when it came to defending others.

A noble should be to defend and protect their people from outsiders, not the other way around.

”If you’re that sad, why don’t you just meet with her?” While Margaret was deep in thought, a voice echoed from behind.

”What do you want, Cowell?” Margaret rolled her eyes at him.

Cowell, otherwise known as the Top Combat Professor and having earned quite a lot of achievements in his youth, chuckled in amusement.

”You know that I’ve won many tournaments in my youth,” Cowell said softly.

”If you want to brag, then find someone else to brag about. I have no interest in your ’glory’ past.”

”That’s the thing. People only think it was a glorious past. But to me, I’ve lost someone dearest to me.”

Cowell approached the shelves that contained many trophies. ”The day I won my last tournament, the woman of my love was actually suffering from an illness and hid it from me just so I could focus on the competition.”

Margaret was silent during his monologue.

She had also heard a bit about Cowell’s past, who had lost his drive and goal. It wasn’t until the Principal gave him a wake-up call and told him to train the new generation while holding onto that memory to prevent similar incidents for others.

”So what? Are you here to share your sob stories or something else?” Margaret clicked her tongue. She was never good at interpersonal relationships nor at being a therapist for others.

”Haha, of course not.” Cowell chuckled and gazed at her sympathetically.

”What I mean is that she has returned, and it’s wise to strike up a conversation with her while you still have that chance. I wasn’t even fortunate enough to have a conversation with her.” He continued, reminiscing about the face of his love.

”Tsk, what a noisy person you are.” She hissed, turned around, and proceeded to walk away.

But before leaving completely, she opened the cabinet and held the dusty trophy.

”Don’t have any regrets like me, Margaret.” Cowell watched her disappear, his back emitting a dark blue color.

...

”ACHOOO!” Ray suddenly sneezed loudly on his bed.

”Fuck, some bastards must have said some cringeworthy lines or done some corny acts? Now it’s affecting me badly.” He grabbed nearby tissue and blew his nose.

Click!

The door suddenly opened, and Belva raised an eyebrow.

”What is affecting you?” She put down his uniform and asked in confusion.

”I don’t know, but someone probably did something very cringe and annoying.” Ray pursed his lips and wondered who was responsible for his sneeze. He wasn’t sick or anything, so something definitely happened.

The only sad part was that even in this fantasy world, there was still no way to trace such a phenomenon with magic.

”Is that so?” Belva realized it was another one of his ’episodes,’ so she simply disregarded it and took out a pamphlet.

The pamphlet listed all the new things in the Crestellan Academy, and first-year students were supposed to read and memorize them.

’But knowing Ray, he would definitely have me memorized instead.’ She shook her head and began browsing it.