A Psychopath Reborn as a Third-rate Villain

Several peaceful days slipped by.

Life at Darkmoor Manor settled back into its familiar rhythm.

A week had passed since Andras had shared lunch with Selene. Since then, every waking hour had been devoted to training, meditation, and study. Day after day, he refined both his body and mind, steadily sharpening himself.

That morning, as always, he made his way to the training grounds.

To his surprise, Selene wasn’t there.

The knights informed him that she had left early and hadn’t returned since.

Rather than wasting the morning, Andras sparred with the veteran soldiers instead.

One duel became another.

Then another.

With each exchange, his understanding of Flowing Transition deepened. What had once felt unfamiliar now flowed through his movements as naturally as breathing.

More importantly...

His instincts were changing.

In his previous life, he had been nothing more than an ordinary man.

Combat had existed only in novels, films, and games.

Now, every clash sharpened his judgment. Every mistake became experience. Every victory strengthened the foundation of a true swordsman.

By the time training ended, the morning sun stood high above the manor.

After washing away the sweat, Andras headed back toward his room.

As he turned into one of the estate’s grand corridors, two familiar figures came into view.

Evelyne.

Selene.

The two women seemed to be in the middle of a conversation when Evelyne noticed him approaching.

A warm smile bloomed across her face.

”Andras.”

”You’ve arrived at just the right time.”

Selene turned as well.

Andras stopped before them.

”So I’ve arrived at the right time?”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

”Has something interesting happened?”

”It certainly has.”

Evelyne glanced toward Selene, her eyes filled with pride.

”Our General officially broke through to the Eighth Circle this morning.”

Andras looked at Selene before giving a calm nod.

”Congratulations.”

”I expected nothing less.”

Evelyne blinked.

”...That’s all?”

”I thought you’d be happier after hearing your mentor had reached the Eighth Circle.”

She narrowed her eyes with playful suspicion.

”You make it sound like this is the most ordinary news imaginable.”

A quiet chuckle escaped Andras.

”Because I already knew she would succeed.”

He looked at Selene.

”Isn’t that right, General?”

Selene smiled.

”It is.”

Evelyne folded her arms.

”Wait.”

”You told Andras before you told me?”

”Of course.”

Selene answered without hesitation.

”He’s my student.”

Evelyne placed a hand dramatically over her heart.

”So after all these years of friendship...”

”I’ve been replaced by my own son?”

Both Andras and Selene burst into laughter.

Even Evelyne couldn’t maintain her act for more than a few seconds before laughing with them.

Their laughter echoed through the corridor, filling it with warmth.

Once the laughter faded, Andras looked at Selene.

”You reached the Eighth Circle today.”

”So there will be no training.”

Selene raised an eyebrow.

”Oh?”

”We’re taking the day off.”

”You’ve earned it.”

A gentle smile appeared on her face.

”As you wish.”

---

The three of them walked together toward the dining hall.

Breakfast passed peacefully.

Instead of discussing politics, military affairs, or cultivation, they spoke about ordinary things, sharing small stories and lighthearted conversation.

After the meal, Andras suddenly looked at Selene.

”General.”

”I heard from Mother that you’re the one who taught her how to cook.”

Selene nodded, a nostalgic smile touching her lips.

”I did.”

”I recently had the chance to taste Mother’s barbecue.”

”It was excellent.”

He smiled.

”So...”

”Would you be willing to prepare lunch for us today?”

”I’d be happy to.”

Her expression softened as old memories resurfaced.

”It brings back memories.”

”When I studied at Ambrose Academy, I was still a commoner.”

”I had to prepare every meal myself.”

”Fortunately...”

”I always enjoyed cooking.”

She glanced toward Evelyne.

”One day, she suddenly asked me to teach her.”

Evelyne smiled sheepishly.

”I’d wanted to learn for a long time.”

”But noble ladies were never expected to cook.”

”It simply wasn’t considered proper.”

Selene laughed.

”I told her there was no point.”

”I said she’d never need those skills.”

”But she refused to listen.”

”She kept asking until I finally gave in.”

Evelyne lifted her chin proudly.

”And eventually...”

”I became quite good at it.”

”I’d say so.”

Selene smiled.

”You certainly did.”

---

Not long afterward, Selene entered the kitchen.

The manor’s chefs respectfully stepped aside, allowing her to take over.

Before long, the rich aroma of roasted meat, fragrant herbs, and freshly cooked vegetables drifted through the manor.

The servants carefully arranged every dish upon the dining table.

Lunch soon began.

The three of them ate together while Selene and Evelyne reminisced about their academy days, laughing over stories Andras had never heard before.

When the meal finally ended, Selene looked at him with an expectant smile.

”So...”

”How was my cooking?”

Andras placed his utensils down.

”It was excellent.”

Her smile widened.

”Then answer honestly.”

She glanced toward Evelyne.

”Who cooks better?”

Both women looked at him expectantly.

Andras remained perfectly composed.

After a brief pause, he smiled.

”I believe both of you are exceptional cooks.”

”But if I had to describe the difference...”

He looked at Selene first.

”General Selene...”

”You’re the greatest teacher.”

Then he turned toward Evelyne.

”And Mother...”

”You’re the greatest student.”

Silence lingered for only a heartbeat.

Then both women laughed.

Selene shook her head in amusement.

”I was trying to put you in a difficult position.”

She smiled warmly.

”But it seems you’ve become rather skilled at saying exactly the right thing.”

Andras merely smiled before taking another sip of tea.

Their laughter once again filled the dining hall.

For one quiet afternoon...

Darkmoor Manor felt untouched by politics, power struggles, or noble responsibilities.

They were simply three people enjoying one another’s company.

---

After chatting a little longer, Andras excused himself and quietly left the dining hall.

Instead of returning to his room, he changed direction and headed toward the manor’s grand library.

Over the past week, Lyra had spent nearly every waking hour there, just as he had instructed.

Mana meditation.

Combat theory.

Talent development.

History.

She absorbed everything she could find within the vast Darkmoor archives.

The massive wooden doors creaked softly as Andras stepped inside.

Silence greeted him.

Towering bookshelves stretched toward the high ceiling while warm sunlight filtered through stained-glass windows, bathing the library in gentle golden light.

Not far away, Lyra sat alone at a reading table.

Several thick books were stacked neatly beside her.

Another lay open before her.

Her blue eyes moved carefully across each page, completely absorbed in its contents.

She didn’t even notice him enter.

Andras remained silent.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

The determination she had shown ever since their conversation a week ago hadn’t diminished.

If anything...

It had only grown stronger.

For nearly a minute, he simply stood there, watching her read.

Only then did he speak.

”Lyra.”

She flinched before quickly looking up.

The moment she saw him, her face brightened.

”Young Master.”

She immediately stood and bowed.

”When did you arrive?”

Andras answered with a perfectly straight face.

”I’ve been standing here for about an hour.”

Lyra’s eyes widened.

”An hour?”

She looked genuinely flustered.

”Why didn’t you say anything? Did you need something from me?”

A quiet laugh escaped him.

”I’m joking.”

”I only arrived a moment ago.”

Realizing she had been fooled, Lyra puffed out her cheeks ever so slightly before letting out a helpless sigh.

”...Young Master.”

There wasn’t even a trace of annoyance in her voice.

Only quiet embarrassment.

The corners of Andras’s lips curled upward.

”Yes.”

”I do need something from you.”

She straightened immediately.

”What is it, Young Master?”

His gaze shifted toward the book in her hands.

”I want you to close it.”

She blinked.

”The past week has been nothing but reading.”

”You’ve studied from morning until night.”

He folded his arms.

”Even training requires rest.”

”The mind is no different.”

”You should allow yourself time to breathe.”

Lyra lowered her gaze.

”...There’s still so much I don’t know.”

”I don’t want to waste any time.”

Before she could continue, Andras stepped forward.

Gently, he took the book from her hands.

Then closed it.

The soft sound echoed through the silent library.

He met her eyes.

”For today...”

”You’ve studied enough.”

Their gazes remained locked.

The silence between them felt warm rather than awkward.

A faint blush slowly spread across Lyra’s cheeks.

She already understood what he meant.

Without another word, Andras gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

”Come here.”

Without hesitation, she stepped closer.

He cupped her cheek with surprising tenderness.

Then leaned forward.

Their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss.

The library remained perfectly silent.

Countless books stood as silent witnesses while warm afternoon sunlight continued to pour through the stained-glass windows.

For a few peaceful moments...

Neither of them spoke.

The world beyond the library simply faded away.