A Psychopath Reborn as a Third-rate Villain

The enormous lecture hall gradually fell silent.

Hundreds of newly admitted students sat in orderly rows as their conversations slowly faded away.

Then—

The massive doors behind the stage creaked open.

Three figures stepped inside.

Leading them was a middle-aged professor dressed in elegant navy-blue academy robes embroidered with intricate silver runes. His calm expression and composed demeanor carried the quiet authority of a man who had spent decades educating the Empire’s brightest talents.

Walking a step behind him were two students.

The first was a tall young man with neatly combed dark brown hair and sharp emerald-green eyes. His immaculate academy uniform, adorned with a silver Student Council badge, immediately set him apart from the rest.

Beside him walked a young woman with long chestnut hair tied into an elegant ponytail. Her composed expression and confident posture reflected years of discipline and leadership.

The three took their places on the stage.

The professor quietly stepped aside.

Instead, the young man approached the crystal voice amplifier positioned at the center of the platform.

A warm smile appeared on his face.

”Welcome, everyone.”

”My name is Reed Ashbourne.”

”I am a third-year student and the current President of Ambrose Academy’s Student Council.”

His clear voice echoed effortlessly throughout the lecture hall.

”It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to Ambrose Academy.”

He gestured toward the young woman beside him.

”This is my partner, Elena Whitmore.”

”Our Student Council Vice President.”

Elena stepped forward and offered the audience a graceful nod.

”I look forward to working with all of you.”

Polite applause spread through the hall before gradually dying down.

Reed continued.

”Before your journey as Academy students truly begins, allow me to introduce the institution that will become your home.”

He spoke about the Academy’s long and illustrious history.

Founded nearly four centuries ago by the legendary Archmage Ambrose, the Academy had been established with a single purpose—to nurture the greatest talents of every generation, regardless of birth or background.

According to its founder, knowledge was the foundation of true strength, and greatness belonged only to those willing to pursue it without hesitation.

Reed then moved on to the Academy’s rules.

Fighting outside designated training grounds was strictly prohibited.

Stealing from fellow students would result in severe punishment.

Restricted areas could not be entered without permission.

Above all else, every student was expected to uphold the Academy’s reputation.

He also spoke of the opportunities available to exceptional students—access to advanced libraries, private instructors, rare cultivation resources, and Academy missions that offered both experience and rewards.

Unfortunately...

Most of the noble students already knew everything he was saying.

Many had grown up hearing stories about Ambrose Academy.

Some listened politely.

Others barely concealed their boredom.

Several rested their chins on their hands.

A few had already begun nodding off.

The commoners, however, listened with shining eyes.

For many of them, this was the first time they had heard the Academy’s history in its entirety.

Every word fascinated them.

Meanwhile...

Andras paid almost no attention to the speech.

Instead, a translucent blue screen appeared before his eyes.

---

[Devouring System]

Name: Andras Darkmoor

Race: Human

Age: 18

Class: Mage

Realm: Low Fourth Circle Mage

Talents:

Architect of the Eternal Continuum (SS-rank)

Echo Resonance (A-Rank)

Sovereign Predator Physique (A-Rank)

Abyssal Shadow Dominion (B+ Rank)

---

He calmly reviewed the progress he had made over the past several weeks.

Everything had advanced exactly as expected.

Then—

Echo Resonance reacted.

Someone was watching him.

His gaze shifted almost imperceptibly toward the source.

Two familiar figures sat several rows away.

Lucian.

The Hero chosen by the Goddess.

And beside him...

Vespera.

The Saintess of the Church of Veylora.

Lucian appeared completely focused on Reed’s speech.

He wasn’t the one watching him.

It was Vespera.

Their eyes met.

For the briefest moment—

Vespera froze.

Her sapphire-blue eyes widened almost imperceptibly before she instinctively looked away.

”...”

Andras observed her in silence.

Why is she watching me?

According to the original story... the Saintess shouldn’t have any reason to notice me at this point.

His gaze lingered on her for another moment.

Although...

She truly is beautiful.

No wonder.

She was one of the greatest reasons behind the original Andras’s downfall.

Without another thought, he calmly turned his attention back to the stage.

Meanwhile...

Vespera struggled to steady her breathing.

The instant their eyes had met...

She had felt as though he had seen straight through her.

Why did I lose my composure so easily?

Almost unconsciously...

An ancient voice echoed once more within her mind.

The mysterious words she had heard on the night she became the Saintess.

Those words had lingered in her thoughts ever since.

And today...

She had finally met the person whose name that mysterious voice had spoken.

At that moment, Reed concluded his speech.

”...That concludes the introduction.”

”Once again...”

”Welcome to Ambrose Academy.”

Polite applause echoed throughout the lecture hall.

Reed and Elena stepped back.

The professor, who had remained quietly to one side the entire time, finally approached the crystal amplifier.

Before speaking...

He laughed.

”Hahaha.”

The sudden laughter startled several students who had been dozing off.

They immediately straightened in their seats, pretending they had been listening attentively all along.

Even Reed couldn’t suppress a helpless smile.

The professor chuckled.

”I see our Student Council President has already demonstrated the Academy’s greatest weapon.”

He paused dramatically.

”The ability to put exhausted students to sleep.”

Laughter rippled through the lecture hall.

Even many of the commoners smiled.

The previously stiff atmosphere instantly became far more relaxed.

The professor adjusted his glasses.

”My name is Professor Alaric Thornwood.”

”I serve as one of the first-year instructors.”

His sharp eyes slowly swept across the audience.

”I won’t waste your time repeating everything you’ve just heard.”

”So...”

”Let’s discuss something much more interesting.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

”Your entrance examination.”

Confused murmurs spread throughout the hall.

Several students exchanged puzzled glances.

One noble cautiously raised his hand.

”Professor...”

”I thought we had already passed the entrance examination.”

Alaric nodded.

”You did.”

”That examination merely determined whether you were qualified to enter Ambrose Academy.”

He smiled.

”This one...”

”...will determine where you belong.”

With a casual wave of his hand, five enormous banners unfurled behind him.

Each displayed a single letter.

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

”The first-year students will be divided into five classes.”

”Class A will contain the Academy’s most outstanding students.”

”Followed by Classes B...”

”C...”

”D...”

”And E.”

His gaze swept across the hall once more.

”Do not misunderstand.”

”Every one of you possesses talent.”

”Otherwise...”

”You wouldn’t be sitting here.”

He paused.

”However...”

”Talent alone does not determine potential.”

”Your performance today will.”

The murmuring immediately grew louder.

Many students had expected the classes to be assigned according to family status or cultivation.

Instead...

There would be another examination.

A real one.

Professor Alaric smiled knowingly.

”I can already see the questions forming in your minds.”

”So allow me to answer the most important one.”

He paused deliberately.

Then his smile widened.

”When does the examination begin?”

Silence filled the hall.

Then—

”It already has.”

The instant those words left his mouth—

The world distorted.

The lecture hall dissolved into countless particles of light.

Space itself twisted violently.

Gasps erupted from every direction.

Before anyone could react—

Every student vanished.

The entrance examination had begun.