A Psychopath Reborn as a Third-rate Villain

The entrance examination had reached its final stage.

Across the vast Simulation Realm, the sounds of battle echoed beneath the ancient canopy. Explosions shook the forest. Monsters roared in defiance. Brilliant spells illuminated the wilderness in dazzling bursts of mana.

Every remaining participant understood the same truth.

Only a little time remained.

Every point could determine their future.

---

Several kilometers away...

Seraphina Valebright stood before a towering B-Rank monster.

The beast resembled an enormous crimson tiger, its body cloaked in blazing flames that scorched everything within several meters. Each heavy step melted the ground beneath its paws, leaving glowing footprints of molten rock in its wake.

Its golden eyes locked onto the young mage.

Then—

It charged.

The forest erupted.

Seraphina didn’t flinch.

Three sapphire magic circles unfolded before her, rotating gracefully in the air.

”Second Circle Water Magic—Flowing Chains.”

Streams of highly compressed water surged from the circles, twisting through the air like living serpents. They coiled tightly around the tiger’s limbs, slowing its charge just enough.

It was all the opening she needed.

She raised her sapphire staff.

”Third Circle Water Magic—Frozen Cascade.”

A roaring torrent descended from the heavens, carrying countless razor-sharp shards of enchanted ice.

The blazing tiger answered with an explosive wave of crimson fire.

Fire collided with ice.

A violent shockwave swept through the forest.

Steam engulfed the battlefield.

For several long seconds...

Nothing could be seen.

Then, the mist slowly dispersed.

The massive tiger stood imprisoned within a towering pillar of crystal-blue ice.

Silence followed.

A heartbeat later—

Cracks spread across the frozen prison.

Crack...

Crack...

Shatter!

The pillar exploded into countless glittering fragments.

Along with it...

The B-Rank monster shattered into pieces before dissolving into particles of light.

Seraphina lowered her staff and exhaled quietly.

Another B-Rank monster defeated.

Without wasting another moment, she turned and disappeared into the forest, already searching for her next target.

---

Elsewhere...

Lucian and Vespera fought with flawless coordination.

A pack of Shadow Wolves burst from the undergrowth, surrounding the pair from every direction.

Lucian stepped forward without hesitation.

His radiant sword flashed.

A silver arc sliced through the air.

One wolf collapsed before it even realized he had moved.

Another lunged from behind.

Before its claws could reach him—

A translucent barrier of shimmering mana materialized around Lucian.

Clang!

The beast’s claws rebounded harmlessly.

Vespera calmly extended her silver staff.

”Second Circle Light Magic—Radiant Lance.”

A brilliant beam of condensed light pierced straight through another wolf’s chest.

Without pausing, she cast again.

Golden threads of mana wrapped around Lucian’s body.

Support magic.

His movements became lighter.

His speed increased dramatically.

His sword grew even deadlier.

Empowered by Vespera’s blessing, Lucian charged into the remaining wolves.

His blade danced across the battlefield in dazzling arcs of silver.

One after another...

The wolves fell.

Within moments, the last monster dissolved into shimmering particles of light.

Lucian let out a relieved smile.

”I couldn’t have done that without you.”

Vespera returned a gentle smile.

”And I couldn’t have fought alone.”

The two exchanged a brief nod before disappearing deeper into the forest in search of more prey.

---

Inside the academy’s observation chamber...

Professor Elowen quietly watched the examination’s final moments unfold.

Her emerald eyes remained fixed on Andras Darkmoor’s crystal screen.

Now...

She finally understood.

From the very beginning...

His objective had never been to tirelessly hunt monsters.

Instead...

He had patiently allowed others to do the difficult work.

Then, at the decisive moment...

He harvested both the monster...

And the exhausted student.

The same strategy.

Executed twice.

Her gaze lingered on the scene where the Obsidian Earth Bear vanished beneath his blade.

Then she recalled his brief conversation with Elaria.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

”...Interesting.”

When he eliminated the commoner named Rowan...

His words had been merciless.

Cold.

Direct.

Completely indifferent to the boy’s feelings.

Yet, when speaking with Elaria...

He had teased her.

Provoked her.

Even joked with her before accepting her challenge.

It was an entirely different side of him.

”...Perhaps...”

”...he’s slightly more polite when speaking to young ladies.”

The thought amused her more than she cared to admit.

Her attention returned to the crystal screen.

After defeating Elaria, Andras climbed onto the branch of an ancient tree and calmly took a seat.

He made no attempt to search for more monsters.

Nor did he pursue another participant.

He simply rested.

The examination had already given him everything he wanted.

There was no longer any reason to continue hunting.

Professor Elowen folded her arms.

A knowing smile appeared on her face.

”So...”

”You’ve decided the harvest is complete.”

---

Moments later...

Professor Alaric’s voice echoed throughout the entire Simulation Realm.

”Attention, students.”

”The entrance examination has officially concluded.”

”All remaining participants will now be transported back to the academy.”

The world shimmered.

The ancient forest dissolved into countless particles of light.

One by one...

Every remaining student vanished.

---

The next instant...

Andras slowly opened his eyes.

He found himself standing inside the academy’s enormous examination hall.

Around him, dozens of familiar faces gradually regained their bearings.

Some wore expressions of relief.

Others looked utterly defeated.

Many still bore the injuries they had suffered inside the simulation, though none were life-threatening.

At the front of the hall stood Professor Alaric, his hands clasped behind his back.

His sharp gaze swept across the sixty remaining students.

”You have all performed admirably.”

”Regardless of your final ranking, surviving until the end of this examination is an achievement worthy of recognition.”

His deep voice echoed through the silent hall.

”Before announcing the final rankings...”

”I will first explain how points were awarded.”

”I would rather none of you leave this hall believing the academy judges its students unfairly.”

With a wave of his hand—

A massive crystal board materialized behind him.

Lines of golden text slowly emerged across its shimmering surface.

”Every participant who survived until the end of the examination has received a survival bonus of one hundred points.”

A murmur spread throughout the hall.

Professor Alaric continued.

”Monster points were awarded according to difficulty.”

”E-Rank Monster — 10 points.”

”D-Rank Monster — 25 points.”

”C-Rank Monster — 75 points.”

”B-Rank Monster — 250 points.”

”If multiple students cooperated to defeat a monster, the points were distributed according to each participant’s contribution.”

The murmurs immediately grew louder.

Several students instinctively began calculating their scores.

Professor Alaric patiently allowed the discussions to continue before raising a hand.

Silence quickly returned.

”I trust everyone now understands how the examination has been evaluated.”

No one objected.

Satisfied, he gave a small nod.

”Very well.”

He turned toward the enormous crystal board.

”The final rankings...”

”...will now be revealed.”

Golden light rippled across the crystal’s surface.

Every student’s heartbeat quickened.

The atmosphere became suffocatingly tense.

Professor Alaric’s voice rang clearly throughout the hall.

”The student who achieved first place...”

”...is...”

The crystal board erupted with brilliant golden light.

A single name slowly began to emerge.

The entire hall held its breath.