A Psychopath Reborn as a Third-rate Villain

”How is it?”

Andras watched Lyra carefully after asking the question.

She had just taken another bite of the food he had prepared. She chewed slowly, her expression becoming increasingly difficult to read.

Andras waited.

Finally, she swallowed.

”It’s... edible.”

Andras raised an eyebrow. ”Only edible?”

Lyra’s expression immediately became awkward. ”No, Young Master. I didn’t mean it like that.” She looked at the food again before adding, ”It’s not bad. It’s just that... you still need some practice.”

Andras looked down at his plate. He picked up his utensils and took a bite himself. He chewed. Then he swallowed. His expression remained completely calm.

So this is what failure tastes like.

He had expected cooking to be simpler than this. Apparently, he had been mistaken.

Lyra watched him carefully. ”Young Master, I can prepare another lunch if you want.”

Andras shook his head. ”No. I made it, so I’ll eat it.”

”But—”

”It’s fine.”

Andras continued eating without complaint. The taste wasn’t particularly good, but it wasn’t unbearable either. More importantly, he had made it himself. He had failed at something he had never tried before. There was nothing unusual about that. If anything, it gave him another reason to try again in the future.

Once they finished lunch, Lyra began cleaning the dishes. Andras returned to his room and spent some time thinking about the lessons from earlier that day. Eventually, Lyra finished her work and prepared for her own training.

Andras noticed her sitting down with her legs crossed and her back straight. She closed her eyes and began meditating. The flow of Battle Energy within her body was still faint, but it was gradually becoming more stable.

Andras watched her for a while. Since she had only recently begun cultivating Battle Energy, there was no reason to expect rapid progress. Still, her talent made her development worth observing.

After several minutes, Andras spoke.

”Lyra.”

Her eyes opened. ”Yes, Young Master?”

”Stop for now.”

Lyra immediately stopped meditating. ”Did I do something wrong?”

”No.” Andras shook his head. ”Now that you’ve started meditation and have Battle Energy, you’ll need a weapon if you intend to fight.”

Lyra nodded.

Andras continued, ”There are several weapons you could use. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.” He briefly explained the various options and the advantages and disadvantages associated with each one.

Lyra listened carefully. After thinking about it for a while, she finally said, ”I think a spear would suit me.”

Andras looked at her. ”A spear?”

Lyra nodded. ”I don’t know why, but it feels like the weapon I’d be most comfortable using.”

Andras considered her answer. He had no reason to disagree. A spear was a practical weapon, and there was nothing wrong with Lyra choosing one.

”Then we’ll get you one. We’re returning to Darkmoor after a month anyway. I’ll get you a good spear when we return.” He paused. ”But you don’t have to decide right now. You can try other weapons before then and choose whichever one feels best to you.”

Lyra nodded. ”Yes, Young Master.” She glanced toward the timepiece in the room. ”It is getting late. I’m going to sleep.”

”All right.” Andras looked toward the desk. ”I’ll sleep later. I still need to learn a spell.”

Lyra looked at him. ”A spell?”

”Yes.” Andras had spent the entire day thinking about it. He couldn’t continue neglecting magic. He had already decided that magic would be his primary method of combat, so there was no reason to delay learning the basics.

Lyra nodded. ”Then I’ll go to sleep first. Good night, Young Master.”

”Good night.”

Lyra walked toward her bed and soon settled down. Andras, meanwhile, moved toward his desk. He reached into his Storage Ring and took out the spellbook he had prepared earlier. He placed it on the desk and opened it.

The book contained several basic spells. Andras turned through the pages until he reached the section dedicated to First Circle magic. His eyes settled on the first spell.

He began reading.

The spell’s structure was not particularly complicated.

At least, that was what Andras initially thought.

He carefully studied the magic circle drawn across the page, examining every line and connection. He memorized the structure first, then began analyzing the flow of mana, the direction of the energy, the purpose of each section of the magic circle, the amount of mana required, and the method of activation.

Everything he needed was written in the spellbook.

Andras understood the principles behind the spell relatively quickly.

So that’s how it works.

He closed the book.

Then he began gathering mana.

He guided the mana through his body according to the structure he had just memorized, carefully attempting to reproduce the magic circle within his mind.

The first section began to take shape.

Then the second.

But before he could complete the structure, the mana suddenly dispersed.

The magic circle collapsed.

Andras frowned slightly.

The mana flow was too unstable.

He opened the spellbook again and reviewed the instructions. There was nothing wrong with his understanding of the spell. The problem was his execution.

He closed the book and tried again.

This time, he slowed the flow of mana and concentrated on maintaining a steady circulation. The magic circle began forming once more. It lasted longer than before.

Andras’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Better.

He continued. One section after another formed correctly until almost the entire magic circle was complete. Then one of the mana pathways became unstable. The entire structure collapsed.

Andras stared at the empty space in front of him.

The amount of mana wasn’t the problem. He had used the correct amount. The structure was also correct. The problem was the precision with which he was controlling the mana.

Andras tried again.

This time, he focused almost entirely on the unstable section. He carefully directed the mana through it, making small adjustments whenever he sensed the flow becoming uneven.

The magic circle formed.

It remained stable.

Andras’s attention sharpened.

It’s working.

He continued feeding mana into the structure. For several seconds, the circle remained perfectly intact. Then he attempted to activate the spell.

The magic circle flickered. The mana surged unevenly. And the entire structure shattered.

Andras remained silent.

So even if I construct the circle correctly, I still need to control the mana during activation.

That was another problem. He had been treating spellcasting as if it were simply a matter of constructing the correct structure. It wasn’t. The magic circle was only the framework. He needed to maintain precise control over the mana throughout the entire process.

Andras looked at the spellbook again. He read through the instructions one more time. Then he closed it.

Again.

He began another attempt. This time, he didn’t rush the process. He gathered the required amount of mana and carefully guided it through his body. The first section formed. Then the second. The structure continued taking shape without collapsing.

Andras maintained his concentration and kept the mana flowing at a steady rate. The magic circle was almost complete. His breathing remained steady.

Don’t force it.

He remembered what he had learned. Magic required control. Not simply more mana. Not simply a stronger force. Control.

Andras made the final connection. The magic circle stabilized. He immediately began the activation process. The mana moved through the completed structure. For a brief moment, a faint glow appeared at the center of the circle.

Andras’s eyes sharpened.

Almost.

Then the mana became unstable. The glow disappeared. The magic circle collapsed.

Andras leaned back slightly. He had come closer than before. Much closer. But it still wasn’t enough.

He remained seated for several seconds, thinking about the failed attempt.

I’m improving.

That was undeniable. Each attempt lasted longer. Each failure revealed another mistake. But the difference between understanding a spell and actually casting it was greater than he had expected.

Andras tried again. Then again.

This time, he wasn’t simply repeating the same process. He adjusted his mana control with every attempt. He reduced the amount of mana when the flow became too forceful. He slowed the circulation when the structure became unstable. He changed the timing of the activation when the final connection began to collapse.

The spell still refused to work. But gradually, the failures became smaller. The magic circle lasted longer. The mana became more stable. The activation came closer to succeeding.

Hours passed without Andras realizing it. The candle beside the desk slowly burned lower as he continued practicing. The academy grounds outside the window became completely silent.

Andras remained focused on the spell.

Eventually, he stopped and stared at the spellbook. He had tried countless times. Yet he still couldn’t successfully cast even a simple First Circle spell.

I really don’t have talent for learning spells.

The thought was difficult to deny. He had understood the principles behind the spell quickly. He could analyze its structure and identify the purpose of its components. But putting that understanding into practice was another matter entirely.

And trying to modify it is probably even more difficult.

Andras had previously thought about altering spell structures after listening to Elowen’s lesson. Now he realized just how difficult that would actually be. If he couldn’t even properly cast a standard First Circle spell, trying to modify one was nothing more than wishful thinking.

His gaze remained fixed on the spellbook. Then another person came to mind.

Seraphina.

Andras’s eyes narrowed slightly.

If I want to learn and modify spells... then I need to acquire her talent.

Seraphina possessed Celestial Codex , an S-rank talent that is best talent in the world for learning and modifying spells. It was the kind of ability that allowed its owner to comprehend spell structures with unnatural clarity and adapt them far beyond ordinary limits. If he wanted to become a mage capable of creating and refining spells rather than merely using forms created by others, her talent would be extremely valuable.

Andras leaned back slightly in his chair. He didn’t know when he would acquire it, nor did he intend to rush recklessly. But there was no denying its value. The Devouring System gave him an advantage that ordinary mages could never possess. If there was a talent that could help him accomplish something, he could eventually acquire it.

Still, relying on someone else’s talent wasn’t a reason to stop learning.

Andras gathered mana again. Even if he intended to acquire Seraphina’s talent eventually, there was no reason to give up now. He still had to learn how to cast the spell himself.

Again, he attempted to construct the magic circle. The first section formed. Then the second. The mana flowed through the structure with greater stability than before. Andras carefully maintained the flow and began the activation process. For a brief moment, the magic circle remained stable.

Then—

It collapsed once more.

Andras frowned. He immediately began another attempt.

He wasn’t going to stop simply because the spell was difficult. If he couldn’t cast it today, he would cast it tomorrow. And if it took a hundred attempts, then he would make a hundred attempts.

He would simply keep improving until the spell worked.

---

At some point during the night, Lyra slowly opened her eyes.

Her throat was dry. She sat up and looked around the dark room before remembering that she wanted to drink some water. She got out of bed and walked toward the table.

Then she noticed the faint light coming from Andras’s side of the room.

Lyra stopped.

Andras was still sitting at the desk. He was holding the spellbook open with one hand while manipulating mana with the other. She watched him quietly. The candle beside him had almost completely burned down. Yet he was still trying—the same spell, again and again.

Lyra remained there for a while, silently observing him.

Andras gathered mana. The magic circle began forming. It collapsed. He tried again. It collapsed once more.

Finally, Lyra spoke.

”Young Master.”

Andras stopped and turned his head. ”What?”

Lyra looked at him with tired eyes. ”You should sleep, Young Master.”

Andras glanced toward the window. The sky outside was still dark, but the faintest hint of dawn had begun to appear beyond the horizon.

Lyra continued, ”In a few hours, it will be morning.”

Andras looked back at the spellbook. He had spent far longer than he had expected. Yet he still hadn’t succeeded. He let out a quiet sigh.

”All right.”

He closed the spellbook and placed it back inside his Storage Ring. Lyra picked up a glass of water and drank before returning to her bed. Andras followed shortly afterward.

The room became quiet once again.

Neither of them spoke.

Before long, both Andras and Lyra fell asleep.