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The Villainous Noble Who Kept Rewinding After Death: The Story Somehow Changed When I Committed Suicide

Chapter 282: Seriously Busting the Brains Out

A few days had passed since I went out with Shuvina.

Today, I didn’t have much to do, so I thought I’d just attend the academy for the heck of it, but the gazes directed at me from around were especially cold, filled with contempt and ridicule.

“Wow, quite a change in atmosphere, huh?”

“What are you so carefree about? Those are all glares aimed at you, you know?”

“Right. Thanks to you, we’re always getting unsolicited comments from various people too.”

“Like saying it’d be better if we stayed away from El, or that we’re being threatened by him. I even overheard some trash talking about saving me, as if they were stronger than me. It’s infuriating!”

“That was quite the mess back then. Stopping Fiera was no small task. Well, I was also pretty irked by the things said about you, Lewis-sama.”

It seems that since I abandoned the ranking battle with Shudo, my reputation has plummeted, resulting in people thinking that Iris and Fiera were being bullied by me and forced to serve me. They started disparaging me to persuade them, while showering them with sweet, gentle words.

Well, no one seems to realize how counterproductive that’s been.

“What’s especially infuriating is that damn Hero. Where’s El? I want to help you; you’re being deceived. So annoying, so annoying, seriously busting the brains out!”

“Fiera, your mouth has gotten quite foul since I last saw you a few days ago.”

“Yeah. El would understand if he met him directly. I’m just filled with murderous intent.”

“Well, I don’t say it as bluntly as Fiera, but honestly, I’m fed up too. I almost want to ask Dona to seal his mouth up and toss him far away.”

“I feel the same. There have been countless times I thought about erasing his existence with magic.”

“You all have such foul mouths. Let’s phrase things more gently. It seems he possesses a special sensitivity and perception that regular humans don’t, and his mind is always full of nonsense so he pays no attention to us. It would be unwise to crush him outright. In that case, it’s clear who would be suspected.”

Iris, with a chilling smile plastered on her face and her eyes slightly narrowed, subtly hinted at who that suspected person would be.

“Well, if it comes to that, the first one to be suspected would likely be me, right? And then, you guys who attacked me would be rumored to say you were threatened or brainwashed by me, just like that.”

That said, given Iris and the others’ talks, it seems the rumor that I’m threatening them has already spread, so it’s only a matter of time before there’s a rumor about them being brainwashed, even without my interference.

“Anyway, I don’t care about that guy’s story. More importantly, is Sephiria always by his side?”

“Yeah, basically. I wonder how she manages. If it were me, I would have killed him ages ago.”

“Is that so? Then could you tell Iris to have Sephiria come to the usual garden during lunch? Just let her know I called for her.”

“Understood.”

I asked Fiera, but the moment I got close to Shudo, it felt like I could end up killing him. So, I decided to rely on Iris, who could control her emotions comparatively well.

“Well then, good luck. I’ll just kill some time.”

Going to the classroom as I am would inevitably lead to that guy bothering me, so after saying that, I left the scene alone.

After parting ways with Fiera and the others, I used magic to obscure my presence and hide thoroughly, ensuring no one would notice me in the garden. I then read a book while using wind magic to eavesdrop on the students’ conversations for information gathering.

That said, most of the chatter was just backbiting against me, nonexistent rumors, and love confessions, which were hardly useful information.

“Sigh. This is so boring.”

I’ve pondered repeatedly whether there’s any point in coming to the academy and enduring this hassle, but every time I chose not to attend in my previous life, it only ended with me being manipulated and meeting my demise. So, it seems I still need to be present at the academy, even if just in form.

“Lewis-sama. I apologize for the wait.”

While lost in thought, I sensed someone approaching who ignored my magic, and when I looked up upon hearing the voice, there stood Sephiria whom I hadn’t seen in a while.

“Oh, it’s already lunchtime. How did you find my location so easily?”

“Hehe. I have the Eye of Truth. No illusion or recognition-impeding magic works on me.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Recalling, she did see through my disguise with her special eyes back when we first met in this world.

“But that aside, it’s not important.”

I said so and used soundproofing magic to ensure our voices wouldn’t leak outside. Then, I conjured two water cushions, and we each sat on one.

“Now then. I dislike beating around the bush, so let’s cut to the chase. You know why I called, right?”

“Yes. About the Hero.”

“Exactly.”

The reason I summoned Sephiria this time was to confirm details about Shudo’s current state, the environment surrounding him, and future trends.

“First, as for the general flow, it isn’t much different from what I know of the past. The Hero spreads what he believes is justice, all fired up about how he’s going to eradicate the bad guys. And he believes that if he completely eliminates evil, it will lead to a perfect justice and a happy world.”

“I see. So that part hasn’t changed. There’s no such thing as a world of perfect justice, yet he thinks that way.”

When I said that with a mix of exasperation, Sephiria nodded in agreement and moved on to the next topic.

“However, it seems he truly believes it and is purging the nobles and influential people who bullied students at the academy, gaining a lot of support from the weaker nobles and commoners.”

“Ha! He must appear like a savior to them. He really is the Hero.”

“Among this situation, the one most viewed as evil is…”

“It’s me, right? Even though I’ve done nothing.”

It’s an unreasonable situation, but like in my previous world, it seems I’m destined to be framed as the villain in this world too, regardless of what I do.

“Well, if I’m to be the villain, it might be fun to act like one.”

In reality, I haven’t done anything at the academy, but I have been involved with the Demon Race plotting the revival of the Demon King and helped the Dragon Kin wishing for the resurrection of their own Dragon Emperor. So, in a way, being called a villain isn’t entirely wrong.

“Next, regarding the future events, during the long winter break, we are scheduled to have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor, after which we’ll head to the House of Holstein.”

“Hmm. That part remains unchanged as well.”

In the past, upon entering the long winter break, Shudo would meet the Emperor, and afterward, he would visit the House of Holstein to train his sword skills.

There, he would receive swordsmanship lessons from the Duke of Holstein, a knight commander known as the Sword Saint, enabling him to acquire explosive magical destructive power as well as proficient swordsmanship.

“Then you’ll be going there too, right?”

“I apologize. Of course, I would like to stay by your side, Lewis-sama, but due to instructions from His Holiness the Pope, I can’t refuse.”

“Don’t worry about it. It just means I’ll be getting more information flowing in. Besides, the reason I have you beside me is for that, after all. If I had prioritized you, I would have cut you off at that point.”

“Hehe, I understand. I’m just a pawn for you, so feel free to use me as you wish.”

“That’s exactly what I’ll do.”

Sephiria, just as she had said when we first met, seems to genuinely want to apologize to me about the past, as she maintained her smile without changing her expression even when treated like a pawn right in front of me.

“Well then, I look forward to continuing with you.”

“Yes. Count on me.”

With that, the purpose of calling Sephiria had concluded, and I thought she would leave. However, for some reason, Sephiria didn’t get up from the water cushion, and there was a basket placed on her lap.

“What’re you doing? We’ve already finished talking.”

“Well, how about we have lunch next? I made sandwiches.”

“Huh? Those are for yourself, right?”

“No, I made some for you too, Lewis-sama. Actually, after hearing from Iris that you had called for me, I skipped class to make a bunch of sandwiches.”

“You skipped class?”

I was a bit surprised to hear that the Saintess, Sephiria, had skipped class, so I couldn’t help but repeat the question.

“Hehe. Yes, I did. I tried skipping class. So, will you have lunch with me?”

“Hmm…”

“Is that a no?”

Seeing my reaction, Sephiria looked worried and gazed up at me with concern. With her small stature making such a face, she resembled a little squirrel.

If other guys saw her like this, they’d probably lose it, feeling protective and cooing about how adorable she was, and they’d nod without hesitation with flushed faces.

How utterly shameless.

“Sandwiches, huh? Are they the kind I like?”

“Don’t worry. When I met your mother in the Duke’s territory, she told me your preferences. So I made sure to focus on that.”

“I see. Then I’ll accept it.”

“Hehe, I’m glad.”

I intended to refuse if none of my favorites were included, but if she had received the information beforehand from my mother, it’s no problem. Moreover, if I turn it down and my mother catches wind of it, there’s no doubt I’d be in for a scolding.

In other words, I’m not exaggerating when I say I’m being subtly coerced by my mother.

And since that honestly sounded bothersome, I ultimately had no choice but to accept, leading to me making a simple table with earth magic.

After that, I took a sandwich out of the basket handed to me by Sephiria while she gazed at me with hopeful eyes and took a bite.

By the way, the fillings of the sandwiches Sephiria made were indeed all to my liking, and I can safely say they didn’t taste bad.

 

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