A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 76

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Chapter 76
Alex extinguished his cigar against the stone plaque inscribed with “Riloni Academy: The Cradle of Magical Engineering.” Then, raising his eyebrows, he met the Captain of the Guard’s gaze directly and spoke.
“It seems whether I drag even the King through the mud now rests entirely in your hands.”
“Y-yes, yes….”
In the end, the Captain of the Guard hastily scooped up the gold coins and jewels from his pockets and stuffed them away. Then he gave Alex a hurried bow before hastily retreating. The Dean and Professors, who lay groaning on the ground, could only watch them leave with eyes filled with betrayal.
“Not even a farewell—just slinking away. These ruffians can’t even manage basic courtesy in their escape.”
As Alex chuckled, Wolf beside him yawned.
【You wouldn’t have accepted their greeting anyway.】
“Well then….”
And it was when Alex turned his gaze toward one of the doctoral candidates trembling at the Academy’s entrance.
“W-w-wait just a moment, please!”
The brown-haired man, unable to speak under Alex’s oppressive presence, raised his hand while trembling violently.
“L-Lady Kiana sent a l-letter a few days ago, and she asked me to d-deliver it if you came….”
“Who are you?”
“M-my name is Dennis….”
“Did I ask for your name? What’s your relationship with Kiana?”
“W-we’re pursuing our doctorates t-together! Please, j-just check this first….”
Dennis handed Alex a letter. It bore the unmistakable seal of Prelai and was written in Kiana’s unmistakable handwriting.
Alex snatched the letter roughly, confirmed its contents, then glared at Dennis and asked.
“You.”
“Yes?”
“Did you handle all of this? The part about renting a warehouse and stockpiling items? I suppose they rent warehouses here in this countryside backwater since land is cheap.”
“Y-yes!”
Dennis nodded frantically.
“I’ve already taken care of everything.”
Upon hearing the response, Alex pointed at Dennis and the graduate students beside him with a dismissive gesture.
“You, you, and you.”
The designated graduate students were about to throw themselves flat on the ground and cry out “We’re sorry!” But Alex swept his gaze over them with disinterested eyes and spoke.
“You’re in charge of the Academy from now on.”
“…Pardon?”
“Kiana said to leave the innocent graduate students and the Academy’s system alone.”
“Ah, I s-see….”
Then, tossing the letter to Dennis, he spoke without enthusiasm.
“She says to make you Dean. You’d be unsuitable as a Professor because of the disadvantage of having good character, but regardless, your abilities far exceed those of the current faculty.”
Dennis received the letter again and trembled. Alex’s expression showed he’d already lost interest in the Academy. Dennis thought to himself that it was because there was nothing left for him to destroy, and he silently chanted the mantra “Please leave quickly!”
“Let’s depart.”
True to Dennis’s prediction, Alex turned his back on the Academy without hesitation and mounted Wolf.
But Alex, who seemed about to leave immediately, suddenly stopped. Then he spun around sharply and glared at Dennis. Dennis’s legs gave out, and the moment he met that gaze, he prostrated himself flat on the ground.
“W-what else are you g-going to order me to d-do….”
“Nothing to order. Just one question. Were you close with Kiana? Why did I single you out and place this burden on you?”
Dennis blinked. Here… Kiana’s name came up?
“Why aren’t you speaking faster?”
“W-well, I’ll tell you! Lady Kiana and I weren’t particularly close!”
If Dennis had answered “I was somewhat friendly with the Princess!”, Alex would have immediately drawn his sword, shouting “That’s a lie!”, but instead his lips curled up in satisfaction. After all, there was no way Kiana could be close to anyone.
Dennis added urgently.
“Well, if I were to describe our relationship… Lady Kiana unilaterally looked down on me, but only slightly!”
At those words, Alex gazed down at Dennis with renewed admiration.
“What? Only slightly, not greatly?”
Then, with an expression as if he might leap off the wolf at any moment, he asked seriously.
“What’s the secret to that?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m about to have a proper conversation with Kiana soon.”
“…Pardon?”
“Now that I’m an adult, this will be my first real conversation with her. But neither Kiana nor I probably know how to have a proper conversation. So shouldn’t I adapt to Kiana’s way? I need to learn from your experience.”
Dennis felt so flustered he could barely breathe. However, the graduate student lying beside him nudged him repeatedly, whispering desperately, “Just answer and send him away!” So Dennis had no choice but to squeeze his eyes shut and shout.
“W-well! Even if I couldn’t figure things out on my own, I always did everything you asked without complaint!”
“Hmm…”
“Lady Kiana always said that if you just keep your mouth shut, you’re at least halfway there! She praised me constantly, saying that a fool without opinions is more useful than a fool with them!”
As he spoke, Dennis felt self-loathing and swallowed back tears.
But Alex nodded with great conviction, looking deeply impressed. Then, without even thanking him, he turned around sharply.
“Let’s go quickly, Wolf.”
His red eyes grew cold again.
“We must hurry. Only I can tell her about Kiana’s summoned beast at this point in time.”
* * *
Several days passed like that.
I spent almost all my time coming and going from Levin Manor, conducting my research. Sezare, true to his word, continued to stay by my side as my research assistant.
And remarkably, I quit coffee, stimulants, and antacids entirely. My complexion improved, my face bloomed with vitality, and my appetite returned. An excellent graduate student elevated my quality of life more than anything else.
Of course, the opposite phenomenon was happening to Sezare. His face grew increasingly hollow, he seemed strangely darker somehow, and his expression turned gloomy. In any case, thanks to him, my research was progressing very well.
Sezare was quite an excellent assistant, and he actually had remarkable understanding of mathematical formulas.
“Aren’t you from a commoner background? How do you know all this?”
“Well, when I was young, I desperately studied because I dreamed of having conversations with someone.”
“Oh, did that dream come true?”
“The dream… came true a bit excessively, actually… But it did come true.”
“Are you thinking about graduate school? Ah, no. Ignore that question. That was my mistake.”
It was always the case that when someone did their job well, more work piled up. In the end, Sezare did a lot of work.
That didn’t mean Sezare was absolutely obedient to me. No, quite the opposite—he was constantly telling me what to do and what not to do.
“Don’t eat snacks here. If crumbs fall, it’s unsanitary.”
“Go eat. You’ve been fasting too long. And this meal, focus on protein.”
“Different sauces are different? Each food has what suits it. Try it this way. You’re not getting your appetite back because you’re eating carelessly.”
“Don’t look at magical tool light in the dark. You’ll ruin your eyes.”
“Sit up straight. If you remain hunched like that for so long, your body will deteriorate.”
Eventually, I began calling Sezare a “nag” in my mind. It was truly astounding how exemplary a life this street urchin trash managed to live.
Yet thanks to heeding his words, my complexion grew steadily better. With someone meticulously attending to my health, my quality of life was entirely different from my Academy days.
“I’ll leave a bit early today. Even so, it’s only an hour.”
I said this while erasing the blackboard, and Sezare let out a deep sigh.
“Yes, I understand. And please leave that be, Princess. I’ll have to redo it anyway.”
“Ah… yes.”
I absolutely forbade the servants from cleaning the Research Lab. I had my own system, and I could never tolerate it being disrupted.
But Sezare, having assisted with research, knew exactly how things should be organized. So only Sezare was allowed to clean the Research Lab. Truthfully, he didn’t have to—or rather, Sezare simply couldn’t bear the sight of it otherwise.
I headed to the cot with some pastries for a brief rest, when Sezare suddenly blocked my path.
“You cannot eat pastries on the bed. The crumbs are unsanitary.”
“Everyone just lives however they want.”
“And it will soon be mealtime. Rather than satiating your hunger with pastries, it would be better to consume proper nutrients.”
This man… he lived his life recklessly, yet his self-discipline was extraordinarily strict.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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