I'm a Villain in My Own Game?

[Raul PoV]

Next week was the year-end exam, followed by Grunbelt Academy's Main Tournament. Third-year students would also return to complete their qualifying rounds once the first- and second-years finished theirs.

Right now, I was heading to the Lancer Club's office to confront them about their club budget being cut starting next year.

"Senior... what if they don't accept this decision?" Miria asked, walking beside me.

"That's exactly our job—to make sure they accept it, isn't it?" I answered casually.

Truth be told, I already had a plan in mind for this, one that would channel their resentment squarely onto me. If it worked, I'd be able to unlock the second skill of one of my Profound Codexes: Vengeance.

"Just handle your part—delivering the Student Council's report on the club," I told her. "I'll take care of anything that goes sideways."

Hearing my words, Miria simply nodded, resigned to it.

Before long, we arrived at the Lancer Club's room. Several members were relaxing inside, reading books on magic and combat. It looked like they were preparing for the year-end exam.

"S-sorry to interrupt," Miria said, looking a little nervous. "We're from the Student Council. We'd like to speak with the club leader."

At Miria's words, every Lancer Club member stopped what they were doing and gathered around us.

It seemed they already had a good idea why we were here.

"Leader Emilia isn't here right now. She's out doing her field practicum," one member answered.

"So, what business does the Student Council have with us?" another member asked, his tone rather intimidating.

Miria grew even more nervous under the stares of everyone in the room.

Honestly, if she wanted to, Miria could easily defeat every student surrounding her using her plant magic. But given her shy nature, she never showed much aggression in a fight.

"W-we're here to inform you that your club's budget will be cut starting next year!"

What the fu*k... straight to the point, no buildup at all.

With communication skills like that, I sincerely hope Miria never ends up as an imperial diplomat!

"What did you say!? How could this happen!? Our club's doing perfectly fine, no issues at all!"

"That's right! Why is the Student Council suddenly cutting our budget unilaterally!?"

"This isn't fair!"

Of course every Lancer Club member would be furious hearing this. But the more worked up they got, the more successfully my plan would unfold.

Keep going, Miria! Your senior is proud of you!

"B-but we have data showing that Lancer Club graduates have increasingly failed to get into prestigious Knight Orders these past few years," Miria said, explaining the reasoning behind the Student Council's decision. "Over the past three years, only 14 Lancer Club graduates made it into prestigious Knight Orders, out of 129 graduates total."

The Grunbelt Academy graduates who most commonly entered the Empire's prestigious Knight Orders came from the Swordmaster club. That made sense, considering fighting styles using a polearm or spear weren't particularly popular in this nation, so combat technique development in that area hadn't advanced as rapidly as the more widely favored sword-fighting styles.

Currently, the country most renowned for polearm and spear combat styles were the Kingdom of Francia, famous for their mounted knights, and the Kingdom of Pulishia, whose troop composition leaned heavily toward cavalry.

"But two Lancer Club graduates last year became squires under famous knights!"

"That's right, and now Senior Emilia's practically guaranteed a spot in the Knight of Order Calvatra!"

What they said was true, but the academy cared more about seeing a broad, consistent success rate across their graduates than just a handful with impressive careers.

"B-but aren't you ashamed, hiding behind their names? The academy doesn't tolerate clubs whose members lack real competence," Miria shot back, her voice barely above a whisper.

Uwaa... that was pretty sharp, a stark contrast to Miria's otherwise cute demeanor. It seemed Miria had no intention of putting out this burning forest—she was pouring oil straight onto the flames instead.

"What did you say!? Take that back!"

"You just called us incompetent!"

The Lancer Club members started closing in on Miria. I quickly stepped in front of my junior to shield her.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Stop right there," I warned them. "Or I'll give you the same horror show I gave everyone during the first-stage survival exam."

At my threat, they backed off again. It seemed they still remembered how I'd dismantled the second-year students' alliance during the survival exam.

"We still don't accept this decision!"

"We'll hold a demonstration if this decision gets implemented next year!"

Just as expected, they were flatly refusing this decision. Combined with Miria's terrible diplomacy, it seemed there was only one way left for the Student Council to make them understand.

Time to set my plan into motion.

"Alright, if you don't accept this decision, how about we make a deal," I offered them.

"Huh? What kind of deal?"

"If any one of your club members can defeat me in the main tournament, the Student Council will reverse this decision entirely," I explained the terms of our proposed agreement. "But if none of you can beat me, that'll serve as proof the Lancer Club genuinely doesn't deserve full support from the academy."

They fell silent at my challenge. It seemed they needed time to discuss this among themselves.

"Miria, let's head to the next club," I told her. "Our job here is done."

"A-alright."

We left the Lancer Club's room and headed toward the next problem club on our list.

From outside, we could already hear the Lancer Club members starting to discuss my offer among themselves.

"Senior, do we actually have the authority to make that deal you just offered?" Miria asked, looking uneasy. "What if Senior loses?"

I won't lose, though I might end up pretty battered. That's because I need to give them false hope first, before dropping them into the abyss.

"Don't worry, Miria. I'm confident President Elena will approve the deal I just made."

[3rd PoV]

After Raul and Miria left, the Lancer Club members went back to discussing Raul's earlier offer.

"What do you all think of that man's proposal?" one member asked.

"Of course we're taking it! If we beat that man, our budget won't get cut by the Student Council," another member argued.

"But if we lose, the Lancer Club will be forced to accept this budget cut anyway," yet another member said.

The doubt held by some club members wasn't entirely unfounded. That was because they knew firsthand what Raul was truly capable of, from the first-stage exam.

"But... if it's Senior Emilia, I think she could beat him," one member piped up.

"Right! Senior Emilia could definitely take him down! She's one of the strongest in the third-year class!"

Emilia was the Lancer Club's leader, currently a third-year student still out on her field practicum, set to return before the year-end exam began.

"Let's just wait for Senior Emilia and discuss this with her before we commit to that deal."

[Vlad PoV]

Several days had passed since I'd manipulated that loser, yet still no word of him actually succeeding in killing anyone who'd bullied him.

I'd only heard yesterday that two students had suddenly turned up badly beaten, suffering from short-term memory loss.

Which meant that loser had already carried out his plan, using the potion I'd given him. But why hadn't he killed them, exactly as I'd instructed?

Did he simply lack the nerve to actually kill someone?

"Vlad, how did your first match go in the qualifiers?"

Right now, I was sitting with Princess Elena in the academy cafeteria, discussing my experience here. It seemed the Emperor had assigned her to keep me company during my time as a student here.

"Ah, I won yesterday," I answered her warmly. "I think the students here have a noticeably higher skill level than back where I'm from."

Elena smiled proudly, hearing me praise the imperial academy.

Tch, I absolutely hate having to play the fool like this in front of someone. If it weren't for wanting to get close to you, I'd already be showing my true dominant nature toward the prey I'm currently hunting.

"...!"

While talking with Elena, I was startled to see an all-too-familiar woman walking through the cafeteria with a man beside her.

Long gray hair, blue eyes like ice crystals... there was no mistaking it—that was Princess Alisha Romanova of the Tsardom of Slavia!

What was she doing at this academy!?

Was the Empire also planning an alliance with that nation up at the northern edge? If that were true, my kingdom would need to completely revise its strategy ahead of the coming war between the Empire and the Republic of Venetia!

"Ah, you noticed Princess Alisha, did you?"

Elena's remark snapped me out of my thoughts.

"That's right, Elena. What exactly is Princess Alisha doing here at this academy?" I asked her. She should know the reason the Tsardom of Slavia's heir had enrolled here.

"Actually, the Empire never officially invited her here," Elena answered, her tone shifting, sounding somewhat sad. "If I remember correctly, Princess Alisha came at Duke Alvaro's request."

Huh? Duke Alvaro? Isn't he the head of the Empire's Intelligence Bureau? If I recall correctly... he's the father of that man I intend to destroy, isn't he?

"Of course we'd welcome any family member of a foreign ruler wanting to study at this prestigious academy of ours," Elena continued explaining. "It only helps raise Grunbelt Academy's reputation worldwide."

So Princess Alisha hadn't come at the Empire's invitation, but rather Duke Alvaro de Garcia's own personal invitation, huh...?

Which meant the Empire hadn't entered into any political agreement or alliance whatsoever with the Tsardom of Slavia.

This could only mean...

"Is Princess Alisha here as a prospective bride for Raul de Garcia?" I asked Elena.

At this, Elena's expression shifted quite visibly.

So it was true, then—Raul de Garcia held significant influence over Elena's life right now.

If I intended to rule this nation from the shadows, I needed to make Elena dependent on me instead of that man. I supposed it was time to wage a bit of psychological warfare against Raul de Garcia over this matter.

"President, might I have a moment of your time?"

Just as I was pondering how to sever Raul's influence from Elena, I suddenly heard a familiar voice.

Elena and I both turned to see a man with hair the same color as mine, his expression flat as ever, walking toward us.

This man... always interrupting my time alone with Elena.

This time, the look he gave me was different from usual. If I remembered correctly, he also led the disciplinary committee at this academy. If the man I'd manipulated earlier managed to kill those bullying students, this man's reputation would take a serious hit too.

Making it that much easier for me to influence Elena afterward.

"What is it, Raul? Did you and Miria finish confronting those problem clubs?" Elena asked, her expression brightening again the moment this man appeared.

"Of course, President. There are a few things I need to report about that," the man answered, his gaze deliberately avoiding me.

"Alright, let's discuss it in the office," Elena said, turning her attention back to me. "Sorry, Vlad, there's Student Council business I need to sort out. Let's catch up another time, okay?"

"Of course, Elena."

She smiled at me, then walked off together with that man.

I watched their backs as they walked away. Elena had already started chatting with him, walking side by side.

I need to destroy this man... I think the tournament will be the perfect opportunity for that.

I also need to meet with that loser I manipulated earlier, to make sure he doesn't waste any more time and finally kills those bullying him, so Raul de Garcia's reputation collapses entirely for failing to maintain security at this academy.

I suppose once the tournament's over, I'll hand him the Devil Fruit I promised, so he can start killing off the students at this academy.

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