How to Survive as a Trash Extra Villain

Chapter 102

“Ugh, mm…”

A refreshing spring breeze blew through the window. …In autumn?

“Master.”

Ah, right. It’s Lilac’s scent.

“It’s time to get up. The sun’s high in the sky.”

Come to think of it, this was already the third time Lilac had come to wake me.

“…Just a bit longer…”

The Defardly Liberation Army had left me utterly exhausted.

I rolled over, pulling the blanket over my head.

“Master, no. You’ve already skipped breakfast and lunch. You should at least have tea time.”

Lilac’s soft footsteps approached, gently lifting the blanket off me.

“Come on. We’re preparing your favorite menu.”

Her voice tickled my ears. My heart thumped, blood stirred, and a bit of energy returned.

“…What is it?”

“Cheesecake!”

“Ugh…”

Rubbing sleepy eyes, I sat up. Lilac stood beside me, smiling brightly.

“Hand…”

Without thinking, I reached out. Lilac took my hand in her small ones and helped me up.

A rare weekend. After sleeping until late afternoon, I sat with bleary eyes, watching three people play a board game.

“Ugh, Grandpa, you’re too good!”

“…I’ve lost.”

Bianca and Savo declared defeat.

“Ho ho, my skills are still useful, it seems.”

Nerjin let out a hearty laugh. I watched them blankly, then yawned widely.

“Master.”

I quickly shut my mouth. Turning, I saw Lilac holding a steaming cup of tea and cheesecake.

“Did you sleep well? The sun’s already high. I prepared hibiscus tea to wake you up.”

“Thanks.”

One sip of the tangy flavor sharpened my senses.

“Master, are you curious about their game?”

“Hm? Oh, well…”

Honestly, I was more focused on Lilac standing beside me than the game…

“It’s from a famous board game school, called Nine Kingdoms. You roll dice to buy or seize territories and bankrupt your opponents! It’s for two to nine players, they say.”

“Hmm.”

It sounded intriguing. It reminded me of a board game I played as a kid. Guess people’s worlds are all the same.

“First time I’ve seen it.”

“It’s trending these days! I’ve played a few times, and it’s fun!”

In a world without computers or smartphones, board games held a lot of sway in entertainment.

…Of course, there were scumbags into gambling or slave auctions, too.

‘A board game-related villain…?’

I couldn’t recall any. Probably none. A villain tied to kids’ toys? Ridiculous.

“Would you like to try a round, Master?”

“…Later. Newspaper first.”

“Oh, yes! I’ve got it ready!”

I took the newspaper from Lilac and sat on the sofa. Glancing over, Nerjin, Savo, and Bianca had started a new round.

“Lilac, you’re not playing?”

“Hm?”

“You know… Nine Kingdoms.”

Lilac smiled softly and answered.

“It looks fun.”

“Then…”

“But nothing is as rewarding and joyful as serving you, Master.”

“….”

I was speechless.

“…Th-Thanks.”

Muttering like a mosquito, I lowered my eyes to the newspaper, sipping tea to wet my already moist throat.

[Imperium Academy Attacked?! Culprits, Once Again, Demon Worshippers!]

Yesterday’s Defardly Empire Liberation Army attack, while the teachers were away, was pinned on demon worshippers. Well, not entirely wrong, since demons did appear.

‘The Shadow Knights must be formidable.’

When Princess Adela and the rest of us were dragged underground, the Shadow Knights—low-ranking as they were—apparently killed all those demons and summoners without a single injury. It made framing the Church of the Demon Lord easier. The article didn’t mention it, but they probably took some prisoners for interrogation, too.

‘Good. Things are going well.’

The more vigilant people became, the better prepared they’d be.

[Humanity Preservation Agency Vows to Strengthen Defenses Against Demon Worshippers.]

This part especially pleased me. …Not now, but someday, I’d cross paths with them.

[His Majesty, the Great Sun Emperor, Personally Leads the Army.]

The ailing emperor, hearing of the prince and princess’s disappearance, had led the imperial army to search the underground waterways. The Academy teachers had also returned promptly to join the search.

‘No wonder they found us right after we escaped.’

I folded the newspaper. I’d seen enough. The news about the Elidore Marquisate’s Imperium Land turning daily profits wasn’t worth mentioning.

“President Martin, care for a round?”

I turned to see Nerjin calling me, as if he’d been waiting.

“President! Join us!”

“….”

Bianca waved enthusiastically, and Savo nodded.

‘Tch… Are they even using their Extra Privilege Items properly? All they do is laze around…’

Sighing, I got up and sat at the game board. I pointed to the chair beside me.

“Lilac, sit. Let’s play together.”

“Me too…?”

“Come on. You gonna let me play alone?”

Lilac beamed and sat down.

“No! If you’re playing, Lilac’s happy to join!”

***

A peaceful weekend gave way to Monday. Dragging my tired body to school, I found—

“Yes! You’re bankrupt!”

“Ugh, for real…?”

Cadets obsessed with Nine Kingdoms, turning the classroom into a gambling den.

‘…This trend’s gonna last a while.’

Having played yesterday, I could vouch it was pretty good. I didn’t use Know-It-All or Wild Instinct—would’ve been cheating—but I still came in first. Ahem, skill, I guess.

“Hey, Gilbert! You’re buying that land?!”

“There’s no room for personal feelings in politics. Farewell, Bord.”

“…I just landed on that land you used to kill Bord.”

“Th-Then Elisha has to pay a fine…”

“….”

The protagonist party was hooked, rolling dice and moving kings. Lina, already bankrupt, watched with a stubborn gaze.

“Hmph, another weird trend’s catching on.”

Princess Adela arrived and sat beside me. An uncomfortable seatmate, but at least she wasn’t swayed by kids’ games.

“….”

“….”

Or so I thought, until she placed a Nine Kingdoms package on her desk instead of a textbook.

“…Princess Adela?”

“Ahem, understanding the people’s tastes is a ruler’s virtue.”

“Since when did you care about that…?”

“Shut it.”

Glare. Her golden eyes shot daggers, and I looked away.

Soon, Teacher Hectia entered through the front door, starting the morning assembly.

“…As you all know, last week was unfortunate.”

The massive terrorist attack on the Academy.

“This was clearly a failure by the Imperium Academy administration. We’ll ensure such incidents never happen again.”

And the next matter—

“…We have a transfer student.”

Barely a week after Adela’s transfer, another one. A bad feeling crept up. I glanced at Adela, who wore a rotten smirk, plotting something.

“Princess, what did you do?”

“A suspected enemy is easier to manage and monitor when kept close.”

The person who walked through the door… was Anette…

The protagonist party froze at the sight of her black hair and red eyes. They turned to me, and I pointed at Adela.

Unfazed, Anette smiled brightly and greeted them.

“My name is Anette. Nice to meet you all. I’m thrilled to join the renowned Imperium Academy.”

Teacher Hectia sighed.

…She must suffer a lot, caught between powerhouses…

“Anette is the heir of a high-ranking noble from a distant island nation. Her details are classified, but know she’s from a nation closely tied to the continent. Treat her without prejudice.”

***

Classified. This world was stingy with information. Why else would Information Guilds exist? No internet, computers, or smartphones—just a world rife with rumors and hearsay.

For example, rumors that the empire secretly dealt with elves, dwarves, or beastmen. Or that a secret force eradicated evil. Or that a group carrying the Defardly Empire’s royal bloodline existed. Truth and lies were jumbled together.

Information was power at every level.

Classified status was both a spear and a shield.

Given the Academy gathered prodigies and heirs with their own secrets, they were lenient about Anette’s classified identity.

“Wow!”

“Cool!”

The cadets’ reactions to Anette weren’t bad.

“Hey, Anette! Your eyes and hair are so pretty!”

“Uh, hi! I’m Matthew! N-Nice to meet you!”

Anette acted like a typical 17-year-old. Her refined speech from her time as a princess felt natural.

“Hm, nice to meet you all. Feel free to call me Cadet Anette.”

Her first appearance was shocking, but observing her all day—

“Hmm, top 10 in physical training. Impressive, Cadet Anette.”

“I’ve merely honed skills befitting a leader.”

She excelled in physical training.

“…Thus, per the Dwarven Principles, the metal’s strength is 7.91.”

“Excellent! No hesitation on a tough question!”

She shone in theory.

“Cadet Anette! Eat with me!”

“No way! She’s coming with me!”

“Haha, if it’s alright, let’s all go together. As a latecomer, may I treat my peers to show my sincerity? Oh, and you too, Teacher. It’s an honor to dine with Imperium Academy’s esteemed faculty.”

“Uh? Oh, sure. Moments like these are nice.”

She handled students and teachers alike with ease.

“Woah! I knew we could count on her!”

“Let’s go! I’ll show you the capital’s best restaurant!”

Perfect.

‘…Impressive.’

Compared to the princess beside me, who terrified the classroom on her first day, the difference was stark.

I glanced at said princess. As if waiting, her golden eyes met mine.

“…What’s that look, Martin? Want to die?”

“Nothing.”

Adela snorted and leaned back in her chair.

I turned back. Anette, pushed out of the classroom by the crowd, glanced back, locking eyes with me and giving a subtle nod.

Her popularity was well-earned.

…Though the Golden Princess seemed to have a different impression.

“Hah! Look at them flocking. A true predator doesn’t run in packs.”

“….”

I swear, of all the nonsense Adela had spouted, this was the least convincing and confident.

Know-It-All (Lv 4) discerns Princess Adela’s inner thoughts. Behind her mask of composure and disdain lies an expression of ‘unacknowledged admiration.’

Unacknowledged admiration. A pitiful emotion of secretly admiring while denying it.

Wild Instinct (Lv 4) senses that Adela’s irritation resembles a child teasing someone they like.

Even as princesses, they were different.

Anette, a fallen empire’s princess, bore a heavy mission and grew up loved and expected by many. Her life wasn’t smooth, but look—she stood strong. Betrayed and stripped of everything, yet she smiled within a day.

Adela, born a princess of the world’s greatest empire, was unloved. The only ones who showed her affection—Knight Harris and her nursemaid—died due to the emperor’s politics, birthing the ‘Mad Princess.’

Comparing their hardships would be rude. Saying one grew well despite pain while another twisted isn’t fair.

But they grew up differently nonetheless.

“I’m legally barred from a normal school life, unlike Prince Kazaks?”

“A life of only misery—can’t I even enjoy youth at this age?”

“A daughter who killed her mother and was abandoned by her father can’t even go to school?”