How to Survive as a Trash Extra Villain

Chapter 107

The Great Sun. The continent’s most radiant gold. The ruler who birthed the mad geniuses Kazaks and Adela.

That one word tightened Class A’s tension. Hectia, expressionless, spoke jokingly.

“The Emperor’s attendance isn’t confirmed. Just a possibility. Statistically, he attends once every five festivals, so no need to stress.”

“Phew.”

“Hah.”

The tension eased briefly.

“But don’t relax.”

It snapped back.

“Whether His Majesty comes or not, prepare your best to present the finest stage. The Grand Festival is your ultimate promotional opportunity.”

Graduating from the Academy guarantees a good life, but there’s a hierarchy.

“You—yes, you—are promoting yourself.”

Platinum Knight Hectia’s gaze swept over the cadets.

“Especially those in the top ranks for practicals will participate in the festival’s highlight, the ‘Cadet Duel Assessment’ tonight. I’ll call the participants from our class.”

Naturally, the protagonist party and I were named. The recently transferred princesses weren’t.

After all announcements, Hectia hammered the festival’s importance again.

“This Grand Festival focuses on clubs and individual activities, not classes. Cadets in multiple clubs must choose one. Pick one that aligns with your major, not personal feelings. This isn’t play—it’s competition.”

Competition. The word sharpened the cadets’ edge. Classmates who studied Time Chaos Dungeon strategies together were now rivals, vying for better knight or mercenary groups post-graduation.

“External visitors will be temporarily allowed, but only with a cadet’s guarantee and thorough checks and security.”

External visitors. Clubs could invite outsiders to run booths. In my case… the coffee wagon.

Future. Career.

‘Career, huh.’

What was I doing at 17? Back then, Kim An-hyun… knew nothing. Just a reader who loved comics, movies, novels. A fool writing without learning.

‘Still better than Martin.’

At least I didn’t cause trouble… or maybe I did. My existence might’ve been a burden to family and friends. Even if I cut ties, a grain of worry lingered. A failure, spewing garbage writing past 30.

‘Here, at least…’

Lilac’s face flashed in my mind.

‘I’ll be different.’

I’d be a master she wouldn’t be ashamed of.

“Now, first period’s starting, so stay put.”

Festival or not, Academy classes continued. If anything, they felt stricter with the festival looming.

‘Not easy.’

Not the classes.

‘Stellar Force.’

I held a martial arts manual from the Nameless Revolutionary, using stellar force. I studied it during theory classes.

‘This is good.’

‘Stellar force gathers in the soul, not the body.’

Thus, it’s nearly undetectable except by fellow stellar force users or those with opposing demonic power.

‘When used, it materializes as visible energy, enveloping the body and weapons to protect the user.’

The Cosmos’ stellar force excelled at ‘restoration’ over destruction. It could heal bodily wounds or repair damaged clothes and gear, rivaling time-reversal abilities.

‘Killing demons is also restoration, not destruction.’

To Cosmos’ order, returning ‘evil’ to ‘nothingness’ is restoration.

‘That’s why the demon count reacted like that.’

When the finest holy diamond bullet hit its chest, it couldn’t remove it, writhing in pain. The opposing forces clashed.

“Cadet Martin?”

“Hey, Cadet Martin. You listening?”

“Yes.”

“Solve this problem.”

“Understood.”

I easily handled the occasional challenges from teachers.

After class, I headed to one place: the clubroom.

[Hailey: Everyone, meet at the clubroom after classes to discuss the booth~! Oh, Martin, mandatory attendance!]

Why me…? Annoying.

‘Wonder how many stayed.’

The Grand Festival wasn’t just a party. Most went to their major clubs. Gilbert, for instance, got intensive training in Hectia’s swordsmanship club. Others likely did the same, so probably half remained. Opening the clubroom door—

“Hmph? You’re late. Making me wait?”

Princess Adela.

“Yay! Hey, Martin!”

Luri.

“Oh! Hello!”

Anette. Just the three. Honestly, not surprising. I’d expected this much.

“Cadets Adela and Luri. You’re early.”

“I’m here too.”

“Uh, I-I’m here too…”

“…?”

Two people popped up from behind the sofa.

“Cadet Elisha? Cadet Mary?”

“Sorry, but mind if we join? We’re in the same club.”

“P-Please, let us help! I-I’ll leave if it’s a bother…”

Looking around, no Gilbert, Lina, or Bord.

“Why… are you two here?”

“Uh, well… the shooting club. After what happened…”

“Oh.”

Because of Nelson, Paris’ brother and club president. Elisha helped kill him, so the vibe’s different now.

As Elisha opened up, Mary hesitantly tried to speak.

“I-I…”

I couldn’t be harsh with Mary.

“No, it’s fine. Cadet Mary’s always welcome.”

Shuga, Kazaks’ faction and Mary’s feisty little sister, was likely in the magic club, so Mary avoided it.

Mary looked up at me, touched.

“Thank you…”

“Make yourself at home.”

“I-I’ll help with the club, too…!”

“Thanks, Cadet Mary.”

Her tiny hands clenched with determination were oddly endearing.

Elisha slipped in. “I’ll help too! Got nothing else to do.”

“Do as you like.”

“…What, playing favorites?!”

“Sorry you feel that way.”

As the conversation dragged, Adela interrupted.

“Enough noise. Stop blabbering spinelessly. Martin, your lackeys are here, so lay out the plan.”

“…Guess I should.”

Adela, Luri, Anette, Elisha, Mary, and me. Six was perfect.

“First… per Teacher Hailey’s instructions…”

I announced we’d hired the coffee wagon to run the booth.

“Hm, not bad.”

“Nice!”

Adela and Elisha nodded.

“So, Teacher Hailey thinks we should focus on barista skills over sales.”

“I-I’ll do my best!”

“Yeah! Leave it to me!”

Mary and Anette burned with enthusiasm.

“I’d like to ask Cadet Luri to secure raw materials, too.”

“Got it! I’ll stock up as much as I can!”

Given a task only she could handle, Luri bounced with joy.

Then, a knock and a voice.

“Um… is this the Café Exploration Club…?”

The door cracked open, revealing a maid.

‘Cute!’

While I covered my mouth, everyone but Adela stood.

“Wow! The coffee wagon’s mascot!”

“C-Come in!”

The door opened fully, and Lilac, Nerjin, Savo, and Bianca filed in. They were new to most, so I’d introduce them.

“Ho ho, lots of familiar faces.”

“…Huh?”

Elisha, Mary, Anette, even the seated Adela flinched.

“All regulars at our coffee wagon.”

“Yup! Regulars!”

Luri stood proud. Okay, Luri, sure, but…

“Why are you regulars?”

“Well, it’s tasty! Is there a law saying I can’t eat there, Cadet Martin?!”

“S-Sorry for visiting quietly!”

“…It’s not wrong…”

Anette smiled awkwardly. “Cadets kept raving about this trendy southern tea shop. It was delicious, so I frequented it, not knowing you ran it.”

Adela’s eyes flashed, staring at me boldly. “What? Got a problem?”

“…No.”

Weird feeling. Same old banter, but…

“This is where Master lives…!”

Knowing Lilac was watching made the air awkward.

“Oh, introductions are late. I’m Nerjin.”

As strangers, we exchanged names.

“Savo.”

Adela’s eyes twitched. She’d been at the slave auction where Savo was bought.

“Hi! I’m Bianca!”

And finally—

“Hello.”

Lilac lifted her skirt’s ends slightly.

“Entrusted by Master, I’m the manager of the coffee wagon and…”

With elegant, refined etiquette, she introduced herself.

“Master Martin’s maid, Lilac.”

Even the sharp-tongued Adela shut her mouth at the flawless introduction.

“It’s an honor to join the coffee wagon’s esteemed regulars at Imperium Academy’s Grand Festival.”

***

The suited demon Keltu sipped blood-brewed tea, eyeing a massive beast.

[Brahmus, is everything ready?]

The beast’s maw gaped, revealing countless steel-like fangs. Sticky saliva dripped to the floor.

[Ready…! Going to feast…!]

Skeptical of his fellow Demon Lord, Keltu pressed.

[What’s the main dish?]

[Keltu…! Stop treating Brahmus like a fool…!]

Keltu laughed at the irritated tone.

[Don’t chefs explain dishes as they serve? Same thing. Food must be eaten reverently.]

[Uh… Keltu, right. Food, reverent.]

Beneath Brahmus, a massive blood-drawn magic circle glowed. The blood was from contracted continentals’ offerings.

[Try again. Who’s the target? The pests who keep ruining our plans!]

[Adela. Kazaks. Anette. Elisha. Gilbert. Lina. Mary. Bord…]

[And? That annoying gunner!]

[Martin, of Ulvhadin.]

[Main dish?]

[Elidore, the Peacemaker’s ally.]

At “Peacemaker,” veins bulged on Keltu’s forehead.

[Yes… that Peacemaker…!]

One person the Demon Lords desperately wanted dead: the Peacemaker’s Star Child. For centuries, he’d thwarted their plans. The Cosmos Empire fell, but their war with him raged on.

[Without him, the demon realm would be closer.]

When the Star Child vanished for a month last summer, they rejoiced, thinking him exhausted. Until he reappeared, tearing through their hideouts!

[He burned all our offerings for our descent!]

Decades of work, gone.

[How did he find that place?!]

A spot hiding Majesty of the Mountain, undiscovered for millennia.

[To be wiped out without time for the descent ritual…]

They couldn’t let it slide. The Star Child’s last stop before changing course to destroy their hideouts was the Elidore Marquisate.

The imperial capital was risky even for Demon Lords, but—

[Alright, Brahmus. Do well.]

Keltu had no doubt in this plan’s success. A Demon Lord’s avatar was descending—not a full descent, but enough for revenge.

[Eat them all. Raze it to the ground!]

[Got it…!]

The blood magic circle beneath Brahmus flashed with sinister red light. Demonic energy sparked, slicing through space.

Keltu raised his blood-filled teacup.

[For the demon realm.]