How to Survive as a Trash Extra Villain

Chapter 108

The Imperium Empire’s capital, the world’s center, heralded the Grand Festival of Imperium Academy, the premier educational institution.

[Thank you to all visiting Imperium Academy.]

A grating voice echoed through the Academy and the capital’s bustling streets—the vice principal’s, the least likable figure. The headmaster, a grand mage, was absent. Busy, as always.

[The Grand Festival is both an Academy event and a time for cadets to showcase their skills.]

“Everyone ready?”

Martin turned to look back. Today, he ditched his drab green robe for a butler’s uniform.

[Visitors, please explore and witness the continent’s prestige and future through our cadets’ displays.]

“Of course.”

“Yup!”

“Hm, leave it to me!”

“Naturally.”

“Y-Yes!”

Everyone, in cadet uniforms with aprons, answered.

“Master.”

I turned to Lilac beside me, her expression unusually resolute.

“We’ll exceed sales targets at this festival!”

Much was left unsaid. Our finances were tight, mostly due to my Academy tuition. She spared my pride by not saying it aloud.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Yes!”

[Now, I declare the Grand Festival open!]

At the vice principal’s proclamation, the booth opened.

The coffee wagon’s curtain lifted, revealing the grand plaza. Not just our club, but various club booths and Academy-hired vendors lined up, eyeing each other warily.

“Here they come!”

Elisha, with her sharp eyesight, reported the visitors’ advance.

The grand plaza, a hotspot, was a straight shot from the main gate.

And it was a battlefield.

“Wow, look over there!”

“This is Imperium Academy!”

“My first time here!”

“Ho ho, the Grand Festival’s always a delight.”

Seeing people arrive by carriage or horse instead of cars was odd. Mostly nobles or the wealthy.

‘This is where we settle it.’

Full-meal booths were at the Academy cafeteria, not here.

That made this battlefield fiercer.

Teas, skewers, cotton candy, fish cakes, tanghulu, waffles, croissants, ice cream, hot dogs, and coffee.

‘Who’ll make the most sales?’

A duel of merchants’ skills!

‘The biggest rival…’

I snapped my head toward a vendor trending continent-wide: Tea Time Angels. A formidable foe. The tea aroma was no joke.

‘We visited them during club activities.’

Tea Time Angels, a café from a small duchy, skyrocketed in sales, expanding chains at a terrifying pace, reaching the imperial capital. A powerhouse teahouse.

‘Hmph!’

My eyes met a figure who seemed like their executive. Familiar from newspapers. Their CEO, here in person?!

His eyes burned with determination.

‘It’ll be a good fight.’

‘I won’t lose.’

We vowed and started business. The first wave of upper-class carriages and riders passed. These haughty types, prideful, wouldn’t visit unless it suited their status. Even if it tasted good, they’d never admit it.

And the result—

‘Damn it.’

As expected, we were losing. Tea Time Angels was a franchise serving nobles. A coffee wagon couldn’t compete.

“C-Cadet Martin! No customers!”

Anette panicked as crowds flocked to Tea Time Angels, overwhelming other booths. My heart sank, but—

“How dare they pass me?”

Just as Tea Time Angels leveraged their brand, we had our own asset. A reliable name.

“Rude pests!”

Adela shouted, startling the upper-class arrivals.

“The Golden Princess…?”

“Why’s she h-here?”

In her cadet uniform and apron, Adela stormed out, pointing at the coffee wagon.

“Come! Buy! Drink! This is my café!”

That was enough. Hesitant onlookers began trickling in.

I covered my mouth.

‘My god! Princess Adela!’

Her haughty voice sounded sweet today.

Lured customers, initially confused by coffee, exclaimed at the Korean-style brew after a sip.

“Dear, this is quite the delicacy. Try it.”

“If you say so…”

As expected, I stayed in the back, brewing coffee. My presence wouldn’t help our image. Instead—

“Hello. I’m Lilac, the coffee wagon’s maid. I’ll humbly take your order.”

“Hi! I’m Bianca, coffee wagon maid! Ready to order?!”

The two maid girls.

“Greetings. I’m Nerjin, coffee wagon butler.”

“Hello. I’m Savo.”

The old man and boy butler.

“Oh? Maids? Butlers?”

“Ho ho, great idea.”

“Decent etiquette.”

“Quite charming, aren’t they?”

They were a hit. Of course, Adela, Elisha, Mary, and Luri—near great nobles—taking orders and serving coffee also drew fresh reactions.

“T-The Harmadun duchess?!”

“Hello, Count. Been a while. Here’s your cold brew.”

“You made this yourself, Duchess?”

“Of course. I’m a coffee wagon staff today.”

“Oh… and… the Deminiyan duchess and Elidore heiress…”

Nobles desperate to network with the Four Great Ducal Families and Elidore Marquisate flooded the wagon.

As time passed, commoners started arriving. For daily sales, they were far more crucial than nobles.

‘Here they come.’

In this world, commoners loved tea but found it pricey for leisure. They’d choose quality. Tea Time Angels, the top café franchise, would draw them…

‘We need their attention.’

Luckily, we had a strategy for commoners. Lilac, taking orders, led Savo to the plaza’s front. Her eyes met Adela’s, who’d been reeling in nobles.

“Hm, I’ll leave the rest to you, maid.”

“Understood, Princess.”

Lilac spun in place, her maid skirt flaring elegantly. Lifting its ends, she bowed to the approaching crowd.

“Hello.”

Pinnacle of etiquette.

“The coffee wagon’s maids and butlers…”

Epitome of beauty.

“…await our esteemed guests.”

A calm, captivating voice resonating in all ears.

“Why not escape the autumn breeze with a cup?”

A perfect smile.

Savo, beside her, bowed with precise courtesy.

Enchanted, people flocked to the wagon.

‘Yes!’

A tactic that worked since Lilac ran the cart alone: exploiting commoners’ noble envy. Maids and butlers were a unique draw.

A teenage maid and younger boy butler? Even more so!

“Caramel macchiato? Heard it’s sweet. Three of those.”

“Café mocha, please. Extra chocolate syrup.”

“Two maple lattes.”

“Hazelnut.”

As crowds surged, everyone pitched in, regardless of role.

‘We won.’

Far off, the Tea Time Angels CEO clapped, conceding defeat.

Time passed, and dusk fell. Autumn brought early sunsets.

“W-We did it…!”

Mary clenched her fists, voice trembling with emotion. It was that intense.

“Business isn’t easy.”

Stroking Mary’s head, Adela surveyed the scene, enlightened.

“Hey, Martin! Here! I organized the ledger neatly!”

Luri handed me the ledger, sporting decorative glasses.

‘Oh.’

The ledger wiped away amusement, leaving shock. Today’s sales were five times our norm!

“The ledger’s great, but…”

Delicate hands covered it, gently taking it away. I looked up—Lilac.

“The Cadet Duel Assessment… tonight, right? You should head there.”

“….”

“….”

Adela, Elisha, Luri, and Mary held their breath, watching. Anette might not know, but they knew Martin’s temperament.

He loathed interruptions to his work. A maid disrupting her master?! Yet—

“Alright, Lilac. I’ll be back.”

He smiled, his expression as smooth as a well-made shake.

“Yes, Master. Until you return…”

Lilac bowed courteously, with Nerjin, Bianca, and Savo behind her.

“…the coffee wagon will stay here.”

“Yeah.”

***

With farewells from Lilac and the coffee wagon crew, we headed to the venue, usually called the grand training ground.

“Hey, Martin. Who’s that maid?”

“…?”

Elisha asked. Was she sick again? What’s with her? We worked together all day, and I saw them talk a few times.

“Cadet Elisha, you’re a regular at my place. Early-onset dementia?”

“No, don’t twist it! It’s… different.”

Only Elisha could ask this. Unlike Luri, certain of her love, or Adela, questioning hers, Elisha and I had a bond of begrudging affection.

“What’s different?”

Elisha frowned, then—

“The way you treat her versus everyone else feels fundamentally different.”

“….”

I wanted to scoff or retort, but I had no words. I flinched. Was it that obvious?

Looking around, Mary, Adela, and Luri were staring, their silent pressure forcing an answer.

“…She’s family.”

“Family?”

“Yes.”

In this empty world, the one person I trust, rely on, and feel safe with, even at my most vulnerable. She cherishes me as much as I do her—maybe more. Love or loyalty, I don’t know, but our feelings are mutual.

‘If not family, what is she?’

Lost in thoughts of Lilac, Martin didn’t notice.

But Mary, sensitive to emotions, clearly felt the strange air around Adela and Luri.