How to Survive as a Trash Extra Villain

Chapter 114

I slowly regained consciousness, like waking from a long dream. I hoped otherwise, but opening my eyes slightly revealed the stark white ceiling of a hospital.

"Haa."

The hospital ceiling felt almost familiar.

Faint sunlight filtered in. I hadn’t been out long… or maybe I’d slept for days.

Whatever.

‘Lilac won’t be happy…’

Every time I went out and returned injured, she’d been upset, even tearful. This time, I took a direct hit and collapsed right in front of her… a wretched feeling.

But a greater guilt loomed over me. I’d vowed to do anything to protect Lilac from the apocalypse, to walk any thorny path willingly.

Yet my fight with Gilbert wasn’t about the apocalypse or salvation—just the endpoint of my pathetic nature.

‘I even lost.’

I hadn’t used my powers as the princess’s black knight or Peacemaker member, but it was essentially my full strength.

‘So pathetically.’

And I’d used the diamond bullet and stellar force. I shouldn’t have… I could only say I lost my reason.

"Pfft."

Yet, even in that loss of reason, I thought of Lilac. In the tense moment of using my trump card to beat Gilbert, I chose Lilac over anything else.

Given another chance, I’d still shoot at the guards reaching for her.

No one could touch Lilac. I had to prevent such vile, filthy acts. That was this life’s ultimate mission.

‘It’s only natural.’

I acted based on the importance and value of things.

Enduring Gilbert’s provocations for scouts’ sake was foolish. So I ignored the referee and fired.

But even the duel with Gilbert paled compared to saving the world. I hated Gilbert, but that’s why I couldn’t completely ignore him.

Ultimately, Lilac was more important than the world’s salvation. Nothing could outweigh her on the scales.

Then, a small, warm hand touched my forehead.

"Master, you’re awake?"

Fully opening my eyes, I saw Lilac sitting to my left. As always, she wore her maid outfit, her hair in thick twin braids. Her lilac-colored eyes… made lying in this bed feel comforting.

But seeing her, an apology slipped out before a greeting.

"…Sorry."

"You’ve been apologizing to me a lot lately."

"I couldn’t win in the end."

The warmth from Lilac’s hand on my forehead felt soothing. Like being a child again.

"It’s okay."

"…Okay?"

"Yes."

"I lost."

"So what?"

If only time could freeze like this.

"I’m the one who’s sorry. You poured everything into that duel, got so hurt, and I… I interfered with your victory."

"No. Never. You always give me new strength."

"…"

"…"

Damn, what did I just say?

"…"

"…"

My face burned. Especially… with Lilac, I couldn’t control my emotions. Words slipped out. This wasn’t Martin’s emotional residue. Martin’s feelings wouldn’t want this. This was purely Kim An-hyun’s emotions.

"…"

Angel-like Lilac just smiled, comforting me. Oh… Lilac. My Lilac.

"I, Lilac, too."

"…"

"Gain strength to live by watching you, Master."

"…Yeah."

"From start to finish. Always grateful."

"…No."

"Are you tired? Want to sleep more?"

"…Yeah."

I felt… sleep creeping in.

"Goodnight, Master."

"…"

My consciousness faded.

"…"

"…"

Somehow, I felt I’d have sweet dreams.

Lilac’s touch gently stroked the hair and cheeks of Martin, who slept like a child.

"…I love you, Master."

***

"Hey, Hectia!"

"Been a while."

Hectia looked at the other platinum knights with a sour expression. Their gazes were unusual.

"What’s with Gilbert and Martin? Not your disciples, right?"

"I don’t know about the gunner, but Gilbert’s your top student, isn’t he?"

"…No."

Her denial made some jump with joy. Obvious. They coveted Gilbert and Martin. Hectia glared at them sullenly.

"…The Cadet Duel Assessment is over, so why haven’t you left?"

The Imperium Academy’s Grand Festival saw population shifts around the Cadet Duel Assessment, its highlight. But the two cadets, showing gold knight-level prowess, kept the festival’s fervor alive into the night and dawn.

The platinum knights were waiting for someone.

"Haha…"

"Well, you see…?"

"I have no authority over Cadets Gilbert and Martin. I can’t arrange meetings either."

"Ugh, stingy."

"Seriously."

Platinum Numbering. An elite group for platinum knights, mandated by international law. Members met yearly to share martial achievements or discuss critical trends.

Total 35. Ranked by strength, Hectia was currently first.

"No choice, then. They’ll wake up tomorrow?"

"I’ll try contacting them then."

"Ugh, I was supposed to return home today."

Like Martin, Gilbert wasn’t in top shape. Having pushed past limits multiple times and awakened stellar force, he needed rest for growing pains.

"I’ll head out first."

Hectia left the platinum knights and headed somewhere. Slipping into the academy’s alleys, erasing her presence, darkness enveloped her. Passing through walls and ground, she arrived at an underground location.

"You kept us waiting."

The Shadow Knights stood in formation. At their forefront was the Golden Princess, Adela. Beside her stood Luri and Anette. The Elidore Marquisate’s elite knights and the Defardly Empire’s last knights were there too.

"You’re late, Hectia."

"My apologies."

The reason Adela and Luri hadn’t appeared while Martin and Gilbert fought so fiercely.

"Demon worshippers… You extracted a confession about a Demon Lord Cult terror plot."

"Yes. From fanatics captured by the Shadow Knights that day they dared drop me into a pit."

Adela smirked.

Anette, hand on her red sword’s hilt, said.

"The interrogation was handled by me and the Defardly Knights. Luckily, even fanatics have turncoats."

"I see."

Hectia nodded vaguely, and Luri began briefing.

"The attack is set for tonight, during the Grand Festival’s closing ceremony. Even now, Demon Lord Cult fanatics are preparing in underground hideouts."

"Have you located the hideouts?"

"There are 170 potential hideout locations, including decoys, so we need to move now."

"Understood."

Adela, Luri, Anette. Unrivaled in intelligence warfare.

Flame-like mana erupted from Hectia. Her suit vanished, replaced by red armor and a cape symbolizing Platinum Numbering No.1 Hectia. Wielding a red greatsword, she said.

"Platinum Knight Hectia von Hartman. I obey your command."

But how could they know?

That the platinum knights stayed due to the emergence of Gilbert and Martin.

That an event not in the original story led Adela, Luri, Anette, and Hectia to uncover the demon worshippers’ terror plot.

And that the many seeds Martin planted.

All these would intertwine, twisting the future’s course…

"I and my knights will search this sector."

"I’ll take this area."

The four capable individuals quickly divided zones and dispersed. Cautiously, as the festival raged on.

"Ah, Teacher Hectia. This place was a bust."

At a checkpoint, Luri reported, and Hectia shared her findings.

"I found one decoy hideout."

The Demon Lord Cult’s deception was formidable. If the Defardly Liberation Army prepared one untraceable hideout, the cult dug many, with convincing decoys.

But these four were no ordinary foes.

"Then it’s here. Daring to inconvenience me."

"My evidence points there too."

They headed to a hideout based on gathered intel.

"Something’s off."

Luri muttered.

"I can’t shake the feeling it’s a trap."

The Shadow Knights, Defardly Knights, Elidore Knights—flawless elite units working together.

"Could we be following breadcrumbs they deliberately dropped?"

"You’re right, Cadet Luri."

Empress Anette agreed with Luri’s suspicion.

"But we must go, knowing it’s a trap. We crush their plan with boldness and find new leads."

With the Cadet Duel Assessment nearly over, little time remained until the closing ceremony.

"Now’s the time to decide, even at the cost of sacrifice."

Why such confidence? Simple. Look at their forces. They could rival a kingdom’s army. At minimum, silver knights mixed with platinum knights.

"No need for long words."

Adela took the lead.

"No matter what they’ve prepared, they can’t stop me."

Entering the hideout, Demon Lord Cult fanatics charged, wielding dark red demonic power.

"Vile things."

Anette’s flaming sword slashed straight, engulfing them in crimson flames, leaving only ash.

"Hectia is here."

A black wave surged from deeper within. Malice Wraiths, formed of tiny, baby-like evil remnants. But they were no match.

"Knights, draw swords! Charge!"

At Anette’s command, the knight commander and 30 knights advanced. The Defardly Knights, cloaked in red aura, clashed with the Malice Wraiths, which began to crumble.

[Guaaaargh!]

A massive beast emerged from the wraiths. A mass of fused malice. But a golden beam pierced it.

"Go, Shadow Knights."

After Adela’s magic struck, Shadow Knights appeared from all sides, shredding it to pieces. Despite its grand entrance, it fell instantly.

"Hmph, nothing much."

"We’re out of time. The closing ceremony’s soon."

"We must hurry."

Deep within the hideout, they found a ritual chamber with something horrific.

"…What is that?"

[Ugh, ugh, uwaaa…]

Human? No. Something no longer human… lay there. A cubic shape. Humans fused into a perfect square. Convenient to carry. Easy to store. Simple to count.

"That’s…!"

Adela flinched. Even after Imperium rose to superpower status, she’d searched for one thing tirelessly. Never found it, until now.

"Why is it here?"

"Do you know what it is? I’m clueless."

At Anette’s question, Adela nodded slightly. How could she not?