How to Survive as a Trash Extra Villain

Chapter 115

"It’s an emblem."

Adela was consumed by vengeance against the continent. She had to become empress. Only then could she burn the continent. But Prince Kazaks was too great a rival. Even the Shadow Knights and Hectia couldn’t bridge that gap.

"Something I once desperately sought."

So she’d searched. For one thing to close that gap. The sacred empire of over-technology that once led the world above Imperium.

"The emblem of the Cosmos Empire."

The Cosmos Empire’s traces. A small circle on a black background, adorned with eight white petals. That emblem, on clothing, alongside countless people fused into square cubes.

[Ah, aaah…]

[Grrrr…]

Devoid of reason or anything else. Like beasts. Or insects.

Boom! The door they’d entered slammed shut. Hectia swung her flaming greatsword, but the ordinary wooden door didn’t budge.

"It’s a barrier."

[Yes, a barrier.]

Everyone startled, looking to the chamber’s innermost part. Behind a curtain, someone sat.

[Platinum Numbering No.1 Hectia. A barrier to trap you. I didn’t expect the Shadow Knights and Defardly Knights too. Princess Adela, Empress Anette, and Luri of Elidore! Haha, am I lucky?]

As he reached out from behind the dark red curtain, the cube-humans floated, slowly melting into liquid… flowing into him.

[Mmm, ahh, not bad. Now I can move a bit.]

Like replenishing lacking nutrients.

[Allow me to introduce.]

The dark red curtain tore open, revealing a demon lord in a suit, holding a teacup.

[I, who will keep you occupied, am Keltu, the cunning demon lord of schemes.]

His presence alone could’ve killed ordinary people. But everyone here was extraordinary.

Only Luri struggled slightly. As a combatant, she was a clear liability.

"Keep us occupied?"

Adela, gripped by unease, asked. They knew it was a trap, but its scale exceeded imagination. The wall before them wasn’t wood. It was a fortress. An impregnable citadel.

Keltu answered politely.

[I’m currently a thought-form, far from full incarnation, barely a wraith.]

Demonic energy gathered in Keltu’s hands. They all sensed it.

[Until Brahmus, incarnated as a vessel, consumes enough to recover, you’ll have to play with me here.]

The battle began.

***

I looked out the window. Fireworks shot up, lights flashed. People with snacks moved in one direction on the streets. The closing ceremony was starting.

I drew the curtains. Cut off from outside, sound and light vanished.

‘The closing ceremony.’

I didn’t care. Isolated, only the academy hospital’s smell and the healing glow of magic lights remained.

‘Did Lilac get back okay?’

In my half-conscious state, I recalled her visit. And what I’d said… Embarrassment flooded me belatedly.

Anyway, with people passing the grand plaza before and after the closing ceremony, the coffee wagon would be busy.

‘Should I go help?’

But my body lacked strength. Stamina, mana, stellar force—all less than half my usual.

‘Maybe settle accounts instead.’

I’d delayed due to my condition, but many system messages awaited.

Your club and coffee wagon achieved outstanding results at the Imperium Academy Grand Festival.

Gained 2,000 achievement points.

At the Grand Festival’s highlight, the Cadet Duel Assessment, you defeated supporting character Bord after a fierce battle!

Gained 3,000 achievement points.

At the Grand Festival’s highlight, the Cadet Duel Assessment, you clashed with protagonist Gilbert. A fierce battle where emotions, beliefs, and all you had collided. Though you lost, the outcome wasn’t what mattered. Those of a certain skill level know you chose defeat.

Gained 5,000 achievement points.

Martin von Targon Ulvhadin’s reputation will shift significantly from today.

That wasn’t all. Points trickled in as people gossiped about me.

Not to mention the black knight points from the princess, tied to my recognition. A considerable amount.

‘Over 20,000 residual points accumulated.’

Raising Know-It-All or Wild Instinct levels was tempting.

‘Luri, a Peacemaker ally, should be fine.’

Lately, I was hooked on nurturing extras.

Spent 8,000 points to purchase ‘Luri Exclusive: Traces of the Flame that Illuminated the Primordial’ from the Extra Privilege Item Shop.

A nondescript charcoal lump appeared and dropped before me.

"…"

It looked like plain charcoal.

‘I didn’t get scammed, right?’

I knew the system wouldn’t, but… I stuffed it into my pocket.

Nerjin’s magic pouch. I kept the Desert Hierophant and spare bullets in it nowadays.

With points settled, I had nothing left to do.

‘Rest a bit more.’

As I lay down, my body jolted as if electrified.

Wild Instinct (Lv 4) is shocked! Unbelievable! An unimaginable catastrophe is hurtling toward this world! You must act now!

‘Urk!’

My body recoiled. I clutched my heart, my other hand trembling as I grabbed the shotgun beside me.

"Huff, what’s about to happen?"

Wild Instinct had warned me before. All day, my ears ached. But never had my body shuddered like this.

‘I can’t ignore it.’

I steadied my breathing, calmed my mind, and stood. I turned off the magic lamp, changed into my cadet uniform, donned a dark green robe, and stepped out of the hospital room.

‘Quiet.’

No one around. Normal for this hour. But Wild Instinct screamed that an unspeakable horror was unfolding in this silence.

‘What’s about to happen?’

Now, of all times! Lilac was at the academy.

‘Work, Wild Instinct.’

Wild Instinct (Lv 4) focuses all effort on detecting presence.

Know-It-All (Lv 4) enhances focus, assisting Wild Instinct.

I heard it. Crunch. Crunch. Something breaking, tearing.

‘No way.’

I closed my eyes, focusing all senses on hearing. I aimed my shotgun down the corridor and fired in an arc. The bullet curved around the corner, down the emergency stairs, and struck the source of the horrific sound in its vital spot.

[Kweeeek!]

A monstrous scream shattered the hospital’s silence.

‘No way.’

I knew that sound. That frequency. That aura.

Rosary of Grace vibrates!

‘Demons.’

The mind-corroding wails woke sleeping patients in panic.

"What, what’s that?!"

"Ugh, uwaa… Scary…!"

"Did you hear that?"

Amid the commotion, a piercing scream rang out.

"Kyaahhh!"

I infused mana into my boots. The ‘Swiftness’ magic, embedded in the artifact from the Petrak Ecological Park’s Time Chaos Dungeon, activated.

I sprinted down the hospital corridor, doors flashing by like train scenery. I stopped abruptly before one, kicked it open, and aimed my shotgun inside.

"Help, save me!"

Boom! An explosion-like sound as the grotesque black amorphous monster’s carapace shattered. Pellets embedded, it writhed in pain and collapsed. I fired a piercing round into what I assumed was its face.

"Ah, ugh. Uh…"

"…"

I turned to see a panicked woman. Without a word, I smashed the disaster alarm, set for fires or monster attacks, with a bang.

Sirens blared through the hospital.

"Behind, behind!"

The woman pointed at me, shouting. I dove aside, reloading. A biological bludgeon—maybe a fist—slammed where I’d stood. I leapt, climbing onto it, and fired a round infused with stellar force and mana.

[Gueeek!]

The creature spewed fluid from all orifices and died from one small bullet.

‘Where did these come from…’

Then, unheralded darkness fell. My vision blacked out, screams echoing everywhere.

Wild Instinct (Lv 4) enhances vision!

My sight recovered instantly.

"Kyaah!"

"Save us! Save us!"

"Uwaa!"

Repeated screams, gunshots, and blackout. People fled their rooms. I needed to control them. Or use them as meat shields. The latter tempted me more.

"Martin!"

I turned to see damned Gilbert, in a patient gown, holding only a sword. As I tried to ignore him.

[Ah, this is the disaster response headquarters. Disaster response headquarters. Hospital, do you copy? What’s happening?]

A communication came through the alarm.

First, inform everyone.

"Demons have appeared. They’re emerging throughout the hospital for unknown reasons. I don’t know how long, but not long."

[We’ve dispatched a rescue team. Are you an academy cadet?]

"Yes, Ma…"

About to speak, I clamped my mouth shut, grabbed Gilbert’s collar—who was staring dumbly—and dragged him to the alarm.

"Speak."

I ordered. He looked startled, then.

"Gi, Gilbert."

[…? Understood. You’re not alone. Protect as many people as possible until the rescue team arrives. They’ll enter through the main gate, rear gate, annex, emergency room, and rooftop.]

The communication cut off. I released his collar, shoving him away. I pushed hard, but he only stumbled a step or two. Infuriating.

"Ma, Martin. What’s…"

"Shut up and assess the situation. You asking because you don’t know?"

"…"

Gilbert’s mouth shut. He wasn’t asking out of ignorance. Just formality. He didn’t know details, but demons were spawning in the hospital.

‘Only the hospital?’

I strode into the nearest room, flung open the curtains, and opened the window. The academy… was still in the midst of the Grand Festival’s closing ceremony.

‘I don’t know. But it’s likely spreading.’

Lowly demons like these couldn’t have triggered Wild Instinct’s panic. I needed to alert the outside to prepare.

‘Use the cadet handbook to communicate…’

Irritation surged. I was still trash Martin! I grabbed Gilbert’s arm in frustration.

"Where’s your cadet handbook?"

"H-here."

I snatched it, but it only responded to its owner. I threw it back.

"Contact everyone you can. Tell them demon worshippers are attacking. Warn everyone to be cautious and spread the word."

"Got it. And then…!"

Gilbert’s eyes widened. His superior physique let him see through the dark.

Light.

A bright white light from something I pulled out began filling the hospital. I raised my hand, and the light spread further. People flocked toward it.

"Light!"

"Gather there!"

"Monsters! Monsters!"

"Save us!"

Demonic minions charged behind them.

[Keeeeek!]

Bathed in the Rosary’s light, they melted away. Gilbert saw it. The necklace around my neck, held high in my left hand.

Holy power that vanquished evil. The cosmic order’s stellar force from Cosmos.

"Ahh, you really are… a Peacemaker…"

[Guaaar!]

A larger minion, fused and bloated, charged. Gilbert drew his sword and rushed it. A faint orderly force imbued his blade.

"Hah!"

His stellar sword bisected the beast. His free use of stellar force twisted my gut.

Oblivious, Gilbert stood atop the fallen beast, illuminated by the Rosary’s glow, looking back at me. Like an obvious protagonist. He shouted.

"Martin! I’ll help! I…"

"I won’t say it twice."

"I can…"

"Shut up."

"…"

Gilbert clamped his mouth shut. Sword in hand, he looked at me, ready for orders, like a knight.

‘Useful, at least… as a protagonist.’

Now was the time. Why was I at the academy? To prepare for this calamity. Why did I help the protagonist’s party despite hating them? For this moment.

‘Escape first.’

I spoke to the surroundings.

"Follow me."

My voice, carried by stellar force, echoed through the hospital.

Kim An-hyun, Martin, called Gilbert the protagonist, but to those gathered, Gilbert was just a swordsman. Martin was the savior guiding them.

Following the sole light piercing the blinding darkness, they began escaping the hospital.