How to Survive as a Trash Extra Villain

Chapter 93

“You fed the rabbits. I never imagined Cadet Martin had such a cute side. It’s nice to see a new side of you today!”

She raised her hand and placed it on my head, patting it gently.

“Good job, good job.”

“….”

I couldn’t yell at her for touching me.

I owed Hailey too much already.

After patting my head for a while, Hailey said, “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

She brought it up casually.

The Coffee Exploration Club, a vacation activity, had been suspended due to the Marquis Vistavern’s terror incident.

Most of Imperium Academy’s clubs faced the same fate.

“How have you been?”

“Fine, I guess. Same as usual.”

There were things I couldn’t fully explain.

“Was it tough?”

“It was okay.”

It was tough.

I got hurt a lot and was dragged around.

“Yeah, I believe you’ll overcome it, Cadet Martin.”

“….”

“Let’s go explore the capital’s best eateries together during the next vacation.”

“….”

“Got it?”

Gilbert and I are at war.

It’s a cold war for now.

Hailey, being sharp, probably knows that.

“Yes.”

Look at her effort to shoulder that burden herself.

True to Hailey, like an all-embracing spring.

I can’t bring myself to dislike her.

“Oh, I was running an errand for another teacher, so I’ll head out. Don’t sleep too much, Martin.”

“Yes.”

As I watched Hailey stand up, I realized something.

‘Come to think of it, the Extra Privilege Item Shop.’

Matthew, Nerjin, Luri, Savo.

No matter how I recall, there was nothing for Hailey.

Adela isn’t an extra but a main villain, so that’s understandable.

But Hailey is a minor extra, not even mentioned by name in the original story.

‘That must mean…’

I saved Matthew’s trauma, Nerjin’s destiny, Luri’s friend, and Savo’s freedom.

They were freed from the shackles of their doomed lives through me.

But… in other words…

‘Does that mean I haven’t truly saved Teacher Hailey?’

***

Hailey von Lua Etrande.

Nature Magic user.

Imperium Academy teaching assistant.

Originally fated to be devoured by Dr. Keren’s test subject during the Petrak field trip, but I saved her.

She defended me at the disciplinary committee, joined the raid on Dr. Keren’s lab, and became the advisor for the Coffee Exploration Club.

‘To be honest…’

She helped me, but I received far more from her.

How many times has she comforted me?

Even just now.

‘Well… maybe it’s for the best.’

Someone like me doesn’t suit her.

A pure spring like her would only be tainted by being around me.

‘More importantly…’

I hope she never faces anything bad enough to need saving from me.

Hailey is a good person.

Truly kind, pure, an untainted pink flower.

“What are you worrying about so much?”

“Huh? Oh…”

Luri, sitting across from me, asked while eating a parfait.

“I was just spacing out.”

“Hehe, even you have those moments, huh?”

“Well… yeah.”

After academy, I came to a newly opened parfait shop at Luri’s request.

No ulterior motives, of course.

Just here for new menu development.

“How were the second-semester classes? Good?”

“They were alright.”

“Hmm, really?”

Luri asked in a subtle tone, then continued.

“I heard… a transfer student came?”

“…?”

She seemed a bit angry.

Was it my imagination?

Did I do something to upset her?

“Yes. Princess Adela transferred to Class A.”

“Oh, ohh, you call her so casually~?”

“What? Well… she sits next to me.”

Crunch, grind.

A sound leaked from Luri’s clenched teeth.

“Martin…! If Princess Adela bullies you, you have to tell me!”

“…? Got it.”

“Promise! You have to!”

***

‘Phew, it’s exhausting.’

At first, just going to and from school was enough, but as I got to know more people, tiring situations kept piling up.

When I opened the door, I saw Lilac.

“Master! Welcome back!”

“I’m back.”

“How was academy life today? It’s early in the semester, so maybe I’m making a fuss, but I’d be so happy if only good things happened to you, Master. Oh, this isn’t the time! Have you eaten, Master?

Or would you like to wash up first?

I made a cheesecake, and I’ll bring it out after you’re done washing!”

Her beaming smile made my heart tingle.

Then, I suddenly worried if I’d brought back any bad smells from the day.

“I’ll wash up.”

“Yes!”

When I entered the bathroom, warm water was ready in the tub, timed perfectly for my arrival.

Towels and a change of clothes were impeccably prepared.

As I soaked in the tub, ‘Ah.’

A fresh floral scent enveloped me.

It felt like the entire bathroom was blooming with flowers.

The fatigue from the academy melted away.

It was obvious who prepared this gift.

The image of Lilac warming the water, neatly folding towels and clothes, and personally adding the fragrance came to mind, making me smile.

‘Thank you.’

Feeling refreshed, I went to the kitchen, where Lilac was waiting with a delicious-looking cheesecake.

As I sat down, Lilac poured freshly brewed tea into a cup.

“By the way, I don’t see the others?”

“Nerjin is in his room, studying the scroll you gave him, Master. Savo is outside practicing swordsmanship. Bianca seems to have plans with friends today.”

My heart stung for a moment.

I helped Nerjin and Savo grow stronger.

Bianca has friends.

But… Lilac?

I’ve never seen her meet friends or go out to have fun.

She’s always, always, waiting for me at home…

It felt like she was tied to me, unable to live her own life, which made me feel stifled and uneasy.

“Lilac.”

“Yes?”

“Do you… not have any plans?”

“….”

Lilac’s eyes widened slightly.

‘Oh, damn.

What did I just say?’

It was too insensitive.

Careless.

Stupid.

You idiot!

If only I could turn back time…!

“N-No, I mean…”

“No, Master. I know what you meant.”

Lilac gave a gentle smile.

It was beautiful, noble, and pure, like a single blooming flower.

“Master Martin. I, Lilac, decided long ago, when you saved me in our childhood, that I would live solely for you. When you’re struggling, when you’re happy, when you’re sad, when you’re joyful. If you allow me, I’ll follow you to the ends of the world. Until the twilight of your life. No, beyond that. Across the river of the underworld, to the afterlife, through every moment of existence.”

Lilac’s resolve was directed solely at me.

“If you permit it, I’ll be with you, Master. Forever. Forever. Until the world ends. Until everything granted to me comes to an end.”

She smiled faintly.

“You’ll permit it, won’t you?”

Her smile was so beautiful that I-

“…Yes.”

Answered like a fool.

‘Idiot.’

Couldn’t I have said something cooler?

Couldn’t I have shown her something better than words?

‘Really an idiot.’

Lilac said she’d be with me forever.

I even felt certain that if I ever turned the world against me, Lilac would follow me.

The certainty that she’d be waiting for me when I returned.

That was the source of my strength.

‘But…’

The reason a part of my heart felt uneasy was, ‘Like Hailey, Lilac doesn’t appear in the Extra Privilege Item Shop either.’

The fact that I haven’t fully saved Lilac.

The past I glimpsed of Lilac and Martin kept haunting me.

What must I do to truly be her salvation?

“Eat, Master. These are the best ones I made today.”

“Oh, uh. Thanks.”

Lilac’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I, who always looked toward the apocalypse, became fully present with Lilac in this moment.

As I picked up the fork, I noticed Lilac’s slender wrist.

“Have you been eating properly lately?”

“Huh? Yes! I eat three meals a day!”

“….”

But she looked too thin.

So… without thinking, I cut a piece of cheesecake with the fork and held it to Lilac’s mouth.

“Ah.”

As Lilac’s eyes widened, I came to my senses.

What was I doing?

Just as I was about to pull my hand back, Lilac opened her mouth and took the fork.

Chewing the cheesecake, she looked at me and smiled.

***

There’s a villain who should have appeared around this time.

Nelson of the Quesharow Family, whom I defeated in the Eudialyte Desert ruins.

He attacked his older brother, Teacher Faris, and tried to kill me and Elisha but failed.

He sacrificed his own life to summon a high-ranking demon, which I defeated.

“Hmph! Cowardly steps, won’t you stop?! Look, shooting a bow starts with standing confidently before the bow and target!”

“Wow, that’s amazing, Princess Adela…!”

…A distracting noise, but let me explain first.

Anyway, that’s that.

For a while, there are no major events, so I’ll live like an ordinary cadet at Imperium Academy.

I’m studying the martial arts manual from the Nameless Revolutionary and checking the effects of the Extra Privilege Item Shop items, so it’s perfect timing.

Even if it’s the calm before the storm, I…

“I-Is this right?”

“Mary of Deminiyan! Better than before, but grip it tighter!”

…Sigh.

Fine, I’ll confess.

The transfer student, Princess Adela, and Mary, the eldest daughter of the Deminiyan Family, part of the protagonist party, have become friends.

‘It’s quite a scene.’

The entire Class A was sneaking glances at them.

Even the protagonist party couldn’t approach and just stared blankly from a distance.

‘To be fair, I’m not one to talk.’

I was dumbfounded too.

‘What happened to make Princess Adela and Mary friends?’

Adela, whose arrogance pierces the heavens.

Mary, timid but sensitive to others’ malice.

‘Really.’

It’s not a bad thing.

But thinking about how this will affect the original setting and story gives me a headache.

As I furrowed my brow, someone approached.

A kind, golden-haired, squinting character.

“Hehe, who would’ve thought those two would become friends? Right, Cadet Martin?”

“Oh… Teacher Faris.”

Faris, the eldest son of the renowned archery Quesharow County.

…The older brother of Nelson, whom I killed.

I heard he returned after recovering from his brother’s funeral and injuries sustained in the ruins.

He stood beside me.

We didn’t look at each other, both watching Princess Adela and Mary.

“Yes, I suppose.”

Awkward?

No, just uncomfortable.

I killed his brother and socially buried him.

The video of Nelson’s vile ambitions and summoning a demon by sacrificing himself spread across the continent.

‘Even if it was for the greater good.’

I wanted the world to be wary of demon worshippers.

‘It was a filthy act.’

But what I did to Faris and Nelson was the same as what the protagonist party did to Martin.

Spreading their misdeeds to socially bury them.

‘I’d do it again if I went back.’

I’m different from the protagonist party.

I have the greater cause of preventing the apocalypse, not some childish justice game.

…But using that as an excuse to justify myself is disgusting.

It’s clear.

Before Faris, who lost his brother, I was a sinner.

“Um…”

“Um…”