I Became the Daughter of the Academy’s Villain

<153 - The Moment It Becomes Serious>

1.

Isabel did not like the butler in the formal dress.

First of all, his face was intimidating.

His body was too muscular to be considered an ordinary butler, which was also bothersome.

When it came to his spirit, he looked more like a henchman, or even an executive of an evil organization, terrifying and sinister.

Whoosh!

‘His face is definitely smiling, but his eyes are not.’

Clink!

Compared to Jezel, who always wore the same smile, the difference was stark.

Isabel realized that the difference lay in consideration.

Jezel always cared about how her face looked to others.

She knew that a contradictory expression, where the mouth smiles but the eyes do not, causes discomfort for others.

So, Jezel smiles with her eyes too.

To ease the tension of others and create a mild atmosphere.

Then there was Jonah Wahyhiemhai.

The man that Oknodie introduced as the butler was different.

A face that smiles but eyes that do not.

Could he be unaware of how he appears?

That couldn’t be.

Just look at that intimidating face and built body.

No matter how oblivious one is, when one grows up seeing people flinch in surprise around him, one eventually comes to understand.

How people see you when you make that expression, what effect that expression can have.

Wham!

‘He knew about it and did it anyway.’

That man was clearly exerting a threat.

To her, who was Oknodie’s friend.

To the other students.

To the guardians of the upper class students.

“You’re saying you’re a student from the border region? Hmm, you’ve certainly lived hard.”

“Honor Fried Chicken. I don’t think that’s true, but you haven’t mingled with those border bumpkins, right?”

The upper-class guardians were also unpleasant.

They were all grand nobles or high-ranking officials.

They openly looked down on the border.

Disregarding the guardian from the border was an added bonus.

However, those arrogant ones seemed uncomfortable dealing with the intimidating butler but did not dare to mock or point out anything directly.

The wary expressions made it clear that they were careful not to get involved by mistake.

“Wiheomhae Foundation is indeed impressive. Even the three major noble families of the Empire are cautious around it.”

Tension rose at Jezel’s words.

That dangerous man, for some reason, was paying attention to her and Son Ohchun.

The feeling was not good.

As the homeroom lecture ended, Jonah approached.

“Everyone, say hello! This is butler Jonah!”

Thanks to Oknodie, who enthusiastically introduced, they ended up in a chaotic self-introduction.

Son Ohchun, sensitive to danger, gripped the bag he was carrying tightly, his face tense instead of playful.

“You don’t need to be so nervous. I am the representative of the Wahyhiemhai Foundation. Our foundation offers childcare services that provide growth opportunities to underprivileged children and scholarships for entering upper educational institutions.”

“We know what you do to the scholarship students.”

“Isabel?”

“Oknodie, stay quiet.”

“Mouse! Listen to Isabel here.”

Son Ohchun, who had covered his ears in gratitude, looked bewildered, like a question mark floating above his head.

While his face showed clear expressions of relaxed emotions, the current atmosphere between Isabel and Jonah was extremely dangerous.

“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding.”

“Try to explain if you can.”

“Our young lady is the top scholarship student. She’s the best talent the foundation has ever seen. There’s no way we would neglect someone like her.”

“…Is that all?”

“However, we have concerns about her friendships. If weak humans like you are around, won’t our young lady experience the sadness of losing comrades?”

Isabel didn’t expect a proper excuse.

She didn’t believe the organization was capable of it.

But she never thought it would be this bad.

“There must be more to say. You have to deny what you did!”

She hadn’t threatened potential scholarship students to turn them into prostitutes or slaves.

They weren’t using the students for experiments or terrorism if they didn’t perform.

They weren’t as wicked an organization as she had thought.

She hoped for a denial.

She hoped it was all a misunderstanding.

Jonah did not deny any of the accusations.

Instead, he turned the tables, threatening them.

“If you don’t want to lose your lives, stay away.”

“Don’t act like a bother.”

Boom!

“Please keep this in mind. From today onward, you become hindrances to ‘Oknodie,’ an important figure in the foundation as determined by me, ‘Jonah Wahyhiemhai.’”

“Do you think I would yield to such a threat? You all better brace yourselves. We will definitely liberate Oknodie from your evil foundation.”

Crash!

Isabel’s arm was grabbed by Jezel as she was about to shoot back angrily.

“Why are you stopping me? You know too well what they’ve done to Oknodie…!”

“Now is not the time. Look over there.”

Tap!

Jezel pointed to Son Ohchun, who was covering his ears.

“This mouse is doing what? Don’t grip me so tight!”

“Why do you all talk secretively without me? I want to hear too!”

“Argh! My wrist hurts, you brute. Don’t pinch the bone!”

Due to Oknodie straining to pull Son Ohchun’s hands off, Son Ohchun was whining as his arms shook uncontrollably.

This would be the last moment she could raise her voice in front of Oknodie.

“You have no idea. You don’t know what our foundation is capable of.”

“Whatever it is, it’s probably some dirty scheme.”

“If you don’t want to personally experience that dirty scheme, then stay away from the young lady. This is the last warning.”

After finishing his warning, Jonah turned to leave.

“Oh, let’s go together!”

“I’m sorry, but I think I need to end my observation here. Until we meet again, please take care, young lady.”

“Whine. Are you already leaving? Just a bit longer!”

Oknodie pushed Son Ohchun and hurriedly ran to Jonah’s side, circling him and whining.

From Isabel’s perspective, it felt like a huge wall.

Aegyo that hadn’t even shown to her, who had built rapport by cooking for him every day.

Oknodie depended on that man quite a bit.

Emotionally.

Since a very young age.

There must have been education close to brainwashing.

Today’s events confirmed it.

The foundation was indeed the organization they thought it was.

Neither the foundation nor that man could be forgiven.

As she encountered Oknodie, who was slowly trudging back with slumped shoulders, the resolution in Isabel’s heart grew even stronger.

*

Jonah had left.

She wanted to introduce him to other professors.

Unfortunately, he said one visitation ticket was not enough, and he had to take his leave.

“Can’t you snatch tickets from someone who has many?”

“Regrettably, the timing is not right. Next time, I will definitely acquire enough tickets no matter the means, young lady.”

“Is that a promise?”

Nodding, Jonah.

His vow to keep promises was even more trustworthy.

Next month was already something to look forward to.

“Then, see you next time, Jonah! Please send my regards to Reap too!”

After saying farewell to Jonah, she headed to the Developing Insight Classroom, where Isabel and Jezel were waiting.

“Did you finish your introduction with the butler well?”

“I’m so sad. Others came to the academy early in the morning; they had a whole day, but I only barely spent half a day with him…”

“But we are here with you. We all care for Oknodie. We’ll take care of her on behalf of the butler.”

“Pfft. Jezel, you think you could be a butler? That’s hilarious, but give up; it’s totally impossible!”

Jezel showed curiosity.

“Being a butler is that tough?”

“Of course! Jonah grants any request I make.”

“Just listening to you, I see you’re a spoiled little brat.”

“But a butler is someone who grants everything, right? Someone to pamper.”

“…At times like this, I realize again that Oknodie is the daughter of a noble family.”

“Eh, it’s not like that. The foundation is a little wealthy, but it’s not noble by any means.”

“Why not?”

“Well, they don’t have any foods made as mascots!”

While waiting in front of the Classroom, Titosso chimed in, having eavesdropped on the conversation.

“I’ve been curious about that. Why do all the human nobles living beyond the mountains have food names for their surnames?”

“When the Demon King of Famine spread terror, there were no common foods in the territories occupied by the demonic clan. So, while subjugating them, they made special dishes with locally sourced ingredients, and the first-generation nobles adopted food surnames in honor of their achievements!”

“Hehe. That’s an amazing origin story.”

“But these days, it’s not like that, and since all nobility uses food names anyway, they’re now in a trend of creating new dishes and naming them after nobles!”

“Oknodie, does that mean if I create a new dish, I could become noble?”

Oknodie smiled.

“Why not! If you develop a new dish to be added to the Cooking Handbook, you could receive nobility in any country based on versatility and level.”

“How do you know so much, Oknodie?”

“Um… this is a secret; don’t tell anyone, okay? If I ever need noble status, I plan to develop a dish too!”

In the casually wandering conversation, the atmosphere improved enough that Isabel, who had been listening quietly, felt a shock of realization.

“Oknodie, can you cook?”

“Uh-oh.”

Oknodie looked awkwardly as he glanced around and chuckled.

“It’s not that I don’t want to; it’s just that I found it troublesome. I only eat the delicious food you make, Isabel.”

“That can’t be…”

“Isabel…? Are you mad?”

Isabel’s hands trembled in shock.

Oknodie could cook.

She did not feel betrayed.

She realized something crucial.

She was confident.

After all, Oknodie liked the meals she made, so he wouldn’t leave her.

She vowed to protect Oknodie from the foundation’s wicked temptations through the strength of her cooking.

She believed she had some pride in this.

But if Oknodie could cook?

That meant he didn’t need her.

Oknodie could leave her at any time.

Growl!

‘I need to get stronger. Much stronger than now.’

Clenching her trembling hands into fists, she made a vow to develop her cooking skills to a point where Oknodie wouldn’t even have the will to cook for himself.

It was the moment she became serious about cooking, which had merely been a hobby before.

---