The Villain’s POV in the Academy

Chapter 53

Trinity Academy, 150th floor Cyber Park.

It was a place decorated with high-resolution holograms of various cute animals and beautiful plants.

Originally, the entire 150th floor had been dedicated to raising real trees and small animals to help care for the students’ mental health.

However, now, due to the high maintenance costs, everything had been replaced with holographic images of plants and animals.

The scent was replicated with multi-diffuser devices that mimicked the smell of flowers, and the sounds of animals and plants were replaced with speakers, allowing the park to continue serving its role.

‘They actually walk around here thinking it’s nice?’

But Iri’s impression was far from good.

It felt like looking at an outdated android from several generations ago, with awkward and crude design. The half-baked attempt to imitate nature seemed to hit that uncanny valley just right.

Nevertheless, it was a fairly popular space among students.

There was a big difference between looking at something on a flat screen and seeing it as a hologram, so it seemed quite a few students came here during breaks.

Oh, they even sell limited-edition ice cream here.

First time I’ve been here, but it’s pretty nice?

Since Cyber Park also had a snack bar and benches, students gathered in small groups, each with snacks in hand, enjoying their time together.

Iri was a little envious of them.

Envious of how they could relax and enjoy their break without a care in the world.

Maybe if the snack bar prices weren’t about three times more expensive than outside, her opinion of this place might have been a little better.

Just as she was thinking that—

“Ah, Miss Iri…”

“Mm?”

“Your hand, uh… the ice cream is melting…”

Miyu, sitting beside her, pointed to her hand. Snapping back to her senses, Iri realized the soft-serve ice cream she’d bought for triple the price outside the Academy was melting and dripping down her hand.

“Aagh! Do you know how much this cost?!”

In regret, she hurriedly licked the back of her hand.

Miyu handed her a handkerchief and cautiously asked,

“Miss Iri… a-are you okay…?”

“What about?”

“I-I’m sorry if it’s just my imagination, but… you look a little pale…”

“Do I? No, it’s nothing.”

Hahaha.

Iri tried to brush it off with a forced laugh, but Miyu’s comment had hit the mark.

Yes, she was tense.

All because of Aaron’s orders last night.

The shocking things he’d told her kept drifting around her head, refusing to let her rest, leaving her spaced out even now.

‘A cult, junk chips that control people? And I have to deal with it?’

It was an order she couldn’t refuse, so here she was, using her lunch break to come to this place as he instructed.

But Aaron had only told her that if she waited here, the “target” would approach her on their own, without explaining anything more.

Because of that, she was exhausting herself by keeping her nerves on high alert for the target who could appear at any time.

That fatigue was showing on her face.

“What about you? Are you okay?”

“Ah… y-yes… I-I’m fine…”

The answer still didn’t carry even a pinch of confidence. Since it was her usual demeanor, it was hard for Iri to tell whether Miyu was nervous or not.

“You’re really fine?”

“O-of course…”

Somehow, she doubted it.

If she didn’t get her own confidence back first, nothing would go well. Thinking that, Iri tried to encourage Miyu.

“It’s fine. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Nothing to worry about.

It was something she was also telling herself.

Thinking rationally, she had survived in the Fallen Sector, rolling around like a dog—there was no reason to be afraid of something like this now.

If she kept acting this nervous, she wouldn’t be able to protect this girl properly. She had to relax and get herself back into top condition.

“Huu…”

A few deep breaths, and her tension eased a little. Her mind also felt a bit clearer.

Iri smiled faintly at Miyu and said once more,

“Yeah, I’m really fine now.”

And at that moment—

As if they’d been waiting for Iri to relax, someone approached them.

[Hey, haven’t we met somewhere before?]

A mask with an LED display.

On it was a smiling “(^_^).” emoticon, and even in the synthesized mechanical voice, there was a hint of friendliness.

Known as Silence.

The “target” of this mission.

‘H-he really showed up?’

Exactly as Aaron had said.

He’d told her that if she loitered anywhere in Cyber Park during lunch, Silence would approach her first.

She had been half-skeptical, but now that it was happening exactly as he’d described, she felt a small chill down her spine.

‘No, now’s not the time for that.’

The target was here. Time to do her job.

She wasn’t that confident in her acting, but she had no choice.

As naturally as possible—

“Ah, that mask.”

[You remember? We didn’t get to talk much last time because I was busy. I didn’t expect to meet you here again.]

“Yeah, me neither.”

Iri gave a faint smile.

Yes, this much should keep Silence from suspecting her.

She might have said she wasn’t confident in acting, but that was only by Fallen Sector standards.

In an environment like that, lying was a survival skill.

[Do you have time right now? I’d like to chat.]

“Sorry, but I’m spending time with my friend right now. She’s pretty shy around strangers…”

She subtly moved to shield Miyu. She didn’t actually intend to refuse, but she’d learned that it was more natural to push back once in situations like this.

[Is that so? I wouldn’t mind if your friend joined us.]

“Really? What do you think?”

Iri turned casually to Miyu. They’d already discussed this, so Miyu’s answer was set.

“I-if Miss Iri is okay with it…”

[Hahaha, it’s fine. Don’t be scared. I’m not a scary person. I’m just wearing this mask for… reasons.]

"R-right…."

Miyu barely managed to answer.

She, too, had heard from Aaron that this person called “Silence” was the one distributing cyber-drugs in the Academy.

Honestly, just talking to a strange, suspicious person in a weird mask must already have been hard for her.

Given that, Miyu was already giving the performance of her life.

‘Good, Miyu. Leave the rest to me now.’

Since Miyu had done her part, it was now her turn. With that resolve, Iri steadied her mind once more.

The operation had begun.

Aaron’s plan went like this:

—The mission goal is to capture Silence.

Aaron explained that the opponent was both the culprit selling junk chips to students and also a victim caught up in the schemes of the Ashita-kyo.

—To completely uproot them, we first need to keep Silence alive and persuade him to our side.

—But wouldn’t it be strange if I just went and asked where he bought the junk chips?

—Doesn’t matter. He’ll target you two and approach first.

When Silence approached them first, that would be the first step of the plan—build rapport.

However, Aaron never explained exactly why Silence would target Iri and Miyu.

In any case, just as Aaron said, Silence had approached them first, and by naturally striking up a conversation, they had succeeded in step one.

Iri and Miyu accepted Silence’s offer and spent time together. For two people who usually didn’t interact much with other students, it was a somewhat new experience.

Especially since Silence was skilled at conversation—if he hadn’t been the target, Iri might even have considered becoming friends with him.

[…That’s amazing. You two were already selected as special scholarship students without even having taken the midterms yet.]

“Honestly, I still don’t know why. You’re from Sector E too, right, senior? You know how these people look at those from lower sectors.”

[Yeah, I know. More than you can imagine.]

As they talked, the three had grown close enough to call each other senior and junior.

At Iri’s half-genuine complaint, Silence sympathized deeply.

“That’s why I still don’t understand. How did that Crown Prince even know me, and when did he decide to approach me? I think it might have something to do with my brother, but he won’t ever tell me.”

[You’re saying your sponsor is suspicious?]

“To be honest… yes.”

This part was 100% genuine.

He was definitely the benefactor who had saved her, but she still didn’t know what his true intentions were.

At her answer, Silence touched the area beneath his LED panel—his chin—making a thoughtful gesture.

Then he cautiously said,

[Actually, I’ve heard something about the Crown Prince. I think it might have to do with you.]

“What? What is i—”

[Can’t talk here. You know why.]

Silence tilted his chin toward the ceiling, where CCTV cameras were watching them.

[It’s a bit of a sensitive topic.]

“You mean… not here?”

When Iri gave him a look of mild anticipation, Silence nodded.

[I know a place. Outside the Academy. I can tell you the details there.]

Finally…!

Silence probably thought he was luring Iri in, but it was the other way around.

Iri had been waiting for him to make such an offer—because Aaron had told her he would.

—Silence will try to take you somewhere. He’ll probably bait you with a story about your brother, or about me.

—How do you know?

—If it were me, that’s exactly what I’d do. And he’s no different.

It was as if Aaron had seen the future—his prediction matched perfectly.

At this point, it was more scary than impressive, but Iri kept calm to avoid ruining a done deal.

“When would that be possible?”

[Even today works. I’d prefer if both of you came, though. Miyu, would that be okay?]

Silence turned to Miyu.

This too was just as Aaron had foretold.

—Iri, he’ll try to take Miyu along as well. When that happens, don’t refuse—say yes.

“Alright. I’ll put in an outing request for this evening.”

[Good. Since it’s a bit far to Sector E, I’ll prepare transportation in advance. Don’t be late.]

As their meeting came to a close, Silence stood from his chair.

[Looks like lunch break is almost over. You two should head back so you’re not late for class.]

“Got it. The snacks were good, senior.”

“G-goodbye…”

Silence left, and the two remained to report everything to Aaron.

That concluded step two of the operation.

That evening—

Iri and Miyu took the car Silence had prepared and headed toward Sector E. Aaron had also prepared a scenario for this stage.

“[I’m surprised you managed to get permission to go out.]”

“I didn’t.”

“[Huh?]”

“I snuck out.”

In truth, the permission had been granted immediately.

But Aaron had explained that since the Academy was already in an uproar, granting an outing request without question would actually raise suspicion.

It would be more believable to just say they’d snuck out, even if the Academy was in chaos.

“Miyu helped me get past the entrance.”

“[And how do you plan to deal with the fallout later?]”

“It’s fine. I’ll manage.”

Her excuse seemed to satisfy Silence, who didn’t question it further.

After getting out of the car, they walked deeper into the tangled back alleys of the overdeveloped Sector E. At the end was a door leading to a basement.

[This way.]

It looked suspicious at first glance.

She knew that following someone she barely knew into such a place was tantamount to suicide, but there was no choice.

Descending into the basement revealed a surprisingly large space filled with religious symbols like mandalas and wheel designs.

Orange-tinged gas lamps dotted the place.

Centered around a long corridor, arched doorways led to various rooms of different purposes.

The humidity inside was high.

From beyond the walls came the sound of running water, suggesting that the place had once been part of an old sewer system, later refurbished.

‘Could this be their hideout?’

The interior was bigger than she’d expected, and there were quite a lot of people—enough to be called a small village.

Passing worshippers lost in prayer, Iri and Miyu reached the largest room at the back.

Would this be called the main hall?

Several large Buddha statues stood there, with a crude altar set before them.

‘So it really was a sewer.’

From the entrance to the statues was a straight line.

On each side, sloped paths descended about 20 meters—likely once designed to hold water as a reservoir.

The waterway she’d heard in the corridor must lead here before flowing out through large tunnels connected to the drainage system.

‘I’ve wandered plenty of sewers before, but never one like this.’

As she looked around, overwhelmed by the strange atmosphere, she noticed a monk at the altar chanting sutras.

Sensing their presence, he stopped his chanting and turned to greet them.

“Greetings.”

Placing his palms together, the monk bowed and introduced himself.

“I am called ‘Araya.’”