Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Welcome to Hell [Wearing a Smile]

The manual continued flipping pages without my permission.

[Analyzing future events for Villainess Diana Termina Winter.]

[Analysis complete.]

[Diana Termina Winter’s villainess arc commences in three days. She will be forced to clear Floor 80 once again due to political machinations. The other four noble houses will pressure and plot against her, leaving no alternative but to enter the same apocalyptic world.]

More pages turned.

[This time, she will synchronize completely with her villainess counterpart. Upon ejection back to this world, having abandoned everything and living solely for revenge, she will uncover the darker truth behind the orchestration.]

[She subsequently joins forces with the enemy faction to bring down the entire academy and those who rule it.]

The final revelation appeared.

[Later in Act 3, she is defeated by her own niece, the heroine of this tale, who makes her submit through words alone.]

I scoffed internally.

’That’s your typical ending for an overpowered character. Can’t beat them in combat? Here, let me present the ancient and sacred technique of talk no jutsu.’

I didn’t care how tragic her past was or what horrors awaited her in the future. I was no saint who fought other people’s battles. If she lost, then it was entirely her fault for being weak.

Simple as that.

I closed the system screen, but not before noticing my level progression. The thousand experience points from the quest hadn’t been enough to advance, but it was better than receiving nothing at all.

│═════════════════│

│ [ Lv.3 ]━━━━━━○━━━[ Lv.4 ]

│ ─────────────────

│ Current EXP: 1000 / 1500

│═════════════════│

I turned to Celestine, who was waiting expectantly for my enthusiastic reaction after discovering I had made it onto the list.

Instead, I delivered my words with complete nonchalance.

“Looks like we won’t be classmates after all. I’ll be one year ahead of you now.”

I stroked my chin thoughtfully.

“And you’ll have to address me as senior too. Hmm, but I think I would prefer sir.”

Her curious and joyful eyes instantly transformed into pools of sadness. She was far too innocent to recognize my sarcasm for what it was.

Rather than taking offense at my teasing, she simply accepted the cruel reality I had fabricated.

I sighed heavily.

“But I’ve heard there aren’t really any boundaries between juniors and seniors at this academy. They share the same dormitories. The same training grounds. The same hangout spots. There are even joint classes where all years study together.”

Her eyes gleamed with renewed hope. “Really?”

I maintained the most annoyed expression I could muster while forcing a fake smile onto my face. “Yes. I’m one hundred percent certain of it.”

’Oh gods, even the no-name kid is smarter than her.’

Speaking of which, remembering the girl without a name made me glance in that direction.

Only to realize I wasn’t the only one looking.

Every single pair of eyes in the vicinity had turned toward where I had left my companions.

Not because of Freya’s status as a princess. Not because of Amelia’s presence as either a calamity or simply a beautiful woman. Not because of the nameless child’s adorable appearance.

The stares were meant for someone else entirely.

A woman standing coldly beside them. Hands tucked into her pockets. Wearing a long black coat that billowed slightly in the breeze. Red gloves covering her fingers.

Diana Termina Winter.

She spoke something to Amelia that I couldn’t hear from this distance. Then her green eyes found mine across the crowd.

A moment later, she was walking toward the stage.

I was thoroughly baffled. I quickly rejoined my group.

The moment I reached them, I turned to Amelia. “What did she say?”

But before Amelia could respond, Freya cut in with barely contained panic.

“Did you do something monumentally stupid to attract Diana’s attention?” Her voice carried genuine fear. “The rumored one who never meddles in anyone’s affairs?”

I scratched my head casually. “Let me think about that.”

Freya’s face turned pale. Her voice dropped to a terrified whisper. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t say anything particularly triggering,” I replied with a shrug. “Just mentioned I would cut her leg off. Oh, and I also clarified that I don’t have a leg fetish. Even shared my weakness for feet and gave her a better approach to charm me if she ever wanted to try again.”

Freya’s jaw dropped so low I thought it might detach entirely. “Do you have any idea who she is?”

I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. “Of course I do. But at that particular moment, I wasn’t exactly aware of her identity.”

Freya pressed her palm against her forehead in disbelief. “Eren, she isn’t just the headmistress of this academy. She is the single most influential figure on the entire island of Azuredel.”

My tongue slipped before I could stop it. “Not for much longer.”

She blinked. “Pardon?”

“Nothing. Forget I said anything.” I waved dismissively. “I don’t think that maniac will do something drastic just because I rejected her leg. Anyway, what exactly did she say to you?”

Freya turned to Amelia, and so did I.

Amelia spoke. “She said to tell you that you should gather your luggage and meet her personal assistant behind the stage.”

I stared blankly. “Luggage?”

Then her parting words from our previous encounter echoed through my memory.

She had said I would have to see her face every single day. She had also claimed she had adopted me.

Was she actually serious? Did she genuinely intend to…

’Wow. I’m getting adopted by the villainess who is about to meet her doom.’

But it wasn’t like she owned me or anything. I could simply decline her bizarre and somewhat deranged offer.

I turned to the nameless girl and patted her purple hair gently while directing my words to the others.

“Don’t think too much about it. And don’t worry. I’ll handle my own business.”

Then a cold voice began to echo across the square.

It was an announcement being made from the podium on stage. Diana stood there, commanding attention without even trying.

People stared at her like she was some kind of goddess descended from the heavens. Which was fair, I supposed. They didn’t know about her psychotic tendencies.

Her voice rang out with absolute authority.

“I acknowledge every individual across the globe who participated in this tournament and made it a memorable spectacle for all who witnessed it.”

A pause.

“Your efforts are… appreciated.”

The word sounded almost painful coming from her lips.

“However, this academy does not reward effort. It recognizes capability. It acknowledges power. And just like life itself, the losers are discarded and forgotten. No matter how desperately you pushed yourselves, in the end, only victory matters.”

Her green eyes swept across the crowd like a predator surveying prey.

“And in that singular aspect, most of you all have failed.”

’Well, that escalated suddenly. Isn’t she being a bit too blunt?’

She continued without mercy.

“Out of the thousands of losers who participated, only a fraction succeeded in earning their place. But do not mistake that for some grand achievement. It merely means you were not disappointing enough to be discarded.”

Her tone grew even colder.

“This academy does not nurture weakness. It does not accommodate excuses. And it certainly does not care about your lineage, your past glories, or whatever meaningless titles your families cling to.”

She let those words sink into the silent crowd.

“If you seek comfort, leave now. If you seek power, register your name and prove you deserve to stand among us.”

Her gaze hardened.

“That is all I have to say.”

A brief pause.

“For those who have passed this stage, you are hereby notified that inauguration and classes will commence next week.”

The faintest hint of something crossed her features. Not quite a smile. Something far more dangerous.

“And for those select few, welcome to the academy.”

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