I CHOSE to be a VILLAIN, not a THIRD-RATE EXTRA!!-Chapter 144: Lilia’s Plan (1)

As Mia exited the classroom, the door clicked shut. The moment it closed, Ashok rose from his seat, his movements smooth, unhurried.

The watchful eyes of the other students trailed his actions, their curiosity evident—but he paid them no mind.

Sliding his hands into his pockets, he strode toward the second gate of the classroom.

There was nothing more to do here.

The lessons would begin tomorrow, and today's matters had run their course.

Ashok's priorities were clear—breakfast first, then training.

His mind wandered briefly.

'I wonder what's on the menu today.'

With the credits he had now, he no longer had to settle for the free meal the Academy provided.

This time, he had options.

And with alcohol, breakfast was shaping up to be something worth savoring.

The quiet hum of shifting seats and hushed whispers faded behind him as he neared the exit. His footsteps remained steady, unfaltering, as he passed the last row of benches, turning toward the gate—

And then, suddenly—

A figure stepped into his path.

Lyssa.

She stood motionless, her presence unnervingly silent, her black hollow eyes locked onto him, unblinking.

Yet Ashok remained utterly unfazed.

He didn't bat an eye to her.

He wasn't some third-rate noble who would puff out his chest and demand, 'How dare you stand in my way?!' He had no time for meaningless posturing—no interest in engaging in hollow arrogance.

And as for speaking to her?

It was even more out of the question.

Ashok ignored her completely, walking past her without sparing a glance.

Yet, after taking just two steps, Lyssa appeared again, seamlessly positioning herself directly in his path.

Her movements were swift, silent, her posture unyielding—but Ashok remained unfazed.

[Sole Survivor]

[STR: F -> D]

Without hesitation, he activated his trait, his eyes unreadable as he kept moving straight toward her, refusing to deviate from his course.

From his knowledge of the game, he knew that aside from Leon, who was a D Rank, all other students in the class remained somewhere between E Rank or F+ Rank.

There was simply no way an assassin like Lyssa, whose abilities were centered on agility, could physically overpower him after he increased his strength with his trait.

Not without using Aura or weapons.

And after Mia's strict warning, he knew she wouldn't dare.

The instant Ashok was about to collide with her, Lyssa braced herself, attempting to push him away—

But it was a futile effort.

Her strength paled in comparison.

The moment their bodies made contact, she staggered backward, unable to hold her footing.

Yet instead of falling outright, her body rotated instinctively, using the momentum to redirect her balance—her hand catching onto the nearest bench, steadying herself.

The exchange did not go unnoticed.

The students watched—some stunned, some intrigued—but Ashok didn't spare them a thought.

He had no concern for Lyssa's condition.

Without hesitation, he moved forward again, ready to take another step—

When a hand landed on his shoulder, firm yet elegant.

A voice followed, sweet and enchanting, brushing against his senses with unsettling ease.

"Adlet, you should show some courtesy toward a fellow student," Lilia said, her voice carrying an effortless elegance as she focused her Soul Trait to the maximum, its influence directed solely toward Adlet.

The ability required no Mana, which meant she could keep it active indefinitely, free from any repercussions from the Academy.

Lilia had learned from yesterday's encounter that Adlet wasn't fully affected by her charm.

The only conclusion she could draw was that his mind resisted her influence—not because he was immune, but because she hadn't applied her full strength.

Normally, her charm functioned passively, weaving itself into her presence.

It influenced those around her, shaping perceptions—earning favor from females while subtly generating attraction from males.

If someone was fully caught in her charm, they would obey her completely, stripped of all resistance.

The effect was further amplified upon direct contact, though full submission took time.

This was why she had only targeted Lyssa within Aether Class, while her remaining marks lay in Wyrd Class.

Lyssa had been chosen deliberately—not out of randomness, but because of her exceptional talent in stealth, a skillset that made her valuable.

Lilia hadn't moved toward every student in Aether Class—it would have been far too noticeable.

If too many students suddenly became favorable toward her, it would draw the Academy's attention—and that was a risk she refused to take.

But now, Lilia abandoned all restraint.

This time, she didn't care about subtlety or gradual manipulation—she channeled her full charm, concentrating it entirely on Ashok.

Her ability, normally passive, now became a direct force, aimed at a sole target.

And the target was male.

There was no way she would fail this time.

'You dared to make a fool out of me.'

Even now, the humiliation burned—the memory of being manipulated into fighting for something so crude, an External Art create by a mere musclehead.

She had never felt such shame, never been played like that.

And for that—Ashok would pay.

Her sweet smile remained, but a new gleam flickered behind her eyes.

'Just watch how I make a dog out of you. I'll turn you into a laughingstock—make sure the entire Academy mocks your name.'

Her focus sharpened, her charm intensifying.

Ashok's senses shifted.

The moment Lilia's hand rested on his shoulder, the world around him seemed to change—an illusion so delicate, so enticing, that it felt real.

The touch he felt wasn't a hand—it was like flower petals, brushing against his skin, soft, fleeting.

Then—a scent. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Sweet.

Overwhelming.

It hit him like a wave, flooding his senses, wrapping around him like a world woven from honey, thick with temptation.

It called to him, beckoning, inviting him to indulge.

And then—it shattered.

In an instant, an intense repulsion surged within him, rising from the depths of his heart like wildfire.

The sensation was so strong, so violent, that his first instinct was to rip the hand off his shoulder, to rid himself of whatever was touching him.

Ashok's expression, usually neutral under the influence of the False Monarch trait, began to shift—an unmistakable look of disgust creeping onto his face.

The change was subtle at first, but to those around him, it felt palpable.

Roan, seated not far from Ashok, was the first to notice.

His eyes widened slightly, his body tensing instinctively as an unexplainable chill ran through him. It was an expression he had never seen before.

As if in chain reaction, the other students who caught sight of Ashok's face felt the same involuntary flinch—some stiffening in their seats, others shifting uncomfortably as a faint shiver crawled along their spines.

And then—Ashok turned his head slightly, his eyes sweeping over the room.

Even the Hero, known for his composure, hesitated under the weight of that gaze.

The atmosphere had shifted dangerously.

"Remove your disgusting hand. Right this instant."

Ashok's voice cut through the air, an order laced with unmistakable disdain.

His face made no effort to mask his revulsion, but it was his eyes that carried the true weight of his emotions—cold, piercing, and void of any recognition for the person before him.

It was as if he didn't see Lilia as human.

Lilia felt it instantly.

A violent shiver ran down her spine, her hand snapping back involuntarily. Even she couldn't believe someone could look at her like this—with such pure, unfiltered disgust.

It wasn't rejection.

It wasn't defiance.

It was something worse.

Ashok, indifferent to the tension suffocating the room, reached into his storage ring, retrieving a handkerchief.

"I don't know why the Academy bothers picking students out of sewers."

His words carried effortlessly, not loud—but cutting deep.

With deliberate precision, he thoroughly wiped the spot on his shoulder where Lilia's hand had rested, his movements slow, methodical—as though erasing a stain.

The weight of Ashok's words hung in the air, their impact rippling through the room.

Every student who had witnessed the exchange turned their gaze between him and Lilia, their expressions a mix of shock and intrigue.

The air felt charged—a confrontation unraveling in real-time.

Lilia's eyes quivered, the humiliation settling deep within her.

It wasn't just anger—it was something more personal.

How could he look at her with such disgust?

This wasn't mere rejection—it wounded her pride, an insult that cut deeper than she was prepared for.

A chair scraped against the floor, breaking the silence.

A male student rose from his seat, standing near the bench Lyssa had steadied herself against.

"Hey, that's going way too far," the student spoke, his tone edged with disapproval.

Ashok's gaze flickered toward him, and he recognized him immediately.

Daniel.

Was this coincidence? Or fate?

From his knowledge of the game, Daniel was nothing more than a third-rate villain, someone Lilia would eventually charm to prey upon the weaker students in Wyrd Class—a typical bully, using strength where influence failed.

His existence was important—not to himself, but to Leon and Lilia.

For Leon, Daniel's presence would become a catalyst, an antagonist to push him forward, saving students from his cruelty.

For Lilia, Daniel was merely another pawn, which helped in bringing multiple pieces to add to her collection.

"You cannot treat a fellow classmate—especially a female—like this." Daniel's voice carried across the room, firm yet rehearsed.

Ashok didn't hesitate.

"Who even are you?"

Daniel straightened slightly, prepared to introduce himself with misplaced confidence.

"I am Daniel from the House—"

But Ashok didn't let him finish.

"No matter how I see it, I only see a dog—one drowning in lust, desperately trying to act cool in front of its own kind, searching for a mate. And that's exactly what you are."

The words cut through the silence like a blade.

And then—laughter.

It wasn't loud—but it spread, short bursts breaking through the tension as students reacted to Ashok's blunt dissection of Daniel's persona.