“Hiss—”

Seeing Professor Prang go that far, Professor Garan couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.

“Isn’t that a little extreme? What if he’s actually serious?”

“Serious? Hah...”

Professor Prang let out a cold, cutting sneer. “I’ve been a teacher for fifty years. I can see right through these students with a single glance.

Let me put it this way—the only way Muen Campbell turns his life around is if he gets possessed by an Evil God. Otherwise, he’ll always be useless scum, completely hopeless.”

“Well, I don’t really buy it either, but... huh? Huh huh huh? Look! Isn’t Muen Campbell apologizing to Ariel right now?”

Professor Garan suddenly cried out.

“Apologizing?”

Professor Prang froze for a moment, instinctively turning his head to look.

And then—there at the Academy gates, surrounded by the wall of gossip-hungry spectators, Muen Campbell was actually bowing his noble head toward Ariel.

“...What kind of sick joke is this?”

For a moment, Professor Prang thought he was hallucinating.

That Muen Campbell—the arrogant, condescending Muen Campbell every professor had heard about—the one who threw his Duke’s son status around and ran wild in the Academy—was bowing to Ariel? The illegitimate child he always looked down on, even deliberately excluded? Apologizing? Admitting fault?

What the hell happened?

Was the world about to end?

“No, no way... He’s faking it. He’s definitely brewing up some shady scheme!

Hmph—trying to fool me? I’ve got fifty years of teaching experience and eyes sharper than a hawk’s, Muen Campbell, you’ve got a long way to go!”

Professor Prang leaned both hands on the window sill, body stretching halfway out the window, neck craning as far as it would go.

Those aged eyes burst with razor-sharp intelligence.

In front of people, of course you’ll put on an act. But once you think you’re alone, your true colors will show!

Just wait, I won’t look away for a second. I’ll strip that pathetic, fake mask right off your face!

“Ah, he’s entered the campus.”

Professor Garan casually played the commentator role.

“Huh? He picked up trash from the ground... and propped the trash can back up.”

“He put a fallen bird’s nest back in the tree—the birds seem pretty close to him.”

“He handed a tissue to that heartbroken girl, though she ran off the moment he approached.”

“He’s reading a book while walking... reading really fast, too!”

“And...”

“He actually bowed to the First Headmaster’s statue!”

Professor Garan, ever the laidback joker, was genuinely stunned.

“What kind of ultimate model student behavior is this? I’ve never seen any student bow to the First Headmaster’s statue!”

“......”

“...Professor Prang?”

Realizing there was no response beside him, Professor Garan turned his head.

Only to find Professor Prang staring dead ahead, frozen like a statue.

After an eternity, his voice came out dry and strained: 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

“Not even I’ve ever bowed to the First Headmaster’s statue.”

“......”

Silence.

Silence blanketed the evening like fog over the river.

Muen Campbell’s behavior today was so absurd, so out of place, that even two self-proclaimed worldly professors couldn’t process it.

It wasn’t until Muen disappeared into the dormitory area, out of sight, that Professor Garan finally broke the silence. He turned to look at Professor Prang, eyes twinkling mischievously:

“So, are you eating that entire desk in one bite, or tearing it apart piece by piece?”

“......”

Professor Prang’s cheek twitched as he glanced at the antique mahogany desk he treasured, then back at Professor Garan’s irritatingly gleeful grin.

After a long pause, his words squeezed out through gritted teeth:

“It’s only been one day. That proves nothing. I’ll be watching Muen Campbell like a hawk. I’ll prove to you—I’m right.”

Without another word, he turned and stormed off.

“Oho~”

Watching Professor Prang’s retreating back, Professor Garan let out a low whistle, muttering to himself:

“Still as stubborn as ever.”

“But...”

Professor Garan turned toward the dormitory area, the grin on his face brightening with anticipation:

“I have a feeling... this year’s going to be very entertaining.”

......

“I remember... didn’t I accidentally kick this statue’s head off once?”

Muen tilted his head, staring at the elderly, bearded statue in front of him. Sure enough, he spotted the faint, still-visible glue line on its neck.

“No one’s noticed yet?”

Muen’s lips twitched awkwardly.

He didn’t even know who the statue was supposed to represent. Clearly, they weren’t too well-loved around here—nobody ever seemed to pay their respects.

As for the nameplate at the statue’s base... vines ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) had completely overgrown it, making it unreadable.

“Either way, I should apologize.”

Muen respectfully bowed to the statue in front of him.

“Consider this... my farewell to the old Muen Campbell.”

From today onward—

Studying.

Learning.

Training to grow stronger.

Becoming a proper student.

Completely breaking free of the yellow-haired villain’s fate.

With that quiet vow made, Muen’s steps grew lighter as he headed toward the dormitory area.

......

“Dormitory 526, Muen Campbell.”

Muen stopped by the dorm matron to collect his room key.

“Muen Campbell?”

The dorm matron stared at him, shocked.

“You’re here this early? And... alone?”

She still remembered Muen’s first arrival at the Academy—descending from the sky in a griffin-drawn carriage, followed by an army of maids to organize his room.

That spectacle... tsk tsk... she hadn’t forgotten it to this day.

“Everything’s prepared. Naturally, I came alone.”

Muen smiled. “I’m not a child anymore.”

“O-Oh...”

The dorm matron was briefly dazzled by his handsome smile, hurriedly handing over the key.

“Here’s your key.”

“Thank you.”

Muen nodded politely, turning to head upstairs.

After he left, the dorm matron clutched her chest, cheeks flushed pink:

“Mother of God... how did Muen Campbell get so damn charming after just one vacation?”

......

“Never thought I’d actually come back to the Academy.”

Opening the single dorm room door, Muen couldn’t help but sigh as he looked around the familiar yet unfamiliar space.

He hadn’t intended to return at all.

After all, not only was his nemesis Ariel here, but also Celicia—whom he didn’t even know how to face—and this place was basically the stage for a bunch of upcoming dangerous incidents.

For a yellow-haired villain like him, it was way too dangerous.

But...

Fate loved messing with people—especially with villains like him.

He had no choice but to return.

Muen locked the door behind him, walking over to the mirror and stripping off his shirt.

His body now showed faint muscle definition—stronger than when he first transmigrated.

But across his pale skin, faint, eerie lines were still visible.

Like fingerprints.

Marks left by the Evil God—the Withering King.

“Figures they wouldn’t fade naturally.”

Muen raised his hand, crimson flames igniting in his palm.

Compared to the terrifying, overwhelming power he’d wielded in that head-on clash with another Evil God, this fire felt pitifully weak.

Roughly on par with the sacrificial flames those assassins had used.

“Feels exactly like those shady mobile games with ‘first recharge bonuses’...”

Come, come, just six bucks for a taste of overwhelming power.

Feels great holding the world in your hand, huh? Addictive, right?

Want more?

Fork over the cash!

Broke?

That’s fine too—other forms of payment accepted.

Like... your soul.

Muen didn’t even need to guess. He knew the Withering King deliberately left this fragment of power behind for that exact reason.

“No way I’m giving you what you want.”

Extinguishing the flame, Muen muttered under his breath.

This was exactly why he came to Saint Maria Academy.

With two damn Evil Gods breathing down his neck, he had no time to waste—he had to get stronger.

And maybe... just maybe... he’d find a way to sever the Evil Gods’ connection entirely.

......

“But Muen Campbell, you’re such a damn loser!”

No sooner had he resolved himself than Muen clutched his head, wailing.

Of course, he wasn’t cursing at himself—he was cursing the original Muen Campbell.

All it took was a glance at his empty brain to understand how thoroughly the original had wasted his first year.

Physically, thanks to his Duke father and the Black Book, he wasn’t worried—he could catch up fast.

But magic? Muen Campbell only knew one pathetic little spell.

Illumination Spell.

The ultimate dumbed-down version of Holy Light. A glorified magic flashlight with zero combat utility.

It worked by gathering light-element mana into your palm and releasing it. Basic as hell.

And yet Muen Campbell took an entire year to master that!

His theoretical knowledge was basically nonexistent. Judging by his brain, he’d spent every magic class either asleep or spacing out.

It was a damn miracle his magic teacher hadn’t killed him out of frustration.

But the Black Book couldn’t help him learn magic—magic wasn’t something you picked up through combat or mimicry.

Still, he had no choice.

Magic was the only path to cutting off the Evil Gods.

As for the faith-based Cleric route? Please. With how much those zealots hated Evil Gods, he’d be burned at the stake before he even set foot in a church.

“So right now, the situation is...”

Muen flipped through the pristine magic textbooks on his desk. Sure enough, they looked like incomprehensible ancient scripture.

A bitter smile crept across his face.

“A brute with nine intelligence... starting from scratch... learning magic?”

Tough.

But also...

Kind of fun, isn’t it?

If he’d decided to stop coasting through life, might as well embrace his salaryman resilience.

He survived corporate grind culture—how scary could magic be?

Alright, let’s do this!

......

With his determination set, Muen didn’t waste time.

He cleaned the room, grabbed a quick bite at the cafeteria.

On the way, he passed the new students arriving for registration.

They didn’t know his infamous reputation yet—plenty of wide-eyed girls gazed at him with sparkling eyes.

If their parents weren’t nearby, they probably would’ve swarmed him already.

“Guess my charm’s stronger than I thought.”

Of course, that’s assuming the sewer-level rumors hadn’t spread yet.

Muen stroked his chin, reaffirming the need to fix his public image ASAP.

......

That afternoon, back at the dorm.

After a shower, Muen lay down on his bed earlier than anyone else.

He closed his eyes.

He opened them again.

The familiar black space greeted him.

Not far ahead stood a naked man, radiating a feral, beast-like aura.

“Kept you waiting?”

Muen gripped his short blades, lips curling into a savage grin.

“Attempt number one hundred ninety-seven... This time, I’m making you cough up that thunder-strike move of yours.”

The man bared his teeth.

Silently laughing.

......

......

“Hey, hey, Ariel! I heard Muen Campbell apologized to you—seriously?!”

In Ariel’s dorm, Liya sprawled across her bed, eyes full of curiosity.

She’d just come back in, clearly rushed—her forehead still glistened with sweat.

But she didn’t care, eyes locked on Ariel, desperate for answers.

“Mhm, yeah.”

Ariel casually nodded, absorbed in her ancient book.

“Muen Campbell apologized.”

“No way—really?!”

Liya clapped a hand to her forehead, her chest bouncing violently.

“I thought it was just another dumb rumor.”

“With so many people watching, what rumor?”

Ariel rolled her eyes.

“Really? But isn’t there also that rumor Muen Campbell forced you to get an abortion?”

“...Huh? What?”

Ariel shot upright, eyes wide in shock.

“Did I just hear... abortion-level nonsense?!”

“Yeah, it’s spreading like wildfire.”

Liya counted on her fingers:

“They say Muen Campbell hated you because you’re his ex, couldn’t get over him, chased him to the Academy... He wanted to drive you away.

Apparently, you guys had a kid, but for the Campbell family’s reputation, he forced you to abort... Now he’s apologizing because his conscience finally caught up.

Oh, and during that time, he was juggling like thirteen other girls. You were the strongest of the bunch—he secretly called you...”

“Stopstopstop! Shut up!”

Ariel frantically waved her hands, utterly stunned.

“Where the hell did you hear that ridiculous crap?!”

“Outside.”

“Where outside?!”

“Y’know, classmates... mostly the girls spreading it.”

“They... how dare they gossip like that?!”

Ariel slammed the table, furious.

“I’ll rip their damn mouths off!”