I'm in Love with the Villainess!

Chapter 237: A New Vivianne...?

Morning came and went without much happening, and just like that, I was back in the academy halls after everything that had gone down. And... yeah, I could definitely feel the difference.

The way people looked at me was different now.

I guess I wasn’t the weird, powerful kid anymore—just the powerful kid now, and a high-ranking one at that.

"Cael... welcome back. How was your time at Berian? I heard you were attacked. I’m glad you got out of there safely."

A male student fell into step beside me—blonde hair, blue eyes. I remembered him from the tournament: a duke’s son, and apparently also in one of the other S-Rank classes this school offered.

Looked like he was trying to be friendly and form some kind of alliance. Too bad for him—I couldn’t care less.

"Save your efforts for someone else," I said.

I had a feeling he wouldn’t be the last person to try and come up to me today.

*** Vivianne’s Room

[Darkfire Step]

"By the gods!"

I teleported straight into Vivianne’s room right after a casual stroll through the academy halls. I’d honestly thought a quick walk to sightsee a bit wouldn’t hurt.

The last thing I expected was to get swarmed by everyone I passed. It didn’t help that Vivianne’s little scheme to make all the girls think I was their dream guy was still going strong.

I literally couldn’t stand anywhere out in the open without getting mobbed like some kind of celebrity. Unlike Evelina, I still didn’t have that intimidating reputation that made people think twice before approaching.

Apparently, just being her publicly acknowledged lover wasn’t enough to keep people away.

"Cael? What are you doing here!?"

Vivianne turned, still perched on the edge of her desk, notes spread out in front of her for what looked like the next exam’s coverage.

In the next instant, her face turned beet red and her magic flared. Dozens of papers shot toward me at once, completely blocking my vision.

"Warn me before you teleport in here, you bastard!"

FWOOSH!

After a few seconds, the papers finally fluttered to the floor. I stayed where I was, and by then she’d already changed into fresh clothes.

"What was that for...?"

"I was literally in my underwear, you idiot!"

"Sorry, but you’re not my type."

"You...! You’re lucky I respect you as my master..." Vivianne crossed her arms. "And for the record, just because you’re not interested in me doesn’t mean I’m okay with you seeing me like that."

"Well, good for you. I didn’t really pay attention anyway."

Vivianne just sighed and sat back on the edge of her bed, shooting me an exasperated look.

"Anyway, why are you here?"

"I just wanted to see how my reputation around the academy’s doing among other things."

"Just take a walk down the hallway. I’m sure you’ll figure it out yourself."

"Yeah... but I wanted to know how much of it was your doing and how much was mine. I need to know if we’re really equal, after all..." I gave her a deliberately irritating smirk.

"Are you just here to irritate me?"

"Well, half yes."

Vivianne stared at me for a few seconds, completely deadpan, before dragging a hand down her face.

"I regret everything," she muttered.

"That’s not very loyal of you."

"I’m loyal. I’m just... reconsidering my life choices."

I shrugged and walked further into the room, glancing over the notes spread across her desk—neat handwriting, organized sections, even color-coded in places. Yeah... she was definitely taking this exam seriously.

"You’ve been studying a lot."

"Unlike some people," she shot back immediately. "Some of us don’t have the luxury of relying on raw talent."

"Talent?"

"Don’t even try to argue with me on this."

"No, I agree."

"That time at Berian really didn’t do your personality any good, huh?"

I ignored her and picked up one of the pages, scanning through it in a second before putting it back down. "Nothing too complicated."

Vivianne’s eye twitched. "Nothing too—? Cael, this is upper-tier theoretical magic. Half the class is struggling just to understand the base concepts!"

"Doesn’t sound like my problem."

She threw a pillow at my face.

THUD!

I caught it without looking and tossed it back; it bounced off her shoulder as she huffed and crossed her arms again.

"Are you going to ask something else, or are you just going to keep distracting me...?"

"Fine, I’ll get straight to the point." I continued, "Kevin’s going to start training with you."

That got her attention.

"...Kevin?" she repeated. "Your other student?"

"Yeah."

Vivianne leaned forward slightly, interest replacing her annoyance. "I’ve heard recent rumors about him. Something about him locking himself in training rooms for days and blowing up half the practice grounds."

"That sounds about right."

"And you’re sending him to me... why?"

"Because I don’t feel like training him."

She blinked. "You’re serious."

"Very."

Vivianne stared at me like she was trying to figure out if I was joking. I wasn’t.

"...You’re the worst master I’ve ever heard of."

"And yet you’re still here."

"I’m gonna need something in return, y’know? It’s not like you trained me out of the goodness of your heart. This is still... a business relationship more than anything."

Did she get bolder since the last time I saw her? I knew she could be bratty, but I didn’t expect her to actually try and negotiate with me.

She really is my student. I’m honestly surprised she hasn’t tried to stab me yet—

[Air Severance]

—never mind.

[Cursed Serpent]

I cut through her magic before it could even graze me.

"Do better."

"I really thought I got you for sure that time..."

"Anyway, what are your terms?"

"Wait, you’re seriously going to make a deal with me?"

"It’s not like you ever ask for anything big. You’re cheap and efficient — exactly what I need."

Vivianne smirked at that. "Oh...? You sure you won’t regret saying something like that? I’m not exactly the same Vivianne you first met, y’know?"

"I can tell. You’re more confident now."

Her eyes softened for a moment at that. "Well, that’s thanks to you..."

"Then shouldn’t you do this for free?"

Her gaze hardened again the instant I spoke.

"Nope."