Fated to Be Loved by Villains
chapter-37

༺ Class Observation (2) ༻

<System Message>

[ Skill: Fatal Charm Activated! ]

[ Villain’s favorability has greatly increased! ]

[ Rewards are added to the Gift tab! ]

Eum.

That’s right.

I smiled as I glanced at the audience.

I couldn’t see where Gideon was because there were simply too many people. But if I was getting this message right now, the target could only be him.

‘…Actually, this is a scam.’

The setting of the story was that the foundation of the First Duke Tristan’s swordsmanship was the basics reaching the peak.

Anticipating everything the opponent would do and moving one step ahead and dominating the opponent through defense alone.

“…”

Of course, if someone could do that, there wouldn’t be any opponents they couldn’t defeat.

It was a level of swordsmanship where one could slice through space and distort time. If one couldn’t do such a thing, they wouldn’t even be at the starting point.

And, if one could actually do that, then that was a whole different story.

‘…I can use Eleanor later.’

In the game, it was called Infinite Veil.

It was an absolute defense that blocked and deflected all attacks, needing nothing but a single sword.

Compared to such an insane skill, what I was doing right now was practically a joke.

However, I could roughly imitate the effect.

Swords, magic, miracles, and blessings. Whatever it may be.

As long as I know the timing, I can deflect all of them using Tristan Style Swordsmanship.

“What, what is this?”

“How can a sword block magic…?!”

I casually knocked down the poor, confused fella who said that.

Desperation raised to C Grade was more than enough to deal with an average freshman.

Having my back to the corner covered my blindspot, so I didn’t need to worry about attacks coming from behind. I could simply focus on the students in front.

As a result, only a total of three people, including myself, were left standing in the arena.

Well, one person…

“I will forfeit.”

“…”

“I can’t beat big bro anyway. 2nd and 3rd place have the same reward, right?”

Talion readily raised his hand while speaking.

His clean forfeit declaration was so surprising that even the referee was taken aback.

“…What were you even doing here then?”

“Oh, I came because they said there’s prize money.”

“…”

Aren’t you the son of a Viscount? Why are you so impoverished?

Don’t you have pocket money?

“I had to pay an additional fine for getting involved with Marquis Riverback.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah. Oh, by the way.”

As Talion exited with light steps, he passed by me and slightly lowered his head.

“Be careful of that person, big bro.”

At the end of Talion’s finger was the last other person in the arena, who was wearing gloves.

They were cracking their knuckles.

Purple hair poked out from their hood. Judging by their physique…

‘…A woman?’

As I frowned, Talion spoke again.

“I’m just here for the money… but that person over there seems a bit dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

“She seemed to enjoy beating people and had been tormenting her opponents to the end.”

In fact, I could see several students lying around, half covered in blood.

As Talion left the arena, I scanned the other party from head to toe.

“…”

Yes. I wholeheartedly agreed with Talion’s words.

A person like that would thrive in a place like this.

“What, you’re not coming?”

As I looked at her with a firm expression, she suddenly spoke.

“Then shall I go?”

Then, a chill ran down my spine.

It was a familiar feeling.

This was the same gap that I felt when I faced Iliya without any stat boost.

[ A moment of danger has been detected. ]

[ Determined the situation as life-threatening. ]

[ Skill: Desperation raised to EX Class. ]

“…!”

As soon as the opponent’s figure disappeared, I instinctively activated the skill.

[ Skill: Swordsman’s Focus has been activated! ]

[ Reaction speed and precision has been increased! ]

The whole world seemed to slow down around me.

My reaction time had improved dramatically to the point where it felt like the entire world had been turned into slow-motion footage.

This was because of the overlap between this skill and Desperation EX.

‘…Such a cheat.’

As soon as I thought that and looked at what was in front of me, my expression hardened.

Even in a slow-motion world, someone was moving exceptionally fast.

Sure, it was at a walking pace, but considering the speed at which the surroundings slowed down, this was an insane speed.

“…!”

I gritted my teeth and tried to take a defensive stance, but my body was too slow.

‘…Ah, that’s right.’

Just because my reaction speed was faster didn’t mean my body was the same.

After waiting for my body to be in position, I released the skill with a wry smile.

And at the same time, a fist came crashing against my sword.

— !

…Was there just sparks?

From a sword and a fist?

“…”

As I took a few steps back from the rebound, the woman wiggled her hand in surprise.

She didn’t seem to expect that I could block her attack.

But.

“Eh, I thought you were inept?”

Instantly, her demeanor changed.

Since she was wearing a very low hood, her eyes weren’t visible. However, the sinister smile exposed under it definitely was.

It was the look of a beast who found its prey.

“So, you were holding back?”

Then, her arms and legs started to emit a colorful aura.

It felt completely different from the magic that mages used or the divine power of priests.

As soon as I saw that, another chill ran down my spine.

“I forfeit.”

Seeing her like that, I quickly raised my hand and said so.

“… You forfeit?”

“Yes.”

I replied to the referee, who had an expression of disbelief.

I didn’t have a single scratch on me. And the situation became even more absurd considering that I boasted a speed that rivals Talion’s.

“…”

Uh. No.

Winning against the human charging towards me at full power was a pipe dream with my current specs.

“…Hey.”

Thinking like that, I quickly tried to exit the arena, but my opponent called out to me.

“What are you doing? Things are just getting interesting.”

“…”

No.

I already forfeited.

But if I just left without saying a word, I felt like she would chase me down. So…

“No, that would be troublesome.”

“…What?”

“If you start using magic here, what do you think would happen?”

It was true.

A magic power that only the members of the Tribal Alliance could use was particularly effective in body enhancement. Even with Desperation at EX Class, I couldn’t guarantee victory against her.

No. It was impossible to confront this person in the first place.

‘Chieftain’s daughter, please…!’

Riru Garda, a key character in Chapter 5.

The second daughter of the Tribal Alliance’s Chieftain. A sadist who enjoyed beating people.

Above all…

‘…She’s currently stronger than Eleanor, right?’

Especially considering that Eleanor and Iliya haven’t fully grown yet.

If I were to face her right now, I would be a cold corpse in less than three seconds.

I don’t know why she participated in this event, but anyway, running away is the best course of action right now…!

“…Hmm.”

I quickly made my way down the arena with my back facing the other party. I had no intention of turning around. Meanwhile, Riru’s eyes followed me all the way.

Unwaveringly.

Until my figure completely disappeared from her sight.

That was why.

“…He knows my magic? A man from the Empire.”

I was no longer there to hear Riru’s muttering.

[ Skill: Fatal Charm has been conditionally activated! ]

[ Excellent timing! You planted a seed that will explo sively increase favorability in the future! ]

[ Next successful activation will have double the effect! ]

“…”

I don’t know. I don’t care.

I’ve long since given up trying to make sense why this happened.

I could understand that I was starting to get Gideon’s attention, but who was this supposed to be?

“…”

“…”

Of course, what was even more incomprehensible was the current situation.

Right after the sparring, I was kidnapped by someone as I was leaving the arena.

A maid standing nearby handed me a cup of tea.

Of course, I didn’t have the time to care about such things.

Because the person I was facing was enough to make me break out in a cold sweat.

“…It is an honor meeting you, Duke Tristan.”

He simply closed his eyes and nodded.

It had been this way since earlier.

It felt suffocating if I left it quiet for too long.

The atmosphere felt like ice. There was a certain aura emanating from him that put those around him on edge.

Besides, this person was a leading powerhouse of the Empire that could not only erase me but also my entire family’s territory with a single word.

This was just one of the many reasons to be nervous about.

‘…I did expect him to be interested.’

For some reason, this man had great interest in the swordsmanship of the First Duke Tristan.

This was based on the fact that he immediately called me in for a one-on-one meeting when I just showed him a little bit of insight.

Or perhaps it was because of his daughter.

“Dowd Campbell.”

I jumped in surprise after hearing him suddenly talk like that.

“What is your relationship with my daughter?”

“…”

It sounded like a father grilling his daughter’s boyfriend, but I knew that wasn’t what he meant.

“…The Lady always helps me. She has been of great assistance in my academy life—”

“Did you learn the sword from her?”

No.

This was a signal.

I forced a smile in front of Gideon, who was exuding an icy chill.

“…She only taught me the simple downward slash.”

Gideon’s eyes, which were closed, slowly opened.

The sharpness of his eyes made me feel like he could cut me with just his gaze. I could feel my palms getting moist.

“Then where did you learn our family’s swordsmanship?”

“…”

Facing his gaze, I took a deep breath.

Yes. There was no way he wasn’t able to recognize it.

From here on, it becomes crucial.

In fact, this was the beginning of the plan in Chapter 2 Boy King.

First things first, let’s do what we do best.

“I’m sure the Duke is aware of it.”

And that is…

Scamming.

“…What?”

“The Sword Saint had always been unpredictable. Even going as far as discovering talented children in rural areas.”

“…”

“With enough talent, he even teaches them the difficult Tristan Style Swordsmanship.”

Gideon’s eyes narrowed.

The coldness in the air seethed even stronger, threatening to freeze up my blood.

Of course, that was a lie.

The Sword Saint, who was both the teacher of Duke Tristan and the current Dean of the Elfante Knights School, was a person who repeatedly sought out geniuses throughout the continent and trained them in swordsmanship.

As his existence was hardly known to the public, just the fact that I knew his identity added some credibility to my lie.

“…Are you implying that we’re under the same teacher?”

“That’s right.”

I dryly swallowed upon hearing Gideon say that.

Next, the game starts.

To be honest, this lie would easily be exposed. Someone like Gideon had plenty of ways to verify the truth.

“…”

That’s why I had to cover it up.

“And he entrusted me with a request. He asked me to do something if I ever meet the Duke.”

From what I have experienced so far,

the best way to hide a tree was to create a forest.

A big lie to cover a little one.

“…Request?”

So, what I was going to do was…

“Duke Tristan.”

Keep on scamming.

“How about learning the sword from me?”

And if I’m gonna do it…

I’ll do it as grand as possible.