I Became A Third-Rate Villain In The Hero Academy
chapter-196

'Isabella is watching me.'

Theo noticed Saintess Isabella's gaze before anyone else.

Even though he was surrounded by top students like Jang Woohee, Eshild, and Andrew, he couldn't fail to recognize her stare thanks to his [Observer's Eye].

Her gaze was steadfastly fixed on him for quite a while.

"The future has really changed a lot."

Theo murmured, a sentiment he'd been having quite often recently.

However, at this moment, Isabella's appearance signifies an event far more significant than Siena encountering an upper-tier spirit earlier than expected.

Isabella Ren Lopez is the First Saintess of the Renimid Church and a second-year student in the Hero Department.

In the game, she is a character of immense importance, a 'special named character', to be precise.

Even when achieving S-tier results in all routes, she only makes her appearance known during the winter break of the first year at the earliest.

Her divine powers and unique abilities can't be compared even with named characters.

'Her of all people..'

In a way, her unique ability might be even rarer than Siena's 'Spirit Magic' or the power of foresight.

Isabella's unique ability represents an unpredictable variable, unlike the futures that have changed so far.

Her unique ability is Mind Reading.

Literally, the ability to read inner thoughts.

It's not magic, so it works even on those who are immune to magic.

Thanks to this ability, she rose to become the First Saintess, surpassing numerous candidates from powerful nations despite her origins as a noble lady from a minor fallen country.

The Renimid Church is a religion believed in by over 99% of the continent's human population.

Naturally, the church's influence is enormous.

Even the prestigious Waldeurk family is insignificant in comparison to the scale of the Renimid Church.

Should she harbor any ill intentions towards me, I could be captured and reduced to a mere experimental subject.

'I wonder how much of my mind she has read.'

In the game, she is capable of reading minds by merely being aware of someone's presence in the same space.

This means she can use her special abilities without needing to see someone's face.

It's highly likely that she has already read Theo's mind.

'Haah. I didn't anticipate this at all. I'll just need to be careful not to let her read any more of my thoughts.'

With this in mind, Theo quickly decided to escape to the waiting room for competitors, where Isabella wasn't present.

As he stood up to leave, he ignored the comments from Aisha and Siena.

"Hey, Theo? Where are you going? It's Irene's match."

"Hehe, are you going to disappear again with that magic purple watermelon? I'll join you."

Theo, with a serious expression, headed towards the waiting room.

'Damn it.'

Isabella, sitting in the audience of the [Martial Arts Tournament], scowled.

'It's the first time my ability has failed on someone.'

The reason was that Theo's mind was completely unreadable to her.

Of course, he might be in a state of 'no-mind', not thinking at all, but she had never encountered anyone like that.

She even doubted if such a state truly existed.

'Its working normally.'

She read the minds of the surrounding audience members once again.

-Wow, she's really beautiful. Is this how they pick saints? Even her frown is attractive.

─Damn, that's hot. Why do saints have such big asses and breasts? Makes me want to commit a sin.

─Shes in the student council but doesn't do a thing... I hate just looking at her.

─If I get on the good side of the Saintess, maybe I'll get some benefits? Better remember her face!

These were the thoughts of the swine around her.

Students, faculty members, guild and government officials – she could read the minds of everyone without exception.

However, Isabella's expression remained unchanged, impassive.

'As expected, the thoughts of these swine are all the same... but I can never get used to it.'

No one knows about her special ability, Mind Reading.

There used to be a few who did.

Her parents knew, her designated priest knew, and the archbishops within the church knew.

But now, they are no longer of this world.

'I shouldn't have come out. Just curiosity got the better of me.'

Once she became aware of their thoughts, their inner voices kept coming to her unwillingly.

She felt a rising sense of nausea deep within her.

Her reason for venturing out today was simply curiosity.

Isabella was serving as the confessor for the day at the confessional.

Early in the morning, two women came to her, both speaking about the same man, Theo.

─...I wronged him, and he says it's okay... but I'm not sure if he really means it. I wish he would just speak his mind clearly... Is there no way to make him do that?'

'...There's someone who has been acting quite unusually these days... Why would someone like that recruit me as an Aide? I come from a modest family and am not particularly remarkable. I'm curious about what he really thinks...

Reading the hearts of those women in the confessional, Isabella found a sense of tranquility.

Their innermost thoughts were exactly as they had spoken them – pure and sincere.

It was a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.

For her, whose mind had been tainted since birth by unwillingly reading the thoughts of others, this was more healing than any therapist could offer.

Ironically, she, the counselor, was the one who ended up being healed.

Then, suddenly.

"Hey, hey, hey. Where's that guy going?"

Theo stood up from his seat and disappeared.

She waited for a moment, but he did not return.

There was no need for her to stay in such a repulsive place any longer.

"Let's go back, Claire."

The stern-faced knight, 'Claire', who stood behind Isabella, responded.

"Yes, I understand, Saintess."

Only a select few among the knights of the order, known as human weapons, are chosen for this role.

Claire, with her slender build, had made the cut.

Incredible talent.

She had been by Isabella's side since long before she became the First Saintess.

"Here we are, Saintess."

As Claire moved, everyone in their path respectfully made way.

Isabella, ignoring all the surrounding gazes, simply followed behind Claire.

Isabella and Claire took a carriage back to the Hero Department's student council room.

"Phew, what a day,"

Isabella exclaimed as she collapsed into the large chair in the student council room.

The student council room.

A sanctuary free from the distasteful swine, a space all her own.

She spun her chair around to face Claire, who still stood with solemn dignity, and smiled at her playfully.

The composed expression she had maintained throughout the [Martial Arts Tournament] was now gone.

"Claire, I have become curious about something."

"Oh, what is it, Saintess?"

Claire's face lit up with genuine joy.

'The Saintess has become curious about something...! This must be the first time since her enrollment in the Academy... isn’t it?'

Moreover, today was historically significant, marking one of the first times the Saintess had ventured outside since her first-year entrance ceremony.

'I will find out, no matter what it takes.'

Is the Saintess finally opening up?

Typically dislikes interacting with others, she spent most of her life in the student council room, handling meals and communication with only herself and a few council members.

Isabella continued, still smiling cheerfully.

"Will you find out for me?"

"Anything! Whatever you ask, Your servant Claire will obey."

A visibly moved Claire knelt on one knee before Isabella.

Isabella then said,

"Really? Anything? You won't change your mind later?"

"Of course, Saintess. Even if it involves the lair of a dragon, I will find out for you."

"Hehe, okay. Here’s what I need to know─"

Claire's eyes widened in astonishment at Isabella's request.

Unexpectedly, Isabella's request was to investigate a certain first-year male student from the Hero Department.

[Semifinal First Match: Irene vs. Tarkan]

[Semifinal Second Match: Theo vs. Lagmar]

The first match of the [Martial Arts Tournament] semifinals is about to begin.

Irene, standing in the arena, narrowed her eyes, scanning the audience seats.

She was looking for someone.

'Theo has disappeared.'

He was just there in the seats a moment ago.

Now, he's gone.

'Is there any connection to the sudden appearance of the Saintess in the arena?'

She had been quite surprised herself when the Saintess appeared and watched intently.

The Saintess was indeed a beautiful person, befitting of her title, and also their senior.

At the time of her appearance, Theo was still in the seats.

'Could they be involved in some way? No, that's not it. Ugh, I've been reading too many mystery novels lately.'

Irene shakes her head, dismissing the thought.

She checks the audience one last time before deciding to focus on the match.

Still no sign of Theo.

Seeing Seria only worsened her mood.

Then, Tarkan, standing in front of her, breaks her train of thought.

"Oh? Is that some warrior's ritual, Theo's wife?"

"A wife? No, that's not it. I'm his fiancée."

A surprised Irene shakes her head back and forth.

Tarkan shrugs and responds.

"Same difference. A fiancée is someone who will become a wife. Humans sure make things complicated."

"Is that so? You have quite the sense of humor."

A blushing Irene bows her head slightly and laughs awkwardly.

'The orcs of the Hero Department are really likable, whether one wants to or not.'

While Irene was thinking this,

─The first match of the Elinia Academy [Martial Arts Competition] semifinals will now begin!

The announcer declared the start of the match.