The Novel’s Antagonist: I walk the path of a Villain - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Rumours and a Problem

“Now… The only reason we humans can absorb mana is because it lacks an element known as Neykren. That element is the sole reason no one can survive in the corrupted zone for more than a day.”

Sighs.

It’s been more than five hours since the lecture began.

For the time being, I avoided Selena, taking up a seat in the middle of the class.

But…

Something doesn’t feel right.

Everyone has been giving me this strange look for a while now. It’s not the same look I received from the girls on the first day of class. No, this was more of disgust.

But that was beside the point.

The main problem wasn’t the stares of these mobs. No, it was the glare—the blatant glare—from none other than… Lucas.

What happened in these past few days?

“Oh, that’s right,” I heard and tilted my head to find Victor fixing me with a serious gaze.

“Did you really do it?” he asked, his voice firm.

“Huh?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I was too caught up in the PvP earlier, but I meant to ask. The rumors—are they true?” he asked again, and my stomach dropped.

Something happened.

“What rumors?” I asked, to which he looked at me in shock.

“You don’t know?” He stuttered, unable to believe it.

“…What?” I pressed once again.

“How can you not know? Where do you even live, under a rock?” he asked, now looking really annoyed. “First, you didn’t know Selena was a freaking princess, something everybody in this place knows. Then, you didn’t know you could call with the metawatch. I mean… dude! The default screen has a dialer. What did you think it was for?”

“JUST GET TO THE POINT!” I snapped, annoyed as he—per usual—deviated from the topic.

“Fine. There are rumors going around that…” He paused, looking around before leaning in to whisper, “You are the banished fourth prince of Yuphenia, Riley Vaelthorn, the one called Lorelle.”

I froze.

Fuck me.

Just fuck me sideways!

“What?” I blurted, unable to believe my ears.

Damn it!

It seems one of these bastards spilled the beans.

[Hm. But in a way… You were also keeping secrets from Selena, weren’t you?] chimed Nelia.

No.

Back when we were both trapped in that hellhole, I told her who I really was.

“So tell me the truth. Are you Lorelle?” Victor asked, and I looked deep into his eyes.

Damn it.

“Yes,” I finally replied, and his eyes widened.

“B-But… Wait… No way,” he stuttered, unable to believe the revelation. But in the first place, what’s so shocking about me being Lorelle? I’m not the only prince here.

There’s Allen, who, by the way, has been grinning like a fucking idiot whenever our gazes cross.

I suspect that bastard.

“Then…” He continued, and I turned to look him in the eyes, “Did you really… do all those things?” he asked, and for the first time, I sensed disgust from him.

“Things? What things?” I asked and frowned. Could there be more things about myself I don’t even know?

“The Silerins, did you really—?” he almost asked, but I cut him off with an instant, “No,” I said, and he seemed to sigh in relief.

Wait.

WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE.

DON’T TELL ME THOSE BASTARDS ACTUALLY PINNED THAT ON ME!

COME TO THINK OF IT, THE TIME OF MY BANISHMENT ACTUALLY OVERLAPS WITH THAT INCIDENT!

I tilted my head to the far corner of the middle row, and there, I found a young man. Not just him though—he and a girl seated beside him.

Damn it.

Seems I just got myself more enemies for doing nothing at all.

Just kill me, would you!

“Then how about… the…” Victor leaned in. “Incident with your sister?” he asked, and I almost snapped.

This cannot be happening!

Wait.

“What incident?” I asked to be sure. This was almost the same thing that happened in the novel, only that the rumors were true when it came to the novel.

I had to make sure it was what I was thinking.

And I really hoped it wasn’t.

“You know what I mean…” Victor said with a serious gaze.

“No.”

“The mass slaughter?”

“…No.”

“The assaults?” he asked.

“What assaults?”

“On people’s wives and every maid in the castle?”

“For fuck’s sake, no!”

“Wait… You are from Nevalia, so how did you hear all this?” I asked, unable to comprehend the ridiculous rumors.

As I said, in the novel, most of these rumors did hold weight.

But not with the current Lorelle.

Not with me, goddamn it!

I was too damn obsessed with finding Renay that I never had any other thoughts except that.

“I don’t even know. Three years ago, the rumors blew so out of proportion. Just tell me, I need to know,” he asked, gazing right into my eyes.

As I said, he was an upright fellow.

At this point, he’s probably deciding if he should avoid me entirely if I turn out to be as the rumors describe.

“No,” I replied.

“T-then… How about… Edward?” he said, and to that, a memory I didn’t want to remember resurfaced.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said, and he nodded.

“Well, as long as you didn’t do those other things, I don’t really care,” he said, leaning back with his hands behind his head.

“But… Yuphenia’s candidate for the Eyes of Hena… You didn’t really… you know,” he said cryptically, to which I completely ignored him.

Now that one’s a different issue altogether.

That was one of the reasons for my banishment.

THAT FUCKING NUN!

“…No fucking way, so that was true?” I heard him muttering under his breath, but I wasn’t really paying attention. My gaze, instead, was fixed on the approaching figure, as the professor had just left.

“RYAN! I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL!”

The voice boomed across the hall.

It was none other than Lucas.

…

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!