Episode 2: True Villain (1)

The skies were soon greeted to the day of a new dawn. 

The clanging of the bell tower pierced the atmosphere, marking the start of a new morning. The weekends were over, which meant that I had to go to school.

I sighed, honestly wanting to just roll around in bed and sulk at home, but that was impossible.

I entered the class with a tired frown.

Lowe’s pink hair was the first thing I saw. It bounced with a rosy gloss, delicate as ever. On her two sides, Isodor and Glenn. The three of them sat together in the front row.

The radiance coming off their pink space was blinding to watch. Observing them seated together stirred both bitter and sweet emotions inside me.

Lowe noticed me at the door, she offered a shy nod. I wasn’t sure why she did that—maybe because she was the overly kind protagonist of <Devouring Blight: Estelle’s Flower>—regardless, I found it uneasy.

A beat passed, then only did Isodor see me. His expression darkened.

I swallowed my irritation. Honestly, who's to blame here? This was my fate as the villainess, the consequence of being a bitch. Since it was effective, I may as well do it properly.

As for Glenn, that prodigious mage—perhaps owing to Lowe’s influence, he smiled and waved as if I were a penguin.

I turned my head away from them intentionally to show disdain, and with my usual haughty gait, I made my way over to my seat at the back.

Passing by Kairen’s seat, a familiar sensation of hate rose within me. Memories of Reene and her disappearance weighed on my mind. 

I wanted to stop to ask.

But no, not now. I restrained myself.

To prevent drawing unnecessary attention, this wasn’t the right time.

Later. I’ll find him later and get the truth.

⌌✧ ⫺⪼▫◆▫⪻⫹ ✧⌍

I couldn’t concentrate in class at all. Every time I tried to read the contents on the blackboard, the heads of blonde and mint-colored hair sandwiched between pink would pull my focus awry.

I knew this scene vividly.

Even though I knew this was how it should’ve been—the natural progression of the game—I couldn’t help but feel off. That spot Lowe was sitting in between Isodor and Glenn, it originally used to be mine.

I didn’t know how many times I had sighed at their smiles, or nibbled on my lips out of frustration. Before I knew it, lunchtime had arrived.

Professor Aturina threw a stack of papers into the air. The forms spread out and like feathers, gently descended before each student.

“Everyone is obligated to join at least one club. No one is exempt from this rule. Anyone who fails to do so by the end of the week will receive demerit points.”

Club application. Right, there was this too, wasn’t there?

In my previous life, I joined the reading club because I desperately needed knowledge about the world. It was there that I met Glenn, and where our relationship started.

Since that was the case before, in order to avoid Glenn, I would have to join a different club this time.

For Lowe, there were more than half a dozen options available to her, each opening a unique club story arc and favorability progression. The most popular choice was the baking club—the same one she chose in my previous life.

I expected her to apply for the same club this time too. 

Hopefully, the minor financial gain she got from Kairen wouldn’t have altered her decision.

I saw Isodor talking to Glenn. Even though I couldn’t hear what they were saying, I knew they were discussing the club applications. 

Then they invited her out for lunch, drawing envious gazes from some of the female students.

Lowe hesitated at their offer. Her brilliant amber eyes darted around and—it suddenly met mine. As if she saw her saviour, she quickly hopped up the steps to reach me. 

I almost jumped out of my seat. Why the hell are you coming towards me?! 

Isodor caught Lowe by the wrist before I reacted.

He shook his head. Lowe tried to say something, but Isodor denied her outright. Then, with a quick snap, he shot me a look that said: If you dare follow us, I’ll make sure you never see another light of day.

Idiot.

Fortunately for you blockhead, I have no business in being a peeping tom today. You go and enjoy your lunch date with Glenn and Lowe, I have other matters to attend to.

I rose from my seat a few minutes after they had left the lecture hall and went out. 

… Kairen had left too by then, but I wasn’t without a clue as to where he could’ve gone.

Walking outback the school building, I took a right and entered the small greenwood by the lake. 

Greeted once again by the beautiful waterfall of flowers I pushed past the ivy curtain to see the man who I was looking for.

The bastard laid on the grass with arms outstretched, seemingly inert.

A hundred different ways to torment him sprouted in my mind. Everything from freezing his innards, to grinding his head into the dirt while he begged for forgiveness—some of the more imaginative ideas even surprised myself.

Yet I knew however much I hated him, this wasn’t the time to put blood on my hands. I had to be discreet, insidious—like a collar constricting ever so slowly around his neck.

Even without my intervention, he would die sooner or later anyways. When the time comes for the first major scenario, he would be dead. 

The only reason why he survived in the previous timeline was because I took pity on him. With my testimony weighed in on the gravity of his crimes, the only consequence he came to face was expulsion from the academy. It was a light sentence compared to his underlings who had to face certain death.

“Kairen Cooper—” I called out his name.

The confrontation between a third-rate villain and villainess… there was no way I’d give him a second chance. There will not be mercy this time.

“...Your Grace Astraea?” He flinched like a fish. Slowly, he got up.

I remained silence, on purpose to intimidate him.

“...What brings you here?” He asked—calmly.

Studying his expression to confirm that I wasn’t missing anything, I noticed a few new plasters on his face.

Given, one could easily heal them by stopping by the infirmary, I noted it to be suspicious. Was he trying to show off his hurt so that Lowe would be concerned about him? What a bastard.

“You…” I wanted to speak, but I couldn’t find the clarity to bring up the topic regarding Reene. 

Seeing this man who I thought was a nobody respond with this level of composure… something… something didn’t feel right here. 

I was suddenly gripped by the urge to ask him something else.

Another, more important question—

“I apologise,” But before I could raise the question, he spoke first. “I assume you must’ve wanted to use this space, I’ll leave at once.” 

His fake courtesy was like gasoline, fueling the flames which I was struggling to contain. 

He took a step, the air weight down on me painfully. 

“Stop…” An indescribable fear gripped me.

Did it make sense? This man killed Lowe and ended the world, he who imprinted upon me a trauma I could never be freed from, and my worst enemy who forced me down this villainess path… how could he…

“...Don’t you dare take another step,” I shuddered at the thought—the possibility. I bit down on my lips and tried to regain composure.

This guy… Kairen Copper, can’t be this astute. 

Yet I was unsure, because I’ve barely interacted with him in the past. 

All those things he did… the magic he displayed, the way he challenged Professor Toure, and his exploitation of Lowe… did it make sense?

There was no way.

… Regressor.

The vase broke, thoughts I tried to deny crashed into me all at once.

“What exactly do you want?” His words cut through the echo of my mind. “Your Grace Astraea Winterfall, have I done anything to offend you?”

Pinching the space between his eyes, he sighed. 

If he wasn’t a regressor he’d… probably not say those words right? He was trying to keep up his appearance? Just like me… right?

I wanted to know. 

I needed to know.

“You… and Lowe.” I gritted my teeth. “Are you obsessed with that girl? Is that why you called Lowe to do your bidding? And… why did you speak up in class about the blight?” 

The pros of knowing his identity outweighs the risks I would have to face if he knew I was also a regressor.

“What…?” He blurted. A moment of contemplation befell a shadow on his face. 

What was his relationship with Lowe? 

How did he kill Lowe? 

What did he experience in the previous life?

Did he regret it? 

Did he have a change of heart? 

What exactly—

He bumped his hands together. 

“Ah, I see. You want Lowe gone so you can be with the prince right?” 

“...” What?

No!

“Dare I say, at the rate you're going, unless you make a change to your attitude, no matter what I do, the prince will not look your way.” He answered, wagging his finger at me. “Though speaking from my perspective, I think you’re on the right track given how you’re being rather forgiving as of late.”

That was the last thing I wanted to hear from him. 

No, no. Hold on, I’m asking if you’re A REGRESSOR. A REINCARNATOR. Not some random dogshit!

“As for the blight, I was only speaking the truth.” He mused. “It’s causing trouble to the businesses my father runs, yet everyone seems keen in believing that God will come down and save us all. If that doesn’t make it clear enough, I’m not religious.” 

Kairen Copper. A regressor…? 

If he had seen the true nature of the blight, there was no way he’d react this way. 

Yeah, right… hah!

I must be overthinking! There’s no way such a blunt guy could be a regressor!

He coughed. “My apologies. Perhaps I’ve been overly curt with my words. Think of it as a fool’s rant. ” 

And then he tried to walk away. 

“Your sister—” But just as he was about to leave, I asked. “I heard you have a sister?”

“...That whore?” He said.

I was taken aback. My entire body trembled.

Whore…? That was dynamic of their relationship?

This son of a deprived merchant… 

“Where is she?” I droned.

“As if I’d know.” He clicked his tongue, refusing to answer.

He continued walking. I bit my lips.

“Commoner.” At this rate I wouldn’t learn anything useful. Reene’s life was at risk. I needed something else to stop him. A word, a topic, anything— “Just what about that Lowe attracts you people anyways?”

He stopped dead in his tracks. Finally he turned to me. 

And with an unexpected answer, he smiled. “She looks like a nice lady to break.”

That characteristically tactless speech that showed he did not understand his position—

“I’ll ‘train’ her, ‘dominate’ her… and then…”

A family of whores who didn’t know the line between foolishness and courage. A smooth-talking playboy, womaniser.

I thought he spoke that way because he was a regressor. But no…

‘This’ was indeed Kairen Copper. A bastard from a family of uneducated drunkards.

Just because he had a little money—

Just because he put his faith in a mere regulation of the academy which spoke of equality between commoners and nobles—

“…She’ll be mine, completely mine.”

In the end, he was merely a madman headed for his own death.