A Villain's Survival Guide

Four days ago...

Standing at the entrance of Helios Imperial Academy was a young woman with silky dark hair, a neatly tucked black cadet uniform, and glasses with slightly dark shades, her brown eyes barely visible behind them.

Timid, almost, barely fitting for an academy this energetic. And yet behind those hidden eyes, something murderous looked back.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Two horse carriages rolled past her, but her attention was fixed heavily on the first. Her eyes never left the young man inside, with slightly long golden hair, edges tied with a red handband, and lazy golden eyes staring at nothing as his head leaned against the carriage window.

"So he came... how insulting. He couldn’t even be bothered to wear the academy uniform."

At the sight of the man, the young woman trembled. Her hand shook so violently that she nearly dropped her luggage entirely.

Her dark pupils dilated wide like a cat’s, not in admiration, but from rage and bottled resentment she couldn’t bring herself to conceal in that moment.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

"This is your downfall, Leomaris Runerth. Your father won’t be here to save you. I’ll make you pay for everything you did to my father... even if it costs me everything."

The horse carriage had long since gone. But Leomaris’s image was scorched into the young woman’s eyes. She couldn’t forget it, not even if she wanted to.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Breathing techniques, a few of them, and she was calm again. Back to the timid, harmless young woman she’d been moments before.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

This was Emerald Vernal Isle, the daughter of the late Professor Anas Vernal Isle. Three years prior, Leomaris had hired men to set fire to Anas’s office on Omega Street in San Paulette.

The act had stemmed from arrogance, a petty retaliation after the nobleman advised him to abandon his notorious behaviour following an inconvenient encounter.

It had gone far beyond a mere prank. No one was physically injured, but emotions were shattered, and dreams crumbled in the aftermath.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Anas had been an assistant professor at Sherlock University in San Paulette. His ambition, every bit of it, was aimed at becoming a scholar at one of the magic towers. Toward that end, he’d spent his entire life researching magic, honing his skills, trying to show the world he was worthy of the title.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Within that office lay his life’s work, his memories, and every sacrifice he’d made. The moment the flames took hold, all of it went up with them.

’My father couldn’t bear it. The pain and grief left him bedridden, broken by it all. He lost his position at Sherlock University, and my mother left soon after. I was the only one left... but I knew.

The moment he said everything would be alright, with that forced smile, I knew something wasn’t right. I should have acted. I should have done something. But I didn’t. I was a fool... and in the end, my father took his own life.’

That day changed everything for Emerald. She’d wanted to follow her father’s path, to become a scholar someday. Instead, she devoted her entire life to hunting down Leomaris Runerth.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

’It wasn’t easy. Even after becoming an Unholy Priest, I couldn’t touch him because of his father’s power as a Duke. But now, in this academy, I can destroy him, and no one will care. No one will question it if he dies in battle. He’s nothing but a pathetic loser. I’ll drag him down, humiliate him, and carve him apart with my own blade.’

It was Emerald’s conviction that had brought her this far, taking out a loan to secure her place at Helios Imperial Academy the moment she heard Leomaris had enrolled.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The days came and went, and with them, her hatred toward Leomaris burned hotter. She sat through every exam, and when results day arrived, she stood before the pinboard holding the names of all two hundred first-year students. Her name: fifth. 470 points out of 500.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

A milestone. Fifth place made her a Calamity, and that came with authority over every first-year student outside the lecturing halls, much like an instructor. She had the privilege to oversee their missions, assist strategically, and the right to her own faction.

That didn’t put a smile on her face. Right below her name was Leomaris Runerth, sharing fifth place with the same 470 points out of 500.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

’That bastard. I bet his father pulled strings to get him this position. How else could he end up with the same score as me...?’

Darkened expression, eyes dropping to the paved ground in defeat. She was filled with too much anger, she didn’t know what to do with herself.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The fifth position would come down to a duel between them. She could barely contain her anger, the urge to finish him off was overwhelming. But that wasn’t what she wanted. Moving too early would make her a target. She was nothing but a timid and harmless girl.

More importantly, though, she knew something was off somewhere.

’He’s an idiot—so stupid that thinking looks like a burden to him. But even the Duke wouldn’t have easy sway over the Archmages. I was wrong... there’s no way he cheated.’

A crude smile crossed her face at the realisation as she reached up to adjust her glasses.

"If he’d somehow become smarter, then I know exactly how to win this battle. I’ll bring him down, no matter what. Just wait. After all, I’m not alone. The other Unholy Priests stand with me."