I Became the Mastermind Who Betrays the Heroines

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 80 - The Concert (1)

Meanwhile.

As the students wrapped up their school trip and were returning to the academy, the piercing sound of horrified screams echoed through a cathedral situated at the Empire’s borders.

“Ack… kuh, gag…!”

“Aaaah!!”

“Oh, Lord, please…!”

“We need… to run… hngk.”

Licht.

It was a gathering of clerics tasked with protecting the region.

Originally composed of devout believers, entrusted to safeguard their assigned city, they were now steeped in a darkness that made a mockery of their holy mission.

In the vast hallways, unconscious priests lay sprawled across the floor, each one soaked in blood, bodies twitching helplessly.

“Haa, haa…”

A woman, gasping for breath, was running.

She seemed to be fleeing from something.

The air was thick with a sickening stench, and her face was etched with terror as she pushed her legs to move.

Faint music drifted to her ears.

“Urgh…”

The ethereal melody clouded her thoughts, making her mind go blank, as though her brain were melting.

Desperately, the woman gripped the rosary hidden in her robes, clinging to her senses.

With a faint glow of holy power, her blurred vision gradually came back into focus.

But it was only a temporary reprieve.

“Hngh… haa…”

Though she groaned in pain, she didn’t stop moving.

She had to alert the outside world.

Licht was on the verge of annihilation.

Corpses with gnawed flesh littered the ground, blood pooled everywhere, and the cathedral was drenched in a darkness that obscured all sight.

The priests exposed to the music had all gone mad.

Their white robes were stained black, and they had turned into monsters, ravenously devouring human flesh.

She was the only one left in her right mind.

“I have to… tell someone…”

Covering her ears, she ran, desperate to warn the world of the danger.

But despite her determination, she was forced to stop not long after.

A shadow blocked her path.

“Oh…”

Immediately, figures emerged from the darkness around her.

Each one cloaked in robes, as if they had been lying in wait.

The woman’s legs buckled beneath her as fear took over.

Thud.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“Oh, Lord…”

Falling to her knees, she clutched her rosary with trembling hands, closed her eyes, and began to pray.

A final moment of contemplation.

“Deliver us from evil…”

The next instant, the overwhelming music engulfed her.

***

The school trip had been eventful in many ways.

It had been a few days since we returned from the somewhat noisy break, and the students were gearing up to dive back into their intense routines.

—Time really flies.

—I know, right? Feels like we just had the opening ceremony yesterday… What did we even do that finals are already here?

—Just seeing the exam coverage makes me feel exhausted.

—I want to go back to the school trip…

Maybe because the end-of-term exams were now only a month away, the students were busy reclaiming their academics in the library, training rooms, lecture halls… everywhere across the academy.

I was no different.

Although I was confident in my grades, academy life didn’t run solely on test scores.

At the very least, I had to carry out the responsibilities of my position.

So, while the others studied, I spent my time in the research lab.

“Hm.”

Scratch, scratch.

Each time the pen’s tip brushed the paper, a crisp sound filled the air.

Lines extended in smooth trajectories across the page, the black ink forming graceful script as I worked through the towering stack of documents beside me.

“Professor? Here are the documents that need review.”

“Thank you, Student Judas.”

I was assisting Selena with her paperwork, sorting through piles of documents, skimming over non-urgent content and organizing it.

It was routine work for a head assistant.

“Please pass along any remaining administrative tasks to me as well.”

“Your help is appreciated, but you don’t have to go out of your way.”

“I don’t mind.”

Although there was no formal obligation, I felt it necessary to provide at least some help.

It wouldn’t sit well with me to wield authority without accepting any responsibility, especially since Selena had taken care of my three-day absence during the trip so smoothly.

‘It’s only fair to give something back when someone’s done something for you.’

That’s how things work between adults, after all.

I twirled the pen idly between my fingers.

As I was about to continue writing, Selena spoke up, her tone devoid of any hint of emotion.

“About the school trip… I handled the record. As per my instructions, I filed it as a materials-gathering trip, so if the other professors ask, just respond accordingly.”

“Thank you for covering that, Professor.”

“Think nothing of it.”

“Oh… I thought you might ask me why I left. Seems you’re not as curious as I expected.”

“I won’t ask, regardless of any curiosity. That was the arrangement from the start.”

Selena answered in a calm tone, her crimson eyes glinting.

True to form, she held a bottle in her hand.

Taking a few sips, she brushed her violet hair aside and offered a brief word of advice.

“I don’t intend to interfere, but… I would advise against being too reckless.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“You’re my student.”

“You’re very kind, Professor.”

“…”

After a brief silence, Selena gave a faint smile and said,

“This concludes today’s paperwork. You may go now.”

With a vague expression, she tilted her bottle, the faint scent of alcohol filling the air.

I left the lab, reflecting as I walked.

‘Seems she’s not so easily approachable.’

Selena maintained her distance, as always.

Looking ahead to the events to come, I thought it would be helpful to bridge the gap between us, but there was still little progress.

‘I suppose it’s fine… There’s still plenty of time.’

I shrugged off the thought as I walked, and soon I noticed a few people standing outside the lab building.

“Young Master…!”

“You’re finally out.”

“Good work.”

There was Regia, Emilia, and Irene, all waiting as I finished for the day.

When our eyes met, they waved at me with bright smiles.

I walked over with a grin.

“I’m a little late, aren’t I?”

“Late? You’re ten minutes late! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?”

“Well, we did leave the library a little too early… We could’ve stayed a bit longer, but Lady Regia was insistent on heading out sooner…”

“Quiet, commoner! Stop babbling!”

“S-sorry…”

At Regia’s glare, Emilia shrank back.

With the haughty villainess putting the protagonist in her place, Irene, who had been quiet, chimed in with a calm voice.

“Pink hair’s right.”

“Miss Irene?”

“It was blue hair’s idea to wait here. She dragged us out here.”

“Y-you too? Stop speaking out of turn! And mind your manners! I’m the rightful heir of the illustrious Vanity family—!”

“Yes, yes, rightful heir. I’ve heard it enough for today.”

“How… How dare you! That attitude is insufferable!”

Emilia’s frustration flared as she reacted to Irene’s dry tone.

Maybe all the time spent together since the trip had fostered a connection between them.

Though they couldn’t exactly be called close friends, it wasn’t the awkward silence of before.

With a pleased smile, I remarked,

“It’s nice to see you all getting along.”

“Who’s ‘getting along’?!”

“I… don’t need other humans. Having you in my life is enough.” I

“Aren’t we friends now? Or… or was that only my imagination…?”

The range of responses was colorful.

An indignant noble.

An indifferent fox.

A downcast pilot.

All in all, it was a lively atmosphere.

Chatting away, we made our way across the spacious square.

Then, a sudden question tugged at my sleeve.

“You said you wouldn’t be going to the lab starting tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, with exams so close.”

“Then… how about studying together? I’ll probably be in the library with the commoner.”

“I’m impressed by how diligent you all are, preparing so thoroughly.”

“Hmph… If you’re interested, I might allow you to join us.”

“Yes! Lady Regia even said she’d help us with the harder parts!”

“Hmm.”

It was an appealing suggestion.

Since I already knew all the material, studying alone would be dull.

It might be enjoyable to gather with others, just like we did with regular assignments.

But there was one problem.

“I’d be happy to accept your offer.”

“So…?”

“But I don’t think I’ll be able to join tomorrow. I’ll be free to start from the weekend.”

“Suit yourself. Busy with other plans tomorrow, are you?”

“That’s right.”

I nodded and took hold of Irene’s hand, intertwining our fingers.

The two girls stared at us.

“We’re planning to go out, just the two of us. You might call it a date.”

I spoke calmly.

At those words, their eyes went wide.

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]