"So that leaves Hansooji, Lee Yoojeong, and Choi Siwoo."

Hansooji, though, posed some challenges. After the incident with Kim Jaesoo, the expectations around her had plummeted drastically. If I paired her with the martial god, she'd likely follow me.

Lee Yoojeong was no problem. In fact, she was pivotal to my villainous plans and already held quite a favorable opinion of me. We even had a... moment together.

But what about Choi Siwoo? If he’s smart, he’ll realize there’s value in gaining strength by becoming a villain. The issue would be if, as Reyna warned, he was caught. With all the expectations placed on him, openly becoming a villain would just lead to his brother confronting him with a wounded, "How could you?"

Plus, there was my own skill to consider, and it wasn’t as though Yujinseok and his allies would let a group like the Dark Faith go unchallenged. They’d take them down as a matter of course. Even if I could handle it, Reyna and Hansooji aren’t yet capable of taking on Yujinseok and his team. I need to figure out a way around this.

"Hansooji, Choi Siwoo, and Senior Lee Yoojeong – you’ll bring them in too, right?"

Reyna, now fully awake, rubbed her eyes and asked me.

"Slowly. We’ll need to expand the Dark Faith as much as possible before the academy reopens. I’ll need to work on persuading the other heroines and our protagonist Choi Siwoo beforehand. Reyna was the first because of her skills with the bow. Next, it’ll be Hansooji."

"Anything I can help with?"

Since our encounter, Reyna had become unusually proactive. I couldn’t believe the usually meticulous, half-elf was now acting like this. Adorable.

"No, I’ll handle it."

"Alright."

For now, Reyna could stay here since the Dark Faith members couldn’t enter. Moving her later would be inconvenient, and being an orphan, Reyna had little to hold her back from joining me. Now that I think about it, a fair number of the heroines seem to be orphans.

Through a gate, I traveled once again.

"Where to?"

"Hansooji's house."

"Got it."

Kate, my ever-reliable transport, had already marked Hansooji's address. Her house was a small villa. Thanks to Kim Jaesoo’s support, she’d managed to live alone without too many issues. But from inside the living room, the sound of crying echoed.

"Hwaaaah! Sniff, sniff."

She was bawling, nose running and all.

"Hansooji."

"Huh, Eun-ha ?"

"Were you crying?"

"Who said I was crying?"

Clearly, she’d been sobbing, her eyes swollen. She wasn’t even reacting to my illegal entry, which made her state of mind obvious.

"It’s because of Kim Jaesoo, isn’t it?"

"Yeah. Some in the online community even call me a villain, saying, ‘Like teacher, like student.’"

The online community – just a space to gossip. There’s no reason to give them the satisfaction. I’ve got my fair share of fans, but there are some girls who bad-mouth me, calling me a child who’s full of herself.

"You didn’t do anything when the trouble started."

"After the team event, there were rumors that our academy was ‘Villain Academy’ because of Park Junhyuk."

"Right."

"And now, with Kim Jaesoo’s mess added in, it seems worse."

During the incident with Kim Jaesoo, people only thought of the academy as poorly secured. But Park Junhyuk’s case is different. He was an honored cadet, someone people thought had a bright future. It shocked the public when he was exposed as a follower of the Dark Faith and nearly transformed into an A-class monster with just a fragment.

Even Korea, home to the Four Heavenly Kings’ strongest hunter, Yujinseok, couldn’t avoid sensitivity to the term "Villain Academy."

"Hmm. I have a solution."

I grinned and took both of Hansooji’s hands.

"What solution?"

"We’ll be the villains they want us to be."

Hansooji immediately pulled her hands away, her red hair flowing seductively in the process.

"What? Are you serious?"

"Let’s be villains."

If people wanted villains, I’d gladly play the part.

"Are you saying we should become criminals?"

"As long as we don’t get caught."

Real villainy would take away the sting. People are fickle. If they have someone to scorn, they’ll flock and attack. Then, when the truth comes out, they brush it off with a “never mind” and delete their comments, if even that.

Hansung Academy was the latest target, and no doubt, Seoul and Goryeo Academies had their hands in this. The public’s fear was understandable, but Hansooji was just a cadet with nowhere to turn, on the verge of breaking down.

"Are you serious? You’re not just saying this in anger?"

"Of course. I even have a team."

I gave Hansooji the same pitch I’d given Reyna, a little more succinct this time. Hansooji wasn’t ready for a physical relationship; her appeal was different. She was beautiful, but something about her personality made me hesitate.

"So, it’s a group rising against society?"

Where did she get that? She always had to challenge me.

"Did you hear what I said?"

Not entirely untrue, but we had our own justice, and freeing isolated regions was better than letting them rot under corrupt organizations.

"But it still sounds like villainy."

"Don’t worry. We’ll stick to isolated zones and dungeons, not petty crimes in the city."

There were plenty of dungeons in isolated zones to keep us busy; we wouldn’t be petty criminals.

"And how will that stay hidden?"

"If you’re with me, it won’t lead to bloodshed."

"Give me some time to think."

Hansooji, eyes still swollen, sniffled and turned her head away. Give her time to think, and we’d be here all day. I took her cheeks in my hands and turned her face toward me.

"Kim Jaesoo’s gone, and Park Junhyuk’s life is ruined. I’ll give you the divine protection of the Martial God. How about that?"

"F-fine."

In the end, Hansooji agreed, her cheeks turning red. Hansooji was one of the rare few who respected the Martial God, a true warrior. She was loyal to those she served, even pledging to eliminate anyone who would hinder them, be they villain or innocent.

I’d like to receive such devotion someday. The thought made me almost eager to go further with her. But I held back; I had already been with Reyna, and I had my limits.

"Kate."

I called to Kate, who was raiding Hansooji’s fridge for ice cream.

"Yes, Dahaka."

"Take Hansooji to where Reyna is. I’ll get you ice cream later."

"Wait, who is this kid? And how did you even get in here?"

Bit late to realize, don’t you think?

"Yes, Dahaka."

With Hansooji sent to the penthouse in Songdo, the next stop was Lee Yoojeong’s place.

"Senior Lee Yoojeong."

"Huh? Oh?"

She was staring at stock charts. True to her nature as a wealthy woman.

"Senior, come with me. We’re going to be villains."

There was no need to beat around the bush with her. She already knew I was Ajit Dahaka.

"Are you really doing this?"

"Yes. Don’t worry. Even if we’re discovered, I’ll protect you. Just follow me."

It sounded almost like a confession, but she’d have her hands full soon enough.

"Really?"

"Yes, truly. You wouldn’t leave after we’ve been through so much together, right? I need you for the future I’m building."

Villains are misunderstood, and I wanted to show her that not all villains fit the mold of mindless criminals.

"Alright."

"Sorry?"

She agreed that easily?

"You’d just do it without me anyway. There must be a reason."

"Yes."

"I don’t like overthinking. I’ll follow."

What a remarkable woman. I gave her a light kiss, and she smiled after returning it.

"Since the academy’s already ‘Villain Academy,’ what else can we do? Might as well live up to the name."

"Hansung Academy is a Villain Academy."

That line wasn’t in the original. This was a new development, likely fueled by Goryeo and Seoul Academies’ media campaigns, especially Viola, who would relish this chance after losing to Kim Younghee. Now came the choice: save Hansung or drop out and fully embrace the villain path. For now, Choi Siwoo was the priority.

"Kate, move Senior Lee Yoojeong, too. Later, I’ll get you six mint choco tubs from Maseok and Bella."

"Sure."

Kate loved mint choco, so I’d been stocking the penthouse with it lately. It seemed to shave ten seconds off her gate-opening time.

With Lee Yoojeong settled, I opened a gate to Choi Siwoo’s residence. This favored “Holy Sword” was funded directly by the association, living in one of their elite properties, granted to government employees.

"Jealous bastard."

Not that I could complain, being Yujinseok’s sibling. Still, thinking back to my days in corporate made me a bit envious of Choi Siwoo.

After finding Choi Siwoo

 in the mansion’s backyard training area, I was taken aback by the sight of a girl with ash-gray hair and dolphin shorts, sweating as she swung her sword.

What... what the hell?