The Savior of the Villainess in a Romance Novel

3. A Gentleman in Romance Fantasy

Thud! Thud!

I’m on my way to the capital for the entrance ceremony.

In a crappy rickety carriage that thuds so hard my butt is getting sore…

At this rate, I might not have a butt left by the time we arrive.

The seats are as hard as rock and the wheels make thudding noises, like they’re trying to keep rhythm whenever they can.

It takes a day to reach the capital, including rest stops. I wish we could arrive even an hour sooner but you can’t always get what you want…

In the end, I have to ride this damn carriage all day.

I don’t even want to think about it…

Also, as soon as we reach the capital, I have to head straight to the academy. I’m going to be so freaking tired.

I’ll think about these problems later. To pass the time and stave off carsickness and boredom, I looked out the window at the scenery.

“Wow…”

The sky, seeming to hold the ocean in its blueness.

Lush forests filled with vibrant, light blue trees.

Lakes sparkling like they’re filled with gems.

It really hits me that I’m in a fantasy world. It’s not like I couldn’t see any of this in the modern world but sights this beautiful aren’t easy to come by.

But…

This was just a fleeting distraction. With the constant thudding I couldn’t even take a nap or rest comfortably until we arrived.

‘If only they had prepared a better carriage…’

But what can I do about it now. Since I’m already in this situation, I decided to train my aura. Not the best environment to meditate but it will still help. It’s a test of my concentration.

I closed my eyes and focused on sensing aura in the carriage. It’s normally impossible to sense aura after only a month but thanks to Hound’s talents, I could detect it quite easily.

The 5x proficiency bonus and sword aura talent from the mysterious extra. Even before I possessed him, Hound already had one star.

But now, there are two stars in my heart. Soon there will probably be three.

The result of relentless training for a month. Impossible for most people my age but incredible progress for a commoner. I am a special admission student after all.

Thud!

My brow furrowed. In the end, my concentration faltered because of the thudding.

“Phew…”

I slowly breathed in and out to calm myself and meditate again. I endured the carriage’s thudding and discomfort and tried to sense aura.

As I steadied my breathing and focused on aura, I felt little bits of blue light gathering in my heart. Gathering these small lights and fusing them with my own energy to make a star, that is my goal.

Thud!

“Ah, damn it!”

Just as I was starting to concentrate, the thudding made me lose my grip on the light I had barely grasped.

Hearing my voice, the driver turned around.

“Something wrong sir?”

“No, just a bad memory came up…”

“Just endure for 4 more hours until the break.”

Not wanting to waste this time left, I tried to concentrate somehow but…

From noble mtl dot com

Thud!

“…”

If only the wheels were a little better…

Anyway, 4 hours he said. If I had known, I would have brought a book to read or something. That would have been better than this.

“Sigh.”

A sigh naturally came out from my frustration.

But what can I do, if I just sit here I’ll go crazy from boredom. Even though it’s hard to concentrate, I persevered and tried to meditate again.

I felt a faint light and tried desperately to grasp it. I can feel the light gathering in my heart.

Thud!

My brows twitched but this time I didn’t lose it.

‘If I can gather just a bit more I think I’ll reach 3 stars…’

Thanks to the bonus effect, even faint lights seemed to improve my aura. After repeated attempts I seemed to adapt, as the thudding no longer broke my meditation.

‘This should be fine.’

I continued training as the 4 hours passed.

***

“We’ve arrived at a town.”

The driver’s words made me open my eyes.

“How long until we stop?”

“About an hour I reckon.”

The driver took off his crumpled straw hat and got down from the carriage.

“If you’ve got no proper place to eat…”

“I’m fine. I’ve got my own business to take care of.”

“Ah I see, come back when you’re done.”

The driver seemed familiar with this town as he casually walked off.

With this break time I now had some leisure. I ate the jerky brought from home then used this chance to reach the realm of 3 stars.

With the accumulated energy from before and the aura gathered in the carriage, proper meditation should make it possible.

I sat on the hard wooden chair and became absorbed in meditation. The faint blue lights I had barely sensed before now felt strong and vivid.

‘Just a little more! A little more!’

Thump thump thump!

My heart pounded. I could feel the aura deep in my chest.

‘Done.’

Three stars, the realm of 3 stars.

“Phew…”

With this, the homework I hadn’t finished before entering the academy was complete.

I didn’t know if I could do it but I’m glad I did.

It wasn’t impossible thanks to Hound’s insane talents and the bonus effect. If I arrived at the academy right now, I could rank among the top as a strong player.

‘But at this point, Lutera’s level was the highest…’

Lutera Edelian.

One of the male leads in the novel I possessed, and heir of the Edelian dukedom.

A genius swordsman, the great swordsmanship family of the empire, he reached the realm of 4 stars at the mere age of 17.

He could make achievements on the battlefield as a mercenary right now if he wanted.

But more than anything.

I don’t like Lutera Edelian.

He’s the crazy bastard who broke off the engagement with the villainess I loved most, Mikaris, and hurt her.

I want to beat the crap out of him.

To do that, I have to surpass Lutera.

‘The difference between 3 stars and 4 stars.’

It probably won’t take long to catch up.

‘It took a month to go from 1 star to 3 stars, so maybe two or three months to reach 4 stars?’

Lost in thought, the driver returned.

“Oh I’m sorry. Did I make you wait? We’ll depart immediately.”

“No, I was able to rest comfortably thanks to you.”

“hahahaha, not used to carriages are you?”

This familiar feeling.

It’s like taxi drivers who chat you up out of nowhere.

“hahahaha…I guess so.”

I awkwardly smiled and became absorbed in meditation again as the driver departed the carriage.

“Just 3 more hours until the capital so rest up.”

3 more hours left. I should gather more aura in this time.

But I feel like I’m forgetting something important…

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

I became absorbed in meditation to the thudding of the carriage.

***

The capital started coming into view. After a short time I passed the gates and was able to enter.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

As I got off the carriage the driver lightly bowed his head and left.

It was late evening now. First I have to enter the academy and head to the dorm I was registered at.

‘Hmm.’

Looking around on my way, the streets were lively even at this late hour, as expected of the capital. The bars were obviously open but so were the shopping districts and art theaters.

‘The capital really is nice.’

While looking around at the people and streets I unknowingly arrived at the academy. Two knights were standing guard at the entrance.

“I’m Hound, registered at the dorms.”

The knight who was dozing off looked at me with drowsy eyes.

“…Show me your entrance documents.”

“Here they are.”

When I handed over the entrance documents, the knight’s eyebrows wrinkled.

“A commoner?”

“Yes, I was admitted as a special admission student.”

“Hmm…fine, go in.”

His attitude changed as soon as he found out I was a commoner. The shameless bastards in this world weren’t just the male leads.

Well, it’s only natural for them to look down on a commoner like me entering a noble’s academy as a special admission student…

Once I entered the academy, a huge guide map was laid out in the central lobby. Thanks to it I was able to easily find the dorms.

When I arrived at the dorms, a woman wearing ostentatious looking glasses was waiting.

“May I have your name?”

“It’s Hound.”

“Ah…”

She seemed to dislike that I was a commoner as well.

Well, it makes sense for nobles attending the school to dislike a commoner like me entering as a special admission student…

“Go to room 302.”

“Thank you.”

Following her directions and entering room 302, I couldn’t help but be surprised.

“This is better than our house!”

As expected of the empire’s top academy, spacious rooms and antique furniture greeted my eyes.

Wanting to wash off the fatigue from my travels, I immediately flopped onto the bed.

Whump-

After the long trip focused on aura training in that rattling carriage, I was exhausted.

Lying on the soft luxury bed after that hard wooden carriage, all my fatigue seemed to disappear.

‘These nobles sure have lots of money.’

It’s best to sleep early today for tomorrow’s entrance ceremony.

My eyes gradually closed. Before the power of this luxurious bed I had never experienced, I could not help but melt away.

***

Buzz buzz.

I awoke to the noisy sounds.

After some light stretches and tidying up, I saw many nobles when I went out.

-What about the Kirzawa family?

-Have you thought about which family you’ll attach yourself to?

Indeed, conversations fitting of nobles. It seemed most nobles on the 3rd floor where I was placed were lower nobles, as their conversations were full of talk about families.

Well, that’s normal for them.

I didn’t have anyone to talk to so I immediately left the dorms and headed to the academy’s main auditorium.

The auditorium was packed with nobles when I entered.

‘I don’t like crowds…’

Nothing I can do about it. I found a decent seat and waited a bit until the entrance ceremony began.

-I welcome the entrance of you noble….the Estrada academy has always existed for the empire’s future…

Blah blah blah.

Damn I’m sleepy.

I discovered another commonality between fantasy and modern worlds. After taxi uncles, boring principals giving speeches.

‘Everywhere people live is the same I guess…’

Since there was nothing worthwhile to listen to I closed my eyes, planning to meditate instead.

At that moment,

-Top ranked entrance student, Mikaris Merian, Marquess of Merian’s daughter…

Hearing the name, I reflexively opened my eyes wide. I stared at the center of the auditorium with my wide eyes. I could tell even from afar.

Long light blue hair with charms scattered like rose petals. A bewitching woman with vivid red eyes like a rabbit’s. She was why I came to like this novel and thought about possessing her.

It was ‘Mikaris Merian’.

As described in the novel, she possessed truly bewitching beauty.

I saw nothing but her. I didn’t hear what she was saying or the reactions around her. It was the moment my dream came true.

‘Ah, wait a moment.’

Seeing her reminded me of the most important event I had forgotten. That Mikaris Merian’s downfall started from the very beginning of the story.

The typical first movement of a cliche romance story.

【Engagement Annulment Notice】

At the entrance ceremony, when Lutera the male lead sees the heroine, he falls in love at first sight.

The reason is…

Actually even I who read the novel don’t really know. He suddenly came up to the heroine and asked her to marry him…

Only the author knows the reason.

Anyway.

Completely fallen for the heroine, Lutera announces a unilateral annulment at the commemorative noble’s party the day after the entrance ceremony.

Because of that, the other nobles looked down on Mikaris whose standing had fallen.

Even though she was from the Merian dukedom.

Insults towards her were basic, and all sorts of false rumors spread about her. As a result, Mikaris slowly went insane and was labeled as a villainess.

That’s the saying the important incident triggering her downfall is tomorrow.

What can I do here?

I fell into anguish.

‘Should I divert the heroine’s gaze? Or should I challenge Lutera to a duel? No, what right does a commoner have to intervene in nobles’ affairs…’

My head felt like it would burst. While reading the novel I was full of thoughts about wanting to save her but didn’t think about how I would actually save her.

Because I wasn’t a character in the novel. And I was a powerless commoner.

It was problematic that I was a special admission student, meaning the cliche bullying was automatically attracted to me, those busy extras looking for a chance to put me in my place.

But I couldn’t stand by and watch as she, one of my most beloved, walked down the path of ruin from the very start.

Then I thought of one method.

A personal knight.

From noble mtl dot com

Young noblewomen of high status like her could appoint personal knights even at the academy. If I become her knight, I can beat up Lutera with the justification that he humiliated my mistress Mikaris.

My current level is 3 stars. Lutera was 4 stars at this point, so it wouldn’t be easy to win. Moreover since I have no real combat experience.

“…”

Well, even if I lose the duel, I can still divert the gazes aimed at Mikaris to me, so it’s not a bad plan.

Hmm,

but won’t I be the one hurt then?

Well, is there a need to think that way? I just have to win.

switching to normal mtl from here on