[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-am-i-the-villain-or-not":3,"chapter-am-i-the-villain-or-not-am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-93":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Am I the Villain or Not?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},571552,820,"Chapter 93: Setting Out Only to Die Before Victory","am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-93",93,"\u003Cp>Henny blinked, a bit confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had she run into a similar situation last time too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While she was thinking, an elderly white-haired, white-bearded mage walked up to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old mage looked very kind and nodded slightly toward Henny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny immediately recognized this mage as a regular customer of the shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Same as last time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mage pointed at the blue potion on the counter, indicating for Henny to get him two bottles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavy bag of Geo was placed on the counter, and he slowly left with the potions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny weighed the money pouch, then turned around and put it into the shop's cashbox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rule that a mage could buy at most two bottles a day was actually not bad, at least for some mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn't have to worry about some rich person going crazy buying them all and leaving them with none each day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the frenzy of the previous period, the daily limit of fifty bottles had already led to a relatively reasonable flow of customers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, a thousand per bottle wasn't something an average mage could casually pull out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The customer flow hadn't explosively increased, but there were also no moments when the place was completely empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strictly speaking, magical potions were consumables. Even if the effect was too powerful, it wasn't something they'd use often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most mages bought a few days' worth of potions just to prevent accidents, so they wouldn't have to worry about running out of mana in a crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During normal training or handling daily tasks, they naturally wouldn't waste precious potions, natural mana recovery was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after the customer left did Henny snap out of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red impurities on the blue potion bottle had disappeared, but at this moment, a squirming red mass was inching toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like a red jelly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn't seem to have a solid body, and looked extremely strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Henny, it felt like… Not very smart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey hey hey? That's weird, can't you hear me talking?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red jelly stretched its body with effort, trying to catch Henny's attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tiny jelly-hand extended from its body and waved at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But strangely, Henny just stared at it the whole time, giving it absolutely no response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red jelly pulled back its little hand, went quiet for a moment, then sagged down weakly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"F*ck! At least answer me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Wah! Mr. Jelly is angry!?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny saw the trembling jelly, angry and shaking, and her heart jolted a little. She quickly apologized, \"I'm sorry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Henny's apology, the red jelly seemed very satisfied. It squeezed out two snail-antenna-like things from its round body and lazily swayed them in front of Henny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like it was observing her. While swaying its antennae, it asked, \"Very few humans manage to satisfy me. So, tell me, who are we beating up?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny tilted her head, staring at the red jelly for quite a while as she thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then… can you tell me your name?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>———\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shop was quiet in the afternoon. Leisurely time slipped by, and night fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny returned to the mansion and walked to the front door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could reach out, the door was opened by a servant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Miss Henny.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny was startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been staying here as a guest, so hearing someone suddenly greet her made her flinch with guilt and shiver a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she looked up, it was a familiar servant holding the door for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny let out a breath of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, a cold wind blew across her back. She sensed someone standing behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That person's voice was utterly indifferent, \"Henny?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hairs on Henny's body stood up. She slowly turned around and looked at the person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Professor Viktor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his shoulder, as always, perched a pitch-black crow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, the crow's eyes looked much more frightening than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny had just started to feel happy,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Professor! You're back, \"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did you bring back?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor's words startled Henny, and she shrank her head, trembling, not daring to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor glanced at the trembling Henny and said, \"Come to my study.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny could only obediently follow behind Viktor, looking extremely pitiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They arrived at the study soon. Viktor waved his hand, turning on the desk lamp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warm, small yellow light shone on the desk. Viktor stood before it, and Henny stood at the doorway with her head lowered like a scolded child who had done something wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their shadows swayed on the wall behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing you want to tell me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Professor, I wanted to wait for you to come back before telling you…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny extended her hand. A red, gel-like blob emerged from her arm and rolled onto the desk with wet little plops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The desk lamp shone on its tiny body, but no shadow appeared on the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It began reshaping its form like jelly, constantly changing until it finally settled into the shape of a very small… crocodile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crocodile hadn't figured out what was happening yet. It lifted its head, looked left and right, then stared at Viktor, whose expression was terrifyingly cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing Viktor's hostile gaze, the little crocodile suddenly stretched out a tiny claw and smacked the desk with a slap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you staring at?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this wasn't a very smart demon. It hadn't realized the situation it was in at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the game, the spawning of the original demons had always been a mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Chapter One's story, the seven primordial demons gathered in the Calencia Empire. Led by Greed, they occupied the imperial capital, while the remaining six demons appeared in different cities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until Greed was killed by players, the remaining six demons disappeared from the empire as if they had been given an order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in later story chapters, players could find these original demons in many places.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the little crocodile in front of him was clearly the Demon of Wrath, Leighton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's right, Viktor knew all seven demons' true names, so none of them posed the slightest threat to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, his identity wasn't the same as in the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Players in the game couldn't interact with NPCs. In NPC eyes, players were more like \"mutes,\" emotionless machines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that, even if a player could see a demon's name in battle, they couldn't restrict a demon using its true name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny was a bit startled looking at the crocodile demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been only one day, how did Mr. Jelly turn into a little crocodile?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Original demons draw power from the emotions of their host. If the corresponding emotion and mana are enough, they can grow into something a whole army can't handle within a single day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vega, perched beside Viktor, explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, the only reason Viktor instantly noticed the \"demon\" on Henny was because Vega sensed it beforehand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an evil god, Vega was extremely sensitive to beings like demons, existences beyond life itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the study grew subtle in the silence. Viktor waved at Henny, signaling her to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny covered her eyes and whimpered \"mmhmm,\" leaving the study feeling wronged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She really thought she had done something bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after she left did Viktor look back at the crocodile and slowly say, \"Speak. What deal did you make with her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crocodile clearly understood Viktor was questioning it, but it wasn't afraid of the mysterious man. Grinding its teeth angrily, it said, \"Deal? Deal my a*s!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She walked up and asked me what my name was, how the hell was I supposed to make a deal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least he could relax now, Henny hadn't been bewitched by a demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crocodile was still very weak, like it had just been born.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor narrowed his eyes. Vega giggled on his shoulder, only hearing Viktor's voice inside its mind, 'Interesting.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'First Greed, and now Wrath.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'These demons clearly have better hosts to choose from, yet without exception, they all chose that tiny little succubus.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each demon's ability manifested differently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Greed could magnify the desire in someone's heart, constantly gifting them things until their desires multiplied severalfold, and in the end they couldn't repay it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wrath magnified a host's anger a hundred times, causing their strength to burn out, and making them die exhausted within endless rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similarly, the Lust demon…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor didn't want to think any further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since Henny could attract different demons, the remaining ones would very likely show up in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether that was good or bad, he wouldn't say for now, but Viktor could plan ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor narrowed his eyes at the little crocodile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red crocodile shuddered, an ominous feeling crawling over its body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Losing your temper so easily isn't a good thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll teach you how to control your anger, Leighton.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Viktor said this, the little crocodile felt like chains locked its limbs, immobilizing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost unwillingly, a line of connection formed between it and Viktor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Contract formed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>———\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early the next morning, Henny felt a bit down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She kept feeling as if she had done something to upset Professor Viktor, and up until now she didn't dare go look for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she planned to walk in the garden to clear her head, a maid rushed over and told her, \"Miss Henny, the master is calling you to the study.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny was confused, but still walked toward the study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her heart was uneasy, and she kept telling herself along the way that everything was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she pushed open the study door, she saw Viktor sitting at his desk as usual, hands folded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were two sheets of paper on the desk, but Henny didn't look at them closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pro… professor, you called me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor nodded and signaled her to come forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny obediently walked up and stared at the two sheets of paper in front of her. Her hands didn't know where to rest, her mood was clearly anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor spoke first, \"In front of you are two contracts. The first is an invitation from the Royal Academy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you sign this contract, you will become an honorary associate professor at the Royal Magic Academy, with treatment equal to that of a professor, including a house of your own.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny froze slightly as she listened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ass… associate professor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt dreamlike, as though her once long-cherished dream had become reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of warmth suddenly rose within her, spreading through her whole body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her breathing subconsciously grew faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Viktor calmly continued, \"The contract on the right is the one I had Liya draft yesterday.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sign this one, and you will become a retainer of the Clavenna family. You may choose a family job, or continue living here forever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, the treatment won't be inferior.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny froze again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was the position of associate professor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was becoming a retainer of the Clavenna family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she chose the second, then she would be… part of the Clavenna household?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the position of associate professor…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Ahhh.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life was full of choices, her teacher had once taught her this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of Henny were two choices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was the dream she had always longed for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reward for her years of hard study and effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was the person she wished to follow for a lifetime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Henny looked at Viktor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew everything she had now had not come easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she never felt that her dream could outweigh the admiration she had for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, she made her choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Professor, I want to choose...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor suddenly cut her off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Henny's stunned gaze, he tapped the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A breeze blew gently, pushing both contracts toward Henny at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny was confused, but Viktor's voice soothed her unease as it sounded beside her ear, \"I never said this was a single-choice question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny stared blankly at Viktor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, the corners of her eyes filled with a faint, rippling wetness, as though a thin mist blurred her vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn't sadness, Henny knew that very well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When happiness washed through her whole body, it felt like a soft light redeeming her entire world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Professor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment, she was endlessly grateful for her life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the scorn and ridicule she had endured, as though finally washed away after long suffering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henny placed her hand over her chest, her voice slightly choked, \"To be able to meet you… really.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's wonderful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[First-rank mage]\u003C\u002Fp>",2092,"2026-05-30T15:48:18.711Z","2026-06-01T04:31:37.164Z",1,"novelbin.me","348015691e28cb098a5592c41bd1771a7247aafd90044842dcec5d003cc146d4","am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-94","am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-92",393,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fam-i-the-villain-or-not-cover.jpg"]