[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-am-a-villain-so-what":3,"chapter-i-am-a-villain-so-what-i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-14":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Am a Villain, So What?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1506339,1956,"Chapter 14: Confrontation","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>Ariana’s POV\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today... something strange happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It began in the classroom, like any other day. But when Instructor Samantha announced the practical assessment, my stomach dropped instantly. A dungeon. A group assignment. For everyone else, it sounded exciting — their first real exploration. But for someone like me, who couldn’t even cast a simple spell properly, it felt like a punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Group assessment...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did it have to be group?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew I was useless. Even if they didn’t say it aloud, I saw their eyes and heard the laughter behind my back. So of course, no one wanted me in their team. And... I had no friends to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone immediately started talking, laughing, making plans. Some were already pretending to swing swords and bragging about how many monsters they would defeat. They looked so confident. So bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hated that I envied them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hated that my chest felt tight whenever I compared myself to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slipped out of the classroom quietly before anyone could notice. I didn’t belong in that noisy excitement anyway. The cafeteria was mostly empty — just the way I liked it. I chose my usual seat in the corner and quietly began eating the food on my tray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then... he walked in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien Ashborne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A week ago, he had been surrounded by followers, his presence loud and unpleasant. But after the punishment and exile from his family, he became like a ghost — alone, and avoided by everyone. An exiled noble. Another outcast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was different now. He looked... normal. Quiet. Almost humble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What surprised me the most was the lunch box he carried — shiny metal, neatly tied with cloth. No one ever brought their own food here. The academy cafeteria was good enough for most. Free for everyone but him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I watched him out of the corner of my eye for a moment before focusing back on my tray. Or, I tried to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the next moment — he was sitting directly across from me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was he sittinghere?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why... talk tome?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you joined a group?\" he asked casually, like we were old acquaintances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My voice stuttered out before I could stop it. \"N-No...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he asked me to team up... I almost laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because it was funny — but because I genuinely believed I would drag him down. I could barely fight. I had no talent at magic. Even my own family treated me like a disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I’m s-sorry... I’m just... u-useless...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words came out bitterly, but he didn’t flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he smiled a little and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then we’re perfectly matched. Haven’t you heard? I’m trash too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know how to respond. That straightforward honesty... it disarmed me. I had expected pity or mockery. Not a confession matching my own inferiority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I realized it, I nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It also felt like relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the truth was... I was barely listening anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because my eyes kept drifting to his lunch box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatwasthat food?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Round, soft bread, glistening slightly — and that smell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warm. Savory. Inviting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt rude for staring, but my traitorous gaze kept returning to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, he offered me one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I took my first bite—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world went quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warm bread hugged a tender piece of meat bursting with flavor. There was a harmony of taste I never imagined food could have. A kind of comfort I had never once been given growing up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt... unfair, almost. How could something so small make me want to cry?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...It’s good,\" I whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t have any bigger words. I didn’t know how to describe happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Embarrassed by how much I wanted more, I asked if he could bring it again — offering to pay because I didn’t want to appear greedy. He paused, making my hope stumble—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then said he would bring something even better tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart actually stopped for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I insisted on paying, he looked genuinely offended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Friends don’t pay each other for lunch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a word I had forgotten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A word I didn’t think would ever apply to me again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My throat tightened, and I quickly stood. If I stayed any longer, he might see the tears gathering in my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I’ll look forward to it,\" I managed to say, voice barely steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I hurried away — not to flee from him, but because...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>someone had finally reached out a hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I didn’t know how to hold it without breaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>****\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien’s P.O.V-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After lunch, I returned to the classroom, slipped my lunchbox back into the drawer, and decided to head toward the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quiet corner, a few books, and no people — exactly what I needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But fate, as usual, had other ideas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lucien Ashborne.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That voice made my good mood vanish instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned, already scowling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mariella Arlon — the eldest daughter of House Arlon, one of the four ducal families. Blonde hair that gleamed like gold, proud posture, the kind of aristocratic grace that practically screamedentitlement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you want?\" I asked flatly, not bothering to hide the irritation in my tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed taken aback for a moment, probably not expecting me to speak so coldly. But the surprise faded quickly, replaced by that familiar haughty sneer. The same look nobles give servants who dared to speak first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll ask again,\" she said, folding her arms. \"What are you planning?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked once. \"...Planning?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t play dumb,\" she snapped. \"You’ve been acting far too quiet lately. You must be scheming something. It’s in your nature, isn’t it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My jaw tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’This self-righteous bitch...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out loud, I said calmly, \"And if I am? What does it have to do with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her brows furrowed. \"I knew it. Scum like you never change.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lifted her chin proudly. \"As someone from House Arlon, I cannot overlook any suspicious behavior within the academy. It’s my duty to stop vile acts before they happen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could almostfeelmy patience cracking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few students nearby had begun to notice. Whispers spread fast —Mariella confronting Lucien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perfect. Just what I needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when I kept my head down, trouble always found me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She kept going, her tone growing louder, drawing more attention with each word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think just because you’re the son of a Count, you can act however you please? You bring shame upon the entire nobility! I’ll make sure you don’t cause more trouble for—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up, you bitch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words slipped out before I could stop them. Sharp, venomous, echoing louder than I intended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hallway went dead silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every eye turned toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Mariella froze, her face blank for half a second before flushing red — anger, disbelief, maybe even embarrassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What did you just say?\" she whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, I regretted it immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But once words are out, they’re like arrows — no taking them back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I couldn’t exactly apologize to her. Not in front of this crowd. Not when I knew they’d twist it into another humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grit my teeth, grabbed my lunchbox from the drawer, and brushed past her without another word. The sound of gasps and murmurs followed me as I strode down the corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let them talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let them stare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least this time, I actuallydidsomething to deserve the hate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, I exhaled deeply. The air felt colder. The weight in my chest heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I really need to stop talking,\" I muttered under my breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The library was out of the question now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I stayed, I’d probably run into Kael next — and that was the last thing I needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So instead, I turned my steps toward the private training grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to clear my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe just shoot something until I forgot this damn day.\u003C\u002Fp>",1304,"2026-06-06T04:52:01.856Z",1,"novelbin.me","2ea0a788dd7a39c4dd3ce1dc6748ec968bf83b382af75e2c8840317f41c182ec","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-15","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-13",230,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-a-villain-so-what-cover.jpg"]