[{"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-16":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},1506341,1956,"Chapter 16: Rumors","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-16",16,"\u003Cp>The first rays of dawn slipped through the window when I opened my eyes. My body felt heavy from last night’s training, but the moment I remembered what I had to do today, fatigue melted away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had a promise to keep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragging myself out of bed, I washed up and headed to the kitchen. The air was cool, quiet — the perfect time to work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I laid out everything on the counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flour, salt, and water for the taco dough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fresh hare meat from yesterday’s market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cabbage, tomatoes, onions — neatly arranged, vibrant in color.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright,\" I murmured, cracking my knuckles. \"Let’s do this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*****\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the dough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I poured the flour into a wooden bowl, added a pinch of salt, and mixed it slowly with warm water. My fingers kneaded the soft mixture until it formed a smooth, elastic dough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Earth’s modern mixers, I had only my hands — but cooking was muscle memory to me. The motion was calming, rhythmic. When the texture felt right, I covered it with a damp cloth and set it aside to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, the filling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sliced the hare meat into small, thin strips. The knife glided easily — the meat was tender and light, with a faint herbal scent, a byproduct of the beast’s mana-rich diet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a pan, I melted a knob of beast butter over the mana burner. The soft blue flame of condensed mana flickered quietly beneath the pan, steady and hot — cleaner than any stove flame back on Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The butter sizzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tossed in the meat, and the room filled instantly with that satisfying sound — the sharp hiss of searing flesh. The rich aroma hit me, smoky and mouthwatering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perfect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the color began to brown, I added diced onions and shredded cabbage. The sizzling turned sharper, more alive. Then came the tomatoes — their faint glow dimmed as they hit the heat, releasing sweet, tangy juices that mixed into the meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, I added the seasoning — crushed red fire-pepper, a pinch of ground salt crystal, and a few herbs I’d bought from the market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air grew thick with heat and spice, a savory storm that made my stomach growl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stirred until the mixture blended into a glistening, golden-brown filling — juicy but not oily. The kind of balance that would make anyone addicted after one bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*****\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time I returned to the dough, it had softened beautifully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rolled small pieces into thin, round sheets. Not too thick — just enough to crisp at the edges while staying soft in the middle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, I placed them on the pan, letting them puff slightly before flipping. The aroma of freshly baked dough filled the kitchen. Golden brown, slightly charred spots — just the way I liked them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once done, I filled each with the spiced meat and vegetable mix, folded them neatly, and set them aside to cool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I took the first bite from one — just to test — the crunch, the warmth, and the burst of flavor made me smile involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Perfect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would’ve been even better with cheese, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed. \"Right, no cheese in this world... yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe that’s something I should fix someday. A little project for future me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the finishing touch, I made a small jar of sauce — crushed mana tomatoes, herbs, salt, and a hint of sweet spice — thick and red, a perfect companion for the tacos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I packed everything neatly into my lunch box, wrapped it in cloth, and glanced at the clock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Time to go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*****\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The academy gates loomed in the distance as I walked up the cobblestone path, the chatter of cadets already filling the morning air. It didn’t take long to notice the glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were different today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I stepped through the gates, whispers began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s him—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you hear? He called Lady Mariella a—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shh! Don’t say it out loud!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed. \"News sure travels fast.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already spreading, then. I’d barely slept and the rumor had grown wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glares followed me through the hallways — from nobles sneering down their noses to commoners pretending not to look. I didn’t react. No point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I entered the classroom, the noise dimmed instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I walked straight to my usual seat at the back, ignoring the heavy air that seemed to cling to the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I sat down, I couldfeelthe stares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most hostile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a few — outright burning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kael was one of those few.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat at the front, posture straight, eyes locked on me with that same righteous disgust that could make anyone want to punch him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hand rested on the hilt of his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was habit or a warning, I didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him sat Princess Celestia, her expression cold and distant. Elisha glared openly, eyes sharp with disdain. The rest of the protagonist’s little entourage looked equally ready to pass judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I exhaled through my nose. \"Yeah, yeah. I know. I’m evil incarnate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But amidst all the hostility, one gaze stood out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the far corner of the room — soft, uncertain, and strangely gentle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our eyes met briefly. She didn’t look away. There was no fear or disgust there — only... pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hands fidgeted nervously on her desk, as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gave her a faint nod — nothing more — before leaning back in my seat and closing my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, the door opened and the teacher entered, snapping the room back to attention. The murmurs stopped, eyes turned forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned back in my seat, forcing my mind to clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever was said about me didn’t matter. I was here for one thing: to learn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I knew how the worldworked— the system, the combat hierarchy, the mechanics — that didn’t mean I understood it on afundamentallevel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And knowledge was still power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And these classes were much help and not to mentioned it also increased my intelligence stat.\u003C\u002Fp>",1025,"2026-06-06T04:52:01.856Z",1,"novelbin.me","823f7a7abfa02d91a1d8d540f25c7c43f531ba391e9fe76d5202ff18089a9b57","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-17","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-15",230,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-a-villain-so-what-cover.jpg"]