[{"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-20":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},1506345,1956,"Chapter 20: Tuition Fee","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>By the time we reached my place, the sky had turned indigo. The faint glow of mana lanterns flickered along the quiet street, painting the cobblestones in soft blue light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana followed silently behind me, her steps light and careful — until we stopped in front of a modest two-story wooden house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her violet eyes widened slightly. \"...T-This is... your home?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yep,\" I said casually, pushing open the gate. \"Welcome to my humble abode.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze darted from the wooden porch to the stone pathway, to the small garden with faintly glowing weeds. It wasn’t dirty — far from it — but compared to the opulent marble estates she must have grown up in... it probably felt like stepping into another world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For me, it was peaceful. For her... it was probably shocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"T-Teacher...\" she whispered, blinking slowly. \"You really live here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... I see...\" she murmured, still processing. \"I-I thought nobles lived in... bigger... houses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shrugged. \"I used to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s get inside.\" I opened the door inviting her in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hesitated before stepping inside. Her shoes clicked softly on the wooden floor as she looked around. The interior was clean and tidy — two rooms downstairs, simple furniture, a few glow-stones instead of chandeliers. It wasn’t luxurious, but it had warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at me, hesitant. \"D-Do you live here... alone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yup.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...A-And you do everything yourself? Cooking, cleaning, laundry, dishes—?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All of it,\" I said simply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes widened, her jaw almost dropping. \"T-That’s... unheard of!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I raised an eyebrow. \"What, you think I’ve got elves living under the floorboards?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"N-No, but—\" she stammered, clearly struggling to understand. \"H-How can a noble do... house chores?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could almost hear her worldview cracking. For someone raised among servants and etiquette tutors, this must’ve sounded as outrageous as someone claiming dogs could fly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, though, it wasn’t a big deal. Back on Earth, I’d lived alone for years — cooking, cleaning, surviving on instant noodles and caffeine. Doing chores was practically my second nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I couldn’t exactly tell her that, can I?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, time for theLucien special: believable half-truths with a dramatic twist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let my shoulders sag, my voice softening. \"Well... what can I do? You already know my situation. Since my family cut off my financial support, I don’t have the luxury of hiring servants anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked away with a perfectly crafted sad smile. \"I’m... a bit tight on money these days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perfect delivery. Oscar-worthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana’s expression melted immediately. Her eyes glistened with sympathy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh...\" she murmured softly, reaching into her uniform pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, before I could react, she pulled out a small pouch and pressed it into my hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"T-Teacher, please take this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked. \"...What’s this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clenched her hands nervously but spoke with surprising firmness. \"P-Please don’t reject it. C-Consider this my tuition fee. If you refuse, I’ll... I’ll just go back right now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a second, I was speechless. Not because of the offer — but because of her tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the first time I’d ever seen her look soresolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint blush colored her cheeks, but her eyes — usually timid and downcast — burned with sincerity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed deeply. \"You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head, clutching her skirt tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine,\" I said, taking the pouch \"reluctantly.\" \"But just so you know, I’m only accepting this because I don’t want you crying later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face softened into relief — and a faint, genuine smile bloomed on her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, inside my head, a debate had already begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*****\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On my left shoulder, a tiny chibi version of me appeared — wearing a red suit, horns, and a smug grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take the money,\" Devil-Lucien whispered, tail flicking. \"You earned it. You’re the teacher now — payment is only fair.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the right, another chibi-me floated down — glowing white wings, halo, and an annoyingly righteous face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you no shame?\" Angel-Lucien scolded. \"She’s a sweet, innocent girl. Taking money from her? That’s low even for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devil-Me folded his arms. \"Low? Please. It’s calledtuition fees. We’re running a business here, not an orphanage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Angel-Me crossed his arms too. \"You’re exploiting her goodwill!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She offered! Besides,\" Devil-Me smirked, \"we’re thevillain, remember? Not some self-righteous hero who gives free life lessons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Angel-Me faltered. \"...Well... sheisgoing to benefit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly. You want to deny her personal growth and delicious food? Shame on you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long moment of glaring at each other, Angel-Me sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine. But only if we teach her properly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Deal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poof.Both disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*****\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in reality, I looked down at the pouch in my hand — surprisingly heavy. I decided to check it later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Checking the amount now would be low even by my standards, so I pocketed it for later\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled faintly. \"Alright then, Miss Solmere. Consider this the first official lesson.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tilted her head. \"L-Lesson?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\" I opened the door, stepping aside for her to enter. \"Lesson one — how to survive when you’ve been cut off from luxury.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes widened, then softened again. \"Y-Yes, teacher.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled to myself as she stepped into the modest house, curiosity flickering in her eyes as she took in every corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it wasn’t a mansion...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But somehow, with her here, the place didn’t feel so empty anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>",892,"2026-06-06T04:52:01.856Z",1,"novelbin.me","7169cc61f1d93c16170abc6dae76a78819e53ae3a05fcb2941b22e711c3b147c","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-21","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-19",230,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-a-villain-so-what-cover.jpg"]