[{"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-41":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},1506366,1956,"Chapter 41: Mission Complete","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-41",41,"\u003Cp>Lunch break.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cafeteria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned back on my chair, chewing on a bite of rice, and across from me Ariana and Livia were chatting like old friends who’d known each other for years — not two girls who only spoke properly for the very first timeyesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Livia... was eating pancakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My pancakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was practically glowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently she woke up before dawn, ran straight to the diner I’d mentioned inside the dungeon, ate breakfast there, packed lunch too, and was already planning dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t just satisfied — she was converted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I swear, I’m going to eat every meal there from now on,\" she declared dramatically, hands cupped around her cheeks. \"It’s cheap, it’s delicious, and it’s actually filling. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten anything this good — and affordable — in my life!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana laughed. \"I told you, didn’t I? Lucien’s cooking is cheating.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t stop grinning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because floating in front of my face, translucent and smug, was the system window:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>━━━━━━━━━━━\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[ Mission Complete ]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mission: Practical Assessment\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Objective: Rank Top 3\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Status: Completed\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reward: +5,000 points\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bonus: Achieved Rank 1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bonus Reward: +2,000 points\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Current Points: 9,500\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>━━━━━━━━━━━\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Hah... hahaha... HAHAHA—’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rich.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was rich.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana snapped her fingers near my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cadet Lucien? Hello? Where are you lost?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I cleared my throat. \"Nothing. Don’t worry about it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you going to the training grounds later?\" Ariana asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I snorted. \"Me? No. I’m barred.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\" she blinked. \"Barred? How can they bar a cadet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s because of the gun,\" I said, waving my spoon. \"Apparently thebangdisturbs others. So they told me I’m only allowed during dead hours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And private chambers?\" she pressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, I’m barred from those as part of the punishment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stared at me with pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop looking at me like I’m some abandoned puppy,\" I deadpanned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She quickly looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyway,\" I changed the topic, \"I’m going to the library.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I made my way towards the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Library?\" she repeated as she followed behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need books. Come with me. You need them too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Me? For what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s time you focus on your actual talent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blinked. \"...I don’t even know what that is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh right. I forgot to tell you,\" I said casually. \"Your talent is alchemy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alchemy? I never studied alchemy. How do you know that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How I know doesn’t matter,\" I shrugged. \"You’re not suited for swords or combat magic. You’re suited for creation. For formulas. For potion-making. And since you promised yourself to my guidance for this semester—just follow my instructions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cheeks reddened slightly but she nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"O-Okay... I’ll trust you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the library, I chose basic alchemy textbooks—foundation primers, ingredient compatibility charts, basic safe reagent handling manuals. I borrowed them under her name and told her to read them thoroughly. I also instructed her to register for an alchemy elective as her extracurricular.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After she left, I picked out a stack of fire magic fundamentals for myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Alicia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can’t teach her fire magic—and I don’t need to. She already has that abnormal comprehension. All she needs is foundation and resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And both of those—I’m more than ready to supply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*****\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I returned home, the moment I pushed the door open—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...what the—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were people everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t jam-packed, not shoulder-to-shoulder like a festival, but for a second day of business? The tables were all occupied, and there was a steady line of customers waiting near the wall. Laughter, chatter, clinking plates— it was a living organism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t surprise me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Food travels faster than rumors, and yesterday’s customers clearly became megaphones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still... seeing this in person stirred something like pride in my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If this keeps up,\" I muttered, \"I might need another cook by the end of the week.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia was at the counter, the ledger open before her, quill moving steadily. Her hair was tied up neatly today— maybe Reena suggested it. She greeted me calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Welcome back, Boss.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How are you managing?\" I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned a page with a measured motion. \"I’m fine,\" she said. \"But Lily... she may not share the same opinion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I huffed a laugh. \"I’ll check.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pushed open the kitchen door— and a wave of heat and butter hit me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily was a disaster of sweat and motion— spatula in one hand, pan in the other, fried rice tossing in a perfect arc. Two assistant girls behind her were in full scramble— one chopping vegetables, the other drowning in dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lily,\" I stepped forward, \"seems like it’s a little much for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She jolted when she finally registered my voice. \"B-Boss! When did you arrive?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just now,\" I said, observing the chaos. The two assistants bowed quickly the moment they noticed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re tired,\" I pointed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah—no, it’s nothing. I’m enjoying it.\" And she genuinely meant it; the gleam in her eyes was unmistakable. She was in her element — this was a battlefield sheliked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know you are,\" I smiled faintly, \"but be realistic. If this is day two, day seven might kill you at this pace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll take that silence as agreement,\" I said. \"We’re hiring more staff.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gave her shoulder a light tap, not to console — but as acknowledgment. \"Keep going.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the kitchen, I returned to Alicia at the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When Reena shows up— tell her to scout cooks. Experienced ones. Even one proper sous-chef will lighten Lily’s load.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia nodded. \"Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also—\" I took out the books I borrowed from the library and placed them on the counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blinked at them, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are academy-grade magic theory books,\" I told her. \"Fire theory. Elemental conduction. Spell fundamentals. You’re training from tonight onward. Don’t slack.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hands trembled slightly as she touched the covers — students would kill to borrow these without restriction, and I casually just... handed them to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression softened — barely — but her voice carried weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I will not disappoint you, Boss.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she bowed — not mechanically — but sincerely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was investment.\u003C\u002Fp>",1019,"2026-06-06T04:52:01.856Z",1,"novelbin.me","09e90bbb130cf35ae21eef2d801b17714b748d3a49ff6971512bfea8c96f0334","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-42","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-40",230,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-a-villain-so-what-cover.jpg"]