'Who…?' Xian didn't recognize Carmillia's killer. Neither did the killer look like a student. The only clue he got was that the assailant wore a ragged down uniform similar to the academy attendants, drooling and out of sorts.
'He's just… A regular npc.' He thought with disappointment and confusion.
It wasn't Castreyja who showed clear resentment towards Carmillia. Xian expected a more dramatic scene to play out, but the culprit was just a normal person.
'Wait, no… How did they recognize the opportunity, track her so precisely, and even know to strike the moment her barrier broke?' He was almost fooled into thinking that this was just another case of her vain deaths.
In the game, her most vain death so far was her choking on a freaking dessert because she did not have tea served at her table. He applauded the developers for making that death as vain as possible.
That meant a sacrificial pawn got to Carmillia, and someone who knew her well enough was responsible for sending it. Furthermore, the entrance exam had been chosen as the place and time to hatch their plan.
Xian looked up at a corner of the room. He did not know where the professors were watching from, but surely 'that person' was surveying Carmillia.
He surmised that the one behind this incident had ties within the academy and was close enough to her family to know about her barrier. As for how a mere academy attendant was controlled into doing all of this…
Well, this sick game did not lack mind control and possession tricks and tropes. In fact, Xian could name several people who used such tricks, more than the fingers on both his hands.
Xian felt a sharp sensation press against his neck amidst his thoughts. The instructor's movements had been a blur, and in an instant, he was right in front of him, his arms held near Xian's neck and covered in a familiar energy.
"You don't seem affected at all." The aura he purposely emitted did not seem to faze the individual in front of him. With that kind of height and provoking face, he could not help but point his 'weapon' at Xian.
"Could you cooperate and put your hands behind your head?" the instructor spoke, tense and uncertain whether Xian was an enemy or an entrant. His intimidating appearance made the instructor lean toward the former.
Xian silently followed his instructions, but just as the instructor was about to take his weapons, he halted, seemingly listening to something.
"Understood. Yes." he muttered, responding to a message Xian could not hear.
The heaviness enveloping the surroundings subsided, and the instructor instantly moved toward the assailant's body, then proceeded to bind it.
"Ugh…" Carmillia let out a rare groan as she stood up with a contorted expression. Dirt blemished her black dress, and her complexion seemed paler than before.
"The two of you may proceed with the exam. This incident will be taken care of by the staff and discussed further upon your admission. I apologize for the rudeness, but I have duties to attend to."
"Then, farewell." The man bowed with a flat expression, one foot stepping on the criminal who weakly wriggled.
"I assume that the academy… wouldn't simply dismiss this attempt at my life? If the duke were to learn that this academy wasn't such a safe place..." Carmillia spoke with obvious spite and annoyance, even mentioning her father's position. Knowing her, Xian thought that this action additionally served the purpose of making this incident bigger than it is for better reparations and leverage.
"I am a mere retinue, young miss. Please do as you see fit." With that, the man who called himself a retinue saluted and dashed away, leaving two unconscious students behind. Not even a few moments later, two similarly dressed people took Adrian and Ruminaria away.
Xian wondered whether this incident would disqualify the protagonist and one of the seven main heroines.
Since Ruminaria hailed as the hero's descendant, it was unlikely for her to be disqualified. She must have been scouted by the academy itself after all, and her participation in the entrance exam was merely a formality. Adrian, on the other hand… He was nothing special at the moment. Xian wondered whether the protagonist would still be admitted.
'Well, it's better if he's gone. I can just replace his role.' Although those were his thoughts, it was not easy to replace Adrian. What was special about the protagonist was his staggeringly high luck. It played a part in making progressions easier.
Because higher luck meant more stat bonus points for every level up, it truly reflected the fast growth rate of the protagonist. While it was not the be-all and end-all of combat, since skills still played a crucial role, the protagonist's stat growth was so overwhelming that it became a balance breaker in the late game.
Players enjoyed experimenting with stat dumping because of that. Once, there was a player who invested entirely on defensive stats. The protagonist became virtually unkillable to ninety percent of enemies, while his party members dealt the damage.
And Xian had no stat with that very luck. Thus, any stat bonuses he would get from leveling up were reduced.
Xian snapped out of his reminiscence and realized he was alone with the villainess. As he studied her, he found himself wondering what level she had already reached. Unlike the other official heroines and starting characters meant to grow alongside the protagonist's
party, Carmillia was far ahead in level.
"Shall we go, young miss?" He was back to being a polite butler. From his memories and what he had observed ever since coming here, Carmillia appreciated proper etiquette and a deferential attitude.
This was their first time facing each other alone. So far, Carmillia had not gone on a villainous streak, and Xian was curious how she would react to this situation.
'Is she gonna tell me to screw off?' If that happened, Xian had several pranks in mind to play on her once they were in the academy. Becoming a student meant she would lose the authority she wielded outside, aside from Serika, Lucinelle, and the handful of fodder nobles loyal to her family's dukedom.
He needed to be cautious when it came to the two swordmaidens, but the fodder nobles could be dealt with through his position as a higher-ranked noble's butler.
Carmillia looked at her butler with a curious gaze. Her uncanny calmness unsettled Xian, who was used to her villainess antics back in the game.
"… Thrice."
"?" Xian wondered if the number signified his chances of forgiveness when making a mistake.
"Thrice, you have somehow thwarted dangers to my life." Carmillia held up her hand, with three fingers raised.
'Ah, right. It's been that long?'
First, it was the coachman. Second, it was the chief maid who plotted from behind the scenes. Third, it was the attack during the entrance examination in the academy.
"… Keep some time to yourself tonight. We will continue our conversation where we left off." She spoke like their admission was set in stone.
[Conversation Event: A Villainess's Curiosity II]
[Difficulty: Normal. Keep yourself free tonight]
[Rewards: Prying Lens, +1 Level, +30 affection]
[Wrong Answer Leads to Loss of All Affection Points]
[Answer the Villainess Carefully!]
'Finally! Another event.' Triggering events meant a chance for major leaps in a heroine's affection level. None of this had happened with Miri, despite her rapidly rising affection level. It only proved that the system existing in this world still recognized him as a player.
Still, he slightly grimaced at the penalty. Losing all affection levels meant starting at zero, when Carmillia was still at the [BLACK HEART] level. Because of some future plans, there would be times when he needed to sacrifice affection points or even displease Carmillia, which would not do at that level.
Once it reached rock bottom and dropped to the Crimson level… He might just get tortured to death by her swordmaidens as punishment.
"For now, let's end this bothersome exam." Carmillia turned around, walking ahead confidently.
"Please wait." Xian stopped her, a faint urgency in his voice.
"Hm?" She looked back with a slightly displeased expression.
"That way is wrong. Please follow me." The path he had come from was just behind him, but Carmillia was heading in the opposite direction. Maybe she was in such a rush to leave that she simply chose to walk forward.
"… Lead the way."
Since they were already in the sixth type of room, Xian only had to pass through a few more before finishing the grid maze.
He gestured for Carmillia to take the first step ahead of him for a higher placement, should it ever be recorded. As he followed, Xian saw the square-bearded proctor with glasses again, sitting on a reclining chair.
The proctor looked over the small book he was reading, then took out a slightly bigger one and proceeded to get up.
"Hm, let's see. Entrant number 13 and 879. You may proceed," he spoke, gazing at them. "You two are placed third and fourth respectively."
Carmillia briefly glanced at the proctor, then walked past him. Neither of them seemed bothered to address each other, and the proctor just lay back on his chair to resume reading. So Xian did the same, as silence lingered in the atmosphere.
This time, two other entrants had gone ahead of Xian. Based on the previous events, those would be Fahna and Gumin. He wasn't worried tho, in the end they will catch up or even overtake them.
Things will be a little difficult if Gumin chimes in, but it's very unlikely. This will be the first time Carmillia sets foot in this part of the entrance exam and Xian was already on edge.
Of course, since they were reunited, he's going to stick with Carmillia. This time around, her death was prevented as well with just one regression and usage of some special items. Had he not received those items, he might still be stuck trying to figure out what caused Carmillia to die.
But Xian slowly realized.
Sooner or later, Carmillia's deaths that never appeared in the game will keep popping up. Depending on it's cause, it might take multiple regressions in order to ensure her safety afterward.
Especially, if her allies is only those two swordmaidens and some lowly nobles. As a side villain in the game, she never had truly capable subordinates apart from Serika and Lucinelle before joining any organization outside of Rozenfall.
'I need to gather allies.' Not just to protect Carmillia, but also to create a faction. For that, he needs her to be their central figure.
But this villainess… In the game, she played her role well, antagonizing the party in the regular arcs, on some quests and even some events. But in the end, her goal remains confusing.
Xian paid attention each time she appeared, but he didn't know enough. Whether she has the desire to delve in politics or simply live as she pleases, in leisure and wealth brought by the duke's household.
That was also his problem with the developers. The action she took can be treated as villainous, but the motives? It seemed solely for being a vain annoyance for the player and protagonist.
Sometimes, she would be on the enemy's side and stand against the protagonist. But that's because she was leaning on the duke's faction whom the protagonist had to go against. Conspirators will use her desire and willingness to hinder Adrian and his party, turning her into a formidable opponent, granting pawns to wield as she pleases.
At the same time, she often refuse to take orders from any allies or even the duke and just did her own thing.