Struggling as a Villain

The results will be posted on the notice board tomorrow about the classes each student got and what their current student points are. Each student gets a unique card which carries both their identity, negative and positive marks which allows the teacher to cooperate and give tasks to students efficiently.

Those students who chose a course and failed it would be tested tomorrow, and based on their results, they would get assigned to the course for which they are most suitable. Like Amelia most probably would get sorted out in the 'Survival' group.

Richard was not sure about Ethan since he had the traits of a hunter and a warrior. Based on what the Headmaster decided, the canon events might diverge.

'I have a feeling that the events have already been diverted because of my performance...' Originally, Richard got into the mage class because of exceptional magical skills. Although he was a spoiled brat, being the gifted heir of the Scarlette clan, he got the upper hand when it came to spells and wizardry.

But now he was in the group which was closely related to the main characters. But, well, he never decided anything on impulse. Everything was going as planned.

Exiting the examination centre, he looked around for Amelia, but he couldn't locate her.

Not only her but every student who failed in the examination was nowhere to be seen.

'Were they sent to re-examination already?' That thought passed by his head as Richard decided to ask the instructor he saw nearby.

"No, everyone was sent to the dorms." He said before walking away; leaving Richard confused.

Did she...leave?

Such thought passed through his mind and it wouldn't be unreasonable, considering that the students were allowed to stay on the campus.

Richard slowly made his way towards the entrance, thinking of a way to reach Amelia...when suddenly his eyes caught her figure standing under a tree, not so far away from the main gate.

Richard's lips stretched in a smile...however, soon he sobered up upon noticing the other person standing near her.

It was Emily.

With a frown, Richard made his way towards the duo before asking Amelia, "Is there any problem?" He asked as the conversation between the duo seemed slightly heated up.

Emily was startled. However, Amelia didn't react since her focus was always on the school gates, and that's why she saw him approaching.

"Ah, Sir Richard. No, we were just discussing the pattern of examination. It was really weird, truth be told." Emily instantly clarified and it helped that Amelia nodded in assent.

"The examinations were weird, I concur." Amelia followed.

Richard shrugged, "I mean this school invents new assessment methods every year so that students can't prepare for them beforehand. Naturally, they would tend to be unique."

Amelia and Emily slowly nodded at that.

Silence befell under the tree urging Richard to take his leave with Amelia in tow, when suddenly Emily asked,

"Uh, Richard...c-can I talk to you alone for a minute?"

Amelia's shoulders tensed up hearing that and her usually indifferent eyes adopted a faint anxiousness as she glanced at Richard

In response to her reaction, Richard didn't look back at Amelia, nor did he take time to contemplate before responding, "Not today, Miss Emily. I have a dinner date with the pretty lady beside me." A soft smile raised the edges of his lips when he said that.

Seeing Richard encircling his arm around her waist and after hearing those words, Emily was frozen in shock.

Amelia gazed at Richard with her eyes softening and inched closer to him.

Emily soon awkwardly nodded before saying, "O-Okay then, next time."

Richard gave a firm nod before leading Amelia away.

Emily traced their backs with her eyes while remaining standing at the same place.

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out, "What did you want to tell him?"

Eleanor asked as she found her friend gazing at Richard and Amelia with a complex look in her eyes.

Emily didn't tear her eyes away from them as she responded, "I wanted to thank Richard for saving Ethan. If not for him....we might have lost him."

Eleanor cannot refute that since, indeed, if not for Richard, they might have failed at what they travelled back in time. Protecting Ethan was their goal, and even before facing the ultimate danger, he might have perished just because they, mostly Emily and Eleanor, tampered with the timeline.

Heaving a sigh, Eleanor rested her hand on her friend's shoulder, before comforting her, "Don't worry; you will surely get another chance".

.....

The duo walked in silence for a few moments before Amelia suddenly thanked him,

"Thank you for not hiding that we have a date."

Richard raised his brows before asking her, "Why would I have hidden it? I am always proud of my decisions."

Amelia, as usual, didn't hold back from uttering what was on her mind, "I know that you once liked her, so considering that, it feels like you chose me over your first love."

Richard chuckled at hearing that. How his previous self fell for Emily was still a mystery to him, even though he knew the reason. However, seeing the people around him giving Emily such importance always makes him chuckle.

Unwrapping his hand from her waist, he held her hand before telling her,

"She might be my first love, but I have already moved on from her. Now I have people whom I love, and they love me back equally."

Amelia smiled at that as she kept her gaze straight and softly whispered, "I don't know about romantic relationships much, but right now I am experiencing something called one-sided love."

Richard pressed his lips in a thin smile and glanced at the girl whose eyes reflected the setting sun.

It hasn't been over three weeks since he came to know her, yet he has somehow started to like her. Not only because she was exactly his type, but also because of her honest personality.

However, if he told her that right now, she might think that he was just being thankful for the help she did back then during the examination. And Richard didn't want to start a relationship based on misunderstanding.

"Do you have any preference? Like seafood or maybe a plant-based meal?" Richard asked as they entered the small town situated on the same island as the academy.

In these eateries, students can use their student points to eat things, and the same goes for the other shops. In short, these student points are money on this island. You can gain it through your performance, and lose it through several means.

But since the classes hadn't begun, all the restaurants were offering free food to the students.

Amelia didn't take much time to make her decision, "Just take me wherever you want. I have no strict preference."

Richard nodded before he found a small shop on his left which sold monster meat and chilled beer(non-alcoholic, of course).

They entered the place and were greeted with the sight of several groups of students sitting inside; having their meals and enjoying their time.

"Aren't they seniors?" Amelia asked, a bit confused about why they were eating there when there was a cafeteria in school.

"Yes~We are your seniors~" Suddenly, a violet-haired guy from across the bar rose from his seat and answered Amelia in a cheerful voice as he neared them while holding his drink, "But you know what, babe? Only around this time, we got free food-" The person stopped talking and raised his left eyebrow upon finding the steel pressed against his neck.

Everyone in the bar quieted down and stared at the scene where a first-year had pointed a weapon against a third-year.

"Call your mother 'babe', who might have taught you such manners." Amelia's words, wiped the smirk off the guy's face and soon his complexion darkened upon hearing many of the others chuckling and hooting.

**CLINK**

He clutched the glass with enough force to break it into pieces before he scowled, "You bi-"

"Ah, Senior Butcher, aren't you? The esteemed son of Viscount Butcher, no less. I've heard quite the stories about you—short fuse, long list of flaws. But hey, if you go picking fights with juniors now, forget about student points. Imagine what that'll do to your reputation, senior."

Richard's voice resounded like a hush to a storm; silencing everyone, and surely the aggressive senior also quieted down and backed off a little.

Richard stepped forward before whispering, "Well, if you have a reputation that is."

The older one gritted his teeth and clenched his fist hearing that, but before he could have attacked Richard, someone grabbed him from behind and whispered something in his ear.

The face of the boy paled in an instant as he glanced at Richard's hair and immediately backed off.

Richard shook his head with a chuckle before holding Amelia's hand and leaving the place.

Forget it. The food made by Lilia is the best, after all.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.