By the fourth day, I stopped needing to check the forums.
I could feel the shift in the air. People no longer looked at me with contempt—they looked at me like a dangerous anomaly. Some flinched when I passed. Others stared too long, as if trying to solve a puzzle they weren't smart enough to understand.
Clara had been following me like a lovesick familiar, scribbling in her alchemy notebook and making nervous glances every time I breathed. She sat beside me in class now. Voluntarily. Professors didn't question it. They were too busy rewatching my duel in secret crystal recordings.
I didn't mind Clara's presence.
She was a data point. A symptom.
A sign that the Villain Evolution System was doing its job.
Affection Tracker: Clara Vance — 72% ("Eager Servant")
Infamy Aura: Intensifying. Campus-wide Recognition: 34%
Female Aggro Levels Rising: Moderate.
Warning: Multiple Obsession Points Approaching Critical Mass.
Good.
I was only just getting started.
Advanced Combat Strategy Class
Instructor: Grandmaster Orien Vael
Topic: Real-Time Duels Under Tactical Pressure
The classroom wasn't a room—it was a dome. Glass walls overlooking enchanted battlegrounds. Students sat on tiered platforms while illusion panels replayed real combat from historical battles.
And across from me, sitting like royalty reborn, was Ilyra Thorne.
The infamous Sword Princess of the Academy.
Top 3 overall rank.
Straight back. Legs crossed. Arms resting on the hilts of her twin curved blades.
She wore the Academy's uniform skirt much shorter than regulation and made no apology for it. The cold look in her crimson eyes told everyone around her:
"Speak, and I'll end you."
In the original novel, Ilyra despised weak men. Especially Kael Draven. She once broke his practice sword in front of a crowd and asked if he'd like her to break his spine next.
Today… she hadn't looked at me once.
But I saw the way her eyes flicked my direction when she thought I wasn't watching.
Target Spotted: Ilyra Thorne. Aggro: Cold Indifference.
[Yandere Magnet] initialized: "Type – Sadistic Ice Queen."
Status: Not Interested… Yet.
Chance of obsession after public reversal: 76%
Then the instructor spoke.
"Today's lesson," Orien announced, "is a simulation match between two students."
He paused. Smirked.
"Ilyra Thorne. Kael Draven. Please step forward."
The entire class gasped.
"WHAT?!"
I heard whispers instantly.
"She'll destroy him."
"Did he bribe the instructor?"
"No way she accepted that."
Even Clara, beside me, looked panicked. "Kael—she's top three. She crippled a guy last month!"
"Then I'll just have to not get crippled," I said calmly.
I stood up.
Simulation Grounds – Duel Chamber
The moment we stepped inside, a barrier sealed the arena. Magic runes glowed blue, simulating real battle conditions. No death, but real pain. Real humiliation.
Ilyra didn't speak.
She just drew her twin blades with one smooth motion, pointed one at me, and gave a predatory smile.
"If you run, I won't chase," she said. "But I'll still enjoy watching you crawl."
Emotion Detected: Arrogant Anticipation.
Combat Buff: +10% Strength for Opponent (Dominant Style)
Counter Buff Triggered: [Underdog's Bite] — +25% Speed for First 30 Seconds
I cracked my neck and raised my hands. No weapons.
She sneered.
"Oh? Too broke for a sword, trash?"
I smiled. "Why bring a sword when I brought your ego as a shield?"
She lunged without hesitation.
The fight began.
Time slowed.
She was fast—ridiculously fast. Like a blur of silver and red. Her blade came for my ribs in a vicious, slicing arc.
But I had the system.
And I had Fuel the Hate.
Dodge Success — +1 AGI
Public Gaze: 23 students. Female Viewers: 8. Emotions Harvested: Anticipation, Dread, Excitement.
[Charming Threat] Triggered: Opponent's morale briefly disrupted by confident smile.
I sidestepped and tapped her shoulder mid-swing.
A taunt.
"Too slow, Princess."
Her eyes blazed.
"You little—!"
She came harder, faster—this time aiming for my legs. I dodged again, but barely. Her blade clipped my thigh.
Damage Taken: 12 HP. Pain Conversion Active.
Temporary Strength Increase: +8
Skill Unlocked: [Adaptive Taunt] — successful dodges while taunting increase critical hit chance.
Ilyra snarled.
And this time, I struck.
I caught her blade with my bare hand—felt it slice my palm open—but I didn't care.
I twisted her arm, spun behind her, and pushed her forward. She stumbled.
Gasping echoed from the class.
"Did… did he just disarm her?"
She turned.
Face flushed. Eyes wide.
Not with pain.
With something else.
Interest.
No.
Obsession in its infancy.
Ilyra Thorne: Obsession Level – 12% ("Why can't I humiliate him?")
Passive Aura Growth: +10% to Female Conflict Tension
She blinked. Then rushed again. This time her strikes were less graceful, more emotional. I dodged them all.
Until—
BOOM.
I launched a counterkick that hit her square in the stomach.
She flew backward, landed hard on her butt, and her skirt flipped halfway up her thighs.
The entire class went dead silent.
And then—
Trigger Event: "Queen Falls Before Trash."
Status Effect: Humiliation Overload – Pride cracked.
[Yandere Magnet] Effect Intensifies. Emotional Disruption: 44%
Affinity Spike – Ilyra now sees Kael as "The Only Man Who Can Make Her Lose Herself."
Ilyra didn't move.
She just sat there, panting, cheeks bright pink, legs slightly spread—and looked at me like I had just awakened something inside her she didn't understand.
The professor coughed loudly. "M-Match over. Kael Draven is… victor."
I walked over, offered my hand.
"Need help up?"
She slapped it away.
But didn't get up.
She just kept staring.
I turned and walked out.
Later That Day
The forums exploded.
📢 [Breaking]: "Sword Princess FALLS to Campus Trash?!?"
📢 [Video Clip]: Ilyra sitting, dazed and blushing. Caption: "Make me crawl again…"
📢 [Anonymous Post]: "Ilyra hasn't spoken a word since. Is she in shock? Or in love?"
Ilyra Obsession Update: 38% ("Denial Masked as Hatred")
New Passive Skill: [Dominate Through Dignity] — Your restraint in moments of humiliation increases attraction from dominant women.
In my room that night, the door knocked again.
Not Clara.
Not Selena.
Ilyra.
Still in uniform. Blades strapped to her waist. Hair slightly disheveled.
She didn't speak for a long moment.
Then, softly, almost too quietly:
"…I want a rematch."
I raised an eyebrow. "Now?"
She bit her lip.
"…No. Not here. Somewhere no one else can see. I want… you to make me lose again."
Obsession Update: 51% ("Controlled Fixation. Dangerous Curiosity.")
Warning: Emotional Stability at Risk. Interference Likely from Other Obsession Targets.
I smiled.
"I'll think about it, Sword Princess."
And closed the door slowly.