I Am a Villain, So What?-Chapter 124: I don’t like being spied on

I felt a burning gaze from across the table.

Alicia was sitting there, gripping her fork and knife vertically like dual-wielded daggers. Her red eyes were locked onto the serving platter in Lily’s hands with the intensity of a starving direwolf. If she had a tail, the wind pressure from its wagging would have shattered the windows.

I could almost hear a phantom [Woof!] echoing in the air.

"Alicia," I sighed, picking up my napkin. "Don’t stare so hard. You’ll melt the cheese with your eyes."

"I am not staring, Boss," she said, drool practically forming at the corner of her mouth. "I am strategically analyzing the nutritional distribution and thermal decay of the protein."

"Right."

Lily laughed, a bright sound that filled the room, and placed a massive plate in front of the crimson-eyed maid.

"Here is your portion, Alicia. Extra meat, just like you asked."

"Thank you, Lily!"

Clatter. Chomp.

Alicia attacked her food with terrifying speed. It was less ’eating’ and more ’tactical consumption.’

I gazed at the scene. The peaceful clinking of silverware, the rich smell of coffee, the morning sun hitting the polished wood table. It was such a stark contrast to the blood-soaked valley of yesterday’s simulation.

Feeling my stare, Lily turned from the coffee station and smiled warmly.

"Eat, Master. The hollandaise will separate if it gets cold." She glanced at the clock on the wall. "Besides, you have to leave early for the Academy, right? The Post-Tournament Ceremony is mandatory."

I lifted my spoon, breaking the yolk of the poached egg. It ran like liquid gold over the crispy potatoes.

I took a bite. The rich, savory flavor exploded in my mouth.

I swallowed.

"I’m not going."

Lily froze mid-pour. Alicia stopped chewing, a piece of brisket hanging from her lip.

"Huh...? What? Are you sick, Master?" Lily blinked, rushing over to check my forehead.

I leaned back in my chair, swirling my coffee.

"Nah. I just feel like it. Yesterday was very hectic. I need some rest."

"But... your reputation? The Prince?"

"Let them wait," I said lazily. "The protagonist needs the spotlight. The villain needs a nap."

Lily stared at me for a moment, then her expression softened into a gentle smile.

"Is that so? Then I will make sure no one disturbs you, Master. I’ll hang the ’Closed’ sign on the diner too."

"Thank you, Lily."

****

[Afternoon]

After breakfast, I tried to sleep. I really did.

I lay flat. Then prone. Then sideways.

"This isn’t it."

Idleness made me restless. My body, now tuned for high-speed combat and mana circulation, found the silence of the bedroom suffocating.

Giving up on the nap, I decided to take a stroll.

I threw on a casual coat, pulled a cap low over my eyes, and headed to the Commercial District.

The capital had everything. From high-end magic shops to street food stalls. Browsing often yielded surprises.

I stopped in front of a boutique accessory shop.

"...This and that, please."

"Two for 15 silvers."

"Alright."

I felt overcharged, but the craftsmanship was decent. I bought a pearl hair clip and a red ribbon brooch.

They reminded me of Lily and Alicia.

’Hope they like them.’

It was a small gift for their efforts. Lily managed the household and Kitchen 21 almost single-handedly, and Alicia... well, she hadn’t burned the house down yet. That deserved a reward.

Refreshed by the retail therapy, I bought a cup of chilled lemon juice and turned to head home.

I would’ve made it, too, if [Detection] hadn’t pinged.

ZING.

A red radar blip appeared in my peripheral vision.

"...That’s?"

I stopped, blending into the shadow of an awning.

Across the street, two figures in hooded cloaks were hurrying through the crowd. But even with the hoods, I recognized their mana signatures.

Elisha Ravencroft and Mariella Arlon.

"What are they doing here?" I muttered, narrowing my eyes. "They’re top students. They aren’t the type to cut class the day after a major event."

Curiosity piqued; I tossed the empty juice cup into a bin.

’Let’s follow them.’

I trailed them into the labyrinthine back alleys of the Lower Market. The deeper they went, the seedier the atmosphere became.

Eventually, they stopped in front of a nondescript door with a symbol of a ’Closed Eye’ carved into the wood.

It looked like a cheap tavern, but I knew better. It was an Information Guild.

’Did they really come here? To buy secrets?’

I couldn’t follow them inside without alerting the guards. I leaned against a wall across the alley, closed my eyes, and focused mana into my auditory canals.

[Skill Active: [Detection (Lv. 8) - Auditory Focus]

The sounds of the street faded—the shouting merchants, the carriage wheels—leaving only the voices inside the building.

Bzzzt...

[Voice of Broker]: "...I’m requesting information on Lucien Ashborne."

My eyes snapped open.

[Voice of Elisha]: "Since it’s information sought by the House of Ignis, I expect accuracy. I want everything."

[Voice of Broker]: "Regarding Lucien Ashborne... what should I focus on? His stock seems to have risen lately. Everyone is asking about him."

[Voice of Elisha]: "I’ll pay whatever deposit you ask. Find out everything. His past dealings. His hidden assets. Where he goes, who he meets. His hourly location is the most important."

[Voice of Broker]: "Understood. Leave it to me. We will put a tail on him starting tonig—"

I felt something boiling inside me. A surge of cold, sharp anger. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

’How dare they.’

Investigating me? Behind my back? Trying to track my hourly location?

That crossed the line from curiosity to threat.

I reached into my inventory. The Winchester materialized in my hands. I racked the lever.

Click-Clack.

Footsteps approached the door from the inside.

The moment the heavy wooden door creaked open—

BANG!

I fired.

The bullet tore through the air, grazing past Elisha’s ear by less than a centimeter, shattering the doorframe behind her.

"Kyaa!"

Startled by the thunderous noise, Elisha stumbled, her high-heeled boots slipping on the cobblestones. She didn’t collapse, likely thanks to her [Movement] skills, but she looked terrified.

Her two hidden escorts—mercenaries hired by the Ignis family—burst out of the shadows.

"Lady Elisha!" "Sniper! Find the sniper!"

"No need to search."

I dropped from the wall.

[Agility: 86]

I moved faster than they could track.

I landed in front of the first escort. Before he could draw his sword, I kicked his kneecap, shattering it.

CRACK.

"Argh!"

I spun the rifle, using the steel-reinforced buttstock to smash the second escort in the jaw. He crumpled instantly.

The third escort charged at me with a dagger.

I didn’t even look at him. I swept his leg, tripping him, and planted my boot on his chest.

I aimed the barrel of the Winchester directly at Elisha’s forehead.

The alley went deadly silent.

Mariella was hiding behind Elisha, trembling like a frightened rabbit.

"You must be very curious about my information, Cadet Elisha."

My voice was low, distorted slightly by the mana I pushed into my vocal cords.

Elisha, pale and shaking, looked up at the gun barrel, then at my face.

"...Cadet Lucien."

"Just ask me directly," I said, my finger tightening on the trigger. "I’m not kind enough to stay quiet after being spied on like a criminal."

Despite her flustered expression, Elisha bit her lip. Ever the proud noble, she forced herself to meet my gaze.

"I... I apologize for using the Information Broker. But your performance yesterday... it didn’t make sense. I needed to know."

She looked at her groaning escorts.

"Shall we move elsewhere? There are too many ears here."

"Cancel the request first."

I gestured with the rifle toward the open door, where the Information Broker was peeking out, sweating profusely.

Elisha turned to him.

"...You heard him."

"U-Understood!" The Broker squeaked, realizing who I was. "I confirm the cancellation of the request regarding Young Master Ashborne! We saw nothing! We know nothing!"

Information Brokers thrived on trust, but they survived on fear. And right now, the man holding the gun was much scarier than the noble girl with the coin purse.

"Good."

I lowered the rifle, resting it on my shoulder.

"Let’s head to a hideout I know. Since you want to talk, let’s talk."

I looked at the groaning guards on the floor.

"Leave the trash here."

Elisha swallowed hard.

"...You lot, return to the estate," she ordered the broken men.

As her escorts limped away, Elisha looked at me with a mix of fear and awe.

I followed Elisha and Mariella to the safehouse.

As expected of the Ravencroft Ducal Family, they didn’t just use a tavern room; they owned an entire discreet townhouse in the Merchant District, hidden behind a magic illusion ward.

Elisha placed her hand on the doorknob, glancing at me one last time as if to say, ’Try anything, and I’ll burn you.’

I just smirked, resting my rifle on my shoulder.

She opened the door.

"Huh?" "Oh?" "....?"

The three of us stopped dead in the doorway.

Inside the dimly lit room, sitting at a table covered in maps and cheap coffee, was a familiar boy with messy black hair and a sword strapped to his back.

Kael Ardyn.

The Protagonist.

"K-Kael? Why are you here...?" Mariella squeaked, peeking out from behind Elisha’s shoulder.

Kael stood up, knocking his chair back in surprise. His eyes darted between Elisha, the trembling Mariella, and finally landed on me. His expression hardened.

"Elisha? Mariella? And... Cadet Lucien." Kael’s hand drifted toward his sword hilt. "That’s what I’d like to ask. Why is he with you?"

I sighed internally. Of all the people to run into.