Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

I stood on the edge of the training ground.

My hand gripped the sword, playing around with it.

'Where did that guy go?'

My gaze swept across the field.

Students from both the second and third years moved around aimlessly, chatting and sparring among themselves.

Our teacher—Wilhelm for some reason was absent.

'What happened to him?'

He was fine this morning. Did something happen to Izara?

…I hope not.

"We have a free class?"

A voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I turned to see a girl approaching, twirling her staff between her fingers.

Her black hair, streaked with pink undertones, was tied up loosely, and her amber eyes locked onto me.

I shrugged. "Seems like it."

She poked me with her staff. "Keep your distance."

"You're the one who walked up to me." I slapped the staff away, and she pouted like a child.

"Say…"

"I don't know why Corvina likes me." I cut in before she could finish. "Stop asking the same damn question every day."

Zenith huffed, crossing her arms.

Shifting my gaze, I looked at the boy with purple hair and eyes.

He was talking with a girl who had the same features as Arianell.

I turned back to Zenith. "Why aren't you with him?"

Zenith looked at me then at Killian and Cecily, and she sighed. "Why would I third-wheel their sweet moments?"

"Doesn't it bother you?" I tilted my head. "Seeing them together?"

"I'm not that pathetic." She scoffed, idly spinning her sword. "I don't care."

"…I see."

"But I do hate you."

"…Okay."

I ignored her jab and glanced around again.

Elijah and Heather were talking with Avril.

I turned my gaze away until I found him.

....Aimar.

Sitting alone with his hand placed under his chin.

"What's up with him?" I muttered.

Zenith followed my gaze. "Yeah… even for Aimar, this is weird. He's been way too quiet lately."

I nodded. It had been a while since we'd had a proper conversation.

"I should corner him sometime," I decided.

"Probably."

"I will."

Did his awakening mess with his head?

It wasn't impossible.

'Maybe smacking him a few times would do the job?'

I considered it thoughtfully.

I was still considering it when someone strode into the training grounds.

My mood soured instantly.

A tall man with jet-black hair cascading down his back and piercing crimson eyes walked in.

Without a word, he walked in front of the students who had arranged themselves properly.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, Professor Wilhelm has taken a leave of absence," Harper announced, his voice firm, echoing through the field.

The students buzzed, murmurs filling the place.

I frowned.

My mind coiled with confusion.

Did something really happen to Izara?

'I should check on him.'

"Since he isn't present," Harper continued, his sharp gaze sweeping over the class before settling on me, "I'll be taking his place today."

I met his stare without flinching.

"Since I'm not particularly skilled with swords," Harper said, "I'll teach you what I excel at."

Lifting his hand, he made a precise cut on the tip of his finger.

Blood welled up—but instead of dripping, it hardened, shaping itself into a dagger.

He twirled it effortlessly before throwing it to the ground.

A mist seeped out, and the area around the dagger began to decay.

"Weapon manipulation and—" Harper's lips curled slightly. "—Poison manipulation."

The students murmured, intrigued.

Satisfied with their reaction, he began pacing. "Now, does anyone here know how vampires came into existence?"

Silence.

No one answered.

Harper shook his head. "Of course not."

He turned back to us, eyes glinting.

"The First Head of the Valentine Highbloods was once a lesser being—until he sought to become something greater," Harper said, distaste curling his lips.

Ah.
Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

Right.

He's also a racist.

"With the help of his wife, he performed a ritual," Harper continued, "one that allowed him to ascend beyond his previous filthy race."

A student frowned. "His wife helped?"

Harper nodded. "Yes. She provided the life energy with the help of the same ritual that he desperately needed."

Another student raised their hand. "What kind of ritual was it?"

Harper smiled slightly. "That's a secret."

His gaze flickered toward me again.

'...'

I kept my gaze on him but my mind had already started to wander.

I didn't really care about Harper as Mariam had already warned him not to bother me.

For a while, he should be quiet.

Instead, I thought about—

A way to give life energy?

'Is there really a ritual like that?' I wondered thoughtfully.

If there was a ritual like that, then it could be helpful to me.

'...'

But how could I find out about it?

Should I ask Yenna?

"Hey." My gaze snapped towards Zenith. "Is he stupid?"

I frowned. "Who?"

"This teacher." She whispered, her voice low. "Isn't this a class for exchange between students? Why is he teaching them?"

I nodded.

She had a point.

"Did you say anything, Miss Zenith?"

But much to her dismay, Harper had better hearing than she thought.

"Y-yes." She stammered, looking at him.

Harper's eyes narrowed. For a second, it seemed like he was about to scold her.

But then, without warning, he looked away.

"Nothing."

Zenith let out a breath of relief—then turned to glare at me.

The hell did I do?

"You may now exchange techniques amongst yourselves," Harper announced, walking away.

"Come to me if you have any questions."

"…Well, at least we still have a free class," Zenith muttered, squinting at me.

"Yeah," I mumbled, turning to leave—

Only to find someone standing in my path.

"…Himmel."

Avril whispered softly, her eyes a little moist.

I ignored her as I walked past her.

"At least listen to me—."

"We don't know each other." I interrupted her words. "Don't try to talk to me."

"..."

She had a face that looked like I had wronged her.

Ignoring her, I started to walk towards Elijah.

He was moving to the side as Heather was busy with Amaury.

Elijah stood off to the side, away from the others.

"Yo," he greeted.

"What's up?" I replied, stopping beside him.

He tilted his head toward Avril. "She wanted to talk to you."

I glanced over my shoulder. Zenith was whispering to Avril, trying to console her.

I shrugged. "Not my problem."

Elijah exhaled sharply. "Her mother and grandmother… want to talk to you."

"I see." I nodded, nothing more.

We walked in silence for a moment before Elijah hesitated.

Then, lowering his voice, he asked, "Hey… do you know who Lilith is?"

I frowned. "Who?"

"Aimar was asking about her."

My frown deepened. "Why?"

Elijah sighed. "He wants to meet her. But he wouldn't say why."

I fell into deep thought.

Lilith…

The name was familiar.

[<Adam's first wife.>]

Huh?

[<Lilith. The mother of all demons.>]

******

"That's all there is to report, sir."

Dexter Hadid bowed deeply, his long blackish-brown hair cascading over his face as he kept his posture composed.

The eldest son of the Hadid family—One of the core branch family of Von Casita Highbloods.

Vald, seated in his chair, gave a slow nod. "Is that everything?"

"Yes." Dexter's voice was taut with frustration. "No matter how much we provoke him, he doesn't react."

Vald acknowledged this with a curt nod.

With a heavy sigh, he said, "You're dismissed."

Dexter bowed once more before turning and exiting the room.

Silence stretched as Vald tapped his fingers against the armrest of his chair, lost in thought.

Time passed.

His train of thought broke as a deep voice echoed through the vast chamber.

He turned his head.

With a single click, a holographic figure flickered to life.

At once, Vald stood and bowed deeply. "Grandfather."

A proud smile spread across Edel's middle-aged face.

Since the day Vald was born, Edel had shaped him carefully—molding him into the ideal successor.

A boy who worked exactly as he desired.

A perfect puppet.

"How have you been, Vald?" Edel asked, his voice calm.

"I've been well," Vald replied respectfully.

Edel's sharp gaze drifted over the lavish room, taking in the ornate furnishings. Yet, rather than admiration, his expression twisted into displeasure.

"Buy new things," he instructed. "Everything here looks old."

Vald nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Anyway," Edel continued, his tone firm, "I'll be out of reach for a while."

Vald's brows furrowed slightly. "Did something happen?"

"No." Edel shook his head. "Just a meeting."

But Vald caught the strain in his voice.

He considered pressing for more details—but held back. Instead, he simply nodded.

A flicker of tension crossed Edel's face before his expression hardened.

"Vald."

"Yes, Grandfather?"

Vald immediately straightened, sensing the weight behind his grandfather's words.

"I've never asked you for much," Edel said, his voice cool and deliberate. "But it's time for you to prove yourself."

Vald's posture stiffened. "What do you need me to do?"

A slow, knowing smile curled Edel's lips.

He had found a loophole in 'her' warning. And he intended to use it.

His next words were quiet—yet absolute.

"Kill Aimar."