The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 123

The change in how he addressed me was strange, but it seemed too trivial to ask about in the current situation, so I let it go.

“Where do you think they are?”

They were guys who originally liked to have fun, so the probability of them quietly staying in the dormitory was extremely low. Where in the vast academy would I find them? They might have even gone out.

But Luwen chuckled and nodded toward the window. Following his gaze, I could see part of a round head poking up over the windowsill. Judging by the clumsy attempt at hiding, it had to be Nadian.

“…When did you get here?”

It seemed they had arrived around the time Luwen changed how he addressed me, but I asked just to be sure.

“Not long ago. I’ll bring them in.”

That’s a relief. Well, considering how sensitive Luwen is to presences, he probably handled it well. As he opened the door, I heard someone exclaim “Ah!” and fall over beyond the wide-open window.

“Ouch… my bottom…”

It was little Norman’s voice.

“Oh, hi Luwen. Haha.”

Nadian looked embarrassed.

“Norman, are you okay?”

Cadin’s voice followed, checking on little Norman. I found it amazing how the noise that I once disliked so much now gave me a peaceful sense of security, and I couldn’t help but smile quietly.

“Come in. I have something to ask of you.”

“If you need our help, anytime!”

Nadian responded energetically.

“Yeah! I’ll help with anything!”

Little Norman also answered vigorously as he stood up. Our eyes met directly through the window. He waved his hand gently at me with a smile.

And so, led by Luwen, my roommates filed in one after another.

“Wow… this place is really nice.”

Little Norman sat in a chair, looking around with his mouth open. Cadin also kept rolling his eyes around while maintaining a composed face. Nadian was the only one who didn’t show much reaction. He was probably used to it from seeing Alteo’s dormitory.

‘Good thing I brewed plenty of tea.’

I poured each of them a cup, having prepared enough for 3 additional people.

“But why did you guys come here?”

“Oh, Nadian told us…”

Little Norman paused midsentence and glanced at Luwen. He seemed to have heard about things I didn’t know. After Luwen nodded, he finally looked back at me and said:

“I heard the intention behind summoning Norman isn’t good. Are you okay?”

“I just heard about it myself so I was surprised, and I was contemplating because I don’t want to go.”

Little Norman nodded vigorously in response.

“I didn’t know the prince was… such a trash bastard.”

Nadian’s disrespectful but sincere comment was gratifying. However, I had to caution this reckless youth who didn’t know how fearsome listening ears could be. After spending some time persuading Nadian, who had become sulky about why I was defending such a person, I was finally able to get to the main point.

“Oh! I know that book!”

Little Norman raised his hand high. Since he knew it, I could save time, so I immediately asked:

“Do you remember the title?”

“Yes. ‘Extensive Botanical Considerations, The Hidden Faces of Herbs’… I think that was the title. I might be wrong, but it should be something similar.”

As soon as I heard the title, my memory came back perfectly. The front part is so commonly used in these types of books that I had skimmed over it, but I was curious about the different aspects of herbs mentioned, so I had pulled it out to read.

“I think that’s right. Did you see it in the library?”

“Yes. For the herbal medicine class, we had to write a report, so I read various things looking for a topic. And I think I know which herb Norman is talking about.”

I never expected little Norman to appear so reliable. He had always just been cute, but occasionally showed unexpected sides.

“Eliuna. It’s an herb with white flowers that cluster together like white granules.”

Little Norman paused briefly and smiled proudly.

“There’s a colony in the forest near my home. No one knew its name. People just thought it was a poisonous plant, but I remember it now because I recently learned it’s an herb. I’m probably right.”

Luwen looked at me as if checking whether this was what he was looking for.

“I think that’s right. We’d know for sure if we saw the book…”

“I’ll go get it!”

Little Norman stood up before I could finish speaking.

“Can I ask you to do that?”

“Yes. What if you’re spotted while wandering around? You stay right here. I’ll hurry back.”

“Thank you, Norman.”

“Hehe. If you’re grateful, come visit us often.”

“Of course I will.”

Little Norman smiled broadly and moved quickly. Finding it would take time. The remaining Nadian and Cadin rolled up their sleeves, offering to help find the herb. Both of them would surely know it couldn’t be bought from merchants, meaning they intended to search the forest for me.

‘…I had really good relationships.’

What does it matter if they’re few in number? Those few are genuine.

They rushed over even though they could have looked away and ignored it, and they invested their time generously to help.

‘I keep receiving help.’

Suddenly my heart fluttered. I had people I could call friends. I wanted to maintain these relationships even after graduating from the academy.

‘Later, will I have a chance to reveal my true self?’

Would they still treat me comfortably like now?

‘I hope so.’

It would be upsetting if they distanced themselves because of my status.

* * *

The book little Norman brought was indeed what I was looking for. We hurriedly left the academy. As expected, it was an herb that merchants didn’t handle.

My roommates headed straight for the forest, while I planned to find and prepare herbs for the antidote.

Luwen wanted to come with me, but the ones who needed protection from potential dangers weren’t me. When I told him I would be sad if something happened to them, he trudged after them.

Time was precious, so I went to the nearest merchant guild, rented a carriage, and rushed straight to the mansion. Having returned without notice, the head servant hurriedly came out to greet me.

“Tell Linder to come to the reception room. It’s urgent, so hurry.”

“Yes, master.”

The head servant moved busily.

After waiting in the reception room for a few minutes, Linder arrived. He had long silver hair hanging down, which momentarily made me not recognize him—it was even in the style I usually wore. His appearance was clearly imitating me.

‘What on earth has he been doing?’

First, I sent the head servant who had come with him away, and as soon as the door closed, I asked:

“What’s with that look?”

“There have been signs of people spying on the mansion recently. They seemed to be looking for you, young master, so I’ve been in disguise.”

He pushed his long flowing hair behind his shoulders and added:

“They were highly trained individuals. It’s been quiet for the past few days, but I’m still taking precautions just in case.”

Could they be the First Prince’s henchmen? I’m not sure how much they’ve heard about country Norman, but it seemed I should assume they knew about the resemblance to Fei Vinter.

‘Did they want to confirm if it was just a resemblance?’

If so, Linder’s impersonation deserved praise. Even with the different build, it would be difficult to notice from a distance. Additionally, since he was also a nobleman, there wouldn’t be any sense of incongruity. There’s no point in bringing more people into this anyway.

“You didn’t get caught, did you?”

“Of course not. Only showing what I want to show is basic, isn’t it?”

His confident grin was reassuring.

“Good. I think I know who’s behind them. A guest at the academy has invited me to his bedroom.”

“Kack! That lustful bastard… Then the master of those who were snooping around the mansion must be that person.”

“Probably.”

“Hmm. What are you going to do now? Are you going back like this?”

“Think a bit before asking what would happen if I just went back.”

Linder, who knew the First Prince’s temperament as well as I did, quickly arrived at the correct answer. He slapped his forehead with one hand, making a ‘thwack’ sound.

“Oh my, this is going to be a big problem.”

“Right. So find an herb called Eliuna. It looks like this.”

I handed Linder a drawing of the herb I had copied onto paper. He tilted his head, not seeming to recognize it.

“I’ve never seen this plant before. Since you brought a drawing, I assume it needs to be collected directly. Do you need more? I should mobilize my subordinates.”

“How many copies do you need?”

“If I pair up those who can move immediately in groups of two… about three copies.”

“I’ll draw them right away.”

Since there were no drawing tools in the reception room, we eventually moved to the study on the second floor. I had called him to the first-floor reception room to quickly state my business and get on with my work, but it seemed to have just wasted more time.

“By when do you need it?”

“They said after dinner time this evening, but I’m not sure when exactly. I need to have it when I return to the academy, so we need to hurry.”

“That’s tight.”

“Yeah.”

While I was drawing, Linder casually mentioned:

“I have something to report. May I tell you now that you’re here?”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the Opera House.”