Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son-Chapter 184 Calmness [2]

Irrespective of their class we represented, we seated together within the auditorium filled with first-year students.

The place was buzzing with the sounds of students murmuring and talking among themselves.

And with the hundreds of students, I sat at the very end of the auditorium, looking at the lovey-dovey couple sitting in the seat in front of me, holding hands while bickering.

"Tch, they are doing it everywhere."

Aimar, who sat beside me, grumbled, glaring at them.

"Jealous bitch," I replied, glancing at him.

He pressed his lips together but stayed silent, his eyes drifting to Miley, who sat in the front row with a group of noble girls. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

"You should've sat with her," I commented, watching him.

"It's fine," he replied, unwrapping a candy. "It's not like she'd notice me anyway."

"Good to see you've accepted that," I shrugged, turning my attention forward as Oliver shifted closer.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, glancing back.

"Fuck you," Aimar cursed, to which Oliver grinned, blinking in reply.

"Is Ashlyn coming or not?" Aaliyah asked, glancing back as well.

"She told me she will join us today," I mumbled, gazing towards the door, right beside the stage.

"Is she late?" Aimar asked, glancing at me.

But just as I was about to reply, the door swung open and almost immediately the hall quieted down.

Ignoring all of them, Ashlyn scanned the place, seemingly trying to find someone until her gaze landed on me.

She smiled softly, waving her hand while her golden hair, adorned with platinum streaks, fluttered around as she walked toward me.

Everyone's gaze followed her as if they were mesmerized by her looks, but her golden eyes remained fixed on me.

She quickly stood in front of me.

"Move aside." Glancing at Aimar, she ordered, her smile fading.

Aimar grumbled something under his breath but gave up his seat to her.

"How is Tiffany?" I asked while she sat close to me.

...unusually close.

"She is doing fine," she replied, looking at me. "...She had a hard time sleeping for a few days, but she is doing fine now."

"I see," I mumbled without looking at her.

For six days since Tiffany was rescued, she has been taking care of her.

"She wanted to meet you again," Ashlyn mumbled, her golden eyes staring at me.

"Let's wait for exams to end," I replied, nodding slowly.

It might be good to meet her. After all, later on, she will become one of the closest friends of the saintess.

'...He might already know about her.'

I mused, turning my head to look at Ethan sitting with Ruby in the front row.

'...Hmm?'

But as my gaze landed on him, I couldn't help but notice Shyamal staring at him as well.

'What happened to her?'

I wondered, noticing her sunken cheeks and the dark circles beneath her eyes.

In the few days that I haven't seen her, she has turned visibly weaker.

"...Noah." I slowly turned my head to look at Ashlyn, tugging the hem of my shirt.

"What?" I asked, looking into her eyes.

"How do I look?" she asked, expectantly blinking her eyes.

"....."

I simply stared at her, not saying anything.

...After awakening, she is looking quite beautiful.

I may be biased, but for me, only Christina looks more beautiful than her.

...But for some reason, I couldn't say those words out loud.

I couldn't compliment her.

Maybe it's just my paranoia, but that look in her eyes... I have seen that before.

The same look as the girl who could kill anyone in the name of protecting 'Noah.'

In the only route where my role as [Villainess Maker] worked on her.

...When she falls from her role as [Main Heroine] to [Villainess] in the game.

"I believe everyone is already present here."

A voice echoed, making me look toward the stage.

'...Calm down.'

I drew in a deep breath, ignoring her eyes on me.

That was the game, and this is real life. Just because it happened there doesn't mean it will happen here as well.

'I am just thinking too much,' I thought, rubbing my eyes before looking at Lauryn.

Looking around the auditorium, she said, her voice echoing, "I assume you already know why you are here, right?"

"Mid-term exams," someone replied from the front row.

"Yes, your practical exams will be tomorrow," Lauryn nodded.

"Just to let you know, your theory exams will happen one week after the practical, and if you fail in the practical, then you will have a chance to cover it up."

She let the information sink in before continuing, "I will not take much time this early in the morning, so let me go straight to the point; all the three sections will compete with each other for the first rank along with individual rankings."

"How will that work?" one of the students asked.

Lauryn glanced at her before replying, looking around,

"Simple. We will leave you in a certain place. You guys need to kill the inhabitant monsters there, and the class that kills the Queen monster wins the class ranking.

The one who kills the most monsters will be ranked in the individual ranking."

Daphne walked onto the stage, carrying a brooch in her hand. Extending her hand, she showed the badge to all of us.

"This badge will record your kills," she explained, her mahogany eyes looking around. "And before you ask, no, I am not telling where the exams will take place. We have already given enough hints."

Her gaze moved around, halting on me for a while before she continued, "Now, if you guys have any questions, ask."

Chubby raised his hand and asked, "How about our safety?"

"No safety," Lauryn replied in a monotonous voice. "If you die, you die."

"She doesn't mean that," Daphne chimed in, tapping Lauryn's shoulder. "There will be second-year students in case you guys need help."

Relieved, Chubby nodded before sitting back down.

"How long will the exams be?"

"Twenty-four hours," Daphne replied, smiling a little.

"What about the point system?"

"You will know that tomorrow," Lauryn replied without looking at her.

"About the monst—."

"Tomorrow."

"What ty—."

"Tomorrow."

An awkward silence lingered, with no one asking anything.

"If you have nothing to ask, then go back to your class," she instructed, gazing down before turning around and walking away.

"Don't worry. You guys will be provided with all the information before the exam," Daphne reassured with a bright smile. "Now go back to your class."

We all stood up from our seats as Oliver and Aaliyah turned toward us.

"What happened to you?" Aaliyah asked, looking at Ashlyn. "You became so much more beautiful in just a few weeks."

Ashlyn just smiled without saying anything.

"The fuck happened to her?" Aimar whispered in my ear as Oliver arrived beside me.

"She awakened," I replied, shrugging as I turned around to move.

"Noah." But before I could, Ashlyn grabbed my hand.

"Wait, he is Noah?" Aaliyah remarked, looking at her. "The same Noah you were searching for?"

Ashlyn nodded her head awkwardly. "...I was stupid not to listen to you back then," she mumbled.

"You told her?" Oliver whispered softly.

"....."

Ignoring all of them, my gaze remained fixed on my hand that she was holding.

...She is taking the initiative to hold me now.

And I don't like that one bit.

Ignoring the uneasiness, I asked, looking at her, "What?"

She touched her bracelet, taking out glasses before passing them to me. "...I brought these for you. Please wear them."

I took the round glasses from her hand as she loosened her grip.

Wearing them, I looked at her as I asked, "Happy now?"

They all looked at me weirdly, and only Ashlyn was smiling, looking at me adorningly.

"Dude, you look ugly as shi—."

"Aimar," Ashlyn interjected with the same smile, "can you please keep your mouth shut."

"He isn't wrong, though," Oliver also commented, looking at me. "It's only making him look less handsome—Ohh, I see."

I tilted my head in confusion at his understanding expression.

'...Am I missing something?'

"Let's go to our class," Ashlyn mumbled, extending her hand toward me.

...Should I hold it?

"Azariah." As I was in dilemma, a familiar voice called me.

I turned around only to find Shyamal staring at me.

"I want to talk," she whispered weakly, grabbing my arm.

She tried to pull me, but I didn't move from my place.

"We will talk later," I mumbled, shaking my head. "I have some work right no—."

"I SAID I NEED TO TALK," she yelled, squeezing my arm, her loud voice making everyone stare at us.

"And I said, we will talk later," I rebuked, trying to free myself.

She glared at me with her crimson eyes, her breath uneven, while her trembling hands continued to squeeze my arm.

"Hey," Ashlyn mumbled, placing her hand over Shyamal's shoulder, "Leave him."

She slowly turned to look at her, eyes coldly staring at Ashlyn.

"I can see you guys," another voice echoed within the auditorium.

Lauryn, standing on the stage, looked at us. "Move back to your classes now."

Shyamal turned around to glare at me again before walking away.

I also walked to my class in the opposite direction without another word.

But just as I turned, I noticed something from the corner of my eye.

...Ethan.

Smiling lightly as he watched me leave.