I, the Villain, Want to Save Myself, But the Yandere Heroines Disagree - Chapter 36

“Mm… huh?” Litte, nestled in Orson’s arms, slowly opened her eyes.

She had been dreaming a sweet dream. In it, Orson had discovered her true identity as a girl. But instead of rejecting her, he confessed his feelings.

They held hands, then shared a kiss, and were just about to…

Before the dream could progress any further, Orson’s shaking had woken her up.

Litte glanced at Orson, then at her surroundings, before snapping fully awake.

“Or-Or-Orson! G-good… good morning!”

“Good morning.” Watching Litte quickly pull away from his embrace, Orson let out a breath of relief and looked at him.

He couldn’t quite figure out why the kid’s face was so red.

Probably because it’s embarrassing for him to wake up in another guy’s arms.

“How did you sleep last night?”

“Mm…” Litte nodded.

After all, she had that kind of dream last night.

“Then get ready. There are only two hours left until the Imperial Academy entrance exam begins.”

“Ah!? So soon!” Litte glanced at the clock in shock, then jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom.

—

An hour and a half later, the two of them finally arrived outside the Imperial Academy.

As one of Saint Roland City’s landmark institutions, the Imperial Academy was located in the wealthy district and occupied a considerable amount of land in this highly coveted area.

From a distance, the enormous “moat” encircling the academy was clearly visible. Rather than resembling a school, the academy looked more like a small fortress nestled within the vast city of Saint Roland.

The towering main lecture hall and library spires were easily visible even from outside the academy grounds.

The academy hosted students across four grades, with about a thousand students in each year. Including faculty, security personnel, and staff, the total population of the academy was approximately six thousand.

Yes, the ratio of students to faculty and staff was an astonishing 2:1. Even just counting teachers, the student-to-teacher ratio was an impressive 4:1.

Such was the Imperial Academy’s unparalleled educational strength.

With five thousand people residing in this “small city,” the academy featured not only lecture halls, training grounds, and libraries but also a variety of plazas and other amenities to ensure students lived comfortably while pursuing their studies.

Most notably, the academy dorms were nothing like the multi-occupancy dormitories found in Orson’s previous life. They weren’t large apartment buildings that housed hundreds or thousands of students either.

They were two-story villas, each shared by two students.

The reason for this arrangement, rather than one person per villa, was the belief of the academy’s first headmaster that students should engage with one another. Sharing a dorm encouraged social interaction and mutual care, fostering interpersonal skills.

Otherwise, isolating students in their own villas might lead to psychological issues, potentially creating reclusive individuals who could later cause harm to society.

Of course, dorm life was a concern for after admission—Litte still needed to pass the entrance exam first.

Upon arriving at the academy, they were met with a sea of people outside its gates. Many had been lining up since the early morning for this once-a-year opportunity.

“It seems like there are a lot more candidates this year,” Orson remarked.

“Were there fewer people in previous years?” Litte asked curiously.

“Mm. In the past, there were around ten thousand applicants. This year, it’s said there are over twenty thousand, but there are still only eight hundred spots. The competition is getting fiercer.”

In truth, among those applying, many were simply here for the experience. After all, aside from the annual Academy Festival, the Imperial Academy only opened its doors to the public during entrance exams.

For most, paying the registration fee was like buying a ticket to explore the academy. Even if they weren’t admitted, they could boast about the experience to friends and family, making it worth the visit.

While the written test typically saw a huge number of participants, the practical test would eliminate half of them instantly—mostly those who realized their skills weren’t up to par and chose to withdraw.

“Alright, let’s get you registered, and then I’ll take you inside,” Orson said, leading Litte to the gates.

Using the student entrance, where the line was much shorter, they quickly passed through. The guards recognized Orson and waved them in.

“Welcome back, Young Master Orson.”

“Thank you for your hard work.” Orson nodded politely, holding Litte’s hand as they entered the academy.

The guards stationed here weren’t ordinary individuals. At minimum, they were registered Tier 4 warriors with the Adventurers’ Guild. Any petty thief attempting to sneak in would find themselves in serious trouble.

“Huh, I didn’t know Young Master Orson had a girlfriend now,” one guard murmured after Orson had walked away.

If this news got out, the girls infatuated with Orson would undoubtedly be heartbroken.

—

Orson brought Litte to the academy’s main lecture hall.

Every year during admission season, the enormous main hall served as the exam venue. It was puzzling that, despite being capable of accommodating twenty thousand students at once, the academy maintained its modest intake of a thousand students per year.

“Teacher Therese.” Upon reaching the hall, Orson spotted a familiar figure and approached her. “It’s been a few months. How have you been?”

Ahead of him stood a woman with long brown hair. She stopped and turned to face him.

Although she appeared to be in her mid-twenties, Orson knew that as a witch, she had likely lived for over a century.

She was Orson’s homeroom teacher and the instructor for magical studies.

“Oh, Orson, long time no see,” Therese said, glancing at Orson and then at Litte by his side.

Therese had heard bits and pieces about Orson’s family situation. With Litte dressed in male attire, it wasn’t hard for her to figure out their relationship.

“And this must be Young Master Litte, the newest addition to your family?”

“Mm.” Orson nodded with a smile. “It seems you’ve already heard.”

“Well, when it comes to the affairs of a duke’s family—and considering you’re my favorite student—how could I not know?” Therese said, stepping forward to give Orson a big hug.

“Teacher, you…” While Orson had always had a good relationship with Therese, it had never been close enough to warrant such an affectionate gesture.

“Hehe, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you. Isn’t it normal to greet my dear student like this?”

“What’s the matter, Orson? Are you embarrassed? Oh no, is my charm too overwhelming? I’m so sorry~”

“What can I do? Little Orson, you were always so serious before, I couldn’t even joke around with you,” Therese said this as she stepped back from Orson.

Litte had been glaring at the woman named Therese with visible displeasure the entire time.

Anyone who approached Orson and showed any sign of closeness to him was automatically categorized by Litte as an annoying intruder.

“Aww, is little brother Litte jealous? What an adorable child,” Therese said, gently pinching Litte’s cheek.

“Alright, Teacher Therese, please stop teasing Litte,” Orson stepped in just in time to defuse the situation.

“Teacher Therese, since you’re here, could I trouble you with something? Please take Litte to the exam hall for me; I have some other matters to attend to.”

“Alright.” Therese nodded, then took Litte by the hand and left.

Orson turned and headed toward the administrative building.