How to Survive as a Trash Extra Villain

Chapter 12

An environment suitable for experiencing Wild Instinct will be created.

The surroundings… became a school. The Imperium Academy I saw today was recreated before my eyes.

I could see. I could hear. I could feel. Anything within 100 meters, I could sense—wind, ground, people.

Holding the hunting rifle, I loaded the ammunition.

Summoning enemies.

Guards clad in armor, wielding spears and swords, were summoned. As they charged at me, I immediately pulled the trigger.

It had been years since I last held a gun, but my aim was as precise as if I’d practiced countless times.

Firearm Comprehension (Lv 1) assists your shooting.

The bullet flew straight, shattering the guard’s forehead. I broke open the rifle, and a spent cartridge ejected with hot smoke.

My eyes stayed fixed on the enemies ahead while my hand retrieved a bullet from the ammo pouch at my waist and loaded it into the chamber.

Know-It-All (Lv 1) analyzed that your current position will be surrounded within 10 seconds.

Wild Instinct (Lv 1) designates an escape route.

How to move faster, more nimbly, more easily, to tear into the prey’s nape unnoticed. A path traced itself before my beast-like eyes. I sprinted and leaped, stepping on structures, window ledges, and vaulting upward like a bowstring.

Movement (Lv 1) assists your movements.

Movements unimaginable for the original Kim An-hyun became as fluid as a parkour athlete with the skill’s aid. I aimed my rifle at the head of a guard struggling to climb the wall below. Bang! Bang! With each heavy gunshot, they collapsed one by one.

Wild Instinct (Lv 1) detected an unseen threat. Evade immediately!

I felt the danger. Rolling to dodge, an arrow struck where I’d been. Turning toward the source of the killing intent, I spotted an archer in the distance. I sniped back, taking them out instantly.

Wild Instinct (Lv 1) detected that you are being targeted by additional snipers.

Know-It-All (Lv 1) analyzes the battlefield to identify sniper points.

Dozens of sniper positions flashed in my mind. With Wild Instinct enhancing my body, my vision became eagle-like, clearly spotting the distant snipers.

Bang! Bang! I shot them down in an instant.

Taking advantage of the moment, I struck a guard climbing up with my rifle, sending them crashing off the rooftop. The soldier flailed and fell with a dull thud, broken.

After eliminating all enemies, the virtual Academy vanished, and I returned to the dilapidated room.

Training completed.

“I’ll acquire Wild Instinct.”

Consumed 600 points to acquire Wild Instinct (Lv 1). 45 points remain.

Wild Instinct’s basic abilities, Danger Detection and Presence Detection, are activated. Your physical senses are significantly enhanced.

Originally, I planned to acquire skills like charisma or hobbies the protagonist’s group would appreciate.

Now, survival, combat, and embracing solitude are my only path. The turning point has already passed.

***

The day after the grades were announced, as if nothing had happened, the Academy entered a new phase.

During the morning assembly for Class A of the first year, Teacher Hectia declared:

“You’ve worked hard for half the semester. For the rest of the term, classes will focus on practical training.”

“Woah!”

“It’s over!”

“Phew!”

The boring, stifling theoretical lessons were done.

The cadets let out sighs of relief.

As a ‘superpower school,’ Imperium Academy covered 20 subjects, combining standard mandatory education (language, math, history, foreign languages, etc.) with knight training (magic, monsters, survival, etc.).

Compared to regular schools, it boasted nearly four times the study load.

It was only natural for the cadets, overwhelmed by the immense workload, to rejoice.

“Practical training will be evaluated by groups, so you must decide your teammates for the rest of the semester. Groups consist of three members, and once decided, they cannot be changed.”

Cadets who had bonded over the theoretical classes exchanged glances.

“I won’t give you much time. You have 10 minutes.”

The classroom fell silent, like the calm before a storm.

“Begin.”

Cadets rushed to form groups, coordinating with friends or negotiating with others to fill the three-person requirement.

The protagonist, Gilbert, was surrounded by his harem. Including him, there were five, so two would have to split off. I knew who they’d be from the original story.

I closed my eyes briefly, then opened them, observing the classroom. As expected, no one approached me. Of course.

“….”

Sitting in the corner, I decided to wait until the group assignments were finalized.

Hectia turned to look at me.

Sebastian, my ever-present dog, was nowhere to be seen. Neither was the jerky I usually gave him.

Instead, I carried a hunting rifle on my back. Where the jerky pouch once hung at my waist, there was now an ammo pouch.

“Enough, everyone take your seats. Fill the seats from the front by group. Those who couldn’t form a three-person team, move to the back.”

Including me, there were four odd ones out. They began pairing us with groups that had only two members.

‘As expected, it’s those two.’

Around Gilbert were the blonde swordswoman Lina and the haughty archer Elisha.

The mountain-like Bord, wielding a shield, and the perpetually shy sorceress Mary formed a two-person group.

“Teacher.”

“Bord, what is it?”

“Our group will take Cadet Martin.”

It sounded like they intended to keep a dangerous element close for surveillance.

“…Very well.”

I didn’t care where I was assigned. I’d already abandoned thoughts of befriending the protagonist’s group to avoid the apocalypse.

As soon as the groups were formed, practical training awaited us.

***

The founding purpose of Imperium Academy was to train talent for conquering the Time Chaos Dungeon.

The Time Chaos Dungeon, appearing suddenly, recreated past wars, disasters, and mistakes… and if not overcome, it eroded the present land.

But if conquered, it granted powerful artifacts tied to the dungeon—lost technologies or royal treasures.

Seeing it as a land of opportunity, empires and kingdoms classified dungeons by their time distortion levels, selected research teams, and established knight orders.

However, the sudden collapse of the Cosmos Empire, which had dominated the continent for thousands of years, shocked the world.

The world united to counter the Time Chaos Dungeon threatening to swallow the continent, establishing Imperium Academy as the premier institution for nurturing talent.

“The artificial dungeon you’re about to enter is a virtual reality created by the magic of our Principal, a war hero and great Mage,” Hectia explained as the cadets checked their uniforms’ defensive capabilities.

“Don’t let your guard down. Illusions can sometimes be more vicious than reality. You won’t die in virtual reality, but the sensation of death is real. Five years ago, a cadet dropped out due to trauma.”

They inspected their weapons and double-checked their supplies.

“All actions and intentions inside will be reflected in your scores. If you’re unhappy with your score, take it up with the Principal, the creator—not me. If anyone’s bold enough, that is.”

The cadets steeled themselves for the practical training.

Hectia’s command rang out:

“Now, enter by groups!”

Group 14 entered the cave-like artificial dungeon.

Bord and Mary, from the protagonist’s group, were in my group—Group 14.

We stood side by side, staring blankly into the cave.

“….”

“….”

“….”

It was just the beginning, but it was already awkward. Naturally, because of me.

Bord and Mary kept glancing at me.

Mary, small and shy, didn’t seem capable of breaking the tension.

So, Bord mustered his courage, speaking with a torch-like warmth:

“Hahaha! It’s been a while since practical training! We ended up in the same group, so… hahaha! Don’t be too nervous! I may not look it, but I’m confident in my skills! Just trust me!”

As the class leader, he tried to lighten the mood. He extended a hand for a handshake.

“Looking forward to working with you, Cadet Martin!”

“….”

I turned my head, pretending to inspect my rifle. A clear rejection.

The warm friendliness fizzled out in the cold air.

“Ugh…”

The timid Mary didn’t know where to look, flustered.

Bord awkwardly withdrew his hand, and an even thicker awkwardness settled in.

“We should head into the cave. The mission comes first, right…?”

I felt he was too conscious of me, but it didn’t matter. No matter how they treated me, I’d respond with indifference.

As Bord took a step forward, I followed. Thus began our advance.

Only the sound of footsteps echoed in the cave. A suffocatingly awkward dungeon run.

The formation was a mess. Naturally, Mary, the sorceress, should’ve been in the rear with me, but she stuck close to Bord, the vanguard.

‘Not caring about scores?’

Maybe it was expected. Both Bord and Mary belonged to the four major ducal families of the Imperium Empire.

They were guaranteed success without trying hard at the Academy.

‘Filthy bloodline society.’

But I had the right to demand cooperation for the sake of my score.

“Cadet Mary.”

The shoulders of the two ahead flinched.

“Y-Yes…?”

Mary, on the verge of tears, turned to me.

“The formation is so sloppy even goblins could break through. Position yourself between me and Cadet Bord.”

Mary looked at Bord with a ‘What do I do?!’ expression.

Bord was just as startled but realized I was right.

“M-Martin’s right. Let’s get into formation.”

“O-Okay…!”

We lined up single-file and entered the cave.

After a while, feeling the awkward air again, Bord spoke up:

“It’s a relief, though. This dungeon’s time distortion level is low. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be this calm! Hahaha!”

He was likely shouting to confirm no monsters were around, but it was clumsy.

Know-It-All (Lv 1) detected traces of vampire bats. They may be hiding on the cave walls.

Wild Instinct (Lv 1) detected camouflaged vampire bats on the cave walls ahead.

Bord, focused on easing the tension, wouldn’t notice.

If a teammate got bitten by a vampire bat, I’d lose points too.

I raised my rifle.

My Firearm Comprehension was only Lv 1, but Martin received a significant boost for firearm skills. Know-It-All’s intellect, Wild Instinct’s intuition, and Movement’s support ensured I wouldn’t miss.

Bang! A massive gunshot echoed through the cave.

Mary, walking just ahead, froze in shock.

Bord, equally startled, saw a dark shape fall lifelessly before him.