How to Survive as a Trash Extra Villain

Chapter 5

Images flooded my mind as if a projector were beaming them directly into my brain. It was clear this phenomenon stemmed from Know-It-All.

In the footage, a young boy stood confidently, a smug smile on his face, surrounded by countless adults clapping.

What was this…?

Before my questions could fully form, the footage abruptly cut off.

For the exclusive skill Know-It-All, upon acquisition, you can receive past memories related to Martin von Targon Ulvhadin.

I closed my eyes, glaring at the paused memory in my mind.

“…Hah.”

I let out a dry laugh. Was this thing blackmailing me? No… there wasn’t any other choice, was there?

Insight and Analysis were decent skills, but they felt oddly lacking.

Third Eye and Mind’s Eye were exceptional, but…

Third Eye (Lv 1) requires 7,000 points.

Mind’s Eye (Lv 1) requires 5,000 points.

Too expensive. I understood that 1,000 points wasn’t a small amount, but who could say when I’d gather 3,000 or 5,000 points?

On the other hand…

Know-It-All (Lv 1) requires 1,000 points.

A price blatantly advertising itself as a starter purchase.

Information about Martin’s past, which seemed crucial.

And versatile, if not absolute, abilities.

“I’ll buy Know-It-All.”

There was never really a choice to begin with.

Skill Know-It-All (Lv 1) has been added.

Know-It-All’s basic abilities, Absolute Memory and Information Access (Stage 1, Basic Knowledge), are always active. It assists with intellectual activities such as thinking, reasoning, and abstraction.

By purchasing this exclusive skill, you can experience Martin von Targon Ulvhadin’s past! However, experiencing the past may take a long time, so please attempt it in a safe location for one to two days.

Damn.

I had to return to the academy tomorrow, so now wasn’t the time, was it?

At that moment, the training ground vanished, and I was back inside the café.

I turned to look at the maid. With her small, delicate hands, she was roasting coffee beans, grinding them, and adding various ingredients to the brewed drink.

Know-It-All (Lv 1) accesses the character database.

[Name: Lilac]

[Age: 17]

[Gender: Female]

[Personality: Loyal, Attentive]

[User Perception: Loyalty, Affection, Compassion]

[Cleaning Lv 5]

[Cooking Lv 6]

[Imperium Empire Home Cooking Lv 5]

[Baking Lv 8]

[Barista Lv 1]

Next, I focused on the coffee Lilac was making.

[Product Name: Caramel Macchiato]

[Creator: Lilac]

[Quality: Lv 3]

[Review: Lacking in barista knowledge, but a decently made coffee thanks to high-level cooking and baking skills. The nutty flavor is somewhat strong, which may divide opinions.]

Not bad, this ability!

The more I used it, the more impressed I was.

However, Lilac and the coffee were exceptions; most objects didn’t come with detailed descriptions.

[Product Name: Chair]

[Quality: Lv 2~5]

[Review: Hard but not too uncomfortable and seems sturdy.]

For completely unfamiliar objects, the descriptions were barely better than nothing. It seemed that prolonged observation or prior knowledge led to more detailed information.

The slightly underwhelming performance could likely be improved by raising the skill level.

I explored the System until the café’s closing time, then called out to Lilac.

“Lilac.”

“Yes, Master!”

Lilac, who had been focused on the coffee, turned to me with a smile. She seemed happier than usual, probably because I’d called her by name.

Honestly, I was the happier one! I’d been so awkward until now. We were clearly supposed to be familiar, but not knowing her name was a problem, wasn’t it?! That’s why I’d been vague when asking for things, like, “Uh, um, ahem, could you do that for me?”

…Phew, calm down.

“How’s the revenue? What’s today’s total?”

“Yes! Today’s revenue is 21 silver and 92 copper!”

219,200 won. A decent amount for revenue alone, but unfortunately, coffee beans were pricier here than on Earth. Factoring in material costs, it was a bit tight. Net profit was around 100,000 won? After taxes, academy tuition was a pipe dream, and even living expenses were strained.

Starting the business early was the right call.

With limited capital and manpower, growth would take time, but it was a business guaranteed to succeed, so the future was secure.

I’d have to tighten my belt for now, though.

Ahh, nothing I could do about it.

“I’m returning to the Imperium Academy.”

“Yes! I’ll work hard while you’re away, Master!”

“Um, Lilac.”

“Yes!”

Why are you so good to me?

The “User Perception” of loyalty, affection, and compassion in her status window must reflect how Lilac felt about me.

But the question welling up to the tip of my tongue never made it out.

***

Early in the morning, I opened my eyes with a dazed look.

By now, Lilac’s probably out already.

Coffee has a stimulating effect. It’s perfect as a “morning tea” for people heading to work at the crack of dawn, isn’t it?

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I was the one who explained coffee’s effects, but…

“If I start selling at dawn, I can earn more money for Master!”

Lilac was the one who planned it. Her beaming, joyful expression was both guilt-inducing and amusing.

“Funny. What am I to her?”

I smirked, looking out at the rising sun.

“…Smiling?”

The sensation of “laughter,” felt for the first time in this world, was as beautiful and unfamiliar as a wildflower in a wasteland.

Recola hadn’t contacted me since I left the family. Two whole months. I was annoyed and angry, but the reality was I had no choice but to wait endlessly for their message.

I couldn’t keep blaming what had happened. There was no time for that.

This world was soaring toward its apocalypse. The apocalypse was descending to bring the world down. My wish was to escape before they collided.

But Recola had told me to change Martin’s fate. Would that be a short-term task?

No, at this point, it was better to forget. I had to erase thoughts of Recola and live with the mindset of surviving alone.

The thirsty dig their own well. To avoid death, I had to find a way out.

That’s why, for two months in this world, I’d worked almost without rest. Lilac pushed the cart daily, and I completed my community service hours. After work, I calculated revenue and analyzed the capital’s recent events. All of it was mere preparation.

The main event was today.

“The academy, huh.”

I’d finally reached the starting line.

Wearing my uniform, I stood with a heavy heart.

[Whine…]

“Yeah, Sebastian. We’re back.”

In front of the Imperium Academy’s main gate, I coaxed my reluctant steps. Sebastian, sensing my mood, licked my hand.

“Hey, saliva! It’s wet!”

[Woof!]

Did he think I was energized? Sebastian barked, his mouth curling up.

“They say a dog’s life is the best. I’m jealous.”

The Imperium Academy was a combat academy for superhuman abilities. It taught magic, swordsmanship, and supernatural powers, as well as combat and survival techniques.

The term “cadet” instead of “student” reflected its military-like nature. It was known for being somewhat strict.

A perk was that pets were legally allowed. Some abilities required partners, familiars, or pets to shine, so they could attend classes if they didn’t cause trouble.

…Pets were usually cute, but there was a princess from some country who brought a giant crocodile or basilisk.

“Thanks to you, I’m a bit less nervous. Thanks.”

I patted Sebastian’s head.

Let’s go.

The moment I passed the gate, stares poured in. That was the mild part—some cadets outright hurled insults. The most common phrase was, “Isn’t that Martin?” followed by, “Trash Martin?”

I was prepared, but… it’s worse than expected.

The malicious glares continued until I reached the classroom. Entering didn’t end it.

When I slid open the door to Class A of the first year, the lively chatter in the spacious lecture hall froze as all eyes turned to me.

It felt like being a clueless junior who flunked a group project but showed up on presentation day with a smile, asking if everything was ready. No, that analogy fell short. Martin was worse than that.

Like on Earth, or perhaps even more so, the Empire harshly punished school violence. In an academy attended by the continent’s top talents, including royalty and nobles from other nations, running a violent circle and being a school bully? Honestly, there was no defending that.

I did my best to ignore it.

Is this the right thing to do?

The backmost seat. The very end. A haven for loners. I took my place.

The icy atmosphere thawed slightly, and chatter resumed. Most of it was whispering about Martin.

“Does he have no shame, coming back after being blacklisted by the four ducal families?”

“Dunno. Probably no pride. Ignore him.”

It seemed the cadets had decided to shun Martin.

That’s a relief.

Facing hostile glares head-on… was more unsettling and nauseating than I’d imagined.

“Come on, think about it. How did a guy like that even get into the Imperium Academy?”

“You’re curious about everything. …I don’t know either. He was called a prodigy when he was younger, so probably that.”

Thanks to the gossipers, I got some clues about how Martin was admitted. …Thanks, I guess.

With trembling hands, I stroked Sebastian’s head. He was my only ally in this space. Without him, it might’ve been unbearable.

In just two months…

I’d grown attached to Lilac and Sebastian, hadn’t I? Sebastian, as if comforting me, nuzzled my hand and started licking it.

I waited quietly. Once class started, the attention would disperse.

Then, with a slide, the door opened, and another cadet entered. The moment I saw him, my heart sank. My instincts screamed, and the System provided evidence.

Know-It-All (Lv 1) accesses the character database and retrieves information on the individual.

[Name: Gilbert Offer Cosmos]

[Age: 17]

[Gender: Male]

[Personality: Justice, Goodness, Order, Integrity]

[User Perception: Hatred, Wariness, Disdain, A Trace of Pity]

[Protagonist Buff Lv Max]

[Cosmos Empire Royal Swordsmanship Lv 5]

[Swordsmanship Comprehension Lv 8]

[Mana Cultivation Lv 8]

[Martial Arts Lv 7]

[Poison Resistance Lv 5]

[Emperor’s Studies Lv 5]

Gilbert Offer Cosmos, the protagonist of The Fallen Crown Prince of the Cosmos Empire. A man destined to be called the “Sword Saint” with heaven-given talent.

Currently, he was hiding his identity as the fallen crown prince of a ruined nation, posing as a commoner. …And Martin, unaware of this, had provoked him and gotten buried.

Ugh.

He hated me. Hatred, wariness, disdain. This wasn’t good. Very bad.

What?!

My heart pounded. My blood boiled. My eyes bloodshot, and the veins in my neck bulged. Without warning, suddenly. Did this pathetic body have some hidden illness or allergy?

…Yes, an allergy. A Gilbert allergy. An allergy only Martin, who despised and envied him, bullied him, and was disciplined for it, could have.

I hadn’t expected even Martin’s emotional residue to linger.

I quickly closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled. As my emotions settled, I opened my eyes.

Gilbert, smiling and greeting cadets, scanned the classroom, then twitched his eyebrow upon seeing me.

“….”

Was something about to happen?

But Gilbert resumed his interrupted greetings and took his seat.

Following him, his companions entered.