Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain

"Hello, professor Quinlan."

"I'll open up a portal, so you can all gather together, and we'll leave soon." Quinlan said, looking at everyone.

But before he turned around and started flipping his hands to jump start his mojo, a sword was pointed straight to the back of his neck.

"Miss Lionheart,.." Quinlan said, using thin spider threads to push Lucille's sword away. "You do know pointing a weapon at a professor is kind of a capital crime. You can get suspended, or expelled."

"Yeah well, I'm known to be crazy like that." Lucille replied, pointing her sword again. Her face, showing no change of emotion or expression to his direct threat. (Something which Rio really gotta praise. - crazy indeed.)

"I am trying to help you." Quinlan explained, raising his hands in peace.

"Where were you earlier? This whole time? _ with your strength you could've helped us defeat her, save a lot more students. Why didn't you?" Lucille asked again.

But Quinlan just stuck to his theory. "I did help where I could. I was with Rebecca's group, and she can testify about how helpful I've been to her and those who were in that city."

"Yet only you and her were the only survivors there. I mean I get that each of godmother's children were strong, but they shouldn't be at your level. So I'll ask again, why didn't you help?"

"I excel in theory, Miss Lionheart, plus I had my orders." Quinlan explained, "This dungeon was your test. A trial for you guys to clear. When you all entered, the elders told you about the risks and you entered nonetheless. The academy, or elders, or I, aren't at fault for your bad decisions?"

"So you're telling me, us saying yes to an academy curriculum was a bad decision?"

"You know what I mean, miss Lionheart..."

"Were you also controlled by godmother earlier, or did you just play a part, acting like everyone else did, so you wouldn't arouse any suspicion?" Lucille asked again, her words causing Amaya to raise an eyebrow, as she remembered how she bombarded everyone in her anger to 'free' them.

(Don't tell he's masochistic?) She wondered, not even bothering to look back in her mind and see that memory again.

But to her glee, Quinlan just shook his head and answered, "That's not true. Her magic was effective against me too."

But just when everyone's suspicions were getting less, Rio's words interrupted him, "But you broke free from it much sooner didn't you?_ the godmother told me during our fight."

Quinlan stared at Rio, his pupils getting bigger until they covered his whole irises, and then his whole eye. A sign of his single ocellis spider traits. But Rio just leaned over Rebecca and ignored him.

"You'll be surprised at how much one is willing to talk when they know they're about to die. _ So do you wanna talk now, _ professirrrr?" He asked mockingly, only to feel a pinch on his newly healed bare skin, and seeing Becca looking at him questioningly.

"Sorry, I was just trying to help Lucille get answers, that's all." He said and then backed away. Pulling Becca along as to support his 'weak' body.

Quinlan stared at their backs, until his view got blocked again by the angry students, each asking angrily about his affiliation, motives and moves.

... .

[Did you have to do this? Poor guy's now cornered and hated by heirs of nearly 20 powerful families. Not counting how he's ousted now and would probably turn into a scapegoat.] System said, once they were a little distance away, watching drama play out.

"Two reasons, first, he loses support from the academy, nobles and elites all at once. So even if he cracks the formula for his mentor's research and work, by the time he's out looking for partners or posting it legally, we'll have plenty of time to steal it, and kill him.

Second, if he dies now, the list of suspects is gonna be very long. Making tracking us harder. And by some off chance, even if we do get caught, we have a valid reason for serving justice." Rio explained in his heart, talking deets about the plan he made with Ryuk last time, before Saisha interrupted them.

[You think too much.] System replied lazily and added, [A bullet which isn't made on Arcadia, shot through his head, blasting him and his soul apart - case closed, no proof, no witness, just plain and simple, THE END.]

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"And how much do you charge for such magical bullets?"

[Just 20k.]

"..."

[But the gun costs around a hundred thousand so.]

"Yupp, that's what I thought. My plan's cheaper."

[Just like you.] System sneered, before cheekily adding, [by the way, you forgot the third reason, cause he was tailing your girlfriend and you got jealous.]

"I'm not jealous. I'm angry. There's a difference there."

[Yeah, _ not so much, though.]

"Pretty biggg much, when we're talking about pedophiles, and not your regular romantics." Rio replied honestly, before adding further, "And besides, I was gonna deal with him during exam times anyway, it was his bad luck that he got dragged into this dungeon and couldn't handle his obsession..."

[Forgetting to do his job and just roaming around Rebecca - got it.] System finished his words and replied with a chuckle, [Though you gotta give him some points, the man putting extra effort by taking Amaya's beatings for her, was a nice touch.]

"Just cause he cares a little, doesn't mean what he feels is right._ and besides, if I didn't have to walk on thin ice and eggshells all this time, planning and plotting my moves, I would've had his head hanging on a pike at the castle doors of Schilla. _ so I'd say he's pretty lucky."

[You don't like pedophiles, do you? I wonder why?]

"Urgh, shut your disgusting brain, my bitchy system." Rio said with a disgusted expression, "No one touched me okay, I'm as purer as they come. _ it's just, some issues, they just trigger me sometimes."

[Hmm, a deja vu maybe.]

"Yeah, well who knows." Rio just shrugged his shoulders before silencing the system, "and now I'm feeling Becca staring at me spacing out like I'm crazy, so I'm just gonna head on out. And you should sleep, _ after you're done counting my points and sorting out my rewards."

[I'm a system, not your slave, you know.]

"Yeah, well, get to work."

... .

While Rio was chit chatting with his system, Quinlan had to handle a crowd of angry teens who had multiple near death experiences and have seen way too many deaths in way too many ways that a counsellor wouldn't call age appropriate.

Lucky for him, the dungeon didn't have that much time left, so he managed to hold them off at threats of opening a portal or everyone dying - and thus with his mojo work came a portal, and through that everyone left one by one.

Ending the arc of this dungeon and their first trial in the long long story of LOAN behind them.

Leon turned to stare at this place a final time before stepping out. His heart, still not satisfied with the results or his performance. But as fate would have it, this setback only fueled his determination to grow stronger and surpass Rio much higher.

...

When everyone stepped out of the portal what awaited them was the same forest they entered from. Though now, a lot of new crowd and ships were hovering in the air.

A lot of med staff walked in, holding different kinds of tools and medicines, checking in on everyone one by one.

For safety reasons, everyone was placed into a separate camp - staff just testing and checking everyone for any infection, any alien lifeform hitchhiking a ride, or any other abnormality in their system.

(There was a past case a decade ago where a parasitic alien worm slipped through, and just in a week multiplied at enormous speeds. Destroying well over a hundred people before anyone even sensed the abnormality. Hence the extra precautions.)

Obviously with the resources of world association it didn't take much longer to clear everyone. Though they still asked a lot of questions about the godmother's powers and her death, as she sounded scary and somewhat slippery.

After going through lies and exaggerated battle descriptions a dozen times, Rio was finally left alone. (As always, he's the last to be let go every time.)

Surprisingly no one saw professor Quinlan after they came out. According to the elders, the professor took off for the academy, to present his report directly to the council and the principal.

After everything that happened, and hearing what they all have been through, elder Xander playing his role as a concerned good guy, informed everyone that their classes would be cancelled for two weeks.

They can all either go back to the academy and rest in their rooms, or take the first train home and visit their parents.

"Spending some time with family and friends where you feel comfortable and safe, would help them better cope with everything." - were his words.

Then came a speech from the viking elder Ragnar, about how this world is cold and cruel, or how life isn't fair, and the weak get squashed every day, so if you wanna survive just stay strong... . .. And blah blah - they were all free to go.

"Hey, aren't you guys coming back to the academy?" Rubina asked, seeing that everyone had left but Amelia was still standing there.

"Yeah, I'm just waiting for my brother, he's talking with that old elder." Amy replied.

"Still.. Didn't he already give his report along with us?" Amaya pointed out.

"Yeah, no, apparently they had some new questions about how godmother died and so, you can go, we'll catch up." Rebecca replied, and waved them goodbye. Watching as everyone left their own way.

Some had called their family to arrange their transport, some boarded the med ships and left for academy, few just walked on foot to the nearest town for a drink and waited till their arrangements arrived.

"So, who's coming to pick you up?" Becca asked once they were the only ones left outside.

"Brother called father, and since he was nearby, he said he'll pick us up. You?" Amy replied.

"Well you know, the same as always. Dad wanted to come, but due to some kingship work and all, _"

"So he arranged some guards?"

"Nope." Rebecca replied and started shaking her head with a smile, "Mom was way too happy to come here and meet everyone. Her words, "I can't wait to hear the gossip, tell me everything that happened."

"I'm assuming, she didn't mean that about the dungeon." Amy added with a controlled chuckle.

"Yupp, turns out she's more interested in my dating life than my safety." Becca replied in a snarky tone, making Amelia laugh out loud.

"Now you're just exaggerating it. We all know Aunt Artemis loves you."

"What are you gals talking about?" Rio's voice came as he walked towards them, "Just so you know, I could hear you two laughing all the way in the back room, what happened? Becca finally learned a good joke?"

"Phmma ahahha ahaha mmmm"

"Haha very funny," Becca just slapped Amy's shoulder to shut her up and then looked behind them, "What did they ask you?"

"The same questions."

"And what did you tell them?"

"The same answers."

"They don't look so good."

"Yeah, well, they got a riot of angry parents to handle back at the academy, so their headache... us, let's just go grab something to eat, I'm starving." Rio said, and as if to acquisite to his words, his empty stomach grumbled loudly.

"Wow, you really must be hungry for this to do that. Were you on a strike or something?" Amy said, pointing at his flat tummy.

"Similar, _ had to play dead for a couple of days, so _"

"Wait , what?" x 2

"ahmm long story, tell you at the table, yeah." Rio said and walked away, leaving two girls just staring at each other in confusion.

"What's with him and playing dead?" Becca asked.

"You're asking me, who do I ask?" Amy replied.

"Well, he's your brother."

"And your boyfriend."

"Hey, you girls coming,?" Rio's words broke what could've been another friend's silly back and forth between them. "Or you just gonna stand there and pull each other's hair like you did in the dungeon."

"Hey.."

"I think I told you, not to mention that."

"Yeah, well, it was a good show, and everyone says my memory's better." Rio replied.

"He's gonna milk it, isn't he?" Becca said, looking at Amy.

"Yupp, we can forget poking him for a few months without getting a shot of this in return." Amy replied.

"Damn, that Godmother.." x 2

"And you're still standing there. Fine, I'll just eat by myself then. Becca, don't cry on my shoulders later, and Amy, don't you dare tell dad about it."

"What _ wait stop, we're coming." x 2

. ...

... .

Back in the clouds, the two elders stared at the trio sitting by a river and just having their brunch near a bonfire. Their jokes and laughter echoing through the calming winds and evening sky.

"You trust him?" Xander asked.

"Not really." Ragnar replied with an honest look, "The kid's too sharp for his age. Too cocky too."

"That's what I thought. But we did the polygraph, we gave him the truth serum, the seeker's gu, the sinner's blessings - nothing." Xander said, mentioning the bunch of tests they went through just now, "We even checked his and everyone else's rings and storage bags too, nothing there either."

"You think Quinlan was lying that he didn't find the world's core?"

"I mean, the man did bring back a fake and tried to fool us, so maybe, _ anyway, I left all this theatrics to the council and principal. It's their idea, their headache. But one thing I'm sure of, is that this sure costs us a lot." Xander said with a sigh and disappeared from his place. Going back to his chambers at the world association.

"Yupp, we just suffered losses. Something which who hates us would surely enjoy." Ragnar said to himself and disappeared too.

Two seconds later, Rio looked at the clouds and his lips curled into a smile. 'You're right, I will enjoy this.'