“So, next page…”
A young-looking English Teacher, sporting a trendy appearance, pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses.
Speaking with an accent that didn’t quite place which country it came from, she led the students in turning to the next page of the textbook.
Beneath the podium, amid a flurry of rustling pages, Su Wanli, sitting at the very back of the classroom, quietly pushed open the window beside her just a crack.
She gazed out at the scenery beyond, trying to let the gentle breeze blow away the frustrations weighing on her.
“System.”
[What’s wrong, Host? Why the sigh? There’s still plenty of time before your next Main Mission. You can enjoy this moment of freedom to your heart’s content.]
Heh, I don’t know how long until the next task you give me, but the trouble those three brainless little brothers of mine have cooked up is right around the corner.
— What do you mean I have to go to our usual spot during the fourth period and show Meng Wange how fierce I am?
Su Wanli silently picked up the yellow sticky note, glancing at the address scribbled on it.
…Teaching Building, first floor, Spare Physical Equipment Room.
Fine, fine. The mission you assigned, but you don’t want to get your own hands dirty.
You arranged for Meng Wange to be summoned here so I have to handle it myself, right?
I was just at the corner, imagining all sorts of violent chaos you might cause, only to find out you just handed Meng Wange a challenge letter? Honestly, the threat you pose to Meng Wange isn’t worth a single hair of mine…
Su Wanli counted off on her fingers and then turned around, glaring fiercely at the three useless lackeys under her command.
Originally huddled together, heatedly discussing something, the three instantly gave her thumbs-up the moment she turned back.
The pink-haired girl even punched the ceiling twice, cheering and encouraging Su Wanli.
God, how can these people still lack any sense of being useless? They just make me feel even guiltier!
“Hmph? Miss Zhang Shiyu, since you’re so unusually proactive, you can translate the next passage, please.”
Spotting the little pink-haired girl’s raised arm, the teacher on the podium brightened and smiled as she pointed a teaching rod at her.
“Section B2.”
Zhang Shiyu scratched her forehead, stood up, and pointed outside the classroom door.
“Sorry, teacher. Actually, I was expressing that I wanted to go online.”
“Going where?”
“To the restroom.”
“Go, and be back within three minutes.”
Zhang Shiyu immediately left her seat, pushed open the back door of the classroom, and before closing it, didn’t forget to wave her fists a few more times at Su Wanli.
Originally about to demand an explanation, Su Wanli turned away silently and let out a heavy sigh.
System.
[What’s wrong, Host?]
Didn’t you just say these three subordinates had no real ability or background?
Looking at them now, aside from their quick reflexes, their brains seem somewhat problematic, don’t they?
During the first period break, you told them to teach Meng Wange a lesson, right?
And you even added, “A mere Meng Wange isn’t worth my personal involvement”…
[Perhaps, for them, the greatest lesson to Meng Wange is to have her face your wrath alone.]
Well, that does make sense.
Tch, I thought I could finally delegate the work and be hands-off.
After hearing about today’s third mission finishing early and the group celebrating a bit, it turns out I still have to step in myself, alone in the Spare Physical Equipment Room, thinking of ways to bully Meng Wange.
But, well, this isn’t really required for the Villainess Missions anyway, and since they don’t pay me overtime for this, I’ll just half-heartedly go through the motions—just mutter a couple of lines at Meng Wange and be done with it.
[Nope, Host, there is overtime.]
…Huh? What overtime?
[Of course, it’s your extra reward, or rather, your overtime pay.]
The System silently adjusted the Villainess Value progress bar right in front of Su Wanli’s eyes.
With an electronic voice, it explained—
[What I’m about to introduce to you is a special mechanism opened exclusively for you—the Extra Villainess Value Compensation Mechanism!]
Along with its voice, a new small bar suddenly appeared above the Villainess Value progress bar.
It was smaller and more delicate in appearance.
[Do you often worry about the rise and fall of your Villainess Value every day?]
[Are you frequently troubled by the debuffs caused when your Villainess Value drops?]
[Do you constantly suffer headaches because Villainess Potions are hard to replenish?]
[—Now, the Extra Villainess Value Compensation Mechanism is officially open!]
What’s with this TV shopping channel sales pitch…
[The System sometimes borrows from some heart-stirring sales scripts; please don’t mind it, Host.]
[In short, considering that you actively maintain your Villainess persona outside of missions but receive no additional rewards, this would inevitably lead to you growing tired of the Villainess role, possibly causing rebellion against it, which is not sustainable.]
[Therefore, once this mechanism is activated, if you voluntarily perform sufficiently Villainess-like actions outside of the Villainess Missions, the System will store a proportionate amount of this extra Villainess Value for you.]
[When you’re in urgent need, you can directly use this stored value as a supplement, avoiding debuff effects.]
Uh, so you mean I’ve got a refillable Villainess Potion now?
[Exactly. You can think of it that way. Your current Villainess Value is: 87. Once it reaches 90 or above, the compensation mechanism will automatically activate.]
[The extra Villainess Value cap is 50, which is equivalent to two and a half bottles of Villainess Potion. Please make good use of it.]
…So that’s how it is. Seems like quite a useful new mechanism.
At least I won’t end up like just now, getting debuffed over something small and having to spend a whole bottle of Villainess Potion.
Still, the timing of this System announcement feels a bit off, sneaking it out at this moment…
Before Su Wanli could think further, the System raised its pitch and announced in a mission-release tone—
[Summary: Under Su Wanli’s instigation, her three subordinates, filled with malice, cornered the female lead Meng Wange. Afterwards, they not only verbally mocked Meng Wange but also delivered a final warning.]
[During today’s fourth period gym class, if Meng Wange doesn’t go alone to the place designated by Su Wanli, her subsequent campus life will be full of regrets.]
After finishing the summary, the System turned to Su Wanli.
[Host, although this incident falls outside the System’s official mission scope, since your trio of subordinates have proactively set up the perfect stage for you, please feel free to perform at your best and fully utilize your extra Villainess Value compensation.]
[If you complete it well, the System may consider applying for some additional rewards for you!]