Villains

The first step is to gather witnesses.

The rest of the students saw for sure that something was wrong, they just weren't united enough to be heard.

The second step is to lay out the facts.

As long as they show it to a high-level government official enough investigation squad is sure to be formed.

Then, all that's left for Xiao Xun is to collect the fruits of the investigation, kill the abnormality, report the issues and get the hell out of there.

Unfortunately, not everything that looks good on paper works in reality, the plan stalled before it even started.

"Why do you keep hanging around that girl?" Cecil blocked him in the hallway, gritting his teeth.

He didn't know when it started happening when Edmund started ignoring him.

Maybe it started when they started taking classes separately, maybe it started when he tried to talk to different students at school, maybe it was right from the entrance exam, where he met that despicable girl.

According to Edmund's personality, he should have shared with Cecil - the person he trusts the most - right when he started to suspect the matter, but even though he had spent several years with him, Xiao Xun still did not understand Cecil's personality all the way.

He was an unexpected factor in the equation.

Normally, a powerful character like him or vampires in general would have been generously involved in the plot, but there was no mention of any of those things. Cecil could just be a non-involved figure, but Xiao Xun's gut told him he was related to the abnormality.

He still refused to look it up in the world book, 'That's not what you do to a friend!' He made excuses to the system dozens of times. But the truth? He wanted to ignore obvious truth.

Cecil was cute, and thoughtful, and his most likely chance of losing his virginity anytime soon. He didn't want to kill all of that for work.

That's why he risked the failure of the mission.

"I'm not ignoring you, Iris is just helping me get into the student council." He wasn't completely lying, they both thought that the best way to start gathering students and meeting with high-ranking nobles outside of the school's boundaries was to hold some sort of position on the council.

Like any good old otome game, here too the student council both had way too much-unbalanced power and somehow accepted ordinary students for important roles without blinking, Xiao Xun couldn't help but applaud how predictable this was.

"Why don't you tell me, I can also help you and I can get accepted too..." His anger immediately changed to an almost tearful expression.

"There, there." Xiao Xun patted his head as always, while the long-practiced Cecil redundant the need to stand on his tiptoes as he bent down for easy access. "Aren't you the best? Please let me have this alone, okay?"

Cecil's silence signaled his agreement.

Even though Xiao Xun didn't want to get rid of Cecil so quickly, it didn't mean that he would actually cause the mission to fail on purpose. He just needs to figure out how to solve the abnormality and at the same time not kill Cecil in the next few months.

And if he doesn't make it by his deadline? Well, Cecil is not the only option he will ever have for losing his virginity.

Xiao Xun kept Cecil as an emergency ration, like a starving man carrying his friend's corpse on a desert island- Hopes to give him a dignified burial but in a deep and secret part of his mind knows that he is also his food store for times of need.

He hoped he wouldn't have to resort to it, but who knew how much bad luck life would throw at him?

As long as he didn't find a solution on the deadline, Xiao Xun decided, he would kill Cecil and try to report him as the abnormality.

He didn't like this solution, but he didn't like being prosecuted for mission failure more.

"Edmund, I don't like this."

"Only until spring break, then we'll be back."

Cecil Looks at him, as if what he says now could seal his fate, "Let's go home now, okay? I'll prepare a lot of delicious food and-"

"Sorry."

That's all he said. That's all that needed to be said.

Cecil watched Edmund walk towards the council chamber, meeting Iris by chance. He watched them laugh and chat in a way that was previously reserved only for them.

He is useless for him now.

This understanding sank into him like a heavy stone thrown to water.

He had previously thought that even if there were more, he would still be number 1 in Edmund's heart.

Now he understands that as long as there are more, there will be no room for him.

Cecil looked at him once more before turning back, fulfilling Edmund's wish.

****************************************

"Please come in."

The senior student wing screamed prestige, even Xiao Xun, who already knew several worlds, couldn't help but make his steps softer on his way to the student council room.

After he knocked with uncharacteristic gentleness and was accepted by the elegant secretary (Male lead #6, as Iris whispered so excitedly it sounded like a scream.), they sat down in front of the vice president of the student council, before them afternoon tea with some scones and small cakes.

"Something strange entered our sacred school, you're saying?"

The student council vice president spoke too clearly to be hypnotized, so Xiao Xun got straight to the point. "We think it is better to deliver a direct letter to the families of the more influential students, and from there you can contact the royal investigators..."

"Let me stop you right there," the vice president placed his teacup with a sharp clatter on the decorated saucer, "Do you actually think no one noticed that half of the most elite students in this school have become fools?"

Iris chose the most inopportune time to try to spread jam on her scones like someone holding a knife for the first time, somehow spreading jam on the rest of the table as well.

"What do you think will happen to registration once the word spreads? What do you think will happen to our reputation?" He wiped some of the jam Iris had spilled from his shoulder in disgust. "Keeping quiet can be good for you too, do you think she'll keep quiet once she hears what you're planning?"

"She?"

"Your sister, idiot." The secretary who remained so quiet that they didn't even notice he was still in the room handed the vice president more napkins, "Don't give me that look, you're obviously twins, you don't need to look into anyone's background to see that you're related."

"Listen, I have enough on my plate with the president and half the school can't tie their own shoelaces, if you're that worried about being influenced- How about I give you the price you name and send you two to Rohan Academy? Some will say that this school competes with us, and you won't have to worry about any more nonsense as long as you're there."

This could have been a very tempting proposition if Iris hadn't thought they were in a dating sim and Xiao Xun wasn't some twisted version of a magical angel sent to fix the source of the problem.

Iris looked at Edmund, worried if he would take the offer.

Although she needs to solve the matter to return home (she guesses desperately) Edmund has no obligation to this place. As long as he leaves, she will remain alone.

"I'm sorry, but right now you're trying to hide a fire with paper, there will only be more fire in the end." Edmund said as he stood up heroically, making Iris realize just how handsome the love interest in real life is. "Come, Iris, we're leaving."

"Yes!" She followed him, excited like a little girl.

"You're not leaving anywhere."

Fuck, this sentence never continues as "because I want to give you plenty of sundae."

The secretary hurried to lock the door, blocking it with his body.

"The offer I am making now will not be repeated a second time, take it or take it. That's the only option I'm willing to give."

"Never!" Iris yelled in a very idiotic way.

"I've already filled out your transfer papers," The vice president waved a stack of papers in front of their eyes, "all you need to do is sign, don't let me simply expel you."

Xiao Xun grasped the important point in his words. "Wait, you'd already know we were coming here?"

"He didn't, I did."

Like the best villains, the office chair that previously faced the window turned towards them, revealing Elisha's smiling face, "Long time no see, brother."