Chapter 73: Villain Simulator, Ch 73

"So what?" The dean seemed quite displeased with this defiant student. "Let me make one thing clear: the law of the jungle in this school is what makes real men out of the students. But letting a foreigner trample on Snezhnayan pride? That will never be allowed!"

"Forgive me, but this isn't survival of the fittest. It's just the weak bullying those who are weaker," Lucas scoffed. "If that's the case, go ahead and announce my expulsion."

The dean snapped, "Expulsion is just the beginning. I'll make sure you're publicly humiliated in front of the entire school..."

"Expelling such an excellent student would be a great loss for the academy." a lazy voice interrupted from behind them.

A young man with short orange hair strolled casually into the office, smiling. "Couldn't you let him off the hook for my sake?"

Both Lucas and the dean froze in shock upon seeing him.

It was... Tartaglia?

Having once impersonated "The Doctor," Lucas immediately recognized him.

He couldn't believe it—Tartaglia really was Tonya's brother!

Realizing this, a cold chill swept over Lucas.

For him, expulsion wasn't much of a punishment. At worst, he'd return to Mondstadt and get a scolding from his father.

But if Tartaglia ever found out what Lucas had done to his sister... given Tartaglia's ruthless nature, there was no way he'd let Lucas off lightly.

"Lord... Lord Tartaglia!" The dean, suddenly losing his previous arrogance, stood up, visibly anxious. "This student has committed numerous offenses. A severe punishment is necessary to set an example!"

"It seems you're mistaken about something," Tartaglia said, grabbing the dean by the collar. His smile vanished, replaced by a cold, murderous glint in his eyes. "I'm not asking you—I'm ordering you. If I had been the one who caught the guy who bullied my brother, it wouldn't have ended with just his pants down."

"I... I understand..." The dean was now trembling with fear, stammering, "I'll do... exactly as you say!"

"Smart decision." Tartaglia's smile returned as he patted the dean on the shoulder. Then, turning to Lucas, he gave a smile full of hidden meaning. "I hear you're my brother's roommate. Why don't you show me around your dorm?"

The way Tartaglia's character is set up gives off the vibe that no matter what he does, it never feels out of character.

So, Lucas couldn't quite figure out what was going on in Tartaglia's mind.

After all, even though nothing official had happened between him and Tonya… they had already gone through first, second, and third base.

Considering how much Tartaglia dotes on his sister, Lucas had no doubt that he could be dragged back to the dorm and tortured in front of Tonya if Tartaglia found out.

Even though Lucas was a foreign exchange student, in front of a Fatui Harbinger, his status didn't amount to much.

Sigh, Lucas thought back to the days when Tartaglia had been just a lackey under his command. Now, the tables had turned, and he was at Tartaglia's mercy.

"Of course, no problem," Lucas maintained his calm as much as possible and smiled, "Please follow me."

However, much to Lucas's surprise, on the way back to the dorm, Tartaglia didn't bring up anything related to Tonya. Instead, he kept asking Lucas questions about himself.

Finally, when they arrived at the dorm, Tonya was already waiting in the room. As soon as she saw Lucas and her brother walk in together, a flash of nervousness crossed her face.

"Brother Ajax..." Tonya forced an awkward smile, "Is everything... resolved?"

"With me on the case, it was a breeze. But..." Tartaglia suddenly grabbed Tonya's cheek with a smile. "You said you wanted to attend art school, so I wrote you a recommendation letter. And what did you do? You used that letter to disguise yourself and enroll in military school. Who gave you the guts to do that, huh?"

Though Tartaglia was still smiling, Tonya knew that her brother was most terrifying when he smiled. She almost wished he would just scold her harshly instead.

"I... I want to become as strong as you, Brother," Tonya summoned the courage to say. "But you've always treated me like a fragile flower in a greenhouse, so I had no choice but to prove myself this way!"

"Is that what you think?" Tartaglia's expression shifted slightly, and he sighed. "You truly are my sister. But you should know how dangerous it is for a girl in a place like this. Even I can't always protect you."

"He can!"

Tonya suddenly grabbed Lucas's wrist and said firmly, "This man said he would protect me forever!"

"When did I say something like that?" Lucas's face flushed with embarrassment.

Tonya leaned closer and whispered, "You don't want my brother to find out about the things you made me do, do you?"

Was he... being blackmailed?

"Y-yeah, that's right!" Lucas had no choice but to comply. "Don't worry, I'll protect Tonya."

"Oh?" Tartaglia's expression shifted to one of amusement as he gave Lucas a knowing smile. "Could it be that you like Tonya?"

"Absolutely not!" Lucas immediately denied it. "Protecting a lady is simply a gentleman's duty."

"You're quite interesting," Tartaglia said, staring into Lucas's eyes. "I like your methods for dealing with Gambes and his gang. Plus, your academic performance is impressive. How about it—are you interested in joining the Fatui after graduation?"

"I appreciate the offer, but..." Lucas trailed off. "I have reasons that compel me to return to Mondstadt."

Upon hearing this, a flicker of disappointment crossed Tonya's face.

"Lucas Lawrence, I've looked into your background," Tartaglia continued, as if seeing through everything. "You're a Mondstadt noble, but you've always been seen as an idle, incompetent good-for-nothing, even being punished by your family to attend military school for three years."

"But ever since you entered the academy, you've excelled. I don't know why you've hidden your talents within your family, but here in Snezhnaya, things are different. Here, as long as you have strength and merit, even a slave can rise to the top."

"If the opportunity arises, I'll give it some thought," Lucas replied nonchalantly. "Unfortunately, I have a family waiting for me back in Mondstadt."

"Well, I won't push you then," Tartaglia said with a smile, not one to press the issue. "But remember, the Fatui's doors are always open to you."

"Alright, alright!" Tonya interrupted, gently pushing her brother toward the door. "Brother, don't you have a lot of work to do?"

Sigh, Tartaglia sighed, a hint of melancholy on his face. "Tonya, you've really grown up. You're not the little girl who used to chase after me anymore."

With that, he waved his hand and left the dorm with a casual flair.

But after Tartaglia's departure, an awkward silence filled the room.

Finally, Lucas broke the silence. "Why... didn't you tell him what I've done to you?"

Tonya blushed slightly, stammering, "Don't get the wrong idea. I'd never tell my brother something like that. Besides... nothing really happened."

"That's true for now," Lucas squinted slightly. "But I can't guarantee I won't get any bad ideas with over a year left of us living together."

"Hmph, now that you know my brother is a Fatui Harbinger, do you still dare to have those kinds of thoughts?" Tonya tried to act tough. "Go ahead, I dare you!"

"Well, since you're asking..."

Without another word, Lucas pushed Tonya down on the bed. "I've never heard such a strange request before."

Inside the dorm, a playful mix of laughter and mock scolding could be heard.

[Entering text mode.]

[After fooling around with Tonya, you discovered a note on your bed. It was from Tartaglia, and it read: "If you dare do anything inappropriate to my sister, I'll pay you back double."]

[You immediately understood what this meant, and a sense of unease crept over you.]

[Although the large-scale brawl caused a significant uproar, thanks to Tartaglia's intervention, the situation was quickly smoothed over.]

[Your "Lawrence gang" also became well-known after this incident, rising to become one of the most powerful factions in the academy.]

[As for Gambes and his lackeys, they became the laughingstock of the school and didn't recover by the time the graduation ceremony came around.]

[The relationship between you and Tonya also changed subtly after the incident. You continued to take care of each other in unspoken ways, though the two of you never crossed the final line.]

[After all, Tartaglia's note was likely not a joke. If things really got out of hand, even returning to Mondstadt might not be enough to escape his retribution.]

[Age 18: Soon, you entered your third year, which would be your final year at the Snezhnaya military academy.]

[Over the past two years, you regularly exchanged letters with your family, including not just your parents but also Eula.]

[You were thrilled to learn that Eula had passed the family trials and obtained the Lawrence family emblem, "Crest of Frost."]

[For thousands of years, only a handful of people had successfully passed the family trials. This emblem was entrusted to those who would carry the family's hopes, meaning that Eula becoming the next head of the Lawrence family was now just a matter of time.]

[However, Mondstadt had not been entirely peaceful. Rumors damaging the Lawrence family's reputation occasionally circulated among the people. Though these rumors hadn't shaken the family's control over Mondstadt, they had caused a noticeable impact.]

[In just half a year, the Lawrence family had arrested over a dozen individuals accused of spreading these rumors, yet the source of the gossip had not been found.]

[This didn't concern you too much. After all, compared to the intense conflict between Mondstadt's nobles and commoners a thousand years ago, the current situation was hardly alarming.]

[Besides, the Lawrence family's reputation had improved significantly compared to centuries ago. The people had no real need to overthrow them, and certainly lacked the power to do so.]

[Upon entering your third year, your position at the academy became even more secure, and Tonya had grown capable of handling herself. Even without your protection, no one dared to bother her anymore.]

[You remained the school tyrant, but interestingly, the incidents of bullying within the academy had noticeably decreased over the past two years.]

[This wasn't due to your intentional efforts, but rather because Gambes' fate had served as a cautionary tale. No one could be sure if the person they bullied today might seek revenge tomorrow.]

[Moreover, the majority of students were now part of the Lawrence gang, whose first rule was simple: settle conflicts with strength, and anyone using underhanded methods would face severe punishment.]

[As a side note, though Gambes had regained the ability to walk, he would likely spend the rest of his life dependent on adult diapers.]

[Although you were still a student, by your final year, your responsibilities resembled those of a staff member.]

[As graduation approached, more voices urged you to stay. No one had anticipated that the once unremarkable exchange student from Mondstadt would have such a significant influence.]

[However, you knew that staying was not an option. In the distant land of Mondstadt, there were people waiting for your return.]

[Finally, the day of the graduation ceremony arrived. As you stepped onto the stage, thunderous applause erupted from the audience. Without realizing it, you had become a role model for many students.]

[Feeling a mix of emotions, you took the microphone and calmly said: "Goodbye, you bastards."]

[One thing that caught your attention was that, two weeks before graduation, Tonya had moved out of the dormitory you shared.]

[Whether it was your imagination or not, you felt as though she had been deliberately avoiding you. This meant you didn't even get the chance to say a proper goodbye.]

[In truth, you weren't sure what kind of relationship the two of you had. Perhaps leaving quietly was the best ending for both of you.]

[However, there was one last thing you needed to do before leaving the city.]

[You returned to the tavern where you had first met Tonya three years ago, determined to break Ursa's drinking record and take that painting with you.]

[The bartender had long since been replaced, and he seemed unimpressed by your challenge. After all, countless people over the years had tried to break the record, most failing miserably—some even ending up needing stomach pumps.]

[Firewater, Snezhnaya's most famous liquor, lived up to its name—it was so potent it could be set alight.]

[Drinking it felt like swallowing flames, and even seasoned drinkers could hardly make it past ten cups.]

[However, thanks to your "Never Drunk" talent, you took it in stride. As glass after glass of firewater went down, you soon attracted the attention of onlookers.]

[Just as you were about to down your sixty-third glass, a familiar figure suddenly sat down across from you—it was none other than Tonya.]

[This time, she had shed her usual military academy uniform in favor of feminine attire, complete with a wig. You now realized just how much the tomboyish Tonya had grown into a woman.]

["Let me join you for a drink. Consider it a farewell toast," Tonya said as she downed a glass of firewater, though her brow furrowed slightly at its intensity.]

[You exchanged smiles. After two years of living side by side, you had developed an extraordinary understanding of each other, so much so that no words were necessary to convey your thoughts.]

[With your "Never Drunk" talent, it should have been impossible for you to get intoxicated. Yet, looking at Tonya's flushed smile, you felt a wave of dizziness.]

[It turned out that sometimes, a person could be more intoxicating than alcohol.]

[You couldn't remember how you managed to win the painting that night, but you were sure you had tasted something even sweeter than Snezhnaya's finest wine.]

[In that familiar rest area, everything seemed just as it had three years ago, except that this time, the roles had reversed.]

[Just like Snezhnaya's firewater—rich, fiery, and intoxicating, every drop lingered with a taste that was impossible to forget.]

["First Glass of Red Wine" talent activated, reward obtained: Ability to control fire element.]

What?

You had unexpectedly gained another elemental mastery?

Lucas was astonished. Even in his previous life, he had only mastered fire-element control. Could it be that the "First Glass of Red Wine" talent's attribute enhancement was not limited to the attributes of the absorbed individual? Could special characters trigger additional effects?

Although he didn't fully understand it, this explanation seemed the most plausible for now.

[The next day, you woke up in the hotel room you had reserved. Your painting and luggage had already been packed, but Tonya was nowhere to be found. On the pillow, she had left a note—a simple message: Everything that happened yesterday was voluntary. She wished you success upon your return to Mondstadt.]

[Your emotions were mixed, but the room's clock had already struck the hour, it was time to leave.]

[After one last look at the northern city where you had spent three years, you finally embarked on your journey home.]

[Besides your parents, your return didn't garner much attention. The one you had longed for, Eula, only paid you a visit briefly, constrained by her status.]

[After three years apart, Eula had shed more of her youthful naivety. Now twenty-one, she had achieved many accomplishments that her predecessors never had. She earned the Crest at the youngest age ever and secured her position as the Lawrence family's heir just after turning twenty.]

[Due to her status, Eula's demeanor was somewhat distant. After all, she was now the most celebrated figure in the family, the hope of the Lawrence legacy. Every word and action of hers was under the watchful eyes of many.]

[Of course, this was just a facade. Despite being three years apart, the connection between you two was still as strong as ever. With just a glance, you could understand each other's thoughts.]

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Author's Note: I'll be traveling for a while, so I won't be able to post extra chapters daily. However, please keep voting! I'll upload all the chapters on weekends. Thanks for your support!

On that note, get us to 1600 today and I'll release the next chapter immediately!