Penguin_Laze

A calculating merchant of noble birth lives a comfortable life managing his guild's business at the Imperial Academy—until lightning strikes him, leaving him with prophetic visions of a disastrous future. In these visions, he's expelled from his family, branded a traitor who aids demons, and worst of all, becomes a penniless beggar. When the supposed "protagonist" of these prophecies enrolls at the academy, he realizes his countdown to ruin has begun. Now he must use his foresight to rewrite a story where he's cast as a third-rate villain, all while navigating ancient dungeons, demonic threats, and the troublesome "hero" who might be the key to changing his fate.

#MoneyIsEverything

The Third-Rate Academy Villain Who Refuses to Become a Beggar

Right now, Group 4 was just pretending to follow Gerhard to deceive him.

This time, he wouldn't concede the first place.

At the quiet murmur, all members of Group 3 halted at once. Gerhard unfolded the map to check their current location.

Group 1's base was midway up a mountain covered with dense trees—ancient oaks and towering pines whose branches intertwined to form a natural ceiling that obscured much of the sky. The undergrowth was thick with ferns and wild shrubs, providing countless hiding spots for defenders. Moss-covered rocks jutted from the soil at unpredictable intervals, creating natural obstacles that would slow any direct assault. It was exceptionally good for ambushes and traps, a fortress enhanced by nature itself rather than constructed by human hands.

The other groups weren't much different, as such locations were deliberately assigned.

Anticipating the Prince [2]