I Enrolled as the Villain
Chapter 44: Red Light, White Cape

Chapter 44: Red Light, White Cape

As we kept working on the wheelchair, Marlen came over to me. Her voice was quiet.

"Leader... the Fire Cycle. It’s started."

She lifted her Synwatch and played the live feed. Outside, the sky had turned red not just bright or warm, but the kind of red that looked alive. The kind that bled. The forest swirled with smoke, waves of heat rising and blurring everything in sight.

I stood and wiped my hands, turning toward the wall display.

"How’s the stronghold holding?"

"It’s holding, but just barely," Marlen said as she pointed to the hologram. "The turrets and wall systems — anything with a circuit — are starting to overheat. If the core temperature rises much higher..."

I turned toward the nearest window. The red light burned through the haze, lighting up the cracks on the tile floor. My Mythrigan activated as I pulled on the last bits of my mana and pushed it outward.

Ice crawled from my body to the outer structure, coating part of the wall in a thin, fragile layer. It wasn’t much. Only the front section was protected.

But for now, that was all I could manage.

"Let it be," I said. "It’s too dangerous to send anyone outside yet."

I turned to look at Liora’s wheelchair. The parts the other students brought had managed to stabilize it. It wasn’t perfect, some pieces were beyond saving — but for now, it would do.

"Everyone, gather up," I called out.

Those still seated or scattered around turned toward me. Conversations stopped. Footsteps slowed. Soon, they circled around.

"Our next priority is clear. We have to retrieve Cendric and Silas. We can’t leave them out there alone."

I turned to Marlen.

"You’ll be part of the retrieval team. Here."

I handed her a silver bracelet. She took it and fastened it around her wrist.

"The other two will be you," I said, locking eyes with the two boys. One of them was the same student who’d attacked Vera earlier.

"As soon as the Fire Cycle ends, move out."

I activated the stronghold map on my watch and pointed to the new route.

"Don’t follow Cendric and Silas’ path directly. That’s where they were caught. Head north first, then loop east. Use the terrain. Use shadows."

The red line on the map adjusted, curving north before cutting east again.

"Once you reach the edge of the Red Stronghold, do not get caught. I don’t care if you have to bury yourself in mud or vanish into the trees. Do not be seen. We can’t lose more people."

"When the teleport range opens, stay close and wait. Don’t engage unless absolutely necessary."

"Any questions?"

The three of them answered together. "No."

Before I could dismiss them, Jessa stepped forward.

She stopped in front of me, met my eyes, and said quietly but firmly, "Can I join the squad?"

My first thought was to refuse her. The image of her burned arm flashed in my mind the pain, the smoke, the look in her eyes when it happened.It was a stupid mistake back then. But it was still my flame that hit her.

Still my fault.

But Jessa... her record spoke for itself. Strong. Reliable. Calm under pressure. And now she stood here, asking to help.

If they got into trouble, she’d be an asset.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded, her hand tightening slightly over the bandages that still wrapped her arm.

"I am."

"Then go. The rest of you, stay inside and monitor the situation. If you’re stationed at the command room, keep eyes on all feeds. No one leaves until the Fire Cycle ends."

I stepped away and walked toward my private room.

Most students shared their space simple dorm setups, two to a room. But not me.

The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing something plain. Just a bed, a desk, and the pale blue hum of standby lights.

I stepped inside and sat on the edge of the bed, letting out a slow breath. The weight of the day pressed against my shoulders. I pulled off the upper half of my uniform and glanced down at myself.

There were changes. Not much but enough to notice. A little more definition. A little more strength. It hadn’t come easy, but it was mine.

Still, I thought about the magic enhancers the one that carved muscle overnight and gave you the shape of power without the substance. But that wasn’t the answer. Not for me. Not for someone walking this Path.

If I took shortcuts now, I’d only harm myself in the long run. That kind of power came at a price I couldn’t afford to pay.

My fingers curled slightly.

The One Who Judges the World...

I muttered the name under my breath.

A divine Path. One that hadn’t even existed in the novel.

What did it mean to judge the world? What would it demand of me?

Haa...

People—no, everyone—believed the Mythrigan could see fate. Like it could pierce the world and read the threads tying people to their ends. I wanted that clarity. I wanted to see like him.

But my Eye was still only Stage 2. Still limited. Still blind in all the ways that mattered.

I rubbed at my temple.

I’d figure it out later. There were more urgent things to deal with now.

Still, one truth dug deep into my chest and stayed there: if Radger mastered the Path of the Unmaking Saint... then he’d become a problem. A serious one. And not just for me.

The moment I thought of him, another thought followed, colder and heavier.

How the hell was I supposed to win this competition?

I used to think knowing the future would be enough. That it would be easy. Just follow the script, make the right moves, and everything would fall into place. That’s how it worked in the novel.

But this wasn’t the same.

Lucia’s shift. The rain and fire mechanics. The Red Line. None of that played out the way I remembered. Knowing wasn’t the same as doing. Not when it hurt. Not when people looked to you for answers you didn’t have.

This wasn’t a story anymore.

It was real.

And living it was harder.

I was already outnumbered. Outpaced. My resources were thin. And now two of my strongest members had been captured. I was lucky the Red Line hadn’t disqualified them yet—lucky they were still playing games instead of finishing things fast.

But I couldn’t rely on luck again.

Then there was the Blue Star.

Their plan to overthrow Valkcross wasn’t just a far-off event waiting to unfold. It was happening. Quietly. Moving beneath the surface like a slow knife.

If the world still followed the shape of the novel, then this arc the Stronghold arc was never meant to be mine.

It was theirs.

A stage for monsters to rise. For the Blue Star and the Red Line to collide. Power against power.

But now I existed.

And that changed everything.

I had already bent the timeline. Already twisted the script. The fate I once relied on was no longer intact. There was no outline to follow. No destined ending to chase.

If I wanted to win, I’d have to carry this faction myself. Not just lead it but drag it forward. No... even that wasn’t enough. Dragging it alone would only break me.

I needed help. Real help. From every person still standing. Every hand willing to reach back.

My eyes drifted toward the letter on the desk. It sat there. It sat there, opened but it still felt like a weight I didn’t want to touch.

I rose to my feet and walked past it.

Then reached for my white cape.

Too much to do.

No time for sentiment.

— — —

Earlier

Cendric and Silas were tied and bound, their arms pulled tight behind them as they were pushed deeper into the Red Line Stronghold.

"I can’t believe this... My dad’s probably watching the whole thing on the Hologram," Silas muttered under his breath, his voice tight with shame.

Cendric didn’t answer. His Korigan eye shimmered faintly as he look at the surroundings. He kept his expression blank.

They passed through metal corridors lit by red sigils, the walls humming with energy. Finally, they were brought into a large chamber lined with twenty-five Red Line students, all armored, all silent. At the front stood Vera, her presence sharp like a blade. She was staring down at her Synwatch, lips pressed in focus.

Then, without lifting her head, she spoke.

"Radger is currently facing off against Kael. We need to move now. Everyone, get ready."

She raised her head and finished with a familiar phrase lazily.

"Glory to the Red Cosmos."

The moment the words left her mouth, the group of red line students escorting Cendric and Silas stopped abruptly and turned to face her.

Cendric and Silas stumbled slightly, caught off balance by the sudden halt.

The student stood straight and shouted in unison.

"Glory to the Red Cosmos!"

As they escorted the two deeper into the stronghold, the moment they stepped through the inner gate, Cendric stumbled.

He hit the floor hard, landing on his side. His pouch came loose, scattering its contents across the stone.

Shevv.

A small clatter followed. Perfume, mirrors, and a hair spray tumbled out.

"Please—just let me clean it up," Cendric reached out quickly, hand hovering near the items.

But one of the Red Line students grabbed his arm.

"No time. Holding room. Move," the student snapped, his tone sharp and dismissive.

He shoved Cendric forward without waiting.

Cendric grunted and staggered up, casting one last glance at the scattered items before he was pushed ahead.

Unnoticed, one of the fallen objects shimmered faintly in the red light.

Just for a second.

Then it stilled, quiet as the group disappeared down the corridor.

Time passed.

Inside the holding room, deep within the Keshar Red Stronghold, Cendric and Silas now sat tied to chairs. Sweat clung to their backs. The ropes were tight, biting into their skin. Neither of them spoke. Both them are

Waiting.

Suddenly as the redline students left them alone

"You dumbass," Silas hissed. "You’re the one who got us caught."

"They haven’t even hurt us. If they wanted to disqualify us, they would’ve," Cendric replied, smug. "We just need to act tough. That’s how you get respect."

Silas stared at him. "...What?"

Shortly after the door opened.

A group of Red Line students stepped in the one that just left earlier, boots echoing against the floor. One stopped in front of Silas and tilted his head, eyes red and unreadable.

"We might let you go," he said. "In Keshar, humiliating the son of a powerful leader is... disgraceful."

He sounded almost respectful.

Silas blinked, stunned. "Wait... really?"

A flicker of hope passed through him.

Then—

"Shut the hell up," Cendric snapped.

Everyone turned.

"We don’t care about your honor. Or your fake traditions. Keshar sucks. This whole place sucks. You guys walk around like red crayons and act like it means something."

Silas turned slowly. "Cendric—"

"You think we’re scared of your rules? News flash. We’re here because we asked for a fight."

The room went still.

One of the Red Line students twitched.

Silas closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose.

"We’re so dead."