I, the Villain, Want to Save Myself, But the Yandere Heroines Disagree
Chapter 5 - Lapland

The Duchy of Lucia cannot be said to be the most inconspicuous among the Empire’s duchies, after all, the Duchy of Lucia once had a Duke of considerable talent and vision. However, from the current perspective, the Duchy of Lucia is indeed the weakest duchy in the Empire.

Even the previously weakest Duchy of Antica, after resolving the beastman border issue, was considerably better than the Duchy of Lucia.

The reason for this is the large amount of permafrost within the Duchy of Lucia, especially in the northern region, which is covered by perpetual snowfields year-round.

Even when other regions of the Empire are experiencing scorching summer heat, the northern region of Lucia is still covered in ice and snow.

This kind of environment, apart from tourism, generates almost no value.

However, even with such harsh conditions, a portion of the population in Lucia has always remained steadfast on the snowfields. They are called Snow People by the locals.

Yes, the land in the north cannot support many people, and naturally cannot provide much income. The people living here can only hope for basic sustenance year-round. The benevolent Duke of Lucia naturally does not collect taxes from them, and instead granted them considerable autonomy.

Apart from those who have resided in the snowfields for generations, the most numerous inhabitants here are those who have fled from the south due to debt, or those who have been persecuted by the Duke and exiled to this place.

Therefore, the people living on the snowfields almost never consider themselves Lucians.

The students of the Imperial Academy boarded carriages heading north in Karelia, the northernmost city of the Duchy of Lucia. While the convoy was resting, Therese gathered the students and spoke about the northern snowfields.

“This snowfield is called Lapland in the local dialect of Lucia. Therefore, the locals who enjoy autonomy here are also called Laplanders. From today onwards, when you encounter strangers in the snowfield, you cannot call them Lucians when greeting them. You must call them Laplanders, otherwise they will be angry.”

Therese instructed.

“Because the terrain of the snowfield is very complex and the weather is quite harsh, sometimes you have to find shelter to keep warm when a blizzard comes. The locals are undoubtedly your best guides for surviving here,” Therese said this, looking at the students around her.

“The tasks for second-year and first-year students are different. First-year students mainly have to survive for a month in the area around the snowfield without the help of others, while second-year students are different. The task for second-year students is to go deep into the snowfield.”

Upon hearing the tasks for the two grades, the students all pricked up their ears and listened carefully.

“Teacher Therese, is there anything special about the deep part of the snowfield?” At this moment, a second-year student raised his hand.

“That is what I am going to talk about next,” Therese smiled at the other party, then said, “Although a thousand years have passed and the people living here are a mixed bag, the local Laplanders have their own unique beliefs. They have a temple deep within the snowfield. What you need to do is to learn as much as possible about the deity they worship.”

“Teacher Therese, why do we need to learn about the deity of a group of heretics?” the student asked curiously again.

“The purpose of research is not about what you gain in the end, but what you gain during the process,” Therese explained patiently.

“Academic ability, interpersonal skills, information gathering and organization abilities, and survival skills, etc. You do not necessarily need to achieve the final result to grow. As long as you give it your all, even if you don’t succeed, you will still benefit greatly.”

After saying this, Therese turned back to look at the first-year students. Originally, she was going to speak with Hecatia this time, but she owed Hecatia a favor before, so she could only help her lead the first-year students.

Anyway, she had taught the first year just last year.

“As for the first-year students, your seniors’ task is too difficult for you. Therefore, your task is simply to survive here. In the process of survival, you may encounter many troubles, such as the threat of weather, food, wild animals, etc. These can also help you grow.”

After saying all this, Therese stood up.

“Now, from this moment on, please hand over your supplies in a unified manner.”

Upon hearing this sentence, the students below all voiced their confusion.

“What?” Therese saw the students’ reaction, frowned, and immediately intimidated quite a few people.

“This practical training is not for you to go on vacation,” Therese said this, walked directly to a male student, and took the bag next to him in front of him.

“Student Keiar, you seem very well prepared. A tent, an ax, firewood, dry food, and this is... architectural blueprints?” Therese repeated the names of the items inside while emptying the other party’s bag.

Not everyone could have something like a storage ring. Therefore, bags and backpacks that had been enchanted with slightly lower-level spatial magic were used by rich kids who had fewer connections.

Although these kinds of magic items were not as convenient as storage rings and could not hold as much as storage rings, they were more common compared to rare storage rings.

The students next to him saw that he was so well prepared and all looked at him with admiration. Most of them had only brought some camping gear. They didn’t expect the other party was actually preparing for a vacation.

“So the wood you had earlier wasn’t firewood after all. I wondered why the firewood was so large,” Therese said this, smiling at Keiar before her.

The male student named Keiar lowered his head, his face completely red.

“Apologies... Teacher Therese, please take all these things.”

“Mm, I will keep them safe,” Therese didn’t say much else, then looked at the others.

“You, who brought spatial items, also hand them over. I will help you put a seal on your storage rings. The duration is one month, and it will automatically be lifted after the practical training ends.”

The students immediately let out groans of despair.

Therese completed the sealing for everyone. Only when she came before Orson did she stop, raised her head, and smiled at Orson.

Orson also returned a smile.

“Teacher Therese, please also help me seal my storage ring.”

“Alright~” Therese nodded, then directly took the spatial ring from Orson’s hand.

“You think I don’t know what schemes you’re cooking up in your mind, do you?”

Looking at Orson’s surprised gaze, Therese revealed a smug smile.

Of course, she knew that her seal would be ineffective on Orson. Since magic wouldn’t work, she could only resort to physical means.

“Teacher... this isn’t quite right,” Orson saw that he had been outsmarted by Therese and could only say helplessly.

“There’s nothing I can do. Who made you so excellent, Orson? So excellent that even I, your teacher, don’t think I can guarantee fairness,” Therese sighed, then said with a smile:

“Hehe, it’s alright. I’m just holding onto it for you. I won’t look at anything inside, no matter what it is. Even if there are inappropriate pictures of me, I won’t look!”

“How could there be such a thing!” Orson couldn’t help but retort.

Teacher Therese was a bit too unconventional!

Furthermore, upon hearing what Therese said, Olivia beside him had already put her hand directly on his waist!