The Retired Hero is an Extra

***

'How am I even supposed to farm any points here!?' he asked the system.

{This is the biggest event before the main plot starts, so the Host should find some opportunities to sow discord.}

'Amongst whom, you dumbass!? Kids!? What'd that get me!? There're only those diabolical heroines and delusional Young Masters!'

The boy was having a hard time maintaining his friendly expression as he cursed the system inwardly.

{Don't forget that most attendees have a child or two in the Academy already or will join in the same batch as you or as your juniors!}

'You mean...?' he wondered, with the system reading his thoughts and providing the answer directly, saving him from the hassle of wording everything.

{Yes, the Host can do that and gain Villain Points!}

"Oh! Young Master Amael, long time no see!"

Suddenly, a voice greeted the boy, bringing him out of his dreaming state.

"If it isn't Miss Levi!" Amael responded with a pleasant smile as he took the young girl's hand and greeted her cordially.

Of course, quite a few girls stared at Levi with hatred in their eyes while none of the boys could so much as even glare at Amael.

The difference in their standing couldn't be more apparent.

"Oh my!" Levi said with a light blush on her cheeks which Amael smartly ignored.

"Miss Levi, how's Lord Killion?" Amael asked politely about her family lord.

"Lord Killion is busy due to the recent dungeon outbreak as you know, so I am afraid he couldn't make it," Levi answered.

Though Amael didn't miss the change in her tone—it sounded flat and filled with dissatisfaction as he didn't play along.

"Ah, that is unfortunate! I was hoping to make acquaintance with him today. Maybe next time?" Amael responded politely.

Yet his acting sadly worked wonders.

"Why not? In fact, why not visit Killion County instead?" Levi tried to make the most out of the situation.

'As expected,' Amael smirked inwardly as his trick worked.

"That sounds amazing! Indeed, why didn't I think of that?" Amael continued his act with a dazzling smile.

"Ah, pardon me, Miss Levi, I need to go find Jash," he apologized, wanting to end this charade.

'Disgusting. Pathetic,' he thought inwardly but kept his act nonetheless.

"Yes, yes. Don't forget the visit to Killion County, then," Levi responded, understanding her cue to let him go.

Although she appeared pitiful and sad, Amael wasn't one to be fooled by outer appearances.

He was far too good at identifying people's intentions no matter how well they tried to hide it, not to mention Levi was around his age.

'Amateur,' he thought, rating her acting skills as he moved on with a gentlemanly gesture..

He didn't need to bow since her nobility ranking was lower, but she gave a curt bow as a part of her etiquette training.

The noble rankings were crucial in daily life, but their importance was indeed highlighted at such official gatherings.

Naturally, the Imperial Family of Solarnelle Empire, the host of today's banquet, were at the top of the pyramid.

Right below them came the three Dukes and one Archduke, followed by Marquis, Count, Viscount, and lastly Baron.

While the Archduke ought to be somewhat higher than the Duke, like the Grand Duke, it was different in the Solarnelle Empire.

As mentioned before, the three duchies were formed by the descendants of the friends of the first Hero, Adonis Solarnelle.

It served to distinguish them from the Archduke.

The Archduke was nothing more than a King who just so happened to be the last remaining Kingdom which had to surrender or face extinction.

'Even their plotline is quite messed up since the current Archduke has an ambitious daughter who stupidly becomes a sub-heroine.'

Amael found the plot, or so-called destiny of the world, to be quite a breath of polluted air.

He believed that something like that should be banned due to its low quality.

'Anyways, did I get any Villain Points, system?' he wondered in intrigue.

{Calculating...}

{Congratulations! Host has gained 1 Villain Point!}

The moment Amael heard it, he almost stumbled in his graceful walk.

'What the heck? 1 Villain Point!? Seriously!' he thought in disbelief, complaining to the system about its tyranny.

{Nothing changed. Just a few females who got jealous and will plot against Levi. Unless it actually takes place, nothing changes.}

'Tsk. Such a stingy system!' he grumbled, long used to the feeling of getting scammed.

The darned system was similar to the fine print in contracts like terms and conditions which most people ignore.

It promises rewards but only half-ass them, repeating the same thing every damn time!

'No change happened yet, so no points for now. Not a villainous event, no point.'

Amael reiterated the system's messages internally as he walked around, observing the animated conversations around him.

The scene around him was repulsive, filled with insincere smiles and shady conversations.

Ambitious individuals whispered deceitfully, their eyes glinting with the thrill of manipulating the gullible.

Of course, Amael wasn't any different from such people, so he wasn't one to judge them, but his hatred for this was real too.

'That's why not many dare to hold large-scale events,' he mused, recalling the past events.

Such events were the ideal grounds for ambitious, snake-like individuals to target gullible sheep, preparing to fleece them.

Well, there was another reason besides such a common sight.

After all, if anything wrong happened, the host would be held responsible, throwing the false moments of peace into chaos.

Of course, it couldn't be denied that no one wanted to take risks themselves.

However, since the host, none other than the Emperor, was daring enough to invite them all, it was in their best interest to come and show respect.

Even if they didn't gain anything, they wouldn't lose anything either. At most, they could just enjoy the food and have a look around.

'I am sure some curious souls are already trying to snoop around,' Amael thought, taking note of suspicious people long ago.

'At least nothing strange happened in this banquet,' he recalled, feeling relieved.

This banquet was one of the few rare events where nothing went wrong.

No attacks, no fights, no terrorist, no cult, no racism.

It was literally the embodiment of perfection.

'More like the calm before the storm,' Amael commented and the system agreed.

{Indeed, this is a precursor to the main and most awaited event, the Academy!}

'Hm? Most awaited? By who?' Amael asked, but the system went silent.

It turned out even the system was excited about the Academy and let out its own feelings by mistake.

Shaking his head, Amael was about to find a person mentioned in the novel, when he heard a voice.

"Young Master, the Young Master and Young Miss of the Ramille duchy have arrived."

"Take me there," Amael ordered his maid, who he had ordered to inform about their arrival.

It was a given for maids and butlers to be moving around since most attendees were of high status.

One wouldn't expect them to do their things themselves when they were raised to get their work done by others since they were kids.

That was also one of the points that Amael had a hard time adjusting to, as he was used to doing his work himself.

"There, Young Master. That is their carriage," his maid informed him after arriving at the entrance.

"Finally," Amael muttered inaudibly, eager to meet the 'friend' whose death pushed him to go down the path of death.

'I need to see what makes you so different,' Amael mused, determined to meet face-to-face despite memories of meetings.