The Villain Who Seeks Joy

Designated for death within the academy dungeon, Earth's most celebrated war hero awakens to find himself reborn as Velorum's most reviled student. This "villain" is widely anticipated to face execution before the midterms. While others master swordsmanship, magic, blessings, and beast taming, he uniquely practices the feared art of necromancy. Eschewing thrones and vengeance, his aim after a life defined by commendations and mourning is a rare ambition for a villain: to truly live. He desires simple joys like laughter after curfew, the taste of street food, and protecting the friends who have accepted him. However, the church denounces him as a heretic, the crown seeks a convenient scapegoat, and the academy's celebrated hero struggles to comprehend the "villain's" consistent victories. Regardless of whether he is labeled a monster or a traitor, he is determined to forge a life of meaning and face it with a smile.