I Became The Novel's Biggest Antagonist

Chapter 32 Karna Mishra [1]

"Leon, there are people staring at you," Aaron said, as he noticed the hostile glares directed toward Ivan.

"I know," Ivan replied calmly, seemingly unbothered.

Aaron's expression darkened. "Are they causing trouble? Do you want me to handle them?"

Aaron had been instructed by his father to eliminate anyone who posed a threat to Ivan, and he wasn't opposed to carrying out that order. He was more than willing to get his hands dirty.

For a brief moment, Ivan considered how ironic it was. He had been the one who insisted they avoid unnecessary conflict, especially with other students. Yet now, Aaron was offering to do just that—on his behalf. Still, Ivan held his tongue.

"Leave them," Ivan replied, his tone dismissive. He really didn't care about a few murderous stares, as long as no one dared to act on them.

Aaron nodded obediently. "Understood."

With that said, their focus shifted back to Eline, who was addressing the gathered students.

"As I mentioned earlier, each of you will have the opportunity to choose up to three weapons crafted from White Amber. These are free and of the highest quality. The stalls around you are run by different manufacturers, all offering their finest. Ultimately, it's your decision which suits you best."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the students to emphasize her next point. "These will be the only weapons you are permitted to carry within the Academy of Ocryphia. Any unauthorized weapons are strictly forbidden. If you possess a Phantasma, make sure it's registered with the administration. That's all. Choose wisely.

And one more thing—if anyone is foolish enough to steal, consider that a one-way ticket out of the academy."

As soon as she finished, the silence broke. The previously still crowd of students erupted into motion, scattering in all directions toward the various weapon stands. Excited chatter filled the air as they hurried to find the perfect weapon for themselves.

"What's our plan, Leon?" Aaron asked, looking to Ivan for direction.

Ivan didn't respond immediately. It wasn't that he didn't know what to do—he knew exactly what needed to be done. He was simply sifting through his memories, confirming a crucial detail from the novel.

Once he was certain, a small smile crept onto his face. Without a word, he turned and headed toward a specific stand.

***

"Hey guys! Over here, come take a look at my weapons!"

"You're going to love them, I promise!"

"Just one glance, please!"

"I beg you!"

The desperate cries echoed across the bustling exhibition hall, but no one paid any attention to the young man standing before his modest stall. His slightly tanned skin gleamed with sweat, and his dark hair clung to his forehead as he called out again, his voice cracking under the strain. He looked almost pitiful, and yet, no students approached.

Karna's heart raced when the asocial man picked up a sword. His dark eyes scrutinized every inch of the blade, turning it over slowly in his hands. Karna held his breath, watching intently. Then, just barely, the man's lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile.

'He's pleased! He's actually pleased!'

Karna had to fight the overwhelming urge to shout, "Do you like it?!". Instead, he clamped his mouth shut, doing his best to remain calm.

Meanwhile, the more approachable man, Aaron, simply observed his companion with a quiet curiosity. Aaron didn't fully understand why Ivan had chosen to visit such a modest, overlooked shop, but he trusted blindly Ivan's instincts. There had to be something special here.

"What's your name?" Ivan finally asked, now testing the tension of the bowstring, assessing its quality with an expert's touch.

"M-Me?" Karna stuttered, momentarily thrown by the question. "Karna... Mish—no, wait—Karna Bleich," He corrected himself awkwardly, his nerves betraying him.

"Bleich?" Ivan's voice remained casual, though his gaze sharpened slightly. "You're from New Earth?"

The name 'Bleich' could have originated from either Arcadia or New Earth, due to the mass migration thousands of years ago. But to Karna's growing anxiety, it was clear that Ivan already knew more than he was letting on. He seemed to know exactly where Karna came from.

"Ahaha... yes..." Karna laughed nervously, averting his eyes.

'It's over.'

Karna could barely hold back the tears threatening to spill. The realization hit him like a blow to the gut. He had worked so hard to get this far, but now it felt like everything was crumbling.

Smiths from New Earth had a terrible reputation in Arcadia. People there looked down on them—especially those from New Earth's peaceful lands. Their weapons weren't considered battle-hardened or reliable, simply because their world lacked the same violent history. To Arcadians, New Earth's craftsmen were seen as inferior.

"But your skin tone... You're from the Golden Lands of Indra."

Karna's breath hitched in his throat. His heart felt like it had stopped.

"...!"

His entire body tensed as Ivan's words sank in. His face went pale, the blood draining from it as panic set in.

"Uh... not really..." Karna stammered, his voice trembling, unable to string together a coherent excuse.

He had kept his origins a secret for good reason. If anyone discovered where he was truly from, and words spread, it would spell disaster—not just for him, but for his mother as well. His mind worked, trying to figure out how Ivan could have known. How had he guessed so easily?

Karna had no way of knowing that Ivan's knowledge wasn't just from observation. Ivan had read the story. He knew far more than Karna could have imagined.

Sure, Karna's olive skin tone wasn't entirely inexistent on New Earth, but Ivan's memories of Yvan's time on Earth allowed him to recognize the subtle differences. Karna's complexion was strikingly similar to those from the South Asian regions—if such places had existed in New Earth's history as South Asia didn't exist in New Earth.

However, Karna's skin was just a shade lighter, a clue that his heritage was mixed. Ivan quickly deduced that Karna's mother was likely from New Earth, while his father must have been from Arcadia's distant lands.

In Arcadia, there was a remote or rather one of the strongest Empires of Arcadia on a faraway continent where some people shared Karna's distinct complexion. Ivan recalled this vividly because it was linked to an important storyline that was yet to unfold—a Major Arc in the saga that would take Mordred there.