The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix's Novels Also Desires Happiness Chapter 77: The Return of the Crooked-Mouthed Dragon King

"Saint Maria Academy... I’m back."

Inside the low-profile, luxurious black carriage, Ariel Bugalde lifted a corner of the curtain, her gaze drifting past the towering statues that guarded the main gate, locking onto the solemn buildings half-hidden in the depths beyond.

Saint Maria Academy.

One of the Empire’s top-tier academies, boasting an unparalleled faculty and abundant resources— a sacred land countless students dread of entering.

There was even a saying about Saint Maria Academy: Even a filthy toad who crawls through these gates will graduate a graceful, noble swan.

Of course, that was pure exaggeration. But still, it spoke volus about the Academy's overwhelming prestige.

"Has it really been a whole year?"

Ariel’s eyes glinted with quiet sentint.

A year ago, after her °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° mother’s illness claid her life, Ariel had been brought back by her father, the Count—transforming overnight from a re commoner into the Count of Bugalde’s third daughter.

But becoming the Count’s daughter hadn’t made her life any better. Quite the opposite. Her status as an illegitimate child made her a pri target for ridicule among the so-called "pureblood" nobles at the Academy.

Especially him.

Muen Campbell.

The most detestable of them all.

Always picking fights, always laying traps—every ti they crossed paths, he would sneer at her with that sa line: “Filthy lowborn mutt tainted by cheap blood.”

But what made it truly unbearable—was that he was the fiancé of Her Highness, Princess Celicia.

How the hell does he deserve that?!

Celicia, with her cold elegance, her unmatched grace and brilliance—Ariel had long since reserved the position of "Crystal Palace Master" exclusively for her.

Muen Campbell? How does that bastard deserve her?!

It was infuriating. If not for the invincible halo of being a Duke's son wrapped around him, Ariel would’ve already scrambled his tofu-filled brain and kicked his crippled body off a cliff to keep him from polluting the environnt.

Fortunately, even without her doing the honors, Muen Campbell was still a pathetic waste of space.

Arrogant, lazy, utterly incompetent, with his head so far in the clouds it was a miracle he could still breathe.

Rumor had it, over an entire academic year, the only magic he managed to learn was an Illumination Spell. The poor magic professor, Professor Pran, was so infuriated he couldn’t sleep for three nights.

Every ti Ariel saw Muen flaunting his fiancé status to shalessly cling to Celicia, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Keep acting, idiot. You can’t even see the disgust in Celicia’s eyes, can you?

Soone as icy as her probably hated clingy trash the most—especially the type that sticks like gum under your shoe and never lets go.

"If you want to win Celicia over, obviously you have to work hard like —build yourself up, climb higher, and make your move when the ti’s right."

Ariel's lips curved into her signature crooked smirk, irreverent and full of confidence.

"In just one year, I went from so ordinary commoner who’d never even seen real magic— to a powerhouse holding first place across the entire grade.

And during the short two-month holiday, I crushed my two idiot brothers and officially secured my status as the Count's successor.

I bet even Celicia won’t be able to ignore for long.

It’s finally ti. I can use swordsmanship lessons as an excuse to get close to her, brush up the favorability points, slip in a few casual touches...

Over ti... heh, Celicia's mine, sooner or later!"

Balling her fists with excitent, Ariel couldn't help but quietly celebrate the perfection of her plan.

After adjusting the tie of her Academy uniform, she stepped off the carriage, carrying her anticipation and determination straight through the grand gates.

Unfortunately, her mont of joy was short-lived—shattered by a few brainless morons who didn’t know their place.

"Well, well, if it isn’t the filthy little lowborn mutt. No wonder the Academy's air suddenly reeks—it’s you."

Ariel’s expression darkened as she raised her eyes to the group of noble sons blocking her path.

Her tone went cold. "Eamon, here to bark on your master's orders again?"

Muen Campbell. The Duke's bastard with the infamous reputation that no one decent wanted to be associated with. And yet, there were always power-hungry mutts eager to wag their tails behind him.

Eamon here? The loudest one in Muen’s pack.

"Bark? Don’t like that word," Eamon sneered, stepping in close, using his height to tower over Ariel.

"Ariel Bugalde—still just gutter trash raised by peasants. No manners at all. Is that how you speak to your seniors?"

Ariel’s eyes flashed with thinly veiled disdain. "I speak human to people, dog to dogs. Fair, polite, equal treatnt for all—that’s always been my motto."

The mont the word lowborn hit her ears, icy sharpness flickered in her gaze.

"So, senior, got anything else to yap about? If not, kindly get lost. Unlike you leeches, I don’t have ti to waste on aningless nonsense."

"Tch. Since you’re so eager, guess I won’t bother hiding it."

Eamon peeled off one of his gloves, smacking it down in front of Ariel with a crisp slap.

"I challenge you, Ariel Bugalde!"

"...Hah?"

Ariel blinked, dumbfounded.

Again?

How many tis had these idiots challenged her already?

Three tis last sester alone?

What, did they form a conga line to get their asses kicked?

"Hmph, last ti we underestimated you—sent that idiot Gru to deal with you, never expected you’d have a breakthrough mid-fight.

But this ti's different. I’ll personally deal with you. I’ll make sure you taste the humiliation of defeat—then the whole Academy will laugh at you!"

Eamon's vicious threat practically dripped with confidence.

Yeah, sure. You’re a fourth-year challenging a second-year. Even if I lost, no one with a brain would laugh at .

But you, publicly challenging like this—aren’t you the one embarrassing yourself?

Ariel ntally sighed.

She really wondered if all of Muen Campbell’s cronies had tofu for brains from hanging around him too long.

Here we go again...

"Poor Ariel, always getting harassed by those bastards."

"When will soone finally deal with that damn Campbell..."

"Shhh, keep your voice down, don’t let his dogs hear you!"

A crowd had started to gather.

Most of them were ordinary students who didn’t give a damn about her illegitimate status. Sympathy filled their eyes—so even quietly cheered her on.

"Ariel, you’ve got this! I believe in you!"

But of course, others weren’t so optimistic.

"Sigh... Ariel's in real trouble this ti. Eamon's one of the top dogs in fourth year, they call him the ‘Campbell Wolf.’ His Blood Wolf Summoning is so refined even the professors praise him.

Even if Ariel beat Gru from third year, facing soone like Eamon... doesn’t look good."

"..."

Hearing those reasonable, logical analyses, Ariel's lips twitched.

Sa script, different nas. Haven’t I heard this lecture a dozen tis already?

And every ti...she shoved their words right back down their throats.

This ti? No different.

A fire of battle-lust ignited behind Ariel's eyes.

Her blood boiled with the thrill of it.

The Campbell Wolf? Fine. Let’s test my training over the holiday break.

Besides, crushing a fourth-year as a fresh second-year? That'll definitely catch Celicia's attention.

Ariel smirked crookedly. "Alright, I accep—"

But before she could finish, a ripple of murmurs tore through the crowd. Soone whispered sharply:

"It’s Muen Campbell!"