Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Chapter 48- Let’s go hunting
Valerie was mentally exhausted so she fell asleep not so long after.

Austin remained sitting on the bed beside her, once he draped a duvet over the girl.

The situation with the demon was not following the canonical events.

Originally, the demon should have realized the potential of Rhea and should have approached her. However, Austin knew that with Valerie’s presence in the academy, they would target her. As such, despite knowing that they were being heard, he voiced the code and wrote a note to Valerie to remain cautious.

The reason they are targeting students even though there are far stronger people in the academy—the Vice-headmaster for example—reveals their future plans.

‘The tournament…’ They would be targeting some specific students to recruit them during the tournament. As such, the presence of variables who hold strong minds and overwhelming strength, like Valerie, needs to be eliminated beforehand.

‘They will try to convince them to join and if they get rejected, they will kill them during the tournament…’

Shaking away those thoughts, Austin took the parchment he received from Sebastian. It was the report from the instructors regarding the interrogation.

There was nothing much, other than,

[Infiltrated, caught, escaped, searching, eliminated, taken over.]

These were a few comprehensible words the demon spat out before the vow killed it.

The Vow on the Demon kind doesn’t allow them to betray their kins. That’s why, Austin was surprised that even this much was extracted from the demons.

‘Hmm…let’s see….infiltrated the academy. They were caught…hmm…caught while chanting the barrier? Possibly. Escaped…who? Searching who? The escaped one? And then eliminate them? Taken over…what, academy? No, if that was spoken for their intention, then it should have been ‘take over’, not ‘taken over.’ It means they have taken over something already. But what-ah! Identities, maybe.’

Austin was rummaging through his memories, piecing his knowledge of the game and the current situation.

‘Although it was just a minor change, various things have been altered…’ Austin fighting for Valerie’s sake and preventing her from getting suspended has changed the focus of various foes’ in her direction.

Although Austin could never regret standing up for his lover, he was feeling a little apprehensive about the future.

Valerie’s presence has outshined Rhea’s as such, it was inevitable for her always to be surrounded by danger.

“mm…” Hearing her mumbling, Austin’s eyes directed toward his beloved.

Her serene sleeping face allowed his heart to regain its composure as he brought his hand toward her face and softly caressed her cheek,

“While I have you by my side…I know nothing can go wrong.”

Austin remained seated there for a bit longer before he turned his eyes toward the window.

Getting up, he took out the Stopwatch from his inventory and opened the window.

The radiant moonlight converged and fell on the artifact.

Austin knew that today was a full moon night, so he chose to use the watch rather than the Mask he got from the system. He didn’t want to surprise Valerie with the sudden use of an unidentified and unlicensed artifact.

“Hmm?” His eyes suddenly spotted a lone figure in the backyard, who was swinging his sword even though it was almost midnight.

Once Austin filled the Stopwatch’s energy to the brim, he glanced at Valerie once before jumping through the window and landing a few meters behind Rudolph.

“Hey, you okay?” Although Austin knew that the big guy liked to train, it was still quite unusual for him to neglect his routine and remain awakened for this long.

Rudolph paused mid-swing and turned to look at him, “Did I disturb your sleep?”

Austin shook his head, “I wasn’t sleeping. Anyway, is everything alright with you?”

Austin has noticed that ever since Rudolph has returned from the forest, he has remained isolated. He doesn’t even approach Rhea and mostly remains silent.

Rudolph remained hesitant for a moment…but then he revealed, “After what I faced in the forest…I am quite shaken up.”

Austin raised his brows, as he asked, “I never got to hear it from you. What exactly did you see?”

Rudolph planted his large sword on the ground, as he muttered, “It was a figure enshrouded in a cloak. I was only able to see its silver hair and golden eyes, while I tried to fight that being.”

Looking annoyed, he clenched his fist and uttered, “It was frustrating to lose to that creature, who tried to harm my friends. I wish I had been stronger I would have captured that bastard.”

Austin hummed, and after crossing his arms, he asked, “So you are punishing yourself because Rhea got injured?”

“…in a way, yes.”

Austin heaved a sigh, “Look Rud, there was nothing else you could have done. Disrupting the barrier was quite important as well. So stop punishing yourself.”

Rudolph nodded, “Thanks for that…well, I also understand that pushing myself like this won’t do. I need to progress slowly.”

Austin nodded in agreement, “Indeed, and if you get injured while overworking yourself, Rhea will blame herself.”

Rudolph rubbed the back of his head, “Well, can’t let that happen.”

A brief pause descended between them, before Rudolph said, “I will be going to train in the forest after classes tomorrow…sparring against students is not helping me, so I am thinking of learning from real challenges.”

Austin was surprised, “You know its not allowed us to explore the forest without permission, right?”

Rudolph scoffed, “I know I won’t grow strong unless I take some risk. And that goes for you too, Austin…unless you don’t take some risk, you will always get protected by Valerie, just like how she protected you back in the forest.”

Austin clenched his fist as his gaze drew to the ground.

Rudolph stepped forward before suggesting, “We should be strong enough to protect the ones we love. That’s why I am suggesting you come with me and explore new challenges.”

Austin looked up at him before asking, “Will that help?”

Rudolph assured him, “I have gone hunting several times before joining the academy, so I know how much one develops their skills out in the wild rather than getting taught by these instructors.”

Austin slowly nodded, “You are right…however, the problem is Sebastian. He will not allow me to go.”

“Then don’t tell him,” Rudolph instantly added, “We will just leave for the forest right after the final bell, and escape through the back gate of the school.”

Austin pondered for a moment, before nodding, “Okay then, let’s go hunting. Just the two of us.”

Rudolph shook Austin’s hand, and not so long after, they decided to retire to their rooms.

Just as Rudolph turned, Austin asked, “Hey, where is your beloved dagger? You aren’t carrying it?”

Rudolph turned still for a moment before turning towards the blond; he said, “…I kept it in my room since it was a bother to carry around.”

“Hmm…well, good night. See you tomorrow.”

———-**———

“Did he suspect anything?” Just as Rudolph entered his room, a voice called out; however, the raven-haired ignored the other one, and first, he rested his sword against the wall.

Walking toward the cupboard he took out a dry towel, and began wiping his face when he heard,

“Is he coming along or not?” The other one asked again, urging Rudolph to say,

“Yeah, he is. However, I don’t think that butler would not follow him.”

There was an annoyed sneer on his face as Rudolph…or the demon sat down and faced his brethren.

“That butler is dangerous. He can sense our presence and is quite wicked for an old man. We need to pay close attention.” The other demon added.

However, the demon impersonating Rudolph shook his head, “If that butler follows we won’t take Austin as a hostage. It would be too dangerous.”

The other demon didn’t say anything since, after a bit of contemplation, he also agreed.

These two demons weren’t strong enough to go against Sebastian, whose rank and experience are unknown.

Sebastian was the only one who sensed the witchcraft that was used to chant the barrier. Sebastian even attacked the barrier at the exact spot, where the demon was standing on the other side.

As such, it becomes necessary to avoid confrontation with that butler, since they could no longer make any mistakes in this mission. They have already lost their brother today.

Originally, they didn’t plan on kidnapping Austin; however, after realizing the real mastermind behind this incident, they decided to take Austin as a hostage and use him to lure Valerie into their trap.

And once Austin’s purpose would be fulfilled, the blond Prince would be bestowed with the most gruesome death.

‘Just you wait Austin….I swear I will make you pay for the death of my brother. Just a few more hours, enjoy your freedom as much as you can.’

——–**——-

A/N:- I hope you all enjoyed reading the chapter. I am searching for Valerie and Austin’s images, but if you have suggestions, post them here or on my discord.

Thanks for reading.