Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Chapter 56- Sudden meeting
“Guh…” Rudolph exhaled a choked breath, as he parted his eyes and looked at the first thing his eyes caught.

White ceiling.

The last thing he remembered was seeing the voice headmaster and warning him about the demons. Then…

“Where am I?”

“In the heavens, child.” Just as he asked the question, someone called out from his left.

Rudolph turned his head and found a familiar person sitting there.

With a weak smile, he uttered, “Although you are pretty as an angel, it doesn’t mean I will get fooled that easily.”

Hearing those words, Rhea blushed slightly and leaned forward. “How are you feeling now? Does it still hurt?” Her voice carried a mix of relief and concern.

Rudolph tried to move his body and indeed, there was some pain in his stomach and legs, “Kind of. But I know I will recover in a few days.”

Rhea heaved a sigh, “No need to rush, the headmaster has already given you a few weeks of leave.”

Rudolph shrugged, “The more free time the better. I can use that time to train.” He doesn’t like reading books and remembering things. The only reason he got admitted to Apex Circle was because of his strength.

“…hey, Rudolph…I am sorry for what happened back then.” Hearing Rhea’s slow muttering, the raven-haired was surprised,

Her tone caught him off guard, and he turned to look at her, his brows furrowing. “Why are you apologizing? It was my mistake for underestimating the enemy and charging in head-on. You don’t need to—”

“But-” she interrupted, “if I had listened to you and gone after the chanter like you suggested, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt. Valerie wouldn’t have…” Her words faltered as she trailed off. “I feel like it’s my fault.”

Rhea could shake off the feeling that she was, in a way, responsible for Rudolph’s situation. After all, he insisted she come and catch the chanter first and let Valerie deal with the monster.

And if Rhea hadn’t intervened, Valerie surely would have defeated that being.

Rudolph slowly moved his hand and held hers.

The slight connection made her jolt as she heard him saying, “…you are an idiot to blame yourself for this. You always intended to protect your classmates, and that’s not something you should feel shameful about.”

With his face adopting a warm smile, the boy added, “That’s a quality, I admire about you. Never blame yourself for it.”

Rhea was…stunned.

It was strange that days of pondering over the same thing, that if only she had done this or that, was quelled just by a few words of comfort.

Tears welled up in her eyes as Rhea, while wiping them, uttered, “Okay, I won’t blame myself if only you recover soon and get back to the training ground. We have a lot to catch up on.”

——-**—–

*SWISH*

Valerie’s eyes widened as she continued to dodge the relentless attacks from her beloved.

His precision was sharper, his focus unshaken, and his speed far beyond what she remembered. And not only that,

**CRACK**

Seeing the crack forming on the tree where her body was a moment ago, she could tell that his strength had improved as well.

She sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the dagger aimed at her. With a swift motion, she twisted his arm upward, forcing his hand open. In the same breath, she spun on her heel, her other hand darting in to snatch the dagger mid-air before it could fall.

“Agh!” Austin winced, disarmed in an instant, as Valerie stepped back, the dagger now firmly in her grasp.

“I lost.” Austin accepted his defeat before Valerie asked,

“Does it hurt?”

Austin shook his head, “Nothing to be worried about.” He rotated his wrist and found it just stinging a little.

“I must say, Austin, you have improved quite a lot in so little time. I have noticed that your unnatural growth is linked with the growth of your Shard.”

Austin couldn’t tell her that it was the system that was allowing him to elevate his stats.

“Maybe…” he shrugged, “Well, let’s get back and get changed?”

Valerie nodded before they walked back to their respective dorms to change.

It has been four days since that incident. After that day, Lord Corwin hasn’t contacted Valerie, nor has the girl shown any initiative to send him any letter.

En route, he asked the system,

‘Stats.’

[Combat: 28/100]

{Next reward at 40}

[Romance: 42/100]

{Next reward at 60}

[Durability: 30/100]

{Next reward at 40}

[Trickery: 21/100]

{Next reward at 35}

[Overall Progression: 28.5/100]

…

He advanced to the next stage in romance that day when he comforted Valerie in the gym.

As a reward, he received a bouquet of ever fragrant flowers, which he naturally gifted to Valerie.

She was happy receiving the flowers, to the point she was about to frame them until Austin told her the special thing about the flowers.

‘Hmm….my durability is increasing very slowly. System, assign me a quest.’

[Are you sure you want to use QoD for your durability enhancement?]

[Three consecutive failures would cease the Host’s authority over QoD.]

Austin affirmed, “Yes.”

[Ding…]

[Generating Quest…]

[Assessing current status…]

[Ding!]

[Quest: Endure these challenges to develop your durability:

Dive into water below 0°C for 100 minutes.

Perform 1,000 push-ups and run 50 km wearing weighted gear of 200kg.

Endure 50°C heat for 120 minutes.]

[Reward: +10 Durability, ???]

[Time limit: 2d 23h 59m]

“….” Austin was…taken aback.

This was the second time he demanded a quest and the system has begun showing its sadist side.

‘Well, durability means elevating endurance, so surely, these criteria would help my body to become more sturdy.’

To fulfill the challenges, he would need gemstones. Magic beast that gives gemstones cannot be found easily around the Academy, so there was no point trying to find one.

So he was left with only one option: buy the necessary equipment.

As for the weighted gears, then he would borrow them from the school gymnasium.

He didn’t have much time, so the workout part would need to be divided into two parts. And the endurance part would be done on alternative days.

*Knock*

“Young master.” Hearing the voice from the other end, Austin got up from the bed and approached the door.

While reading the necessity, Austin had taken a bath and changed his clothes, so there was no rush.

“Good morning, Sebastian.” Exchanging greetings with the butler, Austin was headed towards his office.

En route, Austin asked, “Can you bring me three Ice and three Fire Gemstones of the Third grade?”

Sebastian politely responded, “Understood; I will deliver it by tomorrow.”

Austin hummed before he and the butler walked inside the office.

Sebastian, upon finding them no longer in the range of being heard by others, spoke, “Young Master, I have some news to share regarding the Capital.”

Austin’s brows rose. “What news?”

Sebastian informed, “Recently, an emergency meeting was arranged. The situation with the kingdom in the far south looks dire.”

Austin frowned; there are seven major nations on the human side. And the nation of the far south was the second strongest country when it came to military strength.

Eryndor was strong but if only its allies keep supporting the kingdom.

Eryndor was the heart of trade that’s why four nations are in alliance with Eryndor. That’s why, until now, the nation in the South hasn’t done anything against Eryndor, despite their past grudges.

But now, ‘Hener must have pulled their hands…’ The greatest supplier of military supplies, the kingdom of Hener, would surely now backstab Eryndor.

Reason? Parkinson.

‘Has the plot shifted?’ Austin turned towards Sebastian, before asking,

“Can you find out what was discussed in that meeting?”

Sebastian seemed hesitant, “For that, I will need to visit the Capital.”

“Then please do so. I need to know if a war is approaching.”

Sebastian lowered his head, “As you command, sir.”

——-**——

Soon, Austin left the office, heading toward the school.

The situation with the capital was still unclear, so he didn’t ponder over it needlessly and decided to reach the rendezvous point on time.

Valerie was waiting for him there, however, unlike usual, there was no smile on her face.

Austin approached her, “Is everything good?”

Valerie smiled instantly seeing him, as she nodded, “Yes, I am fine.” Taking out a parchment, she showed him, “I just got this from Miss Norma.”

Austin frowned slightly upon hearing the name, as he asked, “If I am not wrong, she is the secretary of your father?”

“Yes, she is. I asked her to give me the list of people who contacted father before he came to meet me. I asked her to keep it a secret from father, but even if he finds out, he won’t mind.”

Austin raised his brows, “Did you suspect something?”

The violette nodded, “And my suspicion was right.”

She pointed at the specific name of the person who came to meet Lord Corwon, just two days before he arrived at the Academy.

‘The first Prince, Eryndor Aiden.’

——–**——-

A/N:- I hope you all are enjoying the story so far. Thank you for reading. Drop a commment.