Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Chapter 75- You are needed

The greatest happiness of a warrior is not to buy new equipment, rather, it is to find themselves progressing.

Just like how Austin was feeling currently.

*CLANG*

*SWAAAH*

Hia dagger parried the incoming blade before his fist dug a hole in the chest of the ninja, ceasing its existence in one blow.

The blond Prince didn’t stay there to marvel at his strength. Rather, he twirled on his feet, ducking low to dodge the incoming saber, before he plunged his elongated dagger into the ninja.

*SWAAAH*

If it was difficult for Austin to keep track of the dungeon dwellers when he entered the dungeon for the first time, then now, he was easily able to track their movements and react on time.

His reflexes and strength have elevated thanks to the progression he made yesterday.

*CLANG*

Sparks flew as Austin twisted his wrist, knocking aside another blade before driving his knee into the attacker’s ribs. The soldier barely had time to stagger before Austin’s dagger flashed—slicing cleanly through its throat.

He didn’t stop. He couldn’t.

Another enemy lunged from the shadows, but Austin was faster. He ducked, feeling the wind of a blade passing over his head, then shot up like a spring, slamming his dagger into the ninja’s chin. The force sent it flying back before it even had the chance to react.

*SWISH*

Austin tilted his head just in time as a blade passed from the spot, before the blond Prince grabbed the attacker’s wrist, twisting it before pulling the assailant in front.

Austin held the other hand of the ninja, before kicking it with enough force to send its body flying while its hands remained in Austin’s captive.

The ninja dissolved into nothingness before Austin continued to parry and counter whoever came in his way

Unlike before when they were coming in waves, now, they were attacking altogether.

From a different angle, it would have seemed horrifying to see a single human being surrounded by more than two hundred ambushers.

However, Austin didn’t let that information overwhelm his mind. Until he could see, he could fight.

*RUMBLE*

The swarm closed in.

Blades flashed from every direction.

Austin moved.

CLANG! He parried a sword, sidestepped a spear, then thrust—his dagger sinking into a ninja’s chest before he tore it out in a violent arc, severing another’s head in the same motion.

But they kept coming.

Austin moved his eyes restlessly on the battlefield, tracking the incoming enemies one after another.

Just as he found his body was getting a little slower, Austin jumped over the attack and landed on one of the soldier’s shoulder

Jumping high into the air, Austin summoned his beloved boomerang before throwing it towards the lot.

The moment Wisp left his hand, the air howled.

*SHHHHK*

The boomerang shot forward like a ghostly blade, cutting clean through the first row of enemies. It didn’t stop. It twisted mid-air, curving back toward Austin before veering sideways—tearing through another dozen ninjas in a single arc.

Limbs flew. Bodies dissolved into black mist.

Austin was brought down to the ground, as he landed with his elongated Shard piercing through the head of the ninja below him.

*Dhak*

Austin landed on the ground before ducking his head and extending his Shard enough to stab the nearby soldiers.

*SHWAAAA*

Austin continued to move restlessly around the ground, dominating the field with his speed and strength.

Slowly, the number went down, and his points continued to go up.

‘Just a little more…’

———-**———-

[A little while ago]

Morkel was in his office, arranging his notes and documents.

For the next month, he wasn’t scheduled for regular classes, that’s why he was planning to arrange all his documents in his free time.

‘Ah…’ He suddenly found a certain letter that brought back a few memories.

‘How can I forget about this…’ A nostalgic smile formed on his lips.

He joined the academy at the age of twenty-two—just right after he finished his diploma.

Initially, he wasn’t well accepted by the students, and despite his knowledge, he was told to teach the first year rather than the third.

From the Headmaster’s perspective, Morkel needed some experience in the initial phase.

He didn’t mind; he knew he had to become mature enough to handle mature students.

However, because of a lack of experience, he often made many mistakes in his initial days. He was clumsy and easily got intimidated. And because the Headmaster praised him, the other Professor didn’t like him much, so he was left alone to sort it out all by himself.

After one year, Morkel felt that he might not be good as a teacher. The students never took him seriously, and the other teachers only looked at him with pity.

He was tired…wanted to cry. He was a man, that’s why he wasn’t allowed to even cry in the open. And because he was an illegitimate child, there was no one to listen to his troubles.

That’s why, one day he decided to resign from his job and become a researcher. Although that job wouldn’t have paid well, at least he would get freedom from all this pressure.

One of those evenings when he was making his way to the Headmaster’s office, carrying his resigning letter in his hand, he suddenly stumbled into a certain pinkhead who recently joined the academy.

The letter from his hand dropped to the ground and before he could have picked it up, the girl crouched down to pick the letter.

Her brows were raised when she read the subject of the matter before she looked up at the Professor.

Morkel was quite embarrassed at that time since, because of his clumsiness, he wouldn’t be able to leave in silence as well.

However, the girl didn’t say anything regarding that and just handed the letter to him.

“T-Thank you…” Morkel, while stuttering, thanked the polite girl.

The girl didn’t respond to that; rather, while looking at him in the eyes, she uttered, “I loved your lectures…the only person whom I can understand in this academy. But I guess, it’s a tradition for everyone I like to leave one day.” Heaving a sigh, she added, “Anyway, farewell, teacher.”

Morkel was rendered speechless. He was never told that they loved his lectures…nor was he told that his presence was needed by someone.

Being practically an orphan, he has long lost the sensation of being liked by someone. To be needed by someone.

He remained rooted in his spot for a long time…before he turned around and decided not to resign.

He joined the academy because of his hobby of teaching…however, the reason he stayed was different. He stayed for a certain student.

Rhea.

‘Haah…some people might call me a creep…but only I know how pure my feelings are for you…’ Looking at the only picture he had in his diary, Morkel exhaled a long breath.

He didn’t know if she would ever accept him or not…however, until his last breath, Morkel had taken an oath to protect that smile on her face.

And to keep her smiling, there was someone who needed to disappear.

Austin.

———**——–

“Haah….haah….haah…fuck…” Austin collapsed on the ground. His Shard disintegrated, and his boomerang returned to his inventory as the teenager remained lying within the resting zone.

He finally defeated all the two hundred and fifty soldiers.

Initially, it was too easy…making him believe that it would be a piece of cake. However, soon he realized that, unlike a video game where you can spam moves against mobs, here things were different.

His opponents might be mindless creatures, but they still possessed the instincts of warriors.

It took a lot from him—seven slashes, fifteen bruises, and a broken tooth to defeat all of them.

However, thanks to all that hard work and pain, he was able to earn something very valuable,

[Total Points: 205-> 270]

Austin was slightly dissatisfied. The reason was the reduction of points per soldier as he advanced.

For the first hundred soldiers, it was 0.4.

For the next hundred, it went down to 0.2.

And the next fifty, 0.1.

‘You are such a cheapstake, system.’

Heaving a sigh, Austin got up from the ground but remained seated.

His legs were trembling as he looked at the timer.

[10:31]

There were still ten minutes left for him to rest. However, considering the being he needs to fight, these ten minutes were far too less.

[Name: Commander Red Wing]

[Rank: B-]

Austin exhaled a weary breath, ‘Wasn’t this dungeon supposed to be filled with just C-ranks?’

[Ding!]

[Indeed, host. However, after calculating the time it took for the host to defeat all the soldiers, and the stats progression the host earned, the Boss level was increased accordingly.]

“…” This was like asking him how much he tries to farm EXP through mobs, the dungeon boss would always be a rank higher than him.

‘Well, not like I am here for an easy battle.’ Tearing his shirt sleeve, he wrapped it around his wounded elbow.

Once done, Austin got up and summoned his weapon.

The timer ticked towards the zero, as Austin prepared himself.

‘Just for the last time…’

*Bzzz*

The buzzer echoed as Austin took a step forward—only to find his vision turning blurry.

“Huh…”