Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Chapter 77- The obstacle

[Combat: 38/100]

{Next reward at 40}

[Romance: 42/100]

{Next reward at 60}

[Durability: 50/100]

{Next reward at 60}

[Trickery: 21/100]

{Next reward at 35}

[Overall Progression: 40.5/100]

[Next Reward at 50]

…

Austin was back in his room. Through his blurry gaze, he saw his stats and felt a smile stretching his lips.

He…finally defeated that armored bastard. It was difficult, painful, and life-threatening, but he was able to flip the table and, in the end, dominate the field.

“Fuck…my bones are still shaky…” He knew it was just his shaken mental state influencing him, but he couldn’t do anything about it.

His clothes were all clean, and his wounds had disappeared. However, if he were to be told to fight even an E-rank, he might pass out just by a single attack.

‘System…how many points?’

[Ding!]

[You have gained 250 points!]

[Points: 520]

Austin’s lips stretched into a grin, this was sweet.

He looked outside and found it had already turned dark. Although he was hungry, nothing could move him as of now.

As such, closing his eyes, Austin fell asleep.

———–**———–

*SHLINK*

*CRACK*

Rhea stood behind the training doll, her Shard glowing with raw energy and her chest heaving in labored breathing.

However, the most noticeable thing about the situation was that the training doll was cleaved in perfect two—something that took her seventeen attempts to achieve.

A sense of pride and excitement bloomed in her chest as she looked at the fallen piece of doll.

Rhea roamed her eyes to see if someone else also saw the achievement…however, there was none,

“Well, not like I was doing it to impress someone.” Rhea allowed her Shard to disintegrate as she began walking to her dorm.

Thanks to Valerie’s advice, upon Austin’s insistence, she was able to realize the most basic yet severe problem with her spell casting.

Her emotions.

Rhea always has been an emotional girl who couldn’t hide her sentiments well, and definitely not control them as well.

An example of such was that incident when Valerie snapped her sword in two, because of Rhea’s outburst.

Recalling that incident with the Illusion Monkey, Rhea couldn’t help but shudder.

That day…Valerie could have easily killed her if she wanted to.

*Click*

Entering her dorm room, she decided to take a bath first.

After sweating for so long she was feeling all sticky.

So after letting go of her training uniform, the girl dipped into the water.

“Haah~feels so good.” A smile blossomed on her face as she felt her sore muscles receiving some much-needed relaxation.

Opening her eyes, Rhea’s eyes traveled towards her collarbone….there were several marks and cuts that flawed her skin.

As a girl, she had always been a little hesitant about the scars since other girls always applied potions or got themselves treated when they received a wound, resulting in no permanent scar at all.

However, Rhea never had the privilege so numerous marks tainted her body.

The only person who had seen her body beneath her neck was Parkinson.

She was once trying on a low-cut dress for the farewell celebration of the third year….however, she didn’t take many steps out of the dorm before changing her mind.

The shallow marks on her body made her look ugly in her opinion that’s why she planned on changing…only for Parkinson appear out of nowhere and say something that changed her mind,

‘Those marks aren’t scars but the medals of your bravery. And my dear Rhea, you don’t hide your medals right?’

Although she never reached the venue since a fight broke out and the ceremony was canceled, she lost her hesitation that day.

At that time…everything was fine.

She deemed Parkinson as her good friend. He always appeared whenever she felt lonely or disoriented. He always said the thing which she desired to hear the most at that moment.

But…now she realized that his intentions towards her were never revolving around friendship.

Clenching her fist, she muttered under her breath, “I wish we never meet again, Park.”

———–**———-

“So, are you prepared, my son?” Zurkis asked with a wide grin on his face and his eyes turned crescent.

He was holding a goblet of wine as he sat on the dining table with his wife and son to enjoy the celebratory feast.

“Yeah, kinda,” Parkinson spoke as he slowly ate the meat with all the elegance.

His mother, Shafina El Hener, looked at her son and spoke with her eyes narrowed, “That get-up has ruined your looks. I am displeased.”

The lady has long, flowing, pale purple hair and sharp green eyes. A mole under her left eye added charm to her looks. And top of it, a figure that could make a man drool.

Being such a beauty, she always cared about her son’s looks and aesthetics. That’s why this disguise made her feel unpleasant.

“You haven’t pursued someone in life, that’s why you won’t know,” Parkinson replied.

Shafina chuckled, “I had men running behind me all their lives, but I only chose the wealthiest one. It’s all come to whom you find most advantageous to you, in life.”

Parkinson rolled his eyes, “Calling yourself a gold-digger is wild.”

Shafina giggled as she held her husband’s hand and added, “I did fall for this man later, but initially, it was all about his worth.”

Zurkis kissed the back of her hand to show his affection for the woman he had ever allowed himself to love.

With her eyes turning serious, she looked at her son, and told him, “That’s why, Son, you need to think first—is this girl really worth your attention-”

*CLANG*

Parkinson broke the plate in two with the fork as he stared at his mother dead in the eye.

“Rhea isn’t a thing, whose worth I will evaluate. Even if she had been crippled and the ugliest girl in the world, I still would have chosen her.”

Saying so, Parkinson got up from the table and walked away.

Zurkis heaved a sigh, “Dear, I told you to not talk about that girl.”

Shafina casually stabbed her fork into the small tomato and said, “I just wanted to see how mad he is for that girl.”

With her eyes holding a subtle killing intent, she added, “And now that I have seen how far he can go for her, as his mother, it’s my duty to not let anyone come between them.”

Zurkis raised his brows, “Have you thought of something?”

Shafina grinned, “This brat, Austin, who framed our son…do you think I will let him off the hook so easily?”

The woman suddenly took out a folded parchment with the official stamp of El Hener present on it.

Zurkis frowned before taking the parchment from the woman as he heard her saying,

“We will offer Eryndor a helping hand during this time of crisis. We will provide military supplies at lower rates because this is an emergency situation. And more so, we can even provide the high-grade potions which are Hener’s specialty.”

With a malicious grin extending her lips, she added, “And in exchange, they only exile a certain Prince.”

——**——

*Knock*

Sebastian frowned. This was the second time he knocked but his master hadn’t responded yet.

*Knock*

A third time. Even if he had been in the bathroom he would have called out to wait.

Using his authority as his guardian, he unlocked the door and walked inside, “Young Master-”

However, the sight awaiting inside completely baffled Sebastian.

“U-Umm…” Valerie’s face couldn’t have been any more redder as she remained tightly encaged in her Lord’s arms.

….

To explain the situation, let’s go back three hours in time,

Valerie had an appointment with her Lord at the training ground to do some final touch-ups and discuss their plans.

She was waiting for him until half past the designated time, yet he didn’t arrive.

It was uncommon for Austin to arrive late, which made Valerie worried.

Several thoughts began disturbing her, and in the end, she ended up sneaking inside his room.

“Hmm?” However, she was surprised to find that he was doing the most obvious thing that made him late.

Sleeping.

His peacefully sleeping face was quite calming and fascinating.

During the battle, he always makes such an intense face that leaves Valerie all hot and bothered. She always feels that if he ever commands her to even jump into a river with that expression, she would obediently do so.

And when he is with her, that warm smile never leaves his face. That expression gives her a very fuzzy feeling and wants to make her cherish the moment.

“Hmm?” Without noticing she was a lot closer to his face than a maiden should be.

Her face began to get hot by his breath as she gazed at those thin lips. That reminded her of that kiss she shared with him for the first time.

That was her first kiss. And she will always remember it since, as going against her manners, she kissed her Lord on her initiative.

Slowly bringing her fingers toward his lips, she wanted to touch them, when suddenly,

*Clench*

Even while soundly asleep, Austin grabbed her hand and under Valerie’s widened gaze, she was pulled to the bed.

“You aren’t escaping…until…I am satisfied…”

As such, as a dutiful wife, she didn’t try to escape.

…

And now,

“Fufu~sorry for this old one to disturb the two love birds.” Sebastian chuckled before he gave a slight bow and walked out of the room.

Valerie was on the verge of dying of embarrassment!

“Mm…don’t go…”

…or maybe, she will live, thanks to her Lord.