Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 96

“Is that so?” Aiden had a pretty smile on his face as he heard the report of the two soldiers he sent behind Austin and the other two.

He wanted to make sure that his dear younger brother reached the Academy safely. As a responsible older brother, it was the least he could have done for his beloved younger brother.

However, the two soldiers who were after the carriage, completely lost track of them after crossing the city on the north. They said the carriage vanished all of a sudden.

Wow.

*SQUELCH*

A sword was pierced into the man on the left, his blood gushing out from the cut, as he struggled to breathe, “How diligently do you two receive the monthly wages?”

*PULL*

*SQUELCH*

“Aghhhh!”

Pulling the blade, he stabbed the soldier again, using his skill to make them lose their focus and leave no room for retaliation.

With a smile never leaving his face, he pulled the sword again, “And when I truly needed you,” *STAB*

“Ahhhhh! Young master! Ple-pleass…d-d-don’t kill me…m-my family…”

Aiden’s grin widened, “Oh you have a family? Then surely, I can’t let them experience the pain of living without you right?” Those words caused the dying soldier’s eyes to widen in shock, as he begged,

“P-Pl-Please…”

Aiden snarled before pulling out his sword and beheading the man at once.

*Thud*

The head of the man fell to the ground followed by his lifeless body.

Aiden allowed his Shard to disintegrate before he turned towards the other one.

“You…your name is Aton, right? How much do you love your life?”

The soldier fell to his knees, and with his head lowered, he voiced, “Just one chance, sir…I will even kill the Second Prince for you.” His voice was shaky and the whole person looked on the verge of fainting under the effect of Aiden’s skill.

Aiden rolled his eyes, “I will be doing the honor of killing that swine. You just need to go and check whether he has actually reached the academy or not. If you don’t return by the third day, you know what will happen to you.”

The soldier didn’t utter another word before disappearing from the room.

Aiden heaved a sigh, before he called out, “Send someone to clean this mess.”

°°°°°°°°

Austin discussed the plan with Sebastian regarding renting a Vessel from the port and reaching Drenovar through waterways.

“That ..is a good plan and would give us some breathing space during our visit.” Sebastian voiced.

After reaching Drenovar, they would need to first assess the situation before executing their plan, and considering only thirteen days remain before the tournament begins, they need to make it quick.

Now, under these circumstances, using the straight path would take a lot of time in traveling and very little time to prepare. Not to talk about the exhaustion of the journey and possible battles they might need to face en route.

As such, “We should follow the plan Lady Valerie suggested.” Sebastian landed on the decision.

“Then what about the Council?” Austin asked.

Sebastian told them, “I can help you disguise completely. However, under no circumstances could you two get into a battle with anyone when we were there since after your battle, Young Master, you had during the trials would surely have piqued the Council’s curiosity.”

Austin nodded, “True. Then we are taking the risk and renting the Vessel.”

On that note, everyone finished their dinner and decided to call it a day.

….

Austin was sitting by the campfire, keeping an eye on the surroundings.

Naturally, in this environment, it would be dangerous for everyone to sleep.

Sebastian volunteered to remain awake, but Austin used his authority as his master and told him to immediately go to sleep.

Unlike Austin and Valerie, who got some hours of rest during their journey, the older one hadn’t slept a wink since he left the Academy.

‘Ah, that reminds me System…what were you saying when I launched toward the Golem?’ Austin remembered that he told the system to improve his Durability before he went for the frontal attack.

[The host has to specify how many points need to be used to increase Durability stats.]

“…” Austin was rendered speechless for a moment, before he asked, ‘Did you not improve my Durability then?’

[No, host :)]

The audacity of the system to put that smiley near the end…

A frown marred Austin’s face as he asked, ‘Then how did I tank that much recoil and the force behind the Golem’s attack without breaking my arm?’

That much force would have shattered his arm completely and might have led to some serious damage. However, all Austin broke was his middle and index finger.

[Ding!]

[The Kinetic Discharge creates a field of energy around the discharge point, that prevents the host from taking any recoil damage.]

Austin raised his brows, ‘Then what about the punch of that Golem.’

[The host’s physical tolerance is much more than his tolerance toward extreme heat and cold, due to his last confrontation against the Giants.]

Austin hummed; understandable.

The fact is that his stats only increase when all the sub-stats increase.

His physical stats might continue to increase, but until he doesn’t improve his tolerance toward other things, like hot, cold, poison, and potions, he won’t be able to progress his Durability.

And because of that, he needs to ask for some quests.

‘Well, not now, since I need to focus on the task at hand.’ He couldn’t have himself drugged under the requirement of the quest while he was on his way to Drenovar. It would be disastrous.

*Scruff*

Austin heard something shuffling from his left but he didn’t panic, and asked,

“Can’t sleep?”

Valerie slowly came out of the small tent Sebastian had planted earlier.

The man himself was sleeping in a sleeping bag under the starry sky while offering the small tent to the two teenagers.

Valerie sat down on the same log as him and shook her head, “I already had plenty of rest.”

She extended her hands and allowed her reddened hands to get some much-needed warmth.

The month was nearing Polaris—the last four months that ended a year, which explains the sudden temperature drop.

Austin summoned a blanket from his inventory while pretending to pull it from beside him before he draped it over her shoulder and scooted closer to get into the same blanket.

“Let me warm you up.” Austin held her cold hands between his and rubbed them softly.

The sudden intimacy made the girl’s cheeks glow with slight crimson but the smile on her face made it clear that she welcomed the closeness.

For a few moments, there was silence between them. The only sound around them was the crackling fire and the hooting of nocturnals.

Breaking the ice, Austin asked, “Val, what aim did you have when you joined the Academy?”

Valerie was surprised by being asked about her intentions suddenly.

For a moment, she thought of making up some pretty lies, but then, she had already taken an oath to never lie to her beloved.

Lowering her gaze, and a smile extending the edges of her lips, she said, “I…see you as my idol. Back then, I only wished to walk on the same path as you, that’s why I joined the academy.”

Austin raised his brows, “You…didn’t come here because this was your best choice?”

Valerie shook her head, “I actually…got an invitation from Ravencourt when the news of my Third Evolution went out.”

Austin’s eyes widened. The Ravencourt?!

The strongest nation in existence, and the academy ranking at the top?

A student dreams of studying in that prestigious Academy and three Pillars of Union have been admitted from the central academy of Ravencourt.

“Val…you rejected that offer because of me?”

Valerie instantly shook her head, “It wasn’t like I rejected them solely because of you since I didn’t want to betray my homeland…but yes, majorly, it was because I wanted to be near you.”

She turned silent after that.

Austin heaved a long sigh upon hearing that. She has rejected the offer to join the Council and the greatest academy out there just because of him.

Valerie was slightly anxious that her Lord might tell her that she was wrong in making such a rash decision. However,

“Truth to be told…I can’t say that I am disappointed in your decision. True…you would have made your name worldwide if you had joined that academy…but still,”

With a smile that was warmer than the campfire, Austin said, “…I am happy that you stayed by my side. Thank you, Valerie.”

Valerie’s eyes kept on his; a lot of words were exchanged, but not a word was spoken.

They just kept looking at each other for a long time, and that was enough to tell her how glad he was that she didn’t go.

They, slowly, were understanding each other’s emotions better…feelings closer as the day passed.

There were numerous emotions they had felt for each other in the past. Grief, betrayal, regret, and whatnot.

However, beyond all those thorny paths, what remained was the beautiful feeling of love.

°°°°°°°

A/N:- Happy Valentine’s Day. Thanks for reading.