Reincarnate as the Villainess's Husband - Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Man or Woman
As the sun slowly rose over the horizon, Neonidas stood up and stepped onto the balcony. On the bed, Yuanna’s vibrant yet lifeless-looking naked body lay face down. Even the soft breeze brushing against her bare, full hips didn’t prompt her to pull the blanket over herself—she was too drained. Yet, all the effort had been Neonidas’s; Yuanna had merely watched. She was too exhausted from all the hot lovemaking all night to move and her whole body ached, especially in her groin.

Neonidas settled into a chair on the balcony and poured himself a glass of wine, sipping it leisurely as he took in the majestic view of the endless ocean.

“Shitt… this world is better than I though Even though I still think your novel is a piece of trash, Eva, I suppose I should thank you for writing it.”

He stayed there for a while longer, savoring the wine and the beautiful scenery, until the growl of his stomach interrupted his peace. Given the energy he had expended, his hunger was understandable.

Taking a deep breath, Neonidas set the wineglass on the table and stood up. As he stepped back inside, Yuanna still lay motionless. With a slight smirk, he murmured, “At the very least, you’ve earned some rest.”

His footsteps echoed softly as he moved through the grand room and headed to the dining hall. The hall’s opulence was dazzling—marble floors, gold-embellished wall ornaments, and fresh flowers on the table were constant reminders of Neonidas’s new life of luxury. The head butler, Gregor, immediately noticed his arrival and bowed deeply.

“My lord, is there anything special you would like for breakfast?” Gregor inquired in his usual composed tone.

Neonidas waved a hand dismissively as he approached the corner table. “Prepare something with meat. Include fruit, fresh bread, and some cheese. Also, prepare a tray for Yuanna. She’ll need time to recover.”

Gregor nodded and quickly disappeared into the kitchen. Neonidas sat down at the table, staring at the empty surface as his thoughts wandered.

When he finally reached for a slice of bread, the servants entered silently with a tray prepared for Yuanna. Neonidas turned his head slightly and instructed, “Take the tray to her room. I want that to be the first thing she sees when she wakes up. Also, draw a bath for her and prepare some nourishing fruits. She is also forbidden to eat anything that could harm pregnant women, including alcohol”

The servants bowed respectfully and left to carry out his orders. Neonidas returned his focus to his meal, savoring every bite slowly. He relished the rich flavors and took in his luxurious surroundings with a newfound awareness. Although he had initially resented coming to this world, much of his frustration stemmed from the body he had reincarnated into. However, he was gradually adapting and even beginning to repair Neonidas’s tarnished reputation.

After finishing a breakfast fit for three, Neonidas stood and made his way to the treasure room. He had been too busy until now—between the high court, reforms in the city, and caring for Yuanna. There hadn’t been much time for himself.

Entering the treasure room, which once belonged to Marquis Alexsaz, his eyes immediately fell on the gold ingots. The room held at least 10,000 gold coins’ worth of wealth, an immense fortune. Scattered throughout the room were also jewels, precious stones, and ancient artifacts.

In the back, however, lay a sandy area filled with a few dozen plants. Though uprooted long ago, they were remarkably vibrant. One of these plants alone was enough to heal Solara and even enhance her powers. These rare and expensive plants, found only on a distant continent, were likely intended as a legacy for the Marquis’s descendant, as there was enough to last generations.

Neonidas picked one of the plants and brought it to his mouth. As he chewed its leaves, a powerful sensation surged through his body. Warmth spread from his head down to every part of him, intense and all-encompassing. The plant’s effects quickly took hold, making him feel stronger, sharper, and more energetic. A sense of clarity washed over him; everything seemed sharper and more vivid. Curious about the extent of his newfound strength, he pulled out his mirror and activated the system.

__________

Name: Neonidas

House Name: Oreoned

Age: 21

Intelligence: 4 (?)

Strength: 42 (+14)

Agility: 43 (+18)

Mana: 330 (+55)

Mentality: 3 (?)

Charisma: 20

Special Powers: Heart of light

Passive Abilities: Poison Immunity, Some of the Great Wolf’s passive abilities, Sensitivity to light

Bloodline: (?)

System Comment: Damn it… Fine, I’ll admit you’re strong now, but what matters is how you use that strength. For example, that power could be used to…

[Total Stat Points:12 (24)]

__________

Seeing the system’s comment, Neonidas muttered a few curses under his breath. The system, which typically gave short remarks, had now delivered an unusually long comment—so much so that it didn’t even appear fully in the mirror. He began to wonder if the system held a grudge against him, but then he recalled that the person who designed the system—technically his god—was his ex. That revelation made the system’s animosity a bit more understandable.

However, what truly caught Neonidas’s attention was the Mana stat. It had nearly tripled. Of course, the plant might not always be this potent, or it could sometimes be defective, but fortunately, Neonidas had experienced no such issues. Moreover, the additional points granted by his magical wolf companion, Fenrilia, also seemed to have increased. Fenrilia was growing stronger with each passing day and would likely regain her form-shifting ability soon.

Neonidas left the treasure room, considering giving one of the plants to Fenrilia as well.

—–

A massive troll lay on the ground, drenched in blood. Standing over it was a man with long white hair, pulling his staff from the troll’s eye and carefully cleaning it. This staff was a gift from the person he cherished most, and Soren treated it with utmost care. Once the staff was clean, he turned his gaze to the bloody troll carcass.

After two days of fighting countless beasts, large and small, in this dungeon, Soren had finally faced what seemed to be the dungeon’s final boss—the troll. The battle revealed the troll’s remarkable resistance to magic, yet Soren’s spells had been strong enough to inflict damage, regardless.

Still, the troll’s magical resistance was a considerable disadvantage for Soren. Even after exhausting all his mana, the troll remained undefeated. On the brink of death, Soren had managed to plunge his staff into the troll’s eye, narrowly escaping with his life. But for him, all the risks had been worth it for the potential reward.

Moments after the troll’s death, the dark floor of the dungeon began to tremble. Suddenly, an intense wave of energy surged from the dungeon’s darkest corner. The air grew thick, the temperature shifted, and an overwhelming humidity enveloped the space. Soren’s supernatural instincts flared, causing his heart to pound. Something was coming. He didn’t know what, but a chilling fear gripped him.

The ground began to crack and boil. Slowly, a dark shadow rose, taking form. As the shape became clearer, Soren’s eyes widened in shock. From the depths of the dungeon emerged the ancient and massive spirit of a dragon, its dark form hovering ominously in the air.

The dragon’s form looked as though it had stepped out of ancient legends. It was colossal, with shimmering wings and spines resembling jagged feathers on its head. Its glowing eyes burned with deep fury, radiating a fearsome aura that made the air itself tremble.

For a few seconds, Soren stood frozen. This was no ordinary dungeon monster. This was a spirit of an ancient dragon—a being that carried both immense power and a devastating curse. Gripping his staff tightly, Soren began to take slow, cautious steps backward.

The dragon’s spirit spoke, its voice booming and reverberating throughout the dungeon with destructive force.

“331… You are the 331st human to attempt conquering this dungeon successfully, and you did it” it thundered, fixing its piercing gaze on Soren. “Tell me, human, what is it that you desire from me?”

In Soren’s heart, only one desire stood out, overwhelming all else: to be with Neonidas. It wasn’t just about gaining power. Soren wanted something more profound—to change his identity, his destiny, and become entirely Neonidas’s.

Soren finally found his voice, and when he spoke, it carried a conviction he had never felt before. “I… I want to become a woman,” he said, his eyes shining with determination and longing.

The ancient dragon’s spirit fell silent for a moment, narrowing its eyes as though trying to discern whether Soren was serious.

“Are you mocking me, human? With so many things to wish for, this is what you choose?” it growled. “I could make you the strongest mage in the world… Or I could make any man or woman you desire fall madly in love with you, to the point where they’d see no one else but you!”

Soren listened to the dragon’s words, but had no intention of changing his mind. Of course, he wanted to be the strongest mage, but his reason for that was to protect his master. He also wanted his sister to be happy, which was why he didn’t wish for Neonidas to love only him.

And yet, there was a dream that haunted Soren’s most intimate thoughts—a dream that made him long to be a woman so desperately. That dream was to carry his master’s children. Not just one, but dozens of children who would resemble Neonidas. What a beautiful and inspiring vision it was!

“I’ve made my decision,” Soren declared firmly. “I want to become a woman.”