Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son - Chapter 333

Chapter 333: [Who Killed Mary?] [1] [Conflict]
There are five fundamental stances for any sword technique—

The foundation upon which all sword arts in Lumina are built.

Just as elves use the eight-sided stance, tailored to complement their agility, the Asuras have their own—

A stance that prioritizes overwhelming force, each strike carrying the full weight of the wielder.

“AHHHHH!!”

The Asura boy’s yelling snapped me back to reality.

He stumbled down as he clenched his forearm, trying to stop the bleeding.

“HELP! H-HELP—!”

“Stop shouting.”

I silenced him with a swift kick to the chin.

His head snapped back, and he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

No more screaming.

No more struggling.

I turned to the others. “Anyone else have a problem with me being the leader?”

Sibry’s crimson eyes burned with defiance, but she held her tongue.

The other Asura, jaw clenched, simply stood still.

He didn’t do anything foolish.

A wise choice.

“Hmm?”

My gaze shifted as Epione stepped forward.

Without hesitation, she picked up the severed hand, aligning it with the boy’s forearm.

A small, ethereal blue bird materialized above her, its gaze locking onto mine before—

Tweet!

It landed on my head and started pecking.

Blue flames engulfed Epione’s hands, licking at the boy’s wounds—

But they didn’t burn him.

Instead, the flames rapidly sealed his injury, flesh knitting itself back together.

‘….’

A memory flashed through my mind.

That same fire had once licked my wounds—

While I was trying to kill her.

…She was healing me.

“He should wake up in a few hours,” she informed, standing back up.

I resisted the urge to pat her head. Instead, I focused on them. “Form pairs. I’ll assign tasks.”

They nodded as they rearranged themselves.

“I’m with you!” Zenith beamed, stepping forward.

Before she could reach me, Siersha grabbed her wrist.

“You should pair with someone else,” she said, her tone unreadable. “I’ll be with him.”

Zenith frowned. “Why?”

“I’ll be of more use to him than you,” Siersha said, her crimson gaze calm. “Step back.”

“How can you—”

I let out a tired sighed. “Enough. You two will pair up.”

They both turned to me.

“What about you?” Zenith asked, tilting her head.

“Epione will be with me,” I said while keeping my face neutral.

“Huh? Me?”

Epione let out a startled voice as she pointed at herself.

“Yes.” I nodded, looking at her. “You will be by my side.”

The little bird pecked on my head harder, but I chose to ignore it.

Zenith looked between me and her in confusion.

Crossing her arms, she fell into deep thought.

Siersha, on the other hand, returned to her calm look.

“Anyway, is there anyone who knows a lot about other students?” I asked, shifting my gaze to the others.

A complete silence lingered until—

“Um, I can help.”

A girl mumbled, raising her hand.

She was a human.

Perhaps from Uzume or Von Castia’s branch family.

“When we gather enough clues, try to piece together who might be involved.”

She nodded.

“Alright,” I continued, looking at the others. “Three groups will guard the body. The rest, search for clues.”

They all nodded as they moved away.

The group of 30 thinned down to only two.

Me and Epione.

She kept on looking at me as if waiting for my orders.

I gestured towards the door. “Let’s go in.”

Opening the door, I walked inside, and she followed.

I once again looked around the place properly while glancing back at her.

“Make sure to inform me if you see anything worthwhile.”

Epione gave me a gentle nod.

She turned and walked around the room.

“Tweet!”

And of course, her fucking bird had the time of its life pecking me.

I will have my revenge one day, fucker.

[<The phoenix likes you.>]

‘Come on, don’t say such obvious lies.’

[<I’m not lying.>]

I stole a glance at Epione.

She was checking the drawers, bending down a little.

‘…..’

Is that ass natural?

Why is she so curvy—

[<Oye!>]

‘I-I mean… yeah, okay, focus.’

I turned my attention back to the dead body, trying to concentrate.

But as I tried to find any clue, my mind was somewhere else.

‘How did Epione die in the game?’

As far as I remember, somewhere within the middle of Core Two, she went missing.

Shortly after, the Asura highbloods were wiped out.

‘Some people also say that she was the one who killed them.’

But after she vanished, there was no mention of her again.

I had assumed she was dead, but—

‘Did she really die?’

It’s hard to believe.

Come to think of it…

There were some rumors back on Earth.

People used to argue that she might be stuck in a death loop.

‘There are so many fucking mysteries with no answers.’

Even Mariam started ignoring me because I kept pestering her about my past.

She refused to say anything.

“I think I found something.”

Epione’s voice echoed from behind.

I turned and walked toward her.

She was still close to the drawer, holding something in her hand.

“It’s a letter,” she whispered, passing it towards me.

Tearing the envelope, I opened the letter.

There was just one sentence written on it.

“The garden remembers.” I whispered softly, passing the letter back to her.

Epione glanced up at me. “Should we check the garden?”

I nodded. “Let’s do that.”

I gestured for her to go first, following behind.

But as soon as we stepped out, someone was waiting.

“Can we talk for a minute?” Siersha asked, her voice firm.

I sighed.

I turned to Epione and whispered, “Give me a moment.”

She nodded.

Siersha started to walk, taking me to a different room.

She opened the door, gesturing for me to walk in.

As soon as I walked inside, she closed the door behind us.

I fully turned to observe her.

Her hair was tied back in a ponytail with braids, crimson eyes locked onto mine.

Her academy uniform clung to her frame, the blazer concealing most of it.

She stepped closer, lowering her voice.

“I need your blood.”

“No.” I said, my response was immediate. “Do it after the exam.”

“I can’t wait forty-five hours, Himmel.” She winced, glaring at me. “I need it now—.”

“And I refuse.”

I cut in her words, walking past her.

If it was before, I might have complied with her request, but not now.

After all those memories, I had better control over my body.

“You’re being unreasonable, Himmel.”

Siersha’s scent hit me—sweet, like lilies left to rot under the sun.

My steps immediately halted while my muscles loosened up without my will.

She stepped closer, her crimson eyes glowing faintly. “I’m just asking for a little blood.”

Her fingers brushed my wrist.

Heat pooled in my veins, sluggish and sweet.

Lust started to overtake my senses.

I twisted.

Before she could blink, my hand was at her throat, slamming her into the wall with enough force to crack stone.

The scent sharpened, flooding my lungs, but I tightened my grip.

“What. Did. You. Do?”

Her expression remained calm, even as my fingers dug into her skin.

“Answer me.”

“I did nothing,” she murmured, her fingers curling around my wrist. “Your body wanted it—”

“Stop spouting nonsense.” I grumbled, tightening my grip again.

“Leave me.” She thrashed, but I pressed her body with mine while pinning her leg with mine.

“Listen well,” I hissed, glaring at her.

“You want my blood? Crawl. Beg. And maybe I’ll pity you enough to spit in your mouth—.”

“Are you going to force yourself on me now?” She interrupted, meeting my gaze.

I squeezed her throat. “What if I do? Are you going to stop your fiancé?”

Her lips curled up into a sinister smile.

She leaned in, her lips grazing the shell of my ear as she whispered, “Do it.”

“….”

Taken aback, I could only blankly stare at her.

Without a word, I released my grip as I stepped back.

She crumpled, coughing. “How cruel.”

“Never do that again.” I whispered, looking down at her.

She looked at me.

Then.

Smiled.

Ignoring her, I walked out of the room.

‘I fucking hate you, Inna.’

[<What did I do?>]

‘….Warn me next time.’

[<…>]

Fuck.

I turned back to look at the closed door.

Faint sounds of laughing echoed from within the room.

I turned around.

Muttering.

“Crazy fucking bitch.”

******

“Alright, are the groups ready?”

Elijah’s voice rang through the open veranda, bright as ever.

He stood before the assembled students, scanning their faces as they nodded.

Satisfied, he clapped his hands.

“Alright, now we need more information.” Pasithea, who stood beside him, ordered.

“Search every corner of this castle. If you find anything, report back.”

The students nodded before dispersing.

“What about us?” Heather asked, her cat-like eyes flickering toward Elijah.

He shook his head in response. “Nothing, for now, we should keep an eye on the dead body.”

Carson, standing with them, frowned. “Why though?”

“I don’t know.” Elijah whispered, shaking his head. “It’s just a hunch but—.”

He turned to look in the direction opposite to his.

Just like how his was dampened in green light, that place was filled with blue light.

“Maybe we will be attacked.” He completed his words.

Heather gently nodded her head in response.

Her ears twitched as she glanced at Elijah, whose crimson hair was tied down.

“I wonder what Himmel and Aimar are doing right now.” Elijah mumbled as he gazed at Pasithea.

“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “And are we just going to ignore the fact that Zenith hugged Himmel this morning?”

“Yeah,” Heather chimed in. “What was that about?”

Elijah stole a glance at Carson.

Being the only one here who knew about Himmel and Siersha’s engagement, Elijah couldn’t help but feel concerned.

Is the engagement between them going to break?

Noticing his gaze, Carson whispered, “It’s up to my sister. As long as she’s not hurt, I won’t interfere.”

Pasithea and Heather exchanged confused looks, but Elijah simply nodded.

“Uh, guys.”

The fifth member of their group shifted uneasily.

“What are they doing?”

Elijah turned his gaze downward.

A group of students was rushing toward them.

“Get ready,” he ordered, unsheathing his sword.

“We’ve got company.”

*******

Inside the Academy’s headquarters, the room hummed with quiet tension.

Hundreds of screens flickered, displaying real-time footage of the students within the palace.

A boy sat in the head chair, fingers tapping idly against the armrest.

“Um, students aren’t allowed in here, Sir Lysander.”

A teacher beside him shifted uncomfortably.

Lysander barely glanced at her. “I’m not interfering with anything.”

“But still—.”

“Enough.” Lysander cut in her words. “I will return when I am done.”

The teacher flinched, stepping back. “Sure.”

Lysander’s gaze turned towards the television.

His focus solely on one person.

“Himmel.”

He whispered, touching his onyx horns.