Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son - Chapter 387

Chapter 387: Invitation
“So…..why was I called?”

I began, leaning back on my chair as I looked around.

Mariam’s office was exactly the same as before.

There weren’t any changes in the place with the same old furniture and display of old items behind her.

Mariam herself had a grim look on her face as she rubbed her eyes.

Her long, vibrant red hair flowed behind her while her golden eyes with spirals blinked twice.

Opening the drawer, she slid a few pictures toward me.

“Have a look at this.”

Picking them up, I slowly went through the pictures one by one.

“….”

They were all mutilated corpses.

Their bodies were twisted in unnatural angles. Limbs torn apart. Eyes gouged out.

All of them wore nothing on their bodies, but the Von Castia crest was stitched neatly onto their skins.

“….How many?” I asked, placing the pictures down.

“We found seven.” She paused, her voice dropping lower. “One of them is Edel’s son—Albus.”

I nodded, leaning back on my chair. “Any clue who is doing this?”

“We don’t know.” She replied, shaking her head. “Nor do we know who is doing where or why.”

“What about Vlad?” I asked, looking at her. “Any update on him?”

“Sadly, we don’t.” She replied with a tired sigh, sinking back on her chair. “But it’s not hard to guess what’s happening with him.”

I nodded slowly.

It’s clear that he is being tortured somewhere along with the others.

‘….A masked girl.’

Zenith’s words echoed in my head as I rubbed my chin.

‘Was she talking about Zeline?’

I can’t think of anyone else with a mask who had left an impression.

But… why would she do such a thing?

What grudge does she have with the Von Castia?

“How is Edel doing?” I asked, knowing full well how his condition should be right now.

“He is furious.” She replied, letting out a tired sigh. “…He has already put a bounty for whoever is doing this.”

I nodded, looking at the display behind her. “…Aimar—.”

“Don’t worry about him.” She replied, standing up from her seat. “Nothing points to him being involved in this.”

“But still—.”

“I talked with Edel.” She interrupted, with a light smile. “He won’t do anything for now.”

‘…For now, huh?’

I just nodded in response, standing up as well.

“I will see you—.”

“Himmel.” Mariam interrupted me again, making me look at her.

“Yes?”

“Did the church contact you?” She asked, looking into my eyes.

“Uh, yeah….they did.” I replied awkwardly, nodding my head. “They called me and Elijah to the Kandam Continent to the church’s base.”

Mariam’s expression turned heavier.

She walked around her desk, stopping in front of me.

“When are you going?” She asked, staring into my eyes.

“In a month.” I replied, looking back at her.

She frowned. “That long?”

“Well, I do have things to do.” I replied, shrugging my shoulders. “And they will adjust with my time, not the other way around.”

Mariam stared at me for a moment before she gently grabbed my hand.

“I have something to tell you.” She said, her voice soft. “Something important.”

“I’m listening.” I replied, looking at her.

“I’ll be gone for a while.” She said, squeezing my hand. “I think I’m ready to break through the next level.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Well, after all that happened….I realized something.” She whispered, smiling softly. “That I’m quite weak.”

“…”

“If things keep going on like this,” Mariam continued, her voice barely a whisper, “then I won’t be able to protect you.”

This was going to happen sooner or later but… right now?

“Where are you going?” I asked, voice steady.

She smiled faintly.

“Somewhere hidden. A place in Lumina only Segyal Highbloods know.”

Her hand tightened around mine.

“I’ll be gone for at least half a year… maybe longer.”

I clicked my tongue. “Half a year is a long damn time, Mariam.”

“I know.” She smiled sadly. “But it’s necessary.”

She let go of my hand, stepping back toward her desk.

“I’m telling you because… if something happens while I’m gone—”

She hesitated. Then, softly whispered,

“Ask Niressa for help.”

“Nope. I’m fine on my own.” I replied, shaking my head.

Her smile widened, this time reaching her eyes. “You’re a good boy, Himmel.”

“….”

I looked at her once before moving towards the door.

“Mariam,” I said, glancing over my shoulder.

“Yes?”

“Come back alive.”

Without another word, I walked out.

The door shut behind me with a soft click, as I heard a whisper.

“I will. I promise.”

As soon as I walked out, I was greeted by the blonde-haired elf woman.

“What?” I asked, looking at Daina.

“Since Lady Mariam will be busy.” She said, handing a few documents. “You are going to handle the Segyal Highbloods and I will be your assistant.”

“Great.” I replied, passing the documents back to her. “Now, do your work.”

“Wha—.”

“Rejection of Time.”

Before she could speak, I slowed down the time and walked out with ease.

No way am I going to do that boring work.

‘Inna?’

[<Yes?>]

‘Do you think Mariam is ready?’

[<Don’t worry, she knows what she is doing.>]

‘Still…..’

As far as I know, Mariam is a low-rank demigod.

For her to reach mid-rank she needs to rebuild and expand her kingdom.

It might sound easy but it’s definitely a hard thing to do.

‘…It’s easy for vessels and avatars.’

They have a blueprint of their respective gods that they can copy.

But for those who aren’t any of them, it’s a lot harder.

[<Are you worried about her?>]

‘…No.’

I am worried about what would happen if she doesn’t make it.

I don’t want to fuck around playing a leader for the elves.

My life is already too fucked for me to do things like that.

‘…I just hope nothing happens while she is gone.’

“Sir.”

“Hello.”

I greeted the students who bowed in my direction as I moved.

Even though Akasha’s people don’t really care about the gods and Avatars,

they still understand my value.

‘But it’s exhausting.’

I let out a sigh as I reached my dormitory room.

Twisting the door handle, I pushed it open with my foot.

As soon as I flicked open the light, the room illuminated.

My gaze landed on the ground, where a ritual circle was already engraved.

It glowed faintly, etched deep into the wood, bleeding a faint red mist that twisted unnaturally as if it had a will of its own.

“This shit better work.”

I grumbled, taking my seat on the bed.

I leaned forward, elbows resting on my knees, staring at the ritual circle without much emotion.

It pulsed — slowly, like a dying heartbeat — waiting for something.

“Thanks to Yenna it wasn’t that hard to make.”

Though it was a pain to explain to her why I was doing this.

I sighed once again as I looked at the back of my palm.

It glowed softly as I willed for something to come out.

Just as I did, an ominous broken base of a spear appeared in my hand.

It pulsed anomalously, making me shudder.

“….Damn.”

I whispered, staring into the broken weapon of Goddess Anant.

“Those Asura really are stupid.”

I mumbled, playing with the weapon.

“How can they not differentiate between Baal and Anant’s weapon?”

Yep.

There were actually two different gods’ weapons in Asura kingdom’s hands.

One belonged to their Goddess and the other to the Primordial evil Baal.

The weapon that I passed to Uncle Jones.

Even though I regret giving away the weapon, I didn’t have a choice.

‘As of now winning against him is impossible.’

The most I could do was take advantage of the situation.

Which I did.

By making Coretta hear our deal, I made sure Edel, Edwin, and her would be wary of me.

It may not keep them at bay for long but even a little time is enough for me.

But… in case that didn’t work.

‘I needed another layer of protection.’

And—

That would be my goddess’ daughters.

But to summon them, I need life energy.

A lot of life energy.

I leaned back slightly, staring at the ritual circle swirling faintly at my feet.

Life energy exchange.

Unorthodox sacrifice.

All taboo methods but that didn’t matter to me.

Not anymore.

“Just a little more…” I muttered, rolling the broken spear between my fingers.

[<You’re going through with it?>]

Inna’s voice was almost hesitant for once.

‘Yeah,’ I thought with a tired sigh. ‘I don’t have a choice.’

The world was already tilting toward chaos and I desperately needed as many ways to protect myself as possible.

I sighed, staring at the weapon in my hand.

‘…Maybe, I can make a deal with Esmeray as well.’

I do have something that she needs.

Knock! Knock!

A knock on the door made me stand up.

Placing the weapon back, I moved and opened the door.

My eyes immediately met with Siersha as she looked at me.

I opened the door wider. “Come in.”

Siersha stepped inside silently, her black hair damp from the water, clinging slightly to her face.

‘Did she take a bath?’

I wondered, looking out once before closing the door.

Siersha’s crimson eyes flicked once to the ritual circle glowing on the floor—and then back to me.

She didn’t comment.

Instead, she sat down on the bed, still staring at me.

“What do I need to do?” She asked, placing one leg over the other.

“Do you recognize the ritual circle?” I asked, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed.

She nodded, glancing at the circle. “It’s similar to what the first Valentine head used.”

“You know what it’s for, right?” I asked, tilting my head in response.

“So, instead of a tiny bit—” She whispered, her lips curling up in a sweet smile. “You want half of my life energy?”

I tapped the side of my head with two fingers. “You’re smarter than you look.”

“What do I get in return?” She asked, staring into my eyes. “Surely, you don’t expect me to be satisfied with only one time—.”

“Lifetime.” I interrupted, making her silent. “I will provide you my blood for a lifetime.”

“….”

She silently stared into my eyes, unable to speak.

[<Are you sure?>]

‘…I can always back away.’

In the end, it’s just a verbal promise.

Siersha slowly stood up from her seat.

‘Inna.’

[<Close all my and the children’s senses, right?>]

‘….Yes.’

[<…>]

Something detached from me as I knew Inna did her work.

My eyes met with her crimson gaze as she slowly moved in front of me.

“What do I need to do?”