Reborn As The Villain

Chapter 215 - 188

Chapter 215: Chapter 188"Hmm..."

Flora arrived at an open area. She looked around. It looks like this place is supposed to be a library room of some kind.

Be that as it may, there were books strewn around the room and collapsed shelves on the marble floor.

Flora looked up at the gate that was blocking her path. It was a giant slab of dark purple-colored stone and not the kind of gate you'd find on regular entrances.

Flora couldn't see what was on the other side but she could hear some kind of chorus on the other end.

"The hymn of a church. It's kinda creepy."

Who was singing exactly? Who was the Father who was preaching beyond that door?

She called out but the noises from the other side didn't die down.

Flora pulled back her fist.

"Whatever. If they won't open up then I'll just punch my way through."

Saying so, she threw her punch.

Miraculously nothing happened. All she felt was a gentle vibration. There wasn't much power in her fist but it should've been enough to break through steel or any other sort of metal.

"Rune fortification... How troublesome."

It appears there was some kind of rune art performed on the door to make heavy punches feel like being hit with a feather.

These kinds of runes are the weaknesses of pure warriors like Flora.

"Fuuuuuck, I want my sword back!" she punched the gate again.

The sword that Arnold gave to Luke once belonged to her. She could do lots of things with the sword that is impossible for her alone. The sword absorbs her inner essence and turns it into energy which she can use at will.

It's the energy within your meridians that can be harnessed to use body techniques. Just like aura and Ki, it can only be harnessed by warriors. Norma folk would be crushed under the weight of their own energy.

Pure warriors can't use body techniques without it. Unlike aura, inner essence can't be used to power martial arts and skills, only body techniques. This makes learning martial arts useless to pure warriors.

It's not that Flora can't use her inner essence outwardly. It's just that her energy would be too destructive to control. Her master told her to never use it unless necessary.

She could bring this whole cave down on everyone if she lets it all out now.

A warrior's essence is not like aura and Ki that it can be controlled with your fists.

Only a great weapon can harness the power.

-Why did you have to leave right when my inner essence is out of control...

This was the one question that always goes through her mind.

Her master left that day their kingdom was destroyed by the Theocracy.

They would've had a better chance of winning if he was still there.

It was while the two were in battle with inquisitors. Flora was too busy trying to hold them all off. Her master slipped away during that time.

During that time she thought they had killed him so she flew into a fit of rage, letting her inner essence run wild, decimating mountains, breaking apart the ground... She could release all that carnage because she had lost everything anyway.

Thinking that she had even lost her master...

Well, any hesitation within her vanished.

Days went by. She collapsed. Soon after she was captured by mercenaries that were hired by a slave trader.

She was fed only stale bread and mud water. They knew what she was capable of so they let her starve.

"I hope there's a weapon that can allow me to control my inner essence somewhere. Punching stuff is becoming a bore."

Flora began looking around the room. There must be a puzzle of some sort that needs to be solved for this gate to open.

She started pulling out the bricks in the wall.

Nothing.

She lifted the potted plants and

"—Here, Hofir." Madilith brought some food over to Hofir who was sitting near their camp, silently staring up.

Sabrina initially asked Anais to bring the food but Madilith insisted that she'll go.

Hofir grunted and turned his head.

"...Urges.. not gone yet..."

"Urges to fight?"

"To... rip apart..."

"...." Madilith winched. She noticed that his body wasn't completely back to normal yet.

He was still a bit bigger than usual and his claws were still retracted. Usually his nails would be rather short and clean but there was dried blood under them.

Madilith silently placed the plate of food in front of him.

"I won't leave until you eat." She declared, "Sabrina's orders. You know that we should never disobey her if it concerns an injured classmate. The food has some medicine mixed in it so it might not taste that good. Sabrina said that it's better than serving the medicine separately."

"...." Hofir glanced back at her with his golden cat-like eyes.

Madilith noticed that he had a blush on his face.

'Hofir is b-blushing...?'

Is the sun rising in the west in their world!?

Madilith had only seen him in his usual grumpy state until now. He would glare at everyone he speaks to and grunt during every interaction with people.

Hofir lifted his arms.

His hands dangled helplessly.

"Hands... broken in fight with... Arthur..."

"Ah..."

So he can't eat on his own, thought Madilith.

Is he blushing because he's too shy to ask Madilith for help?

Madilith hid a smirk.

'How cute.'

She picked up the plate and scooped up some of the stew.

She slowly brought the spoon up to Hofir's mouth.

"Say 'Aahn'~" she said with a gentle voice, trying to mimic Evelyn.

Hofir's blush intensified but his expression was still serious. Sweat flowed down his cheeks.

"Come on, Hofir. Aahn~"

"...A...Ah..." Hofir opened his mouth hesitantly.

He chewed the food. Some of the sauce got stuck on the side of his mouth.

Madilith licked her finger and wiped it off his mouth.

Hofir froze.

"Don't make a mess. You're not a toddler, you know?" Madilith scooped up some more food, "Aahn~"

"A...Ah..."

Hofir chewed.

Madilith silently watched him with a smile.

He lowered his head. She could see the intense blush down his cheeks.

'It's kind of fun teasing him like this. He blushes over little things like this. Such an innocent boy~'

Now that she thought about it, she'd never really seen or heard of Hofir being in a relationship with anyone. He has such a dangerous demeanor that it makes it impossible for anyone to really want to date him.

He's quite handsome if he cleans himself up a bit and gets a haircut but that forever glare on his face—as if it's a still painting—scare women away.

Many of the girls are afraid to be alone with him since they don't want to be raped or hit if they say the wrong thing. That's a valid worry since people from his race are "bloodthirsty animals" by nature and have a very high sex drive.

The warriors in their race have to hold in their urges. This is said to keep them strong. Holding in their urges involves no indulgence in sex or even killing in some cases.

Multiple cases like rape and murder involving tigerkin have been reported over the years, making them a feared race amongst people of the empire.

Hofir has shown time and time again that he's nothing like his people even if he's just part demihuman. Plus, he's a force to be reckoned with during combat. Many have accepted him for this excellent balance that he had maintained while being a tigerkin. Of course, as with any other tigerkin, he does have urges.

Madilith placed her hand on his thigh, which made him freeze again.

"I wanted to thank you for saving us... We never would've made it out of that street if you didn't hold those monsters back. But please don't transform again, Hofir. It's scary seeing you like... like them... Like your people... Bloodthirsty monsters... It doesn't suit you at all... I know what you really are." She put her hand on his cheek, "You're kind. You would never hurt people. But when you transform... Something else takes control, something that only wants blood, no matter whose it is."

"...." Hofir's expression slowly loosened.

"Ah, you're not glaring at me anymore." Madilith chuckled with her hand on her mouth.

"...." Hofir touched his face, "Mm..."

He didn't grunt this time.

Madilith smiled.

"Are you still hungry?"

Hofir silently nodded.

"—Oh, now this is a rare sight." A snarky remark came from behind Madilith, "Beauty and the beast enjoying some alone time. The two of you are rarely seen together so what changed, Madi?"

"...Justeth..." Madilith sighed.

"Hey, hey. Call me by my first name—Bradwyn. Why does everyone call me by my surname when you know my name!?"

Simply because no one likes him. Even saying his name is tiring.

Being the class clown isn't the only reason for this.

He never takes life seriously and doesn't even study that much. No wonder his grades landed him in the D class.

He's a healer magician but can't even make one bowl of holy water—which is required to be eligible to be granted access to the Melis Temple in the empire. The academy grants students, who show proficiency in healing magic, resources to complete the one requirement to allow them access to the temple's library which contains a vast variety of potion ingredients and spells. It's not mandatory in order to be considered a priest but it's something that will look good to universities if students decide to study further, much like prefects, presidents and discipline committee titles.

Despite all his failures, he still acts like a clown in class and makes fun of everyone. Some compare him to Arnold since both of them are so carefree about life.

The only difference being that Arnold is a gifted prodigy and talented knight. He's basically allowed to act like a clown because he can make up for it with brains and might. Whereas Bradwyn is a fiend who knows only fooling around with his life and sleeping around with women when he should be improving his grades.

One could say that he's the worse version of Arnold.

"Can I help you...?" Madilith was already feeling a headache coming.

"I wanted to talk to you, Madilith. Come with me for a sec." He pointed somewhere, "Let's go around that corner where no one will bother us."

Madilith held herself back from rolling her eyes. She put the plate down and slowly stood up.

"I'll be back soon," Madilith told Hofir before she followed after Bradwyn.

Bradwyn began speaking once the two reached the spot he had mentioned earlier. He basically pulled her around the corner impatiently and held her against the wall.

"When are you going to let me sleep with you? It's been four fucking months since we signed the engagement contract! You didn't make that bastard Arnold wait this long to fuck you, did you!? No, you were screaming your lungs out like a slut the same day he seduced you!"

'Not this again...'

Madilith pushed him away when he tried to kiss her.

"O-Our parents were the ones who decided that we should marry each other... We don't need to sleep together because it's just a political marriage. I already told you to stop pestering me about that..."

"So what if it's political!? Your parents are the ones who want this marriage to happen! Shouldn't your parents have educated you to obey your husband's commands? Or do you want me to tell my father to call it all off?"

"...."

"Your mother and father will be disappointed that they missed out on joining their House with a Marquis House. After the civil war, it became difficult for households to increase their noble status. The emperor only grants a higher status to those who commit great deeds in politics and war. The latter being ever so rare nowadays. The former isn't enough for a Baron House, now is it? Because of this, nobles resort to selling their daughters and sons out to households of higher rank—which is exactly what your parents did. They can't do jack-shit with the connections they have. If only their liege lord, Marquis Vance had a son then they could've sold you off to that family."

He continued, "So, you're stuck with me until I decide whether I still want you."

He chuckled before grabbing Madilith's breasts. Madilith bit her lower lip.

"Ooh, you're not wearing a bra, huh? I can feel your squishy tits through your blazer. C'mon, moan for me."

"...." Madilith averted her eyes silently.

"Moan, you stupid bitch." Bradwyn slapped her in the face.

"A-A-Ahn...."

"What the fuck was that? You sound like a pig being stabbed in the neck. Do better!"

"Hyaan... Ah, ah..."

"Ugh, how can such a cute girl make such a slutty sound. You're a naughty girl, huhuhu. C'mon, stroke my dick. It wants to go inside you." Bradwyn took her hand and placed it on his thing.

Madilith's body was overcome with disgust when she felt it moving. Alas, she listened.

Bradwyn tried opening Madilith's blazer but she quickly escaped his arms.

"...I... I have to help Hofir.... I-I understand what's at stake now so can we do this later...?"

Madilith asked with tears in her eyes and a shaky voice.

"Tch." Bradwyn glared at her but didn't object, "Come back to this spot in an hour."

"Yes, yes." Madilith was about to walk away but Bradwyn stopped her.

"Take off your panties. You can have it back later."

Madilith's face became blank, with her eyes coldly glaring through her hair that was covering her eyes. Bradwyn couldn't see that cold expression. If he did then he wouldn't have believed that Madilith could make such an expression.

"...."

"Well?"

"Okay... H-Hold..." her expression loosened.

Madilith silently bent down and did as he said. She placed it in his hands.

"You can go."

"....."

***

Madilith had a thought when she sat back down next to Hofir and picked up the plate.

'Why couldn't that guy just die with the rest of his classmates?'

"Is that guy... giving you trouble?"

Madilith looked up at Hofir with a tilted head.

Inwardly, she smirked.

She could feel Hofir's bloodlust as his eyes followed Bradwyn who was walking a bit further away from where they were.

Hofir looked back at her and spoke again.

"There's a... red mark on your... cheek... Did... he... hit you?"

Madilith rubbed her eyes and spoke in a shaky voice. She made sure to sniffle loudly.

"I-I-I just got him upset, is all. It doesn't hurt at all. I can take a lot more punches, you know~! H-Hahaha... A-Are you still hungry? Sabrina said that she'll come check up on you once you're done eating."

"....Mm...." Hofir's eyes moved back to following Bradwyn.

'I think I know just the way to get rid of that filth once and for all. He's going to be an obstacle between me and Al.'

Evelyn or Anais' way won't cut it. All they'll do is reprimand Bradwyn and punish him with extra chores. On the other hand, the marriage will still happen.

The Hofir way is more ideal in her eyes.

'I'll have to make good use of my cuteness, teehee.'