Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 84: Chapter 83- RejectionSTRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC84: Chapter 83- Rejection
[Child, I cannot express how grateful I am.]
It was happening again. After Richard brought Amelia to the room, he was summoned back into the goddess' realm.
The method was the same, and now he just wanted that in the real world, time would stop, or his mother would become sick in concern.
"Granting me my wish would be the best token of gratitude." He suggested.
[I would not go back on my words, child. Rather, for your great deeds I would allow you to have the cloak of invisibility.]
Richard raised his brows, "For real?"
[Indeed you can have that, child.]
Richard rested his hands on his waist with a broad smile on his face. A cloak that hid him from the world...isn't that pretty much a broken tool?
[But remember child,]
Ah, here it comes,
[...until now, I have been providing the divine energy to keep you hidden from the deities, but now, since you would be using ether, you won't be hidden from those who possess divine essence.]
"You mean, I would be visible to Ethan and the deities, eh?"
[Indeed, child.]
Richard sighed. Although it was a little sad that he wouldn't be completely invisible to every being, it was still a great tool for him.
[Now, for the wish you asked for.]
Suddenly, Richard's body began to glow, and a warm sensation penetrated his skin, making him feel that he was in a sauna.
Richard looked at himself as the illumination slowly subdued and a strange mark appeared on his left hand.
Richard smiled in satisfaction as he found his surroundings starting to melt and the voice of the goddess resonating through the space,
[Have a great life ahead, child.]
....
"Uh?"
Amelia blinked in confusion suddenly hearing the strange sound from Richard before she asked, "Is something wrong."
Richard looked at her, trying to collect his thoughts before answering, "Yes...everything is good."
*Knock*
Turning around, he found Violet standing there with a tray in her hand.
Richard nodded to her before she walked in and rested the tray on the bedside table.
"You can go now."
Violet bowed her head briefly before making her way out of the room.
Richard took the glass before handing it to Amelia, as he said, "Have some honey water for a better sleep."
Amelia closed her eyes and bent a little forward.
Richard sighed and shook his head before placing the glass tip against her soft lips.
She parted her lips and slowly began to drink.
Seriously, the way she gracefully tucked her hair strand mid-way and never opened her eyes threw Richard in a daze as he absentmindedly continued to look at her.
Amelia finished the content and had already removed her lips. She looked at Richard with a tilt of her head; not understanding why he was behaving like a statue.
"Richard?"
Richard suddenly shook out of his stupor as he hurriedly said, "Sorry...I just...anyway, you sleep for now. Your body requires some much-needed rest."
He got up saying that and was about to step away when Amelia held his hand; urging Richard to look down at her.
With an upturned gaze, Amelia asked, "Can't you sleep here with me?"
"----!" Richard widened his eyes. Usually, a maiden like her should have been shy when proposing such an idea, however, Amelia wasn't like others. She always remains honest with her desires.
Richard shook his head before telling her, "We can't, Lady Amelia. We are just friends-"
"But what if we had been engaged?"
Richard paused, then thought, then looked at her before replying, "But we aren't. Please understand."
Amelia smiled before telling him, "Glad to know that at least you won't resist after we get engaged."
Her words made it seem that they would surely get engaged. Richard didn't know how to answer her. Truth be told, only Amelia is the one who can make even Richard embarrassed.
Stuttering he said, "Okay then...good night."
On his way out, he heard her melodious laughter, which sounded honey-like sweet to his ears.
Subconsciously, his lips also stretched in a smile as he inwardly muttered,
'She sure is fierce....'
----------**---------
Ethan woke up in a daze and was sitting at the edge of the bed for a long time. He didn't know where he was nor could he clearly remember what happened to him before he lost consciousness.
He just felt he met a girl in the jungle...and then...he was brought to a strange dark place where he experienced unimaginable pain. Even thinking about him made his heart race and body tremble.
Shivering, he looked up and tried to extend his hand toward the glass of water nearby. However, he was feeling so weak that even lifting the glass seemed like a labor that he was unable to endure.
"Allow me," Suddenly a soft voice greeted him before Ethan looked at the familiar blond girl advancing towards him.
Truth be told, despite wanting to react to her presence he was just too tired now.
Elizabeth helped him drink the water and nearly lapped the droplets that fell from his lips.
Endure...endure...
Once she was done, she asked him, "Would you like to eat something? I will prepare it myself."
"I don't think I can eat anything right now..." Ethan honestly replied, feeling no appetite at all.
Elizabeth felt quite sad hearing that and her agitation flared up towards that bastard named Lucius.
Thinking for a bit she asked hesitantly, "Some soup? You won't need to chew it and it will help replenish your lost energy."
Ethan felt she was being more helpless than he was. Looking into the eyes, he felt she might cry if he rejected her, so he nodded.
She beamed with a smile before going towards the open kitchen just across the bed. She moved around a bit, boiled things, added things, and in ten minutes, she brought a full bowl of vegetable and meat soup.
Sitting on a chair near him, she scooped the soup before slowly blowing air over it and bringing it near his lips.
However, he didn't part his lips to taste the soup; he asked her, "Why are you concerned about me?"
Elizabeth slowly brought her hand back down and looked clueless about how she should answer that.
"And please tell me honestly. I am tired of hearing lies." Ethan added, his tone carrying weariness rather than annoyance.
Elizabeth finally uttered and didn't hide the truth, "I love you."
Ethan blinked...and blinked again.
Elizabeth didn't want to hear his response before she finished what she had to say, so she hurriedly added, "Don't ask me when I fell for you...but just know that my feelings are all true. " She has seldom felt this much nervous before. She kept her eyes closed and her fist clenched when she uttered those words.
She has confessed to him in the previous timeline but every time she says those words, she feels her heart about to explode in excitement.
Ethan remained silent for a bit before he held her hand, urging Elizabeth to look at him.
Her eyes contained a bit of moisture, and she looked quite anxious to him.
Ethan felt troubled in his heart as he said, "I don't know how a Princess like you fell for a commoner like me...but I cannot reciprocate your feelings. Sorry."
Elizabeth didn't react to that. She expected much. It was one of the qualities she loved about him.
Wiping the tear, she brought the spoon near his lips before asking, "At least, you can have my soup, right?"
Ethan felt bitter in his heart. It was the first time he had rejected someone. And given how genuine her feelings seemed, he felt even more guilty.
However...accepting her feelings without knowing anything about her other than her name and status made him feel that it would be unfair to her.
He parted his lips and tasted the soup, before telling her, "It's quite good."
Elizabeth fondly smiled as she scooped another spoonful and said, "I am glad."
They both sat in comfortable silence; Elizabeth slowly and patiently fed him the soup and Ethan consumed it with a lot of thoughts going inside his head.
Ethan wasn't able to finish it, so Elizabeth took it to the kitchen, with the pretense of throwing it away, only to store it so she could drink it later...using the same spoon, no less!
Ethan drank some water, by himself this time before he asked Elizabeth,
"Your Highness, can you tell me...what happened to me?"
---------------**----------------
A/N:- Now, we are finally starting the academy arc. Just two more chapters I guess?
Things would be fun given everyone had their character development before the main arc. Eleanor and Emily are completely lost by now. Elizabeth got what she desired, and Ethan had gone through the most severe development.
The blessing Richard gained would be explained soon. It would be extremely useful for him once he enters the Academy.
Anyway, drop a few comments, and see you!
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 85: Chapter 84- ExperimentSTRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC85: Chapter 84- Experiment
It has been two days since Richard returned from the Capital and received his blessing from the heavens.
Sadly, Amelia had to leave since she also had to prepare for the academy. Although she was reluctant she agreed to go back, with the thought of reuniting with Richard in the academy. Her father was still in the Capital and so were some other noble leaders for the time being. The situation of the Capital seemed very critical at the moment and a foreign invasion wouldn't be too surprising.
Lilia also returned last night. Since the teleportation portal had to be kept open for the Duchess, she traveled on a carriage to get here, and that's why she was late even though she wanted to see Richard as soon as she heard about the capital invasion.
Richard had to spend the whole night with his woman to assure her of his safety. And thankfully, in the morning Lilia was back to normal.
Now, only fifteen days remain before enrollment. And thirteen days at most before they leave for the island where the academy was situated. Richard has decided to prepare as much as he can so he doesn't end up in a situation where he has to rely on others again.
In the first place, in the academy, he would be all alone. His mother cannot come and go, nor would Lilia be there for support. As such, it becomes necessary for Richard to realize the necessity and prepare accordingly.
'Fuee....' Let's see.
Sitting inside the indoor arena he studied the basic working of spell circles for the nth time.
When a person chants a specific activation sequence in the language in which it was created while applying the necessary ether to originate the spell, three magic circles form.
Based on the size of the spell, the primary circle, which generally contains all the vast information of the spell, may vary in numbers. A simple fireball, which manipulates fire and congregates flames to form an orb, wouldn't require more than one circle.
However if considering the Meteor Shower, where several large boulders are coated with a flame and require great mastery to summon, then it would take two to three primary magic circles.
First, to create low pressure above the specific spots from where the large boulders would be plucked out. Then a second circle to coat those boulders with flames.
Now, apart from primary circles, comes the amplification; at what speed should it head towards the enemy? This one is the hardest to manipulate.
And third is the trajectory and navigation. This one requires utmost concentration and mastery over the ether.
Richard was weak in the manipulation of his spell. He has ether in abundance. If based on ether quantity alone then he would be ranked A easily. However, because of the lack of control over his powers, due to the fact that he was new to this whole magic concept, he needs time to improve himself.
'But still, summoning three circles even for a fireball, delays the process...' For a veteran like his mother, she can summon a fireball as easily as she is breathing. He tried recording her chanting time and found it was two-tenth of a second.
Truly astonishing.
On the other hand, because of the third magic circle, Richard needed three to five seconds to bring out a spell, and that was too much for someone who was born into a family of mages. It wasn't like his ego was hurt; rather, he would make a joke of the Scarlette house if he performed like this in the Academy.
'No, this can't go on like this...' Richard got up on his feet and checked the surroundings for a bit.
He was going to experiment with something, and maybe he would end up burning the whole place again. That's why for assurance,
"Mister Geroge," He called out and instantly, a man, tall and tanned, wearing a beret walked inside and asked,
"Yes, young master?"
"Umm, use your spell to extinguish the fire; if I look, I am going out of control."
The man looked surprised before asking, "Are you sure my lord? You may not like getting wet."
Richard scoffed at himself before saying, "Getting wet is better than being dead."
The man looked amused and nodded respectfully and said, "I will protect you, my lord, so go for it."
Richard trusted the man's skill so he didn't hold back and did what he planned.
Setting up a target about fifty meters away from him, a wooden stationary doll to be precise, he chanted a fireball without trying to create the amplification circle.
The incantation continued for three seconds, and the circle of the spell, along with the trajectory one, formed before his hand.
Richard's theory was, if he had to just throw a spell at someone why need to manipulate its speed?
However, because the concept was new and he had never tried it before, the fireball exploded right before his hand
"Akh!"
**SPRINKLE**
A cold wave of water poured on his burnt hands, as Richard, with sweat pouring down his face, looked at the man with thankfulness.
"Young master, here is the healing ointment. It won't instantly heal your wounds but it won't burn as much." George handed him the ointment.
He was about to step back when Richard told him, "You are a good man, George."
The grown-up man with a rugged build instantly froze up, and his eyes began to turn moist.
Nodding slowly, he thanked him, "Thank you, young master. In my entire ten years of service, it might be the best compliment I have received."
Richard laughed at that, but not to make fun of him. Suddenly, the burn didn't hurt that much.
The theory behind Richard's attempt is to reduce the time of chanting without taking away the basic requirements of the spell. The trajectory cannot be affixed manually or by his visual powers, and removing anything from the chanting meant he wouldn't be able to summon the spell.
'Am I fruitlessly moving toward something unnecessary?' That thought came to his mind. However, if Richard can master this and be able to summon a spell much faster than he currently can, half of his problems would be sorted out instantly.
He didn't have the time to get himself a tutor now, nor did his mother have enough time to teach him for more than an hour a day. So yeah, this seems to be the best option.
Wearing fire-resistant gloves this time, he got ready.
'Don't throw in the towel yet Richard...you have a long way to go,' Hyping himself up, he initiated his attempt for the second time.
--------------**-------------
Far away from Eldoria, situated in the North was the country of snow, which remained covered under a thick layer of frost for the whole time around the year.
Unlike Eldoria, this continent is ruled by several factions and town leaders. However, the main governing town that controls and manages imperial duties is called Elderbough, where the world tree is situated.
The colossal tree's icy branches stretch high into the sky, their gnarled, frost-covered limbs forming a majestic canopy that casts a soft, shimmering glow over the entire town. Snowflakes drift endlessly from the high branches, blanketing the town in a pristine layer of white, while delicate icicles hang like crystalline ornaments from the wooden eaves and intricate network of bridges.
The town's architecture is a seamless blend of nature and craft. Homes and buildings are carved directly into the world tree's trunk and roots, their wooden surfaces adorned with frost-laden vines and glowing runes.
Elevated walkways and bridges, crafted from woven branches and enchanted wood, connect the various levels of the town, each tier offering breathtaking views of the snow-covered landscape below and the endless sky above.
The race, which didn't exist before the appearance of the strange star in the sky, introduced the world to the concept of magic. With Aembr's emergence, the world tree erupted from the ground, and the elven race was born from the fruits of the tree.
Inside the world tree resides only the pure-blood elves who have emerged from the fruits and not some cross-breeding. One of those tree houses belonged to the granddaughter of the town's chief.
Sitting near the window with her eyes gazing down at the surface, the silvery-blue-haired girl sighed.
Her innocent eyes looked at nothing constant as she pondered over the loss of her twin sister.
Her sister—Yulan, died in the last timeline since her presence was preventing Nora from achieving what she could have if she had been born alone in this world. Nora's soul was torn into a small fragment, which was the result of the elven race to come across the first pair of twins.
After Yulan died in the last timeline, Nora speculated, she saw everything through Nora's eyes despite being dead. After all, Yulan's soul was attached to Nora's after her death.
And that's why, Yulan escaped from the town before the people could have killed her in the name of necessary sacrifice.
In a way, Yulan was also a wandering soul, whom Nora should have exterminated. However, because of her fondness towards her twin sister, she didn't take any action.
'But now...does it matter?' Wiping the small droplet that formed at the corner of her eye, Nora decided to let go of the past and focus on the future.
A new life awaits her and the other three. And this time, Nora would make sure that Ethan doesn't suffer the same fate as he did last time.
---------------**--------------
A/N:- Thank you for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 86: Chapter 85- What changed her?STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC86: Chapter 85- What changed her?
[Sung Wu Kong]
[Attempt: 3]
It has been ten days since Richard started his training, and he got some results from the experiments he has been performing.
Apart from the combat training he does with Lilia he also gets tutored by his mother whenever she gets the time.
Yesterday, she was called to the Capital for some essential setups and necessary changes in the security system. It seems the entire council was getting replaced and new security systems were being installed under Bellarine's guidance.
Richard was just hoping that she wouldn't end up burning the whole palace...
Now, with three-way training—Lilia, mother and solo training—he thought he was finally prepared to at least land a blow on the Monkey King.
Inside the cage, he stood across the Stone Monkey with his beloved batons in his hands.
Richard has noted from the previous two confrontations that Wu Kong allows Richard to make the first move while the deity awaits silently.
Richard gathered his nerves, and after heaving a sigh, he began.
"Funnel!" Chanting the newly attained spell, he created a whirlwind of flames around the Monkey King that rose thirty feet high and circulated like a vortex, threatening to devour whatever rested at its centre.
Richard wasn't standing idly with some childish thoughts that his spell would be enough to take care of the Monkey King as he moved in an arc and waited for his opponent to extinguish the flames.
However, Wu Kong showed a different method, and he simply jumped out of the funnel, showing the immense strength he possesses in his limbs and setting his trajectory just where Richard was headed.
The redhead smirked before he threw away one of the batons and used his freed-up hand to cast a set of fireballs, which were summoned at an astonishing pace.
Wu Kong reflexively punched the baton away and began to fall back.
Mid-air it was impossible to change the direction of one's fall...unless the being in question possessed something like cloud summersault.
Kicking the air, Wu Kong meticulously dodged each fireball with precision and headed towards the chanter with his eyes adapting a sudden fierceness.
Richard stopped chanting fireballs, knowing the futility and unexpectedly threw his other baton up in the air as well.
The Monkey King was done with the subject as he did a flip just a few meters above the ground, intended to kick Richard with momentum and kill him with the strike.
However, in the next moment, at an astonishing pace, Richard disappeared.
**Crack**
A deep crater formed in the surface once the kick landed as the Monkey King turned to look at Richard's blurring figure.
Richard zapped towards the left, and in the next instance, he travelled at a speed which at his current level was impossible to possess, to reach just above Wu Kong—reuniting with his second baton.
Levitating above the Monkey King with both his batons in his hands and both of them completely charged up, Richard smirked, and finally, he launched the attack.
**BOOOOOOOOOOM**
A massive explosion, which could easily destroy half of the royal palace, erupted in the middle of the arena and at the epicentre of the destruction stood the target on which Richard desired to inflict the damage.
He kept both batons connected to his ether threads and after decreasing his weight by several folds, he used the baton as a spool and himself as a kite to gain such speed to dodge the previous attack from the Stone Monkey.
Then he used the same method to reunite with his other baton and created the explosion.
'Adding extra weight to the batons did the work...'
Slowly the cloud of smoke began to subdue as Richard waited to see the condition of the legendary deity.
Surely, even Wu Kong wouldn't be able to come out of that explosion unscathed. Even a light scratch would be enough to satisfy Richard, which explains why he was looking at the centre stage so eagerly...
...so eagerly that he never noticed that someone was standing beside him while resting his hand on Richard's shoulder...
-------------***-----------
[Ding!]
[Attempt fourth: Failed ]
FML.
Sitting inside his room cross-legged, Richard cursed under his breath. He was already out of that realm given it only took a single second for Wu Kong to snap his neck and send Richard back to his consciousness.
Heaving a sigh, he read the suggestion,
[Ding!]
[A suggestion arrived!]
[Wu Kong: Not your enemy, but you, yourself, draw the line. When you consider that this must be enough or this is the end, you accept defeat. Never settle for anything less than complete victory over your enemy.]
The suggestion gave a clear message that Richard shouldn't have been so relaxed and should have been cautious even after the explosion. If only he had been careful, he might have noticed how Wu Kong escaped the destruction so smoothly.
Well, he got to know something vital today.
Continue to attack until your opponent perishes.
*Knock* *Knock*
Hearing the knock, Richard said, "Come in,"
From the outside, the blue-haired teenage girl who would be serving Richard once he left Duchy appeared.
She was holding a glass of iced tea, which Richard asked, since he knew, after the battle with the monkey, he would get thirsty.
Ah, the taste of defeat is salty.
Taking the glass, he gulped a mouthful before praising her, "Quite refreshing. Did you make it?" He asked before taking another gulp.
Violet, while retaining a blank look, nodded. Inwardly, she was jumping in delight at being praised, but outwardly, she maintained her demeanour in fear of being seen as a weirdo.
And also, she was not good at expressing her feelings.
Richard already knew about it so he pressed, "You actually don't react generally, no? I wonder what changed in these few years when I was away."
Violet stiffened hearing that and didn't reply. The hold on the tray became firm as she lowered her eyes.
Richard suddenly got up and urged her, "Here, drink the tea from the same glass." He specifically added the last part to make her conscious about what she was being asked to do.
Violet blinked rapidly looking at Richard and the glass, back and forth.
Richard stepped forward and asked again, "You won't deny your master's orders, right?"
Violet bit her lips as she saw the tip of the glass from where her master sipped the drink. Imagining herself putting her lips there....no! Too indecent!
Her face began to turn red as she pressed the tray against her chest and closed her eyes.
"You shouldn't tease her too much, my lord." Suddenly, her saviour arrived.
Lilia entered the room with a helpless smile on her face and paused to stand beside her lover.
Violet took the opportunity and gave me a crisp bow before taking her leave, "P-Please excuse me!"
She dashed away after saying that, making Lilia chuckle.
Turning her eyes toward her lord she heard him saying, "It's not like I feel great making her so troubled...but because of her parents' pressure to become a perfect maid...Violet has lost her smile."
With a sigh, Richard sat down on the bed and after placing the tea on the bedside table, he invited Lilia to sit on his lap, which the latter accepted instantly and heard him continuing,
"In the past, despite how much I bullied her, she always used to laugh and say that until I can be her friend she won't mind getting bullied for the rest of her life."
Lilia felt quite sad hearing that as she turned to look at the door from where Violet previously left. She somehow failed to notice the pain the silly girl hides behind that frosty look.
Richard shook his head and changed the topic, "Anyway, did you prepare everything for the journey?"
Deciding to talk with Violet later, Lilia responded, "Yes, everything is packed and we are ready to leave."
Richard hummed for a bit before asking, "When will the carriage arrive?"
"Probably early in the morning, the carriage would be ready to go. Since not many troops can be brought through teleportation we would be moving through carriage all the way."
Richard was already feeling tired of two days of travelling to that island where the academy was situated.
Thankfully, he was allowed to take his own carriage since the other students are brought by the transportation which the academy organises, given no one other than the students and academy staff can enter that island despite their social status. Well, Richard was the only exception.
Finally, it was happening. The main plot of this story would be beginning in a few days. A ton of drama and action awaits. The four heroines would reunite in the academy and get to spend their time with their beloved Ethan.
The numerous antagonists Ethan would have to face in order to rise to the height where he could erase the final boss from existence.
Truly a roller coaster ride was waiting for Ethan...and being the mid-rank villain, Richard had his role to play as well~
-----------**----------
A/N: End of the First Volumen. Thanks for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 87: Chapter 86- Family?STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC87: Chapter 86- Family?
Inside the council office of the palace, seven people could be seen currently being seated around the round table.
Naturally, the head of the Empire, along with his oldest son, was present during the meeting since the matter concerned the future of the Empire.
Along with them, the captain of the Imperial Legion, the three Duke/Duchess, and the foreign minister were present.
Everyone involved with the experiment has either run away with several research reports or killed themselves for some specific reason.
The investigation of the Prime Minister's murder was still ongoing but given the circumstances at that time, it was highly unlikely that any name would come up.
With the previous council now dismissed, the system was in a critical situation.
"Have there been any movements from the foreign empires?" The first Prince asked the minister who was responsible for maintaining a good relationship with the other Empires.
The obese man replied while wiping the sweat off his forehead using a handkerchief, "No, Your Highness. Until now, our spies haven't reported anything."
Silence befell in the room as the Emperor glanced at Bellarine for a brief moment. He was still hesitant to talk to her and Hawkbridge, given the warning they provided just before the incident. And he chose to ignore them.
"Your Majesty, there were several battalions under the Prime Minister's control and influence. We need to trim them out as well." Bennet suggested.
After the Prime Minister was found dead, his office was investigated, and it turned out that the old man had been influencing people for a long time and had been planning for something massive for a while now. He has kept several soldiers and mages of the royal court under his command, who would gain free reign now that the Prime Minister is dead.
"Did anyone discern what Philips was planning?" Philius, the late Prime Minister's books and records were given to the best decipherer.
It was Duke Aeromore who responded, "The main objective of that scum has yet to be ascertained. However, it seems something has been interpreted from those ancient runes." Saying so, the gray-haired man clapped his hand twice before someone walked inside the conference room.
The person carried a folded parchment in his hand which he handed to the Duke before retreating.
Duke Aeromore Leonis unfolded the parchment before showing the magic circle drawn on it.
The Emperor and the others, including Bellarine, closely studied the ancient language written around the circle, only for the Prince to gasp.
"T-This...." He couldn't believe what he just read on the parchment, and looking at others' reactions, it seemed they were completely taken aback as well.
Lucius' face darkened as he muttered under his breath,
"Summoning ritual."
------------***----------
The central academy of Eldoria boasts authentic teaching and all-round instruction that could make a normal child into an elite warrior.
There are not many ways of getting admitted into this prestigious school. One has to pass a few tests to get their names enlisted and has to pay a reasonable sum for their tuition fees. The enrollment fee does not exceed the amount which a commoner family cannot afford.
The series of tests which a student has to go through contains physical and academic assessments.
Richard had already given those half a year ago, and naturally, he passed.
Now, tomorrow, he will be heading to the academy to get himself into a primary subject.
There are numerous subjects one could choose, however, each one of them requires the students to pass a certain number of tests to show their passion for the said subject. Like, if one wants to get into the 'Alchemy' group, they have to show their skills of transformation and combination of matters to make something useful.
Each group has its unsaid ranking, and everyone knows about it. Out of the six groups, 'Alchemy' and 'Apothecary' are graded the lowest, and only those who have an actual passion for it ever choose one of the two as their primary subject.
Then comes the 'Survival' group which trains the students to become adventurers mostly. This course allows the students to know how to survive in unfavorable conditions and always come out alive.
Then comes the 'Warrior' group and the 'Mages'. Those who choose to be warriors are mostly taught physical combat, weapon training, and related topics. They generally become knights and soldiers for nobles. Mages are magic-orientated and usually deal with things related to magecraft and spells.
Then comes the most difficult and famous group—the Hunters.
Unlike adventurers, who do every kind of job to help and support the citizens, hunters have the responsibility to just hunt the Bates across the continent. They get paid higher and their job doesn't require anything other than killing.
Hunters are deemed as the blend of every other category as they have to know the basics of every other course to survive. Hunters are also directly recruited by various noble families as well, which makes this subject even more desirable.
However, Richard had a different reason to choose this course. And that was—he wanted to remain connected with the main plot.
Laying on the rooftop of the mansion, he stared at the starry sky while thinking about what he had to face and what he had done in these two months.
Living as a typical nobody in his previous life, he was somehow surviving in that world with only one ambition in his mind. And that was to keep his sister safe.
Bella...
'I hope she is doing well.'
Richard was an adopted child, and he met Bella for the first time when he was seven. He still remembered how she was peeking from the kitchen while he sat in the living room; shy and anxious to see her new big brother.
'Mother would have been very happy to see how well Bella grew up...' Richard couldn't help but smile foolishly while thinking about his old days.
His parents whom he...really...wait!
"Huh?!" Richard abruptly got up with a severe frown on his face and thought carefully.
Parents....parents....fuck!
"What did my parents look like?" Richard grabbed his head and tried to think about them even more carefully now. However, despite his efforts, he couldn't remember them at all.
Their faces were vaguely recognizable....like if they stood in front of him, he would remember them. However, this still made him anxious.
Just two months ago, he remembered their faces and everything about them. However, now he not only forgot about how they looked, but the other things like his friends and where he used to study....everything seemed to have started to fade away.
No...this can't be happening.
Richard jumped off the roof and landed on the balcony.
Heading toward his bed, he sat down and rolled up his sleeve hurriedly.
Looking at the symbol of blessings he received from the Goddess, Richard heaved a sigh before applying ether to it—and soon he lost his consciousness.
....
The next time Richard opened his eyes, he was standing in a void which was pristine white, everywhere he saw.
Richard has visited this place twice before. This was the sanctuary of his memories.
The blessing he asked from the Deity was to let him access his memories independently. The reason why he chose this blessing is that there was a constant danger of someone reading his mind.
The Headmaster of the academy to be precise. And there was that psycho princess as well.
That's why Richard wanted to keep himself safe from any kind of situation.
But he never knew he would be visiting this place to remember the people he once used to call 'mother-father'.
There were two shelves on which he stored his memories. One, which the others could see if they penetrated inside his head. It was like a pen drive, which contained bits of his memories which he wanted the others to see. And one, in which all his memories are stored, completely unfiltered.
Richard moved toward the second one, looked into the book under the 'Past' tag, and hurriedly located everything he wished to see.
Dropping all the books related to his past life, Richard sat down.
Flipping the pages at an anxious pace, he finally halted once he saw the faces of two middle-aged people standing side by side while two children of less than ten years standing in front of them while facing forward.
Richard's heart melted at the sight as he finally recalled all those moments he had spent with his family. The flood of memories was not uncomfortable as he took his time reminiscing those moments.
Without realizing it, he spent several hours in the mindscape and went to sleep late at night. When he remains in that void the time flows normally in the real world...which explains why Richard woke up late on the first day of his Academy.
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A/N:- A lot of things about the Minister have yet to be unveiled. I hope you all enjoyed reading the chapter.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 88: Chapter 87- Academy(1)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC88: Chapter 87- Academy(1)
The Obsidian Citadel is situated on an island, separated from the mainland and has a rigid security system that does not allow a single intruder to enter the piece of land without alerting the authorities.
Not only was the academy situated on the island, but every other necessity of a student was made available for them, leaving no requirement to leave the island unless any dire situation arose.
Ethan has only heard about this place in the past, but not even once he thought he would get the opportunity to enrol here—on a fully-funded scholarship, no less.
It was something related to that awakening he went through in Awsperg that made the administration of the Academy interested in him—Ethen thought.
He has been living passively for the last few days, in the capital. Elizabeth has become a good friend, but not someone he still could trust. There have been various incidents...that made him slightly wary of her. Her natural personality and the personality she adopts in front of him, are quite different. But she wasn't that bad of a person at heart. Well, for him at least.
Wearing his usual clothes, which consisted of high-waist pants and a white shirt, Ethan slowly made his way towards the wide buildings situated at the far end of the island.
He was brought here last night and was made to stay in outdoor dormitories like the others. And early in the morning all of them were asked to report to the school by eight o'clock.
Ethan slowly reached the main gate where the students were lined up and getting scanned.
Ethan also lined up and got his stuff checked once before he was told to go in.
The first word that left his lips after witnessing the academy was, "Peaceful."
A castle-like building across the main gate, after crossing a flower garden with a fountain situated in the middle of the adjoining four paths. On the left, there was a corridor that led to the school buildings from a different entrance. On the right, there was a tall building with an emblem of a book situated at its crown.
The colour theme of the school was dark blue and black, which gave it a very elegant vibe and made Ethan feel that he was in a dream.
Seeing those people who mostly came from noble families, he felt overwhelmed and was forced to wonder whether he belonged to the place.
'Haah...I have already crossed that point...' Deciding that it was futile to mull over it anymore, Ethan followed the signboard that the school staff was holding.
His enrollment number was three hundred twenty-eight, which means he has to go to examination hall five.
He followed the arrow which was marked on the signboard and went towards the left side of the building.
After following the others for a bit, and walking for like three hundred meters, he reached behind the main building where a vast field awaited, and several buildings stood tall.
"That doesn't look like an examination hall....?" One of the students near Ethan voiced his opinion while looking at the dome-like facility across them.
Since the other students were going there as well, Ethan chose not to ponder over it for long and check whether he had reached the right place.
Every year, the Academy only allows five hundred students to enrol, and given the popularity of Hunters all over the world, it was no surprise that Ethan could see over a hundred students here in the same examination hall.
A part of him wanted to take the 'Survival' group to become someone like his teacher, however, the aim of his life requires him to become a ferocious beast who knows nothing but to slaughter. And for that, Ethan needs to be in the most dangerous and difficult course of the academy.
Entering the place, he saw various groups had already formed among the students. Ethan has always been awkward with his words so he walked past those groups to stand alone somewhere.
It was then that he found a girl standing all alone while staring at the arena. Her black hair seemed to be darker than the night and her warm yellow eyes made Ethan dazed for a moment. She was extruding a very elegant charm and gave the impression of being a noble lady.
Ethan was baffled by the fact that a girl with such beauty was left alone, which urged him to approach her....but then he hesitated. What if the girl wanted some peace just like him and his approach might disturb her?
He just decided to stand a few meters beside her.
Naturally, he couldn't shut off his ears and slowly the conversation of the people nearby reached him,
"Hey, isn't she the daughter of Duke Hawkbridge? She looks more beautiful than the rumours offered."
Ethan raised his brows. Just as he thought, such aura cannot be possessed by a commoner.
"But what's the point of such beauty when she speaks so bitterly to others?" Another one from the group, this time a girl, disdainfully spat.
"Yes, yes! I saw one guy approaching her just now, and after sharing a few words, he awkwardly walked away." Another one added, making Ethan frown.
They really are quite sassy for making such comments for the person who surely could hear them.
Ethan glared at them in annoyance but they simply ignored him and continued their conversation.
Ethan sighed and looked towards his left. Although the girl seemed completely unbothered, Ethan knew she must have been hurt hearing those harsh comments on the very first day.
Gathering his courage, he shifted towards her a little before saying, "I apologize in their stead. They just can't control their mouths it seems."
He was standing at such a distance that he didn't need to speak aloud to talk.
Amelia retained her gaze to the front as she responded, "I don't mind, and they are mostly true about my personality. I indeed have a sharp tongue."
Ethan chuckled, "But why can't I hear you talking to me abrasively?"
"Because you haven't tried to flirt with me until now."
....oh.
Ethan now realized why she shooed away the previous one who approached her. It seems she was averse to flirtatious guys.
Ethan asked casually, "So...I assume you are wary of men?"
Amelia, for the first time, looked at Ethan with her eyebrows elevated before asking, "I never said that. I am wary of every man who isn't 'him'."
Ethan tilted his head, "Him? Is he-" Ethan halted his words as he was surprised to see that slight smile on her face and the warm look spreading in her eyes.
Not only he but everyone who was glancing at Amelia was struck with awe upon witnessing that look on the ever-stoic girl.
"Yes...him. The only one who can flirt with me all he wants." Amelia slowly muttered; her face turning a little hot at the thought of meeting him today.
Ethan didn't say anything after that as the instructors began to march inside. It was a lady with long olive-green hair and an admirable physique.
She held a clipboard in her hand and commanded, "Line up, side by side and stop chatting if you don't want to get your points deducted."
The students moved instantly to do as she said. Ethan was pushed to stand beside Amelia while maintaining his eyes on the instructor.
She was extruding a very powerful and fiery aura like a tigress. Sharp emerald eyes looked at the students with an evaluating look.
Ethan remained standing with complete attention as she finally began,
"Okay now-"
Suddenly she halted and turned her eyes toward the entrance of the hall from where a certain redhead entered.
Everyone turned to glance at the person and so did Ethan.
A handsome young man with lava-like long hair and piercing golden eyes entered the examination hall, making several girls gasp in astonishment because of how charming he looked.
The person was not like the other noble children who gave a very immature aura, rather, he possessed a very refined air around him. The way he walked and carried himself was just breathtaking.
Every eye was glued to Richard as he made his way towards the instructor before apologizing,
"I apologize for being late, ma'am."
The instructor looked irritated as she spat, "Just on your first day, you are showing such an irresponsible tendency? Why are you late?"
Ethan's brows rose hearing such an irritated tone from the woman. Was she generally so strict, or was Richard an exception?
'Why do I feel the latter is the case?' Ethan inwardly mumbled and completely missed the threatening look Amelia adopted.
Richard retained his calm, which very few of the students expected, as he responded, "I was called by the administrator to submit the list of caretakers I have brought along. And since the administrator seemed to have an upset stomach, it took longer than it should have to finish the formalities." He calmly stated.
The green-haired narrowed her eyes before telling him, "Stand with the others."
Richard nodded before he stepped back and looked at the students, only to find two familiar faces standing on the extreme left.
Without another thought, Richard joined them.
—To be continued.
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A/N:- Thank you for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 89: Chapter 88- Academy(2)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC89: Chapter 88- Academy(2)
Remember, child, during the assessment, you won't be just tested as you are told. You would get evaluated the moment you step inside the examination hall, so there is a chance that the instructor in charge would try to rile you up or make some expected decisions for you to see the extent of your tolerance.
However, you have to remember that unless you are breaking some rules, you won't get punished, so even if you reject someone's request or order, your points won't be deducted.
These were the last few words Bellarine told him before Richard left for the Academy.
He knew that his status would no longer hold any meaning within the boundaries of the academy, but still, it was a little odd to be treated like a commoner once again after two months.
The way the instructors, administrators and even the academy staff treated him showed that they didn't even care what his rank was or what family he belonged to.
In a way, it was a refreshing feeling.
And considering his mother's advice, Richard deemed that the green-haired instructor was just assessing how he reacted to her scolding. Well, he hoped that such was the case.
Glancing at the girl beside him, Richard asked, "Nervous?"
Amelia, with a soft smile, responded, "Not until you arrive."
Richard chuckled at that, however, before he could reply to her the instructor began,
"My name is Olivia and I will be conducting your first test to see if you all are really fit to take this course as your primary subject or not."
She continued, "In the first test, we'll weed out those who are naturally unfit to become true hunters. Anyone accustomed to a sheltered life will be dismissed, as a hunter cannot stay indoors, enjoying comfort. A real hunter is always on the move, out in the wild, searching for their next prey. That's the true nature of a hunter."
While she uttered those words, her eyes travelled across the students and paused on several of them for more than a second. Including Richard.
No one raised any queries as they were not allowed to speak before Olivia gestured towards the entrance of the building.
"Agh..." Someone from the students who have a highly sensitive nose cringed and instantly covered his nose upon smelling the weirdest and nastiest scent of his life.
Pushed by four tall men was a huge cart on which rested a dead beast.
Many other students started to block their noses, and some of them even gagged at the odour of the dead beast.
Even Ethan had to cover his mouth before he could have puked all his breakfast.
However, when he glanced towards his left, he was surprised to see Amelia and Richard discussing, without being bothered even a little.
"Tidal Wyrm, is it?"
"Hmm. One from the salt water." Amelia affirmed.
Amelia has been through enough adventures in the past seven years that the stench of dead beasts has long stopped bothering her.
And about Richard...well, he has lived for two whole days, trapped under several dead zombies until he was reduced. That day he probably lost the ability to react to scents.
The Tidal Wyrm lay on the cold stone slab, its once-mighty form reduced to a grotesque, decaying carcass. Its massive body, now bloated and sagging, reeked of salt and death, filling the examination chamber with a putrid stench that made even the most seasoned students gag.
Dark patches of rot covered its thick, leathery skin, which was split in several places, exposing festering wounds and partially decomposed muscle. The creature's gaping maw, filled with jagged, broken teeth, was frozen in a permanent snarl, while its once-glimmering eyes were now dull, clouded orbs, sunken into its massive skull.
Its enormous, frayed fins lay limp, the once-powerful appendages now reduced to tattered remnants. A thick, oily fluid slowly seeps from the body, pooling on the floor and creating an uncomfortable slickness underfoot.
Many students turned pale at the grotesque sight as they heard the instructor speaking,
"Your first test is very simple and slimy. Just enter the creature and find Aembr-stone from it. There are several of them stuck in there, so you surely get one. And the stone which belongs to the whale is still there. The one who brings that one would get an additional ten points."
"Any questions?"
Suddenly several hands were risen.
Olivia picked one randomly before asking, "What is it, student Pascal?"
The said boy looked ghastly pale as he barely spoke some words, "I want to withdraw and let the administration choo-bwag!" He puked. And followed by him, those who were raising their hands also vomited.
Olivia rolled her eyes before she asked people to carry the soft and spoiled children out of the place.
Suddenly, the number diminished to fifty-five from one hundred-five.
Those who remained were either completely unaffected or slightly uncomfortable and those who were barely holding themselves based on their stubbornness to get selected.
Olivia glanced at the child of the renowned witch, and every time she looked at Richard she felt surprised.
'How is he doing that?' Every student has been scanned for any artefact. That's why Olivia knew that Richard wasn't cheating. Then how does a bonafide mage like him endured such a strong stench?
Shaking her head, she called out, "You have ten minutes. You can't use any spells nor use potions. If you somehow swallow something or get infected, the medic will take care of you, so you all don't need to be concerned about it."
Since Olivia didn't see any raised hands, she first gave every student a helmet with an ether stone attached at its crown, and then she whistled to commence the first round.
Immediately, every student, some fast and some slowly began to advance towards the several feet large whales.
Richard narrowed his eyes and rolled his sleeve.
He had never entered a wyrm before; however, it wasn't like he hadn't skinned a beast in this world before. He has researched many inhumane things in this world as well.
There were several deep cuts on the dead body of the whale. Just as he was about to step inside one of those cuts, he heard Amelia's voice,
"Good luck," But before he could have looked at her, she had already entered the beast.
Richard shook his head with a smile before he also entered the whale, and instantly, the stone on his head began to shine—illuminating a few meters ahead of him in a 'V'.
Richard, fortunately, had worn boots today. He couldn't have guessed what was waiting for him in this test since none of the main cast took the hunter's test during enrollment.
'If my guess is right then Eleanor must have joined Alchemy, Nora had chosen the Magician course, and Emily had gone for the knight course.' Richard was unsure about Elizabeth and initially believed that she would choose the Hunter's course as her primary subject, because of obvious reasons.
"Ewwww..." Suddenly, the guy who was not so far away from Richard let out a strange noise after getting his hand coated with a slimy fluid which must be stinking awfully.
Richard looked around and found that he was standing over the whale's liver. Biologically, whales have several stomach pouches, and it seems every student has gone to a different one. Seriously, this wyrm was quite huge.
Richard had dug into the flesh and bones of several living beings before, so he didn't hesitate to pry his hand inside the small gap between the liver and stomach wall and penetrate it as deep as he could.
He wasn't using Detection but just moving on his whim.
Sadly, he found nothing and his hand was completely coated in the slimy fluid.
Richard swatted away the mucus as much as he could before continuing his hunt.
He moved around the place and inserted his hand wherever he felt he could find a stone.
After three minutes of searching, he finally came across an octopus' arm-like vein hanging down, which he squeezed from the other end and found a red ruby-like stone dropping from the inside.
With a smirk, Richard caught it and safely stored it in his pouch.
'Hmm...' Just as he turned to move out, he suddenly had a thought.
The wyrm of salt water generally has their magic stone in their crown, and Richard was quite near to the head of the beast. So taking the chance, he headed towards the possible location where he could find himself the extra points.
After coming across several students and passing by several narrow spaces, he finally felt a bigger source of energy coming from a distant corner.
The space to reach there was quite narrow as it seemed the part of the whale was punched from either side to make it difficult for the students to reach there.
However, Richard has no problem passing through the four-inch wide path with his body turned and hands raised above his head.
He used the lubrication of the mucus to his advantage.
"Hmm?" Richard sensed that someone else was approaching this way, so he fastened up his pace, and within seconds, he reached the spot from where the energy was radiating.
The big diamond-shaped stone remained levitating as Richard finally touched it—and turned to look at whoever arrived late.
However, Richard was thoroughly surprised to see Ethan standing there, with his lips parted and a regretful look on his face.
But the kid didn't let that expression linger for long and with a nod, he said, "Congratulations."
Richard looked at Ethan and then at the stone before he suddenly threw the four-foot-tall stone in Ethan's direction, which the latter barely caught with his slippery hands.
"Eh? Why are you giving me this?" Ethan was baffled and thought that Richard was showing pity to him.
However, Richard's following words cleared his doubts, "Extra points allow the students to buy premium meals in the cafeteria. I don't need that since I have brought my cook along. So...there you go?"
Richard shrugged and looked completely uninterested in the points and the fame he could have gained on the first day.
Once again, Richard proved to him that there aren't only bad and selfish people in this world.
Ethan helplessly smiled at the redhead, before uttering, "I will definitely repay you one day for everything you have done for me."
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A/N:- Damn, this was an unexpected development.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 90: Chapter 89- Academy(3)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC90: Chapter 89- Academy(3)
The first test concluded with only forty students now remaining. Naturally, Amelia, Richard, and Ethan survived and gained points based on how quickly they returned. Ethan earned extra points for the magic stone of the wyrm he brought
They were given the time to change clothes after taking a bath before the next round since the oil of the wyrm is flammable and can get in the way of their next task.
After washing himself Richard wore the training gear which the school provided. It was a full-sleeve shirt made out of thin and stretchable fabric that allowed good mobility and possibly minor protection against cuts. On the lower half was a pair of knee-length pants of the same fabric that stuck to his skin quite firmly and a pair of high-ankle boots.
Inside the changing room, mostly everyone was stealing glances at Richard who looked charismatic and breathing in the attire. Even the way he tied his hair in a messy bun was quite enchanting to the eye, even though everyone around him was male.
Richard avoided those gazes and looked at Ethan, who was tying the shoelaces...but was failing miserably.
Richard knew that Ethan always had a problem with shoelaces, so he crouched to help him, startling Ethan.
"Ah-I.."
"Tell me, Ethan," Before Ethan could say anything, Richard asked, "...why did you choose to be a hunter?"
Richard was just curious about what changed in him, and Ethan chose to be a hunter instead of an adventurer. Originally even after his mother died, he chose the path where he could help as many people as he could. However, in this timeline, when he hasn't lost his master and just his mother, he chooses to be a hunter.
Richard had a hunch about this sudden change, and hearing Ethan's following words, his hunch was proven right,
"I have recently been fooled and trapped by someone, and after that, because of me, many people suffered," Ethan began, his voice containing both sorrow and anger, "That day...I lost my motivation to help humanity. That's why, being a hunter, I would be allowed to vent all my frustration on those beings who don't deserve to live."
Richard raised his brows before lifting his eyes and asking Ethan, "So are you going to hunt humans as well?"
That statement made Ethan flustered as he hurriedly shook his head, "No-no! Of course not. Although a few people have hurt me, there are those as well who have shown that kindness is something that still lives within humans. So no, I won't be turning my sword against humanity."
Richard inwardly heaved a sigh. Thankfully, the protagonist hasn't strayed from his path, or who knows what those heaven dwellers might have done.
Soon, all the students returned to the examination hall, where, this time, a different instructor was waiting.
He was a tall and thin man with curly black hair and a pair of green square glasses. He wore a friendly smile on his face as he greeted the students, "I hope you all had a pleasant bath and are ready to take the next examination."
Although many of the students wanted to ask for a break, they never got the chance to speak as the instructor waved his hand and a large umbrella without a handle flew in their direction.
It was about ten meters in radius and was made of shiny platinum plates that reflected the faces of the students as they looked up.
The instructor continued, "Your endurance will be tested in this. Under the umbrella, your resistance against different conditions would be tested. If you feel you cannot endure and want to forfeit just use this alarm to get out,"
As he said, he showed a small red button attached to a strap that remained tied around his hand.
"The test would continue for twenty minutes and fifteen minutes is the minimum requirement to get passing marks. Those extra five minutes would grant you extra points, so hang in there as long as you can."
Many students shivered and looked at the umbrella once again, sensing that a great disaster was about to befall.
However, none of them stepped back after coming this far and the test began.
Once every student stood in a circle, the umbrella began to lower even more, and several long steel fangs descended from the corners to make it look more like a tent.
Students were now surrounded by the platinum surroundings, their figures being reflected in the shiny surface as they remained nervously fidgeting at their spot.
It was then,
**SHLINK**
Many of the students, including Richard and Amelia, fell to the ground upon feeling the weight over their shoulders and they lost their balance.
Those who remained standing were three of the most bulky dudes with tree trunk-like thighs that allowed them to retain their stance.
They were forbidden from using any spell and utilizing ether altogether, which is why using body strengthening was never an option—which leaves the students to rely on their physical might.
Richard glanced at Amelia and found her somehow recovering from the initial shock and sitting on the ground.
The current weight they were experiencing was around fifty kilograms(110 lbs) which definitely was endurable for those who have passed the first round of examination to get enrolled here.
However, not everyone came here through normal means.
Glancing at Ethan, who has been admitted through special recommendation, Richard felt that the Protagonist might not be able to endure for long.
With his body completely pressed against the ground, Ethan kept his eyes closed and fist clenched. Although he has been training for the last few weeks, it doesn't mean he has become all mighty or something. And most of the time, when he did some kind of task for money, he utilized his newfound magic to help himself.
'I shouldn't have been so reliant on that!' He was now regretting.
Richard just hoped that he could get through this in one piece.
He was now feeling a lot better than he initially was. He has done weight training with Lilia enough to not get affected by this.
The other students were also not as affected as well since most of them belonged to either commoner backgrounds or low-ranking noble families, which forced them to make this academy their life goal, and they worked hard for their ambition.
In the entire group, only Ethan and two frail-looking girls were struggling against the increased gravity.
The torture continued for three minutes before the weight was doubled.
"Ugh!" Ethan felt his bones getting crushed and his mind turning into a mess.
He heard a couple of buzzers from the other students, and for a moment, Ethan also felt like tapping the red buttons and getting rid of this excruciating pain...however, the moment he recalled the face of his mother, he found himself thinking about nothing else.
Only that face remained in his mind and Ethan was no longer struggling. It was like everything he experienced until now was not real and he was now free from all the bounds.
Richard looked at Ethan and somehow discerned that the Protagonist used the power of love to endure this as well. On the other hand, Amelia didn't look good.
She has trained herself to be an adventurer and a spy for most of the time. Surely, she must have gone through this training, but considering the slowly increasing weight, there was no doubt that she must be nearing the limits of her tolerance.
Richard slowly removed his hand from his thigh and rested it on her hand, making Amelia instantly open her eyes and look at Richard.
The look in his eyes somehow whispered in her ear,
'I want to be with you in the same class...'And that gave the raven-haired enough strength to straighten her back and forget about the struggle.
Just like that, another three minutes passed, and many students fell on the ground lifelessly after having the pressure removed. But that freedom was soon snatched away when the panels of the umbrella turned white and the temperature dropped to zero in an instant.
"Shit! This is tooooo much!" One of the students cursed as he rolled in a ball to cover himself from the cold.
Not only that, even blizzards began to appear inside the dome as everyone shivered and balled up as well.
Richard rubbed his nose which slowly began to turn red as he was also not used to such extreme cold.
It seemed the temperature was dropping every second—Richard thought, but in reality, every ten seconds, a degree went down.
"Wait! We are forbidden from using ether, but we can surely help each other, right?" Someone from the group suddenly voiced.
"Yes! Teamwork is a very essential factor of hunters." Another one chimed, clearly in assent to the idea
Soon, various students began to gather up to hug each other and warm each other through their body heat.
Richard saw Ethan also getting himself gathered in a group of three girls who kept him in the middle and embraced him from all three directions.
'What would happen if Elizabeth sees this...' He inwardly chuckled, when suddenly he felt someone tapping on his shoulder.
Turning towards the person, Richard's eyes widened slightly.
Amelia sat there on her knees with a pitiful look as she weakly extended her arms and asked,
"Warm me up?"
*Gulp*
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A/N:- ahahaha…this girl is so wild.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 91: Chapter 90- Academy(4)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC91: Chapter 90- Academy(4)
[Earth]
Bella has started to lose hope now.
She tried utilizing the research of Anvil but to no avail. She indeed jumped into the dimensional cracks to reunite with her brother; however, every time, she ended up in a different realm.
Not only that, she got pulled out of the realm the moment the crack healed up—signifying that even if she ended up reuniting with her brother, she wouldn't be able to remain there for long.
The loneliness that spread in her heart after realising how difficult it was to reach her beloved brother, has kept her awake for several nights. She hadn't eaten anything in the past seventy-two hours and was constantly sitting inside her room while staring at his picture.
In a corner, she remained curled like a pitiful child who was abandoned by her parents to die on the streets. Her eyes were red and so was her nose. Her dried eyes became moist every time she thought that she couldn't meet her brother again.
Until now, she had a hope that she would someday meet him again, even if it was during her last breaths. However, after going through a series of trials for the past four years, she couldn't keep fooling herself.
"Brother....do you miss me...." Caressing his picture close to her heart she slowly whispered.
The small flame of hope in her heart was flickering. Bella was reaching her wit's end.
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"Warm me up?" Amelia weakly extended her arms and asked him in a pitiful voice.
Those clear eyes, which mostly radiate indifference, were now filled with helplessness, while the girl herself seemed to be in very dire need of some warmth.
Richard gulped before nodding. He felt like he would become a criminal if he rejected such a proposal...no, it was a request!
He drew closer to her and after parting his arms he gathered the girl in his arms, only to hear her sighing in relief,
"Ah~so warm." She snuggled close with her face pressed against his chest and she positioned herself between his legs.
'She's so small...frail...' Holding the girl in his arms, Richard felt that she might break if he put a little effort. She felt soft, warm, and so delicate that he suddenly felt a cute aggression. However, he controlled his urges and kept the raven-haired, trapped in his embrace.
"Your skin is warm...and so comfortable. Why don't I make a nest just right here and we live like this forever?" She softly mumbled while keeping her eyes closed and a soft smile lifting the edges of her supple lips.
Richard chuckled before asking, "Living in a nest? I wonder if the daughter of Duke Hawkbridge can lead such a normal life."
Amelia suddenly parted her eyes and slowly looked up at him. There was evident certainty and determination flaring in her orbs, as she asked,
"If it's with you, I won't mind living in slums or the hell itself."
Richard parted his lips to say something to that...however, joking about her statement felt like he would be making fun of her sentiments, so he just pressed her small head against his chest once again and wordlessly told her to stop talking now.
Amelia had a wider smile of contentment now, and the harsh climate around her suddenly became sweet and quite romantic for the girl.
Every other student was grouped into at least four to five students each. As such being the only couple who shared such intimate space, made Amelia and Richard stand out—becoming the center of the spotlight.
Well, that didn't last long. After a few minutes, water began to fill the dome, and it went up until the whole space inside the umbrella wasn't submerged.
"Bluuooorgh!" Many of those who were taken off guard struggled and instantly pressed the red buzzer. And for god sake, when the umbrella fang parted, the water didn't spill out—showing the immaculate use of sorcery.
Richard stopped moving completely since the more he would move the more his body would utilize the stored oxygen. So he just allowed himself to float for the next three minutes. Ethan also didn't have much problem given he belonged to a town which was situated at a shore. He has gone fishing and diving in the ocean, for like ever, which explains why he seemed so comfortable being submerged.
Amelia also didn't show much discomfort for the most part, and before she could have started struggling, the water slowly began to level down.
"*Cough* *Cough* What the heck are these tests?" Just when they landed back on the ground, someone shouted while coughing violently.
Richard had to agree with him, as it was the first time he had seen such a versatile and unique kind of examination. Well, considering the course they were aiming for, it was quite understandable why they were going to such extreme lengths.
The last three minutes remained for every student to pass the exam who remained in the dome and this time, they had to face heat.
"Agh...fuck..." Someone cursed as he felt the water from his body slowly evaporate under the heat, which easily exceeded 40°C.
"Are you okay?" Richard asked Amelia who was down on her knees and looked slightly uncomfortable. However, upon being asked, she nodded and said,
"I...just don't like diving in the water. But now I am okay." She looked slightly lost when she said that, but she honestly was physically fine.
Richard knew her trauma of deep water, but talking about it right now seemed hasty so he decided to ask her about it later.
The panels of the dome were all illuminated red, and heat waves travelled visibly across the space.
The students slowly began to loosen their clothes and remove their shoes. Some of the guys, the bulky dudes, to be precise, even removed their shirts when they got the opportunity—to reveal their tight muscles and self-made battle scars.
The girls had it difficult since they could not be like boys and start removing their clothes. They could only open a few buttons of their shirt and try to cool themselves off by fanning their faces.
Richard was quite accustomed to heat so he didn't look particularly bothered. He has spent weeks, being enveloped in flames and recently had got burnt several times a day. So this much was nothing for him.
He just sat cross-legged on the ground and looked around at others.
In the group of students, there are two names of characters whom he knows.
The first one was a bespectacled beauty with a large bust and a shy personality. Long pink hair and round eyes gave her a very innocent vibe, and currently, with a few of her shirt buttons now undone, she was attracting a lot of attention.
She was a minor character who would be playing the role of informer and advisor. Someone who spends most of her free time in the library and has good observation skills.
Other than her, there sat a lanky grey-haired guy in a corner who looked completely unbothered by his surroundings. He is the son of the previous knight commander and is aiming to become a hunter, unlike his father, to prove that he is better than his old man.
Typical emo kid with daddy issues who would have tremendous character development and someone who would support Ethan in his journey. Well, until an extent before he dies.
The reason why he was acting indifferently now like he didn't care about his surroundings and he was perfectly fine with the heat, was because he wanted to maintain a cold and dark persona.
'Really a chunni....'
Although the heat reached 50°C within three minutes, Richard didn't show much trouble, but Amelia looked like she would melt at any moment now. Ethan was no better.
It was then,
*Bzzzz*
The buzzer rang, which signalled the completion of the fifteen-minute minimum requirement.
Many students tapped on the red button to escape the hell cell, and instantly the place became a lot empty.
Ethan glanced at Richard before giving a nod and walking out as well.
No one had the endurance to continue being here for another five minutes. Until now, the difficulty has only risen passing each minute, and given these extra five minutes would be granting extra points to the students, it could be guessed the level of torture they might have to go through.
Now, only Amelia and Richard remained inside, as the raven-haired turned toward him and asked, "Shall we go?"
She extended her hand, and to Richard's surprise, despite being in such a disoriented state, she was able to muster up a soft smile.
Richard wasn't greedy for the extra points, given he would be able to gain them once the class began; that's why he was about to hold her hand and walk out.
However,
[Ding!]
[Quest arrived!]
[Challenge for the Unique]
[Endure the remaining five minutes of the test]
[Reward: +10 Quest Points, Voice changing capsules.]
He suddenly held her hand and asked her, "Amelia, go outside with me. I wanna see the limits of my tolerance."
He might not be greedy for student points, but those quest points? He desperately needed them.
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A/N:- Damn...
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 92: Chapter 91- Academy(5)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC92: Chapter 91- Academy(5)
How did Richard spend the last five minutes? He doesn't know. He just sat there in the middle of the stage while experiencing several sensations going through him.
Sometimes loud noises, sometimes extreme heat. He even felt several snakes wrapping around his body and injecting venom into his body, but when the buzzer blared, he was all fine and well. There were no physical wounds on his body, nor his ether-flow was damaged.
Walking out of the dome, he received the notification from the system that he finally had reached ninety points, and only needed ten points to have his status window.
And because of that happiness, there was a smile on his face when he returned.
"Hey, hey look. Smiling and all "
"Do you think he cheated?"
"No doubt. Whose mother is feared across the globe surely would get privileges in the academy."
"Damn...such corruption"
These were those salty students who had initially decided to endure the torture for the whole twenty minutes but were the first of those who exited the dome once the fifteen minutes were up.
Richard naturally ignored them since starting a fight would cost him points, and he was actually too happy to mind those rumour-mongers.
Returning to position beside Amelia, he whispered, "I am fine, I swear." He assured her since more than Richard could have ever be, Amelia seemed worried. He had started to read those eyes of her quite fluently now, and when he saw her eyes trembling, he knew he had kept her anxious.
She didn't say anything but just held his sleeve weakly—like she would lose him the moment she let go.
Richard found the gesture adorable.
"Good work," Ethan complimented to which Richard returned the praise with, "You too."
"Okay then, students. The second stage is now finished and your third stage examiner would be....ah, there he is." As the bespectacled man said, a person with a slim build and slightly swollen belly walked inside the examination dome and stood while facing the students
He had a sweet smile on his face, which offered friendliness, and the man seemed far from being harmful. He had long and curly dirty yellow hair, and since he had yet to open his eyes, one couldn't discern his eye's colour.
He intertwined his finger over his belly before greeting others, "Good afternoon, students. I am Oswin Oakhart and I will be conducting your third examination."
He suddenly took out a vial from his pocket before advancing toward the first student in the row.
"Extend your hand, son," The said boy extended his hand before the man dropped the red fluid on his palm.
Following the same pattern, Oswin offered the red fluid to everyone, which ended with Richard.
Richard didn't try to smell it to discern what the liquid was, but just by its consistency, he felt it was a potion. Or what it could be?
Once he was done, the blond professor kept the vial back in his jacket before asking the students, "Now, by your preference, hold any of your body parts except for your head with that same hand in which you received the fluid."
Richard was now even more confused. What was this man doing?
However, no one asked the teacher why they should do that and what was about to happen. The thirty students that remained were all well disciplined and had received enough experience, until now, when to open their mouths and when to not.
Slowly everyone started to do what was asked. Some tapped their stomach, some held their wrist and some their ankles.
Richard was completely clueless about what might happen, so he just tapped his palm against his left thigh and waited. Glancing at Amelia, he found her holding her left forearm.
Once the instructor ensured that everyone was ready, he finally revealed his eyes.
Those small orbs were of the same shade of the fluid they had just received—sending a shiver down Richard's spine. But he didn't have the leisure to think of anything as a shooting pain coursed through his thigh, and he roared,
"AAAGGGHHHH!!"
"SHIIIIIT!!!"
"WAAAAAHHHH!"
And not only him but everyone else, cried in pain and fell to their knees instantly.
The blood they were given was manipulated to tear the muscle of the part which was being held.
Richard clutched his thigh, which had a deep wound in the middle, and it was bleeding profusely.
*DHAK*
It was then that he saw a box dropping a few inches to his right, and not only did he but everyone else received a similar box which had a plus sign drawn on it.
"Heal yourself within seventy seconds without ether, and stand back up. If I no longer see your blood after seventy seconds, you pass~"
The previously sweet voice of the instructor now sounded nothing but sadistic as he happily declared the conditions to pass this round.
Richard kept his left hand pressed on the wound while he stretched his right hand to grab the box. He failed twice, struggling pitifully, but the third time he finally pulled the box in his direction.
While he was getting anxious, the instructor added,
"Ah, yeah, don't try to help each other in this one like the last examination. You will get disqualified for that~"
Richard didn't have the time and mind to pay attention to him as he bit the clip of the box between his teeth and utilised his fingers to open the box. Immediately everything contained inside it fell to the ground.
He has already lost so much blood that the medical supplies got smeared in the crimson fluid.
Sweat began to rain down his head and back as Richard clumsily picked up the white bandage before he straightened his injured leg.
He has been so reliant on Lilia and his mother to patch up his wounds that he has nearly zero knowledge of healing a wound without a potion. Even in his previous life, this kind of work was done by Bella.
'Ugh, fuck, I have to hurry...' He can't forget about the time. He only had like fifty-five seconds left.
He tore the bandage cover and released the hold from his wound. Blood began to pour down his thigh even more, and a small pool began to form around him.
He unrolled the bandage and finally brought it down on his wound....only to find that it got stuck between his flesh and the white bandage instantly turned the same shade of his blood.
Richard clicked his tongue and unwrapped even more bandage to just stop it from bleeding anyhow now!
However, before he could try overcrowding his wounds with bandages, a pale hand held him by the wrist.
Richard paused and lifted his eyes, only to find Amelia crouching in front of him and taking a small bottle from the medical box.
There were tears in her eyes and her voice trembled when she said, "This will hurt,"
She said before opening the bottle and pouring the lime-colored fluid on his wound, making Richard wince but he somehow held himself from making a sound.
Amelia's condition didn't look good, yet her hands never wavered, nor did she ever pause while she healed Richard.
She first used several cotton pads to press it against his wound and then tied the bandage around his thigh.
When she was done, his blood stopped spilling completely and he was now feeling much better.
*BZZZ*
The buzzer resonated yet Amelia and Richard didn't move. Richard gazed into those orbs, which contained nothing but relief right now. In these few seconds, she has shown so many emotions that he was left speechless.
Not a speck of regret he could see in her even though she disqualified herself...just because she couldn't see him hurt.
'What did I ever do to deserve such affection from you, Amelia?' He inwardly asked himself.
"Please stand up, now you two. The game is over and now we have four people who will be retiring from the examination."
Oswin called out as Richard and Amelia finally got up while supporting each other.
Those other three students had already left, and only Amelia remained.
"I am sorry sweetie, but rules are rules." Oswin sweetly stated. He couldn't do anything despite what he actually wanted.
Amelia nodded before she glanced at Richard and said, "Can you promise me something?"
Richard was slightly overwhelmed by everything that just happened in these two minutes, which didn't allow him to respond verbally. Rather, he just nodded.
Amelia drew closer and softly held his left cheek before whispering, "Just don't get hurt anymore. I don't want to feel that pain once again, or I might really die....or so would I have said, but I know that will make you feel burdened. So just take me on a date after the examination, okay?"
Richard's expression shifted and soon he chuckled.
Seriously, this girl has a very strange personality...
"Okay, let's go on a date."
....but he likes her.
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A/N:- Damn...part 2.
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