Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 122: Chapter 121- I will be waitingSTRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC122: Chapter 121- I will be waiting
While Lilia was slowly shaving Richard's head, Marcus continued with his earlier explanation,
"You will be taken there on a trial, which barely gets executed for most of the criminals. However, since I have worked as one of the administrators of the Endless Hold I would easily pluck you out. But make sure you are done with your task by then."
Richard nodded, "Don't worry about that, Headmaster. Two years is enough for me to take those many lives."
Although Richard was not aware of their power levels and what kind of environment he would be sent to, Richard had the means and resources to strengthen himself and use his system to his advantage.
Hearing those words, Marcus felt slightly sad. The boy was not more than sixteen yet he was prepared to do a massacre. The little bit of innocence Richard had would surely get consumed in these two years.
However, considering the reason behind this sacrifice, Marcus couldn't say anything to stop him.
Releasing an audible breath, Marcus took out a hand-drawn picture of a man from his pocket before showing it to Richard.
"His name is Hazard; a person who was charged with several cases of r*pes and murders, years ago. I have investigated a little and currently, he is on the fourth floor."
Heaving a sigh, he added, "I won't tell you to do it but if you get the opportunity, kill this man."
Richard was surprised, "You are asking me to kill a man?"
Marcus nodded and gulped bitterly, "I...have lost someone close to me. That day, if not for your mother, I might have even killed the Emperor for sending Hazard to Endless Hold rather than letting me pass his judgment."
Richard had no information regarding Marcus' past but the deep regret he could in the man's eyes evidently expressed how much that person was close to him.
Making a mental note to ask about it later, he took the picture and memorized the fatty's face.
"Young master, have you thought of what excuse you would be presenting to your friends?"
Richard scoffed, "I don't have any."
"That...is depressing. Anyway, I would be informing the Professors that because of getting injured in the battle which he fought alongside me, Richard is taking a rest for a few days." Marcus suggested.
"That would be...for the best. But Headmaster," Marcus raised his brows as Richard finished his question, "I won't get suspended for being absent for so long right?"
There was a pause before Lilia and Marcus both broke into a chuckle.
Richard also smirked and closed his eyes before leaning back.
Lilia soon finished shaving his head clean and applying the moisturizing cream to keep his skin to protect it from dirt and dust.
Seeing her suddenly crouching down and collecting his fallen hair he suggested, "Just sweep them out?"
Lilia shook her head and said, "I want to keep them."
Richard was baffled by her words but he didn't question her.
Once done, Marcus urged, "Shall we go?"
Richard nodded and got up along with the man.
Marcus made his way outside and left the duo alone. Allen was already facing the other side; completely engrossed in his book.
Richard faced his fiancée with a complicated look in his eyes.
Holding her hand, he said, "Truth be told, it's quite unfair on you and Amelia that I am leaving you both like this."
Lilia, smilingly replied, "And that's the reason why we both respect you so much. Your dedication towards the people you love is extremely strong and admirable."
Richard helplessly smiled upon hearing those words, and once again, he admitted in his heart that Lilia was really a very strong woman.
Giving her a tight hug he whispered, "I will be back in no time, so just keep yourself prepared with another of those night dresses."
Lilia chuckled, "Once you return I will surprise you."
The flirting and joking helped the atmosphere to relax a bit, but Richard could sense how fast her heart was beating right now and how barely she was holding back her tears.
Separating from her, he kissed her forehead and slowly uttered, "I love you "
He waited for a moment but Lilia didn't say anything back, urging him to ask, "You won't say anything?"
Lilia shook her head from left to right, "You will only hear the response once you come back."
Richard didn't say anything to that and remained close to her until Marcus asked him to come out.
Richard glanced at the bed for the last time before his departure, as he uttered under his breath,
"Just a few days, then we can have a proper family reunion...'
-----------**----------
En route to the place from where Richard would be sent to the infamous jail, Marcus told him, "You would be sent there with just a pair of clothes and nothing else. You aren't hiding anything inside your anus right?"
Richard was momentarily speechless that the man actually asked that. However, he soon replied, "No."
Marcus nodded as the carriage moved forward.
After a pause, Marcus asked in a hesitant voice, "Are you sure about this Richard?"
Richard raised his brows and looked at the man questioningly.
Marcus didn't turn towards Richard as he continued, "Once you summon the General of the Dark Star...people will somehow get to know about it. And I don't think I need to tell you what will happen then."
"People will abhor me." Richard plainly answered. Not like he didn't think about it before.
Allen spoke about it. He said that the ritual cannot be done in secrecy and the Dark cultists are hidden everywhere who would surely spread Richard's name as the new apostle of the Death Lord.
However, Richard didn't care about it. As the son of the Duchess, he cannot get exiled unless the Emperor wants to go against the Duchess. And if things come to it, Richard would reveal that he received the procedure of the ritual from the Emperor's office.
Elizabeth was already bloodthirsty. He would fuel her flame and take the Emperor down if he needed to.
He has more than five ways of preventing himself from getting exiled or sentenced. And about the academy, then surely the Headmaster wasn't going to expel him.
And Richard doesn't care about people's opinions of him. He was sure that once he explained things to Amelia, she would understand, and if the people close to him didn't think wrongly of him, Richard didn't give a single f*ck what the others would say about him.
Marcus was really concerned about the future that awaited the young man. His reputation would once again get tarnished and surely Richard would receive severe scorn and hatred from his fellow students.
However, since Richard had made his choice with which Marcus's interest aligns, the older one surely wasn't going to say anything against his decision.
"Here, "Taking out a pill, Marcus offered it to Richard, "Swallow it. It will improve your regeneration and natural defence."
Richard wasn't expecting a sudden gift from the Headmaster. He picked up the pill and thanked the man with a firm nod.
Gulping the pill, Richard inwardly called out,
'System, show me my stats,'
[Ding!]
[Name: Scarlette Richard]
[Race: Human, Elemental Ascended]
[Age: 16]
[Rank: D+]
[Str: 42]
[Spd: 48]
[End: 52-> +10]
[Int: 32]
[Mgc: 782]
[Luk: 41]
[Available stats: 70]
[Special skills: Burning]
[Skills: Self-regeneration -> D
Telekinesis-> C- {700 Kilograms}
Barrier-> F {Two layers}
Enhancement-> B+
Detection-> D (400 meters)
[Spells: Fireball- D
Amber Arrow- D+
Hell Blaze- S
Flame Maze- C
Molten Platform- D-.]
[Inventory: Bo-staff: ???]
...
His stats were a little more detailed compared to Bella's, and earlier, before facing the cultists, he distributed his stats points a little into his strength and speed. They were ridiculously low; signifying how much he was relying on enhancement.
Those spells he learned from the system were all at their best level but consumed a lot of ether. And those which he learned by himself and his mother are still developing.
Given the place he was going, he needed AOE spells, and Richard had them. Hell Blaze, for example, can spread in a vast area, and it burns until it turns its target into ashes.
Although a lot more preparation was required, he could have earned more weapons from the system to put into inventory, but there was no time. He has to do with what he has.
He knew what he had to do and he was prepared for it mentally. His goal was clear and he had all the intention to accomplish it.
'Whatever it takes...'
Finally, the carriage came to a halt and Marcus told Richard,
"I am leaving some clothes here. Change into them and cuff your hands before coming out."
Richard nodded before Marcus stepped out.
Looking at those black and white clothes, Richard sighed. He had just recently gotten used to wearing high-quality clothes, but maybe it was time for him to remember who he was before returning to this world.
A survivor.
------------**------------
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 123: Chapter 122- PrisonSTRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC123: Chapter 122- Prison
This realm was situated somewhere between hell and heaven, and the people working for this facility weren't normal humans. Just like the Headmaster.
Richard had a very faint knowledge of this place given there wasn't much mention of the Endless Hold in the book. It was said that this place established the deities to keep the criminals who have committed grave sins alive long enough to realise their mistakes, and once they did, it was said that their souls gained enlightenment.
Well, Richard was not going there to find this enlightenment.
"Although I don't need to tell you this, don't trust a single person inside there. All of them are just trying to find a way to escape and you can very well be a reason for their protest if you tell them about your situation."
Richard nodded casually as he remained blind under the sac mask, currently draped over his face. Only Marcus knew how to get there, and naturally, he couldn't have let Richard know about it too.
After a few minutes of walking, Richard was told, "Stay right here."
Richard did with his eyes closed.
The Headmaster released the hold from him and went ahead to do something.
Silently, he remained standing for another minute before his mask was removed, and Richard was allowed to gaze at the scene in front of him.
'Holy....'
Just a few meters ahead of him stood the tall building of the jail from where not a single prisoner had ever escaped.
Its walls were rough, dark stone, cracked and old, yet they held a strange power. A cold mist clung to the ground around it, making the air feel heavy and thick. The sky above wasn't like any normal sky, shifting between darkness and dull light, never fully night or day.
There were no windows, just towering, jagged walls that stretched upwards into the mist. A single, massive door stood at the front, carved with symbols that seemed to change when you weren't looking. The ground around the jail seemed untouched by time, empty and silent as if the world itself was avoiding the place.
Truly ominous.
'If the building could look so intimidating, I wonder how threatening the people inside could be.'
A single droplet of sweat trickled down his temple as Richard growled.
"Stand in front for inspection."
Marcus shook Richard out of his daze before signalling him to follow the words of the gatekeeper.
Richard was uncuffed and soon he stood before a long metallic plate which raised to ten feet.
"Stretch your arms up." The man, wearing a blue and black uniform, indifferently stated, and Richard followed.
"Lean your back and cough." The jailor said and Richard did.
Then he was told to turn around and after confirming that he was not carrying anything in his body except for his ragged clothes, he was told,
"Name: Collen. Prisoner number: 132-1-F. Crime: Attempted murder of the Emperor."
Richard raised his brows and glanced at Marcus, who expertly ignored his gaze.
Richard didn't say anything and soon was cuffed again, but this time with something else.
"Since when did the magic blocker become necessary in Endless Hold?" Hearing those words from Marcus, Richard's eyes widened.
Magic Blocker?! Doesn't that mean he wouldn't be able to utilise his spells at all?
The gatekeeper casually stated, "It's not a typical blocker, but just restricts one's ether output. And after reaching the second floor it gets removed." Heaving a sigh, the man added, "You see, prisoners tend to make a lot of fuss during their initial phase, so this decision was made by the Sentinels."
Marcus was shocked, "Sentinels made time for such a trivial thing? I am surprised."
The gatekeeper shrugged, "It is what it is."
Soon another officer arrived near the trio to take Richard.
Marcus gave a last glance to Richard which oozed with the meaning of 'Best of luck' before Richard was forced towards the tall building.
He was led there on foot. It didn't take much time to reach the main building.
The guard or whatever he was, pressed his hand against the runic door before chanting something inaudible under his breath.
The doors parted, and Richard witnessed what the top-tier jail of this world looked like.
The inside of the jail was even more unsettling than its exterior. The walls, though made of stone, seemed to pulse faintly, like a living thing. Narrow corridors stretched out in all directions, twisting and turning in ways that defied logic, making it nearly impossible to keep track of where one had come from.
The air was thick and heavy with a sense of dread, and it smelled of dampness and cold metal as if the place had been forgotten for centuries.
Richard was urged to walk forward as he passed by many cells which were occupied. None of them paid mind to Richard'd inclusion as they were busy either chatting, playing or sleeping. Some of them were even engaged in sex without minding if they were seen.
'How do they control birth here?'
Richard came across three cells where people were getting killed, and the officer did not do a thing to stop them.
Everyone was free to do whatever they wanted and that's what Richard desired.
After walking for ten long minutes, Richard was told to stand in front of one of the cells.
His retina was scanned by a device which didn't look like it should belong to this world.
The cell door parted and he was pushed inside.
Once the officer walked away, Richard looked around the room
It was cold and damp here, but not dirty. There was a pot in the corner, a sink, and bunker beds.
"Hmm?" Now that he looked closely he found someone sitting on the upper bed while looking down at Richard curiously.
It was a young man with bush-like brown hair and brown eyes. The strange part was that Richard didn't notice the guy until he saw him.
"New here or was demoted?" The boy asked, his voice sounding a little too thin for a male.
Richard sat down and casually stated, "New here. You?"
"Just three months." The guy jumped from the bed and sat down on the ground across Richard. With his legs folded he asked, "What did you get caught for?"
"Attempted murder of the Royal Majesty."
The other one scoffed, "At least I was able to finish the task."
Richard raised his brows, "You killed a noble?"
"Yuuuup~the king no less. I was hailed as a hero but not every hero lives a happy life after exterminating the evil." Wearily, he spoke as he lay down on the cold floor without bothering about the fact that his head was nearly touching the pot base.
"So, you got a name?"
"Ah, yes, it's Collen. And you?"
"Brad."
The conversation came to a pause after that. Richard looked at his bed and checked if there was something under the pillow or the sheet which Brad might be using as a weapon. But he can't find anything.
"It's fruitless to make a weapon out of the things they give. Their technology just remoulds everything back to its original shape and scratching this wall with a spoon is foolish."
Richard was surprised to hear such a piece of news. Exactly who is making such advanced artefacts in this world? Another transmigrator? But this jail probably existed before the existence of Earth, and the technology used here has always been like this. Probably.
After lying down on the bed, Richard tried gaining some information, "How do they serve food?"
"Around nine in the evening and eight in the morning. All the prisoners gather in the great hall to have the meals. If you want a lunch, you have to earn it."
Richard asked almost immediately, "Earn it?"
Brad nodded with his eyes still closed as he said, "If you work for the jail, like cleaning, skinning, extraction, they give some token which can be used in exchange for extra food. And yes, you can snatch them from someone else so don't try earning them for a few months. First try getting into one of the factions."
Richard narrowed his eyes. He was contemplating the way to kill as many prisoners as he could. If these tokens are the way to attract their attention, then Richard just has to gain as many tokens as he can.
Getting up from the bunker bed, Richard asked, "Where can I get these jobs? Like do I start cleaning randomly and the tokens would pop up?"
Brad was surprised to hear such a response as he also got up from the floor and tried convincing Richard, "See lad, you look like a good person, so here is some advice: don't invite danger when you don't even know what danger you might have to face out there."
Richard shrugged, "I respect the sentiment, but I need extra food, so tell me where can I find work?"
Brad looked at the guy in disbelief. Just for a little extra food, this person was comfortable risking his life?
Insane.
Heaving a sigh, the brown-haired told him, "Wait for the dinner, I will bring you there."
------------***-----------
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 124: Chapter 123- His placeSTRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC124: Chapter 123- His place
That night, Amelia received a letter from Lilia stating that Richard couldn't return as of now. However, unlike what the Professors were informed, Amelia knew the actual reason for his absence.
He has gone to a faraway land to find the cure for his mother.
Amelia was informed by Lilia that because of lack of time, Richard couldn't have met her. However, Amelia knew it wasn't the case. If Richard wanted he could have reached out to her. Then why?
The question didn't persist for long, as once she opened his letter and read the place he was going, she knew why he hadn't decided to meet her.
The Endless Hold.
The place which was used to threaten kids during childhood is a mythical hell which many of the citizens have heard about but don't believe in its existence. The hell for every sinner and a destination which no one wants to reach.
And Amelia knew that it existed somewhere between realms and could only be accessed by a few individuals. Very few who live among humans have been to that place. And those who went never returned, alive, that is.
She has heard from her father what kind of place it is and what kind of people are contained there.
And Richard....has gone there.
Tears rolled down her cheeks, and her eyes burned like she was facing live flame, as she read the letter.
[...I know you are upset and probably angry that I never even asked your opinion. However, I have to do this. You know how much I love Mom and if something happens to her despite knowing that I could have done something....I don't think I need to tell you how I would feel after that.
I am your criminal and it would be perfectly understandable if you want to break up with me...but please, Amy, try to understand my circumstances and wait for me.]
She didn't say anything, nor could think of anything. She was left with no option. Neither she could bring herself to hate Richard or just accept his disappearance naturally.
Her heart felt heavy as she folded the letter and looked at the distant moon.
He was right about not meeting her. With a better conscience, she would have agreed with him, considering Amelia might have slit her wrist to prevent him from diving into that hell hole.
However, in her current state of mind, all she could do was think that she wasn't trustworthy enough for him to tell her about his situation in person.
Now, all she could do was to pray. Pray that Richard remains safe there and accomplishes what he desires.
'All complaints aside, I just want you to return safely to me...'
------------**-----------
[Day- 01]
[Endless Hold]
Richard was currently lying down on the bed, and looking at the roof of the bunker bed, with his mind going through several thoughts
From what information he had collected, this place was wild enough to be called a jungle.
Groups are formed, and gang wars are pretty common. Some new beauty arrives, they do brawl to have her possession unless she is strong enough to defend herself. Then there are battles for food tokens and whatnot.
If you are strong and not in a faction then you either get recruited or get killed.
Now, Richard is the new one here. If he silently joins one of these factions, then he might get a peaceful life in the Endless Hold—but peace was never an option.
*CLINK*
*BZZZZ*
The doors of the cell parted slowly, and Brad got up almost instantly,
"Come quick; I don't want them to find that I show you the working sites."
Richard followed with his brows raised.
While they walked, he asked, "So, in what faction are you?"
Brad chuckled, "Do I look strong enough to be in one?"
Richard was surprised, "You killed a King, no?"
"Yeah, but I was none other than his trusted chef."
Richard understood what it meant. He didn't ask another question and followed the brown-haired through the narrow corridor which led them to a big open hall.
There were benches and tables arranged there to eat food and some small windows on the walls.
"Those are food counters; show them your name tag and get yourself food. You can exchange tokens there."
Richard nodded and followed the man towards the corner of the hall. Some prisoners have started bursting into the common hall, grouped in numerous numbers.
Richard couldn't sense their power levels. However, there was something that told him that he could handle them if he played his cards right and retained his calm until the end.
Nearing the workstation, Brad said, "You see there?" Richard looked at what he was pointing at—it was a long list of available work for prisoners who wanted to gain tokens in exchange for the work.
Richard read some of those jobs and felt he was returned to the apocalyptic world. There was a mention of the expected tokens one could gain; an upper and a lower limit.
"Based on how much time you take and the quality of the work, you will get the tokens. But remember, once you take a job you got to finish it or stay within the chambers until the warden doesn't come to get you."
Richard raised his brows, "And when does that happen?"
"In exactly seven days, the officer who brought you here checks the working chambers. If you can't finish the work, you still have to remain there for the next seven days; so think before you dive-"
"Ohya? Already fooling the newbie?" A group of three men approached the duo, and instantly, Brad stiffened up.
In a whisper, he said, "Don't speak," before the brown-haired stepped forward,
"Master Styx...I was just informing the g-agh!" The lackey of the blond man, named Styx, suddenly lunged forward and punched Brad in the gut
Richard stepped forward to support the guy and, with a frown, looked at the spiky-haired who just assaulted Brad.
"Guheheheh~that look~that look!" The spiky-haired held his belly and laughed hysterically.
Brad held Richard's hand and shook his head to warn him.
Lifting himself, he politely said, "Please forgive him, master Styx; he is new and doesn't know his place."
Richard knew what Brad was doing here. There were people glancing in their direction, and it seemed this Styx wasn't just a random goon. He has a big faction.
'Gaining attention here would be futile. I need a bigger audience.'
Richard lowered his eyes and didn't say anything to interrupt them.
"Tell him that to stay here, it's best to know whom to glare at and whom to grovel at." The spiky-haired snickered before hitting Brad with his shoulder and soon the trio walked away.
'...that was pretty tame-' Just as Richard thought that the matter was solved easily, Brad pulled his arm, and in the next instance something crashed against Brad's face.
The yellowish thing was undoubtedly human faeces.
"Woohoo~nice save, Brady! You earned my respect!" The spiky-haired gave a short salute before he followed the other two and this time, he actually left.
"You didn't have to save me, I could have dodged," Richard spoke with a frown.
Brad didn't say anything but Richard knew what he meant. If Richard had dodged, things might have escalated...so in a way, Brad saved Richard from unnecessary trouble.
Heaving a sigh, Richard added, "Thanks, man...and sorry for all this."
Brad didn't say anything to that and just shrugged and returned to the cell, undoubtedly to clean himself.
Richard looked at the trio once again, specifically at that spiky-haired bastard.
'Once chaos befalls, I swear I will kill you with my two hands.'
Focusing back on the working station, Richard looked at the available jobs.
'Skinning...extracting materials...cleaning....slicing....hmmm...' Back on Earth, he got some experience in hunting animals, and naturally, he extracted meat and skin enough to do it with his eyes closed.
However, skinning and cleaning Bates didn't offer many tokens. Just for shearing a beast he would get twenty to forty tokens. And earlier, Brad told him that a decent lunch meal would require a hundred tokens. Based on that calculation, Richard needed at least ten lunches worth of money to gain some interest from the others.
He would continue to grind while trying to evade others as much as he could. Until he has a decent amount of tokens he needs to refrain from engaging in battles with others.
'Let's see which one of these jobs could grant me a good chunk...'
Going through the list, he tried finding something that could grant him more in less time.
The list was long and the tokens increased as he went down.
Finally, he looked at a job which made him smirk,
[Heat treating: 30 swords minimum: 5 tokens per sword: no upper limit.]
What could be better for someone who has lived his way through flames for the past two months? A live forge and high-paying job.
Nice~
-------------**-------------
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 125: Chapter 124- Allen's pastSTRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC125: Chapter 124- Allen's past
[Day- 01]
[Endless Hold]
As Richard expected he found something favourable inside the working station.
There was a live furnace, an anvil, a hammer and loads of deformed swords.
Richard slowly inspected the swords and found that there were marks of blood but they didn't reek, which means it has been years since they were used.
'But why aren't there any rust?' Swords, made of metal, tend to catch rust after months of not being polished and sharpened. However, Richard couldn't find anything wrong with the sword except for its deformed blade.
'Time travels strangely here it seems...' Richard heaved a sigh and started with one.
The blade was approximately twenty-five inches tall and had a leather belt around the handle. The hilt of the sword was a little too broad to be comfortable while holding. It was exceptionally light, and in its golden days, Richard knew it would have served its purpose quite well.
Bringing the sword toward the furnace, he inserted it into the live flame and began to wait.
He was accustomed to being so near to the flames, which allowed him to not show urgency when heating the blade.
However, what Richard didn't expect was the sudden notification,
[Ding!]
[Proficiency with flames: +0.1]
[Proficiency with flames: +0.1]
[Proficiency with flames: +0.1]
Every thirty seconds, his proficiency was increasing, which urged Richard to ask, "What is my current proficiency, and what will it help me in?"
[Ding!]
[Proficiency with flames: 18.3/100]
[Upon reaching the limit, the host would no longer burn or receive damage from flame attacks. The host would become one with the flames upon reaching the limit.]
Richard raised his brows in surprise. Becoming one with the flame...why did it sound so enchanting?
"Ah, shit!" Because of his excitement, he completely forgot about the sword, and now there was nothing but a fragment of the sword left; the rest fell into the furnace.
Richard looked at the door where the earnings were shown, and as he expected,
[-5 token points]
Clicking his tongue, Richard threw away the handle into the crap box and took another one.
He has to pay attention to his work unless he wants to rot here until the end.
---------------**--------------
[Day- 01]
[Outside world]
Lilia was currently seated beside the bed as she looked at the two ladies keenly. However, like time has actually frozen for them, they made no visible movement at all.
Across from her, Allen was currently eating bread with some soup while reading a book.
It had been a few hours since the Headmaster took Richard away, and Lilia sent the letter to Amelia as soon as she could.
She didn't know what reaction the lady would have, and unfortunately, Lilia couldn't go to check on her. The brunette's foremost priority is to keep Allen safe and awake.
"Reading books for too long can put a strain on your eyes and make you feel sleepy."
Hearing her words, the blond instantly snapped the book close and threw it away on the other side of the sofa, like he never was reading a book in the first place.
Finishing the meal, he thanked Lilia and set the tray aside.
Thankfully, there was a bathroom and toilet in the same room, so Allen didn't need to leave the premises at all.
While they were seated in silence, Allen suddenly asked,
"Was the clone caught?"
Lilia blinked in slight surprise before responding, "I guess the Headmaster took care of it. Why?"
Allen heaved a sigh, "The loyalty rune implanted on it would force that clone to chase me if it discerns that I am helping Duchess Bellarine and Master Richard."
Lilia assured him, "Don't worry; nothing will happen to you until I am here."
Allen heaved a sigh, but he still looked quite tense.
Lilia thought for a moment, before asking, "Why did you join this cult? From your behaviour and willingness to help people, you seem quite unbecoming of a devil worshiper."
Allen laughed in embarrassment, but that laugh soon died down as he confessed, "I...was forced by my father. I was an illegitimate child who would have been disowned if not for the fact that I awakened Ether."
A long sigh released his lips as he added, "Every evil worshipper has to sacrifice someone or something close to them to please the deity they wanted me to get devoted to."
With his shoulders slumping he added, "I...was made to kill my mother and sister before I got these powers," His hand was enveloped in dark matter before he dropped it back and added, "...my little sister was just seven years old...when my father forced me to poison her. That silly girl...loved her brother so much...t-that even when she was dying, she kept on wiping my tears."
Lilia felt sorrow for the man. He looked dejected and regretful for whatever happened. Although she was aware that the evil worshippers are twisted beings, she never assumed they would even force their children into this insanity.
In a lower voice, Lilia asked, "Don't you want to take revenge for what he did?"
Allen blinked in surprise before telling her, "He...is already dead actually, and no one else but Master Richard killed him."
Lilia was surprised as she reflexively asked, "Who was your father?"
Allen would have hesitated in the past to spell that name out, but not anymore, "The ex-Prime Minister of Eldoria; Phil."
Taking a pause, he added, "Thanks to the connection of the cult leader with the clone, he told me the person who killed my bastard father. That's why when I came across Master Richard, I knew I had to do everything in my power to help this man."
"..." Now Lilia realized why this guy was being so kind.
Getting up, she gave him a firm nod and said, "You are doing the right thing, Allen. Your mother and sister would have been proud of you."
Allen blushed hearing that and a smile bloomed on his face.
It was the first time in ten years that someone praised him.
-------------**-------------
It has been over six hours since Richard entered the working chambers.
He has worked with furnace and anvil before but he didn't have much experience. That's why he ended up wasting seven swords so far. However, with each failure and success, he got to learn something valuable.
Not all blades were the same; some were short, and some were tall. Some had blunt girth, and some held cleaving edges.
Based on estimation and visual evidence, he has to put the blade in the forge accordingly, until it turns red hot.
Then, comes the hammering part.
There were several hammers and sharpening tools provided, which Richard utilised to hammer the sword back into a proper shape.
*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*
His upper body, which was now in full exposure, glistened with a sword and some ashes marks as he kept on beating the metal to first straighten it up.
Whenever the heavy hammer strikes the blade, scales fly out and with each hit, the blade regains its former glory.
He has to re-heat the blade every time he has to start striking the metal harder, as it shows that the blade is losing heat and would start to turn rigid.
Once done, he pushes the blade into cool water, letting all the vapours rush out of the bucket. He nearly burnt his face the first time, because of all the water that jumped out.
Once he gets done with one blade, he has to put it into the basket of judgment, where the system analyses the quality of the blade before deciding the tokens granted for it.
The first ten blades didn't grant him more than two tokens for each one. But now, after reshaping for about thirty blades, he was earning five tokens from each one of them.
'Ha, this should do.' Looking at the hourglass, he decided that this should be enough for today. He has already earned like three hundred tokens.
Although this much was not enough to attract massive attention, considering it was his first day, Richard felt that he did well.
Wiping his body with his shirt, he wore it. Rubbing his head, he paused for a moment; realizing that he didn't have his long hair.
'Haah, it feels strange...' After he was done with the work, he received the tokens from the counter and stepped up the stairs to exit the chamber.
Two scanners, scanned his whole body to see if he had taken anything from the chamber. Naturally, Richard didn't take anything.
Exiting the place, Richard hoped that they still were serving food—however, the moment he stepped out, food was the last thing he could think of.
Facing him were hundreds of prisoners, standing side by side, glaring at Richard with killing intent.
One of them, a burly human with a shaved head, growled, "You are Richard, right? I will ask you this once; lay down and let me pluck that little head of yours."
"..." What the fuck just happened in these few hours?
-------------**-------------
A/N:- Damn, that's some bizarre request.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 126: Chapter 125- First blood(1)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC126: Chapter 125- First blood(1)
Brad was suspicious of this guy who introduced himself as Collen.
He looked like someone from a noble family, and that shaved hair seemed to be a ploy, to make people not suspicious of him.
The way he sits, talks, and fearlessly looks at people despite them being twice the size of the boy, suggests that he belonged to a family of knights. Yeah, probably.
The moment Brad saw him, he had a feeling that this guy wouldn't be able to survive with that attitude...and given how beautiful he looked, there was a chance for a weirdo to fancy him.
That's why Brad took the responsibility to babysit him for the time being....until he said he wanted to earn some tokens.
It's just foolish for a newbie, someone as weak-looking as Collen, to think he would live a peaceful life once he started earning tokens here. Many, hundreds of prisoners don't even bother looking for jobs, so they could avoid getting into trouble. And here...
Well, Brad could have only warned him and could have taken a hit or two. However, what followed was completely unexpected.
From a corner, he watched it; a woman, one of the very rare ones who lives alone in a cell and completely untouched, appeared before everyone.
Since the first day she arrived here, no one has dared touch her, and those who did have met their makers. She is strong and beautiful. Lethally beautiful.
Long black hair and violet eyes. A pair of big bazookas and a thin waist, that could entice even a saint to hold her even once before their death. Her looks could get her thousands of tokens daily if she allows herself to get touched. However, she stuck to her principles(?) and didn't allow herself to get tainted.
Well, until today.
"Can I have your attention?" Brad, just like many others, was already watching her, the woman who goes by the name Jasmine, as she stood before the crowd.
Her voice was soothing, almost like a choir playing some gentle music in sync, and those eyes that glanced at everyone made every prisoner in her presence feel that she was looking at them.
'What she is up to?'
Her voice, once again, echoed, "Today, I have decided to just let go of my stubbornness and allow myself to know the pleasure of being a woman."
Cheers erupted not a single second later. Brad was also surprised since this was too sudden. Although he has seen her only a couple of times, considering he came here just a few months ago, he has heard her tales.
The whipping lady with iron-clad determination, will be finally giving in?
'This can be a coincidence that she is making the announcement the same day when that boy arrived here...right?' Brad inwardly muttered, and maybe like she heard his inner voice, Jasmine suddenly called out,
"However, to become my first partner, you have to show how much you desire me," Those words were filled with innuendo, and even her simple gesture, like the tilt of her head, was quite sensual.
Everyone quieted down and listened to her following words.
"The one who will bring me Richard's head will get to spend a night with me~" Like her words were a cue, people began to grab those men whose names were Richard.
However, before someone could have gotten their head separated without any reason, Jasmine clarified,
"Uh-huh! Not those Richards, but the one working," Turning toward her behind she pointed at one of the chambers, which made Brad's eyes widen,
"...right there."
'Shit!' Brad cursed. Just as he thought this was no mere coincidence and that guy was no normal person.
First of all, his name is not Collen. And second, because he did something with Jasmine out there that's why she wants to take revenge on him.
And what could be worse than turning every guy, most of them at least, against him? Brad was sure this was the worst kind of revenge she could have taken.
Every person who held infatuation toward her, which easily exceeded three hundred, moved toward the working chamber which Colle-eh-Richard entered earlier.
There was something in the way she made the proposal that even attracted Brad to give in to his desires and group along with others to hunt down Richard.
However, he shook himself out of the daze and remained seated in a corner from where everything was visible.
'It's strange...' Brad narrowed his eyes; he couldn't believe that these people, who get fed up easily, were patiently standing in front of the chamber while pumping their muscles and preparing for an onslaught.
'This much force enthusiasm be created just by lust,' Brad looked at the girl once more. No doubt she is hot and charismatic, however, this was not...normal infatuation.
'Am I thinking too much?' Brad shook his head and continued to eat his food while praying that the brat receives a quick death by a gang leader here.
It took a few hours, and Brad was still in the common hall, to see how this unfolds. If Richard gets a one-sided beatdown, then Brad won't be helping. But if the kid holds out a little,
'Then...that would be a different case...'
*CLINK*
**BZZZ**
The buzzer rang through the hall and everyone suddenly quieted down.
From the forge, the red-eyed boy walked out while wiping his face—only turning rigid upon finding the whole crowd facing him.
Suddenly, the Zeta faction's head, Evans stepped forward and said, "You are Richard, right? I will ask you this once; lay down and let me pluck that little head of yours."
.....
Richard looked at the horde of humans looking at him with evidence of blood lust oozing from them.
Richard didn't know how, but they somehow found his real name and were seeking revenge(?) for something Richard had done to them. However, Richard has never met any of these prisoners before. And surely his mother also couldn't have gotten those many criminals stuffed here.
Then...what happened?
'Regardless, this is a great opportunity,'
[Ding!]
[Quest arrived!]
Ignoring the system notification, Richard summoned his staff just at the length that it remained hidden inside his palm.
They glared at him, fists clenched, ready to brawl. The only weapons in their reach were the heavy wooden benches, but they didn't seem to care. Richard's grip tightened around the small stick in his hand, its tip humming with purple electricity, faint arcs crackling in the air around it.
"AAHHHHHH!"
"GRAB HIM!"
"HAAAAA!!"
The first group of inmates charged with a roar, lifting one of the benches between them as a makeshift battering ram. Richard watched them close in, his eyes steady.
The moment they were within range, he raised the baton, and a bolt of purple lightning shot out. It struck the front of the bench, coursing through the wood and into the bodies of the men holding it. They screamed and collapsed, muscles seizing as the electricity jolted them to the ground.
More were coming.
Several criminals grabbed another bench, hurling it at Richard with all their might. He ducked just in time, feeling the bench whistle past his head before it crashed against the wall behind him. Before he could fully rise, another group rushed at him, fists flying. One managed to land a solid punch to his ribs, knocking the breath from his lungs.
"Agh!" However, Richard didn't only take it but punched the guy in the middle of his throat, knocking him down instantly.
Stabbing the shortened staff in his head, Richard dealt with another criminal.
'They are crazy...uncaring!' Richard could see the insanity in their eyes, almost like they didn't care about their lives. All they wanted was to see his blood.
As such, Richard also stopped caring about holding back.
**SWISH**
Elongating the staff, he jumped in the air. Swinging his staff over his head, he brought it down upon several of the criminals, crushing their bodies and ceasing their existence.
Richard landed in a crouch, the staff still crackling with deadly energy. The shockwave from his strike sent a ripple of fear through the crowd, but it didn't stop them. If anything, the madness in their eyes deepened. They were beyond reason—driven by a desperate thirst to see him bleed.
With a grim expression, Richard straightened and twisted his grip on the staff, releasing another surge of power. Electricity arced from the tip in jagged bolts, striking the criminals closest to him. Their bodies convulsed as the lethal current tore through them, leaving them crumpled on the ground, lifeless.
More were coming, and Richard was getting heated up. This was fun!
Richard rose, his muscles aching but his focus unshaken. There was no hesitation in his movements now—no restraint. He spun the staff above his head, releasing a concentrated bolt of lightning into the crowd. It exploded outward, sending bodies flying in every direction.
The air was thick with the smell of burnt flesh and ozone, and the once-echoing cries of rage were now replaced with screams of pain.
With each swing, he sent jolts of death through several of the prisoners who knew nothing but to charge at him with the intention to crush him to death. The charged bolts held the ability to travel through bodies, which explains why the crowd was getting trimmed at such a drastic pace.
In his frenzy, Richard forgot about his ether consumption limit, and slowly, he was accumulating fatigue, both from the work he did in the forgery and while fighting.
The staff was sucking his ether with each movement, and the enemies kept on charging at him. More than a hundred criminals have dropped dead and the rest are still coming.
'Fuck...' Richard found his vision turning a little blurry and his movements became a little sluggish. He saw his stats and he had less than twenty magic points left.
**DHAK**
A bald-headed man hit him on the chest, and Richard was thrown back toward the chamber.
Sprawled on the ground, Richard breathed heavily. This was the first time he was suffering from a magic deficiency.
He saw those remaining prisoners advancing towards him, and Richard was still lying on the ground.
'Get up...get up...' Gritting his teeth, he tried forcing himself up, when suddenly, a voice echoed in his ears; making Richard's eyes widened.
"Tired already, kiddo?"
Under Richard's astonished gaze, he found his magic recovering.
Through his clearer vision, Richard looked past the crowd, specifically at the brown-haired cellmate and found Brad winking at him.
-----------**-----------
A/N:- Richard haven't engaged in any battle until now where he didn't have the support of his huge ether pool. Drop a comment.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 127: Chapter 126- First blood(2)STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC127: Chapter 126- First blood(2)
[Foreign energy intrusion!]
[Does the Host want to restrict the energy?]
[Y/N]
'No!' Richard nearly screamed as he jumped onto his feet. He didn't know how and why Brad helped him, but right now, like hell, he was going to question this help.
Throwing the staff into the incoming guy, tripping him once the staff hit his face, Richard summoned several flame lances in the air, and with precise control he sent them hurtling in their direction.
"Ah-aaaaaaaahhhhh!!" The one into which the lance stabbed began to cry in pain as his whole body was enshrouded in flames, burning his flesh and melting his bones.
Not only did he but several of the prisoners were targeted by the fiery flames of the Scarlette house.
Richard growled as he recalled his staff back in his hand. His staff crackled, releasing a violent arc of purple electricity that tore through flesh and bone. The prisoners screamed as their bodies convulsed uncontrollably before dropping lifeless at his feet.
His magical energy was getting filled up constantly every time he reached the bottom. And that allowed Richard to go crazy with the onslaught.
He didn't pause. His next step was a blur as he lunged forward, slamming his staff into the gut of another prisoner with a crushing force. The man was lifted off the ground by the impact, his eyes wide in shock before the electricity erupted from the point of contact, his body exploding into violent spasms. Before he could even hit the ground, Richard had already moved on.
His body blurred through the crowd, electricity and flames erupted from several corners and the prisoners were slaughtered at a pace which was nothing but horrifying.
The chaos only fueled Richard's resolve. Another group of prisoners ran at him—he didn't bother with finesse. He smashed the staff into the ground, sending a wave of purple electricity that spread out in all directions. The prisoners screamed as they were engulfed in the lethal current, their bodies jerking violently before collapsing into smouldering heaps.
Covered in blood he never stopped until every person who stood once against him was laying on the ground.
*Dhak*
Spinning on his feet, Richard turned to look at the only alive person amongst the dead, currently kneeling on the floor. He clasped his hand, face held a complexion that oozed with fear as the spiky-haired male begged,
"P-P-Please...f-f-forgive me...."
A grin spread his lips as Richard realized the identity of the man was the same who had tried hitting him earlier.
Stabbing the staff in the ground with a loud crunch, he approached the prisoner with his hand enshrouded in flames and his eyes filled with evident greed for blood.
"No!" The spiky-haired lowered his head and cried for mercy as he saw Richard advancing in his direction.
However, the fist never landed on him as before the prisoner, someone fell.
"E-Eh..." The man, who was grovelling until a moment ago, slowly raised his face and saw the bald boy currently sprawled on the ground, lifelessly.
Suddenly a gleam appeared in his eyes as he extended his hand toward Richard's neck—
"Ughhh!"
—only to find something stabbing through his chest and impaling him to death.
The man had only an instance worth of view of his murderer and all he could mutter was,
"Beautiful..."
Jasmine pulled out her hand from the dead prisoner's chest and wiped it on his shirt, with a look of disgust on her face.
"Wow..." Suddenly, the only conscious person other than Jasmine in the hall approached her.
Jasmine got up on her feet and with her gaze fixated on Richard, she said, "Get him back to the cell before the others arrive."
Brad grinned, "I can't understand you, lady. First, you try to kill him, then you try to rescue him...what in the world is your relationship with him?"
There was an unreadable expression on her face as she kept staring at Richard's back for a few moments before mumbling something inaudible under her breath.
She looked back at Brad and told him again, "Take him away. Now."
Brad shrugged; not like he was expecting some kind of backstory here.
Draping Richard over his shoulder, the brown-haired glanced at the staff which was standing erect on the ground, only to find it slowly disintegrating into fragments.
'Crazy tool...'
-----------**----------
[Day 01- Outside world]
"How did this happen?" Inside a dimly lit room, there could be seen four figures, sitting around a tea table.
All of them had a grim expression and the reason why they met here, despite having no prior agreement, was because they received a message from the deities who have blessed them.
A Demon General is about to descend. And the person who would be summoning the Demon is none other than,
"Richard....why is he doing that?" Emily couldn't help but ask no one specifically.
They received the message from a heaven's resident so there was no point in doubting their words. And because of that message, these four ladies have gathered here.
"Is he greedy for strength?" Nora, the only person who had the least exchange with Richard in this timeline, asked in suspicion.
Although she sensed his personality to be quite different, more than anyone, she knew how one could fake their behaviour to look good in others' eyes. However, from the inside, they remain the same.
"No...he isn't the same as he was in the previous timeline. I don't think, that's the case." Emily strongly refused to believe in what Nora suggested.
"The nature and signature of a person never change, I know," Elizabeth muttered. Although she felt that great urgency to kill the violet-haired b*tch right now, she focused on the matter that was a priority.
"At least you shouldn't be saying this, Eli! Richard helped you to rescue Ethan. He had not a single benefit helping him yet he did. Can you tell me why?!" Hearing Emily's raised voice, Elizabeth frowned.
However, since Emily was right she didn't say anything in rebuttal.
The room fell under silence. No one could discern what was happening, but they had to find a solution.
Nora looked up at Eleanor and asked, "El...do you have something in mind?"
Emily also turned her eyes toward Eleanor, and although Elizabeth looked like she was staring at nothing particular, she was actually waiting to hear what the violette says.
After heaving a sigh, she finally said, "There is no denying that Richard isn't the same as he was in the previous timeline. So rather than blaming Richard and trying to solve this through brute strength, we should think about what could have forced him to side with evil?"
Emily frowned; what could have forced Richard to take such a life-changing decision?
There aren't many people in his life for whom he could take such a risk, and Richard isn't the type of person who would betray humanity for strength.
Then....ah!
"His mother...El, have you been able to contact your people in the Capital?" Emily hurriedly asked the violet-haired.
Elizabeth scoffed, "Something happened to Duchess Bellarine? Are you out of your mind?" There aren't many people for whom Elizabeth could speak in the same manner. However, when it comes to Bellarine, not only the blond Princess but the other three also know how strong that lady is.
However, "I know she is an exceptional warrior, but we can't overlook the fact that she is also a human." Emily argued, "Maybe she received some fatal damage in the battle against the Clone? Or maybe a high-ranking demon from the Dark Star attacked her secretly? We have already tampered with the events a lot so it shouldn't be surprising for this to be true."
Everyone else was forced to think of it like that. Her words held credibility, and in a way, it was possible for one of the minions of those Generals to secretly attack Bellarine.
However, Eleanor had a different thought, "What if...Bellarine has actually sided with the evil, and as compensation, Richard needs to please the Demon?"
Emily frowned, hearing that, "Why would she need to take the side of the evil? She has fought wars against the Bates and has cleaned a huge portion of the demonic army...why would she suddenly become an ally of the Death Lord?"
Eleanor didn't say anything and kept her gaze down. Emily was still looking for an answer and Nora looked genuinely baffled.
It was then Elizabeth had a hunch, and she spoke based on that, "Eleanor...you know something which we don't, don't you?"
Nora's brows were risen and Emily now looked confused.
Eleanor slowly lifted her eyes and hesitantly nodded, "I-I received the message from Goddess of Fortune: Duchess Bellarine has been corrupted and as the children of prophecy, we now have to exterminate her."
Emily gasped, and Nora had a similar reaction. No one in this room suspected the words of the Goddess who had sent them back in time, and making such a big comment about the Duchess was not something Eleanor could ever make up by herself.
Then...what were they supposed to do? In the absence of Richard and in her, possibly, vulnerable condition, hunt down the Duchess?
Suddenly, the growing silence was broken by Eldorian princess,
"I think I know what we should do, "Everyone else looked at Elizabeth, only to hear her speak something completely unexpected,
"The person we actually need to deal with...is you, Eleanor."
Emily gasped and Nora immediately asked, "Why did you say something like that?"
Elizabeth, while keeping her eyes constant on Eleanor's, added, "Why only Eleanor received this extra piece of advise? Why weren't we told of this? Have you not already seen how this woman can go to some.extreme lengths to keep things 'in order'? I am sure killing Bellarine is also one of her plans, no?"
Emily's eyes were parted wide. Elizabeth's were true and held credibility. She has been betrayed by Eleanor once and considering Bellarine strength it wouldn't be surprise for Eleanor to think of her as a hindrance.
"El...tell me she is lying..." Nora asked; her voice laced with hesitation and fear.
Eleanor's indifferent expression shifted and what replaced it was a very thin smirk.
"I guess the Princess actually got some brains."
------------**------------
A/N:- Ohya? Guess who gonna die?
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 128: Chapter 127- Love?STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC128: Chapter 127- Love?
There are four Deities and one Supreme Goddess in the heavens that looks over the world and has blessed them with the essence of life.
The four Deities are popularly known as,
Goddess of Love—Aluuvia
Goddess of Fate and Fortune—Miera
Goddess of War—Valeria
And, Goddess of Justice—Eireene.
The one who allowed the time reversal to take place and the strongest deities amongst us is the Goddess of Fate and Fortune.
When the time reversal happened, Miera had to choose the person whom she could bless and delegate the responsibility of the world's fate. Naturally, the person she selected was the most rational and level-headed of the four: Eleanor.
When Eleanor was sent back in time, she had only one goal: Do whatever you deem right to completely wipe off the existence of the Death Lord.
Eleanor was naturally prepared to take on the role since she already had planned everything she needed to do to attain world peace.
And among those steps, there was a necessary decision she has taken: kill the Witch of Calamity when she has the chance.
Eleanor was informed that Bellarine had taken the blessing of one of the Heavenly Demons, and if she survived the punishment, she would be stronger than ever. As such, Eleanor decided to take the help of the other three in order to erase Bellarine's existence before she could become a hindrance.
But well~not like every plan of hers needs to succeed.
"How can you all forget that we can't kill each other?" Facing Elizabeth, who was the only one still standing on her feet, Eleanor sighed.
The other two were already fallen on the ground; laced with wounds and bruises thanks to her newest creations.
An eight-foot-tall golem stood behind Eleanor, its rocky body illuminating with violet runes. Eleanor envisioned something like this to happen so she invented a tool which could counter the abilities of her three friends.
Elizabeth also didn't look much good, considering none of her mental interference magic worked against a thing that didn't even have a brain.
"Y-You...damn whore! You think you are the smartest being alive but you are not! Just like us, you are also one of the puppets of those shitty Goddesses!" Elizabeth's words brought a frown on the violette's face.
Indifferently she stated, "If I can live in a world where Ethan doesn't have to risk his life for the sake of humanity, I am ready to be used a hundred times."
Eleanor's voice held no emotions, but behind the clouds of indifference, there was a burning determination that sang the tale of a very long journey she had travelled to reach here. The sheer stubbornness to grant her beloved a happy life was the fuel needed for her to make so many bold decisions.
And now, coming this far, Eleanor was not going to stop because of some moral value or something.
"If you don't want to hunt down the Duchess, then it's fine. I will do it myself."
Eleanor shrugged and started to walk out of the room, followed by her creation.
"Wait!" Suddenly, Emily roared. The voice of annoyance and desperation made Eleanor shocked for a moment as she turned towards the blond.
Emily, with her face deformed and her left eye turned black, looked at Eleanor with a fiery expression and told her, "If you try to harm the Duchess, then I swear to god, I will tell Ethan everything!"
Eleanor frowned, "Are you crazy? Do you want to go through divine punishment?"
"I don't fucking care!" Someone from a noble family, it was very rare for Emily to curse, as the blond got up on her feet.
Her broken arms dangled by her side, her body was in tatters and the whole person looked extremely vulnerable. However, her demeanour oozed with naked anger as she spat,
"If you touch the Duchess, you will be regretting your whole life. I will tell everything to Ethan...and also the fact that despite being capable of saving her, you let his mother die!"
Eleanor growled, "Why are you doing this? In the end, you are looking for a guy who isn't Ethan. You have betrayed him!"
Hearing those words, Emily chuckled. It hurt, yet she continued to chuckle which soon turned into a hysteric laugh.
Nora looked at the girl worryingly but was too weak to get up and comfort her.
Elizabeth just looked at the scene with pure indifference in her eyes. A lot of things were going on inside her head, but for now, she decided to stay silent.
"You! The one who has betrayed us countless times is talking about betrayal?!" Drawing closer to Eleanor, Emily snarled, "You don't deserve to decide whether I am loyal to Ethan or not. And despite whatever you say, I won't change my decision."
Leaning her head down and staring into Eleanor's very soul, she threatened, "Touch Bellarine, and you lose Ethan."
Eleanor gritted her teeth, as she suddenly took out her dagger and tried stabbing Emily's throat—only for runic armour to stop the blade inches away.
Emily smirked, as she asked, "Didn't you say it just some moments ago?" Leaning closer, she whispered, "We can't kill each other, my dear El~"
------------**-----------
"Ah!" Richard woke up from his slumber by a sudden jolt.
The first thing he saw was the flashing screen of the system, signifying that his fatigue had returned to zero.
There were four more notifications pending, but he decided to look at them later; first, he wanted to eat something.
"Agh..." Raising his body he felt a sharp pain in his chest.
He was inside the cell once again, and currently extremely hungry.
'How long was I asleep?'
[26 hours 54 minutes]
Damn...he slept over a day after that battle?
Looking at the death count he requested the system to set, he was thoroughly surprised to see three digits there.
[Body count: 284/10000]
That was better than what he initially expected. He achieved such a number just on the first day. That's really impressive.
*Grr*
Holding his stomach, Richard looked at the clock, only to find it was half past twelve.
"Hungry?" Hearing the familiar voice of his cellmate, Richard got up and looked at Brad who was currently sitting on his bed and munching over something that seemed like bread.
"I am."
Brad offered the whole plate to Richard as he said, "Well, since I brought it with your tokens, surely you can have it."
Richard stared at the man blankly before he hurriedly checked his pockets....and as he expected there were two hundred tokens missing.
Brad told him, "A hundred for this lunch another hundred for saving your ass."
Well, Richard couldn't deny that Brad indeed helped a lot back then, and a hundred tokens was a fair price, so he just took the tray and sat down to eat the dinner.
A hundred tokens offered a loaf of bread (half of it was already eaten), some meat(some chunks can be seen scraped out), sweet yoghurt and a lot of green vegetables.
Richard nearly devoured the whole thing within seconds. He hadn't eaten anything in two days, so it was understandable why he forgot all about the etiquette and wolfed down the pitiful amount of food.
Brad jumped from the bed and sat across Richard; on the ground.
Richard curiously asked, "Why do you always sit on the floor?"
Brad realised it now, but he just shrugged and said, "It helps in better conversation."
After a pause, and after seeing that Richard was finally done with the food, Brad asked,
"So, your name is Richard?" Hearing that, Richard frowned but nodded
"Who told them?" Richard was curious about which gentleman told those prisoners, Richard's name and turned them against him. Although it was very beneficial for Richard, he has to keep an eye on the person who provoked them.
Richard was expecting a response from Brad, however, the one who answered was a female, "It was me."
Richard looked at the girl and was surprised to see such a beautiful woman here in the Endless Hold. Those enchanting eyes invited him to just get lost in them, however, living with so many beauties has improved his resistance.
Richard rested the tray on the ground before getting up.
Approaching the girl, Richard sternly asked, "Do I know you? And what in the world did I do wrong with you? Why did you provoke them?"
The lady parted her lips but no word came. Her eyes were dazed and she looked lost in his presence.
Brad raised his brows. This was the first time seeing Jasmine being so startled.
'Heh~interesting...'
Richard waited for a few seconds before waving his hands in front of her face, "Hello?"
The raven-haired was broken out of the daze as she hurriedly turned on her heels and with a red face, she dashed away.
Richard followed her disappearing back with his eyes. His lips parted in shock as he turned to look at Brad,
"What just happened?"
Brad grinned, "Love, my friend. You rizzed her up with that bald head of yours."
"...."
----------**---------
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 129: Chapter 128- What...?STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC129: Chapter 128- What...?
[Day 07- Endless Hold]
It has been five days since that massacre happened. Richard earned himself a good headstart thanks to Jasmine's 'kindness'.
In these five days, nothing major has happened. All Richard did was to eat, sleep, work and repeat.
The other prisoners on the floor haven't made any attempt to approach him. Apparently, the ones Richard killed were the weakest in the prison, and that's why they were fooled by the allure of the lady who goes by the name Jasmine.
She has a skill or sort that allows her to enchant a group of people and manipulate them into committing something that the chanter requests....or what Brad discerned.
There were more than four hundred prisoners still on the base floor, and Richard had taken it easy for the time being considered tomorrow; there would be a general inspection of the working chambers and the cells.
He didn't want to draw attention for the time being and the fact that no one saw him using the staff except for Brad and Jasmine was a plus point.
Brad has become a trustworthy comrade, and Jasmine is...kind of weird. She barely shows herself in front of Richard and if coincidently they come across, she discreetly makes her way out of his sight.
However, Richard had a feeling that she wouldn't inform the authorities about Richard's legendary possession. And if she does, there would be nothing they could find even through interrogation.
Well, he hopes so.
As for the system, then that day he received a quest of slaughtering two hundred humans, and he, naturally, achieved it. And in return, he gained,
[Rewards: Mana bank, +10 Stats Points, +5 Quest Points]
[Mana bank: It is an artefact created by the legendary elf, the first son of the World Tree. It stores a user's magical energy, allowing them to absorb it when needed. Crafted from a shard of the World Tree, it offers instant mana replenishment, making it invaluable for long battles or powerful spells. Only those with a strong connection to magic can wield it properly.]
[Current limit: 1000 Magic Points]
[Note: To increase the capacity, the host needs to keep utilizing the artefact and gradually allow the capacity to elevate.]
That is a very useful tool for him here when there is a mana-restricting anklet attached to him.
Richard had already filled the cylindrical artefact to the brim, and now, he wouldn't need to rely on Brad during his next battle.
About the stats, then it has improved during the last battle, and now looks like this;
[Name: Scarlette Richard]
[Race: Human, Elemental Ascended]
[Age: 16]
[Rank: D+]
[Str: 45]
[Spd: 50]
[End: 55 +10-> 65
[Int: 33]
[Mgc: 782-> 350]
[Luk: 42]
[Available stats: 80]
[Special skills: Burning, Hammering]
[Skills: Self-regeneration -> D-> D+
Telekinesis-> C- {700 Kilograms}
Barrier-> F {Two layers}
Enhancement-> B+
Detection-> D (400 meters)
[Spells: Fireball- D
Amber Arrow- D+
Hell Blaze- S
Flame Maze- C
Molten Platform- D-.
Perception Burst- B-]
[Inventory: Bo-staff: ???]
...
Richard couldn't find his other items which he gained from the system rewards, when he noticed there was a down arrow near the end.
He mentally tapped on it and found there was another log which stated, [Items]
[Items: Mana Bank
Voice changing pills
Communicator.]
...
It was a grave mistake that Richard didn't hand the communicator to Lilia or they would have been able to chat over the artefact. However, it was so hectic when they were leaving that he didn't remember about that tool at all. Not to talk about, his mother must have hidden it in a very secretive place.
Now, he has eighty available stats points, and gradually, he is progressing in his quest points. The system informed him that there is a reward after reaching the next milestone, and that is two hundred quest points.
Currently, Richard was inside the forgery, reshaping his five hundredth or so swords in these five days.
He has spent most of his days at this chamber, considering it is one of the highest-paying jobs and also aligns with his interests. He has started to like the sound of the hammer striking against the blade. The heat of the furnace and the heat waves rushing to his face when he dips the heated blade in water no longer annoy him.
His speed of working on a blade has increased as well. Now, it only takes ten or so minutes to reform a sword if it's not completely mangled. And his proficiency with flames has also reached twenty-two.
He was developing his stats and skills and now awaited that day when he could fish the stronger ones into a battle.
"What are you thinking, boy?" Brad entered the cell while chewing something.
Richard stopped doing push-ups and lay down on the ground with his hands beneath his chin.
Turning toward Brad, he casually asked, "Before the monthly inspection, what if I end up killing everyone on this floor except for a few?"
Brad shrugged, "So what? If they had to stop they would have already. After all, nothing remains hidden by those eyes of the guardians."
Richard raised his brows, "Then they have already seen my staff?"
"Of course they must have," Taking a pause, he added, "But the fact is, that they don't even care about such stuff. You kill one or one thousand, they don't give a damn. Each one of us is equal before them and truth be told, you are just cleaning up space for them to bring more."
Richard chuckled, "Then shouldn't they reward me with something?"
"Ah yeah, they are infamous for lodging a heated rod up the prisoner's a**. So if you are into it, just slap one of them-"
"Yeah, forget it." Richard rolled his eyes and jumped on his feet.
Taking his shirt from the bed, he draped it over his shoulder and asked his cellmate, "Wanna accompany me to the common hall?"
Brad smirked, "I would have, but there is someone waiting for you on the table."
Richard tilted his head, "Who?"
Brad's smirk widened, and instantly it struck him.
Jasmine.
Richard heaved a sigh, so she finally decided to have a conversation.
Since that day, she has always been just running away from him or hiding in the shadows to look at him secretly.
Richard was curious about why she provoked the criminals to target him when she was behaving like a maiden around him.
Was it that she was actually trying to help him? But that can't be the case. The mark of the evil can only be detected by the ones who carry Aembr in them. And naturally, that woman looked human enough.
'I guess I should talk to her and find out,' He wore his shirt properly before making his way to the common hall.
There were hundreds of prisoners, and not a single stain of blood that Richard spilt that day remained.
In a corner, Richard could see the raven curtains and a girl timidly sitting there while mumbling something to herself.
'Is she... practising to greet someone?' He could see her extending her hand, then shaking her head, and then trying again.
Richard first went to pick up the dinner before nearing the girl and calling out, "Good evening."
"Ah, he-ouch!" Because she tried getting up hurriedly she hit her knee on the table and winced in pain.
Richard heaved a sigh before urging her, "Why don't we sit down for a moment and talk calmly?"
Jasmine slowly nodded, and along with Richard, she sat back down.
They were sitting while facing each other, and since Richard was hungry, he decided to bite some bread first before asking her, "So...shall we start from the beginning? I am Richard, as you already know, and currently, I am curious about you."
"M-Me? You are curious about me?" Suddenly, for some reason, Jasmine's cheeks began to heat up. Covering her cheeks she started fidgeting.
Richard stared at her blankly for a moment before shaking his head.
This girl is a mess.
He continued eating his lunch and allowed her to calm down.
After a while, she finally rested her hands back on the table and looked at Richard apologetically.
However, before she could have said anything, Richard asked,
"Can you tell me what you want from me?" It was the most important question right now since, based on her answer, he would decide how he would be dealing with her.
It's a fact that she used her skill to put those many prisoners against Richard. It was helpful but from his perspective. But from a general one, it was the worst kind of revenge she could have taken on him.
So that brings up the question of how much she knows him and what her intentions are toward him.
Richard didn't urge to answer immediately and continued to eat his food in peace. Unlike the previous ones, these prisoners looked stronger and somehow tingled his fingers for a good battle.
Jasmine spoke up finally, and the words that came out of her mouth were completely unexpected,
"I...I want to serve you!"
"..."
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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Show menu NOVEL BIN5Novel Struggling as a Villain Chapter 130: Chapter 129- Promoted?STRUGGLING AS A VILLAINC130: Chapter 129- Promoted?
[Day 01- Outside world]
"What should we do?" Inside the infirmary, late evening, sat three individuals.
Nora's question was met by silence from Elizabeth. She hasn't spoken since earlier making the elven princess concerned.
Emily was currently treating her injured eye with an ice pack with her head tilted.
After a pause, the blond finally spoke, "Eleanor was sure that the Duchess is going through some kind of punishment, and Richard has gone to find the cure."
"Well, maybe she is bluffing it all so we can go there and harm the Duchess?"
Emily scoffed, "Do you think Eleanor can ever dare attack the Duchess unless she is wounded or vulnerable due to some circumstances?"
Nora parted her lips but nothing came out. She also knows the limit of Eleanor's strength, so it is undeniable that under normal circumstances, she won't attack the Duchess.
"I have decided," Elizabeth spoke up for the first time in hours, drawing the other two's attention.
With her gaze drawn to the ground, Elizabeth slowly muttered, "Once Richard returns and heals the Duchess, I will disclose things to Ethan related to his mother."
Nora gasped and Emily instantly rebuked, "Don't do anything hastily. You forgot the divine punishment would make you lose your blessings and you might end up losing your memories."
"I don't fucking care, Emily," Elizabeth spat, "The way things are moving right now, it won't be surprising if Eleanor makes Ethan hate us all by making some false statement. She is crazy enough to drug him so he doesn't listen to anyone else. And if that happens....if Ethan becomes solely dependent on her, this world would once again, fall into ruins."
There was nothing the other two said in rebuttal. More than anyone else they know how much the four of them needed to be with Ethan during the final battle.
To help Ethan build his strength and provide him with the necessary support so this world doesn't meet with the same fate as it did in the previous timeline.
"That's why let's get rid of Eleanor when we have the time," Elizabeth added, her tone laced with determination and anger.
Emily was stunned to see Elizabeth willing to let go of those memories which she adored so much. Not only she but Emily, Nora and even Eleanor treasure those memories they shared with Ethan very much. However, for the sake of this world and Ethan's safety, she was prepared to let go of these feelings.
Seeing her sacrificing like this, a resolve was formed in her mind. Looking at the sky out of the window, Emily released a soft breath and a smile extended her lips.
Yes, this might be for the best.
----------**----------
"Serve me? Why?" Richard was baffled to hear such an intention from the woman whom he saw in the Endless Hold for the first time, and for some reason, she wanted to serve him.
This was so weird.
Jasmine nodded, firmly. With her eyes drawn on the table, she added, "Neither I can tell you the reason, nor I will ask you to trust me. However, there are some ways through which I can help you; not only on this floor but on the other ones as well."
Richard scooped some jelly into his spoon, and just before he dropped it into his mouth, he asked her, "For you to say those words...means you are aware of my motive for coming here?"
Jasmine nodded, "Indeed...to please Vornyx. You want to summon that being to save your mother, no?"
Richard was taken aback, "How do you know about my mother?"
Despite his question hanging in the air for more than a minute, no answer arrived. Richard heaved a sigh and leaned back in his seat.
While continuing with the meal, he said, "See, unless you don't tell me who you are and what is the source of your information I cannot let you interfere with my work. I have ways to lure them into a battle and have enough time to accomplish my task, so stay away from me."
Richard's name was already out, and everyone knew that he had entered with some kind of motive in mind. His legendary staff is now within everyone's knowledge. He can't let them know more about him or this would turn dangerous.
The headmaster clearly told him not to let anyone know about the fact that he was there only for a limited period, or it would become messy. Not just the prisoners but maybe the authorities might interrupt Richard's departure from the Endless Hold in that case.
Silence didn't insist for long as Jasmine suddenly clasped her hand and slowly separated them, only to reveal a parchment glowing with an ominous purplish glow.
Richard stopped eating and looked at the parchment with a frown.
"A vow?" Richard has heard about a binding vow from books and people. Binding vows are something that only those who worship evil can conjure on will—that further explains that this woman was indeed an Aembr user.
With her eyes closed, she ran her finger on the parchment before she extended it towards Richard.
"This is a life-long contract, I want to bind myself in,"
Richard kept his gaze on her before redirecting his eyes to the contract,
[1. With my willingness, I offer my loyalty and complete servitude toward Scarlette Richard.
2. Despite the circumstances I will never go against Scarlette Richard.
3. Whatever secret I know about Scarlette Richard, shall never be disclosed to anyone else unless Scarlette Richard allows me to.
4. Any action of mine shall never intend to harm Scarlette Richard. ]
There was a droplet of blood near the end of the contract, which stated that she had already signed it.
The glow of the contract signifies that it was of the highest grade and that breaching the terms would cause instant death.
Richard heaved a sigh, and asked her wearily, "Why are you doing all this to be on my good side? This is making me even more suspicious of you."
Jasmine's shoulders lost their strength and the girl oozed with a pitiful charm.
Numerous gazes were now glancing in their direction and Richard was looking like he was bullying her.
Richard rolled his eyes when he found a bun flying in his direction. Ducking, he took the contract and told her,
"Based on your actions, I will think if I am gonna sign this or not."
Saying so, he got up from the seat and was about to leave when he heard her asking,
"Umm...can we have shared lunch tomorrow?"
Richard shrugged, "You are free to do whatever you want," And with that he made his way back to his cell.
----------**---------
Another day passed and Richard was still doing nothing to make himself stand out. He has been working in forgery for most of his time since it helped his mind to remain calm.
He didn't have any idea what was going on in the outside world. If some trouble occurred in the capital or if Allen had any problem that caused his spell to go awry...these thoughts always kept him on edge. Numerous factors could endanger his mother and sister's life and because of them, he often wakes up at night.
That's why he spends most of his time working in the chamber to keep his mind diverted.
It was only a week, and he had enough time to achieve what he desired. He hasn't gone to have a spar with the Monkey King recently; as such, he was planning on doing that today.
His other stats were not moving at all, except for his heat resistance but that's good for now. Until he was on this floor, he only needed to rely on earning stats points and based on what he has to face, he might have to use them accordingly on the next floor.
*Bzz*
Seeing that it was nearing the hour for inspection, Richard collected his six hundred tokens which he earned in the whole day, before exiting the chamber.
He grabbed three trays of food with the tokens, two for himself and one for Brad. In these few days, he has formed a good bond with that guy.
Somewhat mysterious and a whole lot weird.
Reaching the cell, he handed the tray to Brad who was sitting on his bed.
"You planning on punching the officer?" Hearing such an out-of-the-blue question didn't surprise Richard as he just shook his head and sat down on his bed.
Just as he started to eat every cell door of the prison buzzed, signifying that they were locked by the authority.
"He's coming," Brad informed something that Richard already guessed.
The faint footsteps of an individual echoed through the silent gallery as the inspection officer walked without a pause.
Brad frowned; this was something new.
The brown-haired man had a very strange feeling that the officer was heading straight toward their cell—but surely he could be wrong...right?
Seconds passed and what Brad feared, turned out to be true.
*Ting*
The baton of the officer struck the metal bar, as he came to a pause just outside of their cell.
Brad rested the tray and gestured for Richard to stay behind as he stepped toward and asked, "Officer Ray~wh-"
"Zip it and step back. I need the other one," Saying so, the officer in the familiar uniform looked at Richard before adding, "You, come out. Now."
Richard had a very bad feeling about this, but resistance was futile. The officers working here were easily at the highest rank which a mortal could attain. He could sense the faint blood-lust from the guy as well, which was enough to put him on guard.
Richard got up and slowly made his way towards the cell gate, as he heard the officer mumbling,
"You are being promoted to the third floor."
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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