Stuck as a Villain! - Chapter 182: Reunion

[Seth’s POV:]

I have a bad feeling about this.

It has been a while since I along with my companions began walking through the forest situated not so far away from the north-eastern city of Growmdar. The city of riches and under the jurisdiction of Count Stephen Hel Himeltion—Serena’s father.

We had crossed over ten kilometers already on foot and fortunately, no one seemed to be tired. And thanks to the fact, that we began our journey early in the morning, it was still some hours till dusk.

Anabelle was in the front, keeping an assessment of the location we are moving to, so we could avoid needless delay. Her connection with Nature was admirable and in this situation, where we wanted to reach our destination before day falls, her assistance was proving a lot more useful.

Maydeath was dealing with small and big monsters from a range since her ranged attacks were magnificent to just stand and look at. Her command over Flame and Earth was incredibly firm. No wastage of Soul Energy and pure carnage.

In my opinion, they were wasting their talent and beauty on someone like me…however, I had no intention of letting them go now.

I may have been behaving cold and indifferent toward their advances all these times but it wasn’t like I wasn’t affected by it or never get tempted. However, I want to keep my emotions hidden from them considering what we have to face soon.

Once the apocalypse would take another fold, who knows maybe I would be the one amongst the four, to die the first?

I didn’t want myself to get attached to them because of that particular reason. This world was soon going to turn into hell. The unbelievable would become a common occurrence and whatever we nurture would be turned into ashes one by one.

I don’t show it in front of anyone but truth be told, I was a little worried by now.

After facing that Oni and also how the Old man told us about the possible danger we needed to face…all the plans I made in accordance with my future knowledge seemed to be no longer valuable.

I had no idea whether this treasure I was going to obtain, would be any useful or not. In all honesty, my enthusiasm about this treasure hunt remained because I wanted to ensure Laila’s safety. I feel she was abducted because of me.

And for the sake of the lingering feelings I still harbor for my ex, I needed to find her.

“Are you alright?” Feeling the warm skin touching my hand, I turned to look at Maydeath, who had shifted in my direction without me noticing.

I sighed witnessing how worried she could become for someone who has only behaved formally toward her.

I mean she jumped off a cliff for me yet we still aren’t in a relationship. I don’t know about her, but I would have been pissed off.

“Yes, I am good. How about you? Can you walk some more?” I felt bad, not just for her but for others as well, since in my greed, I have been pushing them now.

Maydeath blinked in surprise, maybe hearing my unusually softer tone(?) before she nodded absently.

“What about you two? We can take a rest and continue tomorrow as well.” While I entangled my fingers with hers, I asked Arata and Anabelle.

Anabelle broke out of her daze as she turned to look at us…or more to be precise, at our connected hand.

Her mood turned sour immediately, making me sigh. I mean, wasn’t she over seventeen years old already? I wasn’t even counting the age after transmigration…

“I am fine to walk all day, since unlike you guys, I grew up in a rural area. So this is nothing.”

“I am fine too…just need a little support…” Anabells deftly made her way toward me and took my other side, gliding her arm around mine and leaning slightly toward me.

I didn’t say anything after that since if she could feel competitive about such trivial things, then she must be fine.

After that, we continued our journey which came to an end, before what I expected…

****

“It’s kinda creepy…like a cave in the middle of nowhere?” True to Arata’s words, the scene that came in front of us, was truly absurd.

A substantial clearing emerged amidst the wilderness, a place where the dense forest had been effortlessly swept aside, revealing a vast expanse. The cave-like opening had diminished as it went forward, and not long after, it re-attached with the ground.

It was like an underground tunnel made of stones and mud and the opening of the cave was sealed with a long panel with three gaping carved on it. And well, of course, it was for the treasure keys.

I was about to move forward when suddenly, Anabelle called out,

“Wait! There is someone around!” Hearing her words, my body tensed as I promptly wielded my daggers, and saw the other two getting in stance as well.

I extended my senses yet I wasn’t able to find anyone, and the way Maydeath and Arata seemed unsure, I was sure they had no idea about the assailant, Anabelle was talking about.

“Where is he, Anabelle?” I asked in a whisper while extending my senses as far as I could, yet nothing seemed to be working.

Anabelle frowned slightly before she conjured a magic circle I was unfamiliar with. She didn’t target any particular object but rather slammed her palm on the ground.

Upon the interaction, thick veins-like branches began to weave out of the ground and began moving toward the front at a rapid pace. However, just before it could have reached the vault’s door,

*DUMMMMM*

Like an invisible barrier, all the vines were rendered useless as they lifelessly sprawled over the ground before Anabelle stood back straight.

“As savage as ever, huh Mayu…”

A voice resonated across the forest, before a figure standing just near the door, emerged in front of our eyes.

It was a teenage boy with purple hair and eyes of the same shade. He clearly was younger than us with a chiseled build and wearing a robe all over his body.

How much I thought about it, I had never seen this boy before…nor was there any mention of this character in the novel.

However, considering he called Anabelle’s previous life name indicated that this person must be Kyouko—the last remaining transmigrator we haven’t met.

But Maydeath had a different opinion, as she stepped forward and called out a name, I wasn’t expecting to hear here at all,

“Saito….?”

****

A/N:- Oh shit, the freak is back.

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