Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 188  [Island Of Drath] [3]

We stared into each other's eyes.

Her white eyes blazed while my purple eyes calmly gazed back.

Tightening my grip on the katana, I bent slightly, ready for the confrontation.

But to my surprise, she didn't attack and quietly walked away.

"What's up with her?" I mumbled to myself, watching her departing figure.

Before I could ponder it properly, the sound of a rhythmic hammer hitting the ground echoed, making me shift my focus.

...No, not just the ground.

Lifting my head, I observed the trees around me.

Two Drath were rushing toward me from within the dense jungle, their elongated claws gripping tightly onto the bark of the trees, propelling them forward.

My gaze followed them, trying to determine their path.

I quickly found it—a large boulder just a few meters away.

'Willis.'

Dada!

My legs petrified, crumbled, getting replaced by the legs of an angel.

Three quick steps later, I stood just below the boulder.

Gripping my katana tightly, I jumped onto the boulder as a Drath leaped toward me.

Cladding my hands with mana, I swung my katana, aiming at its gaping petal-like mouth.

My blade hissed through the air, leaving a silvery line—the Drath's head split into two halves.

Another one lunged at me from the side, its claws aiming to pierce my head.

Twisting my body, I ducked, letting it pass over me while I extended my hand to touch its leg, engraving a purple marking.

The hammering sound grew louder as three more Drath surrounded me.

"Huff..."

I drew in a deep breath before slowly releasing it, stretching my hand toward the marked Drath.

I raised my hand, and so did the Drath's body, hovering in mid-air. With a flick, I hurled its body at an incoming Drath.

They collided, rolling on the ground before hitting hard on a tree.

Jumping down from the boulder, I stretched my body while they regrouped in front of me.

"Four, huh?"

I mumbled, tilting my head slightly.

Standing on all fours, they gripped the ground tightly with their elongated limbs, screaming at me, their petal-like faces opening wide.

Kicking off the ground, they rushed toward me without hesitation—one prowling close while the others flanked my position.

Increasing my mana intake, my hand shot out, grabbing a Drath around its throat, squeezing hard enough to choke it but not kill it instantly.

It tried to let out an alarmed cry, its sharp claws slashing toward my face.

I squeezed tighter, retracting my hand, snapping its neck while ripping its flesh.

Turning back, I glanced at the boulder, finding three Drath glaring at me without moving.

'...So they see me as a threat,' I wondered, observing them.

...They have enough intelligence, well this can make things easier for me.

Two of them leaped together right over me.

...Making things easy.

"Muspelh."

I whispered, waving my hand, sending a crescent wave of flame toward them.

They tensed as the flames engulfed their bodies without giving them the chance to retreat.

I thrust my hand forward, releasing another violent wave of flame.

They screeched, howling in pain as they burned alive, vanishing in a flash.

With them gone, I turned to the last Drath, which slowly backed away, lowering its body in submission.

'Should I use the fourth ring on it?' I mused, stepping forward.

SWISH!!!

But my step halted as an arrow flew past me, lodging itself precisely into the middle of the Drath's mouth.

Its body went limp before falling off the boulder.

Turning around i looked at the one who shot the arrow.

She wore the same academic uniform clinging to her body, her black hair falling freely down her back, with a quiver strapped to it and a bow in her hand.

Her face was ordinary, her brown eyes looking at me.

Mama!

'Willis, if you come out now, I swear I'm throwing you in an orphanage.'

B-but mama!

'She's not your mama; not every girl with big boobs is your mother!'

I'm not talking to you!

'Thank you. Now go to sleep.'

Ignoring Willis's grumbling, I looked at her and mumbled, "Nella."

She smiled, "Glad I found someone from my class."

I tilted my head, asking, "We're in the same class?"

"Yes," she nodded, walking toward me, "you just don't remember, I sit right behind you."

"I'm pretty sure I remember everyone in my class," I replied, squinting my eyes, "and I don't remember you being my classmate."

'What's she doing?' I wondered, staring at her.

...Does she think I'm stupid or what?

"You have the memory of a goldfish," she rebuked, walking past me. "How can you not remember your classmate?"

"...."

I rubbed my temples in frustration as she plucked her arrow from the dead body.

"We should find others as well," she commented like it was the most natural thing.

'...Did she forget that we're in different classes?' I wondered, looking at her doubtfully.

"What?" she asked.

"Go find them yourself," I replied, deciding to ignore her. "I'll meet you where the queen is."

"Wait, are you going alone?" she asked, blocking my way.

"Mind your own business," I grumbled, walking past her.

"You can't do that—"

"Don't tell me what to do."

"Hey, listen, you fucking idiot," she snarled, blocking me again. "You'll get yourself killed if you go there alone."

I stared down at her, confused.

...Why is she doing this?

'Don't tell me...'

The only reason she'd approach me flashed in my mind, and I couldn't help but feel bitter.

...Selfish.

"I'm not going alone," I replied, sighing. "...You're coming with me."

"Wait, am I?" she asked, confused, but I ignored her and walked on.

...Does she not care about the exams or what?

"By the way, did you see Princess Arianell?" I asked, glancing back at her. "She just walked in the direction you came from."

"I saw her," she lied, with a straight face and without a spec of hesitation. "She ignored me. Maybe she's looking for someone from her class."

"Yeah, don't be like her," I commented, cutting through the webbing with my katana to see better.

"What do you mean?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"Don't be a bitch like her," I replied with a small smile.

"How can you say that?" she frowned, glaring. "She's our princess."

"Doesn't change the fact that she's a selfish bitch," I shrugged.

She forced a smile, still glaring, "...Is she now?"

I nodded vigorously, scanning the path ahead.

The surrounding jungle was dense, a wall of twisted white limbs and roots plunging several feet out of the ground, coiling around each other, their decaying forms.

The trees seemed to breathe, their trunks pulsing gently every once in a while.

Then the smell hit me. The stench of rotting, putrefying meat.

"Any reason you approached me?" I asked, observing the surroundings. "And if you're about to ask me out, let me tell you—even princess Arianell doesn't stand a chance, let alone yo—"

My words cut off as I felt two firm hands shove me, making me step forward, trying to keep my balance, but to no avail.

I slipped and fell on my ass.

"I'm sorry," her mocking voice echoed, "my hand slipped."

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to calm myself as I slowly got back on my feet.

"It's fine," I replied, smiling, brushing the dirt from my back.

...I should throw her in front of a group of Drath next time.

...That'll make us even.

"Azariah," I heard someone call my name, making me turn around.

"Chubby?" I mumbled, seeing him approach.

He smiled as he walked toward me, "At last, I found someone."

"Yeah, I'm happy to see you," I replied, already thinking of ways to use him.

He turned to look at Nella, asking, "Who's she?"

"Apparently our classmate," I replied, glancing at her.

"...I see," he replied, doubtfully. "I don't remember see—"

"Are you coming with us?" Nella interjected sharply, smiling.

"Where?"

"To the queen's den," she replied, and Chubby's face turned pale.

He turned toward me for confirmation, and I nodded.

His face paled even more. "A-alone?"

"No," Nella said, smiling, "all three of us."

"M-maybe I s-should look for the others," he stammered, turning away.

"Wait, don't go!" Nella yelled as he walked off. "We need a meat shie— I mean, we need a defender like you!"

...And now Chubby was practically running away.

I shook my head and turned to walk.

"Tch, he could've been useful," she commented, clicking her tongue.

"You're an asshole."

"I don't care."

...Yeah, it's been so long I forgot how she used to behave.

"Anyway, why did you approach me?" I asked, returning to the previous topic.

She drew in a deep breath and mumbled, "Let's say hypothetically—"

"Hypothetically~" Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Shut up," she grumbled before continuing, "... Just tell me what you'd do."

"...Okay," I replied, shrugging.

Walking beside me, she whispered, "...What would you do if your mother was absolutely evil and wanted to kill you?"