Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 225  [Hollow Town] [7]

"Arghh, fuck."

I groaned in frustration as I sat on a bench close to the square streets of the town.

The bizarre thing that happened at that old house kept on repeating in my mind.

"What's up with them?" Nella, sitting beside me, whispered anxiously. "Why were they acting like that?"

"I don't know." I replied, closing my eyes and leaning back on the bench, comfortably. "...I seriously don't know, what the fuck is happening now."

That family made things even harder.

...As if things weren't messed up enough already.

"Is that child possessed?" Nella asked, making me glance at her. "I mean, the way he laughed last night—."

"No, you may be right," I replied, turning to look at the cloudy sky. "...He's probably possessed or marked by some evil being."

...Maybe not just that child, but his entire family.

"..."

A silence lingered between us as we both fell into deep thought.

It's already been a full day, and instead of completing the task, things are getting more and more complicated.

'...Why did you send me here, Mother?'

I thought to myself, closing my eyes.

Is it something for my own good?

I highly doubt that.

It's either so she can sink me deeper into the pit of her control, or it's something that will be beneficial to her.

Or maybe both?

Who knows.

Anyway, now I have to think of ways she can benefit from it.

Something beneficial to her, huh?

For that, she can scapegoat someone else's plans.

Kill thousands, if not more.

Burn down a kingdom—.

"What?"

I turned to my side as Nella shook my body harshly.

"What now?" she asked, looking at me, her eyes expectant.

"How would I know?" I rebuked, giving her an annoyed look.

"Tsk, you're useless," she grumbled, stretching her body while leaning against the bench.

"You're one to talk," I replied, glancing at her, stretching like a cat.

"Can you stop doing that?"

"What?"

"Peeking at my stomach."

"I never did that."

"You just did!"

"Stop slandering me."

"How am I—."

Her words trailed off as I stood up from the bench and walked away.

"Nice, just walk away like you always do!" she shouted from behind, but I ignored her.

I wasn't in the mood to fight with her, not in this bizarre town.

She quickly walked toward me, matching my steps as we walked.

"Where are we going?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"Somewhere quiet," I replied, looking around the town.

Even after the kidnapping of the children, not much had changed within the town.

People were still doing their daily jobs.

Shops and stalls were open, and people moved around buying and selling.

...It's as if nothing happened in their lives.

'...What a weird place to live in.'

Moving further away from the town, we arrived at a barren junction with no one around.

Walking closer to an abandoned house, I blew the leaves away from the wooden stairs before sitting down.

"Wait!"

And just as I touched my bracelet, Nella yelled.

"..."

Grabbing my hand, she dragged me to the other edge of the stairs before sitting on the cleaner part.

She smiled sweetly, looking at me. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Suppressing the urge to slap her cheek, I took out a book from my bracelet.

"What's this?" she asked as I opened the book.

"A book."

"I know that. What's it about?"

"Nothing special," I replied, turning the page. "It's just some highlights of the town throughout the years."

"Why are yo—."

"Who is the Primordial Demoness?" I asked, cutting off her words.

She blinked innocently before replying, "The Goddess Anant."

"Do you know anything about her?" I asked as she slid closer to look at the book.

"Hmm, she has three heads?"

"No, idiot," I grumbled while reading. "She's shown with three heads to signify that she's far smarter than most beings on her level."

"...Yeah," she replied, dragging out her words, and as if feeling challenged, she continued, "...She's known as a bloodthirsty and vengeful goddess who always does what she feels like."

I nodded in reply to her words.

Just like how goddess Taishareth is known for her corruption.

Goddess Isis for her witchcraft.

Anant is known for her spirituality and intelligence.

She's one of the divine beings who can win against anyone using just her brains.

Not to mention, she's worshiped as the goddess of fertility and war.

"She's also related to Baal," Nella said, and I gently nodded.

But then something clicked in my mind.

"...Baal, huh?" I whispered, rubbing my chin. "The Dark Trinity."

"I don't understand them," Nella said, resting her chin on her knees.

"What's there to understand?" I replied with a light chuckle.

"...They work the same as the church and ruling gods who want to overthrow the three main gods—Elohim, Elyon, and Adon."

"...Why?"

"I don't know," I replied with a shrug. "They didn't tell me."

"Yeah," she grumbled, shifting even closer.

"Found it."

"Something interesting?"

"This, right here." Pointing at the paragraph I was reading, I replied, "...Twenty years ago, some people spotted a levitating broken staff inside the forest."

"So?" she asked, tilting her head. "What about it?"

But just as I parted my lips to reply, a cluster of green began to emerge from behind me.

I smiled as the cluster soon took the shape of a small child.

I grabbed the child and looked at her.

A childish face with baby-like features, gem-like green eyes, and unusually long blonde hair.

Her eyelids blinked innocently before her gaze landed on me.

She smiled brightly as she shouted, "Papa!"

"Daughter," I replied with a bright smile as I placed her on my lap.

"Papa!!" She turned around while standing on my lap.

"Yeah," I replied as her tiny hands reached out to grab my cheeks.

"Papa!!"

"Say something else, or are you going to keep on saying 'Papa?'" I said with a bright smile, letting her pinch my face.

"Your spirit?" Nella asked, curiously looking at the little girl.

"Yeah," I replied, nodding. "She's the third and the last one."

"I see," she replied as the girl turned to look at her.

I tensed slightly as I looked at the girl.

Last time, it was Willis who called her 'Mama,' and even though she hasn't done anything like that, I couldn't help but worry.

But to my relief, she didn't. Instead, she grabbed my arm and started climbing my body.

"...You're the father of three at such a young age," Nella commented, looking at me. "I'm envious."

"You want some as well?" I asked, immediately regretting my words.

That doesn't sound right coming from me.

"...I'll pass," she awkwardly replied, glancing at the girl who now stood on my shoulder.

I nodded gently, supporting the little girl.

"What's her name?" she asked, looking at me.

I awkwardly rubbed my cheek as I replied, "...I haven't named her yet."

"Huh? Why?"

"I'm terrible at naming," I replied, shrugging my shoulders, which made the little girl giggle. "...So I'm just waiting for Christina to return."

"Christy!!" the little girl shouted.

"Then who named your second spirit?" Nella asked curiously.

"...Aimar," I replied softly. "Well, I asked him to."

"I see," she whispered, stretching her hand. "Do you mind?"

I shook my head as I gently grabbed the girl by her side.

"Papa?" the girl mumbled innocently as I passed her to Nella.

"Don't worry," I smiled reassuringly. "She's a good aunt."

I felt a kick on my leg, making me groan in pain.

"Who are you calling 'aunt?'" Nella grumbled, glaring at me.

I silently passed the little girl to her without arguing.

"Hello," she smiled, placing the girl on her lap. "Do you know me?"

"Aria?" the little girl guessed, tilting her head, making Nella flinch.

She slowly turned her head to look at me, but I just shrugged.

"It's Nella."

"Aria?"

"Nell—."

"Aria!"

"Give up," I said, looking at her.

Nella looked at me, her eyes pleading as she whispered, "...Can I name her?"

"..."

"Please, Azariah," she pleaded.

"...Only if she likes it," I replied, to which she smiled brightly.

"Let's see—."

But before she could start, a scream resonated throughout the area.

I stood up as I turned to look at the nearby forest.

The inhumane, broken scream echoed again.

And my face hardened.

[You've already guessed what's happening here, haven't you?]

'...Yes.'

[...So, are you going to save them?]

'....'