A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Chapter 733 Choice and Price - I

"Ansel! You promised that one was mine!"

The tiny figure standing on the mechanical god's shoulder pounded its majestic head. "How could you just blast it like that?"

"Stop that pounding," Ravenna's displeased voice rang out before Ansel could reply. "Or I'll throw you off."

"Tch, I'll get down myself, no need to throw me... I smell many dragons nearby. No need for you and Ansel to send me off, my hunt begins here."

Seraphina snorted, leaping down from hundreds of meters high, further shattering the already ravaged street. She casually dusted off her clothes.

As she was about to look up and tell Ansel not to worry, that she'd be fine on her own from here, her peripheral vision caught a figure seated in a wheelchair amidst the settling dust.

Seraphina's lips parted slightly, but she remained silent.@@@@

Nine, however, paid no attention to Seraphina. Instead, she gazed up at the iron demon more majestic than any king, struggling to stand from her wheelchair to curtsy.

Her reverence was that of a devotee praying to their deity, yet she exuded the elegance of a lead actress about to take the stage, radiating a distinct calmness and... confidence.

"The adventurers of City of Riftland have been dealt with, Mr. Ansel."

Ansel's figure appeared on the mechanical god's shoulder. He surveyed the shattered domain below, noticing the few surviving adventurers trembling amidst the ruins. Their expressions, a mix of terror and reverence, gave him a good idea of what Nine had done.

The hem of his black coat billowed in the wind as Hydral gazed at the distant mountains, visible like a stairway to heaven.

"Slaying dragons during a Dragon Calamity is indeed an adventurer's duty," he said absent-mindedly, still looking into the distance.

"But forcing them to face a fifth-stage dragon like this was perhaps too much, Nine."

"I was overzealous, Mr. Ansel," Nine acquiesced to Ansel's "criticism" with utmost docility. "Please punish me as you see fit."

"We'll discuss this after the Dragon Calamity ends."

Ansel withdrew his gaze from the distance, looking down once more at the frail girl in the wheelchair who was gazing up at him.

...Does she truly not care at all?

Faced with a dragon directly invading a city, most adventurers, unless utterly vicious and chaotic, would choose to lure the dragon away.

Dragons, influenced by the Dragon King's hunting desire and abyssal corruption, weren't completely out of control. They sought meaningful destruction, craving battles with the strong and hunting quality prey. Thus, if the strongest adventurer in the domain immediately left the city, the dragon would likely follow.

Adventurers viewed ordinary people as playthings, property, and resources. It was precisely for this reason that they wouldn't accept a pack of mad dogs indiscriminately destroying what they considered theirs.

Though not born of virtue or benevolence, adventurers, in the vast majority of cases, would loathe to see their domains of hedonistic indulgence razed to the ground. Nine, undoubtedly, comprehended this principle.

Yet, she refrained from luring the dragon away. Instead, she engaged in combat within the city against this behemoth whose mere roar could reduce the entire populace to a bloody mist.

The recent blast was only unleashed after Ravenna confirmed the absence of any living souls in the city... or rather, Ravenna herself, in a fit of rage, had obliterated the dragon with a single shot, without Ansel even lifting a finger.

Even if compelled to act within the city, Nine could have easily summoned greater power to vanquish the dragon instantly, but she chose not to.

Nine, seated in her wheelchair, watched the black light disappear on the horizon, her interlaced fingers tapping lightly, seemingly lost in thought.

Nearby, Seraphina, resolute in her determination to pull Nine from the abyss, also observed her.

Since encountering Marlina, Seraphina had not uttered a single word, uncharacteristic of her nature.

Yet Seraphina understood that the current Marlina was no longer the sister she once knew. Until she could rescue her from the self-effacing abyss, words held no meaning.

Seraphina cast aside her distractions. Once the Dragon Calamity ended, she could initiate her plan to save Marlina. For now... her sole focus was dragon hunting!

After a final glance at her familiar yet foreign sister, she turned to leave. Throughout, Nine had not spared Seraphina even a fleeting look. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire

"Lord Crow," Nine suddenly chuckled, "Mr. Ansel did not entrust you with the task of coordinating the extraordinary beings."

From the shadows of the ruins came Crow's raspy voice: "Indeed, I'm ill-suited for such matters. You and Rhine are most appropriate. Don't get carried away. I warned you, your presumption will eventually trouble Lord Ansel."

"He's well aware, hence his recent order."

"Refrain from... superfluous actions. Remember that, Nine."

The shadow crow, never revealing itself, fell silent, presumably departing on other assignments. After a brief pause, Nine let out a low chuckle:

"Superfluous actions, hm..."

What truly constitutes superfluity?

Mr. Ansel, despite harboring clearer considerations than anyone, you've taken actions superfluous to your interests, revealing your true desires.

I should offer heartfelt congratulations and joy, if only...

If only you didn't suffer for this, I wouldn't contemplate what you deem superfluous.

"Contact Lady Rhine, Nerilia. Given this direct order from Mr. Ansel, we should execute it with utmost haste."

"...Understood. Wait, where are you going?"

"Hm... To seek an ambitious soul, luckier than I in some ways, less so in others."

Nine's cryptic words were delivered nonchalantly. "She shouldn't mind lending me a small favor."

Nerilia's gaze instantly turned glacial. "You still intend to act superfluously?"

"Merely doing what I must... Ah, I nearly forgot. I'll need to access the Shadewell's archives as well."

The wheelchair inched forward, carrying the unremarkable, frail girl through ruins strewn with corpses and blood.

She who once chased the sun now increasingly preferred to linger in the shadows.

*