Claud managed to avoid the Blostmfell feathers.

I have to go to Eindell to request for aid. If I ask mom and dad... They'll help me right?

Is that smoke?

The station is on fire... There are bodies...

Those poor people... Why did this happen? Did the assassins have other people working with them..?

There was a huge fight here... discarded weapons, blood stains... uniformed guards and normal people... But the way they fell... they were fighting each other? It's all too confusing...

Wait..!

Th-this mark!

It's Claud's shoeprint! I know it is!

"B-butler! Claud's shoeprint!"

"By golly, you're right Lady Sophie! It is a very expensive shoe brand that Master Claud wears... Thus it is almost certain that this print belongs to him."

He's already been here! Claud's safe!

But... where is he?

He went ahead of us? But for what reason?

Was he caught up in the fighting?

"People of Eindell-"

So loud... Voice amplification magic... It's enough to reach the outskirts of the city...

"-do not listen to the provocations of foreign hostile forces. Return to your homes. The city is currently under martial law. Imperial soldiers will be patrolling the streets to subdue any radical extremists. Stay inside for your own safety."

Foreign forces? Could these two be from another country as well? But besides the former Ruvere Empire and our Holy Empire, there are only small countries West of here. Most likely they're from the old empire. They have a grudge against our country after all.

"H-hey you two! You're from the magic tower! You'll bring us into the city safely right?"

"Y-yeah please help us!"

"C-calm down everyone... My partner and I will do our best to escort you."

If the passengers knew who they really were, they wouldn't be so trusting of them. They're relying on monsters...

----------------------------------------

Everyone was detained by the soldiers except the two assassins claiming to be from the mage tower. They don't care about strangers, I knew it. But when they noticed my uniform, I was given leeway too. Does being from the capital city's academy really make me that special..?

A high ranking officer came in and asked me about what happened on the train. I told him everything I knew about the train accident including about the Blostmfell. I didn't mention the two assassins though. I was worried about who was on my side. Those two might have hidden allies within the army.

When I asked whether they'd seen Claud, they said they didn't.

But Claud's definitely in the city. I just have to find him. I'm so tired... Each Willpower used allows my skill to be activated for an entire 3 hours. I have to use more than half everyday to check whether Claud's still alive.

What is he doing now, I wonder? It's nighttime so... he must be sleeping. Or maybe he's reading his books in the dark with a lamp again... I told him it's going to rot his eyes and he laughed at me. Hmph. If Claud has to wear those thick round glasses, it's going to be his fault.

Best friend... I miss you.

I look out the window hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Nothing.

Sigh.

Is that light?

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

I heard a loud bang mere moments after seeing the flash of light.

An explosion...

I run outside but the soldiers are running up and down the hallway. I see the officer from earlier.

"Officer! What happened?"

"Stay inside, young lady! Do not leave these barracks!"

"But what happened?"

"That is none of your concern. Stay inside!"

"W-wait..."

What do you mean it's none of my concern! Claud might have gotten injured in that blast!

I need to bring my sword. He might need my help. Martial law is in place and people are fighting everywhere. He got into big trouble in Ruvere and because of his big mouth, he could have gotten into a fight here too.

----------------------------------------

"Ah... you survived that blast? And you even managed to cover Tina with a mana barrier while you were at it! Very impressive~ That's at least Mana Mastery level two. I thought you were just another haughty noble brat but you're a true soldier despite your age. Unfortunately for you, young hero, judging by your injuries, your Vitality's only around 15, right? That's not going to be enough to stave off the next onslaught."

Fuck. This guy talks too much. He assessed the situation too quickly. I bet he's doing that on purpose to unnerve me... It really is irritating. He likely doesn't even have an observing skill like Sophie's. Just experience.

"It really is upsetting, you know. I spent valuable time fostering their hatred and building the foundations for this rebellion. It wasn't even my strong suit, I drew the wrong straw. And you ruined it."

Ugh! What is that... I almost didn't block that. Wind magic?

"Aaah..! I'm going to take out my frustrations on you. Those idiots over at Ruvere started their plan too early! We were supposed to begin another week later! Because of that, the timing for Blostmfell's appearance messed up my plans to destroy Eindall!"

Damn it. Stop lashing out at me with magic every sentence... Please and thank you.

-Willpower: 4/24-

Heal.

"Do you know how hard it was pretending in front of these buffoons! Everyday! God this, Goddess that! Peace be upon you!"

My sword is chipped... I've blocked too many strikes from his magic...

"If only they hadn't noticed, these puppets would have just kept fighting each other! But you... You had to ruin my play! Why did you survive that train crash with only 15 Vitality! You stubborn cockroach! And you're still doing it now!!!"

-Willpower: 3/24-

Heal...

I can't stand up anymore. My healing isn't keeping up with the injuries.

"H-heal..."

Quentin..? He's buried in rubble but he managed to send a spell in my direction. I stood up again.

"I even prepared poisoned food for you and everything!"

I'm not stupid enough to take food from a stranger.

"I was wary of you but I guess I didn't need to be."

No use. I collapsed on the ground again. My sword's broken. I don't have anything left. Shit. That was a gift from the Count.

"You're weak."

It's typical of villains, isn't it? To want your enemy to grovel.

"I'm honestly curious how did such a pathetic thing like you manage to survive the strait?"

You want to grind your enemy down into the dirt underneath your boots.

"I'll give you a quick death if you lick my boots."

But keep coming closer, I dare you.

"Here... come on. Lick it."

Got you...

-Willpower: 2/24-

-Summon: White Mantis-

"AAAAAH! My legs! My legs!"

Thanks, mantis. I'll make it up to you later.

'No problem, Claud Branford.'

You're talking in my head again. Wow.

The mantis vanished... He only appeared for a single strike.

-Willpower: 1/24-

"Oh Gods and Goddesses above. Lend me strength to strike down adversaries marring the Hero's path."

-Skill: Heal has increased to Lv2-

-Willpower: 0/24-

Heal.

So this is why my skill never levelled up after so much studying and so many uses. I thought the instructors in the Priest class were delusional. To think praying would actually help.

Unlike the typical villain who monologues for far too long, I've already beheaded said idiot who talked too much.

-Directly contributed to 1 death-

-Next Villain skill: 4/10-

You can keep showing off in the afterlife, dumbass. From that very first explosion, I knew I had no chance. That's why you died. I was the better Villain.

-Main Quest: Aid the Rebels in liberating Eindell. Completed-

That was liberating Eindell? What a load of shit. I guess technically I liberated Eindell from a foreign force. I don't have time to look at the rewards right now.

-Rewards:-

-Class Upgrades available:-

Quentin... I have to get this debris off him. Thanks for saving me.

After the rubble is removed, I don't move him. Who knows where he's injured...

"I'm sorry, sir... I didn't know it was poison."

I pat his head.

I know kid. I know.

Tina... she fainted but she's unharmed. I doubt she knew about the poison either.

Most of the other rebels didn't make it. They were too far for my mana to protect them.

Hahaha...

Once again, I had to play some dirty tricks to get my way in the end. Maybe this is how it should be. I'm not the type to fight straightforwardly.

"Claud!!!"

Sophie... Oh you silly tardy hero. How can you be late to the action? Isn't the trope supposed to be, you showing up to save me after I get beat up?

Oh wait! Don't jump!

Oof... The wind got knocked out of me. Why am I lying on the dirt again? This hurts.

"I knew you were alive! I kept up my skill this entire time!"

And thank you for that. I wouldn't have survived without it.

"A-are y-you okay?! Y-you're out of Willpower, aren't you? You're not saying anything... Heal! Heal! Heal!"

The hero is very astute regarding my status and wellbeing... haha.

"Your arm isn't healing... Uwaaah!"

Come on. Don't cry without me doing anything. I won't earn bad deeds that way...

"I.. hic... I! Hic..! I'm sorry I'm so late! I wanted to see you. I was so sad a-and alone... And I wanted to help you... But I couldn't! And... And..! I'm so happy you're alive..."

I can only hug her in response. I wish I could talk.

I wanted to see you too. Lets increase our stats before our next adventure, shall we? And preferably, lets do it together this time. A solo journey wasn't very fun.