Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son-Chapter 531: A Hopeless World [2] [Crisis]

"I asked," he repeated, "who you think you are, dismissing someone in a meeting of family heads."

Upon hearing his words, Himmel shifted his gaze around.

The demigods looked away except Mortis and Coretta.

But from the looks of it both of them weren’t interested in silencing Zavien.

’...They all are interested in how I will react, huh?’

Considering the fact that almost all of them were unaware of the depth of his power, it was understandable to let Zavien be the bait.

’....They all are really getting on my nerves.’

Himmel rubbed his temples, ignoring the pest for now.

With a tired sigh, he glanced back at the priest. "You can go, Panta."

The priest, however, had other plans. He refused to take a single step.

"You must understand the severity of the situation." He warned, his voice grim. "You will regret sending me away in just a few days."

Himmel kept his eyes on him. "Is that a threat?"

"Think what you may." He replied firmly. "But I cannot let you come in between my goddess plans to save Akasha."

Himmel let out a chuckle as he looked at him. "I couldn’t care less priest, leave."

"He will not." Zavien interrupted, his voice echoing in the silence. "You are no one to tell him what to do."

Himmel kept on staring at the young man who still had a smile on his face like it was a game.

His gaze however had clear malice in it.

"I do not like being interrupted." Himmel gave him the last warning. "Priest, you should—."

"The priest will stay." Zavien cut him off again. "Though if you want, you can leave on your own."

Himmel silently shifted his gaze back to Zavien.

He had given enough warning.

Slowly, Himmel stood up from his seat and grabbed the stone table.

Crack!

With one hand, he picked up the table and raised it above his head and threw it aside.

It broke into pieces on the impact, silencing every one of them.

Himmel walked on the clear path that was made between them.

Mortis tried to stand up—.

"If you interrupted me now." Himmel said without looking. "Then every Asura will regret your decision."

Mortis remained half standing for a long second before he slowly sat back down.

He kept on walking towards the now tensed Zavien, who hid behind his grandma.

Coretta didn’t look much concerned. She was confident in her strength to stop him.

And so she tried, standing up to confront him.

"My child made a mistak—."

"Arawn."

Himmel said, his voice echoed within the hall.

Coretta blinked in confusion but her instinct screamed the next second.

"Huh?"

A startled voice escaped her lips as the world tilted for her.

Before she could understand what happened, she was pinned on the ground with a katana blade hanging close to her neck.

Coretta Kurai Uzume.... A demigod who had slaughtered her own blood to sit at the top... was face down on the stone floor.

A pressure veiled her... so immense it suppressed her mana.

In Arawn’s presence no demigod dared to speak a word.

"...Grandma." Zavien’s voice came out small.

For the first time since entering the hall, his arrogance cracked.

Step! Step!

Himmel didn’t even look at them.

He kept walking until he stood right in front of Zavien.

Now the boy could feel it fully. The pressure that Himmel was emitting was like standing at the bottom of the ocean.

"You talk too much," Himmel said calmly.

Zavien clenched his fists, trying to pull his mana together, but it scattered the moment it formed.

His body understood before his pride did.

He was not in control here.

"You wanted to see my limit," Himmel continued. "This isn’t even close."

In the moment of flight and fight, Zavien chose to fight.

"Ahhhh!!!"

With a scream he swung his fist like a barbaric orc.

Himmel grabbed his fist in his palm.

And with a horrible clarity, Zavien saw his other hand move at the joint of elbow and...

Crack!!!

"Urghhhh!!!"

Zavien cried in pain with his hand bent in an abnormal way.

He dropped to his knees, clutching his twisted arm.

His scream turned into ragged breathing as sweat poured down his face.

Himmel still held his wrist, not letting him go.

"Pain," Himmel said calmly, "is a very fast teacher."

Himmel pulled him up and grabbed his other arm.

"Neplh."

"Huh?"

A chillness crept under Zavien’s hand as he looked at his hand slowly losing its colour.

"W–what did you—"

"Relax," Himmel said, voice flat. "I am just making sure you won’t be a nucence to me."

The chill spread, covering half of his arm into a thin layer of frost.

Himmel let go of his hand and he immediately fell down, trembling in cold.

He turned away like Zavien had already stopped mattering.

Behind him, Arawn still held Coretta down.

Her face was pressed to stone, white hair spread around her like spilled silk.

Her eyes were open, and they were filled with hatred.

Himmel smiled at her. "You should have kept him under control."

She struggled to break free as a tear trickled down her hate filled eyes.

"Release her," Himmel said calmly.

Arawn followed his words and let go of her.

Coretta slowly rose to her knees, then to her feet.

Before she rushed towards her grandson who was trembling in pain.

Without a word, she picked her grandson and rushed out of the hall room.

Himmel walked back towards his seat while Arawn vanished once again.

He pulled a chair with his foot, turned it, and sat.

"Zavien is impotent and paralysis for life." Himmel said, looking at Mortis. "I don’t think he is a good match for Epione."

Mortis didn’t say a word but he understood him.

"Now," he said, resting his chin on his knuckles.

"Unless someone else wants to demonstrate their stupidity..."

No one spoke this time.

Himmel shifted his gaze towards Panta who trembled under his gaze.

"You have one minute," Himmel said. "Convince me you’re not another problem."

Panta swallowed.

For the first time since entering the hall, the calm smile on his face was gone.

"I... am not your enemy," he said carefully. "If I were, I would not come here alone."

Drake leaned back slightly. "You picked a bad day to test that."

The priest didn’t look at him. His eyes stayed on Himmel.

"The seal beneath Akasha is weakening faster than expected," Panta continued. "We have mere months before the Entity wake up."

Himmel remained silent for a long second before he looked at the other heads.

"Let’s just say, your method does works." He said, rubbing his chin. "But how can I trust you and be assured you won’t betray us."

"I will not." Panta said honestly. "You can verify and You can also supervise. I can even provide you with all the ritual circles."

".....Fine." I mumbled softly. "Bring me the ritual circles as soon as possible. Bring more than one copies."

Panta finally let out a sigh of relief as he bowed deeply. "Thank you for trusting me."

Himmel didn’t respond to the thanks.

"Don’t misunderstand," he said flatly. "I really don’t trust you."

Panta nodded quickly.

"That... is fair." he said. "I will bring the ritual cricles in three days."

Saying so, he left the hall room without any more words.

A clear silence lingered within the room as the rest of the demigods remained seated.

Himmel was the first to stand up as he walked out of the room as well.

It didn’t take long for the other demigods to disperse, getting back to their work.

But as Himmel walked down the hallway, he felt another presence.

Turning around, he found Mortis catching up with him.

"Himmel."

Himmel didn’t turn fully. "What."

Mortis exhaled slowly. "You went too far."

Himmel’s eyes shifted to him, calm and cold. "Did I?"

"He is a child," Mortis said. "Arrogant, Stupid but still a child."

"He was a weapon pointed at me," Himmel replied. "I broke the weapon."

Mortis’ jaw tightened. "You humiliated Coretta in front of everyone."

"She brought him to provoke me," Himmel said flatly. "She knew exactly what she was doing."

That... Mortis couldn’t deny.

They stood in silence for a moment, footsteps of distant servants echoing somewhere far away.

Mortis finally spoke again, quieter. "About Epione."

Himmel’s gaze sharpened slightly.

"The engagement," Mortis continued. "It will be dissolved."

"Don’t throw her away in a political marriage." Himmel warned him. "I won’t like it."

Mortis studied him. "Do you perhaps....like her?"

"No." Himmel shook his head. "I don’t think I do."

"Then why—?"

"What actually happened?" Himmel asked, cutting him off. "Why are you so eager to form an alliance."

Mortis didn’t answer right away.

He seemed to consider if he should tell Himmel about it or not.

Finally, Mortis spoke.

"The Asura were weakening," he said.

Himmel’s expression didn’t change. "And?"

"And we are being hunted." Mortis replied. "By the families of Kandam Continent."

Himmel’s steps slowed.

"The Kandam families?" he asked. "All of them?"

"I am not sure." He spoke grimly. "But just in the last quarter more than a thousand Asura have died in Lumina."

He drew in a deep breath before he spoke. "With all thier horns being stolen."

Himmel abruptly stopped walking. "What?"

Mortis nodded. "They are harvesting our horns as meterials."

They stood facing each other in the empty corridor.

Himmel closed his eyes before he let out a sigh. "...You need more demigod to stand against them."

"Himmel." Mortis said politely. "Would you like to stay at our household for a while?"