Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son-Chapter 534: A Hopeless World [5] [Pair]

"...When he feels a dragon nearby."

’Huh?’

The threatening feeling that I had felt vanished as soon as it collided with my mana.

’Did that thing feel my presence and choose to cut off it’s mana?’

Frowning, I wondered as I gently patted Liraz’s trembling body.

Though, I still had no idea why there would be a dragon in the lower district.

’This doesn’t make any sense.’

Still, there was no harm in taking the precaution.

I lifted my eyes to look at Epione. "Stay close."

She nodded her head while Liraz hid under her cloak.

Rubbing the back of my head, I mumbled. "Leila."

"Yes?"

"Send your soldiers to block the area around us."

"Huh? Why would you—."

"Do as I say." I cut her off, taking a step forward. "I don’t want bystanders to die."

"...Yes."

After giving her the instructions, I began to thoroughly spread my mana around the place.

It wasn’t long before the entirety of the lower district was under my watch.

It felt like dropping a net into dark water.

My mana spread through streets, rooftops, walls, underground tunnels.

The first thing that I noticed was the undeniable fear in everyone’s heart.

’They are well aware of the current situation.’

Still getting information, I began to filter out those which were not useful.

And it didn’t take me long to find some unusual mana patterns.

Changing my direction, I began to guide Epione to that direction.

"...Does he always behave like this?" I asked, without looking at her. "And when did you even encounter a dragon?"

"When I was a child." She replied softly. "We found a skeleton of a dragon there."

I glanced at her, and even though I couldn’t see her face, I knew she was lying.

"Is that really the truth?" I decided to confront her. "I don’t think so."

"....."

Epione remained silent, her crimson eyes on me now.

There was no struggle in them, just pure blankness.

The street noise felt distant like we were walking inside a bubble no one else could see.

Her silence told me more than words.

"You don’t have to tell me," I said after a few steps. "But don’t lie to me either."

She looked away first, her hand gently rested on Liraz’s head.

"If you know, then why ask." She said, her voice not so gentle.

"I don’t know the whole truth." I replied. "Though I would love to know more."

She remained silent while I couldn’t help but frown.

’...Why do I feel like the presence keeps getting further away.’

"My connection with Liraz is that of a mother and son." She said after a while.

"...And because of his unique bloodline, I have seen broken past of his ancestors."

I didn’t interrupt her and I was sure there were not many she had told this before.

"Phoenix have been in this world ages before the Creator God." She mumbled. "They were the few creatures that survived the Light Era."

"The Light Era?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion.

"Phoenix don’t remember history like we do." She replied. "For them anything before the interference of Creator God was Light Era and after that Dark Era."

"Liraz remembers what happened to his ancestors." She continued. "And I have seen it too....What the dragons made by Creator God did to them."

"...."

I was really surprised by how much knowledge she had.

And in this time, I heard a static voice in my earpiece before it turned completely silent.

’...Well, this was to be expected.’

"You’re saying he’s reacting to memory as well," I said, "not just presence."

She nodded her head as we reached a completely different place.

It didn’t feel like the lower district that was filled with people.

But now, we were close to an abandoned building with no people around.

"Anything else that you want to say?" I said, as I felt the presence close by.

Her eyes remained on the building as she kept on staring at it.

"I would like to see Liraz restore his race one day." She said gently. "I just hope, we can live for that long."

I chuckled as I patted her head, like she was my own.

"Don’t worry." I said. "I will be there to help if needed."

She didn’t respond but her eyes did linger on my hand. "Please, don’t touch me without permission."

Ah, right.

I removed my hand as I drew in a deep breath.

"Alright." I said, walking again. "There were six figures inside, I also felt two dead bodies."

I heard a deep inhale from her as I turned my gaze. "Like I said, stay behind."

She gave a small nod as I turned my focus ahead.

We moved toward the building.

The door ahead swayed slightly.

Creak... creak...

With mana, I pushed the door.

The door blew inward quietly, hinges snapping without sound.

Inside was dark but it was not empty.

Six of them stood in a half-circle around a ritual array carved into the floor.

On the side, I saw two Asuran whose throats were slit open.

....They were making the circle with their blood.

When I stepped inside, all six of them turned towards me.

They all had the same body type and even the same face.

Their pale face and teeth gave away their race as vampires.

’...Why the heck are vampires here?’

"Capture them!" One of them shouted. "We can’t let them go!"

A total of five vampires rushed towards me with incredible speed.

’...Hah, I don’t have time for this.’

I let them reach close to my body as the world slowed down for me.

In this state, I could clearly see their sharp claw-like fingers.

The world snapped back to normal speed and my mana dropped over them like a veil.

As if the sky had fallen on them, their bodies hit the ground all at once.

Their bones cracked under their own mass.

I saw their knees and arms shatter first.

Then ribs caved inward like dry wood breaking under a boot.

They didn’t even get to scream properly.

Only wet choking sounds escaped their throats as blood filled their mouths.

Ignoring them, I began to walk towards the other two.

"Hey." I said with a smile. "Mind answering some of my questions?"

Before I could say anything else they both ran in the opposite direction.

’....’

I kept looking at their departing figures before my gaze shifted to Epione.

She crouched down beside the two dead Asuran and closed their eyes.

"Are you not going to follow them." She asked, without looking up.

"I recognised their mana." I replied, extending my hand towards her. "I hope they would lead us to the others."

She looked at my hand for a second before taking it.

I pulled her up gently.

Liraz peeked out again, eyes still sharp but no longer shaking.

Focusing on my mana, I found both of them running away.

In just a few minutes, they had crossed a long distance.

And as I focused on their path, I immediately found it.

A teleportation portal that was guarded by two more.

I took a step and the space folded around me.

In an instant, I stood in front of the teleportation gate and the two vampires.

Before they could even understand, an invisible blade of mana cut off their heads and punctured their hearts.

Their bodies dropped before the sound could even travel.

Thud.

Thud.

The portal behind them flickered, unstable.

The other two vampires also reached the place only to die the same way.

With them gone, I focused on the portal, sending a small amount of mana inside.

But it only led me to an island-like place with no noticeable threat.

"....."

I kept staring at the portal as I slowly stabilized it.

’.... Should I?’

I wondered, rubbing my chin.

Looking back I found Epione standing beside me with her eyes on me.

"Are you planning to...?"

"Yeah." I said, stretching my neck. "I plan to cross to the other side."

"But what if there is really a dragon?" She asked, tilting her head. "You could die."

"Don’t worry too much, I will come back in a second." I replied, supplying the portal with enough mana for a long while.

"Keep her safe, Arawn."

I felt his mana as if he acknowledged my words.

Taking in a deep breath, I slowly walked past the portal.

The world turned bright as I closed my eyes instinctively.

For a split second, I felt a change in gravity.

I blinked away the blindness as I looked up at the ceiling?

’....What the?’

I frowned, hastily sitting up and looked around.

Much to my confusion, I was in a bed with all my clothes gone.

"Amhn~."

A familiar soft voice took my attention as I slowly turned my head to my side.

There, Christina slept naked covered with a thin layer of clothes.

"....What happened?"

I turned to look on the other side where another woman slept in same way.

Inna blinked innocently and smiled. "Good morning."

’What the....’

I immediately stood up, jumping away from the bed.

Without thinking or looking back, I reached the door and opened it.

The room led me to another bedroom where two women slept naked.

"Come here~"

"Join us~"

I blankly stared at both Yennefer and Zenith who gestured me to join them.

With a trembling breath, I walked towards the door on the other side of the room.

The door led me to another bedroom, this time with Shyamal and Siersha waiting for me.

I walked again, opened another door that led me into the bedroom with Nymeria and Nerrisa.

.....Arianell and.... Ashlyn.

.....Belly and....Adaliah.

Inës....

’What the hell was going on!!’