Rogue Villain-Chapter 304: Unfinished Business

Ackster rubbed his nose bridge with a finger before sighing and letting a part of his ichor into the room, dominating the others into silence. Mio was the only one who didn’t look at Ackster in a mixture of shock, startlement, or trepidation. The power he revealed, combined with his sour face, made even Kargas and Wilma worry about what Ackster was going to do.

Everyone in the room knew that Ackster wasn’t exactly reasonable, and they hadn’t even seen him angry. They knew he did what he wanted or felt he needed. Mara, Kargas, and Wilma were especially aware of Ackster’s personality in that regard.

Mara and Kargas had also gotten their own close-ups with Ackster’s craziness. He had seemingly no regard for his own life if it meant he could grow stronger, and he would sacrifice others if necessary. But they had all figured out it was for some kind of greater goal.

If they were in the way of that goal or obstructed his path, they could only imagine what Ackster would do, even if they were friends and party members.

Mara and Karandiel exchanged glances as they gulped before sitting in their seats. They began to cut their food, ignoring each other and the painfully awkward and stiff atmosphere in the room.

"I don’t need you two to be friends."

Ackster raised his head and stopped pinching his nosebridge. He looked at Mara and Karandiel.

"All I ask is that you get along enough to cooperate. I need your strength. But if you’re going to waste it fighting each other, I would be better off without you. Of course, I’m not forcing you two to stay. You’re free to leave right now. But there’s no going back after I start spilling my secrets."

Now, Ackster spread his gaze to include Kargas and Wilma, too.

"I will do what I have to in order to ensure my safety and the safety of my secrets."

Ackster didn’t say it outright, but he couldn’t have been any clearer. If they chose to stay now but jump ship later, after they had already found out a bunch of stuff, Ackster would consider them traitors and kill them.

That aspect didn’t bother Mara and Karandiel. They didn’t have a thought of jumping ship. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Ackster had saved Karandiel when she lost faith in the gods she served and the world they were supposed to protect. Ackster was her hope and savior. Without him, she could only imagine what would have happened to her.

Mara...She was obsessed with Ackster. There was no rhyme or reason why. Ackster had killed her friend in front of her and then terrorized her into attacking him to the point where she thought she would die of exhaustion. He repeatedly threatened her life and showed his overwhelming strength and insanity. There wasn’t a single moment during the time she helped his training where Mara wasn’t scared for her life.

But when the terror became her new norm, Mara realized that Ackster wasn’t so bad. As long as she did what he asked, he gave her all kinds of priceless monster and beast meat as food. He kept her safe from other beings in the Land of Dragons when she was too exhausted to protect herself.

Even when she had fulfilled her purpose and could no longer aid Ackster’s training, Ackster didn’t kill her. There was grace and benevolence in Ackster, and Mara chose to see it. That was why she devoted herself to her training with the same frenzy as Ackster. Training until she spat up blood was warm-up.

And every time she trained until she felt like dying, Mara’s admiration for Ackster, who trained until he was barely better than dead, rose. It rose and rose until she could no longer contain it. There was no other way of life for her than to support Ackster with anything he might need.

Mara would rather die than betray Ackster and her own feelings for Ackster.

Mara and Karandiel exchanged looks before turning to Ackster.

"’We’ll behave.’"

The fact that they said the same thing at the same time showed how in sync they were.

Kargas and Wilma were a little more hesitant.

Ackster had saved his life and changed his fate, so Kargas considered him his benefactor. Kargas had no intention of betraying Ackster. But he couldn’t be sure of what would happen in the future.

Wilma was the same, and her trust in Ackster had already cracked. What would happen—what was she supposed to do—if Ackster decided to try and start another war? She also had prior obligations with The One Outside Time and the Guild.

Ackster looked at Kargas and Wilma.

"Don’t worry. You don’t have to decide now. We have to pick up one or two more guys. There’s also no need for me to tell you my plans right now. I will tell you when we reach the point of no return. But I can tell you right now that I want what’s best for...let’s say everyone."

Ackster felt like the sharp ones in his party might figure out what he was going to do if he said that he wanted what was best for the world. But they needed something to cling to if they wanted to be able to follow him with their minds at ease.

Ackster then focused on Wilma.

"What are your plans, by the way? Are you going to stick with us or fulfill your duties as an employee of the Guild?"

"After your stunt in the Land of Dragons, I can just say that my duties are to supervise you and make sure you don’t get into any other trouble."

Ackster narrowed his gaze slightly as he looked at Wilma. That sounded like a non-commital answer and that she would neither become part of the party nor leave them alone. Ackster didn’t like that. She was in, or she was out. But maybe she needed more time to decide what to do with her future.

"I won’t wait forever."

Before Wilma could answer, Ackster retracted his gaze.

"Eat up. We don’t have any time to waste. We’re leaving for Vider as soon as possible."

He turned to Karandiel.

"If you have any unfinished business, I suggest you finish it."