A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

The path back to the manor was not short, and although Ansel had ways to return directly, he enjoyed walking with Ravenna, chatting, exchanging opinions, and even engaging in heated debates.

"... Without Lord Flamelle's protection, the number of potential influences that fate can manipulate has increased exponentially," Ravenna said earnestly.

"If you temporarily abandon your Hydral identity... I can't imagine how much trouble It will create for you."

"Hmm... at worst, I'll reveal my identity?"

"Reveal your identity? So that all the grand dukes know you're secretly planning something in the Western lands? So they all focus their attention here, making your actions even more difficult?"

Ravenna pinched Ansel's cheek, her expression blank. "If you want to make me angry, you've succeeded, Ansel."

"You usually kick my face with your foot."

"...Hmph, I won't let you off so easily anymore."

"I don't have that kind of fetish."

"Not having it... Don't change the subject! What exactly do you want to do?"

The sixty-centimeter-tall Miss Ravenna, still somewhat annoyed, kicked Ansel's face. This time, it was neither in black stockings nor white stockings, but barefoot.

"So you think the best choice is for me to openly invade the Western lands?" Ansel countered.

"Invade... just leave it to Shadewell. You stay in the Hydral territory and work with me to expand your influence as much as possible in a short time."

Ansel sighed, "You know why I'm going to the Western, right, Ravenna?"

"To find that unstable element, Evora. Alive or dead, you want to see her," Ravenna said without hesitation. "You don't need to tell me; I can guess. It's not difficult."

"See, since you already know," Ansel spread his hands, "why are you still trying to stop me?"

"Because you—"

Ravenna's voice instinctively rose, but she suddenly choked on her words. After two or three seconds, she continued in a slightly lower voice, "Because you'll be in danger... It will definitely take advantage of this opportunity. And what I can do... is very limited."

Ravenna leaned against Ansel's head, her eyes drooping weakly as she murmured, "If only I could truly achieve the descent of the mechanical god, how wonderful that would be."

Constructing the Phantasm Armament and unleashing its power required considerable time. The fact that it managed to perform so well in the battle against the Empress was purely because Ephesande never took the mechanical god seriously from the start.

Each appearance of the God from the Machine was a significant burden for Ravenna — To realize the Phantasm Armament, she had forsaken her flesh and fallen into the abyss, no longer an extraordinary being walking the Heavenly Road.

Every transformation into the God from the Machine and every use of the Head of Abyss's power to manipulate the endless essence meant a deeper plunge into the abyss for her.

Ansel would never allow her to sacrifice herself like this. Ravenna was certain that this stubborn little brat, who had improved in many ways but remained obstinate in some, would never let her transform into the God from the Machine again unless it was a matter of life and death.

Although Ravenna could handle most problems — Ansel could also manage them on his own in most cases.

Otherwise, why would Seraphina leave Ansel to seek opportunities? Both she and Ravenna both lacked the ability to consistently play a crucial role in truly intense battles.

"So, in the end," Ansel half-closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth on his cheek, "you're just worried about me, right?"

"Yes, I'm worried about you. Satisfied?"

Miss Ravenna replied irritably, but she still nestled against Ansel's head.

"Then your worry is somewhat unnecessary, Venna."

Gleipnir lightly touched the ground, and the black chain blade appeared, gleaming sharply in the sunlight.

"The Head of Strength, the Head of Wind, the Head of Abyss... I have at least a third of the power."

With sword in hand, the young Hydral lightly swung it towards the sky.

In the distant square, among a group of playing children, one pointed to the sky and exclaimed:

"The cloud! The cloud is split in two!"

"...Wait, no, it seems more than two pieces?"

Ansel, turning Gleipnir back into a scepter, chuckled, "Guess how strong… I am now?"

Ravenna looked up at the large cloud "shattered" by a single sword strike and lightly patted Ansel's cheek. "... Show-off."

"And what else?"

"...What else can I say? You've already said it. Can I still stop you?"

Ravenna muttered softly. "I thought I could focus on my research after solving your problem... but now I have to follow you to the Western land. What a hassle."

"Just to be clear," Ansel raised his hand, "I didn't force you to come with me, Venna."

The tiny Miss Ravenna bit Ansel's cheek with her small small lips and said coldly, "Then take off the bracelet and get lost."

The young noble looked troubled. "That might be a bit..."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Then shut up and take me with you." The small but still strong-willed scholar interrupted Ansel.

"Yes, yes, my honey-bunny Venna."

"Don't be so flippant!"

"Uh... my beloved Ravenna?"

"Don't lie!"

"Then I'll add 'one of'."

"...You might as well die, Ansel."

Ansel burst into hearty laughter, while Ravenna, not at all amused, glanced at his smiling face and, even more displeased, kicked him again with her bare foot. However, a barely perceptible smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

Simultaneously, another black feather drifted down from the sky.

Ansel, catching the feather, first showed a look of surprise, then his smile grew even brighter, and his laughter became more exuberant.

"What now?" Ravenna looked at the dissipating black feather. "Your agents seem quite busy?"

"Rhine has pinpointed Seri's teleportation location. But... it's the raven that brought the news, not Rhine? How... amusing," Ansel chuckled softly, as if something had just occurred to him.

As he had anticipated, Seraphina had no specific destination in mind, so her teleportation was entirely random—though it would always lead to a place with a teleportation point, not some remote wilderness.

"Guess… where she is?" Ansel blinked.

"With that expression of yours," Ravenna massaged her temples, "is there any need to guess? But if she just so happens to be teleported to the Western lands, could it be..."

There was no need to finish the sentence; Ansel understood her meaning just as she did.

"Still worried?" Ansel raised an eyebrow. "Even if you lack confidence in yourself, you should have confidence in me, Venna."

"You really are—"

Ravenna opened her mouth, looking at Ansel's handsome and spirited face, and finally couldn't help but laugh. "You really can't say anything nice, but it doesn't matter."

She kissed Ansel's cheek gently, her voice soft, "This is the boy I love."

"Hmm... am I still a boy?"

"In my eyes, always."

"That's quite... a heartwarming confession," Ansel smiled. "Alright, let's go pick up one more person, and then we can prepare to set off."

Ravenna, in a good mood, was momentarily puzzled and asked suspiciously, "Pick up someone? Who?"

The young Hydral's lips curved upward, "An ambitious good girl."

*