A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

“I’ve lost my mind?” Nine echoed the words. “I’ve lost my mind?”

At that moment, every Shadewell member in the shadow felt a chilling gaze that sent shivers down their spines.

It was as if a deranged demon had crawled out from the depths of hell, from the endless abyss. Even Crow felt a touch of unease.

However, the gaze vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

“…Then consider me mad if you will, Lord Crow,” she murmured softly.

“I’d rather be mad, rather be wrong, because if that’s the case… Mr. Ansel wouldn’t suffer so much.”

— Nine is finished.

All Shadewell members concluded unanimously.

The corruption of the Abyss intertwined with her obsession for Ansel had destroyed her sanity. Although it was peculiar that she had seemed so lucid before, she was now undoubtedly speaking nonsense.

Crow pondered for a moment. He realized that Nine’s mental state remained stable as long as she was serving Ansel, and she indeed possessed… a decisiveness he couldn’t match.

However, this required restraint, lest it lead to meaningless destruction and chaos.

“I can entrust you with the command of this mission,” Crow said after a brief contemplation, surprising the other Shadewell members.

“But if you make even one mistake, you’ll no longer be a member of Shadewell. Your fate will be decided by Lord Ansel.”

Nine tilted her head slightly. “Are you patronizing me, trying to calm my emotions?” She chuckled softly. “It doesn’t matter, as long as you honestly hand over the authority.”

“It’s just for this mission,” Crow clarified.

“This one time is enough,” the girl responded nonchalantly. “Shadewell won’t return to your hands. The next time we meet, I won’t address you as ‘Lord’ anymore.” Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

Her wheelchair slowly retreated, gradually disappearing into the pitch-black shadows.

“Please, everyone, observe clearly…”

The dark witch smiled, “…the difference between you and me.”

With that, she willfully left the meeting.

“…Crow,” Nailand’s brow furrowed deeply, “Are you serious about giving her command of this mission? This isn’t a simple task. Suppressing all the supernaturals in the West… it will take a great deal of effort.”

“If she’s so confident, it’s fine to let her handle it,” Crow replied.

“That’s not confidence, Crow. She’s gone mad,” another Shadewell member said disapprovingly.

“She’ll eventually make a grave mistake due to her self-righteous attitude. I think it’s better to expel her from Shadewell sooner rather than later, lest she cause trouble for Lord Ansel with our support.”

“Just watch and see,” Crow calmly preened his wings. “As I said, even one mistake, and she’ll no longer have a place here.”

“What a bother…” someone grumbled. “Is it because she was too mediocre that the Abyss corrupted her mind completely? It’s a shame to waste the last shadow crow like this.”

As Crow listened to his subordinates’ complaints, his mind was filled with Nine’s previous words, her unforgettable tone.

Although he had determined that Nine was on the brink of self-destruction, Crow still harbored doubts.

…Was it really madness that made her say those things?

*

“Ansel!”

Seraphina burst into Ansel’s study without knocking.

Facing the privileged Seraphina, Ansel showed no anger. Instead, he smiled, put down his pen, and immediately focused his attention on her.

“What’s the matter, Seri? You seem… very happy.”

“I just… huff… hah…” Seraphina panted, hands on her hips, her tone utterly serious. “I just found a way to solve Marli’s problem!”

“Is that so?” Ansel raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Let’s hear it.”

“Isn’t Marli’s problem that she doesn’t care about herself at all?” The wolf girl quickly approached Ansel’s desk, leaning on it and staring at him intently.

“Whether she likes you too much or not isn’t important! I like you very much too, I love you the most, and there’s nothing wrong with me, right?”

“So… I figured it out! Keeping Ansel away from Marli is useless. Reasoning with her or scolding her won’t work either. What will really work is making Marli realize what an amazing person she is!”

Seraphina’s eyes sparkled, her admiration and dependence almost tangible. She genuinely believed that her sister was far from an ordinary, incompetent mortal.

To her, Marli is an incredible person!

“We’ll find everyone Marli has helped, everyone who’s benefited from her kindness. From the village to Red Frost territory, to the Imperial Capital, to Hydral territory, even to Dispute Fortress… Marli has helped so many people, brought better lives to so many.”

The girl slowly clenched her fists, biting her lip, her tone filled with discontent.

“She could do so much more, help so many more people. She could live a happier, more meaningful life. How could she… exist just to be Ansel’s tool?”

Ansel gazed into her dark red eyes, moved by the emotions brewing within them.

Seraphina’s growth was evident. Even though her mindset was shifting back towards the path of supremacy, she was far more nuanced and humane than the Sky Wolf Emperor.

…Unfortunately, this wouldn’t work.

If the influence of the Abyss Sermon could be so easily eliminated, it wouldn’t be worthy of being Ansel’s spiritual essence.

“I’m impressed that Seri could come up with such a good plan,” Ansel said, reaching out to pat Seraphina’s head.

Although he knew the plan wouldn’t succeed, he had no intention of rejecting it.

He hoped Seraphina would feel that she truly did her utmost to save Marlina during this process, understanding that she had done her best, so she wouldn’t carry too much regret or burden.

“Ah… actually, I thought of this because of you, Ansel,” Seraphina grinned. “Everyone likes you, which means you’re kind to everyone. I remember many people liked Marli too, so she must be the same kind of person.”

Seraphina didn’t notice the subtle change in Ansel’s expression at her first sentence. She gripped Ansel’s hand resolutely.

“Ansel!” Seraphina’s bright eyes held both intense determination and deep hope. “Help me! Let’s bring back the old Marli!”

After a brief moment of silence, a gentle smile spread across Ansel’s face.

“Alright, let’s go bring back the old Marlina.”

But in the next instant, his expression changed dramatically.

“…Ansel?” Seraphina asked worriedly, “What’s wrong? You look awful.”

“You really… won’t rest for a moment, will you?” Ansel sighed deeply, then looked at Seraphina, his voice grave. “I’m sorry, Seri. We’ll have to put aside Marlina’s matter for now.”

Seeing Ansel’s increasingly serious expression, Seraphina understood the gravity of the situation, but grew more confused.

“Is it that Evora coming back again? Or is someone suicidal enough to cause trouble for you? It can’t be that right after driving away one Evora, the Empress herself is coming, right?”

Ansel shook his head, casting a cold gaze out the window.

He seemed to see hurricanes sweeping in from the distant horizon, obscuring the sun, dominating sky and earth.

Following the command of the Beast Lord standing at the world’s pinnacle, a bloody and cruel hunt was being launched upon the mortal realm.

“It’s the Dragon Calamity.”

*