A Regressed Villain: Heroines, Villainesses and Me?

'Why are we heading towards the Academy?'

Aria wondered, glancing out the window and momentarily questioning why they were entering the Free City instead of heading to Sector 1 for their meeting.

Her father had taken a turn onto the highway leading to Sector 18, and it seemed clear to her that their ultimate destination was her academy.

"You're wondering why we're going there, right?"

Avendial replied casually, seated beside her while scrolling through a dating app.

His phone was filled with images, enough for him to recall various faces as he captured screenshots of profiles that caught his attention.

So far, he had collected and memorized details about 234 people from the social media platforms alone.

His impressive memory allowed him to recognize the faces of those he had been in contact with, all while sending one message after another to the Sertsul family.

He didn't need to delve into specifics, having already struck a deal with the investigation and information department under the Sertsul family to look into these individuals, ensuring their cooperation at any cost.

"....Yes,"

Aria responded, albeit hesitantly.

She was aware of the fleeting thought that perhaps he might misconstrue her interest and assume she was eager to see Len.

However, she quickly dismissed that concern, realizing he seemed indifferent to such matters.

But amidst all her thoughts, she couldn't help but notice the striking beauty of the women around him.

She was reluctant to admit it, but she began to wonder if there was something inherently special about noble bloodlines.

Both Aecilia Sertsul and the striking woman acting as Avendial's bodyguard were undeniably more beautiful than even the top star models in the Free Cities.

A twinge of jealousy coursed through her.

Never before had she compared herself to others, but standing next to those two, she felt a sense of inadequacy—not just in strength, but in her own features as well.

"We need to have the director give you your degree, right?"

Avendial said, still engrossed in his phone, his gaze fixed on the app as he swiped through the faces he recognized.

Most of them were women, given that, due to facial recognition and gender laws throughout the Empire, he was identified as male.

This made it obvious he would be perusing dating profiles, primarily featuring women.

Among the various applications worldwide, the popular ones offered typical functions that catered to such interactions.

"....but it isn't that important,"

Aria replied, her thoughts racing with revelations she had encountered over the past few days.

She grappled with the unsettling realization that the world around her was on the brink of destruction.

Outside, the trees and scenery appeared breathtaking, a stark contrast to the turmoil swirling in her mind.

Stealing a glance toward Avendial, she noted that he hadn't looked at her once, his attention fully absorbed by his phone.

It triggered a feeling of neglect, as it seemed he was no longer interested in the engagement they had previously shared.

Determined to regain his attention, she shifted slightly, moving to his side and leaning her head against his shoulder.

It was then that her eyes fell on the dating app displayed on his phone screen.

"....."

"Work,"

Avendial muttered as he continued to scroll through the screen.

He was aware, perhaps all too well, that the feelings he harbored—emotions rooted in fabrications—were supposed to resolve themselves in time.

But for now, with his work privatized, he rest his left hand affectionately on her thigh.

"Okay,"

Aria responded, glancing at the screen as he continued his scrolling.

She pointed at one of the images and asked, "Why are you ignoring her? She has the title of smith."

'!?'

"...You can see their status?"

NDL replied, slightly taken aback by her statement.

How could she discern someone's abilities just by looking at a phone screen?

They had initially assumed she could read a person's status through their aura or physical presence.

But could she really see through a digital display?

"Hm, yes,"

Aria confirmed, her finger sliding through the images.

"She has the class of smith, and the previous one was a gardener, and..."

One by one, she began to detail each woman's abilities, seemingly able to perceive their names and statuses regardless of whether they were physically present.

It was the same for their titles; from the moment she laid eyes on her twin or friends in group photos, she recognized their capabilities instantly.

Unaware of the shock her words were causing in Avendial, she remained focused on the screen, scrolling and reporting each woman's impressive skills.

She felt inclined to assist him, believing that her insights might be valuable to his endeavors.

Meanwhile, Avendial's attention shifted away from the screen to her face, captivated by her unexpected talent.

'What the…'

Avendial thought, unable to fathom this revelation.

He had never anticipated nor considered verifying this peculiar trait.

His mind was preoccupied with establishing her loyalty while dealing with the complications of the capsule device.

Yet now, he learned something that could significantly ease his work; he didn't always need to bring people in front of her.

A mere photograph would suffice.

Still, the origin of these abilities nagged at him.

Inside the tower, he had developed doubts regarding such talents.

In the present day, with an understanding of matter being composed of atoms—made up of electrons, protons, and nuclei—he knew this kind of ability had to be advanced.

Researchers were still attempting to decode the intricacies of Synergy, but he remained perplexed by its source.

Although Synergy was merely a form of energy, its exact origin baffled him.

Now, after witnessing how her abilities didn't require a living target, it became increasingly clear that he still lacked knowledge about this particular energy.

His previous explorations had only led him to a superficial understanding.

However, Aria's ability to reveal these facts offered him a glimpse of insight; perhaps he would have verified this in the future, but for now, it had lightened his burden.

"How dare you hide this from me?"

Avendial whispered as he neared her ear, causing Aria to flinch.

With a confused look, she glanced at him, her fingers still on the phone screen.

It soon loosened from his grip, falling to the floor; considering its durability, there was no need to bother about it.

Even Aria herself seemed to react to his teasing smile.

"I—I—"

Her words seemed to stick in her throat as her eyes kept blinking while she noticed him getting closer to her before he locked his lips with hers in a kiss.

.

.

.

.

.

"What timing,"

Avendial mused as he stepped out of the car, adjusting his suit.

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His gaze first landed on the academy gate, where he spotted a young man with pink hair standing near the edge.

The boy's frown and wide eyes stood out among the throng of students, making him impossible to overlook.

"Oh, it's still wet,"

Aria muttered as she exited the car, anxiously trying to wipe the remnants of saliva off her lips.

She couldn't shake off the embarrassment of how, during the ride, it felt as if she had unleashed a beast within him.

All the way here, she had been subject to a continuous series of kisses, and when she shot him a small glare, she noticed he wasn't even looking in her direction.

Instead, his attention was fixed elsewhere, and when she followed his line of sight, she saw Lynn disappearing into the crowd.

"Huh?"

Aria stammered, unable to comprehend what she was witnessing.

"W-what—"

Before she could let panic take hold, Avendial interjected, "I told you, you shouldn't have swallowed while we were kissing."

Her cheeks flushed, and Aria was visibly shaken by the embarrassment of his words, especially given their presence among the students.

While she didn't particularly care if others overheard them, a chill swept over her as she felt the intense malice emanating from a nearby Bugatti.

The presence of a purple monster disguised in woman's skin, brandishing a blade, sent shivers down her spine.

"It'll recover soon,"

Avendial reassured her, knowing that the unusual circumstances—his saliva possibly affecting her ability—might have caused a temporary dysfunction.

Since it involved her awakened powers and she had just kissed him, he was confident that she would bounce back shortly.

As if on cue, the influx of status windows displaying the abilities of those around her began to populate her vision, overwhelming her senses.

"I see…"

Aria murmured, her attention drawn to the shocked faces of three individuals who were staring at her.

Rolling her eyes in resignation, she realized they were none other than her friends.

'I should have just walked here…'

In that moment, she couldn't help but feel frustration bubbling up inside her.

She berated herself for not thinking ahead; her mind had been so occupied with the relentless kisses from Avendial that she hadn't considered the reaction they would elicit from others as she stepped out of a car with him.

'HOW DARE SHE!!'

Positioned away from the car beside the Bugatti at the front, Rivia's body seethed with palpable rage.

Despite this, her swordmaster training allowed her to maintain an impassive facade, even though her mind was a tempest of turmoil and fury.

The nerves in the white of her eyes slowly turned red, while the trembling of her pupils betrayed her barely contained anger, as her lips trembled due to her thoughts echoing through her mind, 'She kissed him... kissed him, kissed him, kissed him! Her filthy lips on my perfect master?!'Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Click

And there for a moment, her finger held the felt of her katana as she slowly slid it, the blade clearly visible.

But as she did, her eyes met with Avendial, causing a hand to halt in the middle, his head lowered like a puppy, with an invisible feeling of betrayal as he saw his form change. This caused her to only think, 'Wh-why her, master!?'