To be the Villainess

O31.

Chapter 31

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third person

SEBASTIAN carefully laid Arthemice’s unconscious body in a sheltered spot, ensuring she was safe from the chaos around them. His gaze shifted to the ongoing battle, watching as the others struggled against the monstrous creature. He let out a scoff, his lips curling slightly in disdain.

“They fight like ants,” he muttered under his breath, tightening his grip on his sword. Before moving, he glanced back at Arthemice, a faint smile touching his lips. “I’ll take care of this for you, my lady. Rest easy—you’ve done enough.”

With a soft click, he unsheathed his sword and stepped onto the battlefield.

The moment he advanced, a familiar figure caught his eye. His brow furrowed as he spotted Seraphim in the midst of the fray, her movements frantic yet powerful.

“What the hell did you do to my master?!” Seraphim shouted, her voice filled with fury as she unleashed a burst of energy at the creature. The monster shrieked in pain, its razor-sharp tendrils whipping violently through the air. One struck Seraphim, slashing across her leg and sending her tumbling to the ground with a gasp of pain.

‘What’s that kitten doing here?’ Sebastian thought, irritation flashing in his eyes. He dismissed the thought as quickly as it came, refocusing on the task at hand. Without hesitation, he charged at the beast.

“Kyle!” Zacharias’s voice rang out, drawing Sebastian’s attention. He turned to see the knight standing with his arm bloodied, clutching a wounded hand. Zacharias smirked faintly despite his injuries. ‘That bastard is always late,’ Zacharias thought with a chuckle.

“My apologies for the delay.” Sebastian’s tone was calm, yet there was an edge to it. “Now, Zacharias, rest and let me take it from here. I’ll finish this for you.” He gave Zacharias a firm pat on the shoulder before turning his sharp gaze back to the monster. “I’m going to crush every last piece of it.”

Zacharias’s eyes widened, taken aback by the cold determination in Sebastian’s expression. He knew the man was serious.

Just then, Darious stepped forward, wiping the sweat from his brow as his face twisted with frustration. “Where the hell have you been? You should’ve been protecting my sister. You’re a disgrace of a personal knight,” he snapped, his eyebrows furrowed in anger.

Sebastian didn’t respond right away, merely glancing at Darious with an unreadable expression. ‘You’re her brother. Protecting her is your responsibility, and you failed,’ he thought, though he kept his words to himself. Instead, he bowed slightly. “My apologies, my lord. It won’t happen again. Allow me to make amends by dealing with this monster.”

Darious narrowed his eyes but said nothing as Sebastian straightened and turned his attention to the battlefield.

“Your Highness,” Sebastian called out, his voice steady. Crown Prince Lumine turned his head, locking eyes with him. “Let’s take it down together.”

Lumine gave a firm nod, gripping his sword tightly. “Thank you for arriving just in time, Sir Kyle,” the prince said, lifting his blade as the monster’s next attack came barreling toward them.

The two warriors stood side by side, ready to face the beast. The battle was far from over, but with the two of them working together, there was a newfound surge of hope.

The battlefield crackled with tension as the monster towered above them, its grotesque body shifting and writhing like a mass of shadows and flesh. The ground shook with each of its steps, claws raking through the air, creating whirlwinds that tore through the surroundings.