A Regressed Villain: Heroines, Villainesses and Me?

"Master, Sir Leo has arrived back," Alfred announced as he entered the guest room, his demeanor professional and composed.

He placed his hand on his chest with a slight bow as he greeted Marquess, deliberately ignoring the gathered mayors whose downcast expressions betrayed the turmoil they had just experienced.

"Soon enough, I see," Avendial remarked slowly, rising from his chair.

He opened his suit jacket and tossed it to Aria, who caught it deftly.

Yet, it was not just the jacket that captured her attention; her heart raced as he rolled up his sleeves and ran a hand through his hair before making his exit from the room.

Aria followed him closely, her steps steady and purposeful.

Behind them trailed Rivia, her expression as composed and impassive as ever, which complemented her usual demeanor.

She cast one last glance back at the room, now a chaotic scene marked by remnants of blood.

Following this, they approached the door, where medical staff—always on standby—swiftly moved in alongside the maids to attend to the injured mayors who were groaning in pain.

They worked diligently to provide immediate medical care.

When Avendial headed out, flanked by the two women and Alfred, who was keeping his professional act together but had his eyes closed, he caught a glimpse of his bronze button near his suit's wrist turning to dust as Aria walked past him.

He chose to ignore it as the scene shifted to a whirlwind of activity, following along behind.

The maids and a bustling team of doctors and nurses filled the guest room, working to restore order amid the chaos.

"You did well, Rivia," Avendial remarked, turning toward the corridor and loosening his tie as he offered his praise.

He had employed a stick-and-carrot approach, and considering Rivia's commendable performance over the past few days, it was clear that fear had etched itself onto the faces of the mayors.

'!'

"...Yes," Rivia replied, her expression hollow, with her gaze fixed ahead.

The familiar voice directed at her elicited a flicker of warmth within her heart, a beacon amidst the turmoil of doubt about her actions and their potential to shatter any remnants of faith Avendial might have in her.

For now, though, she relished the moment, her hand clutching her sword while maintaining that same inscrutable expression.

'This place...,' Aria mused as she grappled with a whirlwind of emotions.

Last night's experiences had been a tumultuous first for her, and now she found herself in a location that was far grander and more breathtaking than anything she had read about in novels of nobility.

She couldn't help but admire the exquisite floor, the intricate architecture, the lush garden area, and the corridor that surrounded her.

Everything seemed to belong to modern times, yet every detail appeared to be handcrafted, perfectly sculpted by an artist's touch.

And among this grandeur stood him—Avendial—his hand casually resting in his pocket, his silver hair drawing her gaze involuntarily.

Her heart raced in betrayal of her will, causing her to avert her eyes as she sought to cage her feelings, battling the wave of emotions crashing within her.

What had initially felt like a nightmare was slowly morphing into a beautiful dream.

'Quite strong,' Avendial noted inwardly.

Although he didn't direct his gaze toward Aria or Rivia, he had shifted his full focus onto both of them, observing their reactions.

He noticed Aria's mental fortitude and felt reassured that his choice regarding her was sound.

While it might seem that Aria was overshadowed by Rivia and Aecilia, Avendial understood the vital truth: in a world where the landscape shifted rapidly and dangers lurked around every corner, the most crucial trait for survival was the ability to adapt.

He observed Aria's remarkable resilience.

Despite her efforts to manage her emotions, she was clearly holding up well against the harrowing experiences she had just endured.

Witnessing blood, followed by a series of traumatic events that would have left anyone else reeling, she remained composed.

To put it bluntly, had anyone else been in her position, experiencing the aftermath of a traumatic event—one akin to rape, even if not physically—but feeling every ounce of despair, helplessness, and hatred directed at her tormentor, they would likely be shattered.

Once the ordeal was over, the realization that the cruelty had been intended for her own growth would unleash a tidal wave of shock, guilt, and self-doubt, leading her to question everything she once held as true.

To compound her confusion, the revelation of individuals possessing extraordinary powers would only further destabilize her understanding of reality.

Finally, being thrust into an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by strangers with no support, would leave her feeling utterly alone, frightened, and adrift.

Yet, Aria's mental fortitude, bolstered by her practice of meditation, had allowed her to process these events with surprising clarity.

This was precisely what Avendial sought.

For him, it was not about finding individuals endowed with superhuman abilities, nor those destined to become the strongest in the future.

What he truly needed were adaptable individuals, those who could demonstrate loyalty to him.

After all, he possessed the skill to elevate them to their full potential.

"Had Leo met his mother?" Avendial inquired, recalling that the distance between the hospital and the mansion was a mere mile—a location specifically designed for emergency situations for the family head.

Just fifteen minutes after starting his conversation with his mother—where Avendial had anticipated a lengthy discussion—Leo demonstrated that he understood his priorities clearly.

"Yes, but they only exchanged a few words, and then he left abruptly," Alfred noted.

Although he had been ordered by the Marquess to send someone with Leo to the hospital, he preferred to go himself.

This decision stemmed from his realization that Leo was an Empyreal.

When Alfred had initially approached Leo as instructed by the Marquess, a strange occurrence took place.

As he shook hands with Leo, a small copper button on his uniform's wrist disintegrated instantly.

This unexpected reaction drew his attention to Leo's synergy, indicating that the man brought by his master possessed a remarkable energy.

Moreover, the Marquess had tasked Alfred with bringing Leo to the hospital where his mother was staying.

This made Alfred aware that the Marquess likely intended to test Leo's loyalty by involving the woman in this situation.

As he pieced together the clues, Alfred began to grasp the Marquess's ulterior motives.

The presence of another woman, who appeared remarkably composed compared to the usual frantic first-timers in such places, raised his suspicions.

He couldn't shake the feeling that she, too, was an Empyreal.

His doubts were confirmed moments later when Aria brushed past him; just like with Leo, another button on his suit shattered in reaction to her presence.

Alfred had been meticulous in informing his tailors and designers that he wanted a suit designed with buttons predominantly made of bronze, copper, and mixed alloys.

These materials were known for their pronounced reactions to Synergy, often breaking apart as if turning to dust with heightened speed.

'Where exactly did the Master find them?' Alfred wanted to inquire, though his curiosity was tempered by caution.

Getting two Empyreals at the same time seemed suspicious to him, though he was sure that Marquess would have confirmed their source of affiliation.

However, he feared that maybe the royal family or someone else had intentionally implanted these two spies.

Not wanting to cross any boundaries, he remained silent, quietly following behind them.