Chapter 144: Chapter No.144 Villainess Is Protagonist?!
[Elara Moonshadow's POV]
He is so dreamy~
Samael Ashwood. Just the thought of him sends a pleasant shiver down my spine. Every day I watch him from the corner of my eye, my heart pounding in my chest. How can someone be so... perfect? His half-white, half-black hair, those stunning mismatched eyes—one blue, one red—they draw me in like a spell.
And the way he carries himself, so confident yet calm, as if he knows the world is in the palm of his hand. Oh, I would give anything to be by his side, to have him look at me the way he looks at those girls in his group.
Especially that girl, Lily. Ugh! She gets to sit next to him every day. What does she have that I don't? Just because her brother was some tragic hero doesn't mean she deserves him. I've seen her—always so close, always smiling at him like she owns him.
It's not fair!
I wish he could see me.
I fiddled with the edge of my cloak, trying to keep my emotions in check. The last thing I needed was to let anyone know how obsessed I was with Samael. It wasn't exactly something I could confess to anyone, especially not my friends. They wouldn't understand.
I glanced across the room, and there he was, sitting with his usual calm demeanor, speaking softly to Liliana and Raven. They hung on his every word, like they always do. My heart ached. Why can't that be me?
Sigh. I have to get stronger, more powerful—someone worthy of standing by his side. Maybe... maybe during this upcoming dungeon test, I'll have my chance.
The dungeon test is dangerous, but maybe that's what I need. A real, life-threatening situation to prove my worth. If I could fight by Samael's side, protect him, or—better yet—have him save me, he'd finally notice me, wouldn't he?
I imagined it vividly: Samael charging into battle, his magic blazing around him, while I stood at his side, casting my own spells in perfect harmony. He'd look at me with those piercing eyes and realize I was the one who truly understood him, the one meant for him.
But for now, all I can do is wait—or not.
I saw two stupid meatheads plotting something while looking in the general direction of my beloved with envy and contempt, the only thing I feel about those types of people is disgust and utter disdain. Do they think they can take down my Samael? Hah! They're nothing but insects compared to him, and I'll make sure they don't get in his way.
Aiden Pierce and Marcus have always been bitter about Samael's success, but now, they're actually planning something. I've overheard them whispering their little schemes in class, thinking no one would notice.
They're fools.
My fists clenched as I glared at them from across the room. If they even try to harm Samael, I'll make sure they regret it. No one can touch him, no one but me. Maybe it's time I take matters into my own hands—before they get any bright ideas.
I will join their team as my Samael's team is already full, how did that bitch Seraphina get to join in the first place?! She doesn't deserve to be by his side! But this will work in my favor. If I'm on Aiden and Marcus's team, I can keep an eye on them and sabotage their plans from the inside.
I'll make sure they don't even come close to harming Samael, and when the time comes, I'll strike them down before they get the chance.
Yes, that's it. I'll pretend to be on their side, make them think I'm helping them. And then, when the time is right, I'll protect Samael from their betrayal and he'll finally notice me for who I really am. I'll be his saviour. His hero.
A devious smile crept across my face as I stood up, making my way toward Aiden and Marcus. It was time to set my plan in motion.
***
[Aiden Pierce's POV]
Just as Marcus and I were finalizing our plans, Elara Moonshadow approached us with a glint in her eye. She was known for her skill in magic, but she usually kept to herself, always watching from the sidelines. I wasn't sure what she wanted, but I had a feeling she could be useful to our plans.
"Hey, Elara," I greeted her, trying to hide my surprise. "What brings you here?"
She smiled, though there was something unnerving about the way her eyes gleamed. "I overheard you two talking about the dungeon test," she said casually, "and I think we could help each other out. You want to bring down Samael Ashwood, don't you?"
Marcus and I exchanged a quick glance, both of us surprised by her bluntness. "What makes you think we're planning something like that?" Marcus asked cautiously.
"Oh, please," Elara scoffed, rolling her eyes. "It's obvious to anyone paying attention. You hate Samael, and you're looking for a way to make sure he fails. Well, I can help with that."
I crossed my arms, eyeing her warily. "And what's in it for you?"
Elara's smile widened. "Let's just say I have my own reasons for wanting to see Samael humbled. I'll join your team and help you bring him down. You need someone with powerful magic to survive the dungeon, and I can offer that."
I narrowed my eyes. Something about her eagerness made me suspicious, but we did need a skilled mage. And if she could help us take down Samael, then she was worth keeping around.
"Fine," I said after a moment. "You're in. But if you're going to help us, you need to follow our lead."
Elara nodded, her smile never fading. "Of course. I'm looking forward to working together."
As she walked away, Marcus leaned in and whispered, "Do you think we can trust her?"
"I don't know," I replied, watching her go. "But for now, she's useful. And as long as she helps us take down Samael, I don't care what her motives are."
Little did I know, the real threat to our plan was now standing right beside us.
"So, What do you think we should prepare for the dungeon test?" Marcus asked, bringing my focus back to the task at hand.
I took a moment to gather my thoughts, the adrenaline of Elara's offer still buzzing in my veins. "We need to consider several things. First, we need a solid strategy for navigating the dungeon. We can't just rely on brute strength; we need to think a few steps ahead."
Marcus nodded in agreement. "Right. We should scout out the dungeon beforehand if we can get access to any information about its layout or potential traps."
"Exactly. I heard from some second-year students that this dungeon has multiple levels with varying monsters at each stage. The deeper we go, the tougher the monsters become. We'll have to plan our approach carefully and choose our battles wisely."
"What about the other teams?" Marcus asked, looking a bit uneasy. "We're not the only ones with a grudge against Samael. He has a solid group backing him. If they come at us with their full strength..."
"We can't let fear hold us back. If we strategize well and catch him off guard, we'll have the upper hand," I said, my determination swelling again. "We just need to keep our eyes on the prize."
Suddenly, a thought struck me. "We should gather more intel on Samael's team too. Find out what strengths they have and how they work together. The more we know, the better prepared we'll be."
"I can work on that," Marcus replied, a flicker of enthusiasm igniting in his eyes. "I know some people who have grudge with Samael and 'fought' him on 'equal' grounds."
"...we can turn their strengths into weaknesses." I leaned closer, lowering my voice as if the walls themselves were listening. "Samael might have powerful teammates, but that just means they'll be more confident—too confident. Confidence leads to carelessness. If we exploit that, it won't matter how strong they are."
Marcus nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. "So, we lure them into situations where their strength becomes a disadvantage—like narrow passageways or areas where their numbers work against them."
"Exactly." I smiled, feeling more in control of the situation than I had in a long time. "If we can isolate them, pick them off one by one, they won't be able to rely on their teamwork. And if we make them panic, even Samael will falter."
Marcus grinned, the fire of ambition flickering behind his eyes. "Then we're going to need traps—ambush points, areas where we can lead them into situations they can't escape from."
"Traps, illusions, confusion," I agreed, already thinking through the various ways we could turn the dungeon to our advantage. "Elara will be key in that. Her magic could create the diversions we need to break Samael's team apart."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "You trust her that much already?"
I hesitated for a moment, recalling the strange gleam in Elara's eyes when she approached us. "No," I admitted. "But as long as her interests align with ours, she's useful. If she tries anything funny, we'll deal with her then."
"Agreed," Marcus said, a hint of coldness in his voice.
Our plans were coming together. This dungeon test wouldn't just be a challenge for survival—it would be a battleground where we could destroy Samael's carefully built reputation. And when we succeeded, it wouldn't just be Seraphina who finally saw the truth about Samael. Everyone would.
Samael Ashwood might think he's invincible, but when the test is over, he'll realize just how wrong he is.
"Let's meet up with Elara tomorrow and start mapping out our strategy," I said as we gathered our belongings. "We'll make sure everything is in place before the dungeon test begins."
Marcus nodded, his eyes gleaming with the same determination that burned in my own heart. "Right. This is our chance to take everything he has. Let's make sure we don't waste it."
As we parted ways, I couldn't shake the anticipation growing in my chest. The dungeon test was the perfect opportunity. Samael Ashwood wouldn't see it coming.
And when his fall came, it would be swift and devastating.
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[To Be Continued]
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Stone Me!, I can take it.
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