Stuck as a Villain!

Chapter 176: Ending rivalry?

Seth somehow convinced the city guards that none from his team would create any kind of needless ruckus inside the already tattered city.

While carrying Anabelle in his arm, who fell unconscious after being struck by the Soul sabotaging spell, all the accumulated energy she was extruding reverted to her body and numbed down her soul core for a brief moment, which must have felt like she was struck by an invisible truck.

The feeling of being attacked by a nullifying spell was nasty enough to make people vomit and sometimes they even fall into seizure. Fortunately, Anabelle was strong enough to neutralize the spell before it could have damaged her more than momentary pain. Her healing aspect must have kicked in already.

Although he felt bad for hitting Anabelle that hard, it was a necessary step he had to take to pacify the situation before it could grow into something irreversible.

"Maydeath." While carrying Anabelle in his arms, with the carriage driver and Arata walking some steps ahead of him, Seth called for the girl walking beside him.

"Hmm?" Hearing Seth's heavy tone, Maydeath knew he wasn't happy, and rightfully so.

"I won't ask you what you said to her but if possible, don't make things any more difficult for me."

Maydeath's eyes turned toward Seth but he wasn't looking at her. His eyes were trained forward, with a tinge of stress furrowing his brows.

Maydeath felt trouble in her heart hearing those words. Despite the fact she decided to grow out of her shell and become bold toward her likes and dislikes, by angering Annabelle, she wasn't feeling good now. Whatever makes Seth unhappy is a sin for her and without even realizing she has committed one.

"I am sorry."

Seth raised his brows hearing the apology delivered in a meek tone. Glancing at her, he found Maydeath's head hanging low as they walked through the pathway.

No words traveled between the two after that. Seth wasn't particularly angry with her nor did he have the right to scold her...but the fact she didn't fuss about the incident nor blamed Anabelle even once made Seth a bit at ease.

At least she was sensible enough to understand the situation and act according to it.

Meanwhile, Arata chatted with the coachman in a friendly tone since both of them come from the same district.

"Yeah, the farm festival. I would go there next year...or maybe next month as well." Arata has always gone to the festival with his family in the past but now that there was no one remaining...

'Wait...didn't I have a lost sister as well?'

Arata nearly stumbled in his steps as he suddenly had the remembrance of a major part of the plot. His sister left the house at a very early age...and he was supposed to reunite with her somewhere around this time of the year.

'Shouldn't I be searching for her...' A part of Arata's soul still belonged to the previous owner of the body, so it was given that Arata would be a little emotional toward his family.

Take his hastened heartbeats for example, which began drumming like this since the time Arata talked about his hometown.

At that time, little did he know that soon he would be meeting that lost sister through a connection, currently walking a bit more than twenty meters behind him.

***

The border city was a habitation for the outcasts and people who did not have any place to call home. And because of the location, there were no motels or even proper homes to take shelter for the night.

Fortunately, Seth has preplanned for all the possible circumstances that may arise. Just like he also knew there would be a problem with shelter and food so he brought tents and raw food with him.

Two tents were grounded. One for the girls. One for Seth and Arata. The carriage driver had arranged himself a roof for the night so Seth didn't bring out a tent for him.

"I will arrange the pots and wood." Saying so Arata left their side. He was getting distracted a lot by the expression Maydeath had. It took a lot from him to not go and ask her what was the matter.

There were both reasons. First, she wouldn't respond to him in any straightforward manner, and that would simply create even more awkwardness between them. Second, Arata wanted to disconnect every emotion he held for the girl he could never attain.

Her happiness was what mattered to him, and if she was content being with Seth, then that's that. Arata would just ensure her safety from shadows and would try to bother her the least.

Back near the camp side, Seth was engaged in some file work he needed to take care of. These were the new administration files he had created for the forces' deployment and recruitment around the Albeck duchy.

'Keith would be upset if he heard about it...' The federal form of governance Albeck administration follows has three major lists and works distributed to ministers acquiring various posts.

Trivial matters were handled by the General relations minister along with a council to help him. The second stage was for major crime and public welfare which is handled by the Court minister with his team and the final stage was for trade, defense, and taxes.

Keith was placed with the General relations minister to look after small cases and solve feuds between people. It took him about six years to reach there. And for Seth, just a single request to the Duchess, and here he was with the Duchy defense management in hand.

'It's gonna be a pain in the ass...'

Brushing off his needless worries, he focused back on the paper.

Meanwhile, inside the tent, Anabelle groaned under the migraine-like effect of the spell she was shot with earlier.

"Agh..." She held her head with forefingers. Squeezing her lids she slowly began lifting them to adjust her vision with the warm light of soul stone inside the place.

Just as her senses returned to her, Anabelle sensed a presence just near her toes.

"You!" Shooting her gaze at the familiar redhead, Anabelle raised her voice but before she could say anything else, Maydeath raised both of her hands in surrender.

"Before shouting or lunging at me, hear me out. This is not about us but Seth."

Hearing that name, Anabelle had no other option than to stop herself from chanting an immediate mud bomb at the girl.

Slowly getting up with the support of her palms, Anabelle rested her back on the box kept behind her. From the surroundings, it seemed they were in a tent. On wider inspection, Anabelle felt Seth's soul signature nearby which made her calm down.

"What do you want?" Anabelle asked in an annoyed yet in a much lower tone than before.

Maydeath sighed at that before she relayed her thoughts, "I agree I have done everything back in a carriage to piss you off and elevate the situation to that far. While honestly, I did enjoy that reaction..." Anabelle glared at the girl which didn't stop Maydeath from finishing her words, "...but I think we should stop now. This rivalry between us for the affection of Seth is making him even more burdened. And, at times like these, making him worried because of me or anything I do, is not something I could allow myself to partake in any longer."

Neither of them was unaware of what was to befall humanity within some months and the pressure Seth must be going through at the moment. Stressing him out because of her jealousy toward Maydeath was not something Anabelle would ever want to do.

"Even if I-"Just as Anabelle was about to respond, the ground began to shake, and a very ominous presence suddenly emerged out of nowhere.

Maydeath and Anabelle kept their gaze locked in shock before both of them dashed out of the tent.

A calamity has appeared. And none of these teenagers were prepared to face it yet.

****

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