Stuck as a Villain!

Chapter 104: He has changed…

The Pristine Academy was dyed in the shade of the upcoming event as all around the place, students were either discussing or training their skills and sharpening their moves to do well in the selection test which would be starting tomorrow.

Only three hours of the study period was necessary for students to attend before they were allowed to leave the class and spend their time as they wanted.

Seth in those three hours, dwelled in the thoughts of his past and present life. The incident with Ethan was a massive turn that shook Seth down to the core and made him realize things that he would have never been able to find out by himself.

Except for the fact that Saito was now dead in both life and Anabelle was his previous life sister who caused his transmigration, there was something more weighing down Seth's mind since his future depended on those factors.

First was Keita who was inside the body of the protagonist and has recently awakened his powers, thanks to Saito's master plan. In normal circumstances, Seth would not have minded Arata's progress since recalling the future this world would be facing, Arata's growth was most welcomed.

However, it was a fact that Seth came to know recently that Keita hated Seth because of some trivial reasons. Indeed love is a major part of life but when it extends to the point where people begin killing others and themselves in the process, then it's no longer just love.

It's called pure madness.

And if what Anabelle said about Miyuki is correct, then she was on the list as well.

'Though where is she... '

Even though Ethan had the skill to detect the other transmigrator, he was not able to locate Miyuki nor in what body she got reborn. There was a faint presence of hers but it soon disappeared when Ethan tried to find her.

About Kyouko, then Ethan really didn't have any idea where that girl was or what she was doing. Recalling her personality, she might be roaming around the world or could be performing a housewife job to keep herself entertained.

She was the most unpredictable of the five.

'Well not like she is thirsty for my blood at least.... '

****

As the sun began to set, the sky was painted with a palette of warm hues. The clouds, tinged with gold and pink, drifted lazily across the sky, as if in no hurry to leave. The air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of blooming flowers and fresh grass.

The light of the setting sun still lingered on the horizon, casting a warm glow over everything it touched. The world seemed to slow down as if taking a moment to appreciate the beauty of the moment.

Under such a peaceful atmosphere, a pair could be seen currently sharing a small table arranged amidst a beautiful garden that had no such strong smell to keep the guests distracted yet had the subtle interference in the surroundings to provide a gentle touch to the scenery.

It was one of the places that allowed only some singularities to access and Seth was one of them so he thought why not invite Serena over the tea, here?

Since there was no servant allowed inside the school building, it was Seth who took the responsibility to serve the tea he prepared with some rarely found herbs.

Serena was reluctant to let the President work when she was sitting idly but after being glared followed by the stern command from Seth made the blond girl obediently stick to her seat. She still was not used to his strict behavior and missed that warming moment back in the Treasury, a lot.

Though, not like she was going to say it...

"So, how is your childhood friend recently? I heard from Anabelle that he has changed a lot?"

Seth lied since after that day, he had no word with Anabelle even for once. Nor he has seen her around at all. Though he intended to ask Ciel about Anabelle since both of them share the same room, his secretary unusually took leave just when the school hours concluded.

Since it was not something to see every day that the workaholic and diligent secretary, asking for leave, Seth didn't put much mind into it and nodded in allowance.

Serena was a bit confused about Seth asking about Arata so suddenly but she concluded that the president must have also felt the sudden shift of temperament in Arata and how he seemed to be more powerful than before for some reason.

"Well, he has changed a lot. He no longer hangs out with anyone and spends most of his time in training. I sometimes feel worried about him but knowing that my words won't do any change, I no longer try to pry into his life."

There was faint sorrow in her tone which Seth could understand the reason for. He knows since how long Arata and Serena were close friends and if not for the fact that in the original story, Serena killed herself, Arata would have barely given any other heroine time for development.

Hearing that he was even ignoring Serena who in every way, was closest to him other than his family, shows that Keita has truly overpowered Arata's original self leaving a mixed soul in that vessel that desired strength for some reason.

"Anyway, I have to return this..."

Serene rounded her eyes when suddenly Seth put up a pearly necklace on the table with which Serena was oddly familiar.

"I guess you never actually tried the artifact before giving it to me, huh?"

Serena now realized that it was the same artifact she had given to Seth some weeks ago when she visited the mansion during the ceremony. It was the prizes that she found in the temple vault and decided to hand them over to the person who truly deserves them.

"Since I felt being alive after what we faced was a hefty sum of reward I didn't dare to take anything else."

Serena's honest answer made Seth sigh as he fought the urge to yet again remind her how helpful Serena was to him during the trials and how her mere presence was a remedy to keep Seth collected since he knew someone was relying on him.

Taking a small sip of the beverage which was delightful as ever, Seth conveyed the results he found after trying the artifact time after time.

"The vault grants rewards according to the participants, thus this thing was never made for me."

Serena blinked in perplexion as she looked at Seth for a couple of instances, trying to figure out if he was just forwarding rewards by molding out his words but Serena found herself in the gaze of nothing but straight truth.

She had no option but to take the necklace inside her spatial storage as she thanked Seth once again about the Vault incident to which the man only nodded.

"After returning from that temple, have you ever come in contact with Cursed Energy, Serena?"

It was a crucial thing for Seth to know since after returning from his first temple, somehow Seth was able to negate the effect of Curse energy and also found himself getting stronger in such an environment. Thankfully, this fact was limited to only two people since Seth had no idea what physical changes he had gone through to accept the energy which was never meant to be absorbed by the humans.

If Serena also has gone through the same circumstances then it would be proven that the Temple vault had influenced the two and tampered with their body.

But before Serena could reply, Ciel appeared all of a sudden in front of them, using her transportation skill, as while huffing and coated in blood, she stuttered out her words.

"Pre... President... A-Ana...belle.."

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A/N: - Drop a comment if you are hyped for the next chapter ~