Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 300  Wilhelm [2]

I blinked.

A sword rushed towards my face.

Instinctively, I kicked the edge of the table.

The blade grazed past my chin.

The chair I was sitting on fell down as I exerted force on my hands to backflip onto my feet.

Uncomfortable fear quickly started to creep within my body as I stared at Wilhelm.

Like a predator, he was letting out a suffocating pressure that dampened me.

He let out a low, chilling chuckle, rising to his feet, the sword gripped in his hand.

"What else was I expecting?" he muttered, his tone laced with contempt. "Of course, you're after my master's sword art."

The sword in his hand gleamed as he effortlessly shoved the heavy table aside.

"Listen to me—"

"Shut up!" he barked, cutting me off, his voice sharp and brimming with unrestrained anger.

"I thought you were different from those damned elves, but you're just like them—demanding my master's art as though you have any claim to it."

"Calm down, Wilhelm—"

"Don't you like to sleep in my class?" he asked, his smile chilly like a frozen lake. "You should be punished for that, right?"

'Fuck.'

I bit my lip in frustration.

This fucker isn't even trying to listen.

And even though it's annoying, I understand why.

He has been harassed for a long time about his sword art.

The outburst he is having now is valid.

What should I do now?

I drew in a deep breath, suppressing my panic as I took out a spare katana from my bracelet.

Even though he had a menacing pressure around him, I have been through worse.

"What type of immature adult are you?" I asked, gesturing Elijah and Aimar to stop. "Taking out your weapon on the first disagreement like a barbarian."

"Aren't you doing the same?" he shot back, tilting his head. "And do you really think you can win against me?"

"No."

I rushed towards him, making sure not to use mana.

He should notice—and hopefully, he'd hold back too.

The sharp edge of my katana cleaved towards him as I drew near.

Wilhelm parried the strike effortlessly, deflecting it toward the ground.

Lowering my body, I used the momentum of the blade to whirl back at his thighs.

He stepped back and kicked swiftly at my face.

Barely balancing myself, I pushed my body back, feeling his blade whistle past my ear.

Using my free hand as a springboard, I jumped back to my feet.

"Is swordsmanship your specialty?" Wilhelm asked, tilting his head.

Gone was his anger; only curiosity remained in his eyes.

"I don't think so," I replied, wiping the sweat from my face.

"I see."

That was all I heard before his body blurred.

My senses heightened as I tried to find the path of his sword.

The mana around me tingled as if resonating with me.

Multiple blurry purple pathways started to emerge around me.

I quickly stepped on the one behind me.

My body jerked back, swiftly dodging the wide arc of the blade aimed at my chest.

"Hmm?" Wilhelm let out a startled voice as he stared at me. "What was that?"

"What was what?" I asked, tilting my head.

"You didn't know where the strike would come from," he explained, his brows knitting together. "Yet you dodged it. How?"

"I don't know—"

His body blurred again, and the blurry pathways around me shrank.

I quickly stepped to the purple pathway on the side.

My body dodged at the right moment just before a sword cut through the air.

Wilhelm didn't give me time to rest. The purple pathways shrank to just two.

My body couldn't react in time.

The broad side of the sword slapped my back, making me wince.

"You can react to attacks up to Mid-Overlord level," Wilhelm noted as I staggered, rubbing my sore back. "That's... impressive."

"Are you satisfied now?" I asked, glaring at him.

Wilhelm sheathed his sword back into his bracelet. "You've got some talent. Barely enough for the heir of the Segyal Highbloods."

"Thanks for your high regard," I replied sarcastically. "I can proudly keep my head up now."

"Go home," Wilhelm said, turning away. "I'm not teaching you my master's sword art. End of discussion."

"Are you not going to listen to what I can offer?" I asked, stretching my back.

"No." His reply was instant.

"Not even when it can help you get your revenge?" I said, and he abruptly halted his steps.

Nailing the opportunity, I added, "Not even if it could cure your daughter?"

Wilhelm turned around, his face impassive as he stared into my eyes.

His icy cold voice echoed. "Do you have any idea what you are saying?"

"Life degradation," I said, looking back into his eyes. "Isn't that what your daughter is suffering from?"

"...."

His steps quickened as he closed the distance between us.

"Born of an elf and a vampire," I continued, unflinching under his glare. "She was cursed to slowly and painfully lose her life energy—"

"Who told you that!?" Wilhelm barked, grabbing my collar. "Was it Lady Mariam—"

"Does it matter?" I asked, prying his hand from my collar. "You should focus on the fact that I might be able to cure her."

"Why should I believe you?" he growled, pushing me back. "What makes you better than those filthy elves?"

"Give me six months, and I will prove it," I replied with a casual shrug. "And teaching me the sword art will only help you."

He tilted his head in confusion. "How is that?"

"Don't you want Ragnar dead?" I asked, my eyes locked onto his. "I'll kill him for you."

Wilhelm laughed—a sharp, humorless sound that filled the place.

Shaking his head, he looked at me like I was the stupidest thing he'd ever seen.

"Are you serious?" he asked, still chuckling. "Do you actually believe you can kill Ragnar?"

"I can—"

"You can't." He cut into my words. "No matter how much you try, it's impossible."

"Why do you say so?" I calmly asked.

"I have been living in his shadow for my entire life!" he snapped, walking closer. "I know better than anyone what Ragnar really is!"

He ruffled his short blonde hair, frustration creeping into his voice.

"Do you even understand how talented he is? How effortlessly he masters everything? If it took me months to learn something, he would do it in hours. Hours!"

He moved closer still, his piercing gaze boring into mine.

"When Ragnar was your age, he defeated hundreds of trained soldiers. Hundreds. And you think you stand a chance?"

"....."

"You're nothing but a child," he scoffed. "Don't overestimate yourself."

"Do you want to save your daughter or not?" I said. "Or do you break your promise to your wife?"

Wilhelm trembled violently at my words.

The one promise that he always tried to fulfill but couldn't. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The promise to keep his daughter safe.

Just for this one promise, he gave away his everything.

He joined hands with the person he hated the most to save his daughter.

Yet... he couldn't.

"I promise to cure her completely in six months," I repeated, my voice steady. "All you need to do is teach me."

"The Gerald Highbloods won't let you have a normal life if you learn it," he said, looking into my eyes. "They will make your life a living hell—"

"I can take care of myself," I replied, looking at him. "Don't worry about me."

He fell into deep silence, lowering his head.

"How are you going to cure—"

"I can't reveal my cards now, can I?" I cut into his words.

He glared at me, but I didn't budge.

It's not like he has any other way to cure her.

Even though my promise was a gamble—deceptive and flawed—he had no choice.

"Fine," he said at last, exhaling heavily. "But if you're lying… I'll make sure you die a death so terrible that even the gods will shudder."

I smiled, extending my hand. "So, do we have a deal?"

Wilhelm shook my hand reluctantly, his eyes drifting to his daughter in the distance.

She stood by the side, laughing softly.

He smiled slightly before his gaze turned to Aimar.

"And why did you bring that boy here?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

My smile widened. "Mind training him a little?"

******

A rapid knock echoed on the office door.

The maid stepped back after knocking, her delicate features framed by light blonde hair cascading down her back.

Her simple dress clung to her frame, accentuating her grace even in its plainness.

"Come in," a voice called from within.

Daina pushed the door open and entered. Mariam's golden eyes, swirling with hypnotic spirals, focused on her.

Her lips parted as she said, "Did we get any news?"

"It's true, my lady," Daina replied, stepping forward. "The Kandam continent has begun influencing the Demiurge race."

Mariam leaned back in her chair, a weary sigh escaping her lips.

Though she had anticipated this, the confirmation weighed heavily on her.

"Who is behind it?" she asked, her voice quieter now.

Kandam was the largest continent in Lumina, its inhabitants protected by the Old Gods themselves.

Since the First Holy War, Kandam had kept its distance from all conflicts, interacting minimally with other races.

But now... everything was changing.

"The Solace Kingdom," Daina said, handing over an intricately decorated letter. "One of Kandam's ruling nations."

Mariam took the letter, opening it.

Her expression darkened as she rubbed her temples.

"Why now?" she murmured, more to herself than to Daina.

"What does it say, my lady?" Daina asked, her concern evident.

"Solace Kingdom has requested a formal meeting," Mariam replied, placing the letter on her desk. "They want both Elven Highbloods to attend."

"We're refusing, right?" Daina asked hesitantly.

"We can't," Mariam said, shaking her head.

Daina frowned. "Why not?"

Mariam's voice dropped to a whisper.

"The Solace Kingdom claims they can cure the dying Yggdrasil."