The Villainess Just Wants To Be Alone

Chapter 6

The giant eagle remained motionless, his crimson eyes studying me with an intensity that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Even without attacking, the pressure radiating from his body was enough to remind me that I was standing before a creature capable of tearing through mountains if it wished.

For several heartbeats, neither of us spoke.

Then, Leo let out a low chuckle.

"You know my name."

It wasn't a question.

"I do."

"Interesting."

His massive wings folded neatly against his body as he lowered his head, bringing his face closer to mine. His eyes searched every inch of my expression as if trying to uncover a secret hidden beneath my skin.

"The girl I was meant to serve would've asked for my name first."

I felt my heart skip a beat.

"So you've been watching?"

"For a very long time."

His voice echoed throughout the clearing.

"I have watched your loneliness."

"I have watched your anger."

"I have watched your desperation."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his beak.

"But today..."

"...you are different."

I resisted the urge to look away.

He wasn't talking to Yuki.

He was talking to the original Theletyia.

"I'm still Theletyia," I answered carefully. "I've simply realized that living for other people is a waste of my life."

Leo continued staring at me.

"...Is that so?"

"It is."

"I no longer care whether my father acknowledges me."

"I no longer care whether Maximilliam loves me."

"What I want..."

I inhaled slowly before finishing my sentence.

"...is to survive."

Silence returned.

The surrounding mana drifted gently between us like tiny black wisps dancing in the air.

Finally, Leo laughed.

A deep, thunderous laugh that shook the leaves from nearby trees.

"Excellent."

His enormous wings unfolded once more.

"I had no desire to serve someone whose heart was chained by meaningless affection."

Dark mana burst from his body, swirling around me like a violent storm. My blue hair whipped wildly across my face as the pressure intensified, forcing me to plant my feet firmly against the ground.

"If your resolve is genuine..."

"...prove it."

Without warning, Leo disappeared.

My eyes widened.

Where—

A powerful gust of wind exploded behind me.

I spun around just in time to see a massive black claw descending from above.

Instinct took over.

Mana surged through my body, strengthening my legs as I threw myself to the side.

BOOM!

The ground shattered where I had been standing only a second earlier.

Dust filled the clearing.

"Holy—"

Before I could finish, another attack came from my left.

I barely raised my arm in time.

Dark mana instinctively gathered around it, forming a thin shield that absorbed part of the impact before sending me sliding several meters across the grass.

My arms stung from the force.

"So this is your test?" I shouted.

Leo landed gracefully, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement.

"I merely wish to see whether my master deserves me."

I clenched my fists.

"Couldn't you have started with something less life-threatening?"

"No."

"...Fair enough."

I took a deep breath and steadied myself.

If the novel was right, Leo never intended to kill his contractor.

He wanted to awaken their instincts.

That meant...

I had to trust this body.

Instead of overthinking every movement, I closed my eyes for the briefest moment and allowed the mana flowing through my body to guide me.

The moment I reopened them, the world felt different.

I could sense the movement of the wind.

The vibration of the earth.

Even Leo's overwhelming mana no longer felt chaotic.

It felt... readable.

"There you are," Leo murmured with satisfaction.

I smiled.

"So that's what you wanted."

Dark mana gathered around my hands.

Slowly at first.

Then faster.

Until two short black blades materialized in my grasp.

Their edges shimmered with crimson light, humming softly as though they were alive.

I stared at them in amazement.

"I made these?"

"You did."

Leo nodded proudly.

"The first weapon forged from your own mana."

Before I could admire them any longer, a quiet clap echoed from somewhere above us.

"How fascinating."

Leo and I turned toward the sound at the same time.

Perched casually on a thick tree branch overlooking the clearing sat a young man with long chestnut-brown hair. One leg dangled lazily over the branch while the other was bent comfortably beneath him, as though he had been watching a stage performance rather than witnessing the awakening of a legendary power.

He rested his chin on one hand and smiled.

"I've never seen someone awaken a Kemono quite like that."

A chill ran down my spine.

How long had he been there?

And more importantly...

How had neither Leo nor I noticed him?