Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

It had been ten days.

Ten days since he left her side.

Ten days since he walked into a battle with the greatest threat to humanity.

Valerie couldn't sit still anymore.

She looked at the others. They were fast asleep in their sleeping bags.

As promised, the system was taking care of everyone's basic needs within the resting zone.

A separate zone for the washroom. Three meals a day, some arrangements for beverages.

But even with food and shelter, none of them were truly at ease.

They were worried—anxious about what was going on outside.

No one asked too many questions, neither to her nor the system.

But Valerie could still sense it in their eyes. The quiet unease. The tension.

And more than anyone else, Valerie was the most restless.

She wanted to know where he was.

She missed him.

Even a single word from him would be enough—just something to let her know he was okay.

But each time she asked the system about him, it gave the same reply:

[The host is currently in the most secure shelter and is tormenting the Demon Lord to attain victory.]

She already knew of his plan—he had told her that he was going to break Astaroth down until he gave in and shattered the pact.

But even back then, Selner had warned her. It was a dangerous move.

Astaroth wasn't just any demon. He had been around for thousands of years.

He lived for one purpose—to rule this world.

Breaking his will and making him surrender wasn't just hard.

It was nearly impossible.

"Are you okay?" came a familiar voice from behind.

Valerie turned and saw the pink-haired girl standing there.

With a soft nod, she said, "Yeah... just lost in thought."

"I don't even have to guess who it's about. It's Austin, isn't it?" Rhea asked, walking up beside her.

Valerie sighed. "It's not just me. Everyone's hoping he'll come back after defeating that monster."

Rhea looked down for a moment.

"Until a few days ago, I couldn't even imagine Austin being the one to fight the Demon Lord.

And now… he's doing it all by himself."

Then, glancing up at Valerie, she asked quietly, "Was he always that strong? Was he hiding his strength?"

Valerie froze for a moment. She couldn't tell Rhea the truth—that Austin had gone back in time just like her.

So she gave the most believable explanation she could think of.

"His soul was split into fragments. When he turned seventeen, he finally recovered the missing part."

Rhea let out a dry laugh. "If you don't want to tell me, just say that."

Valerie gave a small smile. "You're right. I can't tell you."

But one part of what she said was still true.

Austin's soul really had been torn into pieces once.

"Well… what do you plan on doing if Austin really defeats the Demon Lord?" Valerie asked, gently shifting the topic.

Rhea blinked, caught off guard by the question.

"I—I haven't thought about that at all," she admitted, her voice low. Then, after a moment, she sighed.

"My reason for joining the Academy was simple—to kill as many demons as I could. To get revenge for what they did to my parents. That was it. That was all I lived for. But now... if Austin actually ends all of this… I don't know what I'll be left with."

Rhea's life goal was simple. She lived just to end the misery of the people. To eradicate the being who has only given grief and tears to innocent people.

However, if Austin deals with that being…Rhea doesn't know what she would live for? Maybe open a shop or something?

There was a quiet pause. Only the faint rustle of wind outside the resting zone could be heard.

Valerie's eyes softened as she looked at the girl in front of her.

Rhea wasn't someone who opened up easily, and hearing her talk like this—it reminded Valerie of something.

A small, forgotten memory floated to the surface.

A promise.

One she made a long time ago.

To this very girl.

She gave a thoughtful shrug, trying to keep her tone casual.

"Well, why don't you come and work as a Knight for the Corwon family?"

Rhea's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, seriously? You mean it?"

Her voice was filled with disbelief, almost like she thought Valerie was joking.

Valerie gave a small smile and nodded.

"I've seen what you're capable of. Your combat skills, your instincts—they're real. You didn't go through all that training and all those battles just to throw everything away. If you want to keep using your strength, then why not pursue a life where your skills matter? One where all your pain and effort won't be for nothing?"

Rhea stood there in silence, unable to speak.

This… was unexpected.

Just a few weeks ago, the two of them had clashed so hard that Valerie nearly killed her in a moment of rage.

They had been on bad terms for months—ever since that orientation. Ever since Austin's focus gathered at Rhea. Ever since the man, Valerie loves, started liking Rhea.

Whether it was pride, misunderstanding, or past wounds, the fact remained the same: Valerie couldn't stand the sight of Rhea for the longest time.

They had barely exchanged words without tension.

They weren't friends. Not even close.

And now, all of a sudden, Valerie was offering her a future? A place at her side?

Rhea didn't know what to feel.

Her heart was heavy, confused—yet strangely warm.

"…Why?" she finally whispered, eyes lowered. "After everything between us… why would you offer me this?"

Valerie looked at her, then turned her gaze toward the sky.

With a sigh, she finally responded, "Because…it no longer matters."

°°°°°°°

A year had passed.

And Austin was still in confinement—trapped in the same space as Astaroth.

He leaned back against the cold, black throne carved into the stone behind him, his eyes fixed on the ring wrapped around his finger.

That simple ring… he had stared at it for months now, as if it held all the answers he needed.

Other than that, there wasn't much to do here.

No light.

No sound.

Only silence, and the company of a half-dead Demon Lord.

For the past year, that was all he had—his thoughts, the endless dark, and whatever twisted conversations Astaroth decided to engage in.

He couldn't access his inventory, but it didn't matter anymore.

He didn't need food. He didn't need rest.

He didn't even need air.

His magic had become his life source—steady, unshaken, and constantly growing.

With each passing moment, it refined itself, becoming colder, denser… and more detached.

From the moment he had leapt off that cliff and embraced the darkness, he knew this day would come.

He had chosen it.

He had accepted it.

He had sacrificed everything for it.

In front of him, Astaroth lay broken.

The upper half of the Demon Lord's body had been tossed somewhere far across this empty void, while the lower half remained here—still, lifeless, and rotting.

Even a being who had walked the earth for thousands of years had limits.

And Austin was patient enough to reach them.

Yet even now, his mind was calculating.

Thinking of the next way he could drag the demon's suffering further.

What hadn't he tried yet?

What other method could crush his spirit just a little more?

That's when a voice echoed out of nowhere.

Ancient, eerie, and emotionless.

[You are losing your emotions, Human.]

Austin blinked.

For a moment, he wasn't sure if it was the Demon Lord trying to get into his head again—or something else.

But then, he realized what this was,

"So you decided to show up, eh?" He smirked and sat up on the throne.

Before him appeared several golden orbs.

Austin knew what it was.

"The immortal one…have you finally decided to break the pact?" He asked.

The other one soon responded,

[I am here to warn you. You are losing your emotions. All the connections you hold towards your loved ones…you will forget all about them. You will be nothing but an empty shell.]

Austin shrugged, "You think I don't know that?" He was warned by his old self about it as well.

He doesn't know the source of his powers. Previously, he was just drawing power from that source. But this time, he had embraced it. Became one with it.

He was losing his feelings slowly. He knew that.

But, "Until I have this…" he said, raising his finger up high, a smile etched on his face, "...until I have my Val, I know I will remain human."

Leaning back, he said, "So…no need to worry about me. Yes, if you want to switch sides then surely, you can contact me."

He hadn't come this far to give up. He was going to get rid of every single being who can become an obstacle to him.

Nothing can stop him from creating a peaceful world for his Val.

[You will regret this.]

And the voice faded.

Austin chuckled, "Well, let's continue, Astaroth. No one is coming to save your ass."

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.