Reborn As The Villain

The villagers didn't understand what she was referring to. The chief seemed to be the only one who knew judging by the dark shadow hanging over his face.

She had already made up her mind the moment she felt something was off about him.

"You are going that far… Are you certain it's a good idea to reveal this method to others besides Ko Johun? He was clear that anyone who finds out about it before he does will be executed by him personally."

This was to avoid the method spreading to Funiji. It will serve as an advantage to whoever gets access to the method first.

"Indeed… This is precisely why I can't even reveal it to you, Chief or Rasuke since neither of you can bear the consequences at your current strength."

The villagers looked at each other. They couldn't imagine that same thing happening to the young man who exuded charm and confidence of a powerful martial.

Lian stood up after taking off her glasses and loosened her hair, letting her raven-black hair rest on her shoulders and back, "I'll see if I can get him interested by explaining what I just told you."

If she can convince him that she can fix his internal energy then he might become indebted to the village and join the fight against Ko Johun. To martials that use it, their internal energy is as valuable as water since it allows them to practice their martial arts at a greater efficiency. Of course, not everyone uses internal energy, only the most desperate and greedy martials looking for strength. In truth, absorbing internal energy from different sources is the most convenient shortcut to obtaining strength. But it's also an arduous and long process.

The men stared at Lian mesmerized by her beauty, which she simply ignored, "Please excuse me." She bowed to the chief who nodded slowly.

He was probably aware that she'll do more than persuade him with words. Adding something to the deal might be a good idea.

Leaving behind the bustling crowd, Lian went further inside the house, heading down the hall that the young man was led through. 

As she walked calmly, Lian recalled all those times she had to pleasure men to get what she wanted. Most of them were quite stubborn but with her cunning and beauty, she was able to win all of them over. She was merely a doctor to these martials—the most skilled doctor in all the lands but that didn't grant her access to everything. She had to use various means to get what was needed, whether for herself, this village or for Kohana and her brother.

Her desire to kill Ko Johun was strong but she needed to prepare herself to aid Rasuke, the Chief and everyone else who can actually fight.

Lian arrived at the young man's assigned room. Before entering, she lowered her kimono to the point where the top of her cleavage was bare, inches away from exposing her bare nipples. She knew that persuasion is easier when it's a gorgeous woman doing it. Especially one showing the top of her bare cleavage.

"Young lord~" She knocked and called out to him in a sultry voice, one she used to swoon all the past men she won over.

There wasn't an answer for a few seconds.

'What could he be busy with? Don't tell me one of the girls snuck down here and seduced him and now they're—'

The door silently opened and a tall shadow stared down at her with its golden eyes. Lian almost jumped at the intimidating presence but gulped and spoke in the same sultry voice.:

"I apologize if I disturbed you," she bowed her head exaggeratedly, intentionally making her breasts jiggle. Before raising her head, she noticed a book in his hand which he was holding open with his thumb between the pages (perhaps he was reading?), "I have something urgent to discuss that cannot be revealed to others… It is information that none of the Martial God candidates know."

He opened the door further, the light revealing his shirtless sculpted chest and muscular physique. Lian gulped audibly while staring at his back as he walked further into the room. Strangely enough, she didn't smell the stench of man sweat that usually irritates her nostrils (as someone who lives among martials). Rather, there was a sweet, gentle fragrance in the air which was obviously not in this room before he came here.

It seems, unlike the men she finds herself in the company of most of the time, he liked to take care of his odor.

"—You were the ones who persuaded me to come rest but now you want to speak to me while I was doing just that."

"I apo—"

"Don't." he dismissed her apology, "Is there something about the tournament you want to talk about?"

Lian walked over to a chair and sat down, "No, it's something else… But before I can tell you about it: How important is martial arts to you?"

He put his hand on his face and suddenly laughed. It didn't sound like the type of laugh you'd make when someone cracks a joke, rather it sounded ominous.

Picking up on the sensitive mood, she hurriedly spoke again:

"T-The reason I'm asking is because I've noticed that your internal energy is leaking out. I'm a doctor who treats martials so this isn't a rare occurrence or something I'm unfamiliar with."

"…What about it?" he lowered his hand.

"Well… any martial relying on internal energy, to surpass their limits, considers internal energy as something valuable. They'd go through great lengths to maintain it as it's very difficult to acquire items like artifacts, magic items or crafted pills that grant internal energy. If you'd like me to…"

"I'll find another way."

Unbeknownst to Lian, Arnold could monitor his remaining internal energy through the system, which currently showed 72.7%. If it stays above 50%, then there's no cause for concern. Since his battle with Guinevere, it had dropped by 0.1%—a fight that had drained nearly 30% of his reserves. As long as he refrained from extravagant displays of Aether, like blowing up a moon or a kingdom with combustions, the depletion would remain gradual. This gave him ample time to devise a way to restore his energy without resorting to slaying a divine beast for its heart to craft another Ascension Pill.

Arnold estimated that only an opponent of demigod caliber—someone like Kalda or one of the dragon lords—could push him to expend his Aether in combat. Large-scale skills like [Sword Tribulation] and his martial art are probably okay to use but he's not sure yet.

So long as Gederick's martial spirit doesn't try to greedily suck up his internal energy, there is no reason to not want to use this power and keep it intact.

But Lian wasn't convinced and pushed on:

"How long do you reckon it will be before that time comes? I'm sure a man of your strength has a lot on your plate already. What if you encounter a fight that will push you beyond what you can handle?"

She made a point and knew just where to poke. The martial masters he had to go through to get the book were probably not on Gederick or Guinevere's level but they were definitely opponents that would push him to use his Aether. The only reason he's going along with Lian's plan to infiltrate Ko Johun's inner circle to find out the book's location, is to avoid getting into meaningless fights.

With Luxtivin by his side, he could cut through even 9-star powerhouses without using Aether.

Despite this, it was probably a good idea to hear this "doctor" out.

"…What do you have in mind?"

She was about to smile, judging by the corner of her lips, but she composed herself and continued:

"Do you know of the legend that says, whoever draws breath in the Spirit Realm shall be granted a body fit for martial arts, and a constitution unyielding as steel, capable of enduring the harshest of trials and mastering the most powerful techniques known to man?"

He waited for her to continue:

"I've come to understand that whichever hardship a martial faces can be cured when they step foot in the realm of the spirits."

'Of course you'd know this.' Arnold gave her a glance, assessing her status.

"So, it seems the Ascension Pill has a flaw, hm?" he said casually but this made her froze. Of course, it was deliberate and not just a slip of the tongue.

"…Ascension... Pill? How do you… How…" Lian's mouth opened and closed.

"How do I know how to make it? Why would I tell you, exactly?" she bit her lip at his dismissive response.

"Y-You killed a Divine Beast for your own benefit! That makes you no different than the Soul King!"

"Careful how you speak to me, especially since you're the one scheming on how to keep me here."

"…" she gritted her teeth.

Yes, it's unnecessarily cruel to hunt down a species near extinction. The Soul King was doing it for sport but those who do it for the sake of their own goals are just as cruel. It was a mistake for the gods to allow the Divine Beasts to leave their homes in the Spirit Realm and wander the nine realms.

"You were the one who came up with the Ascension Pill so you're the one responsible for all their deaths. What, did you think no one would find out who you are? Did you think you could run away from your guilt?"

He recalled one of her titles:

· [Mother of Enlightenment]

This is a title that's exclusive to the creator of the Ascension Pill and its variants. While she had no powers to bestow enlightenment, her mastery of alchemic formula and her link to the Spirit Realm, granted her the skills required to create items that can bestow enlightenment—like the Ascension Pill.

The price for this enlightenment, however, often involved cruel acts that wasn't just taking the heart of a divine beast.

Lian, the [Divine Doctor]'s pupils shook.

"I-Is this the regret Goddess Melis spoke of when I asked her for a final chance to correct the mistakes from my past life…?"

"You're acting as if I'm the Grim Reaper. What kind of deal did you make with that goddess to let her reincarnate you? A god doesn't give out favors for no reason."

"I… I cannot tell you…"

"Let me guess: you said you'll find a way to save the Divine Beast population using alchemy and science. You should already know it's a bad idea to play God when you're a mortal. The most you'll be able to do is create Chimeras that will die when exposed to oxygen."

He wasn't mocking her, just telling the truth. No one, throughout the entire game, had succeeded in creating a perfect divine lifeform that's a "one to one" of its origin (the animal that had its DNA taken). If something like this was possible then the Star Beast wouldn't need to rape every new species it comes across.

"Even if you were to succeed, you'll only end up making clones. What will happen if those clones mate with each other? Offspring with defects, is what will result from it."

Manipulating their DNA using the genes from other divine beasts would be the most optimal thing to do… however, cloning a divine beast is already nigh impossible. How much more difficult would it be to manipulate genes to make sure what's comes out of the womb sack won't be a Chimera that'll die within minutes?

"I'll raise and monitor them myself!"

A reaction he expected.

"You know that won't work with creatures that powerful and aggressive. Besides, what can you do to keep them in check with these weak hands." Arnold grabbed her hand.

"Hch!"

It's the kind of hand you'd expect from a woman—weak, soft and delicate.

He knew she wasn't a magician so she was truly powerless. She had her alchemy but had never tried using it offensively from what he knew.

She pulled her hand away when Arnold let her go.

"…What do I do then…"

He'd suggest Olivia to help her bring the divine beasts together to make them mate but there was no incentive for him to save the divine beasts. Besides, there were enough left for Olivia to build a small army of her own if it's ever needed for a war. Lian wasn't needed in terms of narrative value.

Looking at the somewhat depressed Divine Doctor, he thought of all the benefits helping her out would bring to him. He couldn't think of anything besides rare concoctions, pills, and high-tier potions, the last of which he could make on his own since he knew most recipes.

Well, he wasn't sure what kind of other things she could make—besides the Ascension Pill, of course—so maybe it's a good idea to make her an ally.

Whether her being able to help him ascend through methods she would rather bury forever as it was in the past, he'll have to see for himself.

Arnold scratched his head, "The High Elves from my homeland are researching a way to clone divine bodies—this ambition was fueled by the World Tree's weakened state. That might be their goal but I'm sure with you by their side, you should be able to do more than just cloning. You're not just an alchemist, but a scientist as well."

Lian's eyes widened, "There are… High Elves where you come from? And the World Tree… So, it's true. It's dying…"

She shook her head, "Please tell me where to find them! I'm sure I can help them as well!"

That will be impossible since Arnold knew they'd fail. The only way to save the World Tree is known only to him and he won't be giving that information out easily. But with the Divine Doctor at their side, they should be able to make a breakthrough in their research that will benefit Lian instead. Turns out it was a good thing he didn't tell Lyra (middle school version) what he knows.

A lack of passion, when faced with a new solution, can turn the possible into the impossible.

"It's a bit complicated to say where…"

This shadow world wasn't connected to the dungeon per se so he couldn't figure out how to give her directions. Saying "my world is outside this cluster of dungeon worlds" or "go to the 50th floor, find the teleporter platform, enter these coordinates" would only confuse her.

"I'll just take you there." he said after giving it some thought.

"R-Really?"

"But only when you help me get to the book I'm looking for."

"Yes, yes I'll make sure to aid you, Sir!" she held his hands and said with renewed vigor, her depressed state from earlier seeming like an illusion.

"Now then, you said something about my internal energy leaking out? Do you still want something in return for helping me stop the leakage?"

She suddenly went silent and pulled up her kimono while averting her eyes.

"That's… you see…"

"I'm going to be blunt; I see no reason to help you or these people." He approached her and put his hand on her shoulder, slowly pulling down her kimono again, "What do you think would persuade a powerful martial to aid people as weak and worthless as you? I don't think giving me a hag's body will suffice. Who knows how many men were down here."

He used two fingers to rub the area between her legs. She twitched.

"…I…" her eyes swam around the room. A single inch of fabric was keeping her breasts from being fully visible.

"—I can… grant you access to… the Spirit Realm…"

Arnold stopped when he heard that. Suddenly, a wide smirk appeared on his face.

The Divine Doctor wants to break a taboo just to save these worthless humans from two martial tyrants.

He wholly accepts her devotion.