Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

It was unbelievable.

Although Austin saw himself inside the coffin, he couldn't believe it. After all, it was a dead body. But how can there be two people with the same identity but one dead?

And what about his past? Austin didn't remember a past in which he was involved with the Demon Lord.

It just didn't make sense at all.

Valerie was still quite shaken up, that's why she was breathing deeply to get a grip on her emotions.

Selner, on the other hand, heaved a sigh seeing the two teenagers panicking.

She was expecting something like this to happen, that's why she asked him to take his time to train. She would have met him frequently and told him a thing and two before bringing him here.

After all, knowing nothing about his forgotten past, and seeing his dead body would surely be a little too much.

However, the sudden appearance of the Demon Lord changed everything.

All her plans were ruined, and now, she has to put things into motion, way earlier than she assumed.

"Austin, Valerie, how about we sit down and talk?" Selner suggested, and without asking for their permission, she snapped her fingers, and the lid of the coffin retook its previous position.

They both looked at the lady, before Valerie asked, "Tell me, Selner, was it really Austin?" She dropped formalities since, right now, her mind was converged on what she saw inside the coffin.

Selner had her eyes closed, her finger pressed against her forehead as she said, "I will tell you everything but let's just change the location. My presence here would attract attention, and I don't want anyone else to know about this place."

Austin took a deep breath. He knew that panicking here would only trouble Selner. And since she wasn't resisting answering them, he decided to behave calmly.

"Okay, let's go." He held Valerie's hand and gave her a brief squeeze. He could feel how restless the girl was at the moment—after all, seeing the person she loved dead before her would surely unsettle her heart.

Valerie wordlessly agreed to him and turned her eyes toward Selner.

Selner asked them to extend their Shards again before the trio disappeared from the field.

°°°°°°°°

"Guh ..." Austin winced as he felt the familiar sensation inside his stomach. However, this time it was bearable and didn't usher him to buy a potion.

He checked on Valerie and found she didn't react at all.

The mental shock she felt just now, suppressed her physical pain.

They were back in the Selner's office, in the Headquarters of the Union Council.

Selner offered them some water and hot tea to soothe their stomach.

Austin accepted the water as he and Valerie sat down side by side.

The office was silent as the previous time.

No one came to disturb them, since Selner's magic was not detectable to them.

She can come and go anytime she wants without getting noticed.

The room was engulfed in silence only for a few moments before the older violet-haired finally began,

"I am a Witch, one of eight who exist beyond the grasp of time. Unlike ordinary humans, we wield sorcery that defies all limits—magic unattainable by any mortal."

Although they didn't know why she was talking about herself, the duo were mature enough to not show impatience and silently waited.

"I was also alive at that time when the Demon Lord used to rule over the world. However, since our race never interfered with worldly affairs, neither we were ever bothered nor we ever tried to fight against the Demon race."

Heaving a sigh, she said, "However, one of my sisters and I grew weary of how the Demons treated humans. We witnessed everything—the cruelty, the suffering, the inhuman torment they endured. For them, death was often the only mercy. I have seen it all."

Resting her hands on the table, she revealed, "However, we couldn't intervene in their war alone. Though a few warriors broke free from their restraints and dared to stand against the evildoers, they, too, fell in the end. Take Hero Kane, for example—he fought, he resisted, yet even he couldn't change their fate."

That statement made both teenagers shocked, "Wait! Hero Kane was defeated?" Austin asked in a high-pitched voice. However, it was natural since every book and every praise he heard about the Hero only told how gallantly he defeated the Dark Lord.

And now, this lady relayed that Hero Kane lost a thousand years ago.

Selner responded in a solemn voice, "You can discard my words as nonsense, it's up to you. But I have no reason to defame a person who has nothing to do with me."

Austin's excitement receded as he settled back in his seat. Maybe the stress he has been accumulating has sent his emotions into haywire.

Valerie calmly asked, "Then who defeated the Demon Lord a thousand years ago?"

Selner looked down, as she continued, "Although Kane failed, his efforts weakened the Demon Lord enough for several human societies to break free. As for me, I played a crucial role in disrupting the time flow between the two realms, giving humanity the precious time it needed to regain its footing and thrive."

Selner sighed, "I hoped that another warrior like Kane would arrive so they could weaken the Dark Lord further. Defeating Astaroth never crossed my mind...until he appeared."

Selner's eyes brightened slightly, her lips extending in a soft smile as she said, "An aloof warrior who held strength beyond mortal's grasp. His Shard was the true tool of destruction—a weapon that can slash anything. A true genius by birth and a warrior at heart. Before him, I had never seen a man shining so brightly. He was the radiance of hope for the humans—their symbol of peace."

Valerie and Austin held their breath...since they somehow guessed the identity of the person, even though it didn't make sense.

And as they thought, Selner turned her eyes toward the blond Prince before revealing,

"It was you, Austin Eryndor—the one who grew weary of a mundane life and sought me out, demanding a reversal of time just so you could face the Demon Lord at his peak."

"...."

When was Austin such an overpowered character?

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- This chapter was short but this seemed the perfect ending. Drop a comment.