Villain's Valor: A Noble Fantasy Resurrection

Anthony decided to wait for now and signaled to the girls to stay put and watch. Meanwhile, Edward wielded his huge double-edged axe, preparing for the confrontation. The rival boy carrying a spear advanced towards him, and the clash of weapons produced sparks that splattered around. The ground cracked beneath their feet, and suddenly a huge mana ball surged from under the spear-wielding boy.

Edward reacted quickly and put his axe in defensive mode, but the resulting impact was brutal. A deafening roar echoed in the air, and Anthony could see Edward staggering back, a mouthful of blood escaping his lips. It was clear that Edward was exhausted, and even from a distance, Anthony could distinguish some still-open wounds from which blood was oozing.

He glanced at the girls and saw they were in a similar situation. They were facing two opponents, one of whom was a fire mage, while the other was a swordsman. The fire mage was particularly focused on Daniela, who could barely defend herself, while Charlotte, despite having an advantage due to her small body, looked overwhelmed by the swordsman's skill. Their situation was dire.

Anthony continued watching attentively from his position, but his eyes were fixed on Charlotte. Just as the swordsman's sword was about to reach her, Anthony disappeared in an instant. A sudden darkness enveloped the swordsman, who felt a chill run down his spine. However, it was already too late for him. His head separated from his body, falling to the ground with a dull thud.

Charlotte's eyes widened in confusion as she watched the scene unfold. For a few seconds, she looked at Anthony in disbelief, as if she couldn't believe what she had just witnessed. After snapping out of her daze, she pointed at Anthony with a trembling finger and asked, "Are you... Anthony?"

Anthony responded with a smile, relieved to see his little friend safe. With a swift motion, he lifted her off the ground and pulled out a water bottle from one of his rings, offering it to her. "Who else would it be, little goofball?" he gently teased.

Charlotte looked at him for a moment before eagerly accepting the water. She drank all the contents of the bottle in a blink of an eye and then asked for more with a mischievous smile. "I want more!" she exclaimed while laughing playfully. Anthony simply nodded with a smile, pulling out another water bottle and handing it to her.

Adelaida dealt with the fire mage, while Eleanor came to aid the exhausted Edward. As the battle continued around them, Charlotte watched attentively before turning her gaze to Anthony. With a quick gesture, she hugged him tightly, expressing her gratitude, "Thank you for saving me," she whispered softly.

Anthony simply smiled as he returned the hug. With her height, Charlotte barely reached his chest, and when she felt his caresses on her head, her eyes widened in surprise. Quickly, Charlotte pulled away, noticing the blush on her cheeks, "I'm sorry, I dirtied you," she apologized embarrassedly, noticing the dust and sweat on his clothes.

Anthony shook his head, offering a reassuring smile to Charlotte. "Don't worry," he repeated, trying to ease her embarrassment. Charlotte nodded shyly, still feeling a little awkward.

After a few minutes, Adelaida and Daniela joined them in their position. Anthony exchanged a glance with Daniela before offering her another water bottle. Daniela accepted it with a grateful smile and quickly emptied the contents of the bottle. Once she finished, her eyes met Anthony's. He understood the silent message and pulled out another water bottle.

Daniela burst into laughter as she stared at the clear liquid in front of her.

Eleanor and Edward also joined the group, and Anthony handed water to Edward. The six of them began walking together. Charlotte stuck to Anthony, puffing her little chest with pride. "We already killed a titan!" she exclaimed excitedly, teasingly looking at Anthony. However, Adelaida quickly interjected, "We already killed one too," she said with a smile.

Charlotte's expression froze at Anthony's reaction, who simply laughed. She pouted in response, feeling a slight blow to her pride.

Throughout the rest of the journey, Charlotte kept bombarding Anthony with questions. Eleanor and Adelaida were surprised to see how Anthony responded to all her questions with a smile. In a matter of hours, they heard him speak more than he had in two days together. The two exchanged looks. After a few hours, they managed to find a good place to rest. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire

There was a small river at the site, and the girls' eyes sparkled at the sight of the running water. They all felt extremely dirty and uncomfortable after not bathing for two full days; their bodies were dirty and sticky.

The girls' eyes focused on the two boys, glaring fiercely. It was obvious what they wanted: they wanted to bathe first. Anthony and Edward nodded in agreement. The group searched for a comfortable spot for a few minutes and finally settled down. This place was a good distance from the small river, about 15 meters away. Additionally, from there, the river couldn't be seen at all.

Charlotte said amusingly, "Don't come to spy, or I'll tell Lysandra, hmph." She looked at Anthony, who laughed and replied, "I won't."

After a few seconds, the girls went to bathe, leaving Anthony and Edward alone.

After a few seconds, Edward broke the silence with a serious expression, "Thanks for the help, I owe you one," he said. Anthony glanced at him briefly and nodded. He had no problem helping them; after all, they were classmates. Plus, Daniela was Elsa's sister, Charlotte was a good girl, and Edward hadn't done anything to displease Anthony. Overall, they were on good terms.

They waited in silence for a few minutes that seemed like hours until finally, the girls returned. Their skins were clear and clean, a stark contrast to how they were just a few hours ago, all battered and in a bad mood. Now they couldn't stop smiling. Anthony and Edward exchanged glances. Edward got up and went straight to the river, while the girls sat around.

Anthony could perceive a floral scent wafting into his nostrils.