EX-Rank Villain: Rise Beyond Fate - Chapter 26: Gifts of Fire and Whispers of the North

Broken-hearted and drunk, Yoshida, a 26-years old salaryman, stumbled upon a runaway-from-home high-schooler on his way back from the bar.

“Hey, you. JK.”*

“What the heck are you doing out here. Go home already.”

“Uncle, let me stay at your place for the night.”

“You can do ‘that’ to me if you let me stay.”

“If you meant that as a joke, it’s not funny.”

“I’m not joking. It’s fine by me.”

“Then allow me to tell you that I have no interest in brats.”

“Hmm?”

“Then, just let me stay.”

Notes:

[*] JK is slang for Joushikousei (high school girl)

At eighteen, her mother died in a car accident, leaving her all alone in the world. One day, her kindness in rescuing someone led to a life-changing transformation.She was provided with food and accommodation, and someone even arranged for “360-degree personal protection” for her!Just when she thought she had picked up a pie from the sky, she was tied up and sent to a training camp, embarking on a tough yet passionate new journey.Bully her? With Taekwondo, she'll beat you until you can't tell north from south!Compete with her in sniping? Rookies, step aside, she's challenging the strongest sniper!Doubt her hacking skills? Come on, sister will show you what playing with computers is all about!She stood out in the camp with high profile, top in every category, who would dare compete against her?Back home, the little overlord turned into a docile rabbit, utterly bewitching someone!Unable to endure it any longer, he dragged the little overlord to the civil affairs office and registered their marriage.At night, he returned home, and righteously set about 'educating' her!

“Any who don the title of 'king' or anything of the sort in my presence is nothing more than an ignorant fool. This is my land and I shall be reclaiming it soon. I am Cacophony, the Vampire Empress!”As those words left her lips, every cell in my body reacted. It was unreal—no, it was otherworldly. Her beauty, her power, and her overwhelming arrogance. It might've been then that I realized that my normal life had ended.How did it come to this?Ah, it was curiosity. Yes, a deathly curiosity brought me to that graveyard that day.It was there that I stumbled upon her coffin. I had absolutely no clue what I was doing then, and even now I have no idea what possessed me to touch it—that single moment changed the course of history for the entire world. I found myself delving into a completely unknown world.Should I regret it? Maybe. But the truth is, I don't.Exploring the world’s hidden secrets, forging unexpected bonds, and living alongside the revived empress—it’s exciting.“Even if it's wrong, I think I'm going to enjoy every moment of it.”

In the vampire-ruled kingdom of Mildelar, the Blood Games stand as the ultimate form of entertainment—savage battles between familiars, humans bound to their vampire masters through blood pacts. Far more than mere spectacles, these brutal fights determine the prestige of noble families, shaping their power and influence across the realm. Lyon, a young human saved from death by a blood pact with the alluring Arya Valakys—one of the king’s daughters—is unwillingly thrust into this cruel world. Bound to his mistress, he is forced into relentless battles to elevate her standing.Lyon, however, stands apart from other familiars. While they derive their strength from the fear of punishment, he draws his... from having dirty thoughts about his mistress!