A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines-Chapter 682 Good Deeds - II

This gate hadn't existed in the original timeline. Undoubtedly, it was a disturbance caused by the elusive Evora. Whether she had intensified the fire element in that part of the Enigma, or the location itself was the Sky Conquering Ruins causing elemental chaos, it merited investigation.

If fortune favored them and he captured the injured, hiding Evora, she would be eliminated immediately. Failing that, finding clues as before would suffice. At worst… plundering the Sky Conquering Ruins would be acceptable.

Ansel observed the teetering corpse, seemingly on the verge of collapse. "You've come with her message, seeking cooperation?"

"No. Valrhona warned me... not to cooperate with you... lest I die... horribly."

The corpse's response was sincere: "I merely hope... given your acquaintance... with Valrhona... that any conflicts... remain restrained."

"At the very least... I will surrender."

With these words, the corpse disintegrated into a pile of rotting flesh.

The commotion atop the wall drew attention, and more people recognized the stern-faced youth as the one who had recently caused a stir in Dispute Fortress - "the most Faust-like Faust."

Though his deeds paled in comparison to Seraphina's feat of single-handedly defeating a fifth-stage dragon while at the fourth stage, cleaving Dispute Fortress in two was still noteworthy. Bolstered by the name Faust, Ansel's exploits had spread widely.

"That corpse... was controlled by Valrhona's necromancer, right?"

"Does Faust know Valrhona's people?"

"Seems so. I heard Valrhona's folks say Faust has some connection with Valrhona herself."

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"Oh? So he's the real deal?"

Ansel ignored the adventurers' murmurs. He had intended to teleport directly to his tent outside the city, as the deathly environment within was far worse than the exterior. However, upon seeing the corpses and rubble strewn about, the young Hydral suddenly halted.

There should still be living people in this city.

— Not the current adventurers, but survivors of the war.

In Red Valley City, a border town of the Duke of Bloodust's domain, residents were well-versed in self-preservation. Most households had cellars or safe rooms. Those who sought shelter immediately might have escaped the calamity.

Though 99% likely perished from the shockwaves of extraordinary beings' battles, this didn't deter Ansel from performing a simple task within his capabilities.

Nothing, nothing, nothing... Ah, one below.

His mind swiftly scanned Red Valley City, detecting a faint life sign beneath nearby ruins.

An invisible force cleared meters of rubble. Under the adventurers' astonished gazes, Ansel calmly approached the ruins, raising his hand to levitate a barely alive, disheveled figure from the pit.

Ansel cast healing and cleansing spells on the survivor, letting the boy float behind him as he continued his search.

This act naturally sparked discussion among the adventurers, all prepared for action, yet bewildered by the sudden appearance of a battlefield medic - one likely capable of dispatching most present.

"What's Faust doing? Saving people?"

"What else? Collecting fresh spell components?"

"That's possible."

"Nonsense. The healing spells he's casting are worth more than these wretches."

"Wasn't he known for being helpful at Dispute Fortress?"

"I heard he was terrifying three years ago, barely human."

"He's probably just bored and looking for something to do."

This insight inspired many adventurers, particularly those intending to coast along.

"Makes sense... I'll look for survivors too. Might find a beauty to rescue."

"Fool, buried this long, any beauty's a skeleton now. Better use flesh-shaping than healing."

"You don't get it. The fun is in nurturing them..."

Idle adventurers dispersed throughout Red Valley City, treating survivor-hunting as a new amusement. However, the young Hydral had already located all survivors, requiring mere minutes to unearth them. Experience more content on novelbuddy

In a relatively clean area, Ansel sat on a large stone, silently observing six people below - anxious, vacant-eyed, or trembling.

Only these six remained in the city: two men, four women, including four children, a teenager, and a middle-aged adult.

Surviving this war made them extraordinarily lucky, yet truly fortunate individuals would never have encountered such conflict. A lamentable situation indeed.

Ansel's reason for saving them was simple — he needed to assess his own state of mind.

The young Hydral had long recognized that his two cherished girls exerted a profound positive influence on him. Ansel did not shy away from meeting their expectations, yet he would not allow these aspirations to render him indecisive or timorous.

When faced with perplexity, he sought resolution. Ansel refused to postpone confronting matters of the heart until they became unavoidable—unless he himself remained oblivious to their existence.

On this occasion, Ansel had become acutely aware of Seraphina and Ravenna's hopes for him, as well as the instinctive choices he had made in response.

However... Ansel did not perceive this as a significant dilemma.

After all, when fulfilling commissions from the common folk at Dispute Fortress, he had genuinely experienced a sense of ease and joy. This suggested that, at his core, he leaned towards the aspirations of his two girls... For they were not the type to capriciously impose their visions upon others; had they not sensed this inclination in Ansel, they would not have broached the subject so frequently.

[I know Ansel wishes to help them]

Indeed, as long as it did not interfere with his contest against fate, Ansel had never been miserly with his benevolence, nor did he object to improving the lives of the vast majority.

Now, he had progressed from tacit acceptance to active pursuit.

Kindness...

In Ansel's mind, the gentle words and countenance of Aenelisa lingered persistently. At the mere mention of that word, he could think only of his mother.

Try to be less malevolent and utilitarian, Ansel. As Seri had said... Now that you have more latitude, it is time to make better choices.

If for nothing else, do it for Seri and Venna, for mother.

*

I had a long lost vacation last week without notifying you guys...

I'm sorry, was too tired and I could barely turn on my PC to write. The moment I saw my draft I fell in the abyss of headache LOL

Now it's better, let's move on.