I Am The Villainess Who Will Tame Every Yandere Heroine!-Chapter 32: An Invitation To The Academy

[After the recent event, you've received a glorious 200% increase in worship points from your followers.]

[As a result, you have earned 5,000 Ruination Points, awaiting your glorious command to be poured into your stats!]

[Congratulations, Sun Who Burns The World!]

'Today was definitely worth it...'

The next day, the aftermath of the earlier chaos became their new task.

The destruction was almost artistic.

Buildings lay in rubble, their once-gleaming walls now shattered like forgotten memories. Stalls were toppled, their goods scattered across the streets in an unorganized, colorful mess.

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

The streets themselves looked like a battlefield, with bits of debris strewn everywhere, broken crates, smashed pottery, and half-destroyed market signs that flapped weakly in the breeze.

It was as if the chaos itself had painted a picture, and now it was time to clean up the masterpiece.

Serafine strolled through the scene, inspecting the damage with an almost gleeful expression, as if the chaos were her personal playground. She nudged a fallen crate with her boot, watching it roll lazily down the street. "Well, at least it wasn't boring," she mused, her hands on her hips as she surveyed the mess.

Clara, already knee-deep in debris, was grumbling as she picked up pieces of broken wood and plaster, her brow furrowed. "This is so not what I signed up for," she muttered under her breath, but didn't stop working. She was clearly too stubborn to complain too loudly.

The devoted white haired follower was doing his best to help, though his clumsiness had him more often tripping over rubble than actually moving it. He'd try to lift a broken beam only for it to slip from his grip and land with a thud on his foot, causing him to yelp in surprise. "Ouch! Uh, sorry!" Calix apologized to no one in particular as he awkwardly shuffled to the side.

As always, the widow was thriving. She moved with a grace that made her seem completely unaffected by the wreckage around her. Every sweep of her hand seemed to push the debris back with an almost supernatural efficiency, and she hummed a happy little tune as she went. "It's all about the hustle, people!" she called out with a wink, making it clear that nothing—not even a disaster—could ruin her mood.

'Why get your hands dirty when you had so many willing followers to do the job?'

Serafine's eyes flicked around the scene as she moved away from the wreckage, the aftermath of her little display still hanging in the air. Her mind was filled of thoughts.

Her worship points were looking great, the chaos had been fun, and her followers had shown an impressive level of devotion.

She was feeling pretty good about everything until she felt the prickling sensation at the back of her neck.

Someone was following her.

She didn't need to look back to confirm it. She could hear the faint shuffle of footsteps, the careful rhythm of someone trying to stay hidden, their movements not as quiet as they believed.

She had dealt with cloaked figures enough to recognize the telltale signs. Another stalker, probably someone trying to get a glimpse of the infamous Serafine or perhaps someone from her ever-growing list of "admirers."

'How many times am I going to deal with this?'

People just couldn't leave her alone. It had been happening more and more frequently, these shadowy figures following her, trying to figure out her next move or gather information. She had gotten used to it, but it still managed to get under her skin.

The streets were quieter now, the bustling of the crowd from the aftermath of the destruction fading behind her. She turned the corner, walking swiftly, as if headed for a destination, before slipping down a dark alleyway.

The shadows in the alley deepened, and she came to a stop at the back wall, her posture casual, but her senses alert.

It didn't take long for her stalker to follow. She could hear them now, their footsteps quickening as they approached.

The alley was narrow and littered with discarded crates and old barrels, the air thick with the scent of damp stone and rotting wood. The perfect place for her to take care of business.

Without a sound, Serafine pivoted, her body moving like fluid as she took position in the shadows. Her eyes glinted with a mischievous spark, and a sly grin tugged at her lips. It was time to have a little fun with this.

The footsteps grew louder, closer.

Just as the cloaked figure turned the corner, she struck. With a flick of her wrist, a sharp beam of light shot out, momentarily blinding her pursuer. The cloaked figure yelped in surprise, stumbling back, hands instinctively reaching to shield their eyes.

"Did you think you could sneak up on me?" Serafine's voice rang out, full of playful menace.

The figure dropped their hands, revealing a face, but their eyes were covered by a deep hood, hiding their features. "I wasn't sneaking. I'm here with a purpose," the voice was steady, almost too calm, but something in the way it vibrated made Serafine's stomach turn.

There was an oddness about it, a cool detachment that didn't quite fit.

The figure straightened up, as if they were fully aware of the danger they were in, and removed their hood.

Serafine squinted at them.

It was a man, older than she expected.

His face was angular and sharp, with a faint scar running across his cheek. His eyes, however, were the most peculiar thing. They were piercing, glowing faintly with an eerie, unnatural light.

"So, you're one of those people who likes to follow others around in the shadows?" Serafine said, her tone light but edged with a trace of venom. "I'm done with that. Time to end this little game."

The man smirked, unfazed by her tone. "Not here to fight, Serafine. You misinterpret my intentions."

She tilted her head, her curiosity piqued, but she didn't let her guard down. "Then what are you here for?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I have a proposition for you," he replied. His voice was smooth, but something about it made her skin crawl. "I've heard of your... abilities, your strength. And I think you'd be an excellent addition to the Academy of Dawn's Edge."

"The Academy of Dawn's Edge? You've heard of me? How… cute," she said, her sarcasm dripping like honey. But the more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed. He didn't look like someone who would have any business knowing her name, and even if he did, why approach her in such an odd way?

There was something off about this entire interaction.

"You've been causing quite a stir," the man continued, unfazed by her skepticism. "The Academy could use someone with your... talents. It's the only military institution capable of combating the Stains, and you've already proven yourself a force to be reckoned with. Why not put your skills to better use?"

The mention of the Stains piqued her interest, but she wasn't going to be fooled so easily. "And why me?" she asked, stepping closer. "You've been stalking me, yet you expect me to just trust you?" She eyed him suspiciously, the sense of unease growing stronger by the second.

"I'm not asking you to trust me. I'm offering you an opportunity." He reached into his cloak and pulled out a letter, handing it to her. "You'll understand more once you see this. It's an invitation, Serafine. You're needed there."

"And what's the catch?"

"No catch. Just an offer." His smile was almost too perfect. "The Academy has a reputation for being rigorous and deadly, but that's because we only accept the best. If you're as strong as you claim, you'll thrive there."

Serafine paused, still unsure, but curiosity gnawed at her. She glanced at the letter, then back at the man. "I'm not interested in whatever game you're playing," she said, voice cold.

"Read the letter, Serafine. And then decide."

The man vanished into the shadows, leaving her standing alone in the alley with the cryptic letter. Something felt off. Very off. But she had learned long ago not to dismiss things too quickly.

'Let's see what this is all about,' she thought, as she finally opened the letter, her fingers trembling ever so slightly.