The Villain Rising: Ascension of Arcane Trickster.-Chapter 210: Please Marry Me, Bearlina. (Bearlo’s heartfelt confession and Semo’s doom.)

Chapter 210: Please Marry Me, Bearlina. (Bearlo’s heartfelt confession and Semo’s doom.)

A few days ago...

Inside a divine treasury, a completely clueless Bearlo was suddenly teleported away from his hotel room. At that time, he had been training alone while his liege and the others attended some grand banquet.

They hadn’t taken him along, saying he would stand out too much but Bearlo didn’t mind as he welcomed the silence and chose to dedicate that time to refine his skills but just as he was on the verge of perfecting a technique he had recently copied from Noah, the space twisted and he was teleported away directly into the descending Divine Treasury.

He found himself thrown into a chamber of endless slaughter where each time he defeated a monster, another one emerged with greater adaptation to his attacks. Their power never surpassed the limits of D-Rank but they were frighteningly adaptable against him.

But, strangely enough, rather than a punishment to him, the chamber seemed more like a brutal training ground as after every few battles, it granted him a short pause just long enough to take a breath and recover his mana for the next wave.

It was merciless... as he had even come very close to death but it also helped him grow stronger.

He fought again and again, endlessly refining the single vertical sword slash he had copied from Noah, slowly merging it together with the other techniques he had mastered.

His style stopped being imitation and began turning into something his own. Countless bodies fell under his blade, until at last... he saw a light.

A glowing greatsword floated silently before him as if inviting him toward itself.

At first, it looked strange and almost unreal but the longer Bearlo stared at it, the stronger the pull became as if it was calling out to something deep within him. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

His instincts screamed but his heart answered and eventually... he gave in and touched it.

The moment his fingers touched the hilt, darkness wrapped around him as a black martial artist’s robe spread across his body as if embracing him while the greatsword had vanished.

[You Have Bonded with the Sword of T’rksh]

[Description: A blade forged by the God of Forgery in his mortal days, created for a fanatic who never knew retreat while serving his master. The sword binds only to one who carries the same burning resolve as its former master.]

[Effects:]

1) Protective Embrace: The sword conceals itself within the armor it creates. It can be summoned instantly to strike down enemies and the armor may take any form the user desires. It cleanses itself using mana.

2) Fanatic’s Rush: In battle, the user may temporarily draw upon power beyond their natural limits, fueled by their innate mana and blood.

—

A sudden sense of clarity washed over Bearlo as with one thought the sword appeared in his hands out of nowhere.

The weight and the balance of the sword was too perfect in his hands as if it was made for him all along.

Just then, a bright door appeared within the endless space as Bearlo didn’t hesitate even for a second. If there was even the slightest chance it was an exit... if there was a chance he could find his Liege... he would take it.

But just as he stepped through, he was teleported into a completely different area. A vast sea of flowers stretched endlessly in every direction as petals swayed softly, carried by a gentle breeze that felt almost unreal after the brutality he had endured.

"...What is this place?"

His voice felt small.

"Is this another trial...?"

Before he could even get used to the space, his senses caught a sharp noise and as soon as he saw it, his breathing stopped and his heart started thumping louder than before.

There stood the most beautiful bear he had seen in his entire life. Her white fur pushed the darkness around her while her green eyes blinked as she struggled to keep herself composed.

She wore a strange designed dress which looked to be made of ethereal fabric while another Bear who looked like her but far older stood beside her, wearing similar clothes but he had a long beard around his chin.

Their group was being attacked by some ugly looking elves. The Bear fought desperately, back-to-back with the older bear, whom Bearlo could only hope was her father.

He didn’t even understand why he hoped that and then, his body moved before his mind as he used Voidpulse steps.

The ground beneath his feet shattered as he vanished, appearing beside one of the elves right as it was about to attack the bear group.

His new partner, the greatsword responded to his call, immediately appearing in his hands as he slashed down at the elf mercilessly.

The elf died before it even understood what had happened but that single strike attracted the gaze of everyone on the battlefield.

And then... his eyes met hers.

The white-furred bear looked at him and in that moment, something stirred inside Bearlo... something he thought wouldn’t ever feel again.

Is this love at first sight?

He didn’t know but his heart acted like it already had the answer.

His body moved like a dance guided by instinct and devotion as Voidpulse Steps carried him in flowing arcs around her, his blade flashing as he cut down one elf after another. He never once looked away from her eyes even for a moment.

It was as if the battlefield had become a stage, and she was the only audience that mattered.

The petals of flowers all around blew by the wind, creating a beautiful scene as their gazes remained locked.

Meanwhile, the older bear stared at Bearlo in pure shock, unable to comprehend the monster of elegance and slaughter that had appeared out of nowhere.

Only once all the vile elves were slaughtered did Bearlo stop. By now, Bearlo’s body was drenched in his own as well the blood of his enemies but he still looked at the Bear.

"... I am Bearlo." He spoke calmly.

Living with humans for so long, Bearlo had nearly forgotten that not all bears could speak his language but before he could speak in Bear tongue, the white bear replied.

"I am Bearlina..."

The voice flowed out like a melody.

"Thanks for saving me and my father."

The moment he heard her calling the older bear father, a strange happiness bloomed inside him but still he was no simp as his liege had clearly taught him to not trust anyone blindly.

So, he asked...

"I’m glad you are safe." He said softly, then his gaze sharpened just a little. "But who are you? And how can you speak the human language?"

The white bear smiled, sending another jolt of electricity through Bearlo. "We are one of the races under Allied Sovereign Species."

The older bear stepped forward, stroking his long beard.

"But we mean no harm. Our race is peaceful, unlike many others. We came to this world in disguise to conduct peaceful research but we were separated when this strange space pulled us in... and then those elves attacked."

He let out a heavy sigh.

"Which race do you belong to, young warrior? And if you would guide us out of here, we would be forever grateful."

Bearlo narrowed his eyes but he didn’t reject. They were weak anyway and he could crush them anytime if they acted out.

"...I’ll guide you." He said after a pause. "But don’t mistake kindness for carelessness."

—

Days passed, as Bearlo finally learned that her name was Bearlina.

From Semo, her father, he learned that their race merely resembled bears of this planet and that similarity was the very reason they had come here in the first place from their home planet which was far far away, only to confirm whether the bears of this world shared the same anatomy as them.

That was all he knew but about Bearlina herself... he knew almost nothing as she rarely spoke and even on the few occasions she tried to, Semo would step in gently as if he was afraid of letting Bearlo get any closer to her.

Still, even as Semo tried keeping him away from her, Bearlo saw everything, how she smiled at him when they wandered the endless flower garder... how she gave him food when he was tired. The shy curve of her smile when she thought he wasn’t looking.

If this wasn’t love, he couldn’t understand what was.

So, he decided to take his chance.

Unlike the mistake he had made in the past... to his first love where he confessed his feelings too late, he decided to do it soon this time.

So, the moment he understood they really meant no harm, he decided to propose to her. He even made a ring of petals with clumsy hands and a racing heart to give her as a sign of his affection. And finally when Semo went for his daily stroll, he took the chance.

His heart was pounding so hard he thought Bearlina could hear it. Still, he stepped forward and slowly kneeled before her, holding the fragile ring of petals in his trembling hands.

"Please marry me... Bearlina." [A/N: Check Paragraph Comment]

For a brief second, the world felt silent.

He felt a slight sting of regret that his liege wasn’t here to witness this moment... but deep down, he knew his liege would never oppose love.

After all, he himself had become engaged to the Demon Princess within just days of meeting her.

Love was never something to be restrained.

Bearlina looked at him in a sorrowful expression.

"I can’t marry you, Bearlo." Her voice was soft and gentle but apologetic.

"Why?" He pushed, desperation slipping into his tone. "Is this because of your father? I will convince him no matter how long it takes, I will. I am ready to convince your whole family if I have to—"

Before he could complete his sentence, Bearlina interrupted him.

"I am a dude."

Bearlo froze for a moment, genuinely thinking his ears had malfunctioned.

"... I am sorry, what?"

"I am a dude, man. My father forced me to keep it a secret after he saw how attracted you were to me..."

Bearlina looked away, then back at him, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.

"I felt bad... that’s why I tried to be kind but I didn’t expect you to fall for me."

The wind blew once...

Them twice...

Bearlo didn’t move. [A/N: Check Paragraph Comment]

His soul, however, had already left his body as slowly, he stood up and tossed the petal ring away like it was cursed.

His head raised towards the sky as a single drop of tear rolled down his face.

Out of all the healthy female bears in this world... Out of all the countless worlds across the universe... The second one he chose to fall for... Was a trap from the Bear Alien Species.

Only now did he understand. Semo was never trying to come between their "love." He was trying to hide the truth... that Bearlina was never a woman to begin with.

And suddenly, everything made sense.

The food she, no, he gave was just act or kindness while the smiles he gave weren’t born from love... They were born from pity.

"Why is it raining so hard today?" He asked but there was no answer.

His liege wasn’t there to tease him, to pat his head or to tell him some nonsense that would somehow make him feel better.

Bearlina looked at him with... slow understanding and then he slowly turned away, walking off, leaving Bearlo alone

Right on cue, Semo walked in, calmly stroking his long beard like nothing in the world was wrong.

"I found a way out, young warrior but it is guarded by seven elves." His gaze swept across the field, then paused. "...Have you seen my daughter anywhere?"

That single sentence snapped something inside Bearlo. He slowly turned his head, his eyes no longer carrying heartbreak... it carried a cold fury now.

This was the scum who had watched him fall and watched him hope while saying nothing and even going as far to lie.

Bearlo wasn’t going to kill him because that would hardly be a punishment.

"So..." He muttered quietly. "You finally found a way out, huh?"

Bearlo took a step forward as the black robe subtly shifted along his body, reacting to his intent.

"My liege always said..."

"...you don’t kill liars."

His eyes lifted.

"You teach them what pain means first."

With those words, poor Semo opened his eyes to a new world, learning the consequences of lying to a subordinate of the Arcane Trickster.