Struggling as a Villain

What did Emily feel in those few minutes when she was surrounded by his warmth?

Bliss, excitement, thrill, slight fear, and a whole lot elated.

Why was she elated? In a corner of her mind she still knows that she once detested this man…then why? What changed?

Maybe because she got to know the real him in these few months? Or maybe because of the way he showed consideration for her? Or maybe it was his strength that impressed? Or…maybe his hot body that made her mesmerized?

Emily believed that it was a little portion of everything.

Emily knew that it was the effect of the Aembr that was making her feel like this toward Richard, however, she didn't dislike how she felt towards him.

The intense desire to serve him has never been so strong. And when he pressed her against the wall and claimed her lips, she knew, until her last breath, if she could belong to someone then it was Richard.

Richard….such a beautiful name.

Her feelings for him have already reached the height that transcended any emotion a person could contain toward someone. Above hatred or love, she felt more of a raw sensation towards him.

She couldn't explain how she felt. But she has decided that since her beloved doesn't like the way she ignores him, for whatever reason, she would do her best to express her emotions and intentions toward him.

A new path for Emily has opened up when he kissed her. And Emily was dead sure about walking on it until the end.

….

The group of several men, along with Richard's group gathered around the port.

It was already the time of dawn, and people could be seen roaming the street to open their shops and fetch ration for their eateries.

Richard was holding a bag over his back, in which Emily and Bella's clothes were also placed.

Lilia had her own bag since she needed to carry some battle gear and weapons to assist her master.

Cristina was told by Lilia to stay back home since she knew, her mother wouldn't be able to watch her daughter go.

Richard didn't ask anything about Cristina since he couldn't pretend that he never heard their conversation. When the time comes, he will talk to Lilia about it.

For now, "Where should we go?" Carl asked since there was no portal around that could throw them to the blue planet called Earth.

Richard answered their curiosity, "We will board a ship and head towards Bariswaine. It is an area surrounded by Ambrobates. The quality of Aembr is quite rich there, and if my calculations are right, most portals open up there."

Lilia frowned, as she took out her map, "But, master, there is no direct sea route to Bariswaine."

Richard nodded, "I know," pointing at the map, he said, "This port, Clawnhawk, from where we could head towards Bariswaine…if we follow the path we might come across a portal en route."

Bella smiled proudly as she said, "You are a genius, brother."

Richard patted her head softly before he told the others, "I have already bought that ship, but just in case, go and check if there is any spy or unnecessary presence in there."

Carl nodded before he told his men to go and check the ship.

"I will also go, master," Lilia said; as his maid, it was one of her habits to assess such places which could prove dangerous to her master.

Richard nodded before telling her, "Take care."

Lilia nodded, and with a smile, she went towards the big ship with a black sail.

Richard turned towards Emily and asked, "How long can you maintain an invisibility barrier around the ship?"

Emily thought for a moment. After gaining Aembr, she has yet to face a magical shortage.

However, there was a limit to how much she could absorb, and considering the ship would continue to move, she had to maintain her control as well,

"About four hours before I would need an hour of rest, at least."

Richard nodded, and before he could have said anything, Carl asked, "Why the barrier, brother?"

Richard explained, "Although Ruby assured us that she won't tell anyone about this, I doubt Eleanor would stop until she finds out the whole truth."

Carl was surprised. Hearing his words, he couldn't stop himself from asking, "Brother…is this person, Eleanor, is she dangerous?"

Richard scoffed, "Not just dangerous, she is probably that boss-level villain who becomes tedious to defeat even being weaker than you."

Emily added, "To make everything right, she can go to any length. And as of now, harming Richard is her only goal."

Carl's lips parted, as he slowly muttered, "Just like a certain mechanical suit engineer."

Soon the brunette maid and Carl's subordinates returned and reported, "No one was found inside. There were a few broken weapons which we threw into the water."

Richard turned towards Lilia, "There are a few magical signatures, my lord. I think you should take care of it."

The others who when to assess the situation were surprised, "There was any magical presence?" One of them asked.

Richard explained, "Don't be surprised; Lilia is the only one among all of us who can detect such minor details. She has very sharp detection skills."

They glanced at each other and then back to Lilia.

Truth be told, they weren't taking her seriously since she didn't give off any magical presence. Your journey continues at m v|l-e'-NovelBin.net

… However, they didn't know that Lilia had such a strong grip over her ether that they were misinterpreting her as weak.

Richard then followed Lilia, and behind him were Bella, Emily, and Carl—the male being interested in how Richard would be getting rid of the spell marks.

They entered the storage area of the ship and an awful scent of fish assaulted them, making Emily cringe.

Richard conjured a flame ball around them to illuminate the place as he advanced towards the place she pointed.

Richard couldn't discern the pattern; however, from his knowledge, the spell mark was once used to keep the things stored inside cool.

Richard raised his finger, before shooting a bundle of ether at the mark—

**CREAK**

The wooden wall cracked and the spell mark instantly disintegrated into fragments.

Carl's eyes widened as he said, "Crazy….Bro, you are a broken character."

Richard smiled as he ruffled the younger one's hair and said, "Now let's go. We have a long way to go."

…..

Not so long after, everyone boarded the ship and thanks to the fact that one of Carl's subordinates can manipulate wind, it was easy to push away the ship from the port.

There were not more than six members of Carl's gang that left. There were over a hundred, but the numbers were brought down to single digits because of Richard's agitation.

Richard was expecting animosity from the other members, especially the bear-masked one since he seemed the second leader of this gang.

However, they seemed completely unaffected. And when Richard asked Carl why, he said, they were nearly strangers to each other. And most of them were recruited after they came here.

That…helped Richard to be rest assured.

Emily had created a barrier around the ship, and it seemed to be working quite well. One of the members dove into the water and swam away to check whether the barrier was working….

….and after a few minutes, Carl had to bring that man back since he got lost completely in the sea; being not able to locate the ship.

Bella was currently with Carl, talking things about Rena.

Richard…didn't want to hear their conversation since the more he heard about his childhood friend, the more his heart felt heavy.

His only intention to return to Earth was to save her, and for that, he was prepared to hide things from his mother.

It was risky, yes. However, Richard had confidence. Until he has the black heart, he knows he couldn't possibly get defeated unless, on the other side, there is an immortal.

'Although now I think about it…there is definitely a Demon General who has taken Earth under control.'

There was no doubt about it; after all, the whole place is filled with Aembr users.

Richard had already faced one back on Clion, when he was trying to save his family.

'Haah…I hope this one doesn't turn out as twisted as that guy….'

Richard was about to get up and get himself some water when suddenly a bottle was extended toward him,

"Want some?" The bear-masked man asked.

Richard took the container, "Thanks."

The man sat down beside Richard and allowed him to first drink some water.

Once he finished, the other one finally asked, "Can I ask something?"

Richard raised his brows, "What is it?"

Turning his eyes toward the redhead, he asked, "How does it feel to live as a fictional character?"

"..."

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A/N:- Damn…you cannot forget that the novel was not written only for Richard.

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