Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 133  A New Goal

So, all I have to do now is accept her call.

\'…She is scary.\'

How does she even know I will contact her? n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

I mean, I have never done that before.

"Azariah."

I looked back over my shoulder as someone called me from behind.

"Dr. Greyson?" I whispered, turning back to look at her.

She still looked the same, slightly wrinkled face and greying hair from old age.

She walked towards me and asked, "You should rest for now—"

"I am fine," I interjected, continuing to walk.

She shook her head, replying, "You are not. I have seen your reports. You are pushing your body to its limits without giving it time to heal."

Taking out an x-ray from her bracelet, she blocked my path and placed it against the light as she continued, "…This is your left hand. You see these small cracks all over the place? They are fractures."

I looked around, making sure no one was present before removing the x-ray from my face as I walked past her. "So, were you the one who bandaged my whole body?"

"Yes, Lady Esmeray ordered, but please don\'t change the topic," she replied, matching my pace. "Doesn\'t it hurt using your hand?"

"Not really."

"Please don\'t lie."

"I mean, a little bit."

"Sigh..."

She sighed heavily, once again blocking my way. "Your left hand is already a mess after it was reattached, and if you continue to damage it…"

Her words trailed off at the end, piquing my interest. "…Then what?"

She took a deep breath as she replied somberly, "Then I am afraid we will have to amputate your arm."

"…I see." Mumbling, I nodded my head as I walked again. "I will keep that in mind."

Honestly, I already know my arm is a mess from the start.

Even though it was perfectly reattached after my mother cut it, the damage was already done.

\'…Makes me wonder how long I can use it, though?\'

I mused as I opened the door to where a holographic figure was already present.

Her lifeless gray eyes shifted towards me as I slowly walked, taking a seat on the chair placed in front of her hologram.

"What happened to you?" she asked as soon as I sat down, her voice cold as always.

"Pardon?" Tilting my head in confusion, I inquired back.

"This is the first time you didn\'t flinch or tremble seeing me," she replied, squinting her eyes. "…Did something happen?"

…Ahhh.

She always noticed these small things.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" As I kept my mouth shut, she questioned.

"I wanted to ask—"

"Before that," she interjected as a video started to play right beside her, "explain this to me."

"....."

It was the video from the competition—when I faced Arianell and how she had a panic attack after what I said.

Even though the video didn\'t have any sound, it was still clear what I said if someone read my lips.

"I have always liked you," my mother read my lips.

Even though her tone was flat, I could hear the mockery in her voice.

"I did that so I could win the match," I replied calmly, looking at her. "I didn\'t mean that."

"Really?" she asked, her gaze boring into me. "You don\'t care for her, right?"

"Yes," I replied, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling that crept within me.

"You won\'t mind if I kill her?" she probed.

Anger bubbled within me as heat rose in my chest, but I took deep breaths to calm myself down.

"You can\'t do that, you promised," I replied, my voice raising involuntarily.

"I did," she nodded. "But that doesn\'t mean others won\'t try to kill her."

"....."

I remained silent, not replying.

Before the deal we made, I always thought that only my mother wanted to kill Arianell.

…But I was wrong.

Tricked into believing that only my mother benefited from her death.

"Do you pity her?" My gaze shifted to her as she asked, "…Is it because her family abandoned her when she was a child?"

"....."

Again, I remained silent, not being able to reply.

"You do remember what lies ahead for her, right?" she pressed further. "…Or do you think you can forcefully change that outcome with your measly and pathetic strength?"

"I didn\'t come to talk about her!" I finally snapped, having had enough of this.

"You are not worthy enough to raise your voice against me, Azariah," she warned, her chilly voice making my anger subside.

"I wanted to ask about the deaths of forsaken families." Having calmed down, I asked softly.

"What about it?" she questioned, her interest waning.

"Are you the one behind it?" I questioned, rubbing my sweaty hands.

Throughout my life, this is the first time I am questioning her, and it is making me extremely uncomfortable.

Like a fly wrapped in a spider web confronting the spider.

"And what makes you think I am?" she questioned back, narrowing her eyes.

"Because I don\'t know what your organization actually does," I replied, shaking my head. "So I made an assumption—"

"Now you are assuming things, huh?" she interjected sharply, her lifeless eyes boring into me. "Where does this bravery come from?"

"....."

I once again kept my mouth shut, refusing to give her any more hints.

"Become the head of the organization, and you will get all the answers."

"Can you at least tell me who is behind it?"

She remained silent for a while and just kept looking at me, making cold sweat fall down my body.

After what felt like an eternity, she answered, "The Dark Trinity."

"What?"

She nodded softly as she continued, "To be more specific, they are Ishtar\'s executives."

...Wait.

If things happened like in the prequel game...

…Ragnar should have killed the Bull of Heaven, taking a huge chunk of Ishtar\'s divinity.

She should have been in slumber for one more year.

…Then what changed?

Or is my mother lying again?

"Enough chitchat. Ask what you wanted to ask," she stated, startling me.

\'…She noticed that as well?\'

I grimaced, taking a deep breath before asking, "...What do I need to do to get your approval?"

"I already gave you the task, Azariah," she replied instantly. "You were the one who not only didn\'t kill the Oracle but even protected her."

"I know, and maybe I shouldn\'t have done that," I grumbled, looking at her. "…But still, I need another chance to prove myself."

"Why?"

"My birthday is next month," I replied, looking down. "…The deadline you gave is coming closer."

"Don\'t fret over it," she stated. "I will give you six more months to prove yourself."

"I want a goal, mother," I firmly replied, sitting straight. "I can\'t just do something and hope that it will work."

She looked at me, interlacing her hands and placing them on her table. Her lips parted slightly. "Kill an Angel."

"What?"

[Absolutely not, Azariah!!]

I flinched slightly as El shouted in my head.

\'…What? Why?\'

[You do not know the consequences of killing an Angel. It will ruin your entire life!!]

\'…How?\'

[Don\'t think about doing it, Azariah. You will regret it.]

\'At least tell me what will happen.\'

"Why are you hesitating?" she asked, her voice dead, her finger moving towards her head, tapping it rhythmically. "Is the voice in your head warning you about the consequences?"

Every hair on my body stood up in fright as my heartbeat dropped at an alarming rate.

[She is bluffing, Az. She can\'t sense me!]

\'A-are y-you sure?\'

"Azariah." She called, making me tremble. "Speak before I am forced to do something."

[Yes, and do not even think about killing an Ange—]

"Azariah, I need an answer," she pressed further, tapping her desk.

[Azar—]

"I will do it," I replied taking a deep breath, ignoring El\'s advice as I looked dead into her eyes. "…I will kill an angel."

I can think about the consequences later.

For now, all that matters is that I have a way to get out of this hellhole created by my mother.

She nodded her head gently. "Good."

"But how am I supposed to do it?" I asked further. "Even the lowest of them is at the rank of Eternal."

"Don\'t worry about it," she replied as if she had already planned ahead. "I will give you an opportunity to do so."

I nodded gently, not questioning her further.

"And before I forget, I have your next mission ready," she added, her gaze falling on her documents.

"....And what is that?" I asked hesitantly.

The last mission was a disaster where I almost died.

So my enthusiasm for the next mission is at its lowest.

"It\'s about an orphanage," she replied, looking back at me. "But do not worry. You need to visit there months from now. Until then, be ready."

The call ended, and my tensed body immediately relaxed.

It\'s nerve-racking talking with her.

But at least I got some answers and an absurd goal that I need to accomplish.

[...What now?]

"Why are you so sulky?"

[Forget about that and answer me.]

Hmm...

I have been delaying it for quite some time.

But with the academy closed and the next event happening around my birthday, I have a lot of free time.

"...Let\'s engrave the rest of the runes on my body."