[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-am-a-villain-so-what":3,"chapter-i-am-a-villain-so-what-i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-35":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Am a Villain, So What?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1506360,1956,"Chapter 35: Practical Assessment [2]","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-35",35,"\u003Cp>We kept moving, deeper into the dungeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air gradually grew colder, and the cave tunnel narrowed until only two of us could walk side by side. The moss-lit stone walls flickered faintly, shadows stretching long with every footstep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had run into a few more wolves, but the next monsters were different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint flutter — almost inaudible — brushed against the darkness overhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most people wouldn’t even register it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But my Detection skill tingled instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without warning I raised my shotgun and fired into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone flinched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the—?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Ren could even complain, a shriek tore from above and a creature dropped — twitching violently as blood splattered across the cave floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thin leathery wing. A long tongue. Black fur. Needle-sharp fangs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Vampire Bat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its entire body barely the size of a cat — but its bite could suck enough blood to make you collapse in minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren swallowed hard and shut up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We kept walking — taking down more bats, wolves, and even a burrowing mole-type monster whose claws could rip bone. The synergy was terrible — but the performance was clean. Not because we were coordinated... but because no one wanted to argue with me anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren no longer barked back at my instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana and Livia had somehow started talking, quietly whispering between fights — Livia gradually relaxing around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hours passed like that. Walking, scanning, killing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually we decided to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren and Livia sat down immediately, taking out their bland nutrition pills — chewing them with dead expression like prisoners serving punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I reached into the inner pocket of my uniform, pulled out my mini storage pouch and retrieved a metal lunch box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana’s eyes sparkled instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You brought lunch?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the vampire bats earlier hadn’t gotten this kind of reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren scoffed from the corner — tone sharp with envy he tried to hide behind sarcasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does someone think a dungeon is a picnic spot or what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana waved Livia over happily — and Livia hesitated, glancing at me as if asking for permission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shrugged, flicking my hand lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come. I packed extra.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Livia bit her lip once, then slowly stood and walked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I unclasped the lunchbox lid — steam gently rose into the air — and the sight of golden buns and thick patties greeted everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana’s entire face lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hamburgers!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She grabbed one instantly like a child claiming treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Livia stared as if studying an alien artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ham... burgers?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just taste it,\" Ariana urged, already halfway through her first bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Livia hesitated — then took a small bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes widened — immediately — her entire body froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...W... what is this...?\" she whispered, and then she inhaled the rest in almost animalistic hunger. \"Why does this taste... this good?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana nodded vigorously, cheeks full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know, right?! When I ate this the first time, I thought I was going crazy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where did you get this?\" Livia demanded, wiping her lips, eyes shining. \"This must be extremely expensive!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finally spoke, very calmly — like a businessman casually slipping in a sales pitch:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not expensive at all. Only seventeen copper coins.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at me like I was talking nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That cheap?! Impossible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can see it for yourself,\" I replied smoothly. \"There’s a new diner in the city. It’s called Kitchen 21.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... I’ll definitely visit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Free advertisement complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren — who had been stuck chewing dry ration pills alone — clenched his jaw and snapped:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If your chit-chat is finished — can we move already?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I briefly considered offering him food too — but his attitude left a rotten taste in my mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I let him suffer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stood up, brushing dust off my uniform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah. Let’s keep going.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This dungeon run was far from over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the deeper we went — the more the real danger would begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tunnel widened into a chamber — jagged stone pillars, dripping roots, pooled water reflecting pale blue moss-light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Livia froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...incoming.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red eyes flickered in the dark — one, two... eight... nine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And behind them — stepping out from behind a rock formation — a larger silhouette, twice the size of a normal wolf, mane flared like burning bristles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironmane Dire Wolf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>F-rank boss class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as it roared, the pack swarmed us like shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren didn’t hesitate — shield stabbed into the ground, feet locked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shield Wall!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ripple of bluish barrier spread out from his buckler, diverting the first three wolves that leapt straight for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Livia raised both hands, voice trembling but firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Acceleration —team wide.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint haze rippled under our feet; our limbs felt lighter instantly, breaths sharper, steps quicker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana inhaled, a faint swirl of wind forming at her feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll suppress the flank —Wind Blade!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blades of compressed air slashed forward, hitting the pack’s left side, forcing two wolves away and wounding another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren anchored the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana controlled the side lane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Livia kept everyone sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time — the formation wasn’t collapsing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slid slightly to the right — positioning to get a clean line of sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Movement Step.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The skill activated like liquid heat in my veins — vision sharpened, body moved smoother — my footwork changed, weight shifting like I’d been training footwork for ten years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dire Wolf boss circled me — its eyes were intelligent, predatory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It lunged, jaws opening wide—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shot clipped its cheek; normal rounds actuallybouncedfrom parts of its hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tch. Too tough for regular rounds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I broke open the chamber, fingers moving automatically, dumping the spent brass and flicking in a mana bullet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the bullet clicked into place, I felt the faint hum of mana resonate along the barrel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana shouted from the left, \"Lucien! Minions down to three... the boss—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My Detection skill pulsed — a thin thread of sense locking onto the Dire Wolf’s movement even as it blurred with speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It leapt — aiming to sink its teeth into Ren’s exposed shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not happening.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pulled the trigger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The recoil shoved me half a step back — and the Dire Wolf’s leap twisted mid-air as the mana-charged pellet cluster slammed into its face guard and neck, disrupting muscle and momentum. It hit the ground hard, skidding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana went for the opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whirlwind!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vortex of slicing wind hit its flank, dragging it a meter sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolf staggered, head shaking from the force, trying to stand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I cracked the rifle open again — another cartridge clattered to the floor — slid in a piercing round and snapped the chamber shut in a single practiced motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One aim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shot slammed into its skull — precise — the impact knocking its massive head sideways like someone had yanked it with chains. The beast jerked once, then collapsed fully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence flooded the cavern, broken only by ragged breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren lowered his shield slowly, cheeks pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Livia wiped sweat from her brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ariana looked at me — her eyes wide, chest rising and falling a little faster than normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...you didn’t miss a single shot,\" she whispered — part awe, part disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I exhaled, finally lowering the gun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s why you bring the right tools to the right job.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1225,"2026-06-06T04:52:01.856Z",1,"novelbin.me","10ddf1f648b83b41ed90768427edafdbe5ff0c55209a4bc68318a964a5705234","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-36","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-34",230,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-a-villain-so-what-cover.jpg"]