[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-reincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel":3,"chapter-reincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel-reincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel-chapter-169":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Reincarnated as the Final Villain's Vessel",{"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},699778,934,"Chapter 169: Return","reincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel-chapter-169",169,"\u003Cp>Caius’s POV.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sat there, feeling the burning pain in my joints and muscles while my breathing remained fast and unstable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rain poured heavily over me, flowing through my hair down my face and soaking into my clothes that clung to my skin... at least what remained of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My swords were planted into the ground before me, while I felt the softness of the thing I was sitting on. It wasn’t hard, nor was it too soft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, it was comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far better than every chair Elliot had made over the past few weeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was nothing more than one of the remaining petals of the Nightmare Flower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the battle had been short, the final moments truly exhausted me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had given everything there... and far more than that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked around a few meters away, where many dark-colored tendrils lay lifeless on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of them had been close to crashing down on me at once without any escape, and if I hadn’t managed to tear apart that flower in time, I would be nothing more than a shattered body right now... and perhaps lifeless as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, it didn’t really matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t the first time I came close to death, and it wouldn’t be the last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing that mattered in the end was that I didn’t actually die... otherwise that would’ve been bad for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I mean, I was still just a poor single young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You alright?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my head toward the source of the voice to see Elliot arriving near where I sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His clothes were torn everywhere, especially the upper part which was completely gone, revealing a massive red scar covering his entire upper torso, along with his pale face exhausted from consuming all his essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked miserable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled as I looked at the marks left by the tendrils on his chest. \"Looks like that thing left you a little farewell gift.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot frowned as he glanced at the large scar before trying to touch himself, only to quickly pull his hand away with a pained expression. \"Ouch...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Trust me, if you were in my place you wouldn’t call it little... this really hurts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he pulled a shirt from his ring and put it on within moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He approached the massive petal I was sitting on and threw himself onto it, causing its surface to ripple beneath me for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed he had gotten used to sitting on corpse remains after everything we had gone through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a tired sigh, his words reaching me through the noise of the storm. \"That was awesome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I raised an eyebrow while staring at the glowing blue trails formed by that thing’s blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s awesome about this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know, this is the second Rank 5 monster we’ve killed... that’s kind of an amazing achievement for our age.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head, water scattering from my hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re only lucky because they were monsters related to the mind and dreams, otherwise we’d have died from the first hit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But it’s still awesome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some time, we sat there resting beneath the rain while watching the glowing blood flow away with the water before disappearing into the tunnels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think it’s time to head back and take a hot bath.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot nodded as he stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pushed myself up as well, but before leaving, there was something we needed to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at the corpse of the Nightmare Flower while licking my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s absorb this first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After absorbing every last drop of essence from the flower’s body, Elliot and I began heading back to the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike before, we moved at our own pace instead of running through this chaos at full speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wonder if they woke up.\" Elliot’s voice sounded beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shrugged as I answered. \"They should have, as far as I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot passed me, jumping across a river formed by the rain until his feet landed on a massive piece of concrete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment, I did the same until I reached the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are we going to do about what Leona saw?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at the blond guy. \"Just pretend you didn’t hear anything, and no matter what happens, don’t tell the others about this.\" I made sure the last words were clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t want things becoming more complicated than they already were... seriously, who was going to tell a princess that her empire and the entire world could die because of some unknown thing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But apparently Elliot didn’t think the same way I did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not tell them?.. Why would we hide this from the others?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head as I continued walking toward the shelter. \"The question is why should we tell them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot took some time before answering. \"To prepare for the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A laugh nearly escaped my lips. \"Preparations? What can three Axis students do? One can barely think about anything except his sister, a girl who can barely control her anger, and a princess who doesn’t even know what to do to solve her own problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced at Elliot from the corner of my eye and saw him staring ahead with a somewhat lost expression as I continued. \"Trust me, this will only make things worse. I heard what Leona said and saw how she was acting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leona’s panic alone was proof that this was something they shouldn’t see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what are we supposed to do?\" His question returned this time in a tone that sounded resigned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We talked about this before, just strength. Make sure you become stronger... at least you have the potential to do that and achieve something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was only telling him the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Potential...\" I could barely hear his murmur through the sound of the rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few minutes, he finally gave up on the idea of telling the others. \"Fine, let’s not tell them, though this still leaves a bad taste in my mouth... but what about Leona?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll talk to her later. Just make sure to keep your side shut.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a while, we walked quietly without saying anything, until something clicked in Elliot’s head and he turned toward me as if he had just discovered something new... and maybe he had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean by someone who can’t think about anything except his sister? You mean Kyle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" I answered indifferently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kyle has a sister? I knew he was an orphan, but I didn’t know about his sister. He’s kind of hard to talk to... wait, how do you know about that out of all people?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored him while focusing on our shelter, which had become visible before me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long to arrive there, and through my senses I could feel where each person was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And apparently, they really had woken up, and clearly they weren’t in a good mood... I mean, who would wake up in a good mood after a long series of nightmares?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sensed each of them sitting in a separate corner away from the others... perhaps crying over their memories or blaming themselves for falling into that...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyle was alone on the upper floor, while Ellen and Izel were scattered around the place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Leona was standing there where we had jumped from earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed she noticed us as well, a small smile forming on her face while she waved at us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within moments, I reached beneath where she stood and jumped directly inside. Finally, the rain stopped pouring over my body, and the noise of the storm lessened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m glad you returned safely.\" Leona’s voice echoed through the hallway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded while looking at her. \"I expected a slightly warmer welcome with more people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed. \"The others are still confused, but they’re fine. They just need some time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded. I wasn’t planning to talk to them anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot arrived, climbing up here while my eyes met Leona’s calm gaze as I stared into her blue eyes. \"You didn’t tell them, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head, her hair scattering in the air. \"No, I didn’t tell them... and I won’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I raised an eyebrow. \"You won’t?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won’t... I don’t think this is something I should talk about from the beginning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, my eyes widened. I thought I’d have to talk and convince her not to reveal what she saw, but... it was easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not like someone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at Elliot, who was listening, while smiling. \"See how easy that was?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elliot shook his head as he walked past me. \"I’m just going to take a hot bath.\" He truly sounded exhausted as he said that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leona stared at his back. \"Is he okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shrugged. \"He was fine just a moment ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shifted my focus back to Leona, feeling slightly curious. \"Why did you decide that you’ll never talk about this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled calmly, but that smile held no happiness. \"Because they were never supposed to know about it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1517,"2026-06-02T09:38:17.164Z",1,"novelbin.me","cb16940266c2b981cc3e37ca2ab35760264207120224b0dea145a1d8002ebbee","reincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel-chapter-170","reincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel-chapter-168",183,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freincarnated-as-the-final-villain-s-vessel-cover.jpg"]