Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess-Chapter 300 - 299- Make her cry?

Austin and Valerie were returning to the capital to celebrate his birthday.

They were only going to stay for a day before heading back to the academy.

In his past lives, Austin always had danger on his mind. He was constantly planning and training, always thinking ahead. He had no choice—he knew how strong his enemies were, and how weak he was in comparison. So, he worked harder than anyone else, just to make sure Valerie stayed safe.

But now... things were different. He knew what needed to be done, and he finally had the strength to do it. He wasn’t careless, but for once, he wasn’t thinking only about fighting.

Now, he wanted to live a calm and peaceful life with his family and his wife.

"Never thought I’d get rejected though," Austin sighed, thinking about the talk he had with his father-in-law about marriage.

He had planned to marry Valerie next year, once they both turned eighteen. The legal age for marriage was sixteen, so they weren’t breaking any rules. And since Valerie had already said yes, Austin didn’t want to keep her waiting.

But Adam didn’t approve. He thought Austin’s sudden show of love was too recent and might not last. To him, Austin was rushing into things.

Valerie was clearly upset—and she had every right to be. But Adam wasn’t completely wrong either. In this timeline, he had seen his daughter being ignored and hurt by the very boy who was supposed to protect her smile.

So, of course, Adam had his doubts. That’s why he asked them to wait until after graduation to decide on marriage.

Valerie didn’t agree at first, but Austin eventually calmed her down and convinced her to wait.

It was close to midnight, and Austin had stepped out of the inn for a quiet walk on his own.

Valerie was resting inside—after their long, four-hour session of love making. She had fallen asleep halfway through their bath, and Austin had gently carried her to bed.

He wasn’t feeling sleepy at all, which is why he decided to wander around the town a bit. Despite the late hour, the place was still lively.

Many eateries were still open, and it made sense—this town was well-known for its hunter guilds. Most hunters came back late at night to report on their missions, so the streets often stayed noisy even at this time.

’What do you think, system? Would I get drunk?’

[Your resistance to poison is at its peak, host. It’s nearly impossible for any alcohol to affect you.]

Austin chuckled to himself. ’Well, that was expected. But still, I want to take my chances.’

With that thought, he stepped inside a nearby bar, brushing off the cool night air as the warm scent of alcohol and roasted meat welcomed him in.

The place was lively, filled with chatter and laughter. Hunters, mercenaries, and travelers filled most of the seats, yet a few tables remained unoccupied—scattered near the edges of the hall.

Choosing to keep a low profile, Austin took a seat in the far corner, close to the window. It offered a decent view of both the bar’s interior and the quiet street outside.

Not long after, a waiter appeared beside him, dressed in a simple black vest and apron. "What would you like to order, sir?" he asked politely, holding a small notepad.

Austin glanced briefly at the menu on the wall before replying, "Hmm, I’ll take the strongest liquor you’ve got—and throw in a meat pie with it."

He wasn’t particularly hungry when he stepped inside, but after seeing the trays of steaming food being served all around, his appetite woke up. The smell alone was enough to tempt anyone.

The waiter quickly jotted down his order and gave a courteous nod before walking off.

Leaning back slightly in his seat, Austin let his eyes roam around the bar. It didn’t take him long to realize that nearly everyone inside gave off a noticeable presence—clear signs of awakened individuals. Warriors, mages, rogues—there was a solid mix here, and many of them were stronger than average.

Yet what truly caught his attention wasn’t their strength. It was the fact that, at some point or another, every single person in the bar had turned their gaze toward him—even if just for a second.

’Hmm... that’s strange,’ Austin thought, narrowing his eyes ever so slightly.

By all means, no one here should have been able to sense anything from him. His aura was completely restrained—concealed by design. Anyone trying to sense his soul would only feel a weak, almost lifeless presence, as if he were just a normal civilian.

And yet, he could feel their eyes on him. Curious. Alert. Almost... cautious.

He leaned forward, resting an elbow on the table as a faint smile tugged at his lips.

’Looks like they had already made their move.’

Not long after Austin settled in, the waiter returned with a few dishes.

Alongside a steaming overflowing mug of alcohol, there was a freshly baked meat pie, a couple of warm bread rolls, and some small side snacks neatly arranged on the tray. The aroma of roasted meat and herbs filled the air, blending with the rich fragrance of the liquor.

Austin picked up a spoon and lazily scooped up a chunk of the meat pie. Just as he brought the spoon to his mouth, a figure cloaked in a long, dark coat approached him from the side.

Without paying the person much attention, Austin calmly continued to eat.

The stranger took the seat directly across from him, moving without saying a word. At that moment, the atmosphere in the room subtly shifted. The air grew colder, and a sudden, heavy silence fell over the café.

It felt as if every single person around them had gone quiet. Eyes were watching. Breaths were held. The whole room seemed to freeze in time.

But Austin remained unbothered by the unnatural stillness. He casually took another bite, savoring the flavors, as if nothing had changed.

Then, the stranger finally pulled back the hood of her cloak.

She was a woman in her early thirties, with short black hair and piercing dark green eyes that locked onto Austin with sharp focus. There was no warmth in her gaze—only the weight of her presence, cold and direct.

"Hmm..." Austin raised his brows slightly. He was surprised, genuinely.

The woman’s voice broke the silence, firm and unyielding.

"Austin von Erybdor... you need to come with me."

Her tone was like the edge of a blade—leaving no room for argument. It was the kind of voice that warned of consequences without needing to spell them out.

Still, Austin didn’t respond right away. He calmly picked up the mug instead and took a few slow sips, letting the chill fill his mouth and throat.

"Fuaa... this is great," he said, clearly satisfied, as he placed the mug back on the table with a loud, echoing thud.

Only then did he lift his gaze to the woman sitting across from him.

"I expected someone to make contact sooner or later," he said, a faint grin forming on his lips. "But I didn’t think they’d send an S-rank. Looks like the Council is getting impatient."

He knew her—he had seen her once before, back during the war against the Parasite Chief.

Hannah.

A cold-blooded killer.

Assassin-class. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Fourth-ranked.

Her presence barely stirred the air, her soul energy so faint it was nearly undetectable—exactly how a true assassin should be. That, more than anything, proved her skill.

In a direct fight, someone like Valerie might overpower her. But in the shadows, given the right setting and enough space, Hannah could become a nightmare to deal with.

Her eyes narrowed as she spoke again, her tone sharp with frustration.

"Your little lover injures one of our officers, tosses them aside, rejects the Council’s offers again and again—and then you sit here and mock us for being desperate."

She gave him a cold, scornful glare.

"Be grateful I wasn’t sent to deal with that girl directly," she said. "Had that been the case, things would’ve turned out very differently. And you might have turned desperate to gain my forgiveness."

Austin chuckled, a low amused sound.

"Spoken with such confidence... you do know she has awakened one of the Tools of Destruction, right?"

Hannah crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. "People that young often leave themselves wide open."

Austin shook his head.

These Council people...they always remain so full of themselves that it’s amusing.

"So what do you need from me?" Austin asked, finishing the meat pie.

"Come with me. The Council wants to let that girl know what a foolish path she has been walking on."

Austin frowned, "So you all are going to make it seem like I got kidnapped, and when Valerie feels helpless in her search, you will appear like an aid?"

She smirked, "You don’t look like it but you are quite an intelligent brat." With a nod, she affirmed, "Yes, that’s exactly what I am going to do."

Austin leaned back, "So you plan on making my Val worried and cry, huh?"

The woman shrugged, "Come on now-" she paused just as she got up from the seat.

Something fell on either side and a burning sensation emerged from the sides.

"Huh?" It took her a moment...then it settled.

Her arms...they were chopped off.

"Ahhhh!" She staggered back and instantly, the whole place was filled with her cries.

Every single customer got up, summoning their Shards.

On the side, the waiter, the chef, and the guards also took out their weapons.

Austin sighed as he finished the drink and muttered, "Well, this could be a good after-meal workout."

°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.

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