Into the Apocalypse: Saving My Favorite Villain-Chapter 113: Those Who Follow, Those Who Kneel

Rosalia — POV

After that heart-to-heart conversation, I felt as though my relationship with Cassel had grown firmer—closer and closer.

We had already been lovers for some time. Still, now it was clear that there was a strange kind of connection between us: familiarity, unspoken understanding, and emotions laid bare, even when we were merely standing side by side without doing anything intimate.

I felt an unfamiliar, comforting ease—a freedom and relief beyond imagination. That secret of mine had been pressing on my heart without my awareness, constantly filling me with negativity and fear. And now, it was gone.

I smiled happily as I looked at Cassel sitting beside me, his expression rigid, his eyes focused as he spoke with Caro, the leader, and the two other commanders.

After a night filled with honesty and openness—after a conversation from heart to heart, without secrets or concealment—and falling asleep in each other’s arms...

When we woke in the morning, without exchanging a single word, Cassel dragged me into this room to have breakfast with the other leaders, where they would discuss their plan of action.

Of course, I—a woman with no status or power—should not have been sitting here.

But when my villain had become my lover, who dared to oppose him?

Even though the heroine’s face twisted like a sour, rotten lemon, she couldn’t say a word or do anything to drive me away.

My mood remained excellent all morning.

I didn’t even care when Mary sat on the chair opposite Cassel, staring at him with a flirtatious, suggestive gaze...

Ah—especially after I had learned just last night how obsessed my villain was with me, and after seeing the unmistakable look of disgust in his eyes whenever they landed on that so-called saintly heroine.

Then watching him stand up and deliberately move to the farthest chair—without forgetting to lift me and seat me beside him.

...

I couldn’t hold it in. I burst out laughing so hard that tears streamed down my face.

"You naughty little rabbit,"

Cassel tapped my forehead, his voice unmistakably spoiled and affectionate.

"I’ll deal with you later."

We ate in silence afterward.

Well—at least the others were silent as they ate what might as well have been dog food.

Yes, Cassel’s affection and attention toward me were more than enough to fill them up. Feeding me breakfast while saying, "You’re so thin I’m afraid I might break you if I hug you. Eat more," along with countless cheesy remarks that made them—especially the heroine, Mary—want to vomit.

I ate until I was full, completely unconcerned with their expressions or whatever thoughts crossed their minds.

After breakfast, it was time for serious work. I sat quietly beside Cassel, careful not to interfere.

"Although the rain has stopped, the weather is still unstable. Let us stay here for a few days to rest, so we don’t get caught in a storm like last night," Cecil said.

His voice was filled with pride and strength, as if he truly believed himself all-powerful, as though no one stood above him.

To be fair, Cecil’s supernatural ability—gravity manipulation—was indeed extremely powerful. If one were to look for someone who could defeat him in a one-on-one fight, there might be no one at present except Cassel.

But that didn’t change the fact that he was a coward, utterly inexperienced.

When facing zombies, he would be weaker than any of Cassel’s subordinates, and he wouldn’t survive—even if his power lasted for hours.

Because he was, quite simply, a weak coward with nothing besides his ability. The moment his mental and spiritual energy ran dry—causing his power to fail—he would die a horrible death without any chance to struggle.

He wasn’t even a skilled fighter. All he knew how to do was bully the weak and kneel before the strong.

Not everyone supported Cecil’s decision.

Caro, the only female leader in the room, spoke up.

"I don’t think it’s in our best interest to stay in one place. That would make us an easier target for zombie sieges. And don’t forget the other creatures and monsters that formed not long ago—we still don’t know much about them."

I looked at Caro with appreciation. I had always thought she was intelligent, in addition to being straightforward.

She was a leader who could read the atmosphere well.

She was right—we couldn’t stay here forever.

Besides, the weather at the end of the world was utterly unpredictable.

It was better to move while the skies were clear.

"Tch. Just a woman leading a team of a few weak women."

That was what Cecil muttered angrily after Caro openly criticized him.

Caro seemed like the type to keep a straight face, and she controlled her emotions well. She didn’t lower herself to Cecil’s level by arguing or fighting him. Instead, she merely let out a bare, mocking laugh and said nothing.

"You—" Cecil snapped, his anger flaring.

"Leader Caro is right," Cassel’s steady voice rang through the room.

"We can’t wait here. At the end of the world, the weather doesn’t distinguish between summer and winter. It could be snowing today and forty degrees tomorrow. More importantly, we have an urgent mission that cannot tolerate any delay. We must reach our destination before the agreed time, or the mission will fail. Every minute—every second—matters."

That was my villain. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

As expected of him—brilliant and radiant amid the darkness of this shattered world.

I had always admired that strength, that cold composure, his stance, and every movement when he took his work seriously.

No matter what he was doing—signing company documents or discussing a plan to overthrow his enemies—

He always looked irresistibly handsome.

He held my hand beneath the table as he spoke, calm and authoritative.

Unable to resist, I gently moved my fingers, curling them around his, lightly scratching his palm.

I smiled faintly when Cassel’s words suddenly faltered—caught in a rare moment of hesitation.

A deep, dark look appeared in his eyes as he shot me a brief glance.

I looked back at him as if to say, What are you going to do about me?

My provocation didn’t seem to affect him at all.

He simply returned his gaze forward and said, "I intend to move today. That is my plan. As for the rest of you, I won’t force anyone. Whoever wants to move as a group may do so. Whoever wishes to stay can remain here. We’ll meet at the previously agreed rendezvous points marked on the map."

"I agree. Our group will go with you."

Caro was the first to stand and accept Cassel’s decision.

Victor followed, rising to his feet.

"I agree with Cassel. The more we split up, the greater the danger becomes. If we want to stay alive, we must remain united and cooperative."

Victor’s perspective was clear. Regardless of his dislike for Cassel—or his fear of him—he knew well that, given their current strength, moving through this terrifying world would be dangerous.

He knew exactly how powerful Cassel was. Besides, the orders he had received required him to stay close to Cassel.

After hearing his words, not only Zen, the other leader, but even Cecil hesitated.

Clearly, he knew his brother’s strength. No matter how much he hated him, he had always relied on his protection and power to survive.

He had thought that, at last, he no longer needed to kneel before his brother and flatter him just to have his messes cleaned up.

Yet he found that—even after the world had changed so drastically—he still needed his older brother’s cheap charity to live.

Even after gaining his own special ability and achieving a high status independently, away from his brother’s support.