The SSS Ranked Villain's Return-Chapter 106: Aurelia’s ’Home’

"Aurelia...? You mean that blue-haired child? She’s probably doing tests right about now," the man answered as a smile beamed on his face. "So now, if you kindly let me go, then—"

"No." Neraxis immediately rejected the idea. "You are going to die, but if you tell me all I need to know, I will make your death as painless as I can."

"You! Just kill me then!" The man spasmed on the ground, his lanky body meeting Neraxis’s eyes.

However, that was enough to slightly intimidate him as he spoke, adding, "...What do you want to know?"

"Everything, preferably." Neraxis nodded. "What’s this place? What is Aurelia doing here? Why are you even doing this in the first place?"

"This is a research facility... I think? I don’t get paid enough to deal with this shit other than to protect the building," the man replied with a scoff.

Neraxis sent a glare his way, making him flinch. "I don’t care. Answer my other questions."

"Right... The girl is going through some tests to improve an alchemy formula. That is all I know. As for why I’m doing this in the first place? The money is simply too good to pass up," the man stated and stretched out his neck. "Do it fast, cut the artery or something, my hands—oh right, I don’t have hands anymore."

The man began laughing to himself, and Neraxis could only sigh in response.

What a weirdo...

"Final question." Neraxis got his attention. "How long has this been going on?"

"I’ve been called here every single Wednesday for the last Sixteen years, so... it’s been around long if I had to guess," the man said after a bit of pondering.

Neraxis nodded before walking up to him and placing the sword right at the base of his neck. "I see. Goodbye."

With that, he slashed downward, cutting the arteries and killing the man in an instant.

[1x (D- Ranked Human) Slain! Reward: Stigmata 55.3% -> 56.3%]

Nodding in satisfaction, Neraxis turned to Celina, who was now glaring at him.

"What’s up with you today?" she asked. "You didn’t even try to dodge that toothpick’s attack earlier. You almost got killed, do you know that?"

"I lost focus. I didn’t get much sleep today." Neraxis evaded the question, but it seemed like she didn’t believe him.

"I can tell when you are tired, and you are not tired, so stop lying to me," Celina said, walking over to him and placing her hands on his cheeks. "I can tell you are agitated, sad, and regretful... I don’t know what happened during the night, but remember, you can talk to me..."

"I’m sorry, Celina." He placed his hands on hers, taking them away from his cheeks. "It’s not something I’m ready to share just yet. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure not to make the same mistake again."

"...You better," she said after a long pause, her frown slowly vanishing as she turned on her heel and glanced at the mansion. "Do you want me to scout it out first?"

"No, we’ll be going in together," he stated and walked ahead. "If you want, follow me while remaining invisible. We don’t know what we might find in there."

"Sure~" she hummed and disappeared from his sight.

However, the tug on his sleeve assured him that Celina was still there.

"I’ll watch your back, Neraxis." She whispered in a soft voice, and with cautious steps, the two headed toward the mansion.

On the outside, it looked completely normal, aside from the fake sun above, as well as the sky and clouds.

It seemed like artificial panels were placed on the walls, projecting the view of the outside.

An isolation chamber, or perhaps something even more... he pondered as he approached the doors. Guess I’ll find out soon enough, though.

He stretched his hand out, dissolving the door and stepping inside.

At a single glance, it looked like any ordinary mansion. However, he quickly found a single wire traveling from one end of the entrance to the other.

"Trap," Celina warned, leaning down and cutting the wire.

"Another one down there." Neraxis pointed to a tile on the ground, and it was slightly raised compared to the rest.

Safe to say, it was a trap house, but one they had to get through in order to find Aurelia.

That was why they moved with silent steps, avoiding or dismantling each trap until they finally arrived upstairs, in front of a certain room.

"This is her bedroom." Celina whispered and reached her hand for the door, pushing it open.

What greeted their sights was Aurelia, simply eating chocolate while lying on her own bed, seemingly unaware of what was happening around her.

But once she noticed them, her eyes widened. "Guys? W-What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same thing to you." Neraxis walked up to her. "What are you doing here?"

"I was getting my potions restocked... But how did you find me? Did Bertolt let you in?" she questioned.

So that’s his name. Too bad. Neraxis thought before nodding. "Something like that. Where are the people making you those potions?"

"In my dad’s room. They tell me not to enter it, though," Aurelia replied.

Neraxis glanced back at Celina. "I think it’s best if you go invisible again. I’ll check things out. Could you protect her?"

"Are you sure you’re going to be okay?" Celina asked with slightly furrowed brows, but upon noticing his silence, she sighed. "Neraxis, be careful."

"Of course." He nodded and made his way out, casting one last glance at the confused Aurelia before closing the door.

[This might be a bit dangerous,] Evangeline commented.

It will be. He acknowledged and approached the only massive door in the entire mansion, which just so happened to be right next to Aurelia’s room.

Evangeline continued, worried. [And if things go wrong?]

I’ll use everything I have to escape along with the girls. Neraxis assured one final time and took a deep, steadying breath.

Placing his hands on the door, he gently opened it, and what greeted his sight were two men sitting back to back, brewing potions.

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

However, once they noticed someone had gotten inside the room, they halted their brewing process, throwing the vials off to the side and pulling out machine guns.

But before they even had a chance to use them, Neraxis used Sword Dash, appearing before one of the alchemists and slicing the gun in two.

At the same time, he put his hand on the other gun, making it deteriorate.

Now, all that was left were two gunless alchemists who were staring at him with caution.

"What kind of potions do you make for her?" Neraxis questioned calmly.

"How did you even get in here? This is a governm—"

Before the alchemist could even finish his words, Neraxis brought a sword to his neck, glaring at him coldly. "Why is the government involved in this?"

"We are looking for a cure! Her father hired us Sixteen years ago for that same purpose!" the alchemist reasoned.

"Do you think I’m an idiot?" Neraxis stared down at him, bringing the sword closer and drawing blood from his neck. "In Sixteen years, you haven’t managed to find a cure?"

"You see," the other alchemist spoke up, fidgeting. "We did find something, but it’s experimental, and we are not sure of the consequences yet."

Neraxis narrowed his eyes.

"Tell me."