The Villainous Me Turned the Losers into Blackened Bosses-Chapter 176 - The Witch’s Box (4)

—

There was no doubt about it.

The person standing before him…

The one with heart-shaped pupils in her eyes, who had used some kind of witch’s tools to firmly bind him to what seemed like a chair-like contraption…

Was Leah.

Leah Flamuel Ellemont—he couldn’t believe he still remembered her full, ridiculously long name. She was the Leah who had been his mentor for three years at Entark’s First Academy.

Will fought against the overwhelming drowsiness, likely induced by some kind of drug, and forced himself to look up at Leah.

This scene…

Ah, yes, this scene.

Every night he spent writing The Task System, he had imagined a scenario like this.

One day, the tsundere teacher who was prone to blushing but had a delicate heart would finally learn to express her true feelings.

She would use every tool at her disposal as a witch.

With her invincible bloodline and unmatched magic, she would tie up the person she loved in her little dark room, grab his chin, and…

Confess her feelings while forcing him to do the same.

Yes.

He had worked so hard, subtly guiding her to understand the benefits of being straightforward, while also teaching her to master the witch’s tools…

All so he could one day witness the “darkened, obsessive, and direct Leah.”

Finally…

Will half-closed one eye, struggling to focus his foggy mind and get a clear look at Leah’s face.

Damn it, why was he still so exhausted…

The Leah before him, and this room—this was beyond what he had imagined. No, it surpassed his imagination.

In this moment, he felt a flicker of joy—like the satisfaction of finally evolving a Pokémon after grinding it to level 64.

But…

But!

In all those nights he had envisioned this scene, he had never once thought…

That this setup would be used on him?!

Why was Leah-sensei here? Oh, right, he knew that—she must’ve come looking for him after realizing he was missing. But why would she ambush him in a dungeon?!

And why had Leah-sensei darkened? Oh, he knew that too—he had gradually guided her into this state, starting with the crimson mint essential oil and then through his carefully chosen words.

…

But…

Why…

Would Leah-sensei…

Why would she…

Why would she target…

Him…

Why would she darken over a “cannon-fodder comedic villain” from the original story…

Over someone whose “fate” was to die in a ridiculous and humiliating way…

Over a young master who wasn’t even particularly talented…

Why?

There had to be… some part of the story he had missed.

Damn it, if only his mind were clearer. But in this state of exhaustion and confusion, where closing his eyes for even a moment would send him to sleep, he couldn’t think straight…

“Hmm… Will, the way you’re fighting off your body’s heavy drowsiness, as if you’re trying to figure out why this is happening—it’s really… adorable.”

During the ten or so seconds Will spent lost in thought, Leah finally spoke.

The hand she had used to lift his chin moved to touch more sensitive areas—like the back of his ear.

The light, ticklish touch made Will flinch.

Her touch was filled with “desire,” yet carried a delicate “carefulness.”

As if she were afraid of hurting him, her movements were gentle, but they radiated an intense, uncontrollable emotion.

More importantly…

Her fingertips were burning hot.

Will had touched Leah countless times when she was under the influence of crimson mint essential oil. Her body now felt just like it had back then.

She wasn’t normal right now.

Of course…

It was obvious at a glance that she wasn’t normal.

But it was strange…

This was exactly the Leah he had wanted—exactly the kind of abnormal Leah he had envisioned.

So why, when he looked at her now, did his first reaction feel like fear, followed by…

Pity?

This…

What was this…

Ah… what was he just thinking about…

Will’s consciousness grew increasingly fuzzy. He couldn’t even form a complete question in his mind.

What had he been thinking about just a moment ago? What had triggered that thought?

It was bad—he realized he couldn’t remember, which meant he was on the verge of falling asleep.

When a person enters deep sleep, their mind loses the ability to connect related thoughts…

But…

Just before he succumbed to the “mist” Leah had used to put him to sleep…

He opened his nearly glued-shut mouth, his lips barely parting, and looked at Leah.

Leah, who was holding his chin, saw his sweat-soaked forehead and damp brown hair. His hands were bound to the chair, but he was trying so hard to speak, his voice barely a whisper—

“Leah-sensei…”

He managed to ask, in broken fragments—

“Why…?”

Then, with a soft sigh, he closed his eyes and slumped forward, falling asleep under her palm.

Leah smiled in satisfaction.

But…

“What exactly are you asking ‘why’ about?”

Leah crossed her arms, a puzzled expression on her face.

“If you’re asking why I’m doing this…”

She crouched slightly.

Even though Will was tied to the chair, his head had drooped. To speak into his ear, she had to crouch down, bringing her face close to his.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

“Let me think…”

She had so many reasons.

One was because Will had started looking at someone else. If she didn’t do this, he would never look at her again.

Another was that she wanted to take him away from the human world, to live with her as a witch, so he would always look at her.

Another was…

No, the most fundamental reason was…

Leah lowered her head and gently ran her fingers through his damp, freshly washed-looking brown hair.

Though her outward appearance was that of a twelve-year-old, the way she patted his head carried the warmth of a mother doting on her child—far more mature than her looks suggested.

She leaned in close to Will’s ear.

And softly whispered—

“Because I love you.”

“No need for subtlety, no need for roundabout words, no need for concealment, no need for flowery language, no need for evasion… I’m saying it the way you taught me to.”

“I love you.”

“Oh, but you’re already asleep, so you can’t hear me.”

“No matter.”

“When you wake up…”

“I’ll say it again.”

She let her hand fall, but something still felt missing.

“No, that’s not right.”

“As many times as you want to hear it, I’ll say it for you.”

—

Meanwhile, on the other side of the dungeon, Shuna stood before the other door.

She crossed her arms, not opening the door immediately, lost in thought.

“Vice-Captain, so there really is a door here.”

“But… doesn’t that mean the chances of their side being a dead end just went up?”

“Maybe…”

Shuna nodded.

“Either way, let me test the Ice Queen’s strength first.”

“Wait, Vice-Captain, there are only three of us. Are you sure we should—”

“Shouldn’t we retreat and wait for them?”

“No. If you ask me, unless we defeat the Ice Queen, we won’t be able to reach wherever they are.”

Shuna’s lips curled into a smile.

“And besides… who said you were here to help me fight the 60th-floor boss?”

“Huh? Then why did you recruit us—”

“You’re just here to make sure I reach her in peak condition.”

She stretched lazily, then reached out and opened the door to the final boss room.