Villain's Path System-Chapter 53: Zero Domain
Lucian’s brain short-circuited.
...Hi.
Seraphina blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Her brain was clearly trying to process what had just happened.
One second, she’d been mid-swing, ready to bash Elira’s smug face into the library floor.
The next, her sword was gone and she was—
She was—
Her face went scarlet.
From her neck to the tips of her ears, a brilliant, burning red.
"I—"
Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
No words came out.
Just a strangled, incoherent sound.
[AFFECTION INCREASED]
Seraphina Ashenblade: 92 → 95
Status: Completely Fallen → Hopelessly Gone
New Effect: [He Stopped Me] - You physically intervened to save her from herself. From making a mistake that would have destroyed her future. She will never forget this.
["Neither will her thighs, apparently."]
["Five seconds of full crotch-to-crotch contact through clothes."]
["Congratulations. That’s basically a marriage proposal in warrior culture."]
["Good luck acting normal around her now, dumbass."]
And then—from somewhere behind them—Elira’s voice cut through the silence.
Calm. Amused. Absolutely unbothered.
"Well. That is mating position"
The effect was instantaneous.
Seraphina’s shock vanished.
Replaced by pure, incandescent rage. Her face still flushed scarlet. Her head snapped toward Elira, eyes blazing.
T-THIS BITCH—
She pressed her palms flat against Lucian’s chest, trying to get up and lunge forward.
Lucian’s survival instincts kicked in. His hands shot up, grabbing her waist from behind with a firm grip just below her ribs.
And he pulled.
Seraphina jerked backward with a startled yelp, her back slamming against his chest as he yanked her onto his lap.
Even closer contact than before.
"Sera, STOP—"
"Let GO of me!" Her voice cracked slightly. Frustrated. Still furious.
She squirms, twisted once. Twice. Her fingers pulled weakly at his wrists. But his grip didn’t budge.
"Going after her won’t change anything—"
"I DON’T CARE!"
She lunged forward, twisting her upper body toward Elira and reaching for the weapon twenty feet away.
Lucian pulled her back. His hands slid higher up her ribcage to get better leverage against her momentum.
She slammed back against his chest with a frustrated sound, her back now pressed flush against his torso.
Her face was still bright red—whether from anger or embarrassment or both, he couldn’t tell.
"I’m going to KILL this bitch—"
"Sera — LISTEN to me—"
She didn’t stop moving. She twisted violently in his grip, driving her elbow sharply backward into his ribs.
Lucian grunted, the impact forcing air from his lungs, but his grip did not break.
"I’LL HELP YOU,"
She stopped squirming instantly. "...What?"
"Training. Study sessions. Whatever you need. Every day. I’ll help you get stronger."
Silence. Her chest heaved rapidly against his arms, but she had stopped fighting his hold.
"...You’re just trying to distract me."
"I Promise"
A pause.
Then the adrenaline receded, leaving only the physical reality of their position.
His arms loosened a little. though her hips still pinned securely against his pelvis.
"F-FINE!"
She scrambled off him so fast she nearly fell, catching herself on a nearby table.
Her hands flew down, aggressively smoothing out her uniform jacket even though the fabric was uncreased.
"But ONLY for the training! Don’t—don’t think it means anything else!"
Lucian stood slowly, wincing slightly. "Of course. Just training."
"EXACTLY!"
She grabbed her sword from the floor, jamming it into its sheath. turned toward the exit.
Then, her boots stopped dead on the marble.
She looked past Lucian, locking eyes with Elira.
The silver-haired girl had not moved a single inch.
Seraphina’s flushed face shifted. The embarrassment vanished, replaced entirely by cold, hard aggression.
"You," she said, her voice flat and dangerous. "Stay away from him."
Elira’s smile widened just slightly. "Oh?"
"Or next time, he won’t stop me."
Elira tilted her head, considering.
Then, she let out a soft, genuine laugh.
"We’ll see."
Seraphina marched out of the library without another word.
The silence that followed was awkward.
[AFFECTION INCREASED] Elira Frostveil: 37 → 44
Status: Fascinated Interest → Genuinely Impressed
New Thought: He saved me. Not from death—I could’ve handled Seraphina. But from the consequences. fight would’ve taken the whole library down with My favorite books included. He’s surprisingly considerate for someone who should despise me right now.
Lucian exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"Well," elira said quietly. "That was fascinating."
Lucian didn’t respond.
Just turned and stared at her.
flat. Empty.
Elira’s smile widened slightly.
"You stopped her and protected the library. How very noble."
"Are we done here?"
His tone was dead.
She nodded with that same thin smile.
"For now."
[Current Fate Points: 286]
[Zero Domain - 2 uses remaining today]
["Not bad, idiot. You survived."]
["Barely."]
["Cost: 1,500 FP and one bruised rib."]
["Reward: S-Tier bodyguard secured for daily one-on-one physical sessions."]
["You smooth bastard."]
Lucian closed his eyes.
I just spent fifteen hundred Fate Points to save the girl who ruined my life from the girl who’s falling for me.
And somehow ended up with both of them still alive and a daily commitment to spend more time with the one who tried to kill someone thirty seconds ago.
He rubbed his face with both hands.
My life is fucking insane.
But despite everything—despite the chaos, the violence, the sheer absurdity of it all—
He smiled.
Just slightly.
At least it’s not boring.
