The Return Of The Exiled Villain

”Fuuu...”

Gray remained seated in the lotus position for a long time.

The underground chamber was silent except for the faint, almost inaudible whispers between the two sisters.

He had spent the entire time carefully restoring the soul power he had expended earlier.

What should have taken weeks of painstaking cultivation was accelerated by the high-quality demonic energy he had absorbed and the passive skill of his class.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Gray slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was Jasmine and Sanguina standing close together, talking happily in low voices.

Jasmine’s translucent form was glowing faintly, stabilized by Sanguina’s divine energy.

The two sisters looked like mirror images of elegance and beauty, yet completely different in aura.

Gray watched them for a few seconds without interrupting.

’...Not done yet?’ he sighed inwardly.

He understood they had centuries, perhaps even millennia, of separation to catch up on.

But still... he had already fully restored his soul power. His body felt refreshed, and his mind felt sharp once again.

The delay was starting to irritate him.

’My father probably escaped... fuck.’

That single thought made his mood sour even further. He had come all this way, planned meticulously, and now the target was slipping away because of this reunion.

As if sensing his growing impatience, both sisters turned toward him at the same time.

Jasmine had a faint, apologetic smile on her lips. Sanguina, on the other hand, looked visibly irritated just by his presence, her dimly glowing amber eyes narrowing with clear disdain.

Gray ignored Sanguina completely and spoke directly to Jasmine in a voice that was calm but carried a hint of tiredness.

”Are you done yet?”

Jasmine nodded lightly, her expression softening.

”Yes... I’m sorry for making you wait.”

Gray stood up slowly, stretching his body.

After temporarily lending so much power to manifest Jasmine properly, his muscles felt slightly stiff.

He rolled his shoulders and neck, then looked at Sanguina with an indifferent expression.

”Time to go then.”

Sanguina clicked her tongue loudly, clearly displeased by his attitude.

”Mortal... you better treat my sister well, or else—”

”Else what?” Gray interrupted her with an annoyed tone.

”I’ll regret it?”

He stared straight into her eyes without fear.

”Our souls are literally bonded together. If I don’t treat her right, who will? The big sister that couldn’t even protect her during the old war?”

Thruuum!

Sanguina’s killing intent erupted like a crimson storm, flooding the entire chamber.

The blood on the floor boiled violently, and the air itself seemed to scream. Even the walls trembled under the pressure of a true Goddess’s rage.

Yet... it didn’t affect Gray in the slightest.

His expression remained cold and unmoved.

”Alright, alright... stop dissing at each other,” Jasmine sighed, stepping between them and gently pushing Sanguina back. S

he turned to her sister with a soft, pleading look.

”Where did you send his father?”

Sanguina glared at Gray for a few more seconds before answering, but to Jasmine, her voice instantly turned soft and sweet.

”...He’s imprisoned along with that woman. I’ll bring them here if you want.”

’...She definitely has a sister complex,’ Gray added inwardly upon seeing her expression change for a second to another.

Jasmine glanced at Gray, who gave a small nod.

”No need,” Jasmine said gently.

”Just send all of them back to the same place. I’m sure Gray would like that.”

Sanguina clicked her tongue again but waved her hand.

”Done.”

The blood-filled chamber around them began dissipating into crimson wisps. The world twisted and blurred.

The last thing Gray saw before everything faded was Sanguina looking directly at him with a threatening, yet strangely complex expression.

She mouthed silently:

”Take care of her.”

Gray rolled his eyes, but gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.

Then everything went dark.

When Gray opened his eyes again, he was back inside the underground escape tunnel.

The familiar blue crystals lit the narrow passage. The air was cold and stale once more. And right in front of him stood two figures.

Duke Caelis and Alina.

The Duke was on his knees, eyes completely bloodshot, face twisted in utter despair.

Tears streamed down his cheeks as he stared blankly at the ground. It was clear that he had received Sanguina’s message.

The Crimson Night Order no longer protected him. He had been abandoned.

Alina stood beside him, her sword still drawn, her violet eyes filled with shock and caution as she looked at Gray.

Gray’s lips curled into a cold, satisfied sneer inwardly.

’That expression of despair... looks beautiful on you, Father.’

Alina stood motionless for a few seconds, her violet eyes locked onto Gray.

The message from Sanguina had clearly reached her as well. Whatever instructions or warnings the Goddess of the Crimson Night had sent, it was enough.

She slowly lowered her sword.

Without a word, she stepped aside, moving gracefully to the side of the tunnel.

Her silver hair swayed as she turned slightly, watching the scene unfold.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile curled at the corner of her lips, not one of reluctance, but of joy... and perhaps a trace of satisfaction.

She would not intervene.

Duke Caelis’s face twisted in horror as he realized what was happening.

His last line of defense, his eldest daughter, the one he had always relied on, had just abandoned him.

”N-No... Alina!” he cried out instantly, reaching out for help.

”Alina, my daughter! Please! Don’t leave me here! I’m your father! I raised you! I gave you everything!”

Alina didn’t even look at him. Her gaze remained fixed on Gray, that faint smile still lingering as if she were watching something long overdue.

Gray took one slow step forward.

The Duke scrambled backward on his hands and knees, tears and snot mixing on his face. His once-proud, aristocratic features were now twisted into pure, animalistic terror.

”Gray! Gray, please! I’m begging you!” he wailed, his voice echoing pathetically throughout the underground tunnel.

”I was wrong! I admit it! I was a terrible father! I exiled you because I was scared! Scared of your talent, scared of what you could become! But I can change! I’ll give you everything! The D’Aurélion name, the territory, the wealth, it’s all yours! Just spare my life! I’ll disappear! You’ll never see me again! Please... please, my son... have mercy!”

Gray stopped a few meters away, tilting his head slightly as he looked down at the broken man.

”Mercy?” he repeated in a teasing tone.

”You taught me many things, Father. But mercy was never one of them.”

He crouched down slowly, bringing himself to eye level with the Duke. The two Enchanted Demon Hunting Daggers spun lazily between his fingers.

”You remember that lesson, don’t you? The one you loved to repeat when I was young?” Gray smiled faintly.

”Revenge is a dish best served cold.”

The Duke’s eyes widened with a flicker of desperate hope.

”Y-Yes! I remember! I taught you well! So you understand, right? You understand why I did what I did! It was for the family! For our legacy!”

Gray’s smile widened.

”Oh, I understand perfectly.”

He reached out and gently patted the Duke’s tear-stained cheek, almost affectionately.

”You were always so afraid of me surpassing you. So afraid that your own son would take everything from you. And look at you now... on your knees, begging the son you tried to destroy for mercy.”

The Duke grabbed Gray’s hand desperately, kissing it with trembling lips.

”Yes... yes, I was foolish! But I can make it right! I’ll name you my heir right now! I’ll sign anything! Just let me live! Please, Gray... my son...”

Gray let the Duke kiss his hand for a few seconds, watching the pathetic display with cold amusement.

Then he slowly pulled his hand back.

”You know... for a moment, I almost considered it,” he lied smoothly, his voice soft and convincing.

”Maybe letting you live as a broken, powerless man would be more satisfying than killing you. Watching you rot in some cell, knowing everything you built is now mine...”

The Duke’s eyes lit up with renewed hope.

”Yes! Yes! That would be perfect! I’ll suffer! I’ll accept any punishment! Just don’t kill me!”

Gray smiled gently... then his expression turned ice-cold.

”Too bad I don’t feel like being merciful today.”

Fwip!

In one clean, lightning-fast motion, Gray slashed both daggers across the Duke’s throat.

SPLURTT!

Blood sprayed in a wide arc as the Duke’s eyes bulged in shock and agony.

His mouth opened, trying to scream, but only wet gurgles came out. His hands clutched at his throat uselessly as blood poured between his fingers.

Gray stood up slowly, watching as his father collapsed sideways, twitching violently on the cold stone floor.

The life slowly drained from the Duke’s eyes, the same black eyes Maelis had inherited, filled with final, crushing despair.

The head rolled once, twice, before stopping right at Alina’s feet.

CRUNCH!

Alina lifted her foot and brought it down hard, crushing the Duke’s head beneath her heel. Blood, bone, and brain matter splattered across the tunnel floor with a sickening wet sound.

She twisted her foot once for good measure, completely destroying what remained of their father’s skull.

Gray watched the scene in silence.

The air smelled of blood and death.

For a long moment, neither sibling spoke.

...BOOOM!

Gray’s aura suddenly erupted.

[You have understood a little about the Sword Intent of Revenge!]

”...What a pleasant surprise.”