Struggling as a Villain

nothing to hide from you."

Richard smiled fondly at her before advancing towards her, as the lady tore open the envelope.

Richard leaned over her shoulder as he read the letter,

[To Her Grace, Scarlette Bellarine,

Greetings. This is the chief advisor of the royal court, stating the necessity of your presence in the upcoming emergency meeting. The venue is the main palace, Eldoria, and the gathering will be held the day after tomorrow.

Since it holds importance relating to an approaching danger, it would be appreciated if the Lady appeared to participate in it.]

Richard frowned upon reading the letter relating to this sudden meeting. But when he thought about it, considering the incidents that have transpired recently he could understand the reason behind this meeting.

What bothered him was the part of incoming danger. What could it be? A warning from the church regarding the war? Possibly.

"Mom…do you know what danger is mentioned here?" Richard asked, believing his mother\'s judgment to be best in this situation.

The older Scarlette shared a frown as she slowly said," There had been some sightings of unnatural portals that spat out Ambrobates these days."

Richard was unsure if he was hearing it right so he asked again, "You mean…portals like teleportation portals?"

Bellarine nodded as she glanced at her baby in confusion.

"And…they throw out Bates?" Richard asked again and the lady nodded again, but this time she got up and asked in concern,

"Is there something worrisome, baby?"

Richard took a deep breath before he stated, "Mom…I can be wrong but there is a possibility that these monsters are being thrown at us from different universes."

Bellarine turned silent hearing that, her delicate brows drawing closer as she thought carefully back on the information her informants provided.

Strange portals. Something visible on the other side. Bates is weaker than the ones present on Clion.

"...now that you say it, it\'s really strange that the Bates being thrown at us contains a different energy."

"What kind of energy?" Suddenly a third person entered the conversation, and Bellarine was startled since she was so immersed in the conversation that she never noticed Bella walking in.

Bellarine pressed her hand against her heaving chest, as she scolded her, "Don\'t just come in without warning."

Bella ignored her mother and focused on her Brother, "Brother, I might be able to help since I have lived on earth for a long time. I have seen how the zombies began to evolve, and so did humans."

Bellarine and Richard had heard from her how one day everything changed when a strange Star appeared in the sky, and everyone suddenly started gaining powers which they considered fictional until then.

Richard knew it was the Dark Star which appeared on Earth as well. However, he never heard anything from Zulcriz about it, nor was he provided the opportunity to ask anything.

Haah…

Bellarine told her daughter whatever she knew about this energy, "It was said that the strange magic energy was thinner in comparison—something which might not be able to support any spell beyond four circles. And it didn\'t have a distinctive color."

Richard asked, "And all the Bates contained the same type of energy?"

The oldest one nodded.

Bella frowned, "Although it would be premature to say it with conviction, I think its mana flowing through them."

Bellarine asked, "Mana? Do they call ether, mana back there?"

Bella nodded, "I always thought that my mana was different from theirs, given I was able to use five and even six-circle spells back then. And I climbed the ladder of hierarchy in no time—however, I was so desperate to see Brother that I never pondered over my abnormal growth."

Richard felt sad even by imagining how lonely it must be for the little girl to be left behind.

However, he decided to talk about it later and asked her, "And what about the monsters? Did they all possess the same kind of energy as others?"

Bella nodded, "Yes…and killing those monsters allowed the hunters to absorb their mana."

"---!!"

Bellarine and Richard\'s eyes widened in shock as they turned to look at each other.

"Mom…"

"...yeah. Those are the traits of Ambrobates."

Ambrobates have the ability to kill and devour their hunt\'s magical essence. The humans back on earth possessed not only the same energy as the Bates but had a similar absorbing ability as well.

Bellarine gravely asked her son, "Baby…do you think one of the residents from the Dark Star has taken over Earth?"

Richard grimly nodded, "All the facts are indicating that, indeed, a whole planet is under the control of Aembr."

Bella curiously asked, "But…isn\'t it a good thing, Brother? We are on the side of the Darkness, right?"

Bellarine heaved a sigh before explaining to her daughter, "Although the side of Darkness shares the same origin, the personalities of the Generals are quite different."

Bella frowned, "...do you mean they can betray?"

Richard softly smiled as he rested his hand on her head and told her, "Unlike the apostles who can easily get brainwashed and manipulated in listening to the words of the deities, the Generals aren\'t Apostles, but parts of the Darkness. They contain their will and intelligence and look at things from a different perspective."

Bella was…unaware. Truly.

From her perspective, the Generals were the servants of the God of Death and would follow their command at every cost.

Richard crossed his arms and thought for a moment. The situation of these portals was complicated…it would be a mess if the people from Clion or the citizens from Earth crossed the portals.

And it was still uncertain if only Earth or was there any other world under the same circumstances from which the Bates were being thrown into this world.

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There was the matter with the Emberclad Empire. Then there were those Apostles and Ethan. And now this new situation has arisen.

Richard looked at his mother before telling her, "Mom, I will leave for Emberclad with Lilia and Bella tomorrow. You go to the Capital and attend this meeting. I will send Jasmine with you."

Bellarine whined, "But can\'t you wait? Let\'s all go together?"

Richard calmly explained, "It would be best to hammer the iron when it is hot. The situation of Emberclad betraying us is still fresh so I should act as soon as I can. And it\'s still uncertain how long your meeting will go, so first finish that and then later, join me."

Albeit reluctant, the older Scarlette agreed to what her son said.

While resting his back against the wall, Richard looked at nothing particular as a thought crossed his mind,

\'It\'s time for homecoming.\'

—------**--------

A/N:- Thanks for reading. It means a lot.