Heaven Refining physique - Chapter 54: Bait

(Alternative title: I Can Cut Through Anything)...After dying from overwork, Riven is reincarnated into a war-torn world where holy power and arcane magic clash for dominance. Born into poverty and orphaned at twelve, he survives with his younger sister by scavenging weapons from the corpses of fallen soldiers.That is, until he finds a gravely wounded woman in front of his house.Moved by a strange sense of compassion, Riven saves her life—unaware that she is the infamous Mad Queen, a ruthless monarch who slaughtered her entire royal bloodline.In return for his kindness, she teaches him how to wield a sword—an art that awakens a terrifying power within him: the ability to cut through anything.But power comes at a cost. Her gaze shifts from gratitude to obsession. And now, bound by a twisted marriage to a queen whose love is as dangerous as her blade, Riven must decide: will he run from her... or embrace the madness she offers?---Author's NoteHi everyone, I’m a new author here.To be honest, I got tired of the same old harem tropes—stories where the male lead collects girls like trophies without any real emotional depth. So I decided to write something different.This is a dark fantasy romance centered around one woman only: a yandere queen whose love is as dangerous as her power.Yes, the story contains R-rated scenes—expect some heat.But it’s not just about that.This novel will dive into:Deep character development,The twisted yet intimate relationship between Riven and the Queen,A complex world filled with arcane powers and divine magic,Royal politics and war,And Riven’s journey to become the strongest swordsman in the world.As a beginner, I genuinely welcome any feedback, comments, or even low ratings. Whether you give me five stars or just one, it’ll help me improve—and I truly appreciate it.Thank you for reading.I hope you enjoy the madness.

Blondina was a princess with commoner blood in her veins. She lived quietly in the Star Palace among the heavens, but one day, she heals a wounded cat. The cat became a balm to her lonely life. But the lovely cat was actually…

***

Amon stepped on the neck of the prince.

Amon eyes stared coldly at the prince.

“Humans dare threaten mine?”

“I didn’t know… I don’t know, it’s Blondina…”

“Yeah, I don’t know. But I don’t know either. How much power must be adjusted so that you will not die.”

As Blondina, who was watching, grabbed his collar to drag Amon,

Amon turned slowly and laughed at Blondina.

“Don’t worry, Blondina. I will kill anything that bothers you.”

***

What to do with him.

It seems that I picked up a scary creature without my knowledge.

Kaidan (Kaidan refers to eerie tales of strange, mysterious, rare, or bewitching ghosts and monsters from Japanese folklore.) feed on cognition, wield information as weapons, and use information as currency, existing between the peculiarities of neither life nor death.They exist in human rumors and dwell in the shadows of the world.“Does this mean I will become a Kaidan?”In ancient times, they were worshipped as deities, empowered by faith.“Then I am a deity!”In more recent ancient times, they were regarded as demons and fed on fear.“I will become the master of Kaidan!”However, as the tides of time washed over, they gradually vanished, leaving behind only texts considered to be delusions.“To restore the glory of Kaidan is an undeniable duty of ours.”But you are not yet a Kaidan, hmm, nor a person.“Well, becoming a Kaidan counts as success.”

On one spring evening when I was eight years old, I, Erica, Duke of Aurelia’s daughter, realized something.

Huh, I have reincarnated into a fantasy world, haven’t I?

Moreover, it was the romance-fantasy girl game that had the reputation of being bloody, 『Liber Monstrorum ~Phantom Beasts and the Winter Princess~』

The face reflected in the mirror was that of the villainess character of that game.

After repeatedly harassing many characters, including the heroine, she would die without exception, signaling the beginning of an event called the bizarre incident. She was a villain who deserved to get the consequences!

—I absolutely don’t want a destiny like that, though?

No, for me who has remembered the memory of my previous life, there would be no such thing.

In my previous life, I was harassed immensely by an irrationally angry yandere man who proclaimed ‘She is absolutely in love with me.’

My cause of death, too, was from being stabbed by another yandere man who I only had talked with a few times……

Now that I have become the haughty villainess Erica, I shouldn’t encounter more misunderstandings like with the previous life’s yandere men anymore, right……?

In that case, it will be fine as long as I deal with the death flags that I may have raised myself.

All right! First of all, before the bizarre incident begins at the Magic Academy, I will strike down the death flags accordingly!!

—Or so I thought, but it seems that I am about to die.

Eeh, how did this happen—!?