Anti Netotare Villian-Chapter 48: Story

"Well, you asked me whether I snuck out at night to elope with this girl, didn’t you?" Riech said, his tone laced with mild amusement.

"Yes, master," Roosevelt nodded, quickly regaining his composure.

Riech leaned forward slightly, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "Alright then, would you believe me if I told you that I simply went out to train and just so happened to find her there?"

Roosevelt didn’t even blink. "I am your loyal subject, master. Your words are the absolute truth to me," he said, bowing slightly to display his sincerity.

Of course, deep down, he considered it complete and utter bullshit—but he wasn’t about to voice that thought. He had no interest in provoking Riech, nor did he want to deal with the consequences of calling him out directly.

Riech let out a long, frustrated sigh, rubbing his temples. "Argh! Roosevelt, I killed those idiots because they lied to me—not because they slacked off on their duties."

It didn’t take much effort for Roosevelt to grasp what he meant. Quickly correcting himself, he adjusted his stance and spoke with deliberate bluntness.

"Master, I’d say what you just told me was nothing but a load of bullshit," he stated plainly.

There was no sugarcoating this time. He knew Riech wanted to hear his *true* thoughts, so he obliged—though he made sure to add just a *hint* of diplomacy to soften the blow.

Riech’s smirk widened ever so slightly. "Good. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. Now, I can continue my story."

He stretched his back lazily before shifting into a more comfortable position in his chair. Then, after a brief pause, he added in a low, almost casual tone,

"I have a *strong* dislike for people who lie."

A warning. A piece of advice. A thinly veiled threat.

*Gulp.*

Roosevelt swallowed hard.

"Now," Riech continued, as if nothing had happened, "let’s begin. As you already know, I snuck out of the castle. The reason was simple—I wanted to train. So, I headed to Darkwood, a quiet and secluded place, perfect for training."

And with that, he began recounting the events from the very beginning.

"Although it was odd that I noticed zero activity or security in the forest, I didn’t think much of it at the time," Riech continued, his voice steady. "After all, I deliberately chose a secluded place to train, so I decided to let the security lapse slide."

Roosevelt listened intently, not missing a single word.

This was different.

In the past, he would have dismissed Riech’s words as the ramblings of a fool—impulsive, reckless, and barely worth his attention. He had always considered himself the superior one in intelligence, and for the longest time, he wasn’t wrong.

But now... this moment right here?

He could feel the shift. The difference.

There was something about the way Riech was speaking—calm, calculated, and unwavering. For the first time, Roosevelt found himself acknowledging that the balance of power between them was beginning to change.

---

"But the real problem began after my training," Riech went on. "Just as I was about to leave, guess what happened?"

He paused, raising his hands in a theatrical gesture.

"A gut-wrenching growl echoed through the entire forest. The ground trembled beneath my feet."

His fingers drummed against the wooden table as he leaned forward.

"After hearing it, I did what I do best—I went looking for the source."

Roosevelt remained silent, absorbing every word.

"It took me a few solid minutes to reach the place. And guess what I saw?"

Riech’s voice sharpened as he smacked the table.

"A fucking ORC! A wild, rampaging ORC running loose in my territory! And somehow—somehow—no one had noticed it!" His eyes narrowed dangerously. "From the destruction around me, I could tell that thing had been on a rampage for quite some time—and yet, not a single knight, not a single one of your boys, had come to investigate."

Roosevelt clenched his fists but said nothing.

"I could understand the knights being absent," Riech admitted. "After all, there were only two stationed at the forest entrance. But my men? The ones who were supposed to patrol the area? Where the *hell* were they?"

A heavy silence filled the room.

Roosevelt took a deep breath before speaking. "I apologize for my incompetence, master. Nothing like this will ever happen again."

Riech studied him for a moment before leaning back. "I understand. It’s not *wholly* your fault, but remember this—" His gaze darkened. "Your eyes are meant to foresee the future of this territory. Don’t let them go blind just yet."

Roosevelt simply nodded.

---

"Now, let’s continue from where I left off," Riech said, settling comfortably in his chair.

"So, after finding that damn orc wreaking havoc without a single soul noticing, I did what *anyone* with strength would do—I killed it."

He tapped his fingers against the table again before continuing.

"But that wasn’t the end of it. Once the orc was dead, I decided to track where it had come from. Its destruction left a clear path, and after following it for some time, I found myself standing at the entrance of a cave."

His expression darkened.

"Naturally, I went inside to investigate."

Roosevelt remained still, waiting for the revelation.

"What I saw inside..." Riech exhaled sharply. "Even I wasn’t prepared for it."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering.

"The ground beneath my feet was littered with monster carcasses—half-eaten, rotting, their stench filling the entire cave. The floor was a mossy, blood-soaked mess that was disgusting to walk on."

Roosevelt frowned. That alone was troubling enough. But Riech wasn’t done.

"As I ventured deeper, I heard growling again. That’s when I knew—there was something *else* in there."

He paused, letting the tension build.

"And when I reached the source of the noise, guess what I found?"

He lifted his hand and pointed across the room.

"Her."

Roosevelt followed his gaze.

Lisa.

"I found *her* inside that cave," Riech stated, his voice cold and unwavering. "And she was creating an absolute monstrosity inside it."

His eyes sharpened, his expression unreadable.

Roosevelt inhaled sharply. Lisa, on the other hand, visibly stiffened.

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