Reborn As a Villain Son With The Strongest Wife-Chapter 24: Rising Shadows – The Villain’s Growing Influence

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[Hero Faction Headquarters – Sanctus Hall]

Rael Ascarion stood stiffly in the grand hall.

His fists clenched. His mind still rattled.

(That woman...)

(That beast of a man...)

(...What are they?)

The Hero Faction Leader, Cardinal Augustine, observed Rael quietly.

"You've returned, Rael."

Rael's jaw tensed.

"I... encountered something."

Augustine raised an eyebrow.

"Speak."

Rael hesitated.

(Should I report him?)

(...But if I do, will it even matter?)

He swallowed hard.

"I... fought alongside Lucius Arden. We encountered... Leonhardt Valtara."

A silence fell in the room.

"Leonhardt Valtara..." Augustine's voice darkened.

Rael nodded slowly.

"He—" Rael's throat tightened. "He killed Lucius' Sacred Beast. Effortlessly. And his wife..."

He shuddered.

"...is a monster beyond understanding."

Augustine's eyes narrowed.

"A monster, you say?"

Rael's breathing quickened.

"My Sacred Griffin trembled the moment it sensed her. It—refused to come out. As if standing before a Calamity-Class Beast."

Augustine slowly leaned forward.

"And you believe Leonhardt is a threat?"

Rael hesitated.

"...Yes."

Silence.

And then—

A dark smile crept onto Augustine's face.

"Excellent."

Rael froze.

"W-What?"

"Leonhardt Valtara... and his wife... they are precisely what the Church warned us about."

Rael's blood ran cold.

"They must be eradicated."

Rael's eyes widened.

"Wait—you don't even know what they are. Maybe they're—"

Augustine cut him off coldly.

"They are Villains, Rael. That alone warrants their extermination."

Rael's fists clenched.

"But Leonhardt didn't... he didn't actually kill Lucius."

"And yet Lucius' Sacred Beast is dead, is it not?"

Rael fell silent.

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Augustine's smile widened.

"Good work, Rael. I will personally inform the Holy Church."

Rael's stomach churned.

"But—"

"Enough."

The Cardinal's voice was like ice.

"Leonhardt Valtara will now be marked as a Grade-S Threat."

Rael's heart dropped.

(What have I done...?)

[Meanwhile – Valtara Estate]

I sat beside Ironhorn, who laid in a weakened state.

Celestia hummed softly, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Ara~ Your beast is recovering quite fast, darling~"

I gently stroked Ironhorn's snout.

"Yeah... but he's not done evolving."

[Beast Evolution Progress: 82%]

(After that battle with Radiant Leonis... Ironhorn is changing.)

Celestia smiled mischievously.

"Fufufu~ If Ironhorn evolves... will he become a Mythical-Class Beast~?"

I exhaled.

"Maybe."

"And then you'll become even more irresistible to me~" she whispered.

I chuckled.

"And you're already hopelessly obsessed with me."

Celestia giggled.

"Ara~ Guilty as charged, darling~"

Suddenly—

[Warning: Hostile Threat Detected Approaching Estate.]

My expression darkened.

(...Already?)

I turned to Celestia.

"Prepare for company."

She licked her lips.

"My, my~ Shall we welcome them with blood~?"