Villainous Me: Help! The heroines are yanderes!
Chapter 77 - 76: Space-time affinity[GTG]

Chapter 77: Chapter 76: Space-time affinity[GTG]

In a near-empty classroom, occupied by only five figures, a single sunbeam speared through the window, casting a soft, dusty glow.

Yet, the chaos erupting outside was unbelievable. The air crackled with a thick tension, heavy as though a thunderstorm was about to burst. Four of the five people exchanged icy glares, a silent promise of violence hanging in the air.

"Ryan," the pink-haired girl began, sitting opposite him. Her smile didn’t reach her cold, emerald gaze. "What are they all doing here? This wasn’t the agreement, was it?" Her hands clenched tightly into fists, knuckles white against her pale skin.

"Same," Lyra interjected, her voice laced with suspicion. "What are you doing here... Princess?" she asked, the last word dripping with sarcasm.

The temperature plummeted further as they all stole glances at each other, readying their mana for a battle. Even Helen, seated right beside Ryan, did not appear stable. Her usually vibrant blue eyes were clouded with anger.

"Alright, calm down everyone," Ryan finally spoke up, his gaze sweeping across the faces before him: Helen, Lyra, Scarlet, and Emily. "There’s something happening outside the academy, and some of you might already be aware of this – at least, most of you," he added, his voice taking on a serious edge. "So please, no matter how much you dislike each other, can you just endure for this moment? If not for anything else, then at least for the bond you claim we share." He finished with a heartfelt plea.

He’d been pondering the bizarre situation for a while now, connecting dots to understand his actual purpose in this world. Perhaps the reason he was tasked with conquering all the heroines wasn’t just retribution as the system had spoken. It might hold connections to what was happening now.

After his heartfelt speech, the tension visibly subsided, though not entirely. Especially the stares directed at Helen and Lyra who flanked Ryan on both sides.

"Ha, Emily, if you would please," Ryan sighed before turning to the pink-haired girl.

She stared back intently, clearly still displeased. Then, with a resigned sigh, she spoke, her voice laced with a hint of fear, "Outside the academy walls, utter chaos reigns. It’s partly why I was able to leave the palace undetected."

"What exactly do you mean by... chaos?" Lyra frowned, her brow furrowed in worry.

"You all must have heard of the prophecy, part of the reason for the mandatory service," the princess continued.

"I knew there was more to this service than they said," Scarlet clicked her tongue in realization.

"Just a few days ago, Owen as we knew it, turned upside down. The Dark Church did something to the world’s core, linking it to the demonic realm, Kahem," she finished. Silence claimed the room, heavy and oppressive.

"This... this can’t be," Helen finally spoke up, her voice trembling.

Sensing her inner turmoil, Ryan instinctively placed his hand on hers, offering a small, reassuring smile.

"Is that why the teachers suddenly abandoned the school?" Scarlet inquired, grasping the situation.

"Most likely. Before I left, my father issued a decree ordering the return of all Ex-militants and even the fourth years of numerous academies, including teachers and whatnot," Emily continued with a sigh. "According to him, we needed all the help we could get. Even the other empire, Lefiel, withdrew their military citizens who had migrated from them. No one is taking chances."

"Then why are you here? Shouldn’t the palace be the safest place for the princess?" Lyra asked with narrowed eyes.

"Well, it should have been," Emily’s voice dropped to a whisper, "but... I couldn’t just leave Ryan here to die pathetically. The academy might have left you all here thinking it was the safest option, but it’s anything but..." her voice trailed off, a flicker of defiance in her eyes.

"That doesn’t make sense. No matter how deep your feelings are, I doubt the princess I’ve heard about would do such a thing," hissed Scarlet.

"Believe what you want," Emily countered, her voice hardening. "And then again, what other reason would I have for coming here? As you all already know, I wasn’t even allowed to participate in the mandatory service and have no reason to be here otherwise."

Scarlet tried to refute her but found no words.

"So you’re saying the academy left us for our own good?" Helen asked, though she seemed to be holding something back, her gaze flickering to the window for a brief moment.

"Exactly," Emily agreed with a nod, "but they ignored one factor. If a portal like the one that opened in the capital and several other places were to open here, I don’t think we could survive it," Emily clarified, her voice laced with a sliver of fear.

"So, in other words, we have to leave before that happens," Ryan chimed in, the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders.

"Exactly," she nodded, a determined glint flickering in her emerald eyes.

"Is my duchy affected by this... chaos?" Helen asked, her voice barely a whisper. Her normally vibrant blue eyes were now clouded with a deep worry that went beyond the immediate threat.

"Regretfully, yes," Emily replied hesitantly. "But they are still holding strong, that’s all I can say about the Elliot Duchy."

Hearing this, Helen trembled, not entirely from fear. She didn’t truly care for the Duchy itself; it was her little brother, William, she was worried about. Ryan squeezed her hand reassuringly, sensing the storm brewing within her.

"So, the portal?" he asked, needing to focus on the immediate task at hand.

"I’m afraid not," Emily sighed. "The portal was destroyed by the staff before they left for the capital, possibly because they didn’t want any students leaving. It was also agreed upon by the nobles and management so this was pre-planned."

A frustrated scoff escaped Lyra’s lips. "Ha, you know all this yet act so carefree about it?"

"And why haven’t we seen any attempt to come in contact with Ryan before, if you so claim to have come here for him?" Scarlet posed a difficult question, her voice laced with suspicion.

"Mainly because I was only allowed in here in exchange for my silence," Emily explained, a flicker of resentment crossing her features. "The academy didn’t want the students panicking so they had me under observation to make sure I wouldn’t come in contact with anyone I knew, well, that was until the exam."

"So... how do we leave?" Helen asked, her voice hoarse but her eyes burning with a newfound determination.

"There’s a certain someone in the academy who can be of help, that’s if we can find her," Emily purred, a mischievous glint returning to her eyes.

"Who?" Ryan asked, a flicker of hope sparking within him.

"A certain girl who goes by the name Mia Ylien," she replied.

"Wait," Lyra looked at her, "you don’t mean the girl with the space-time affinity, do you?" she asked, a hint of awe creeping into her voice.

"Of course I do," Emily smirked, a playful glint in her eyes.