Villain's Odyssey: Enslaving heroines, Conquering Villainesses
Chapter 44: Sweet Drinks and Electric Pranks

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Sweet Drinks and Electric Pranks

"Um..." Asher pursed his lips, his head tilted slightly to the side as he stared at the menu in obvious indecision.

"Sir?" The waitress—dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt and black skirt that reached her knees, with an apron bearing the restaurant’s name ’El Castillo’—waited patiently. She had blonde hair and brown eyes, and was holding a notepad and pen as she watched the young man with growing amusement.

"Asher?" Natalia called softly. The young man had been studying the menu for over five minutes now.

"Huh?" He looked up at her, blinking in confusion.

"Make a choice," she mouthed with an encouraging smile.

Asher gave an awkward smile in return. "I don’t know what to choose."

Natalia stared at him for a moment, then stole a glance at the waitress, who was looking at Asher with barely concealed incredulity.

"Just point at something, anything," the waitress suggested, finding his naivety oddly endearing.

"Okay," Asher said, then turned to Natalia with hopeful eyes. "Can I have what you picked?"

"Of course," Natalia replied with a warm smile.

The waitress nodded and left to place their orders.

"Can I ask you something?" Asher asked, setting the menu aside on the table.

"Sure," Natalia replied, meeting his gaze. Those strange purple orbs seemed to entrance her completely.

Why do I feel so comfortable with him? she wondered. It had only been a short while since they’d met, yet she felt so... casual around him. Like a friend she’d known for years.

"What’s tomorrow?" he asked, his expression turning serious.

This was the first time he’d given her such an intense look, and damn if it didn’t make him even more handsome.

Kyaaaaa! her inner voice squealed.

"T-tomorrow?" she stammered, and he nodded.

"Is there an event happening at the academy tomorrow?" he rephrased.

"Well, it’s a test," Natalia explained. "The first test of the semester, actually. It’s for the reshuffling of team members."

Asher nodded in understanding. "I was already told the basics of everything I need to know about the academy. Is there anything else? Like common sense rules?"

A young waiter approached with two drinks on a tray as Asher asked his question.

"Well, try not to use ether in places like the cafeteria, dorms, and admin block," Natalia said, moving her side bag from the table to her lap as their drinks were served.

"Okay..." Asher nodded.

"Don’t trust anyone except your team members during a battle royale," she added, taking the pink drink with its colorful straw.

"That makes sense," he agreed.

Natalia took a sip and her face lit up with pure bliss. "So good~" she sighed, her hands pressed to her cheeks.

"Really?" Asher asked curiously.

Natalia’s eyes snapped open, her face flushing an intense red as she realized she’d completely let her guard down.

"Mmm," she nodded, too embarrassed to speak.

Asher took a sip, and his eyes widened in surprise. Natalia giggled at his expression—like a fish out of water discovering a new ocean.

"You see?" she laughed.

"Yeah, damn, this is amazing," he smiled, then frowned slightly. "Wait, what exactly is it?" He studied the drink that somehow embodied the very essence of ’sweet.’

Natalia looked around conspiratorially, as if checking for unseen listeners, then leaned forward slightly—though not far enough to lose her back support. "Don’t ask," she whispered dramatically.

"Eh?" Asher also glanced around, then leaned closer. "Why?"

"I suspect it’s some... insect," she said with narrowed eyes.

Asher’s eyes widened in surprise, then shifted to pure disgust. "Really? And you guys drink it?" He sounded like someone who’d gone for a casual stroll with a friend only to discover they were a wanted criminal.

"No!" Natalia burst into laughter.

The realization hit him—she was just messing with him.

"Well, aren’t you a naughty girl," he said with mock seriousness. He picked up the decorative fruit from the edge of his glass and tossed it at her. It hit her square on the forehead.

"Ouch!" She held her forehead and pouted adorably, then grabbed the fruit from her own drink and threw it back at him. He simply tilted his head, and it sailed harmlessly past.

[Wait, what is happening here? Are you enjoying this?] The entity’s voice carried genuine confusion. Azalea had literally transformed before its metaphysical eyes into someone else entirely. His emotions were still restrained, yet he was portraying them so naturally it was almost disturbing.

To be honest, it was... weird. Extremely weird.

At this point, did the young man even need his emotions anymore? He could literally feel what he wanted to feel without them, and it seemed to be becoming more natural by the minute.

Don’t break my concentration, please, Asher thought back.

"Tsk," Natalia clicked her tongue in frustration, but then... she suddenly gave a sly smile.

"Wait, what are you planning?" Asher narrowed his eyes. That smile made him distinctly uncomfortable.

"Nothing," she said innocently.

But in the next instant, he realized it definitely wasn’t nothing.

ZZZZZZZZZZ!

"Bloody hell!" A strange surge of electrical current invaded his body, and he tumbled from his chair to the ground.

"Hehehehe!" Natalia’s delighted laughter filled the air.

As Asher lay on the floor, a calculating thought crossed his mind. Such potential. This girl would make an excellent ally. Unlike his plans with Anna, he didn’t want to make Natalia his slave. Since he’d already noticed how effective his looks were and how easily he could influence her with his persona, he would simply make her devoted to him. He would draw her away from her friends, isolate her, then help her become powerful. So damn powerful that neither Austin nor even the future main protagonist could stand against her.

Based on her behavior, best friend status should be achievable, he mused.

He would become her only friend.

[How about a lover?] the entity suggested.

Love? I can’t find such an emotion in my memories. Perhaps due to Noel’s traumatic past, my definition of love is distorted.

[What about Azalea’s memories?]

Even there, I find no such emotion. Noel’s memories affected my life as Azalea more than it might appear. He only saw Isabella as a close friend, nothing more.

[Interesting.]

I can’t portray emotions I can’t feel, right?

[Correct.]

So I’ll stick to friendship.

[Well, nonetheless, things are finally getting interesting.]

That I can agree with.

Asher stood up and walked toward Natalia with deliberate steps. She suddenly realized she was at a distinct disadvantage, considering her condition.

"Wait... sorry," she said quickly, her confidence evaporating.

"Don’t worry," Asher said with a mischievous grin. "You wanted to laugh, right? I’ll just make you laugh some more."

Her eyes widened in horror as she understood his meaning.

"Please, I beg you! I’ll die if you tickle me—I’m allergic!" she pleaded, though her giggling had already started in anticipation.