A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

This abstract description would be incomprehensible to anyone. Even a genius would be limited by the perspective of their era.

But standing before Ansel was a genius who could transcend her era.

The woman was stunned by Ansel's words. Clearly, she was trying to visualize the thing Ansel described in her mind, but it was too abstract for her to grasp even a hint of it.

But while contemplating it, Ravenna had already recognized... the immeasurable value of this thing.

Before Ravenna could speak, Ansel continued: "What if... this spell... it shouldn't be called a spell at this point... what if this... thing, could be interconnected?"

"Inter... connected?"

"Yes, like if someone in the north had this thing and inputted information about some unique monsters in the north, then someone in the south who also had this thing could instantly know this information, transcending time, space, and even the limitations of the medium. What then?"

"It's like a net, a net that can connect the entire empire, allowing countless people to transcend countless limitations, to pierce through—"

"To pierce through… that iron wall of knowledge that has stood for thousands of years!"

Ravenna, her voice trembling, finished Ansel's sentence for him.

"Right—oh, Venna, you—"

"Ansel, you're a genius... no, genius doesn't even begin to describe your talent, you're simply... simply..."

Ravenna hugged Ansel tightly, too excited to articulate her thoughts. The mere thought of such a vision coming to life made her lose all self-control.

"From material to knowledge, from knowledge to thought... how did you think of everything? How do you know everything? Are you really only thirteen?"

Ansel, embraced by the soft body, was stunned for a moment, then contentedly wrapped his arms around the petite scholar's slender waist, half-closing his eyes: "Of course I'm only thirteen. As for why I could think of so much... it's just as you said, because I'm a genius."

"I know... I know."

Ravenna whispered with utmost confidence: "I've never doubted your abilities, Ansel."

"Um... you might be disappointed this time, because regarding this 'net', I can only propose such a concept. I have no clue about its underlying principles, so it's just talk—"

"I will make it happen." Ravenna looked at Ansel, her tone incredibly serious, "Ansel, I will, I will create it. Compared to the Etheric Furnace, its value and difficulty... lies in the concept you proposed. In this world, even after a hundred years, two hundred years... or even a thousand years, there might not be anyone who can reach your current height."

"I will never... never allow such a great work to be buried in my hands."

Ansel chuckled: "Then I'll be looking forward to it."

Ravenna softly responded, then realized how tightly she was holding Ansel. She immediately let go, took two steps back, and averted her gaze.

Ansel just looked at her with a smile, not saying anything that would embarrass the very unadult-like adult Miss Ravenna.

The two of them remained silent for a few minutes, but neither found it awkward. In the tranquility, companions with a vision that transcended their era could only feel an unparalleled sense of understanding and harmony.

"Ansel, at this moment, I find it difficult to envision a world without you, a world where I alone must instigate change," Ravenna confessed after a long silence.

Ansel responded with a jest, "Perhaps in my absence, you might find another companion?"

"No," Ravenna shook her head, "I refuse to believe that there exists another being in this world who could rival your talents, and not just your talents... Ansel, your thoughts, those that I cannot comprehend, those that I cannot touch."

"Divine beings, the whole Empire, extraordinary beings, mortals... To be honest, I have not delved as deeply as you have, and even now, I only half understand your words."

Ansel's smile brightened, "That's alright, I will teach you, Venna."

"...Thank you, Ansel."

A rare, genuine smile graced Ravenna's strikingly beautiful face, "Our compatibility, our complementarity... It's as if it were fated."

Ansel's smile froze.

"Yes, without you, the transformation of the Empire, the transformation of the world, would face countless obstacles. But with you, Ansel... with you, everything is different."

Ravenna took Ansel's hand, her voice resolute and unflinching, "We are fated to change the Empire, to change everything, Ansel."

"Fa...ted."

"...Ansel?"

After calming her turbulent emotions, Ravenna quickly noticed Ansel's unusual demeanor. His strained attempt to smile made her anxious.

"What's wrong?"

"Fated..." Ansel lowered his head, hiding his expression from Ravenna.

"Venna."

The youthful Hydral softly asked, "Do you believe that I will change the Empire, that I will provide you with significant assistance?"

Ansel's unusual state worried Ravenna, but she didn't know how to handle it, so she could only respond to his question, "...Yes, isn't that a given?"

After a moment of hesitation, she clumsily tried to encourage Ansel, "You and I, in terms of abilities and ideals, we are so... aligned, aren't we?"

"Ideals... Heh... Yes, I too want to change the Empire, to change all this damnation."

Ansel suddenly laughed, lifting his head to reveal a radiant smile. The profound light in his sea-blue eyes momentarily mesmerized Ravenna. Had she just glimpsed... an unusual darkness?

"I will change the Empire, Venna."

He declared with absolute certainty, "There is no doubt about it, the Empire will... become better, I promise."

"...But you," Ravenna, still looking at Ansel, couldn't help but ask, "You seem to have... thought of something..."

"I was thinking about something."

Ansel suddenly pulled the petite Ravenna close, cradling her face in his hands, their foreheads touching.

"Venna."

The young Hydral, a thirteen-year-old boy, stared intently into Ravenna's eyes.

"No matter when, no matter what happens."

"You will always... stand by my side, right?"

Ravenna stared into his clear, bright eyes, the darkness she had seen earlier seemed to have been an illusion. Now, all she saw in those eyes was... an unprecedented worry and weakness, and some sort of... compromise?

"...I don't know what you're worried about, Ansel."

Ravenna sighed, hugging Ansel tightly, "Besides your side, where else could I stand?"

Ansel closed his eyes, as if reminiscing about something, and softly asked, "Do you promise?"

"I promise, Ansel."

Ravenna didn't know what Ansel had suddenly thought of, but it was only at this moment that she realized.

Ansel... was truly just thirteen years old.

*