A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

"The Tidecallers are the most enigmatic of the divine species, and few extraordinary beings are willing to venture into that world's most perilous realm to observe and understand them. To my knowledge, intelligence on the Tidecallers is scarce, limited only to certain aspects of their characteristics."

Ravenna, perched atop her floating cannon, elucidated the nature of the Tidecallers to Seraphina.

"Foremost, the Tidecallers are widely recognized, yet their most incomprehensible trait is that, despite being divine species, they are parasitic beings."

"Parasitic..."

Seraphina, incredulous as Ravenna had described, questioned, "How can a divine species be such?"

"No one knows the answer," Ravenna replied, shaking her head. "But it is indeed the case. Seven hundred years ago, a formidable fifth-stage adventurer ventured deep into the Lost Sea and made this record—"

"'The terror of the Lost Sea is not due to the countless dangerous magical creatures inhabiting its endless depths. Rather, it is because the entire ocean... serves as nourishment, a nurturing ground, and a pasture for the Tidecallers.'"

Seraphina shuddered at the thought of the scene, the image of the monster writhing madly with its tentacles freshly in her mind.

"That is truly... disgusting," the girl lady muttered.

"Therefore, what you must confront is not the creature that it has parasitized; merely killing its current host will be futile... and it may have already escaped in another body by now."

"That's not for you to worry about."

Seraphina waved her hand dismissively, confidently stating, "I've memorized that strange and foul scent. It cannot escape... we are drawing near."

"Scent..."

Ravenna could never nitpick Seraphina's talent, from a combative standpoint, the girl was undeniably a prodigious genius.

"What next?"

Seraphina suddenly slowed her pace, drawing alongside Ravenna, who was still processing the situation when a flash like lightning crossed her vision. It was only upon closer inspection that she realized it was Seraphina's fair arm.

In her hand, she had caught a brown-green snake.

While playfully handling the venomous serpent, Seraphina inquired, "Is there anything else I should be wary of?"

"...As you've seen, it possesses an inconceivable adaptability and learning capacity, so never underestimate it, and... thank you."

The speed Ravenna noticed the snake was several times slower than Seraphina's, but even if she hadn't seen it, the permanent protective spells and alchemical devices layered upon her would have shielded her from harm. However, this did not mean she was indifferent to Seraphina's kindness.

"Hm?" Seraphina casually tossed aside the snake she had killed, expressing surprise, "You actually say thank you... I don't recall ever hearing you say that to Ansel, even though he has helped you so much."

Ravenna fell silent at the girl's offhand remark, while Seraphina, who was tracking the Tidecaller and not looking at Ravenna, thought nothing of it, as Ravenna was not one to talk much.

Help...

Ravenna was certain that many of the predicaments she faced were deliberately orchestrated by Ansel, pushing people into traps before extending a helping hand... hardly what one would call assistance.

But looking back now... everything was progressing favorably—Ansel had saved the increasingly unstable Tower of Babel, providing substantial support and allowing it to advance in the intended direction.

And the more idyllic reality became, the more frantic the panic in Ravenna's heart grew.

She still remembered Ansel's words, the wager that Ansel bet she would topple everything in madness. What exactly would he do for that, and how far had he gone now?

Thus, it was natural for Ravenna to lack any gratitude towards Ansel, a sentiment that differentiated her from Seraphina. Ravenna could even imagine how Seraphina had once been manipulated by Ansel, still naively cherishing her idealistic dreams, unaware that most of her suffering was orchestrated by him.

Yet, ironically... It was Seraphina Marlowe who ultimately received the most favorable outcome.

"I've been somewhat curious for a while, Ravenna."

The rather talkative Miss Seraphina couldn't help but glance at Ravenna and said, "Do you have... mental issues?"

"..."

"Uh, I'm not insulting you. I mean, your entire demeanor is just... not like a normal person, not that... well, anyway, you are really abnormal."

Seraphina recalled the memories Ansel had shown her, which contained little about Ravenna. Although Ravenna seemed off back then, it was only… mildly so, not like the current Ravenna, who seemed so... lifeless? Or rather...

Like a… a puppet? Like one wound up and then clicking-clacking along. Seraphina thought.

"Although I'm unsure where such a notion comes from," Ravenna responded calmly, "my mental state has always been stable, so there's no need for concern."

Seraphina pouted, "If you think there's no issue, it's fine by me. It doesn't concern me anyway."

The young girl muttered to herself, if it weren't for Ansel, I wouldn't bother reminding you.

Miss Wolf had immense trust in her intuition, which had been further enhanced by the head of wind. She was convinced her feelings were not amiss.

"Wait... stop!" Seraphina abruptly stopped Ravenna, her brow furrowed slightly as she sniffed the air: "Something is wrong with this scent... it has… more."

"More?"

"Yes, several scents have dispersed, right around us, and the strongest one has ceased."

"It must be manipulating other creatures," Ravenna murmured, "Its parasitic abilities are not confined to a single host."

"Tch, this complicates matters."

Seraphina clicked her tongue: "If we kill the host body, will the others die as well?"

"... Uncertain, but it's worth an attempt."

"Very well, let's do it!" Seraphina declared decisively, "Bow and arrow in hand, I will kill that bastard!"

Ravenna silently handed over the bow and arrows to Seraphina, following the girl's gaze, she directed her attention deep into the jungle. Seraphina had located the Tidecaller, but... success would not come easily.

Suellen, under the guise of "observation", was safeguarding the Tidecaller, ensuring it could extensively parasitize and devastate the local ecosystem. Her cautious nature led her to seek Ansel's assistance, and she could use Ravenna and Seraphina to eliminate more threats.

Now, with Seraphina intent on hunting the Tidecaller, how could Suellen possibly allow it?

The wolf, having locked onto its prey, climbed nimbly to a higher vantage point, kneeling on a sturdy branch, bow drawn, eyes narrowed to slits.

The nauseating stench grew even more potent and expansive, with fainter scents scattered around.

"Such a detestable smell..."

The wolf-beast murmured lowly, a deep loathing welling up from within.

She exhaled slowly, the bowstring taut to the point of curving the bow itself, her arm muscles sculpted in a display of grace and power. Even without sight of her quarry, Seraphina's expression remained defiant and confident.

To her, this was merely a game presented by Ansel, and games were meant to be enjoyed.

She was certain that with this arrow, the repugnant scent would be eradicated, no different from when she had previously pierced the skull of her intended prey.

Whoosh—!

The arrow's piercing whistle as it cleaved through the air was the harbinger of its near-instantaneous arrival at a target nearly a hundred meters away. Seraphina's pupils reflected the arrow, now a mere speck in the distance, her face already alight with a smile, ready to savor the prey's agonized screams.

However, in the next instant, her smile froze.

Boom!!

Ravenna's arrow effortlessly penetrated the interwoven roots on the ground, the massive root branches as fragile as paper under its force. Despite the remarkable impact, Seraphina's face bore no joy.

For the arrow had missed its mark.

Almost simultaneously, a strange, deep blue mass burst forth from the dense roots, vanishing in an instant.

"Who are you!"

A furious roar exploded through the jungle: "Come out!"

That momentary disturbance... it was not the reaction of a Tidecaller. There was another presence interfering, and even though it was well-concealed, Seraphina could sense the anomaly.

"Damn it... if I find you, you'll—"

Biu!

A fierce beam of light erupted from below, and in an instant, a blinding column of radiance materialized before Seraphina's eyes. In the next moment, a charred wing plummeted to the ground before her.

As the girl lowered her gaze, she observed the singed edges of the wing and the translucent blue tendrils that tenaciously sprouted forth, only to be…

Obliterated by a passing floating cannon.

"Seraphina."

Ravenna called out, surrounded by four floating cannons. She looked up at the young girl perched on a tree branch and calmly instructed, "Pursue it, and do not let it escape."

"...Ah, um? Wait wait wait wait, just a moment, I sense something around us—"

"The enemy, creatures that have been parasitized by it."

The petite sorceress's mirror shimmered with flowing light: "Though I lack your formidable strength, these beings are of a lesser stage. Leave them to me; I am well-equipped to handle them."

This rapid exchange left Seraphina bewildered for several seconds before she grasped the situation: "Leave them to you... Wait, what—ahhh!"

Without turning her head, she had punched the tree trunk, crushing an invisible spider the size of a human head into a pulpy mess. From the remains, a semi-transparent tendril emerged, burrowing into Seraphina's skin and eliciting a terrified howl from Miss wolf.

She struck the tree trunk again with the back of her hand, pounding several times until she cracked the sturdy trunk, then, with a lingering sense of dread, she withdrew her hand and hastily leaped down to Ravenna's side.

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