Struggling as a Villain

[Earth]

A group of eighteen young men and women were gathered around the room to discuss their future movements. Either they were sitting with their partner or in groups. If there was someone that can be regarded as an exception, then it was the young girl with long black hair who remained seated all alone.

They were living on top of the hill for the past four months and this place was relatively safe considering there are not many ways of entering this small settlement and climbing the forest route for the zombies would be impossible.

However, now, their ration was almost exhausted. Although there was a fresh waterfall nearby and a lot of animals in the forest, they needed some other basic necessary things as well.

That's why they were planning on moving in different directions to gather different things. One group would go and find first aid and other medical items from the nearest hospital, one would bring vehicles, one had to go and find utilities like flashlight, batteries, and some had to search for weapons.

The one who was standing in the middle while assigning the roles was the leader of the group, Ryan Atkinson.

"We need to focus on medical supplies and rations. Therefore, the two largest groups, each consisting of four people, will be assigned to gather these supplies." Ryan had already grouped up the warriors, so there was no need to point them out.

There were seven unawakened in the group amongst them was Bella as well. However, unlike the other non-awakened, she was quite useful and even stronger than some awakened.

The rest of the two awakened would be staying back and taking care of the base. And that left only Bella and the leader himself.

"Bella and I would be going to retrieve as many weapons as we could. Since the weapon store is in the most populated region we have to remain hidden and agile on our feet." Ryan's reasoning was rational and everyone agreed to it with a slow nod.

However, the person himself had something else in mind when he proposed a solo trip with Bella.

With a smirk, Ryan glanced at Bella who was sitting in a corner without a care in the world.

The way she has rejected every advance from him for the past ten days has irked Ryan to no end. He had the strength and looks to capture any beauty he desired, and this girl was behaving like she was some kind of princess.

However, her resistance was making her look more tempting in his eyes.

'Just a few hours more and you will be in my arms begging me to never let go~'

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"Mmm...." The next morning, Lilia mumbled in her sleep as she slowly woke up. It was not a very comfortable sleep last night; however, living as a soldier has allowed her to take a nap even underwater. So sleeping on a boulder was not that uncomfortable.

She got up while holding the blanket and looked around.

Her brows subconsciously elevated, and she was not able to believe what her eyes were showing her.

Her young master, who had a habit of waking up late, probably after eight on the clock, was currently meditating under the partial sunrays falling on the surface.

His upper body was exposed, revealing his shapely abs and wide shoulders. He wasn't buffed but possessed a very chiselled physique like the god itself had carved his body into perfection.

She didn't continue to stare at him, in fear of getting noticed again, as she removed the blanket and got ready for the day.

Richard was currently trying to channel ether through his body in a consistent flow for better output. It sounded too flimsy and difficult for someone who had been introduced to the whole concept of magic just ten days ago. However, Lilia had shown him the best way to control his ether.

Emitting unnecessary ether makes you vulnerable in the situation where you have to hide from your foe. Threatening your enemy with an overwhelming presence was one thing, but not like Richard would always be on the dominating side.

Extending ether outside of his body in the form of threads, he worked on their girth and precision. It was like picking a doll in a claw crane. If you can't be precise, you won't be able to pick the item successfully. And missing your target means wastage of ether since retrieving an ether thread is nigh impossible. You miss, you lose.

By training telekinesis he would have better control over ether and chanting other spells would become efficient

Currently, he can extend over twenty-five threads and each of them can lift twenty kilograms at most; and if he gets into this meditative position, then the strength doubles.

Next comes the girth of the thread. An S-rank warrior with a high affinity with 'Detection' can easily sense any movement of telekinesis, regardless of how thin the threads are. However, low-level warriors and Ambrobates cannot detect the arms of telekinesis if they are thin enough.

As such, he needed to work.

*SWIIIIISH*

Richard frowned and instinctively raised the threads to form a shield in front of his face—and as he thought he felt something crashing against the cobweb.

Opening his eyes, Richard frowned upon seeing the tip of a kitchen knife inches away from his forehead.

The shining blade was familiar, which urged Richard to look at his maid—and looking at that grin on her face, he knew who attacked him.

"Is it already the time to show your true colours?" Richard asked in a mocking tone as he held the knife in his hand.

Lilia continued to cook the breakfast as she casually stated, "We are here for training master, so expect the unexpected."

Richard smirked. This girl was surely evolving.

Richard went to take a bath before breakfast. The waterfall was only a few miles down the mountain so he just jogged down and within half an hour he was back—all clean and refreshed

Lilia was waiting for him near the camp with two bowls of what seemed like porridge served for him and herself.

"Welcome back, my lord. I hope you didn't have any problems finding the waterfall."

Richard shook his head, sat down on the small stone, and picked the bowl.

He was starving.

Using the wooden spoon, he scooped the porridge and placed it inside his mouth—only to find his eyes widening.

"Lilia?" With his eyes still stretched he asked the maid. The look on his face clearly told him that there was something wrong with the food. And Lilia's following words confirmed his suspicion,

"Excellent of you, young master, to detect the poison. I have used the poison found in the mountain goat's spine to be specific."

"But why?"

Lilia tilted her head. She didn't expect her master to not discern it. However, she didn't make him wait before revealing, "To increase master's resistance against poisons."

Richard, while grumbling, swallowed the food before warning her, "If I die after eating this, I will haunt you for life."

Lilia chuckled and continued to eat.

Richard couldn't recall if there were any of the main characters who had trained like this. One of the heroines was once poisoned and she was at the edge of death when that happened. The one who poisoned her was the bitch of a princess named Elizabeth.

In a way, apart from Ethan the other four main characters aren't that intensely trained at such basic levels. So, if things become problematic for Richard in the future, he may have a simple way of getting rid of those heroines. After all, the ultimate goal was to defeat the deity-ranked evil incarnate called King of Death.

The breakfast went in silence after that, and thankfully, other than the bitter aftertaste he experienced, there was no discomfort in his stomach. Lilia promised him that every meal from here on would be poisoned, and its toxicity would rise each time—to the point that on the thirtieth day, he would be immune to most of the poison.

"So, what are we doing today?" Once Lilia finished washing up, they stood before the Temple.

Richard thought that they might be going to train detection again in the same way they did back in the gymnasium. However, her following words surprised him,

"Now...we will go hunting some beasts, and while doing so, the young master has to work on his Detection effectively." With a sadistic smile extending her lips, she added, "After all, there won't be just the monster you have to look out for."

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A/N:- At most ten chapters for his training before we return to Duchy for a few slice of life. And then....academy arc!

How is the story until now? Was it entertaining? I have been receiving a lot of responses, and truth be told, I am beyond elated. This is my first work on the Web Novel which got contracted so once again,

A big Thank You.