The Tale of the Redeeming Villain

Today was the day.

Exactly seven days ago, the Saintess was taken captive by the blot of the Academy and was held inside the mansion, surrounded by an unbreakable barrier.

Exactly seven days ago, when Catherine disappeared and it was confirmed who took her away, Carlson had formed a judgment that he would bestow on the criminal named Blake.

And today, at this moment, he would pass the judgment.

"The barrier is shedding." The voice of the headmaster's secretary was heard by the others as they also noticed the violet barrier slowly disintegrating from the top.

Carlson's body tensed as all the adrenaline and rage he had been accumulating for the past seven days began to boil up once again.

The headmaster along with all the other professors was present around the barrier to witness the event. The people from the church and some of the students from the Council along with the President could be seen gathered around the front side of the barrier.

However, only a single person could be seen currently standing near Carlson. His temperament threatened others' safety as such they decided to keep their distance.

However, Charlotte wanted to witness Blake's demise up close—even if she got harmed in the process.

"Headmaster, we need to create a barrier for students' safety." The secretary spoke up since Blake's mansion wasn't too far away from the students' dorm.

In response to that, the headmaster said, "Don't worry about that. I have already chanted a barrier which would protect the building up to a good length..." Taking a pause the old man added, "I just hope that Carlson doesn't go beyond the point where even my barrier wouldn't be able to hold out against his powers."

The concerns of the Headmaster and many others around him didn't reach Carlson as he intently stared at the disappearing barrier.

All his life, he had never waited for something so impatiently as he was for Blake. The hatred, the loathing, the disgust he carries for the man have all reached their peaks and now Carlson wants nothing more than to rip Blake into pieces.

The last bit of barrier finally turned into particles before the mansion finally came into view.

"---!!" Carlson's eyes widened seeing half of the mansion ripped off as if like it went under some kind of heavy attack. However, more than that, what shocked him was the expression that Catherine wore while standing beside Blake.

She looked indifferent.

'Doesn't matter!' Carlson expected Blake to be using Catherine as a shield to get away and never thought his friend would be so unfazed. However, none of it mattered to him, as Carlson clenched his fist and soon his fingers turned into red blazing claws.

His body went into some minor changes as smoke began to conjure from all over.

*BOOOOM*

The earth trembled as Carlson launched himself toward his target with his claws extended. His sole intention with the attack was to rip that face off the person!

However,

*TING*

Something blocked his movements and not only that, Carlson was repulsed back like he just hit a wall.

"IT CAN'T BE!!" Someone from the crowd shouted but Carlson wasn't able to focus on them

His eyes widened as he saw Catherine joining hands and closing her eyes.

"....Cathy?"

*TREMBLE*

The ground quaked and the air grew dense, heavy with Holy Magic. Above Blake and Catherine, an imposing, tower-like figure materialized, its form distinctly humanoid.

A towering woman of pure mana, her eyes void of any emotion, surveyed the scene below. Her gaze, cold and unblinking, settled on Carlson. As her empty eyes pierced through him, he found himself paralyzed, unable to move under her overwhelming presence.

"KHUK!!" Carlson groaned in pain as his feet began to dig inside the solid ground, and the force of resistance from his side became a matter to laugh about.

He was rendered completely helpless.

"That is...."

"THE HYMN OF PURITY! SAINTESS HAS CALLED FORTH THE ABSOLUTE BEING!"

The people from the church were either falling to their knees with their hands clasped or were shocked enough to not be able to move an inch.

The Pope of the cathedral remained blankly staring at the blond nun without a word.

"Are you nuts?! Why are you doing something to make people distrustful of you?!" Inside the barrier, Blake couldn't help but yell at the stupid girl who had just made herself an enemy of everyone standing in front, by protecting Blake.

The spell Catherine just used was Monarch rank—something that only a few individuals could conjure. Being a nurtured Saintess she never had the opportunity to use this spell all her life....until now that is.

Catherine's expression remained frozen as she didn't reply to him and continued to focus on the spell.

She knew what she was doing and what consequences it may bring.

Her sole motive was to immobilize Carlson and protect Blake. And for that, she was prepared to face any obstacles.

"I knew it..." With daggers appearing in her hand, Charlotte clicked her tongue and marched toward Catherine.

Catherine's eyes dilated seeing the figure of the brunette as she hurriedly pushed Blake out of the way.

Charlotte didn't pause in her path as she utilized her skill, 'Mana Void' to break through the barrier.

She phased through the barrier that the Saintess conjured, and advanced toward the off-balanced Blake.

"You are mine!" She swung her blade vertically down his head—only to find her movement being blocked mid-way.

Charlotte's eyes widened since she didn't anticipate Blake to block her attack at such a pace.

Blake used his other hand to create a wind sphere, but the moment it neared Charlotte, the wind bomb disappeared.

"So this is the prowess of the Void." Blake thought to himself before he released Charlotte and used his both hands to block the incoming knee to his face.

His feet slid a few inches back because of the strike, but he didn't take more than a moment before refocusing on the battle.

Charlotte didn't dwell on how he was able to block her, despite being so pathetic at martial arts, as she threw her dagger in his direction and targeted the left side of his chest.

Blake knew his spells wouldn't work and blocking that poison-coated dagger might be dangerous. Depending on the only option, he tilted his body to the left in the nick of time before he felt the dagger grazing the fabric on his chest and arm a little.

However, before Blake could have gotten concerned over the shallow cut, he found some extra weight burdening over his shoulders and his breathing turning weak.

'It was a distraction....' Charlotte threw the dagger to keep him distracted and made her way toward him from his blind spots.

With her left arm wrapped around his neck, she kicked the back of his knee, and along with him she also fell to the ground.

Blake was caged in a lock with his vision turning blurry because of lack of air. He swayed his hands around helplessly to get his hands on something.

'Fuck....she is one tough girl!' Blake cursed inwardly before he placed his left hand above his belly and created a wind bomb.

**BOOOOM**

"AGHH!" With Blake as a medium, the wind bomb sent shockwaves to Charlotte, as her grip on him loosened up.

Naturally, Blake was heavily wounded because of the strike but he has gained endurance in these five days—enough to stand back up the moment he regained freedom.

Charlotte's face was pale and a streak of blood dripped down the left side of her lips. She tried to get up again, despite being in pain, but before she could, she felt a cold sensation pressing against her neck.

"Tch." She clicked her tongue seeing her own dagger getting used by her enemy to threaten her.

Blake's body was in tatters with numerous wounds actively bleeding, however, the hold on the dagger never wavered as he reminded Charlotte, "Although a cut from this might not kill you, it will surely hurt like hell."

His eyes turned completely blank as he added, "Wanna try?"

Charlotte stopped resisting and turned her face away. She was barely suppressing her tears from spilling out after getting defeated by this person o

nce again.

'This is so annoying....'

**********

A/N:- That was chaos....well, the main event starts now. Drop a comment.