Brad the Baron: Rewrite of Villain

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Chapter 14: Unspoken Watchers

⮞ Brandy

The sun dipped below the horizon, staining the training yard in dim orange and long shadows.

I stood in the center, soaked in sweat, muscles aching, mana burning under my skin like dry oilcloth. Kael had left hours ago, but I kept swinging.

And missing.

My thoughts were racing…

He's too calm. Too polished. Too fast. Elric wasn't supposed to be like this. Not yet.

Even though I was trying to keep my calm—I couldn't.

Every strike slammed into the dummy with less technique and more frustration.

When I came to this world, I was more thrilled than afraid. After all, Brad wasn't even a minor villain. Worst case? I could just walk away. Drop the name. Start anew.

At least this world wasn't monotonous. Wasn't boring. Even if I didn't get involved with the main storyline, there was enough here to live an interesting life.

But then I saw something.

Something I had only ever daydreamed about: the chance to become great—to reach the apex.

I mean, who doesn't fantasize about it? Being strong, untouchable, admired. Girls in your arms. The world beneath your feet. In my last life, I never took it seriously. I did the bare minimum.

But here? The path to greatness was laid out for the protagonist. I just had to walk it first.

And now…?

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips.

I'm the one with foresight. I know how this world moves. And still—I'm already starting to fall behind.

And the real story hasn't even begun.

Crack. Another wooden arm shattered.

Then—

A soft cough.

I turned fast—mana flaring reflexively.

Lira stood a few paces away, holding a folded cloth and flask. No flinch, no apology. Just that unreadable calm she always wore.

"You didn't come for dinner," she said, stepping closer.

"I'm not hungry."

"You haven't eaten since morning."

I scowled, turning away. "That's not your concern."

Silence stretched. I expected her to leave.

She didn't.

"You're not training," she said quietly. "You're punishing yourself."

I exhaled sharply. "You're not my teacher."

"No," she agreed. "But I'm the only one who noticed when you changed."

That stopped me.

She set the cloth and flask down on the bench nearby. "You stopped calling for anyone. Stopped speaking unless necessary. Your tone, your walk—different."

I swallowed. Not visibly, I hoped.

She looked at me, eyes still soft. "I don't know what caused the change," she said quietly—almost to herself. Her eyes lingered on mine, not searching, just… remembering. "But you're still the same arrogant, selfish guy underneath it all."

She blinked slowly, like that fact brought her a strange comfort.

Before I could respond, she turned—but not before adding, softer:

"And I'll still deal with anyone who tries to break you."

Her footsteps faded into the shadows.

I stood there, gripping the sword.

Still processing what had just happened.

Her words. Her tone. The strange calm in them.

I didn't move.

Then—

The bench creaked behind me. Someone else had stepped into the yard.

Kael.

Leaning against the wooden rail like he'd been there for hours. Probably had.

"She doesn't speak to anyone else like that, you know," he said.

I didn't answer.

"She sees something in you," he added. "Maybe who you were. Maybe who you are now."

He walked toward the bench, pausing just beside the flask Lira had left.

"But that kind of attention? It doesn't come from duty. It comes from obsession."

He fixed his eyes on mine—sharper than usual.

"Whatever happened to you, Brandy—others are starting to notice."

Then he turned and disappeared into the shadows.

I sat back on the bench, unmoving.

The cloth was still warm. The flask unopened.

They're watching. Elric grows stronger. Lira watches me. Kael is watching both.

And me?

I'm starting to forget what I was supposed to become.

Here I was—thinking of running at the first sign of real trouble.

Selfish, huh…

I laughed. Not loud. Not quiet. Just… unhinged.

A twisted smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

I suppose there's no point justifying anything.

I was never doing this for some noble cause. Not to survive. Not for glory.

I did it because I wanted to.

No reason. No justification. Just... want.

Call it greed. Call it ambition. Call it madness.

It doesn't matter. It never did.

Even if death claims me in the end—

At least I'll have made this life interesting.

Something worthy of a story for the afterlife.