Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

[Valerie's POV:]

Aside from his parents and Sebastian, I'm one of the few who've known him since he was little.

I was there when he shut himself off from the world—because he knew exactly how people looked at him.

I saw the moment he chose to stop hiding, to stop running, and to start working toward a better life.

And now, I'm here, watching him shine.

Yes, I felt a little jealous seeing the girls cheer and squeal for him… but the pride I felt watching the students support him drowned out every bit of that jealousy.

My chest tightened, and a smile stayed on my face the whole time.

He never cared about what people thought of him. But every time someone called him weak or mocked him, it felt like they were stabbing the most fragile part of me.

I hated every single one of them. And I didn't just hate—I fought back. I hurt more than a few who dared to treat him like he was anything less than someone worthy of love and respect.

But now… I don't have to protect him anymore.

He's strong enough to defend his name, to stand tall, and to build a reputation that makes people think twice before crossing him.

I've been a witness to every step of his journey.

And now—I'm watching him rise to the top.

....

[Third Person POV:]

Austin moved about the battlefield like a phantom, appearing at one point, and in the next instance, he slashed his blade several meters away.

The cause of his urgency wasn't just to get the best scores but also the quest he received from the system,

[Destroy all the training dolls within ninety seconds.]

Austin spun to the side, dodging a wooden staff that swung straight at his head. In a blur, Scar shifted into a spear. He drove it through the training doll's chest, then yanked it back as the puppet collapsed into pieces.

Before the next one could move, Scar twisted into twin blades. Austin leaped forward, slashing the doll's arms off mid-attack and kicking its head clean off.

Gasps echoed through the indoor gymnasium.

"Whoa… did you see that?"

"He's not even trying—he's just playing with them!"

"Is that weapon alive or what?!"

Austin turned, eyes locked on the last two dolls. Scar morphed again, this time into a heavy axe. He dodged low, then swung upward. One doll exploded on impact, the other barely raised its arm before it was split in two.

Silence followed—then thunderous claps and loud cheering.

"That was insane!"

"He didn't get hit even once!"

A group of five dolls advanced at once. Austin grinned. Scar twisted into a glaive. With fluid steps, he dashed forward, slicing through the middle doll, then spinning and cutting down the next two. The final two tried to flank him.

He slid low, Scar turning into twin tonfas, and struck both side by side with brutal force. Sparks flew, and the dolls broke apart.

People in the stands stood up, shouting.

"He's unstoppable!"

"Every move looks like a dance!"

"How many forms does that weapon have?!"

The last doll, bigger and reinforced, activated from the back wall. It stomped forward like a mini-boss.

Austin cracked his neck, Scar glowing with eerie darkness.

This time, it became a massive greatsword.

With a single step, Austin charged. The doll swung down with both arms—he blocked with the flat of the sword, then pushed back and cleaved it in half with one heavy strike.

His blade switched back to its original form, and before the doll could fall, Austin slashed the scar at an unbelievably fast pace, leaving hundreds of afterimages behind.

"Woah..."

"That is...intense and beautiful..."

"Did someone notice his hands moving?"

The training doll was sliced into several dice, and they fell on the ground with light thuds.

Austin got up and glanced at the timer. Just over sixty seconds. He still had time for another round.

But when he turned toward the referees, he saw them standing frozen—eyes wide, lips parted, completely speechless.

After a pause, one of them stepped forward and said, "Usually, it takes us a few days to discuss rankings and approve the title of warrior. But in your case… it would be foolish to even think twice."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box.

"With full respect, Sir Austin Eryndor, I hereby declare you as the ninth S-rank warrior."

There was a brief silence as he held out the box. Austin accepted it with a soft smile, appreciating the honor behind the gesture.

He slowly removed the cover.

Inside was a golden card, gleaming, with his name engraved across it.

He stared at it for a moment, letting it sink in—everything he had been through, everything he had worked for—this was what it meant to stand at the top. To be called the strongest.

He shook hands with both officials, then walked back to the person who looked more excited than even him.

Valerie.

Without a word, he gently handed her the box. "Here," he said, "you deserve this as much as I do."

She took it with both hands, looked inside—and her smile bloomed. Her eyes softened and glistened slightly.

Then she closed the box, handed it to the headmaster beside her… and threw herself into his arms.

Austin caught her easily, wrapping his arms around her as she held on tight like she hadn't seen him in years.

"I'm so proud of you," she whispered into his chest.

He kissed the top of her head.

"Thank you for never losing trust in me… thank you, Val."

...

After that, a few of Austin's close friends gathered in his room to celebrate the occasion.

Sheldon, Rhea, and Averis—who had pulled a reluctant Jimmy along—sat inside, each holding a glass of fruit wine.

Surprisingly, it was Sheldon who stood up to raise a toast.

He glanced around the room.

Valerie was comfortably wrapped in Austin's arms. Rhea smiled warmly at him from the side. Averis and Jimmy sat together on the couch, watching him with quiet curiosity.

Taking a breath, Sheldon began, "I don't know if we'll get another chance to gather like this. I don't know if peace will last beyond tomorrow. But there's one thing I do know, one thing that feels certain right now…"

He paused, his lips curling into a small, honest smile.

"…Until the last breath of our lives, we'll remember this moment."

He lifted his glass higher.

"To friendships that don't fade, to bonds that can't be broken, and to the warrior who reminded us what strength truly looks like."

Everyone raised their glasses in silence—then clinked them together gently.

The room filled with a soft warmth, the kind that only comes from knowing you're surrounded by people who matter.

Averis suddenly turned to her brother. "Are you going to visit home? Dad would be thrilled to hear the news."

Rhea smirked from her seat. "I doubt the King hasn't already heard about it. This is Austin we're talking about."

Sheldon nodded, raising his glass slightly. "True. This kind of news travels fast across the globe. It's a big deal."

Austin gave a casual shrug. "I don't know about the whole world, but... maybe I will visit in a few days."

He didn't mean it. Not entirely. But it was easier to let Averis believe that. After all, he couldn't exactly tell his younger sister the real reason he'd be heading out soon.

He wasn't going home.

He'd be crossing the Sea of Separation—heading deep into forbidden lands to hunt the Succubus Queen.

They continued chatting, laughing, and enjoying the simple but warm food Valerie had made. The night dragged on gently, and before long, Valerie stood and stretched.

"Alright, you all better head to bed," she said with a smile. "We still have classes tomorrow."

Grumbling but smiling, the group began to disperse, saying their goodnights.

Later that night, long after the others had left, Austin and Valerie quietly stepped out of their room.

They made their way toward the northern forest, walking side by side under the silver moonlight.

Neither spoke.

Austin held the same wooden box he'd been given earlier that day. Valerie carried a small bunch of white flowers in her hands.

The wind was cold, brushing against their faces and rustling the trees—but they didn't stop.

And they didn't look back.

After walking for fifteen minutes, they reached a tombstone that Austin himself had created in the memory of a certain old man.

The first one to approach was Valerie.

She rested the fresh flowers there and removed the dried ones. She visits the gravestone once a week, and Austin...he probably come here daily.

Valerie did a small prayer before backing away.

Austin then advanced towards the tombstone and started at the name he had etched for a long time.

Countless emotions swirled in his chest as he finally knelt before him and opened the box to show his old friend what he had achieved.

"I wanted you to be there...to pat my back and tell me that I did great." His voice was heavy with emotions, "...thank you for what you have done for me, Sebas. I hope you find peace now."

°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.