My Wife is a Dead Villainess, and I'm Her Living Weapon-Chapter 62: Dad

While Bianca and Elian spoke quietly, two massive figures approached from the treeline. Their steps were light—careful, as if terrified of the ground beneath them.

Considering what I did, I don’t blame them. Still, this is effective as a means to monitor an area.

"Daughter," called one of the figures.

Bianca turned. Her eyes met Bastion and Silent’s—and after a long pause, she croaked the words with difficulty.

"Mom. Dad."

Elian could tell the words felt foreign to Bianca. But the small smile on his master’s face said everything.

Silent took another step and walked forward, "Daughter, thank you for saving Whisper. What happens now?"

At her question Bianca gazed at Elian in confusion.

"Uhm, what do you mean, Mom? Naturally our pack sticks together. We will get stronger and beat up everyone who messed with Fralhame."

Uncharacteristically, Bianca spoke more animated, she even raised her fist as she answered Silent with pride.

"Fufu, I see traces of your sister in you. How wonderful," She added.

But then a masculine silvery voice interjected, "Daughter, as much as I agree with you, nothing that concerns the crucible is ever so simple. This expedition ended with a draw. The Crucible would pick new opponents for both Fralhame and Earth."

Bastion’s eyes glared at Elian as he growled his next words, "The Truthsong church has maintained a monopoly within this dungeon, they even prepared a trap for you. They surely know by now what has happened. It is not safe here. Our options are quite limited."

"Huh? What do you mean Dad?"

"We’re stranded. Until the system forces another match between Earth and Fralhame... We need to find a new den to lay low. Bianca, you will be coming with us along with Fluffy."

At Bastion’s words. The black sea began to ripple. The largest of the Snow Wolf Alphas lowered his body and snarled. "Get it through your thick skull you monster. Neither of my daughters will remain with you. You are going to have to kill me to get them!"

"Sure."

The black sea began to ripple again. Bianca froze in confusion. Regaining her wits, she frantically tried to intervene.

"Huh? Wait! Elian! Stop it! Dad! He doesn’t mean that!"

Elian stretched out his hand and the living metal formed an onyx color greatsword on the spot. He took the handle and pointed it at Bastion.

"Your bravado is admirable but sadly it means nothing. You lack the ability to protect Bianca and Fluffy. Stand down Bastion. While I am still asking nicely..."

"I saw many like you, you genocidal bastard. Whisper’s words were true. You are a war crime waiting to happen. My daughters will live lives of nothing but danger and misery if they accompany you!"

"No!!" Bianca then clung to Silent as she pleaded, "Mom! Please stop Dad! Elian is going to kill him!"

But like her namesake, Silent said nothing and simply watched.

"And what would you give her you washed up mongrel? You couldn’t even protect your own wife from being used as someone’s livestock. If Bianca and Fluffy did go with you, where will you hide? Will you simply wait till the next Tyrant beats you up to submission?"

At Elian’s words Bastion’s eyebrows furrowed. His bared his teeth in anger and roared.

"YOU KNOW NOTHING! THE CRUCIBLE IS A GROTESQUE CASTLE BUILT ON THE CORPSES AND BLOOD OF ALL THOSE WHO LOST THEMSELVES TO GREED!"

"And? Your own world has joined it, what does that make you? For all of Fralhame’s crap about honor and freedom, you seem to have no trouble trampling upon the freedoms of others. Even if you did go back, would the crucible even allow you to forfeit?"

Elian didn’t know the actual rules. But from what he understood of the Celestial Crucible it rewarded cruelty and punished honor. Fralhame and Earth’s situations were proof of this.

Like hell such a messed-up system would allow you to just quit.

Bianca’s explanation said everything he needed to know.

"There are multiple brackets. The system rewards those who conquer. Each expedition is a match. The more victories a world claims, the higher it climbs—and the more control it gains over others. They can ally, trade, enslave or even erase the losers."

The Crucible tests a world’s occupants. By attacking a dungeon, that world would be eligible to participate in it. That was how heavy the sin the first murder carried. It doomed the entire world to war, enslavement or even annihilation.

There is no other way to survive in it. Only to force your will and make the crucible itself bend. That is why the crucible only answers to Tyrants.

"..." Bastion’s silence confirmed Elian’s guesses.

There was no way to opt of the crucible once the first dungeon portal turned red. The only way to survive was to grow strong enough to not only fight but make all other tyrants think twice about invading.

Bastion could run. But without someone to defend them, they would eventually be cornered and enslaved. Even if he succeeded it was pointless. Though his own family might survive, Fralhame as a whole wouldn’t.

But for some reason, Bastion did not even consider becoming the Tyrant himself.

That was the only thing that puzzled Elian at the moment. Figuring they could just speak with their fists, he drew his greatsword back. But a shadow stepped between him and Bastion. It didn’t bare fangs—it shielded him.

"Dear, please calm down. You are making it difficult for Bianca," she said calmly. Silent’s voice was smooth like velvet and sultry, seducing all who heard her.

"But Silent...He is dangerous! He could hurt them! Did you already forget how he skewered us earlier? He ends lives as if they were grass!"

Silent approached her husband and rested her forehead on his. She said nothing. But only a fool would fail to notice how deeply Bastion adored his wife. Her simple action caused him to stand down.

Oh. It was for her.

Elian nodded in understanding. By becoming a Tyrant, your most important person would end up becoming your Anchor. That was the deal. And Bastion didn’t have the courage to make that choice.

If I had any other alternative, I probably would think like him. But sadly, I didn’t.

"I am Bianca Valestra, Witch of the Frozen Night, an enemy of Humanity. By choosing to follow me, you will be fighting not just humans—but the entire world. I no longer wish to lie to you, Elian. If you wish to walk away or choose another path, I will let you."

Leaving Bianca’s future to chance would only end up in catastrophe. Humans were greedy, selfish and evil. Unless Elian could beat them back, they would come after her. It was just as simple as that.

Bianca ran forward and threw herself on Bastion’s mane. Her words were barely coherent, but it showed just how much her new family meant to her.

Family huh?

From the get-go, Elian intended to ally himself with Fralhame and protect it.

"Thank you, Fluffy. Thank you for being part of my family. As payment, I vow to you. Your home. Your people. The Snow wolves of Fralhame. I will protect them as my own."

That was the vow he gave Fluffy. And considering everything he did, Bastion’s actions were understandable. At their core they were the desires of a father desperate to protect his family.

Making his decision, Elian stabbed the greatsword into the ground in one swift motion. He kneeled and summoned the Living metal towards him. Like a wave from the sea, the walls of black crashed into Elian, causing loud booms to reverberate.

But with each second that passed, large amounts of the waters came together and solidified. Within moments, Elian’s wall armor was recreated in full.

Good thing the Cinderglass ammunition didn’t erupt.

When the process completed, Elian’s armor drank up all the spare Living Metal. Bastion and Silent visibly expressed relief when the dark waters dried up. But Elian had no time to reassure them so he did the next best thing. freewebnøvel.com

"Unyielding Bastion. Silent Frozen Star. Noble Wolves of Fralhame. From this point on, everything I will say is true and without any falsehood. In the near future, I will forcibly take over humanity. When I gain the crown of a Tyrant, I will come for Fralhame."

"Elian! What are you—"

"Quiet daughter. This is a matter between men," Silent said calmly.

Bastion gave a nod of approval at his wife’s actions and returned his attention to Elian.

"When I do, I intend to ally or subjugate your world and place it under my protection. As the Snow Wolves are now part of Bianca’s family. I will save you all and terminate all who wish to harm you," Elian continued.

"And why would you do all this? What are you to my daughter? You speak without a hint of emotion and only know of murder and destruction. How can I be sure you won’t hurt her?"

"D-Dad..."

"I want to take your daughter—Bianca Valestra of Fralhame—as my wife. It may not happen immediately, but I wish to spend the rest of my days with her in peace. For that, I will destroy any world, any Tyrant the crucible throws my way."

"W-Wha—"

"Fufu... Well done daughter. You managed to snatch up a powerful mate in record time. Now—when can I expect grandchildren?"

"M-MOM!"