The Villainous Me Turned the Losers into Blackened Bosses-Chapter 35 - Nightmare 2

“So, you came here to get something and ended up locked inside?”

“Y-Yeah, that’s right.”

“Then why are your hands empty? And isn’t this place mostly for ice-elemental magic items? That doesn’t seem like your area of expertise.”

“T-T-That’s…”

“Teacher~ Don’t forget what I told you—be honest~ be direct~ be bold~”

Will had only intended to tease Leah a little. He didn’t actually expect her to tell the truth.

After all, she was the queen of tsundere—who didn’t know that?

But to his surprise, as soon as he said those words, Leah pulled her oversized hat down to cover her face.

“F-Fine! I’ll… I’ll tell you everything! B-But you better not laugh at your teacher!”

…

Leah skipped over her internal turmoil and explained how she had seen Will with the letter, accidentally picked it up off the floor, and ended up here.

“…Do people actually fall for letters like that?”

“T-T-That’s… ahahaha…”

Leah laughed awkwardly.

“Whatever. Don’t worry, Will. The warehouse is checked regularly. If we’re lucky, the guards will come by after their shift. If not… someone will definitely find us by tomorrow morning!”

“That’s not exactly comforting.”

“I-I’m still here, aren’t I?”

And so, the two of them sat side by side on the cold floor.

Leah sneaked a glance at Will.

He was wearing the summer uniform of Entark First Academy. The school only had two seasonal uniforms, which was fine given the capital’s extreme climate—spring and autumn were so short that two sets of clothing sufficed.

But…

Leah wondered if Will was cold. She reached out and touched his arm.

A faint shock ran through her fingers.

Maybe it was because Will still had that strange coin on him. However, as the temperature in the room continued to drop, her accelerated heartbeat and magical circuit flow were less intense than they had been outside.

“W-Why are you touching your student all of a sudden?”

“Who’s touching you?! I-I was just checking if you were cold! And you are—your skin feels chilly.”

“Uh… that behavior is kinda… motherly…”

Will realized what he’d said a moment too late—he didn’t even have a mother in this world.

Oh well, if that’s the case, having a loli mom wouldn’t be the worst thing.

“Who wants to be your mom?! At most, I’d be your older sister!”

Even at over a hundred years old, women hated being called older.

Grumbling, Leah removed her oversized magical robe and draped it over Will’s head.

“I-It’s not because I care or anything… Fine, I do care. Your arms are cold, and who knows how long we’ll be stuck here. Just wear it.”

Blushing to the tips of her ears, Leah turned away, her round, slightly chubby cheeks puffing up adorably.

The teacher’s uniform beneath her robe was simple—short-sleeved with a pleated skirt, paired with knee-high socks and small leather shoes. Though it was a teacher’s uniform, on Leah’s petite frame, it looked no different from a typical schoolgirl’s outfit.

Will was surprised.

Though it wasn’t the bold directness he had hoped for, it was progress! She had openly shown concern for someone else and even said it out loud.

Overcome with excitement, Will grabbed Leah’s arm—

“Yes, yes, Leah, that’s it! Thank you! Come on, smile a little more—I’m thanking you, after all. Smile like a blooming flower~”

“Y-Y-You’re insane!”

As the door remained shut and the warm air from outside dissipated, the warehouse’s temperature continued to drop.

Even with the flame dragon stomach fluid in his system, Will began to feel the chill.

In the original story, this was the point where Young Master Will was locked in until 6:30 PM. The bullies, not wanting to cause a death, would eventually come to unlock the door. They would then dump the semi-conscious Will in the woods and flee.

Without protective measures, and with his already poor magical circuits, the original Will didn’t show immediate symptoms but suffered long-term side effects, becoming even weaker. This led to his role in the party being reduced to that of a healer.

6:30 PM was the time noted in the original story when Young Master Will, delirious, stared at the clock and heard the door creak open—one of the rare moments of detailed description for this cannon-fodder character.

Now, there was about an hour left.

“Phew…”

Will exhaled, his breath visible as a white mist in the cold air.

The flame dragon stomach fluid would protect his magical circuits and body from damage—this was something he had confirmed through extensive research and dungeon experience with Mr. S.

Though the cold wasn’t as severe as described in the original story, Will still felt a slight chill. The difference was akin to walking through snow in winter without a coat versus getting caught in a chilly spring rain while wearing light clothing.

Wrapped in Leah’s magical robe, which carried a faint scent of her, he felt an odd sense of warmth.

It was like being wrapped in a cozy blanket on a rainy night, listening to the gentle patter of raindrops outside.

Wrapped in a blanket…

Staring at the rows of shelves filled with items, all made of cold, gray metal and coated with a thin layer of frost, Will began to feel drowsy. Since starting school, he had been staying up late every night to keep up with the altered storyline and his coursework.

His sleep deprivation was catching up to him.

The easiest time to fall asleep is when you’re wrapped in a warm blanket.

The gray shelves around him seemed to warp and stretch, transforming into towering ice walls that reached the sky.

The walls were smooth and reflective, showing clear images of anyone who stood before them. Snowflakes the size of feathers drifted down, covering the ground in a thick, two-meter-deep layer of snow.

This was…

The “Snow Empress’s Peak,” the 70th floor of one of the most challenging dungeons, home to the most formidable boss: the Snow Maiden. Unlike other dungeon bosses known for their offensive power, the Snow Maiden specialized in defense and attrition. In this icy landscape, even walking was a struggle, let alone fighting.

In this frozen wasteland, Leah, clad in her oversized witch’s hat and carrying her staff, trudged forward, each step sinking into the snow.

When she reached the towering ice wall, she stopped.

“This is… Extreme Flame Meteor!”

“This is… Extreme Flame Meteor!!!”

“This… is… Extreme Flame… Meteor!!!”

Over and over, she unleashed her proudest skill at the unyielding wall, only to see it remain untouched.

Snow piled high on her hat, turning its deep purple brim white.

Her robe’s hem was buried in the snow, frost clung to her shoulders, and snow clumps formed around her small leather shoes and black socks.

“Damn it… Shu, y-you better listen to me—”

After firing over a dozen meteors at the ice wall, even a witch like Leah was exhausted. She knelt in the snow, clutching her staff.

“I… I never hated you.”

“I never hated you from the start.”

“I pushed you away because… because I was scared… scared that losing you later would leave me in tears.”

“Can you hear me? Shu… you must be able to hear me, behind this wall…”

Her breath came out in white puffs as she spoke, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

Her once agile body grew stiff.

Her once bright eyes became clouded.

Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a vial of blood-red mint essential oil and poured it into her mouth.

“I should’ve said this earlier…”

“Damn it, I should’ve told you sooner…”

“So let me tell you now—I, Leah Ferramore Element, want you back! I need you back! I’ve been waiting for you to come back! I want you so much—”

“If you won’t answer, I’ll break through this wall to make you answer!!!”

Her chant quickened, flames igniting in her right hand.

In this frozen wasteland, she was the only source of light.

“Take this—”

The witch who bore the name of “Flame” pushed herself to her limits, unleashing her full power against the unbreakable ice wall, lighting up the dark, snowy landscape with her attack…

But…

The wall didn’t move.

It remained.

It stood tall.

Her proud fireball had achieved only one thing: revealing the scene behind the mirrored ice wall.

The person Leah had been calling out to stood there, watching her pitiful display with a serious expression.

Beside him, a beautiful black-haired Snow Maiden stood, looking more like a long-time comrade than an enemy.

She handed him a steaming cup of coffee and kissed his cheek.

[It’s too late.]

Leah couldn’t hear his voice, but she could read his lips.

“Wait—how… how can this be…”

She rushed to the wall.

“I… I tried my best. How can this still…”

She pounded on the transparent ice.

“Too late… yes, too late… it’s all my fault… can’t you at least look back at me?”

Her fingers slid down the icy surface as her tear-filled eyes locked onto the figure behind the wall.

Whoosh—

In an instant, the ice wall she had shattered with her full strength froze over again, leaving her alone with her tear-streaked, swollen face reflected back at her. Her crimson witch’s eyes were puffy and red, tears streaming down in large drops.

Will watched, feeling a chill run through him.

Chasing after the back of someone she loved, only to be rejected and left with nothing but her own pitiful reflection—this scene seemed to mock the witch’s hesitation and inability to be honest.

The novel’s illustration had captured this exact moment: Leah’s tear-streaked face sliding down the ice wall, filled with regret and sorrow.

Ah… it was so cold.

To fall from a proud witch to a crying, regretful loser required only a snowstorm, a moment of rejection, and unending tears.

Perhaps this was the essence of being a tsundere.

But…

The Leah who had pushed him out of her office to shield him from political intrigue…

The Leah who had cleaned the insults off his desk…

The Leah who had given her robe to her student…

Foll𝑜w current novels on fɾēewebnσveℓ.com.

“Leah…”

“Ferramore…”

“Element…”

“…You’re really not cute at all.”

Before Will could process what he was saying, he noticed the air around him had grown warmer.

Then, something tickled his cheek.

And…

A deafening voice roared—

“Y-You dare call me uncute after sleeping on my shoulder?! Don’t push your luck, Will Hysterm!!!!!!”

Leah stepped back.

Thud.

Will found himself lying flat on the cold cement floor.