Stone Mage: Revenge of the Villain System

“But you are still injured, Volken!” One of the Capere Astra team member said.

“Yes, would you still be able to do it!?” Another one added in worry.

The audience also reacted in surprise at this, as well as even more amazed envy towards Don Asuli.

“He’ll get to be mentored by Volken himself!? Seriously, if this guy was also blessed by the God of Fortune, I wouldn’t be surprised at all!!!”

“Volken is still as handsome as ever despite his injuries! Ahh~ To be railed— I mean, trained by him! Such a good honor!”

Volken chuckled heartily and waved his former team’s worries’ away.

“I almost fully healed, and I will be training just one little newbie anyway. How hard could it be?” He said with full suave confidence.

Don paled from the shock at this announcement, and then disgust. It was clear what he was doing.

Don hit him when he was a child, and this man openly stated that he wanted revenge. And just like that, he wanted to be his mentor? To make Don his protegee?

Only a fool would be gullible enough to believe he doesn’t have nefarious intentions.

Ronin was hearing these thoughts, and turned to Cermin who was eating a candy apple sloppily._.

‘Yep, a fool indeed. You got that right, Don.’

Don was not a fool, but he couldn’t very much decline, as it would seem strange to everyone. So he could only clench his fist and say.

“I appreciate this great honor, Former Captain Volken.”

Volken shook his head. “No need for formalities, Baby Blue. Just Volken or Volk as my friends would like to call me is fine.”

He felt like puking at the nickname, and corrected. “My name is Don, please remember that.”

“Alright, Bluebelle.”

He grinned wider at this certain nickname with double meaning, and Don could only stomp his foot and leave before he makes another mark on this bastard’s face.

This man…..

This was the type of man Ronin had wanted him about.

‘Men only want power. They may appear good on the outside, but they wanted power the most.’

Don could tell from those eyes. He was a power-hungry beast.

Ronin was feeling pretty proud that Don manage to catch on Day 1, but then again, the bar was set so low by Cermin.

But the naive golden boy thinks everyone was like him, and so he pulled Ronin’s sleeves with a worried look.

“I really don’t like your blue young master, but you should warn him about Volk.” Cermin said. “I….. I don’t want a repeat of what happened. To anyone.”

“I already did warn him when he first told me Volken would be here.” Ronin gently pushed his hand away. “Don’t worry, young master Don is not easy to trifle with.”

Cermin looked at Ronin’s eyes for a long while, then his creased eyebrows relaxed a little.

“You sure are confident about him.” He noticed. “Even earlier, you were wearing this expression where you think he’ll get accepted in the team since the start.”

“I just know how much my young master is capable of after living with his family for so long.” Ronin shrugged.

“It’s not belief in friends? I think it’s a little bit of that.” Cermin smiled. “I’m kinda jealous…”

(I used to have that. I used to think my friends believed in me, that’s why they were so supportive….. When they were actually just sucking up to me.)

Ronin frowned. This depressed Cermin/Min Cheng was getting more into his nerves than the former perverted dumbass Min Cheng.

‘So you got betrayed. Get over it, I will be doing much worse anyway.’ Ronin mentally scolded.

But it was also interesting to see him become more reflective. He seemed to have gained some awareness after his experience about how not everyone have good intentions towards him or like him.

He wanted to stop him from sulking, and Ronin rubbed his chin on how he could do that.

Ronin then remembered that Cermin told him about the Ascension exams for all new 4th year Warriors to assess how better they become after 3 years in the Academy.

“How about I watch your Ascension exam next? So you won’t be jealous that I watched Don’s tryouts anymore?” He offered.

Cermin’s eyes lit up. “Really!? But….. won’t you have classes?”

Ronin just shrugged. “I already know the lesson for that day prior to the discussion. I won’t be missing much.”

“You’ll be skipping class….. for me?” The golden prince blinked in confusion.

“Why not? Show a bit of ‘friendly faith’. I also believe in your capabilities. You’ll blow everyone away in the exams, I did see you fight in Gridiron before—“

Ronin could then sense that Cermin’s heart was beating really fast right now.

He did notice that he could somehow sense people’s heartbeats naturally, and that might also explain why he could determine a person’s amount of Flame so fast.

He can sense the increase and decrease in Flame, in blood flow, their life force…

Just like a death god or a Grim Reaper that can tell when someone’s heart would stop.

And when someone’s heart was still pumping with life. Right now, what he just said seemed to have made Cermin’s pump up even more.

“You’re really the best, Ronin!” Cermin suddenly hugged him. “Man, I’m so touched to have such a good friend like you! I’ll definitely crush this exams, I’ll do my best!”

“I see…..” Ronin blinked in confusion.

Cermin’s quickly beating heart was so close to him like this. It almost felt like it was right beside his own, his heart also getting infected by the quick rhythm.

He then heard a voice at the back of his head.

“You’re the best! You’re the greatest friend I could ask for, O—“

Before the voice could continue speaking, Cermin let go, and the voice faded away.

“Ah, sorry about that. I forgot you don’t like physical touch much.” Cermin scratched his head. “Anyway, you better go to the Ascension exam and not bail on me, ok? Ronin?”

Ronin was still a little dazed and Cermin waved his hand in front of him. “Ronin?”

“Oh. Of course.” He regained his composure and nodded blankly.

He narrowed his eyes. This person who called him a good friend, who called him with what he assumed to be his real name….

He must have been the bastard who stabbed him in that dark alley. He was sure of it.

Ronin could only chuckle bitterly. ‘And to think that I was also betrayed back then. Tsk…. How the tables have turned.’

‘The one who was schemed on became the schemer. I swear, once I get my hands on that scumbag….’

‘I will kill him nice and slow, until he regrets the day he met me.’