The Villain Professor's Second Chance

They approached the counter, where a clerk greeted them with the usual mix of awe and caution reserved for A-rank adventurers. Whispers rose from the gathered crowd of adventurers—murmurs about the rapid ascent of the Shadowbound Adventurer Party, particularly Dravis Granger. No one knew exactly who he was, only that he wore that mask, and when it came to battle, he was a force of destruction.

The curiosity was palpable, but no one dared ask. Even Sylvanna, standing beside him, didn't bother to hide her identity. Her bravery, coupled with her skill, made her a legend in her own right.

The clerk cleared his throat nervously as Dravis reached into his cloak and produced a vial filled with the noxious black liquid that represented the heart of the Shadow Plague. "Quest completed," Dravis said, his voice low, calm, and precise.

"Y-Yes, of course," the clerk stammered, carefully taking the vial as if it might explode in his hands. He glanced nervously at Sylvanna, then back at Dravis. "Lady Sophie was mentioned in your last report... Icevern's knight herself?"

Sylvanna smirked and leaned against the counter. "That's right. She helped us finish off the remnants of the plague. Couldn't have asked for better backup." Her voice was casual, but the grin on her face was anything but. She loved stirring things up, especially when it came to throwing the name of Lady Sophie around. It always got a reaction.

And it did. The murmurs in the guild grew louder, adventurers whispering among themselves about the involvement of such a high-ranking knight. Despite the excitement, there was still an air of suspicion surrounding Dravis Granger. His rise to A-rank had been fast—too fast for some.

Many adventurers didn't trust what they couldn't see, and with Dravis keeping his face hidden, rumors spread like wildfire.

Sylvanna's eyes scanned the room, taking in the muttering crowd. She chuckled under her breath, her smirk widening. "Things are getting rowdy, aren't they?" she said, loud enough for Dravis to hear but quiet enough to keep it between them.

"Let them talk," Dravis replied, his voice devoid of emotion. "It's none of our concern." He glanced sideways at her. "They've already learned their lesson."

Sylvanna's grin grew as she remembered the fools who had challenged them. Jealousy, no doubt, had driven the adventurers to test the strength of Shadowbound. But every time, they were swiftly crushed—Dravis with his devastating swordsmanship and Sylvanna unleashing her Magma Bear. The image of that creature tearing through opponents still sent shivers down the spines of those who had witnessed it.
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None of them dared challenge them now, not after the last foolhardy attempt.

But then Sylvanna's expression darkened, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. "What are we going to do about them?" she asked, looking at Dravis intently.

He didn't need to ask for clarification. She was talking about the elves—the ones they had found in the aftermath of the Shadow Plague, survivors of a destroyed village. They had chosen not to report their existence to the guild, knowing what would likely happen next.

"What do you think we should do?" Dravis asked, his voice neutral, though his eyes were as cold and sharp as ever.

Sylvanna's grip tightened on the edge of the counter. "If we report them, the slavers will come for them. You know how much elves fetch on the black market. They'll be hunted, enslaved, sold off to the highest bidder." She spat the last words as though they were poison.

Dravis remained still, watching her carefully. "Of course. They're valuable, after all."

Sylvanna's eyes blazed with frustration, and she turned to him, about to lash out. "Then you—" she began, but her words died in her throat when she saw the look in his eyes.

They were cold—too cold. But it wasn't the usual detachment she had grown used to. There was something else. A dangerous intensity that sent a chill down her spine. It was the same look she had seen when he tore through the demonic orcs, enraged at how they had desecrated human lives. It was a look that promised destruction, the same look he gave right before he utterly annihilated his enemies.

She realized then that he despised the very idea of elves being hunted and enslaved. He might have been cold and calculated, but there were lines that even Dravis Granger wouldn't cross.

She allowed herself a small smile. "Those slaver scum are trash, aren't they?"

Dravis's voice was ice as he replied, "They're not human. Something less than that. Which is why it's allowed to kill them."

The cold finality in his tone was enough for her. She understood now. He wasn't indifferent to the plight of the elves—they simply weren't his immediate concern. But if it came down to it, he would eradicate anyone who tried to harm them.

Sylvanna leaned back in her chair, finishing the last of her drink. Dravis, meanwhile, had barely touched his food. He stood suddenly, and Sylvanna muttered under her breath, "Looks like I made him lose his appetite."

"We're leaving," Dravis said, his tone as flat as ever. "We won't be taking any more quests from the guild for a while."

Sylvanna's eyes gleamed with curiosity. She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Are you going to take the elves' quest?"

Dravis didn't answer, but that alone was enough for her. She grinned, standing up to join him. "You're quite a softie, aren't you?" she teased. "All this acting like a villain, but you can't fool me. You're not as bloodless as you pretend to be."

Dravis didn't so much as glance her way as he adjusted his cloak and began walking toward the door. "It's a necessary step for my purpose. Nothing less, nothing more."

They stepped out of the adventurers' guild and into the growing twilight. The streets were busy, but the sky above was darkening with the promise of rain. Sylvanna pulled her hood up, but Dravis made no such move, the rain barely a concern for him.

Just as they reached the edge of the street, about to make their way toward the cave where they had first discovered the elves, a voice stopped them in their tracks.

"Stop."

The command was clear, sharp, and filled with an unmistakable weight of authority. It was a girl's voice, but there was something far too seasoned about it. It wasn't the voice of a common adventurer or some passerby. No, there was a firmness, a deadly resolve beneath those words, the kind that only came from someone who had seen death and dealt it themselves.

Dravis and Sylvanna both turned, their eyes immediately locking onto the figure that had spoken. Standing just ten meters behind them, with a blade strapped to her side and a familiar look of determination in her eyes, was Annalise—Sophie's younger sister.

She stood there, her stance unwavering, her eyes filled with a focus that wasn't typical of her usual playful, chaotic nature. Today, Annalise wasn't just the younger sibling or the mischievous troublemaker. Today, she was something more—a hunter, perhaps. A shadow stalking its prey.

Dravis frowned beneath his mask. He had hoped to avoid her, but it seemed fate had other plans.

"Dravis Granger," Annalise said, her voice colder than usual. "We need to talk."

Sylvanna's eyes flickered with amusement, though she kept quiet. Dravis simply stared at Annalise, his mind already working through the possible reasons for her sudden appearance. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

The rain began to fall harder, the droplets splattering against the cobblestones with increasing intensity, but none of them moved. They simply stood there, caught in a tension that promised more than just idle conversation.

Whatever was coming next, Dravis knew one thing for certain—it wasn't going to be simple.

The game had just begun.