Villain Rising: My Job In This New World Is To Cuck The Protagonist Chapter 45 - 045. Date

"So can you tell why we’re here in the first place?" Mandy asked, shivering slightly as a gust of cold wind swept through the alley.

They were currently crouched behind a foul-slling iron dumpster, directly across the street from the glowing opulent facade of a luxurious upper-ring restaurant.

In front of him was Eternia.

The Snakekin was adjusting the lenses of a heavy pair of brass binoculars they had bought from a shady blacksmith earlier that evening.

The magical gears clicked as she brought the restaurant’s entrance into sharp focus.

"Master dressed up all nice," Eternia whispered, "and told he was going out with a woman."

Mandy pulled his hat down a bit further to shield his ears from the wind, letting out an exasperated sigh.

"What the hell? If my lord wants to go out with a woman, then can—"

The words died in his throat.

Eternia turned her head slowly. Her golden, slit-like pupils had narrowed into terrifying, razor-thin lines.

The temperature in the alleyway seed to plumt, and a heavy suffocating aura of predatory intent leaked from her fra, making Mandy’s knees literally knock together.

He wasn’t her Master.

To her, Mandy was just an annoyance... There was a very high chance she could slit his throat right here, dump him in the incinerator, and nobody would ever find him but Eternia didn’t attack.

She held her intense glare for a few agonizing second.

"Master is a high-ranking noble, right? Would you like Master to bring ho a whore that only wants him for his noble wealth?"

Mandy flinched, instinctively taking half a step back. When she phrased it like that, it tapped into his ingrained duties as a butler.

The Crowhurst family had plenty of political enemies. "Well... no. I suppose not."

"Exactly," Eternia muttered, turning back to the street.

Just then, movent caught her eye.

Ren and Astrid strolled down the opposite sidewalk, bathed in the warm light of the magical streetlamps.

Ren looked incredibly handso in his tailored charcoal-grey coat, while the blonde woman beside him wore tight leather trousers and a blouse. They were talking, and the woman let out a soft laugh with a bright smile lighting up her face.

Eternia forcefully ground her teeth together. The grating sound echoed softly in the alleyway.

A sharply dressed host opened the heavy glass doors of the restaurant, bowing deeply as the two of them walked inside.

Eternia lowered the binoculars, her hands trembling from a mix of frustration and gnawing confusion.

She couldn’t understand it.

If her Master wanted companionship, even if she was a slave, she could offer it to him. If he wanted physical release, she could offer that too.

It was a well-docunted biological fact that sex with Beastkin... especially those of the high-agility snake breed was vastly better, more flexible, and more enduring than with fragile human won.

So why was he courting so blonde human mage?

’Ma-Master...’ Eternia thought, her golden eyes softening as a sudden wave of vulnerability washed over her.

Her mind drifted back to the horrific nightmares. The shattered, screaming souls she swallowed always threatened to tear her sanity apart but all those tis when he had held her in her sleep... both in the dungeon and yesterday night in his bed... he had stroked her hair and he had banished the cold.

Didn’t he like her a little?

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Eternia raised the brass instrunt back to her eyes.

’I’ll just watch them,’ she resolved. ’If she tries anything, I will put a sword through her neck.’

Mandy shifted beside her, the innate curiosity of a household servant overriding his terror. "Hey, make so space for . I want to see too."

Eternia blinked with a smile pulling at the corner of her lips. She shifted her stance, offering the butler a view, and the two of them peeked at their Master like a pair of scheming gargoyles.

Inside the restaurant, Ren let out a long quiet sigh.

’Why the hell are they spying on ?’ Ren thought, taking a sip of the complentary iced water the host had just poured.

His mana perception was incredibly sharp.

He could feel two distinct, familiar mana signatures huddled behind a dumpster fifty yards across the street.

Maybe he expected this from Eternia... she was hyper-fixated on him but definitely not from Mandy. Did they actually think he couldn’t sense them projecting their manas like a beacon?

Regardless, Ren decided to have a little fun with it. He reached across the space between them and squeezed Astrid’s hand a bit tighter.

The physical contact sent a visible jolt through the Vice Guild Leader.

Astrid blushed even more as a deep crimson spreading across her cheeks as her bright blue eyes darted away shyly.

The host showed them to their designated table on the elevated floor. "Right this way. This is the Moonflower Balcony."

Ren let go of her hand and stepped forward smoothly, grasping the back of the plush velvet chair and holding it out for her.

Astrid’s breath hitched.

She was used to n treating her like a commanding officer or a weapon of destruction. T

o be treated with such effortless chivalry made her heart hamr wildly. She blushed, smoothing down the back of her leather trousers as she sat down.

Ren gently pushed the chair in, ensuring she was comfortable, before taking his own seat opposite her.

The host handed them two leather-bound nus. "Your server will be with you montarily."

Ren opened the nu, taking a mont to appreciate the atmosphere of The Silver Lotus.

The walls were lined with polished dark mahogany, accented by intricate gold inlay.

Suspended high above the dining floor were dozens of floating crystalline spheres radiating a soft warm light.

In the corner, a magical string quartet was playing a beautiful waltz, filling the air with a soothing lodic hum and the air slled of roasted exotic ats and arcane spices.

Astrid looked over the nu, her eyes scanning the list of delicacies. She bit her lower lip, glancing nervously over the top of the leather binding at Ren.

"Have you decided?" Ren asked, resting his chin on his knuckles with a relaxed smile.

"Yes," Astrid replied as a waiter approached their table, pulling out a small notepad.

She pointed to a specific item near the bottom of the page. "I’ll have the Romance Combo, please."

Ren didn’t miss a beat and he handed his nu back to the waiter. "I want that too."

The waiter smiled warmly. "An excellent choice. A shared culinary journey for two. Coming right up, my Lord."

Once they were alone again, Ren leaned back in his chair. "You know, for the Vice Guild Leader of the most powerful Adventurer’s Guild in the kingdom, you get flustered remarkably easily."

Astrid let out a breathy, embarrassed laugh, tucking a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "I’m not used to this, Ren. Truly. My daily life consists of auditing guild funds, attending boring political summits, and threatening rogue adventurers who refuse to pay property damage fines... Well adventuring is there too. Sitting across from a handso man in a restaurant that doesn’t sll like goblin blood is... very new territory for ."

"Well, you’re doing great so far," Ren assured her smoothly. "Though we should probably learn a bit more about each other. Aside from vaporizing phantom bosses, what else does the Twilight Witch enjoy doing?"

"Oh, please don’t call that outside of the dungeon," Astrid groaned playfully, covering her face with her hands for a second. "It sounds so edgy when you say it out loud."

"It’s a very intimidating title," Ren teased. "So, what does Astrid do on a day off?"

"I read," Astrid admitted, resting her arms on the table. "Mostly fiction. I have a massive library in my manor and I spend an embarrassing amount of ti trying to keep my familiar, Chesnu, from destroying the furniture."

"A familiar? What kind?"

"He’s a cat," Astrid smiled warmly. "A very fat, very lazy dark-furred cat with glowing green eyes. He’s supposed to cast a lot of magic, but mostly he just demands premium salmon and sleeps on my expensive rugs."

Ren chuckled. "I respect his priorities. Sotis you have to work smart, not hard."

A waiter arrived, setting down two crystal flutes filled with a sparkling starlight-infused wine.

Astrid took a delicate sip with the magical vintage leaving a sweet tingling sensation on her tongue.

Feeling a surge of courage, she set the glass down and leaned forward slightly as her blue eyes locked onto his with a mix of curiosity and daring.

"You are young, incredibly powerful, and possess a talent that most elite guilds would kill for. With your looks and that kind of raw potential, you could probably have your pick of any woman in the Adventurer’s Guild. So... what is your type? What kind of won do you normally go for?"

Ren didn’t hesitate.

He didn’t look away, and he didn’t stumble over his words. Ren just looked at her, his gaze slowly traveling from her golden-blonde hair, down to her striking eyes and briefly lingering on the elegant curve of her neck.

"I prefer won who know exactly what they want..." Ren said. "Usually a bit older, with striking blue eyes, blonde hair, and enough raw magical firepower to level a town block without breaking a sweat."

Astrid froze.

The wine glass in her hand trembled slightly as the smoothness of the complint hit her like a physical spell.

Her face turned a brilliant shade of crimson, heat rushing all the way to the tips of her ears.

"Wasn’t that..." Astrid swallowed hard, her voice coming out as a flustered squeak. "Isn’t that just ?"

Ren offered a slow charming smirk.

"That’s the point, Astrid."

A translucent blue screen chid softly in the periphery of his vision.

『Target: "Astrid"’s affection has increased to 75』

Astrid hastily picked her glass back up, taking a much larger gulp of the starlight wine to cool her burning throat.

She was entirely out of her depth. The n she usually dealt with were either terrified of her power or trying to use her.

"Okay," Astrid breathed out, fanning her face slightly with her free hand. "Okay, you win that round."

"I wasn’t aware we were keeping score," Ren laughed, taking a sip of his own wine. "But since it’s my turn to ask a question, there is sothing I’ve been aning to clarify since our ti on the 60th floor."

Astrid composed herself, sitting up straighter. "Ask away."

Ren swirled the silver liquid in his glass, observing the magical bubbles popping at the surface.

"Before we were interrupted by the boss, we were discussing marriage. You asked if I wanted a harem. I agreed, jokingly, but you looked incredibly serious about it. Why?"

Astrid’s posture stiffened. She looked down at the tablecloth, her fingers tracing the intricate gold embroidery.

She didn’t want to make it like she had a cuck fetish on their first date...

"It’s... complicated," Astrid started, her voice dropping to a near whisper. She glanced around the Moonflower Balcony to ensure no other patrons were eavesdropping.

"I have ti." Ren replied encouragingly.

Astrid took a deep breath.

"As you know, in our world, powerful adventurers and high-tier mages are often expected to widen their lineage to pass on strong traits. It’s a societal expectation, especially for n who achieve greatness."

She shifted her legs under the table with her leather trousers creaking softly.

"But... on a personal level... I am a very competitive woman, Ren. I spent my whole life fighting to the top of the Guild hierarchy. I like proving my superiority so, hypothetically, if I were to marry a man of incredible caliber... seeing him desired by other capable, powerful won..."

She paused, her cheeks flushing dark red again.

"Knowing that he could have any of them, knowing that they are serving him and making him stronger, but knowing that I am his primary. Knowing that I am the one managing the household, the one he respects the most... it establishes a dynamic of ultimate superiority. It makes the bond feel heavier and more earned."

Ren kept his face perfectly composed, maintaining a look of thoughtful understanding. Internally, he was howling with laughter.

’She is literally trying to rationalize a cuck fetish using geopolitical bloodline theory and competitive workplace dynamics,’ Ren thought while being thoroughly entertained. ’She wants the thrill of an open relationship but demands the administrative control of a CEO... Is she really Jace’s aunt?’

"I see," Ren said with a mile. "You want a man powerful enough to attract a kingdom’s worth of talent, but you want the satisfaction of being the undisputed queen on that chessboard."

Astrid’s eyes widened in profound relief. She looked at him as if he had just deciphered a lost ancient language. "Yes! Exactly! You... you don’t find that strange? Or off-putting?"

"Astrid," Ren said softly, reaching across the table to briefly touch her hand again. "I’m a man aiming for the top. Ambition and unorthodox power structures are just part of the ga... I find your mindset fascinating."

Honestly he just wanted to be chill, being the strongest was a secondary goal... As long as he was comfortable and did his job, Ren was good.

The blue screen flashed again.

『Target: "Astrid"’s affection has increased to 84』

Before Astrid could express her gratitude, a team of three waiters approached the table carrying heavy silver platters covered with dod lids.

"The Romance Combo, my Lord, my Lady," the lead waiter announced proudly.

They lifted the silver dos, releasing a plu of fragrant, heavily spiced steam.

In the center of the table was a massive, sizzling slab of high-tier Drake-steak, masterfully carved into the shape of a blooming rose.

It rested in a pool of rich dark peppercorn and surrounding the steak were delicate sides of roasted crystal-tubers and a salad comprised entirely of silver lotus petals tossed in a sweet vinaigrette.

"This looks incredible..." Astrid murmured with her eyes wide.

"Enjoy your al," the waiters bowed and swiftly retreated.

Ren picked up his knife and fork, cleanly slicing a generous portion of the Drake-steak and placing it gracefully onto Astrid’s plate before serving himself.

"Thank you," she smiled, taking her first bite.

Her eyes fluttered shut for a brief second. "Oh, wow. That is amazing. The at practically lts."

"It’s good," Ren agreed, taking a bite of his own.

The rich, peppery sauce complented the at perfectly. "Though I think my traveling companion could learn a thing or two from this kitchen."

"Your companion cooks for you?" Astrid asked, cutting a piece of a roasted tuber.

"He tries," Ren smirked, deliberately referring to Mandy vaguely to maintain his commoner story. "Usually, he just organizes my supplies and panics when monsters show up. Yesterday, I ca back to the inn to find him unconscious on the couch and my kitchen filled with black smoke because my other subordinate decided to try and flash-boil a stew using fire magic."

Astrid burst out laughing, bringing a hand to her mouth to muffle the sound. "You’re joking! Did the inn burn down?"

"Thankfully, no," Ren chuckled, taking another sip of wine. "But the stew was essentially turned into a solid brick of carbon... I had to whip up a al myself just so we wouldn’t starve."

"A rising adventurer who also knows his way around a kitchen?" Astrid raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed and highly amused. "That is not sothing you hear every day. You are full of surprises, Ren."

"I like to keep my skills versatile," Ren replied easily.

The rest of the dinner passed in a blur of excellent food and even better conversation.

They traded stories, laughed at the ridiculous politics of the adventurer guilds, and existed purely in the mont.

Ren found himself genuinely enjoying the evening... truly ruining the protagonist’s life was a fantastic full-ti job, but reaping the luxurious benefits of that job was arguably better.

As they finished the last of the wine, Ren caught the eye of the host standing near the balcony stairs.

The man gave a subtle nod and walked over, carrying a sleek black leather folder.

"I hope the al was to your satisfaction," the host said politely, setting the folder on the edge of the table.

Astrid imdiately reached for her purse, unlatching the silver clasp. "Let get this, Ren. I’m the one who invited you, after all, and I know The Silver Lotus isn’t cheap."

Ren smoothly reached out, placing his hand gently over hers to stop her. "Absolutely not."

"Ren, be reasonable," Astrid protested lightly, though her cheeks were flushed. "I make a very generous salary as Vice Guild Leader."

"Astrid," Ren replied, a charming, confident smirk playing on his lips. "I just helped your guild clear a Floor 60 milestone boss. I think my wallet can handle a steak dinner. Put your coin purse away. I’ve got it."

Astrid bit her lower lip, a warm, fluttery feeling erupting in her chest as she slowly pulled her hand back.

She loved that he didn’t let her wealth or status intimidate him. "If you insist."

Ren opened his spatial ring and pulled out several gold coins.

He dropped them onto the leather folder, not even bothering to count them. "Keep the change... The Drake-steak was excellent."

The host’s eyes widened slightly at the massive overpaynt. "You are incredibly generous, sir. Have a wonderful evening."

『Target: "Astrid"’s affection has increased to 90』

The notification chid warmly in his mind.

Ninety affection... In the context of the System, ninety was the threshold of unwavering devotion... She was entirely, irreversibly hooked.

"Shall we?" Ren asked, standing up and offering his arm.

Astrid nodded eagerly, rising from her chair and linking her arm securely through his.

She pressed herself slightly closer to his side than necessary, relishing the solid warmth of his body beneath the charcoal coat.

They walked out of the Moonflower Balcony, descending the grand staircase and moving through the main dining floor.

The host opened the heavy glass door, bowing deeply as they stepped out into the crisp night air.

The temperature had dropped significantly while they were inside as the cool wind swept through the cobblestone streets of the Adventurer Town and the sky above was a clear, endless canvas of glittering stars completely unhindered by the magical streetlamps.

Across the street, huddled behind the foul-slling dumpster, Eternia imdiately brought the binoculars back up to her eyes.

"They’re coming out," Eternia hissed quietly with her knuckles turning white as she gripped the instrunt.

Beside her, Mandy crouched lower, peering nervously over the edge of the iron bin.

Ren and Astrid stood on the sidewalk for a mont. Ren breathed in the brisk night air, feeling deeply satisfied with the evening’s flawless execution.

He turned to Astrid, preparing to offer to walk her back to her manor but before he could speak, Astrid looked up at him. Her bright blue eyes were sparkling with a sudden mischievous energy fueled by the starlight wine and the overwhelming affection bubbling in her chest.

"Co on~" Astrid sang out and without warning, she tightened her grip on his arm, pivoted sharply, and dragged him forward.

Ren blinked in surprise as Astrid broke into a sudden, joyful sprint, pulling him along down the sidewalk to the right.

Her golden hair whipped behind her in the wind, and her laughter rang out clearly in the quiet street as they ran toward the glowing central plaza of the upper ring.

Within seconds, the two of them rounded the corner of a massive stone bakery, completely leaving Eternia’s line of sight.

Behind the dumpster, Eternia froze.

The binoculars slowly lowered from her face. Her golden slit-pupils dilated to their maximum, swallowing the iris entirely as panic flooded her system.

The blonde woman had just grabbed her Master and dragged him away into the night.

Eternia whipped her head around, turning to the terrified butler beside her.

"She’s kidnapping Master!"