The SSS Ranked Villain's Return

"That was a terrible movie," Evangeline complained, being the first one to walk out of the cinema.

"Why? I thought it was pretty funny," Eris remarked teasingly.

"We're not allergic to garlic!" Evangeline lashed out half-playfully. "How did half of the cast die from it? I mean, we do get a little burn from eating it, but that's it!"

Neraxis chuckled at her antics before glancing at the {Body Manifestation} skill.

There were only five minutes left until she would vanish for a whole week.

He felt reluctant, but he knew it wasn't the last time he'd see her, so he sucked it up and put on a big smile.

"It was fun," Neraxis remarked. "The movie was pretty shit, don't get me wrong. But your reactions made it better."

"Agreed," Eris added. "I didn't expect you to be a vampire either. I thought you were only pretending to be one since you had a bloodsucking kink or something."

Evangeline's brows twitched. "Vixen... your mouth really needs something big inside it, doesn't it?"

"Ice cream," Eris said, not letting the dirty thoughts get to her.

"Yep, ice cream~" Evangeline teased before turning to Neraxis. "I'm happy we got to do this, though I'm a bit sad at the same time now that I have to leave."

Neraxis's chest tightened. "I'll figure something out. Soon, you'll be able to stay here for as long as you want."

Instead of replying, she merely smiled, then walked up to him and gave him a warm hug.

He didn't push her away and watched as the countdown dropped down.

But as it hit the ten-second mark, Neraxis lifted her chin before delivering a soft kiss on her lips.

Evangeline wrapped her arms around him tighter before closing her eyes and indulging in the kiss.

Soon, the ten seconds were up, and beside them, the same crack in space from earlier appeared.

"It says I have fifteen seconds to enter it or they'll forcefully take me back," Evangeline said with a downcast look.

"I love you, Evangeline," Neraxis clarified, pushing a strand of her red hair to the back of her ear. "I will keep my promise."

She gave him one last peck on the cheek. "I love you too. See you in a bit."

With that, she stepped through the crack in space, and her body immediately disappeared.

Yet in the next instant, the all-too-familiar voice resounded in his mind.

[I'm back.]

You're back, he remarked before falling quiet, his heart slightly aching.

But the silence was soon broken by the sound of slurping.

As he turned toward the one behind it, he spotted Eris licking the ice cream with an amused look on her face.

"You two look good together."

"I know." Neraxis let out a sigh. "It just sucks our time is limited."

Eris tilted her head. "From what I can tell, there's not much you can do about it for now."

"Keyword, for now," he stated before glancing at his phone.

"We're late. It's 10:49 A.M."

"Only an hour? That doesn't seem like a big deal." Eris shrugged. "While you were out, I was three hours late, and they didn't do anything aside from giving me one big lecture on why I shouldn't be late to class."

She licked her ice cream once more. "I slept through the lecture."

"..." Neraxis speechlessly stared at her for a few moments before his phone suddenly rang.

It was a message from Aella.

<Aella: Hey, saw you were back. I guess you were pretty tired considering you didn't even text me, huh? No problem, I'm not mad or anything. See you later if you actually decide to come to class this time.>

Eris walked over and read the messages before letting out a chuckle. "Seems like you were a little inconsiderate."

"On that note..." An idea appeared in his mind. "You're coming with me."

"Huh? Why should I?" Eris asked, puzzled.

"You're a girl, and you know what other girls like, right? I need help picking out a present," Neraxis explained, earning a baffled look from Eris.

"You do know the point of gifts is to get something you yourself think suits the other person, right? If I tell you what I think she might like, then it defeats the purpose," Eris replied with a shrug.

"Fine... You're still coming along. You'll be my counsel," Neraxis said, and as she was about to refuse, he pulled out his debit card. "You can buy something you like as well."

"The price restrictions?" she asked, a smile beaming on her face.

"...Within reasonable limits, please." He affirmed, and with that, she made a thumbs-up gesture before the two began dashing to the mall.

Since they did not want to be too late, it only took them two minutes to arrive at the mall, and soon, Neraxis stopped in front of a particular shop.

"Emma's Potions?" Eris read it out loud, puzzled. "You're not thinking of getting her a beauty potion, right? You know it might come off as you calling her ugly."

"Not a beauty potion—something similar to mind soothing. She works a lot, and it would be nice to relieve those headaches she's most likely hiding," Neraxis explained, earning a whistle in response.

"I see you're not as big of an idiot as you look," Eris praised. "Finish up, and let's get something for me as well."

"Sure," Neraxis chuckled before proceeding inside.

After a few minutes of walking around and asking the cashier—Emma herself—about the potion, he finally found what he wanted.

Surprisingly, Emma said it was on the house because of his recommendation, and he did not bother to refuse.

After all, free things were always the best.

He packed everything up and put it inside his dimensional ring before heading out, meeting Eris, who was sitting idly by.

"Done?" she asked, and he nodded.

"Lead the way."

"Yep, I have just the place in mind," Eris said with a grin and proceeded to take him to a certain shop.

It had a flashy red sign with a glowing sword, which, from the right perspective, would look like an adult toy shop.

In fact, it was a weapon shop, and if he recalled correctly, they tended to get a bit pricey.

However, he wouldn't go back on his word, as the two entered the shop.

Eris went to browse the bow section, while Neraxis merely stood around.

But one thing in particular caught his eye.

It was a scabbard for a pair of daggers.

Thinking back to Celina's daggers, he remembered her makeshift, shabby leather scabbard, full of holes.

As for the one in front of him, it was made out of completely black steel, with a few leather patches covering it comfortably. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

Glancing at the price tag, his eyes widened for a moment before he calmed himself down.

Ten million crowns? Are they fucking insane? Neraxis thought.

[It's enchanted pretty well. I think it has the property of cleaning as well as sharpening the weapon sheathed inside it,] Evangeline remarked with a whistle. [It's worth it for the price. Back in my kingdom, such things cost hundreds of millions.]

Hmm... I guess I'll get it then. Neraxis walked up to it and picked it up before taking it to the counter.

It was a buff and rather intimidating-looking man. However, upon noticing the item Neraxis had brought up, the man put on a warm smile.

"Good choice, dear customer," the man praised before turning to Eris, who had been touching every bow in the store. "She's with you... right?"

"She is," Neraxis replied with an exhausted sigh.

"An archer needs a quiver, don't you think?" the man said, a grin appearing on his face as he suddenly pulled out several quivers from his dimensional ring. "Take your pick."

I guess a quiver would be nice, given how I destroyed her previous one. Neraxis thought before saying, "When she finally picks out her bow and comes here, tell her the quivers are a free bonus. I'll pay for whichever she chooses."

"Good choice, dear customer. I appreciate your patronage," the man replied with a sly look, as a shiver went down Neraxis's spine.

Why do I feel like I'm being extorted...?