A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

"Ah, Venna," Ansel, perched on his workbench, propped his cheek on one hand, "What do you fancy?"

"Study, research."

Ravenna, engrossed in carving an etheric circuit, responded without lifting her head.

"I mean, apart from these two."

The blond boy sighed, "Venna, how can life be such a mundane affair?"

"Do not define my interests by your lack of them."

Ravenna lifted her head to glance at Ansel, a hint of dissatisfaction in her magnificent purple eyes, "For me, studying and researching are sufficiently interesting."

"But you've never experienced those interesting things, have you?"

The young Hydral tilted his head, an innocent smile spreading across his face as he made a slight hooking gesture in the air.

Click —

The alchemical carving knife in Ravenna's hand shifted abruptly, the once perfectly crafted etheric circuit along with the entire piece of magi-metal turned into a lump of scrap.

"You!"

The woman turned her head sharply towards Ansel, her eyes brimming with murderous intent. Her icy, stern expression suggested that no one would doubt if she were to slit Ansel's throat with the carving knife in the next second.

"Still lacking in skill, Venna."

Ansel, the instigator, took on the role of a mentor, criticizing righteously, "Just a slight disturbance, and you lose control of your carving knife. What will you do if an unpredictable accident occurs during alchemy?"

"Engraving circuits is considered the most basic and harmless process. What if it involves etheric conduction, essence fusion, or even higher-level essence alteration?"

"If you're not careful..."

Ansel made an explosion gesture with both hands, threatening convincingly, "A slight mistake, and it might be worse than death."

"..."

Ravenna pondered for a moment, then responded expressionlessly:

"You're right, so I have no reason to waste time with you."

Having said that, she turned and walked towards the corner where the materials were stacked, calmly selecting what she needed. She returned to the workbench with a pile of parts and materials, and resumed her work.

Now it was our still young Ansel's turn to fall silent. He watched Ravenna, whose expression hadn't wavered in the slightest, for a long time, before finally sighing weakly:

"Fine, since you have no interest at all, I'll go out and play by myself."

He jumped off the table, picked up the scepter that was set aside, and prepared to leave the alchemy workshop.

"— Wait."

Ravenna suddenly reached out and grabbed Ansel's collar, "You haven't finished your task for today."

This odd pair each had their own roles. Ansel was responsible for proposing countless ideas that were seemingly outlandish, yet feasibly real, that left Ravenna in awe; while Ravenna was responsible for gradually turning these ideas into reality.

The reason why a mere second-stage extraordinary being could do such a thing was probably because the things they created were too… "ordinary" in the eyes of most extraordinary beings.

Too close to the ordinary of lower-stage extraordinary beings, even ordinary people.

Apart from some specific creations, most of these things didn't have a particularly high technical threshold. Instead, they required a level of design talent and vision that ordinary people couldn't imagine. And Ravenna was willing to admit that she was far inferior to Ansel in this regard.

But this guy... was truly lazy!

If Ravenna didn't pressure Ansel, the latter would likely waste an entire day in the alchemy workshop, doing nothing.

"Task? Ah... dear Venna, inspiration isn't something that can be forced out at any time."

Ansel spread his hands helplessly, "Things that are forced out are worthless."

"But you're not the kind of person who only produces when inspired."

Ravenna let go of Ansel's collar, she leaned forward slightly, her face almost touching Ansel's, and said in a posture that she thought was intimidating, but was actually quite ambiguous:

"You are a true genius, even the slightest thoughts that flow from your mind can make countless people ecstatically treasure them."

"...Of course, I'm not included."

She said expressionlessly, "Although your ideas are indeed astonishing, I'm not that obsessed."

The young Hydral tilted his head, barely holding back a smile, " Venna, you don't have to emphasize it. I know you're not... the kind of person who would treasure me."

"So," Ravenna stared at Ansel, "What's today's idea?"

"You're really insatiable, Venna."

Ansel tilted his head slightly, looking somewhat surprised, "There are already plenty of ideas piled up that haven't been realized."

Ever since these two unlikely partners started collaborating, this small alchemy workshop had given birth to countless ideas that were ahead of their time.

However, manpower was limited, and since Ansel was only responsible for design and never for practice, even if Ravenna devoted herself to research every day, even if Ravenna occasionally handed over some less exaggerated designs to Babel Tower, the number of ideas waiting to be realized was increasing.

But she seemed unsatisfied. Even though she had accumulated a large number of drafts and design drawings, Ravenna still asked Ansel for new ideas in her spare time, in addition to her tireless, endless work.

Such an irrational, unreasonable thing was hard to imagine coming from someone like Ravenna.

The woman was silent for a moment, then extended her hand towards Ansel.

"What's up?" Ansel handed his hand over, expression somewhat puzzled.

Ravenna examined Ansel's hand in her palm, then looked at his face, and said:

"Only at this moment can I confirm that you're a thirteen-year-old child."

Her words made Ansel laugh, "But Venna, you clearly— Well, okay, I won't say anymore."

The threatening look in her eyes made Ansel just shrug with a smile, not saying anything more.

"You're only thirteen, Ansel."

After putting away her threatening gaze, Ravenna held Ansel's hand— of course, she didn't have any strange thoughts, and her attitude, as if she were holding a tool, made this scene devoid of any romantic feelings.

She was just feeling the tender softness in her hand, and said softly, "When I was thirteen, I was far from your equal, and I still am."

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