Dear Heroes, I really am a Villain
Chapter 92: The Third Trial

Chapter 92: The Third Trial

With the sound of the completion bell ringing in his mind, Maximilian felt a surge of knowledge and experience flood into his body.

He excused himself from the front of the shop and went into his room, lying down. Even though the changes to his muscle structure and physical development wouldn’t cause him any pain, the transformation would still happen. He didn’t want his body to suddenly stiffen or move in strange patterns, like bugs crawling beneath his skin.

That kind of visual wasn’t exactly something a stomach would welcome after breakfast.

Maximilian’s body began to change. His muscle structure, sinews, and overall physique began to reshape, aligning themselves with the skills and experiences of both the Bajiquan Supreme Master and the Katana Supreme Master.

Callouses formed on his hands, disappeared, and reformed again—becoming harder and rougher each time. His hands now resembled those of someone who had spent a lifetime practicing the sword arts.

Then, a surge of energy rose and converged with the qi in his dantian, forming a new, powerful hybrid energy.

This new energy was a fusion of sword intent and qi, condensed into a more intense and potent form.

If previously, Maximilian’s full power could liquefy everything inside a Behemoth’s foot...

Then now, he could explode an entire leg—unleashing thousands of sword intents alongside qi powerful enough to dissolve the Behemoth’s internals.

He now understood that he could wield a sword like a true katana master... and be "motivated" all day long like a king.

It was like a dream come true.

Oh?Someone’shappy.(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ

{Of course I am,} Maximilian admitted without shame or embarrassment.

After the transformation and muscular reshaping were complete, Maximilian hummed cheerfully as he returned to the shop front, happily serving tea and coffee to a few customers who had come in.

"You seem happy. Did something good happen?" Rebecca asked as she placed an empty coffee cup in the sink and began washing it.

"Oh! You noticed, haha." Maximilian chuckled, a bit embarrassed.

It was one thing to shamelessly admit things to Atherna, his girlfriend who knew him well. But to an acquaintance like Rebecca, who wasn’t that close, he felt a little more self-conscious.

"Let’s just say... I made a breakthrough in my cultivation. I think I can cut open a Behemoth now or blast it apart." Maximilian said.

Cut open a Behemoth? Blast its head apart!?

Was he getting stronger? Or... was what he displayed when killing that Behemoth not his full power!?

Rebecca and Gu Yichen, who was enjoying his cake and coffee, were struck silent by the thought.

They were in awe.

The wind chime rang at that moment, and the café door opened. A familiar stranger stepped inside.

Why a familiar stranger?

Because this man was part of the observation team assigned by Strauss to monitor this location.

"Espresso, double shot, no sugar," the man ordered. Maximilian smiled at the order and began preparing the coffee.

The man walked to the table closest to the counter, then slowly extended his hand to the side of the table, right in a blind spot from both the counter and the rest of the café.

"Please refrain from placing anything in the café that might compromise other people’s privacy," Maximilian said just as the man was about to plant a bug in the blind spot.

The investigator paused mid-motion and put on an innocent act. But the moment Maximilian turned back to continue making the coffee, the man quietly placed the bug anyway.

Maximilian then walked over to his table, serving the coffee and a piece of cake.

As he placed the items down, his other hand swept beneath the table, collecting every bug and placing them neatly in front of the investigator.

"This is a warning, officer," Maximilian said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I don’t mind that you’re doing your job, but please, respect other people’s privacy. Otherwise, I’ll have to ban you from this café."

"Ah... o-oh, okay." The investigator nodded, his face paling.

From the report he had received from his superior, Strauss, it was said that this man was a pure blank, someone who didn’t even possess EF. Yet his martial prowess was so great that he had supposedly killed a Behemoth with his bare hands.

If even half of that report was true, then his ability to detect such subtle movements made perfect sense.

Was this some kind of so-called sense of a master, like those he’d seen in kung fu movies?

If so, then this man was truly terrifying.

With that realization, the investigator dared not test his luck any further. He quietly ate his cake, finished his coffee, and placed an order for several takeaway cups to bring back to his subordinates stationed in the building across the street.

But in truth, Maximilian hadn’t used any special sense at all. He had simply noticed a warning on the system’s 3D map. The object the investigator tried to place was marked in yellow and even had a label on it.

So, he knew exactly what had happened and decided to call the investigator out.

After scaring off the investigator and sending him back to his post, the rest of the day went smoothly. There were no hiccups or troublesome customers like the investigator showing up again.

The day ended just as it should for a quiet, cozy café where few customers passed by.

It was peaceful and uneventful. Even though Maximilian didn’t make much money, that had never been his goal. What truly mattered was fulfilling the dream he carried from his previous life.

After saying goodbye to Rebecca and Gu Yichen, who had spent the entire day in the café trying to comprehend the notes, Maximilian returned to his room.

It was nighttime again. After an entire day of opening and closing the café, followed by all the washing and cleaning, much of his time had been spent just keeping the place running.

Now, lying on his bed, Maximilian gazed at the system UI, which displayed new information about the next Trial.

Cool Down Till Next Trial: 00:00:00

— 3rd Trial —

Round: 1st Round

Type: Trial by Combat

Trial Master’s Special Rule: Sword Duel

Status: First Round – Awaiting Participant

– Trial Master –

Name: ???

Villain Name: The Hundred Face

EF (Evolution Factor): Inorganic Animation

Skills/Abilities:

- Master of Disguise

- Master of Acting

- Master of Fencing (Rapier/Saber)

- Butler Mastery (Coffee/Tea brewing and all skills related to butler duties)

- Master of Etiquette

Seeing the UI, it seemed that this time’s opponent was a gentleman-type villain. But... acting and lying as masteries?

Was this guy some kind of scammer or con artist when he was still alive?

Maximilian thought to himself.

Reading the rules, Maximilian prepared himself. He pulled a katana from his system storage and began humming a tune.

"Now... I’m motivated," Maximilian said with a smirk creeping onto his lips. It was a good thing the guy in the next trial had called for a sword duel—he was really looking forward to this!

[Ooohhh, your face looks creepy, Max. You’re trying to act all serious, but you can’t hide your true self! Now! Embrace the weebstick and go forward! ψ(｀∇´)ψ ]

"You’re enjoying this," Maximilian quipped.

[And so are you. (ﾉ≧∀≦)ﾉ ]

"Fine! You win. I’ll go now," Maximilian said, then pressed the button to enter the trial.

—

Maximilian’s view shifted, but not before he fully sensed the scene.

An attack came from behind.

Clank!

Maximilian twisted his body and used the tip of his katana... still sheathed—to intercept the rapier strike.

More strikes followed, as hundreds upon hundreds of rapier thrusts came at Maximilian like a heavenly net, closing in from all directions.

But Maximilian’s katana flashed free from its scabbard and slashed outward. The blade reached the attacker just before the net could close in.

Suddenly, the tips of the rapier strikes morphed into a thick wall, but the katana slash Maximilian unleashed managed to stop the formation and knock the attacker back.

Crash!

The attacker slammed into the ground but quickly stood and returned to his stance.

He was dressed in a formal butler’s suit and wore a white mask, with a black crescent moon symbol on the side where his left eye should be.

"Ambushing? Not much of a fan of fair fights, are you?" Maximilian said, adjusting his katana stance, ready to attack.

The masked man didn’t answer. He simply stared at Maximilian, as emotionless as the mask he wore.

"Not a fan of talking either? I see," Maximilian uttered as he lowered his stance.

Fwip!

Maximilian dashed forward in a swift movement, closing the distance to the rapier user in a single step.

Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!

Flashes of light burst as their blades clashed, Maximilian’s katana against the rapier’s swift, snake-like strikes, each one aiming for even the smallest opening.

Unfortunately for the masked man, every gap he thought he had found had been a trap, the bait Maximilian deliberately left for him. And with every bait taken...

More and more ground slipped away from the masked man. His stance grew increasingly unstable. His steps slowed, faltered, no longer in sync with his hands. His posture began to reveal more and more flaws.

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