The Blind SSS-Class Final Boss Is Obsessed With Me

Chapter 10: Lyra Y Astrea

"Wait... WHAT?!!!" Confused and bewildered, Lyra let out. And hearing her, a small smile appeared at the corner of my lips.

"What? You didn’t think I would let you get killed? Well, you know what, if you don’t want to work for me, then getting rid of you might be for the best."

At my words, Lyra gritted her teeth really hard.

"You... you are insane," she hissed, her voice trembling as she looked between me and the massive blue fire sphere that stood frozen in the sky. "You are using a monster to threaten me? Is this how low the Heist family has fallen? The Cian I knew was a pathetic loser, but you... you are disgusting."

"Low?"

I chuckled. I didn’t feel insulted at all. In fact, her anger only made me feel more secure.

"Call me whatever you want," I said softly. "But the ’pathetic loser’ is currently holding your life in his hands. And the proud genius of the Astrea family is kneeling in the dirt."

I continued.

"In this world, Lyra, the only thing that matters is results. Right now, I am standing, and you are lying on the ground. Who cares how I achieved it?"

I took a step back, intentionally making myself look completely indifferent. I even lightly patted Seraphina’s head again, just to show off in front of Lyra.

"Seraphina," I said lazily. "Since she has so much pride, let’s not get in her way. Burn her."

The blue sphere instantly dropped a few meters.

The heat was so intense that the ground around Lyra’s knees began to crack and the grass began to turn to ash. The wind blades started to slice her shoulders again.

"Ahhhh!"

She screamed, her body shaking violently under the crushing weight.

"Wait!!" she cried out. "If I die, my family will hunt you down!"

I slowly shook my head and slightly glanced at Seraphina. "Do you really think, your father, the Duke of Astrea family, is stronger than her?"

She slowly looked at Seraphina, then at the burning blue fire, and finally back at me. Her proud, arrogant eyes were now filled with absolute despair.

She knew I was right.

Her father maybe one of the strongest and richest man in the kingdom, he couldn’t possibly be compared to the nightmare standing in front of her.

I watched her clench her fists so hard her nails cut into her palms. Her pride was screaming at her to die rather than submit to someone she had despised just minutes ago. She was a genius, a noble. So, begging me was worse than death for her.

’Just a little more push.’

I leaned in, dropping my voice to a whisper so Seraphina wouldn’t focus too much on my words.

"Besides, Lyra... if you die here, who is going to find the Elixir of Forest?"

Lyra froze.

"W-what... did you say?" She stammered.

"The mana-burning disease," I whispered. "It’s eating her up from the inside, isn’t it? Your sister, I mean. You desperately need the Elixir of Frost from the deep ruins. But you can’t reach it alone. If you die here, your sister dies a slow, agonizing death. Alone."

"How... How do you know that?!" she shrieked, her voice filled with pure horror.

This was her deepest, most guarded secret. Not even her family members knew the real reason she was pushing herself so hard.

"I know everything, Lyra," I said, straightening up. "I know your secret, and I also know how to safely get that Elixir. I can save her. Or, I can let you burn to ashes right now, and your sister will follow you to the grave in a few months."

I shrugged.

"The choice is yours. Your pride, or her life?"

Lyra’s breath came in ragged, desperate gasps.

The physical pain from the wind blades and the mental torture of my words were tearing her apart. Because, as of now, the situation of her younger sister was really, really bad.

She looked at the sky, then closed her eyes. A single tear escaped, running down her blood-stained cheek.

"I..."

She choked on the word. Saying it meant discarding every bit of dignity she had built up her entire life.

"I... will do it," she whispered, her head drooping completely. "I will... work for you. Just... save her."

For a moment, I looked at her lowered head.

A part of me wanted to feel guilty. After all, I had just crushed the pride of someone who had only hours ago been a stranger to me.

But guilt was a luxury I couldn’t afford anymore.

I hated doing this. I hated using someone’s weakness against them.

But just like guilt, kindness was also a luxury I couldn’t afford anymore.

In this world, hesitation meant death. The Cian who hesitated would already be a corpse beneath that courtyard. The only reason I was still alive was because I was willing to do what others couldn’t.

"Good choice," I said and turned to the blindfolded girl beside me.

"Seraphina,"

Instantly, the blue sphere vanished into thin air. The wind blades stopped, and the heavy, suffocating pressure vanished, leaving Lyra collapsed onto the grass and panting heavily.

"So, what now, Cian?" she asked, her voice laced with bitter resignation. "Am I your prisoner? Your pet?"

"Neither," I replied as a faint smile appeared across my lips. "You are an asset. A valuable one."

I extended a hand, not to help her up, but as a symbolic gesture. "The choice is yours, Lyra. You can cling to the corpse of your old world, or you can help me build a new one. But understand this: there is no third option. Outside these walls, there is only chaos and death. And within these walls, there is only my will. And Seraphina’s protection."

Lyra stared at my outstretched hand, then at Seraphina. Her gaze lingered on the black blindfold, then on the subtle curve of the black horns that peeked from Seraphina’s crimson hair.

Slowly, reluctantly, she reached out and took my hand. I pulled her to her feet, ignoring the pain in my legs. "Good," I said and my voice was filled with a genuine note of satisfaction. "Now, your first task. We need to know the extent of the damage. The academy is a treasure trove of resources, but it’s also a death trap. I need a clear picture of what’s out there. Where are the remaining instructors? What are the primary monster types? Where are the safe zones, if any?"

Lyra flinched and her eyes widened slightly. "You want me to... scout? Out there?"

"Yeah, you alone. Do you have a problem with that?"

Seraphina, as if understanding my words, took a step forward and her head tilted slightly towards her. Lyra swallowed hard, her gaze fixed on the blindfolded demoness. The message was clear: obey, or face the consequences.

"I... I will do my best," Lyra said.

"Excellent," I said, turning my back to her and walking towards the edge of the Sunken Garden, where the serene atmosphere met the chaotic sounds of the outside world. Seraphina also followed right behind me.

"You can start now."

Lyra nodded and turned around to do what I had asked of her.

I watched her go, then turned my gaze towards the ravaged academy. The sounds of battle were growing louder and closer.

And amidst all that I heard Seraphina speak up again, "Cian... How have... You... Been..."