I Have 10,000 SSS Rank Villains In My System Space Chapter 410: Denied?

Razeal's eyes narrowed just a fraction as he stared at Maria, his gaze remaining steady yet now laced with a keener edge—not outright anger, but a silent probing, like he was peeling apart her true motives instead of simply responding to them. What she'd just uttered, what she was demanding from him, clashed with all logic in his thoughts. For a fleeting instant, a wild idea surfaced, ridiculous but not wholly impossible: Is she... a masochist or something? Her constant pushing, her blatant provocations—it seemed less driven by remorse and more like an attempt to provoke a response, to pull him into a conflict he had no desire to enter. Or perhaps she simply craved pain from him to ease whatever guilt tormented her.

"See? You can’t," Maria suddenly gave a soft chuckle, her lips curving subtly while she noted his immobility, her eyes holding an odd blend of conviction and acceptance, as though his inaction had already confirmed her argument. "I knew it... you wouldn’t do anything." Her voice held no real mockery, but it brimmed with that subdued assurance born from her belief that she knew him through and through.

"MARIAAA STOPPPP!!" Sofia's cry pierced the tension abruptly, her tone grave and far more commanding than earlier as she edged forward a step, brows tightly furrowed, worry etched plainly on her features, sensing the air thickening and the exchange veering into forbidden territory.

Yet before she could step in more, Razeal lifted a hand faintly and addressed her calmly.

"No... let me handle her." Though not raised in volume, his words held enough weight to halt Sofia, and without pause, he advanced steadily, his steps measured and deliberate. He reached aside, seized a chair, and pulled it across the floor with a gentle scrape before positioning it right before Maria, only a few feet separating them. Then he settled into it, confronting her squarely, their levels now matched, eyes meeting evenly—no looming above, no gazing down, simply seated opposite like this was mere discussion, not a clash.

Sofia observed intently, her frame still rigid with strain, thoughts swirling through dire scenarios, fearing he might erupt and make matters far worse. But witnessing him merely take a seat rather than lash out, a sliver of her anxiety lifted, albeit incompletely, since the path ahead remained unclear.

Maria, for her part, remained motionless, unflinching; she just fixed her steady gaze on him, poised in anticipation of some precise outburst that would affirm all she'd claimed.

Razeal eased back a touch in the chair, one arm slung casually as he regarded her, face serene and nearly detached once more, before he finally spoke.

"You’re wrong." The statement emerged softly yet resolutely, leaving Maria blinking in evident bewilderment, for it was anything but the reply she'd foreseen.

"What?" she queried, truly caught off guard, her brows drawing together slightly as she sought to track his direction, even as he reclined further, arm draped loosely, expression composed with a subtle hint of amusement.

"On everything," he pressed on, a faint chuckle slipping free, "Like... I can’t hurt you? Because I’m ’soft’... ’kind’... all that stuff you just said?" His voice bore a gentle skepticism, nothing abrasive, but unmistakably dismantling her whole assumption.

Maria shook her head right away, emitting another quiet laugh, this one edged with greater urgency. "You can’t twist it," she countered, tone soft but steadfast. "It’s all true... it’s right in front of you... no matter how much you try to deny it, that’s just how you are... you just can’t." Her declaration rang with total certainty, no trace of speculation—she was utterly convinced.

Razeal cocked his head faintly in response, scrutinizing her briefly before replying. "I’d argue otherwise," he stated evenly, then shifted forward an inch, his stare intensifying once more.

"How about you tell me something instead... why should I even kill you? Or hurt you in the first place?"

That query gave Maria pause—not from lacking a retort, but because she felt she'd already supplied it, prompting a soft, nearly disbelieving chuckle from her.

"Hah...? I just explained that to you," she answered, as though it were plain as day.

But he gave a light shake of his head. "Yeah... you did," he conceded nonchalantly. "But I didn’t hear a single reason in that entire explanation that actually justifies it." Here, his look altered subtly—not with passion or rage, merely crystalline clarity.

"For instance... allow me to illustrate," he pressed on, his tone even and somewhat casual at this point, "You’re present, aren’t you? Then out of nowhere, Sofia..." he waved faintly her way without glancing over, "rushes in and attempts to end me. I’m far too feeble to fight back. You’re right there watching. No assistance from you. Reasons be damned," he threw in nonchalantly, as though the cause meant nothing, "Yet somehow... I pull through. Hardly. I get away. But I forfeit something vital... Say, an arm, a leg, or whatever lasting damage... Crippled forever," he held the moment briefly to let the image sink in, before locking eyes with her once more..

"So answer me... should you face any punishment for it?" his voice stayed composed, nearly dissecting the matter, "On moral grounds? By law? Or otherwise?" Without pausing for her reply, he went on..

"Why... would I bother expending time or effort chasing you down simply because you failed to aid me?" A soft scoff escaped him, not derisive but brushing it off, "That’s ridiculous," he stated flatly, "Sure... targeting Sofia holds water—she’s the attacker," his eyes darted momentarily to Sofia then back to Maria, "You, though?" He cocked his head a bit, "You did nothing wrong," he stressed that core idea, dropping his voice subtly,

"Why then would I trouble myself with your punishment?" No anger colored his words, merely clear-cut reason, crisp and direct, "You feel guilty for not stepping in... fine," he appended with a minor shrug, "That’s on you alone," his stare remained fixed on hers..

"But why thrust that burden onto me?" The query hung there, weighty yet without force, "Why demand I harm you... or end you... over an expectation I never placed on you to begin with?" He eased back into his seat a touch, loosening up again..

"I never count on aid from onlookers," he put it plainly, "So why penalize one?" His eyes stayed glued to her features till the end, "Explain... why should I?"

"I’m no... mere onlooker...!" Maria’s cry broke with force as she surged ahead in her seat, knuckles whitening as they gripped her dress fabric desperately to steady herself, breaths ragged, eyes blazing fiercely fixed on Razeal’s..

"...I’m Maria... You saved my life...!" The declaration strained out, gritted past tight jaws with raw feeling in each word, "I had every cause... every duty to stand by you... I ought to have been there... Fought at your side... Yet I failed...!" Her frame quivered openly, racked not only by frailty but by the torrent of remorse she could no longer suppress..

"That grants you full license... complete justification... to make me pay... You earned that loyalty from me... Claim it now...!" Desperation edged her voice sharply, a waver betraying her push to forge this conviction into truth out of sheer necessity.

Throughout it all, Razeal observed her in silence, face impassive, eyes unwavering, opting not for irritation or rage but a subtle, nearly entertained smile—serene, restrained, like viewing one wrestle a verdict clashing with truth itself.

"Fine then..." he drew out leisurely, voice airy but purposeful, "suppose we flip it... not me this time... picture your mother instead." His delivery stayed level, precise, shifting subtly in his chair while facing her squarely, "Your mother under assault... grave peril... you nearby... yet you hold back." He angled his head faintly..

"Fear gripped you... uncertainty... a moment’s pause... or any cause... irrelevant."

"Tell me now... upon returning home... will your mother slay you? Torment you? Demand reasons for your inaction then exact vengeance?" His look held firm, "Or would you approach her pleading, ‘Why spare me? Why no pain?’" A slight curve touched his lips anew, "Should she refuse... label her lenient? Gentle? Feeble?" He reclined a fraction, tone steady yet resolute..

"Disappointment might sting her... she could withdraw... even suffer inside... but your current plea to me..." He shook his head deliberately, "...no one would grant that." His gaze pinned hers without falter..

"You’re acting irrationally," he summed up straightforwardly, offering a brief nod like declaring plain truth over blame.

A moment passed

Maria stayed silent.

Her lips parted just a little, her eyes flashing as his words sank in, but still... even then, a part of her wouldn't yield to it.

Her head shook.

Slowly, at the start.

Then with more force.

"No..." she whispered softly, her tone low and denying, "No... it’s not the same..." Her head shook harder now, more fiercely, "It’s not the same...!"

Razeal sat up straighter in his chair.

"How is it not the same?" he questioned right away, his voice steady yet more pointed, as though urging her to face it head-on, "Tell me why."

And then he rose to his feet.

The chair scraped softly behind him as he advanced, narrowing the short gap between them until he loomed directly before her, bending forward a touch, his features so near she could make out every nuance of his serene, intent gaze... waiting.

"Tell me," he said again, gently, with a subtle smile lingering on his mouth.

Something inside her shattered.

"BECAUSE IT’S JUST NOT!!"

Her shout burst forth, raw and unrestrained, shattering the thin grip she’d maintained, "Why won’t you get it?!" Her frame quivered visibly now, without restraint, "Why must you be this way?!" Her voice fractured, yet she pressed on, "This isn’t the same thiiiing!!"

Her eyes fixed on his, wide and frantic, hunting for any sign at all.

"You saved my life...!" she bellowed, her tone quaking fiercely, "You nearly died for me...!" Her chest heaved as she fought for air amid her outburst.

"Don’t you hate me for failing to help you?!" Her pitch fell briefly, then surged back, "Yes... if it were exactly as you described... my mother wouldn’t kill me... That would be the proper, logical result..!"

Her lips quivered.

"But it wasn’t...!"

Her voice lowered further, carrying even more weight.

"I know..." she murmured, eyes shaking as they held his, "If it were like that... if I’d betrayed her... after all you’d done for me... which would’ve been for her..." Her throat clenched. "She’d kill me... No second thoughts..." A shaky, fractured breath slipped out. "Anyone would..."

Her stare remained locked on his.

"Because I’d owe her my life..."

Silence hung for just a moment.

Then

Her voice surged once more.

"But you... you don’t...!"

And that

That crushed her.

"I can’t accept it...!" she cried out, her whole form trembling violently, "I need to see it...!" Her voice split harshly, emotions flooding unchecked.

"I need hate in your eyes when you see me... Deeeep Fucking HATEEEE!!" Tears flowed freely now, barriers gone, "I want you to hurt me...!" The words tumbled faster, wilder, more urgent, "Torture me... Kill me...!"

Her scream pierced the air.

"KILL ME!!"

The cry reverberated, thick and oppressive.

"I want you to kill me... then spit on my grave... And hate me for lifeee..!" she went on, voice splintering as she pushed the words free, "Dump all your rage... all your hate, EVERYTHING... on me...!" Her breaths grew ragged, near gasps, "This is your payback... claim it...!"

She shook without control now.

Her whole body.

Her voice.

Her breaths.

Everything.

And Razeal... stayed still.

Never interrupted. He simply stood over her, gazing down in quiet.

As she unraveled before him.

"WHY...?!" she screamed once more, her voice fully breaking, "Why is there no hate in your eyes for me...?!" Tears clouded her sight, but she refused to turn away, "Where is it...?!" Her tone quivered wildly, "Where the fuck are you hiding it...?!"

Her fists gripped tighter.

"Unleash it on me...!" she sobbed, her voice turning more shattered, "I saw it...!" Her breaths hitched, "You even unleashed it on your mother...!" Her eyes flared wider, raw need surging within, "At least you released it...!"

Her voice fractured anew.

"But why not on me...?"

The words emerged softer.

More brittle.

"I deserve it..." she breathed.

"Give it to me..."

And then

She screamed again.

"TAKE IT OUT!!"

Her raw, frantic roar ripped through the space, throat burning from the effort as tears poured endlessly down her cheeks.

Then

Her strength gave way.

"Just... why...?" she murmured faintly now, her tone scarcely cohesive, "Why can’t you hate me...?" Her head swayed gently, in utter despair, "How... how can you not hate me for doing nothing for you...?" Her breathing caught once more, ragged and fractured, "I... I said I’m sorry... I hate myself for it..."

Her tone dissolved into fragility.

"So how... how can you not...?"

And at last

She shattered utterly.

Quiet sobs took over from the screams as her shoulders quivered, her head wobbling feebly like it struggled to grasp something beyond her mind's reach.

"How could I be so foolish...?" she breathed.

"How... could you not hate me...?"

And amid it all..

Razeal remained standing in silence.

Gazing upon her.. Not bearing anger or loathing. But holding an emotion she failed to comprehend.

At last.. moments later

"Well... that’s likely because..." Razeal spoke softer now, slicing through the echoes of Maria’s collapse with surprising serenity, "...I hold no recollections of what truly occurred between us." His eyes stayed locked on hers while delivering it, neither icy nor guarded, merely factual, like revealing a truth that made perfect sense to him, something evident right from the beginning.

Suddenly, upon hearing this, Maria froze entirely..

Mid-breath. Mid-gesture. Mid-all.

The sobs halted as though cut off sharply. The shaking ceased. The tears streaming before now lingered on her eyelashes, pausing as she raised her head gradually, robotically, to meet his gaze.

Her eyes brimmed with bewilderment.

Not slight bewilderment.

But the sort that strikes when the world's truth clashes with your deepest convictions.

"What...?" she kept it unspoken.. yet it shone plainly on her face.

Razeal noticed.

And let out a sigh.

A deep, soft breath left him as he shook his head gradually, like the talk had arrived at a moment demanding essential revelation. He adjusted his stance a bit, then retreated to his seat, settling back with composed poise, as though steadying for what followed.

Maria stayed rooted.

She merely gaped at him.. Vacantly.

Struggling to absorb it.

Struggling to fathom his words..

Razeal met her stare, then continued, voice firm and straightforward, brooking no misunderstanding.

"My memories... of any moments spent with you..." he halted shortly, selecting terms with care, "...got erased entirely. By Merisa Verlan." His look held steady on her as he revealed it, observing her reaction. "The initial sight of you... in my view... happened at the academy."

Silence.

Thick and Total.

"So..." he continued, offering a light shrug, parting his hands in a motion of subdued closure, "...no real grounds exist for me to despise you so intensely." His voice stayed even, somewhat aloof yet not indifferent. "Save for minor incidents between us lately." A brief lull. "Those, I believe, we've resolved."

He reclined a touch in his seat, face unaltered.

"I’m not so trivial as to murder over such matters.. "

And thus..

He concluded.

"So yeah.. That’s the whole story."

The statement lingered.

Something within Maria.. Crumbled.

No instant response came from her. No words escaped.

No blink occurred.

She simply... fixed her eyes on him.

And gradually

Extremely gradually

Awareness started to dawn.

Not relief.

Not insight.. But a burden far weightier.

Naturally.. The epiphany crashed over her silently, surging past all her prior words, emotions, convictions of what he ought to sense.

Of course he doesn’t hate me...

Since he doesn’t even recall... or know

Her lips parted faintly, yet silence reigned. Her thoughts relived her guilt, apology, craving for retribution, conviction that she had wro