A Runaway Villainess, Now Healing In An Enemy Country - Chapter 61

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Episode 61】

“But that’s… just a fictional story.”

A fairy tale about how a wicked mage reformed and went around doing good deeds, then was reborn in the next life with tremendous magical power to become a great mage.

That story with the moral lesson that living virtuously brings rewards had been distorted into the theory that ‘mages are reborn as mages even in their next life.’

Probably not many people would seriously believe it.

But to think this story would come from Davuer’s mouth. He was a man who suited academic papers better than fairy tales, so it was quite unexpected.

“You said you believe in reincarnation. Why do you think that way? It could be true, couldn’t it.”

Davuer slightly furrowed his brow. The fact that he showed this much emotion meant my previous answer had deeply bothered him.

“Well, it certainly might be true. There’s no proof it’s complete fiction, nor proof that it’s fact.”

“You’re less romantic than you appear.”

“…What exactly are you trying to say?”

He said I think a lot, but in truth, he was a man with no less complex thoughts himself.

This was just speculation, but he seemed to have a habit of going through long thoughts, reaching conclusions alone, and then speaking them aloud.

Because of this, his words often sounded sudden and out of context. Just like now.

“Try believing it from now on, Irene.”

“…”

“I’ve been falling into the naive notion lately that miracles might exist… and because of that.”

At that moment, a dark curse briefly appeared and disappeared over Davuer’s pale face, which was difficult to read changes in.

“Even if I die, I feel like I could be reborn.”

…What is he saying.

I was startled and immediately grabbed his hand with both of mine. My heart beat irregularly with an ominous premonition.

“Davuer, are you very sleepy?”

“A little.”

If he says ‘a little,’ it probably isn’t just ‘a little.’

First pushing the Duke role onto me, then suddenly bringing up reincarnation. All his words suddenly felt like he was putting his affairs in order.

‘He told me not to be hasty, but what’s this.’

Did he use too much magi last time? Was going out too long and too far the problem?

There were too many possibilities to consider, yet sometimes none at all. Not knowing the physiology of magi made it difficult to deduce the exact cause.

“…You clearly said you’d be fine as long as I’m here.”

“Right, I’m fine for now. This is just hypothetical talk.”

“You need to be fine not just now, but in the future too.”

I tightened my grip on his hand. Strong enough to make the knuckles prominent, as strong as when wielding a sword.

“We finally… made a promise.”

Though I haven’t been able to tell anyone honestly yet, though I only acknowledged it to myself. I’ve come to think of them as family.

I can’t lose them so meaninglessly…

“I misspoke. I meant it to reassure you.”

Then Davuer muttered while looking down at the hand I was holding. Facing that dry expression made my tone naturally sharp.

“It only made me more anxious, you know?”

“Even if I said I’d find you no matter what happens?”

“…What?”

“Even if I’m completely consumed by magi, I’ll find you in the next life and keep my promise, so you don’t need to worry so much.”

I couldn’t think of it as a joke or jest. Regardless of feasibility, he seemed to be speaking with complete sincerity.

“So you don’t need to be obsessed with the compulsion that you must save me. You’d better just think about yourself.”

…What pleasant sophistry this was.

Words like ‘if you die, the world will die too’ or ‘what if I’m not in that timeline even if you’re reborn’ didn’t come out.

Instead, I asked this.

“How… would you come to me?”

“With my magic.”

He said that while folding his eyes like crescent moons.

Rather than smiling, it was closer to literally folding them. It was an awkward expression, as if he hadn’t moved that way for a very long time.

However… he certainly seemed like a living person.

Not a statue or still life painting.

Was it because of this that the story about magic coming from human desires came to mind now, that even that absurd wish seemed possible?

‘Strangely… reassuring.’

My anxious heartbeat had somehow returned to its normal pace. Only then did I relax my grip.

But conversely, Davuer gripped my hand tightly.

“You could keep holding on.”

“Wait, my hands are sweaty…!”

“I’m cold, so it doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me. Let go, please.”

“I think I might collapse from magi.”

“Really? …No, you’re lying!”

Knock knock.

The sound of knocking came around that time.

“Eep.”

I was startled like someone caught stealing and ruthlessly shook off Davuer’s hand. He twitched his eyebrows in displeasure.

True to a castle with no hierarchy to speak of, the door burst open before permission was given.

“I’m truly sorry to interrupt while you two are lost in your own world, but…”

The one who appeared somewhat urgently was Juansi. The shadows under his eyes had grown even deeper than in the morning.

“You wouldn’t need to be sorry if you didn’t do things to be sorry for.”

“You need to come downstairs.”

The butler easily ignored his master’s irritation and reported in the most tired voice I’d ever heard from him.

“The Countess has awakened. For now, at least.”

* * *

Lishie was laid in the guest room located next to my room.

Winter Castle, now that renovations were complete, had acquired a ‘castle-like’ dignity that was unrecognizable compared to the beginning.

However, since we had thrown away most of the furniture that had been left unattended for long periods without preservation magic, that room was neat to the point of being sparse with only a bed…

“…Is this hell by any chance?”

Neat, my foot. The room was such a mess that I almost missed the dusty pit days.

Scratches decorated the floor and walls as if sword energy had been wielded indoors, and broken glass windows and ceiling lights were scattered about carelessly.

The bed that had been placed sparsely was also damaged beyond repair. Feathers fluttered like snowflakes from the torn-up blankets.

Nishe, who was part of that scene, immediately looked at me and shouted irritably.

“Hey, that thing’s completely crazy!”

The ‘thing’ he was referring to was Lishie.

Lishie, standing near the broken window, was struggling with one arm held by Ally.

“Let go! I’m going to jump down. I’m going to die right now! I need to die…!”

‘…This is the second floor though.’

At most she’d get a fracture rather than die from the fall. But Lishie didn’t seem to have time to point out such facts.

Right. She certainly ‘looked crazy.’ Like those ominous rumors that had circulated in the Imperial Capital.

However, she was still Lishie. I didn’t feel the unsettling sense that she was something completely different.

“If I… if only I disappear…”

Her disheveled hair and pale complexion, trembling all over yet with an inexplicably firm strength in her voice.

Ally, who was roughly holding such a her to prevent her from going out to the balcony, confessed to me.

“I’m sorry. I broke the Countess’s arm.”

“That’s not something to apologize to me for. Why did it become like this?”

“Well, the Countess just opened her eyes, but she kept saying she was going to jump down like crazy, so I was stopping her. Um… what should we do?”

“…”

Ally, Nishe, Juansi who had dragged them here saying they’d understand once they saw it. And the castle’s owner who seemed to have no other impression than ‘what a commotion’ even facing this mess.

Everyone except Lishie, who was completely out of her mind, was staring at me blankly.

Among them, Juansi spoke rapidly as if pouring out words.

“Then I’ll go calm the servants who are terrified by this situation. Someone was swinging sword energy around… Anyway, Lady Irene, please take care of this.”

On his shoulder sat a gray mouse. As Juansi left, he muttered ominously to himself.

“I worked so hard to fix the perception of this being a demon castle, and now there’s another problem. I’m already busy enough to die.”

Feeling somehow heavily responsible, I asked Nishe, who was calmly sheathing his sword at his waist.

“Why did you even unleash sword energy?”

“…Ahem. I was just trying to block it.”

“How does blocking something end up like this…?”

“At least I didn’t let a single hair get hurt. Scold that ignorantly strong maid first.”

Nishe grumbled sullenly while avoiding my gaze.

Then Ally, who had been pointed out, burst into anger.

“What am I supposed to do with wrists like diseased tree branches! Even now I’m holding her like touching a chick.”

“Stop trying to break her more and let the chick go. That’s violence.”

“And thinking to tie up feet with sword energy because touching might break them isn’t violence?”

“Please just stop fighting.”

The atmosphere always flows like this whenever there’s a chance.

My head was starting to ache. But I was the only one who knew Lishie, the only one who could handle her.

“Let go! I’m going to die. I, I am…”

“Lishie.”

I stepped boldly into the chaos, took Lishie from Ally, and grabbed the child’s shoulders.

Golden eyes fumbled through the air before slowly turning toward me.

“…I was the problem from the beginning.”

Water dripped from eyes that had instantly become wet. Lishie spoke in a rarely decisive tone.

“But I understand now. I just need to die while I’m still myself. Then that demon will disappear with me too.”

“So what are you… No, let’s calm down first. Did you heal the broken arm with Sanctum power?”

“There’s no time!”

It was more like a scream than words.

While I was startled by this unfamiliar behavior, Lishie violently pushed me away and went over the balcony.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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