A Runaway Villainess, Now Healing In An Enemy Country - Chapter 67

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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 67】

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‘It’ ran.

It had nothing that could be called a body, not even a form visible to the naked eye, yet it ran roughly to get away from Belmayer.

[It hurts, it hurts! Ah, my power, is insufficient…!]

It had failed.

All because its power was insufficient.

If things had proceeded according to the story, if the ‘Villainess’ had died, if there had been more time, it wouldn’t have acted so hastily and ruined everything.

However, the ‘Villainess’ had escaped.

Accordingly, the story’s characters began to deviate from their predetermined paths one by one. Its influence on the world was also diminishing moment by moment.

In the end, a new sanctum had awakened.

At this rate, it would be devoured.

The weak being consumed by the strong was a providence that even gods could not overturn. Unreal crimson flames seemed to follow like shadows.

[Aah…! I hate it, I hate it, I can’t bear this hatred!]

Why do they not submit to God? Why do they demand rationality from God? How dare they betray God!

A hundred years ago, it should not have made that soul from outside the world into a Countess. She had stabbed God in the back. She had torn the divine body to shreds.

She should have been annihilated as payment for that, yet she stubbornly reincarnated. Not content with that, she interferes with God’s great work once again.

Despite not even remembering. Despite being merely human.

[I am. I am… I will not die…!]

A strong obsession with life moved it.

To regain the absolute power that would place it on the divine throne, it needed more lives.

It also needed a new vessel to contain the great sanctum.

One who is obedient, dull, and foolish.

Or one who is selfish and greedy would be suitable.

[I shall bestow an oracle, my son.]

Thus, it decided to bestow golden grace upon the master of the Imperial Temple, High Priest Ezekiel.

* * *

“I’m not going to die, so please leave.”

In a room with all windows blocked. Lishie, lying straight on the bed, muttered while fixing her gaze on the ceiling.

Nishe, who had been watching her with arms crossed while leaning against the wall, immediately snorted.

Three hours had passed since the series of ‘illusion’ incidents. Lishie, who was practically the main culprit, was the top priority surveillance target.

“How nice that must be for you.”

“…Staying like this is uncomfortable for both of us anyway.”

“You think I want to be here? Making a scene about jumping off, making a scene possessed by evil spirits. I’m here in case you pull some new crazy stunt.”

His tone was sharp, as if barely suppressing hostility.

“If it weren’t for Irene, you’d be heading to the underground prison. But you’re lying here luxuriously. Can’t you be patient?”

Upon hearing that name, Lishie staggered as she sat up. She barely managed to stand on both feet on the floor and stared at Nishe.

“What… what should I have done? What could I have chosen other than death?”

Though she was questioning him, the target of her anger was actually herself.

Lishie’s life had always been moved by others.

Her Father who said they should all die together as family, the Cult Leader who took orphans from Golden Eye and raised them like beasts, and even that ‘Voice’ that entered her one day.

She had never chosen once. Perhaps because she had lived her entire life according to what others decided, even when she tried to choose for herself, she kept heading in the wrong direction.

“I just… wanted to be helpful to Older Sister. I just wanted to become family…”

She was too powerless, so even that heart was exploited.

For the past few days, Lishie had wandered somewhere in dreams, tormented by the ‘Voice’ within her.

[Am I evil? Lishie, if I am evil, then you too are a wicked sinner. Do you know how many died because of the sanctum you bestowed?]

[What you did wasn’t healing but the plundering of life force. Do those pitiful patients know? That they lived short lives because they received sanctum from the Countess they praised.]

[You are a vessel that contains me. Obeying my will is your duty. So stop resisting, give everything to me and die, Lishie.]

At that time, she really thought she should die.

Not ‘alone’, but ‘together’. So as soon as she regained consciousness, she put it into action, but was beautifully blocked by Irene.

Once again, she was saved.

“…I won’t try to die anymore. My death is meaningless now.”

Both the ‘Demon’ and the ‘Voice’ had completely disappeared from within her. Her body was tired as if overworked, but her mind was clearer than ever.

“So what I’m saying is… I won’t cause trouble, so please leave. I want to be alone.”

“What. Suddenly you’re speaking well.”

Nishe stopped trying to be more sarcastic and closed his mouth. Right after that, the closed door opened soundlessly.

“Why’s the atmosphere like this. Are you two fighting?”

It was Irene.

* * *

Bringing misfortune is easy and convenient.

However, becoming happy requires much effort. There’s no telling how much time and care it will take.

There were mountains of things to resolve for that purpose.

First, I dragged my body, exhausted from crying messily, to find Lishie. There was something I definitely wanted to say before today ended.

“Why’s the atmosphere like this. Are you two fighting?”

But when I actually opened the door, an unexpected situation was unfolding. Why was that Nishe picking a fight as soon as The Child woke up?

“Nishe, move aside for a moment.”

“…Ah shit.”

He obviously averted his eyes and scrunched up his face, but obediently moved aside.

I approached Lishie, who was frozen as if terrified, without saying much. The Child didn’t react even when I took her hand.

“Lishie.”

“…I, I am, Older Sister.”

“You worked hard all this time.”

Lishie’s pale face, which had flinched greatly at my words, instantly contorted. And.

“I’m, I’m sorry. Please don’t forgive me…”

She began apologizing haltingly while crying loudly.

‘Look at this. I knew she’d be blaming herself again.’

Coming to find this child now was the right answer.

“Sob, now you really ha, hate me…”

Over that complexion, the image of God wearing Lishie’s skin spitting curses at me faintly came to mind.

But this Lishie is the Lishie I know.

Guilt enough to contemplate death. Choices made wanting to help me. A heart that likes me, fragile, pure to the point of foolishness.

A child weak but strong enough to resist God.

“I told you, Lishie. That I don’t hate you.”

“Bu, but Older Sister, because of me…”

I embraced Lishie, who was trembling pitifully.

I don’t hate you. There’s no way I could. As long as you like me, there’s no way I could dislike you.

“Lishie, thank you for caring about me.”

“Why… such, such words…”

Because I’m weak to those who like me.

Am I the only one like this? Could there exist a person in this world who could reject affection directed at them? Anyone with a living heart wouldn’t be able to do so.

Because people…

Are bound to crave warmth in the end.

Clothes growing damp with tears. Her body trembling like a thorn bush hit by cold wind and her tangled blue hair tickled me.

So I smiled softly and whispered.

Words I had never been able to say even once until now.

“Because you are my little sister.”

If we had met even a little more normally, I surely would have cherished you. As much as you like me, I would have liked you back.

Lishie did nothing wrong.

In fact, no one did anything wrong.

There are just people who have all been wounded by fate.

If misfortune is necessary in life, it should be the result of my choices. It should be me who ruins my life, and me who sets it right.

So I can run away from fate as much as I want.

“…How magnanimous of you.”

After comforting Lishie and closing the door, Nishe, who was standing in front like a gatekeeper, grumbled.

Then when our eyes met, he flinched and quietly averted his gaze. Come to think of it, he did this earlier too.

“Nishe. I’m fine.”

“…”

The uncharacteristic silence felt heavy.

Not only him, but Ally beside him was frightening too. She had been kneeling motionless in the corridor from the moment she saw me.

“Ally. Why don’t you get up?”

“I cut Irene’s throat.”

“You didn’t cut it.”

“If it had been reality, I would have. To mistake Irene for that bastard. I’m not qualified.”

Ally’s voice as she said this was resolute.

Right. You attacked me as if to kill me in that illusion. Though it was somewhat shocking, it wasn’t their fault either, and it certainly hadn’t become something irreversible.

So I wish they’d stop acting so uncomfortable and quickly return to their usual foolish selves.

‘Hmm…’

I quietly looked at them and grinned.

“Alright, should I hug and comfort you two as well?”

“Wh… What?!”

After lightly hugging Nishe, I next lifted up the kneeling Ally and hugged her. Then, slowly meeting their wide eyes, I spoke like making a vow.

“It’s okay.”

“B-but Irene…”

“It’s absolutely perfectly okay.”

And it would be, since this cold, old castle is where I first felt warmth in this life.

The warmth, worry, and affection that my childhood self had wished for are all gathered here. As I became newly aware of this, I felt like I could say it now.

With all my remaining heart, sincerely.

“This is my home.”

“…”

“And we are family.”

Perhaps there will be no other day as terrible as today, and as lovely as today.

What lies ahead is blank paper unknown to me.

I welcomed that.

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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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