A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 118

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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118.

***

[BREAKING NEWS! Princess Edith Blake Shatters Grade Measurement Artifact?!]
[EX-Grade Awakener Emerges in the Nation! What Does EX-Grade Mean?!]
[The New Purifier Edith Blake—Who Is She Really?! Princess’s Secret Private Life Exposed!]

“This is insane…!”
Crash!
I hurled the stack of newspapers the Butler had brought onto my desk, seething with indignation.
Not even a day had passed since my grade assessment, and the papers were plastered with my story—the Security Bureau had undoubtedly leaked this to the press.
As if that weren’t enough, rumors had spread far and wide, and invitations of every sort came flooding in from early morning.
The entire nation now knew of my awakening and my grade.
“Marquis Clonella—I never took him for someone with such a loose tongue.”
As I frowned in irritation, the Butler smiled cheerfully and spoke.
“Congratulations, Miss.”
“Congratulations? Who are you mocking right now?”
“It’s something to be proud of, is it not? You’re the only EX-Grade Awakener in the entire nation!”
Everyone was deceived by the word “only,” harboring a grand misconception.
EX-Grade didn’t mean more impressive than S-Grade—it simply meant unmeasurable, classified separately for that reason alone.
Rather than exhaust myself explaining, I let out a deep sigh.
“The Butler wasn’t there, so I was trembling, terrified he’d make me pay for breaking that artifact.”
“Ahem! It’s quite fortunate such a misfortune didn’t occur.”
The moment I mentioned money, the Butler’s expression grew serious and he changed the subject.
He was always such a cunning old man.
“By the way, what shall we do with all these invitations, Miss? Many have come from quite prestigious social gatherings.”
“Burn them all.”
I gave the order without a moment’s hesitation.
Famous or not, they’d only want to display me like a monkey in a zoo.
Just then, the Butler let out a sound of alarm.
“Even the one from the Grand Duke’s Residence?”
“The Grand Duke’s Residence…?”
I paused and turned to face him, my expression darkening immediately.
“Is it another curse letter?!”
“No. Fortunately, it doesn’t appear to be a curse letter this time….”
The Butler pulled one envelope from the stack he was holding and offered it to me.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t an ominous black envelope, but a pristine white one adorned with floral patterns.
“It sounds like a typical tea party invitation.”
I gazed unfamiliarly at my name written on the envelope’s surface, then hastily removed the wax seal imprinted with a sigil.
As I opened the envelope, a subtle fragrance wafted from the stationery.

「I cordially invite you to tea time at the Grand Duke’s Residence.
I wish to share a warm cup of tea and engage in pleasant conversation.
I eagerly anticipate a time filled with laughter and fragrance.
― Grand Duke Belnac」

I read the brief message over and over, my eyes wide with astonishment.
I was utterly shocked. That man sending such an emotional letter….
“What does it say?”
“…It’s an invitation to a tea party?”
“It appears perfume was even sprayed on the stationery.”
The Butler’s expression showed surprise that the fragrance reached him from such a distance.
“…This certainly isn’t written by that man himself.”
The handwriting, the tone—everything was different.
He was incapable of writing such elegant script and courteous phrasing.
And spraying perfume with such refinement was even more impossible.
It must have been sent by a subordinate, someone like the Butler.
“Not even a lady, and what kind of tea party is this? His personality is truly peculiar….”
As I muttered to myself, I suddenly flinched.
Without realizing it, I had begun mimicking his manner of speech!
‘Are you insane?! There’s nothing to imitate, so why are you…!’
My abrupt silence and flustered expression must have seemed strange, for the Butler asked with concern.
“Is something the matter, Miss?”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing.”
I shook my head convulsively and hastily changed the subject.
“More importantly… how is Father?”
Since that evening when I disrupted dinner and left, I hadn’t encountered the Duke even once.
So I was genuinely curious.
What had been his reaction upon hearing my rank?
The Butler, who understood the subtle meaning behind my question perfectly, answered immediately.
“…He didn’t say much, but he seemed quite pleased.”
“….”
“Perhaps he takes more pride in you and finds you more remarkable than anyone else?”
At those words, my expression clouded over.
‘…I shouldn’t have asked him to say that much.’
The person who had longed for my awakening more than anyone—other than myself—was none other than the Duke.
Even if I had chosen independence, things could have gone well….
Just before the banquet, I’d had an odd dream, and without realizing it, I’d projected myself onto Edith Blake, letting my turbulent emotions spill out completely.
‘No.’
Perhaps it was all just an excuse.
After all, Edith Blake’s situation and mine were fundamentally different.
I think I was envious and jealous.
Unlike me, who wasn’t even worth using as a pawn to my biological father and was truly cast aside, she wasn’t in that position—and that fact felt so unbearably unjust and infuriating.
I may have vented my frustration out of sheer inferiority.
‘…How can I even criticize Dylan like this?’
I laughed bitterly, then brought up what I’d truly been curious about.
“What about my older brother….”
What happened between them?
What excuse had Ethan Blake given regarding the Tollen Gate?
I wanted to ask, but I immediately shook my head.
It was unlikely, but I was afraid the Duke might somehow realize that his biological daughter was dead.
“…Never mind. I need to read, so please leave, Butler.”
“Yes. Understood, Miss.”
…For some reason, I felt as though I’d ruined everything.

***

For a while, I secluded myself and saw no one.
Perhaps it was because I’d been on edge throughout the Equinox Ceremony.
Or perhaps the reality of having to live as The Purifier in this world had only just begun to sink in.
For a time, my mood was gloomy and listless.
Since venturing outside would only subject me to baseless rumors anyway, perhaps my self-imposed isolation was the right choice.
But when a person is feeling depressed, the world rarely leaves them in peace.
“…You’re saying I have to go all the way to Acarna to purify the Erosion Infected and return?”
“That’s right.”
Shortly after returning home, Ethan suddenly sought me out and informed me that my first assignment had been given.
I was to go to Acarna, a duchy in the south, where Erosion Infected had appeared, and conduct an investigation and purification.
“But… there haven’t been any reports of a Gate appearing in that region recently, have there?”
“According to reports, they’re individuals who were exposed to the Magi during a small-scale Gate incident half a year ago and were recovered by a Purifier.”
At Ethan’s words, I narrowed my brows slightly.
‘People who were purified by Ruellin have become Erosion Infected again? Is that even possible….’
As I pondered this mystery, a scene suddenly came to mind, and my expression hardened.
There was another way for Erosion Infected to recover besides purification.
When I’d infiltrated the Sephiroth Sect Base with Serge before.
An Erosion Infected who drank a strange liquid had momentarily regained consciousness.
Though they soon lost their reason again, it was clear….

— Ah, Father….
— Something’s wrong with my body… The scent… It smells so delicious….

As I recalled that moment, Ethan suddenly spoke in a commanding tone.
“Security Bureau agents are waiting downstairs. We depart this evening, so prepare yourself at once.”
And before I could even ask anything, he swept out of the room.
Momentarily dazed by the sudden news, I soon exhaled a deep sigh and called for Nancy.
After a brief moment, having hastily prepared for the journey ahead, I descended to the First Floor.
True to Ethan’s word, two unfamiliar Awakeners stood waiting silently.
A young girl who appeared to be around Nancy’s age, and a man with a sharp, distinctive impression.

42% 35%

Above their heads, I could see fairly stable Runaway readings.
“Hello, Young Lady. I’m Marie Loutz. I possess an ability to manipulate bladed weapons.”
The girl greeted me brightly first.
True to the ability she described, her uniform had daggers and throwing stars tucked in various places.
“And this one is….”
Marie then glanced toward the man beside her.
As if to ask why he wasn’t introducing himself, she jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.
But the man simply stared at me askance while leaning on one leg.
“So this is what they call a Purifier… Tch.”
Then, suddenly muttering softly, he turned his head away.
His blatant disregard naturally made my brow furrow.
As I pondered what to say, Marie cried out urgently.
“Ha! His name is Kalen, a barrier ability user! He’s just a bit shy….”
“….”
“We plan to provide dedicated protection for you during this mission. We’ve coordinated with the previous Purifier multiple times, so please trust us!”
Seeing Marie’s cheerful smile, my irritation eased somewhat.
‘Right. Since we’re going together anyway, why cause trouble?’
My reputation was already questionable enough as it was.
Besides, remembering Eston’s attitude in the early days, this was bearable enough.
But then.
“Have you no shame? Ruellin died because of you, yet you carry yourself so well….”
Suddenly he glared at Marie and muttered under his breath.
‘Ah. So this bastard was one of Ruellin’s followers.’
He should have said it loudly for me to hear, but instead this man was muttering like a coward….
Let me correct myself.
I found this utterly intolerable.
“…You.”
What, do you have some basis for that confidence? If you’re so dissatisfied, then leave.
Just as I was about to meet his gaze directly and open my mouth.
“Are the preparations complete?”
The final boss suddenly appeared from the right.
His silver hair, whether freshly washed or not, glistened as it reflected the chandelier’s light with a lustrous sheen.

87%

Seeing Ethan’s overwhelmingly high rampage index, the words that had risen to the tip of my throat simply vanished.
‘…Right. Starting a fight in front of that monster would only be my loss.’
Needlessly provoking an unstable creature into a rampage would be nothing but digging my own grave.
I truly had no desire to purify Ethan.
“Let’s go.”
He spoke bluntly and proceeded straight toward the Entrance Hall.
Marie scurried along behind him.
“W-wait, let’s go together!”
Terrified of being left alone with me, Kalen bolted after them in a panic.
I watched their retreating figures with clouded eyes and wondered.
‘…Will they really be able to make it to Acarna and return safely?’

***

“Mmmph, mmmph…!”
Return safely? Fat chance.
Less than an hour after departing in the carriage, I found myself on the verge of being kidnapped.
“This is an invitation from Sephiroth. Consider it an honor and follow!”
“Mmmph!”
The face of the man clamping my mouth shut felt oddly familiar.
It was none other than the Sephiroth Sect follower and Space Ability User who had been treated like a dog by Serge!
White light erupted from the man’s hand as he attempted to teleport me away.
I thrashed with all my strength.
“S-stay still! Stop struggling!”
Flustered by my violent resistance, the man urgently barked at me.
And then.
“Doctor Yu!”
“….”
“…is what they said you’d respond to.”
True to his word, my movements stopped dead as if frozen by a lie.

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