A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 135

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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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135.

Ethan flinched and spun around.
Like someone hearing an unfamiliar word, he stammered in confusion.
“Pur… purification?”
“Yes. The circumstances weren’t favorable back then, so it was only a temporary measure.”
I replied with a slight smile.
But I examined the space above his head with a rather cold gaze.

81%

The number had risen considerably since the last time I’d seen it, likely due to the battle with the Magi.
It wasn’t dangerous enough to purify yet.
And I didn’t particularly want to.
The only reason I’d broached the subject at all was because of Ruellin, who was watching this situation unfold.
Yet surprisingly, Ethan didn’t readily agree.
“I…”
He opened his mouth, hesitation written all over his face.
“I’m fine.”
“…”
“It’s not bad enough to need purification. I can still manage.”
“I see.”
Well then.
I released the sleeve I’d been holding without a second thought.
“Understood.”
“…Edith Blake.”
Then, in turn, he reached out urgently as if trying to stop me.
But realizing his gesture was excessive, he suddenly froze mid-motion.
His hand hung suspended in empty air.
The confusion etched across his face felt strangely unfamiliar.
‘Come to think of it… he doesn’t seem particularly anxious about Ruellin’s disappearance?’
Vincent had rushed to find me the moment Ruellin vanished, and Serge had been searching for her to receive purification.
Even Dylan, who despised being in the same space as Edith Blake, had knelt before me and apologized.
I never expected him to refuse purification when I offered it first.
I regarded Ethan with a peculiar expression and asked.
“Is it perhaps… uncomfortable for you to receive purification from me?”
“What?”
“You’ve only ever received purification from Ruellin until now, so you might find me untrustworthy.”
“What….”
Ethan’s eyes widened considerably.
I offered a bittersweet smile, tinged with melancholy.
“I may never become as perfect a Purifier as she was… but since I’ve awakened, I’ll do my best to be of use.”
“….”
“So please don’t push me away like that. It hurts me too.”
“That’s not it. I never thought….”
Ethan shook his head urgently.
“I simply didn’t want to be so shameless as to demand purification from someone who’d only just awakened.”
“Then I’m relieved.”
“Ruellin….”
For a moment, Ethan’s face twisted with anguish.
A shallow sigh escaped his lips.
I’d found it strange that he seemed so unmoved even after witnessing her death, but perhaps that was merely my misperception.
He may have deliberately avoided thoughts of Ruellin, throwing himself into work and pretending everything was fine.
As if to prove this, a flicker of longing—or perhaps anguish—passed through his lake-blue eyes.
In truth, it mattered little what his reasons were for refusing.
Whether to honor his loyalty to Ruellin, or because he truly didn’t wish to be purified by me….
Yet I forced myself to wear an expression of reassurance.
Ethan, who had been studying me intently, furrowed his brow slightly.
“…But who said you weren’t trustworthy?”
“No one said that. It’s just….”
“….”
“Her reputation and the faith people had in her were so exceptional that I couldn’t help but be compared to her.”
“Of course she was remarkable, but you are also an excellent Purifier.”
He emphasized this with considerable sincerity.
“Even while being kidnapped and rescued, you prioritized purifying Acarna over your own wellbeing.”
“….”
“Perhaps you were right to follow Ayla then, and I was being somewhat narrow-minded.”
Ethan paused briefly before hesitantly revealing what lay in his heart.
“In that moment… all I could think was that I had to get you to safety immediately.”
I had to exert considerable effort not to scoff at those words.
‘Then why couldn’t he think to rush into the Gate before Serge did, instead of just pacing anxiously?’
In truth, I knew the reason.
According to the novel—or rather, the Book of Prophecy—Ethan harbored a certain trauma regarding the Gate.
He had witnessed with his own eyes his father pushing the Duke aside and being sucked into the Gate in his stead.
Because of this, though he never showed it to anyone, he inwardly dreaded and avoided entering the Gate.
Unlike Dylan, who had unhesitatingly entered the Gate on Equinox Island and slain the monster’s leader.
‘So what? He entered without hesitation to save Ruellin.’
No matter how much his mind had been manipulated, overcoming even his trauma to that degree could only mean he truly loved her, could it not?
‘Tsk.’
Realizing I still had a long way to go compared to the other male leads, irritation suddenly flared within me.
I concealed it by closing my eyes once more.
“It’s all in the past anyway. Please don’t concern yourself with it, brother.”
“…Edith Blake.”
Whether moved by my hollow words or not, warmth bloomed in those piercing blue eyes as he gazed at me.
An inexplicable revulsion washed over me.
I hastily rose from my seat to end the conversation.
“Besides, I haven’t had lunch yet….”
“….”
“If you’ve said all you came to say, would you mind leaving now?”
Today’s performance had reached its limit.
From forcing my smile so hard, the area around my eyes ached and my lips twitched involuntarily.
“You should eat properly.”
Fortunately, Ethan turned to leave without resistance.
“Take care of yourself until the banquet.”
“Yes.”
I escorted him to the door, maintaining my radiant smile until the very end.
“If you ever feel unwell, please come find me anytime, brother.”
“…All right.”
The man who was always expressionless awkwardly smiled back at me.
I could no longer contain my nausea.
Slam!
I shut the door hastily before he could even fully turn away.
The smile on my lips vanished as though it had never existed.
And then.
“Ugh! Blegh!”
I rushed to the bathroom and retched violently.
Having stared at the crystal sphere for days without eating properly, only thin gastric fluid dribbled out.
My mind knew I should restrain myself in case Ruellin was still watching, but I couldn’t stop the heaving.
‘Why should I cater to that bastard?’
Why must I feign purification to someone I can’t even stand to look at?
He’s just some fool who spouts unsolicited advice the moment something goes wrong.
A complete idiot who doesn’t even realize he’s been deceived by Ruellin….
“Sigh….”
By the time my nausea finally subsided, every ounce of strength had drained from my body.
After rinsing my mouth, I stumbled out of the bathroom.
I collapsed onto the bed as though my legs had given way.
‘…Should I just give up?’
It seemed I would do anything to draw Ruellin to my side.
Smiling at these repulsive creatures proved far more difficult than I’d anticipated.
‘But what other choice do I have?’
As I racked my brain, desperately clinging to resolve before weakness could take hold,
I succumbed to sleep without warning.

***

I dreamed.
A dream of watching myself and Ethan reflected within the crystal sphere.
It was a familiar composition.
‘Ruellin is watching.’
The moment awareness struck, my vision—which had been fixed solely on the sphere—gradually expanded.
“Ethan….”
There I stood, cradling the crystal sphere, tears streaming down my face.
No—it was Ruellin I saw.
As expected.
Just as I’d predicted, she had found the sphere and was witnessing every word exchanged between Ethan and me.
“I miss you so much. Ethan, if it were you, you’d move heaven and earth to save me from this situation right now, wouldn’t you…?”
“….”
“I want to go back. I hate being here. Please come save me….”
She tenderly caressed Ethan’s face reflected in the sphere, her body wracked with silent sobs.
That was when it happened.
The words Ethan had spoken to me within the sphere flowed out exactly as they were.

“Of course, she was remarkable, but you are an excellent Purifier too.”

“W-what….”
Her eyes, glistening with tears, widened in disbelief.
“This can’t be. Ethan, why would you say such a thing…!”
She cried out desperately toward the sphere, her voice trembling with desperation.
And in the next moment.

“In that moment… all I could think was that I had to evacuate you immediately.”

“Aaaaaahhhhh―!”
Whoosh, thud―!
Following Ethan’s voice, she hurled the crystal sphere with a scream so raw it seemed her throat might tear.
“How could you do this to me? Why did I abandon everything and cross over to this world for you?”
As if Ethan stood before her, Ruellin pointed an accusing finger while her voice broke with anguish.
“I did it all for you! Because I love you! To save the world you risked your lives to protect!”
“….”
“I came here to stop Sephiroth from stealing your abilities, and I’m suffering like this for it―!”

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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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