A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 162

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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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162.

I stared at the Deer-Masked Maid with a chill running through me, my gaze frozen and sharp.
The note bore no signature, no hint of the sender’s identity anywhere on its surface, yet there was no doubt—it had come from that charlatan Cult Leader.
But whether I should be grateful that he’d spared me the trouble of searching, or horrified that he continued to watch me, I couldn’t decide.
And beyond that.
‘The Blue Moon Guild…’
That abandoned building in the Slum—the very place where I’d once pursued Ruellin’s trail and ended up running into Dylan, only to suffer for it.
The location where, in that dream, Ruellin had brainwashed Edith Blake into purifying Vincent…
“Of all the unlucky places.”
Why would he choose such a location for a rendezvous?
I irritably set down the items I’d been holding, nearly hurling them onto the table, when Nancy flinched beside me, her shoulders trembling.
Only then did I become aware of her presence, and I softened my murderous expression.
“Don’t mind it. I’m not angry with you.”
“I-Is it perhaps a curse letter?”
“A curse letter?”
“Yes, you used to receive them quite often not long ago…”
Her words stirred a memory I’d completely forgotten.
Those moments when I’d trembled upon receiving correspondence from Serge, tearing the letters to shreds with shaking hands.
When the recollection surfaced of how I’d vaguely dismissed them as “curse letters” to avoid revealing the sender to concerned onlookers, my mood became strangely complicated.
Back then, I’d thought: how could such a despicable creature exist, spouting only horrors even through written words?
Yet the reality of waiting peacefully for meals in that very man’s home felt profoundly contradictory.
“…It’s not that kind of thing.”
I reassured Nancy adequately, easing her concerns.
In truth, this contact was precisely what I needed most right now.
“But why did he send the mask? It doesn’t seem like a gift, exactly…”
“Indeed.”
“Shall I dispose of it for you?”
“No, leave it for now. Let me think about it.”
I certainly couldn’t throw it away.
It was meant for me to wear and come—a way to confirm my identity.
Though the fact that it was a deer still unsettled me, I forced myself to think positively about it.
At least it wasn’t a taxidermied deer like the one Sephiroth had worn on Equinox Island.
“Nancy, I’m sorry, but would you tell the Butler that dinner preparations are ready?”
“Pardon? But you really should eat properly, Miss.”
“I’ve lost my appetite. I’ve been wandering around all morning and I’m exhausted.”
Nancy hesitated before finally departing to find the Butler.
I gazed down at the Deer-Masked Maid and the note, lost in contemplation.
At least meeting Sephiroth was resolved, so that was a relief….
‘But how do I get out?’
The problem was whether I could slip away from the Grand Duke’s Residence without being noticed. And at the ungodly hour of midnight, no less.
Nancy was the only person I could ask for help, and with the Grand Duke’s eyes watching everywhere, I couldn’t just wander about freely.
‘Maybe it would be better to tell Serge the truth….’
I immediately dismissed the thought that had flickered across my mind.
If it were him, he’d inevitably try to follow me, and with Sephiroth already watching me, I couldn’t predict what variables might arise.
If he noticed me moving with Serge and simply didn’t show up at the meeting place, all of this would be for nothing.
‘Should I just say I’m going back to the Duke’s Mansion right now?’
A backup plan occurred to me—perhaps this moment, with the master of the house absent, was an opportunity.
But seeing how things had gone since yesterday, it seemed unlikely the Butler would let me leave without question.
Even if he did, I couldn’t ignore the probability that he’d secretly send someone to follow me.
In the end, I was back to square one.
“Ugh… I shouldn’t have come here.”
I should have just gone to the Villa and tried to handle it on my own somehow.
I sighed, holding my throbbing forehead.
How fickle the human heart is—the moment my purpose for coming here vanished, everything felt like an obstacle.
Yet when I learned that Yu Sol’s body was dying, I’d thought there was nowhere else to turn for help.
‘I suppose I’ll have to resort to a substitution.’
Nancy went in and out of the room frequently due to various calls, so I needed a third party to disguise themselves as me.
Naturally, it could only be Eston.
Having devised this obvious plan, I sprang to my feet and headed for the Study.
I needed to write a letter to send to Eston.
That was the moment.
Knock, knock—
Another knock echoed through the room.
“Come in.”
It was obviously Nancy, so I responded without much concern.
As expected, Nancy opened the door and entered, her face looking strangely troubled as she spoke.
“Ah, Miss….”
“What’s wrong?”
“You should come down for a moment, I think.”
“What’s happened?”
“It’s… Marquis Leandro has come to call….”
“What?!”
Shocked, I hurried down to the First Floor.
The grand entrance doors of the Grand Duke’s Residence stood wide open.
Beyond them, the garden was absolute chaos.
“Edith! Where is Edith! Hand her over right now, you bastards!”
“Marquis! You mustn’t do this…!”
“Hand over Edith Blake, or didn’t you hear me?!”
Whoooosh―!
A violent gust of wind swept through.
The Servants who had been trying to stop Vincent were sent flying like autumn leaves in a storm.
The verdant Garden that had been peaceful until morning was now reduced to a wasteland.
“Edith Blake! I’ve come to save you! Where are you, Edith Blake!”
My vision darkened at the sight of Vincent Leandro rampaging through the center of the Grand Duke’s Residence like a madman.
I hurried outside through the Entrance Hall before he could force his way into the Grand Duke’s Residence itself.
His golden eyes, half-wild and gleaming, locked onto me instantly.
“Edith Blake!”
He rushed over in a single bound and frantically ran his hands over me.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“What are you doing here? Have you lost your mind?”
“I’m sorry, I only just heard you’d been kidnapped. I happened to stop by my Territory, and—damn it, useless bastards!”
He gnashed his teeth and cursed at whoever he was referring to, then suddenly grabbed my hand.
“It’s all fine now. I’ve come to rescue you. Let’s go—we should get you treated first once we’re back….”
“Kidnapped? What kidnapping!”
I immediately wrenched my hand free and shouted.
“Did you take something? Were you dreaming?”
“Huh? Well, that is… I heard you were kidnapped by the Grand Duke on the way to the Villa….”
Vincent answered with a bewildered expression.
“Are you still watching me?”
“….”
At my sharp accusation, his mouth clamped shut.
It was an affirmation.
This was infuriating. I already had mountains of things to think about.
I sighed and turned to look for the Butler.
“Butler, could you have the people withdraw? I think we need to have a conversation.”
“Y-yes, Young Lady. Though it does seem rather dangerous for just the two of you….”
Before the ashen-faced Butler could finish his hesitant response, Vincent shouted.
“Shut your mouth! What would I do to put Edith Blake in danger? You lot are the kidnappers! I’ll report this to the authorities right now…!”
“Please, just be quiet.”
This was unbearable.
I grabbed Vincent’s wrist and dragged him forcefully toward somewhere.
“E-Edith Blake….”
He seemed flustered by my sudden action but obediently followed behind me.
I passed through the entrance to the Maze Garden and walked much further before finally stopping in front of the central Fountain.
Shhhhaaaa―
The sound of water spraying from the fountain echoed continuously.
At this distance, there would be no one passing by, and no ears to hear.
I immediately released the arm I’d been holding and stepped away from Vincent.
“….”
He stared at me with an oddly vacant expression.

76%

The number that appeared wasn’t particularly low.
But it was nowhere near the threshold of a rampage warning.
Which made Vincent’s behavior all the more incomprehensible.
I’d turned it over in my mind the entire way here, but logically, the watchers wouldn’t have reported my visit to the Grand Duke’s Residence as a kidnapping.
“Is something wrong in the Marquis Territory…? No, never mind. Don’t say anything, just forget it.”
I’d started to ask if there was something else troubling his mind, but I dropped it.
I didn’t particularly care, and it wasn’t important anyway.
“…There seems to be some misunderstanding.”
I steadied my ragged breathing and spoke calmly.
“It’s not a kidnapping—I came here on business. Look, I’m not injured, I’m fine. So stop worrying and go back.”
“…Kidnapping or what? What business could you possibly have here?”
“I have my reasons. You don’t need to know.”
“Don’t tell me….”
His face suddenly contorted.
“That ridiculous article was true? No, it wasn’t, right? You couldn’t possibly… I was there. I saw it with my own eyes…!”
“What if it was a kidnapping? What if it’s true?”
“….”
“What does it have to do with you?”
At my emotionless gaze, Vincent’s pupils trembled helplessly.
“Why… why do you say such things, Edith Blake? We made up.”
“….”
“We decided to forget the past and get along again. I’m your only true friend—how could I not care?”
That damned reconciliation….
I hadn’t expected Ruellin to return so quickly.
I’d been too absorbed in the idea of further provoking her through the crystal orb.
‘If I’d known it would come to this, I wouldn’t have even mentioned reconciliation. I must be insane.’
Truly understanding what it meant for regret to cut to the bone, I directly refuted his words.
“Don’t you think what you’re doing right now crosses the line for a friend?”
“But you could be in danger—how could I just stand by….”
“That’s the problem. Why are you monitoring me between friends in the first place?”
“It’s not monitoring—I told you it’s a protective measure.”
“That’s exactly why…!”
Before I knew it, I’d grown heated, as if arguing with a wall.
It was obvious that all I’d get back was nonsense like ‘we’re friends.’ Getting angry would only hurt me in the end.
I took a deep breath and steadied my composure.
“…Anyway, I’ll be leaving soon too, so stop your nonsense and go quickly. Before the owner returns.”
With that, I turned away at once.
Just as I was about to retrace my steps back through the Maze Garden.
“…Something’s wrong.”
Suddenly, a trembling, pitiful voice echoed softly from behind me.
“We apologized and made up. We agreed not to sever our friendship, and I said I’d never take Ruellin’s side again….”
“….”
“But Edith Blake, why does it seem like you have no intention of going back to how things were?”
“….”
“Why do you still look at me like that… as if I’m something horrible and repulsive?”
“….”
“Am I really that… detestable?”

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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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