A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 51

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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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51.

What a horrifying thing to say.
Why am I suffering through all this, and now I’m being called “the Princess’s men”?!
Eston fell silent, watching me gag and shudder.
Then, quite suddenly, she pulled something from her pocket and handed it to me.
“…Please take this.”
“What is it?”
Inside a small bottle lay a circular flask containing an unidentifiable liquid that sloshed gently.
“It’s a self-defense agent… I put it in an empty perfume bottle.”
“Self-defense?”
“Yes. Volner is a dangerous place even during the day. And you’re not the type to prepare something like this on your own.”
“….”
She was so accurate that I had nothing to say.
As if she’d expected as much, she let out a sigh.
“I mixed various things together last night and made this. I was in such a hurry that I couldn’t verify the concentration, but if you spray it directly on someone’s face, it could cause blindness.”
“Blindness? Did you put hydrochloric acid in this?”
“Not that, but… in any case, the smell alone should be effective. If you can’t spray it, break the bottle instead. And don’t forget to hold your breath.”
I stared at the perfume bottle for a moment before asking.
“How much should I pay you for this?”
“What… Ha!”
Eston, bewildered by my question, let out a hollow laugh.
“I didn’t think you were the type to just accept something, but… you really do exceed expectations every time.”
“Is that a compliment?”
She glared at me as if to say there was no way it could be.
“…Doesn’t it exhaust you to calculate and haggle over everything like that?”
“That’s quite a thing to say from someone who accepted a ring so gratefully.”
“Th-that’s why this is a service! Are we done?!”
“Quite a generous service.”
“Yes! It’s absolutely not because I’m worried about you! It’s for Theo and my own safety…!”
“Thank you, Eston.”
I chuckled softly, dropped the teasing, and gently accepted the perfume bottle.
And I added, somewhat bittersweet.
“As you know, I’m a misanthrope to my core, so it’s difficult for me to simply accept kindness like this.”
“….”
“But I’ll try to trust a little.”
Honestly, I still believed that there was no such thing as kindness without a price in this world.
And considering how things were between Eston and me at the beginning, it was all the more puzzling.
It was as if I were returning the ring Nancy had given me as hush money.
‘How could a villain who was thoroughly shunned by everyone around her be like this?’
Yet it was true that an unexpected self-defense item felt rather welcome.
As I awkwardly caressed the surface of the bottle still warm from another’s touch, I suddenly noticed Eston’s flushed cheeks and broke into a mischievous smile.
“Either way, we’re already in the same boat. If I sink, you sink with me. So help me with all your heart.”
“Ha! What a truly heartwarming encouragement!”
Eston, who had scoffed in response, suddenly began banging his head against the carriage wall.
“Mother… I’m doomed. I think I’ve chosen the wrong path by a long shot.”
“Well, that’s unfortunate.”
“Don’t agree so calmly―! Wahhhhh!”

***

After riding for just over an hour, the carriage finally reached Volner.
Since it was broad daylight, the streets were quiet.
Upon reaching the district where the guilds gathered, I parted ways with Eston.
“I’ll be waiting at the waiting area. You must come back by 3:30 at the latest.”
“Got it. It won’t take long.”
“Please. Actually, should I just come along with you?”
“No, that’s too much trouble.”
I answered boldly and leaped down from the carriage.
The reason I wasn’t moving with her was because the heroine in the original story also moved alone.
‘Well, something about needing to move discreetly for the sake of secrecy…’
Fortunately, thanks to my fairly reliable memory, I had no fear of getting lost.
I slipped onto the main road and walked to the block where the weapon shop with the red sign was located.
Then, turning the corner, I was heading toward the restaurant in front of which white steam rose in wisps.
Suddenly, a group of knights in golden armor came walking in formation with measured steps.
‘What knights are these? I feel like I’ve seen that armor somewhere…’
Tilting my head in confusion, I stepped aside off the road, when a familiar face suddenly appeared behind the group of knights.
Bright red hair that was unmistakable even from a distance.
‘Damn! What is that bastard doing here…!’
It was Dylan Frederick!
The male lead 3, clad in golden armor far more ornate and glittering than the knights ahead, was approaching.
I hadn’t yet reached my intended destination.
I quickly tried to pull my hood deeper, but suddenly froze.

87%

His rampage meter, displayed above his head, was far higher than I’d anticipated.
‘Right, without the heroine, his condition is….’
It was as I furrowed my brow, staring at the black aura undulating beneath his jaw.
Suddenly, those ashen eyes slid smoothly toward me.
I flinched in panic and immediately hung my head low.
‘Surely not. I’ve covered everything this time—he can’t possibly recognize me again, can he?’
Last time too, he’d identified me in an instant despite my disguise.
As the distance between Dylan and me narrowed, my heart hammered against my ribs as if it might burst from my chest.
“…we’re still investigating, but no unusual findings have been discovered yet.”
“Where was the initial discovery point?”
“Not this district—apparently near the Eastern Slums where the organized crime syndicates gather.”
Dylan passed slowly by me, his expression grave as he conversed with his aide.
That brief moment felt like an eternity.
Holding my breath and keeping my eyes forward, I walked quickly until I finally reached a restaurant with steam rising from its entrance.
“Phew…!”
Only then did I exhale the breath I’d been holding.
‘Damn, I thought I was caught!’
The thought that he might recognize me immediately made my entire body tremble….
My spine still tingled with dread.
In truth, even if I were discovered, I could simply insist I’d gone out without permission.
But the problem was that he wouldn’t fall for such an excuse.
‘That bastard would immediately report to the Duke’s Household without hesitation.’
Having already experienced this once, I shuddered and glanced back cautiously.
Beyond the hazy smoke billowing from the restaurant, I could see Dylan’s receding figure growing distant.
Just as I was about to release a sigh of relief.
“…Wait.”
He suddenly came to a halt.
Then he spun around to look back.
“…!”
The moment our eyes were about to meet, I swiftly darted into the alley beside the restaurant.
“Ugh…!”
A sharp gasp escaped through my clenched teeth.
‘Please, let the smoke have blocked his view!’
Desperately pleading with fate, I ran frantically through the alley.
Fortunately, the alley lined with taverns was far more crowded than the main street.
True to a vagrant’s city, there were quite a few people drinking during the day.
‘The fifth building! Hurry to the fifth building!’
Weaving through clusters of people, I soon arrived before the fifth building on the left.
After confirming the tacky name “S-Class Beer,” I yanked the door open breathlessly.
Creak!
“Welcome!”
“Gasp, huff….”
An elderly man who appeared to be the Tavern Owner greeted me loudly.
I hastily shut the door behind me and stepped inside.
The tavern was sparse, with only a table or two occupied.
Breathing heavily, I eventually limped across the interior.
“Guest, would you like to order…!”
“….”
The Tavern Owner tried to speak to me, but I ignored him completely and headed toward the Back Door.
I was following what the heroine in the novel had done.
Truth be told, I was half out of my mind worrying that Dylan might chase after me.
The owner’s bewildered gaze followed me.
But soon after seeing me open the Back Door, he simply turned his head away indifferently.
Upon reaching the rear of the tavern, I pressed myself against the wall beside the door and observed the interior for a while.
Mercifully, as time passed, I heard no sign of anyone pursuing me.
“Phew… Damn it.”
Only then did I kneel down and catch my breath.
‘These cursed male leads are going to kill me before my time, I swear!’
Of all places, I had to encounter Male Lead 3 here.
“Golden armor. That’s what the Imperial Palace knights wear, you idiot….”
Only belatedly did the source of that familiar armor come to mind.
Dylan is a Count, but he also serves concurrently as the commander of the Security Bureau 1st Knight Order.
In modern terms, he seemed to be roughly a brigadier general of a special unit composed of Awakeners.
‘So Dylan didn’t come personally—the Security Bureau sent knights… but why?’
It couldn’t be because of the heroine; Male Lead 4 had personally revealed not long ago that she wasn’t in Volner.
Moreover, since the Imperial Palace was hiding the heroine’s whereabouts, there was no way they would search for her through Awakeners.
As I paused to speculate on why Dylan had come here, I soon shook my head.
“Why should I care why he came? Let me just focus on what I need to do….”
In any case, it was fine as long as he didn’t chase after me.
With that weight lifted, I soon looked around.
The rear of the tavern connected to an alley that was narrower and dirtier than the front.
I climbed along the slope.
Before long, I discovered a boy diligently polishing shoes beside a pile of wooden boxes.
‘Right eye covered with an eye patch.’
The sight matched the description in the novel exactly, and I felt an odd sense of satisfaction.
Having come this far, I could say I was already halfway there.
I approached the boy immediately and asked.
“Are you One-Eye?”
“Yes. Would you like your shoes polished?”
“No. I want to go to the Blue Moon Inn.”
As I held out a gold coin with those words, the boy looked up at me with a startled expression.
“You’re from outside?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Ah….”
The boy seemed to deliberate over something and didn’t answer readily.
I found it slightly suspicious.
‘This scene never appeared in the novel.’
I furrowed my brow and tried to withdraw the gold coin.
“Forget it if you don’t want it.”
“Oh, no! It’s not that I don’t want it!”
In that instant, the boy quickly snatched the gold coin.
Then he lightly overtook me and gestured.
“Follow me.”

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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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