A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 77

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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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77.

“What in the world…?”
I stood there gaping, utterly flabbergasted.
Dylan’s audacity was so breathtaking that for a moment, I wondered if perhaps I was the one in the wrong.
“Must I tailor even the sincerity of my gratitude to suit your preferences, Count?”
“If you’re going to give something anyway, wouldn’t it be better if the recipient were pleased with it as well?”
This man was absolutely out of his mind.
I furrowed my brow and answered irritably.
“If it doesn’t please you, send it back. I’ll have something else delivered instead.”
“Are you saying you’ll do this forever until I receive what I want?”
Truly, he possessed an extraordinary talent for leaving people dumbfounded.
‘No, he was trembling at the mere mention of being entangled with Edith Blake. He said he wouldn’t attend events she was present at! So what is this?’
I asked the obvious question with an exhausted expression.
“…What you desire in return is, naturally, a conversation with me, isn’t it?”
“Yes. You understand well.”
“But you said we should do this when you weren’t busy.”
“Have you been busy these past two weeks?”
“Yes.”
I answered without hesitation, without even drawing breath.
I had no idea when Vincent might catch up to me, or when Ethan might appear.
I had no time to stand here leisurely chatting with this man.
I bid him farewell at once.
“Well then…”
“Then please answer just one question.”
His demeanor suggested he would never step aside unless I complied.
I swallowed a sigh and nodded.
“…Just one. Go ahead.”
“When I suddenly collapsed back in Volner, did you perhaps…?”
“Wait, hold on!”
I hastily cut him off.
‘This madman! Is he really going to say it so openly?’
I thought he’d have the sense to ask indirectly, knowing there were eyes watching, but I never expected him to be so bluntly direct about it.
I glanced around urgently, then spoke through gritted teeth.
“Isn’t that far too personal a matter to discuss here?”
“That’s precisely why I’ve requested a private audience with you several times.”
“…”
I had nothing to say.
I had no choice but to reluctantly follow that bastard Ethan.
“…Lead the way.”
As if he’d been waiting for those words, he turned without a word.
And he headed toward the Observation Deck, located at the far edge of the Courtyard, quite distant from the center of the Ballroom.
Splash, splash—!
As we drew closer to the Sea, I heard the sound of waves mingling with a faint salty breeze.
Perhaps because it coincided with the dinner hour, the Observation Deck was completely empty.
With considerable distance between here and the Ballroom, it was an ideal place for a discreet conversation between two people.
Dylan stopped walking once we reached the railing.
A massive full moon, on the eve of a lunar eclipse, hung brilliantly above his crimson hair.
Certainly, he was the male lead—the scenery was picturesque enough to draw admiration.
If only his personality weren’t so relentlessly persistent, like a water ghost tormenting people endlessly, I might have painted him in a more favorable light.
“You said you’d ask just one question.”
Shaking off my pointless musings, I got straight to the point.
He regarded me silently for a moment before slowly opening his mouth.
“On the day I lost consciousness. Did you perhaps see the Purifier in the Slum?”
“…The Purifier?”
Could he have found out that I went to Volner to find Ruellin?
I shook my head for now.
“No. I didn’t see them.”
“…When I came to, most of my mana had been purified.”
Dylan spoke gravely, as if he’d been wrestling with this for a long time.
I stiffened slightly.
S-rank Awakeners could sense the mana accumulated in their bodies to some degree, but to notice that it had been purified was another matter entirely.
I couldn’t understand why someone so sensitive hadn’t been able to feel their own condition that day and had instead gone berserk.
‘Could it be… that he remembers everything that happened that day?’
As I examined Dylan with suspicious eyes, his expression grew noticeably confused.
“I’m certain I wasn’t in a state close to berserk, but… strangely, it felt similar to being purified right before berserk would have occurred.”
At those words, I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
It seemed he neither remembered the purification itself nor knew that I’d gone to Volner to find Ruellin.
‘He doesn’t seem to know that Ruellin was kidnapped yet, either.’
With a considerably lighter heart, I responded somewhat carelessly.
“I see.”
“Did I perhaps say or do anything strange to the young lady?”
“Didn’t you say you’d ask just one question?”
He hesitated, his brow furrowing as he pressed further.
“…Isn’t confirming the young lady’s safety also acceptable?”
His eyes sharpened immediately, and a sigh escaped me.
Before he could suddenly accelerate again with “Why is the young lady always like that?”, it seemed better to wrap this up appropriately.
“Nothing happened. So as you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”
Doubt flickered across Dylan’s face.
He didn’t seem to believe my claim that nothing had happened.
‘Believe it or don’t.’
I recounted what had actually occurred, as best I could.
“I’m not sure what you mean. All I experienced was you suddenly collapsing while we were talking.”
“And then you just left him there.”
“That’s….”
“The very person who helped you when you were in danger?”
Fresh indignation flared in him, and he lashed out sharply.
I felt deeply wronged.
‘I did what I could, damn it!’
I pouted and grumbled.
“How was I supposed to carry you with me?”
“Was it you who informed your subordinates of your location through the child?”
“I suppose so….”
I shrugged and deliberately gave a vague answer.
I could have claimed credit for that much, but I had no desire to get entangled further.
“….”
Fortunately, Dylan didn’t press the matter with more difficult questions.
He seemed to have finally realized I wouldn’t provide proper answers.
Those two weeks of letters arriving daily had been subtly stressful, but now my heart felt remarkably lighter!
I’d managed the explanation well enough.
“I think I’ve answered sufficiently. Have a good night.”
I smiled brightly and bid him farewell.
And just as I turned to leave.
“…Really.”
“….”
“Have you truly forgotten me entirely?”
His voice, suddenly heavy and subdued, held me in place.
I couldn’t simply ignore it and walk away—the rampage in Volner had left things unresolved in a way that bothered me.
As I hesitated, his voice pierced my ears once more.
“Even looking at my face… you truly remember nothing? Not even a little?”
Only then did I turn halfway back to face Dylan again.
And I answered without hesitation.
“No.”
“….”
“Not a thing.”
For a moment, ripples disturbed the ashen depths of his eyes.
“I… that is to say….”
Dylan, who had been gazing at me blankly, stammered like someone at a loss for words.
Then I suddenly stopped mid-sentence, wiping away the fatigue etched across my face with one hand.
“…I don’t understand why you’re suddenly claiming memory loss now. When were you so considerate back then, alternating between messengers and errand boys to make my life miserable….”
He exhaled deeply, venting a handful of the resentment he’d accumulated toward Edith Blake over time.
It was somewhat absurd to blame someone for losing their memory right in front of them when they’d barely survived.
I twisted the corners of my mouth upward.
“Why don’t you know better than anyone else?”
“What….”
“Because you left me to die.”
“…!”
Dylan’s breath caught abruptly at my casually delivered words.
Wide eyes, an expression gradually draining of color.
It was a reaction I’d seen countless times before, so it stirred little emotion in me.
“…E, Edith.”
He called my name as if squeezing the words through a strangled throat.
“That was…!”
“Ah, spare me the excuses.”
I immediately raised my hand to stop him.
“It was a misunderstanding, the circumstances were unfavorable—I’ve heard those words so many times they’ve lost all meaning. What I want to say is simply….”
“….”
“We’re not the sort of people who should be facing each other like this, conversing so peacefully.”
“….”
“You may not remember, but that day you were angry with me. You said it was unpleasant for our paths to overlap.”
He wetted his lips.
Yet he ultimately said nothing.
It seemed his memory extended at least that far.
“Of course, that was an unforeseen coincidence too. But today is an event I cannot skip either, so I’ve inevitably ended up facing you. Isn’t that right?”
“…Young lady.”
“So let’s not waste unnecessary emotions every time. Let’s just remain at that distance.”
I met Dylan’s gaze and spoke gently.
“I’ll avoid you whenever possible, but there will be times we unavoidably have to meet once or twice.”
“….”
“Acquaintances who don’t remember each other well.”
His ashen eyes, which had rippled faintly, trembled violently.
I couldn’t understand why he made such an expression when I was giving him exactly what he wanted.
As if he’d received some terrible shock.
‘Is this what they call a double standard?’
Tilting my head in confusion, I soon turned away without a word.
And I walked away.
Just like someone who had encountered him purely by unavoidable chance.

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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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