Disqualified as a Villainess - Chapter 63

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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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#63.

In the end, the seven members cast out found themselves gazing enviously through the window at those within, savoring expensive spirits and delicacies as they unwound from their labors.
“There’s nothing for it. Let us appeal to Saint Chloe. Surely she will take us in.”
They made their way directly to Chloe and poured out the unreasonable treatment they had suffered.
“We were cast out for failing to meet our quota of rare medicinal herbs. In truth, we were probably useless from the very beginning.”
“They even attempted to forcibly conscript us into zones where intermediate Chaos entities emerge. They clearly meant to have us killed.”
They conveniently omitted any mention of their own laziness or failure to follow orders properly.
Hearing their thoroughly self-centered account, Chloe nodded sympathetically.
“Let them work alongside us temporarily.”
“May we stay here? According to that demon, those of us at the lowest rank are forbidden from using anything owned by the Ludovisi Family.”
At the word “lowest rank,” Chloe’s brow furrowed slightly.
“That’s truly unreasonable. I’ll handle that matter myself, so feel free to stay here.”
The existing supply officer’s expression grew troubled.
“But Saint, the supplies allocated per squadron are limited….”
Ethan, lounging about nearby, swept the lower-ranked members with a displeased gaze.
“You want me to share my portion with these worthless maggots who can’t even earn their keep? I don’t like it.”
“Mind your tongue. They belong to the Prince’s Division. If supplies are insufficient, we can either inform the Prince of their circumstances and request additional support, or they can sustain themselves from the Nearby Forest.”
At her firm words, Ethan clicked his tongue and turned away.
The supply officer offered no further objection.
The lower-ranked members, relieved to have escaped barracks life, began heaping praise upon Chloe with grateful sighs.
“We are grateful to Saint Chloe for her consideration of all.”
“As expected, the benevolent Saint is truly different.”
Chloe intended to either complete the defensive preparations or evacuate everyone once the calamity signal her Mother had mentioned appeared.
The more people gathered here, the easier it would be to construct the defensive fortifications and evacuate in an emergency.
Octavia was hardly altruistic enough to save lower-ranked ability users.
‘Evil shall never triumph over goodness,’
Octavia, who calculated everything and treated people as mere tools, was destined to end up alone.

***

After dinner, I was engaged in the process of steeping dried poppy seeds, spleenwort, and passion flower in distilled water.
Materials from the Holy Temple that Camilla had diverted after I made a show of my connection with Logan were piled up in abundance.
My purpose was to produce large quantities of medicine to prevent status abnormalities caused by mental attacks from Chaos entities.
Since the mission’s difficulty was inherently low, the Temple had approved only limited potions.
The gathering that the incompetent had dismissed as trivial was actually the most crucial task.

Favorability Decreased [+160]

Seven people’s disdain was appreciated, but their ingratitude was infuriating.
‘I offered them work and promised substantial rewards, yet they kick away the opportunity I’ve given them.’
Whether their refusal stemmed from pride or inferiority complex remained unclear.
According to renowned military treatises, one must always calculate before initiating war.
First: do my subordinates trust and follow their leader—naturally, myself?
It seemed flawed from the start, but with capable commanders and a solid supply system in place, the Kingdom wouldn’t be destroyed like in the original story.
Drrrr—.
The sound of a transport aircraft echoed beyond the window, causing the glass panes to tremble faintly.
“The supplies must have arrived.”
After finishing the tedious potion-making, I left my quarters and headed toward the Supply Warehouse.
The additional materials and equipment I’d arranged to be shipped in advance had finally arrived.
On either side of my quarters stood convenience facilities and other barracks, with the Supply Warehouse situated about a five-minute walk away.
“Hahahaha!”
Laughter spilled out from another Squadron’s quarters, brightly lit.
Those who’d dumped night watch duties on the recruits were drinking and making merry.
They drank themselves senseless at night and either slept heavily or loafed about during the day.
‘Seeing such lax discipline, no wonder our junior members are causing trouble.’
Sighing inwardly at this thought, I entered the Supply Warehouse where two sentries stood guard.
But their expressions seemed odd.
‘Why do they look so flustered?’
Stepping inside, I spotted a shadow flickering beneath the fluorescent lights and drew my magitech pistol.
My calm eyes quietly surveyed the area ahead.
“Yelp… yelp…”
At the sound coming from somewhere, my eyes widened.
Hurrying deeper inside, I saw a figure holding a small furry creature by the scruff of its neck.
It was Ethan, Chloe’s older brother.
“What are you stealing? This isn’t even authorized access hours.”
I asked bluntly. It was both prejudice and certainty that he wouldn’t be here on an errand—theft was definite.
“How long has it been since your sister got you out of the Detention Center, and you’re committing crimes again?”
I asked, feigning anger.
In truth, whatever he stole would likely be luxuries like tobacco, and it would damage Chloe—so the more lowly acts he committed, the better it served my interests.
“I came looking for a dog?”
He held out the brown puppy he’d been gripping by the scruff, showing it to me.
He even shook it a couple of times.
“Is it a pet you’re keeping?”
“Yeah. Since I found it, I can go, right?”
It was undoubtedly a lie. No owner would hold a puppy like that.
He’d clearly come to steal something, discovered this puppy that had accidentally arrived in a supply crate, and was using it as an excuse.
Moving swiftly, I snatched the brown puppy away.
“Confiscated based on extremely biased and subjective judgment.”
“Ah…, very well.”
I watched Ethan leave without hesitation, then turned my head to observe the sentinel standing at the entrance.
“What are you doing? Seize him and conduct a body search.”
“Y-yes!”
The two soldiers hurriedly chased after Ethan and began rifling through his belongings.
“Get your hands off! Do you know who I am?! My sister is Saint Chloe of the Holy Temple!”
Ethan didn’t even omit his standard Global Unification talking points.
As cigarettes, a supply-issue watch, a razor, caramels, and candy tumbled from his pockets, I let out a weary sigh.
“A petty thief for survival?”
“You dumped seven worthless soldiers on our unit! We don’t even have the resources to share supplies!”
At his words, I learned that Chloe had taken on those disgruntled lower-ranking soldiers, and I smiled faintly.
“I’ll refer this to the Inspection Bureau. And as the acting commander, I’ll impose labor punishment. You’ll be digging the underground bunker from now on.”
“Like that’s up to you?!”
“Your sister and the Prince will agree to it.”
Even if it was petty theft, stealing supply materials during an operation was an extremely serious matter.
“Damn it! Just a few cigarettes and snacks!”
The fool still unaware of the gravity of his situation cursed aloud.

Displeasure increased [+100]

‘I rather like this accumulation of displeasure. I should keep that fool alive so he can continue tormenting Chloe.’
Rather than remaining locked away in prison, his tendency to escape and cause trouble was equally appealing to me.

***

I held the trembling puppy in my arms, stepped out of the warehouse, and settled onto a bench.
The small, warm presence and that familiar puppy scent stirred a deep longing within me.
Seeing the collar around its neck, it appeared to have an owner.
“How did you end up here? Your mother and father must be worried sick.”
“Yelp.”
Still, something about this face seemed familiar.
Those large ears that fluttered in the breeze resembled the dog that had guided me through Prince Jeriel’s shadow.
“I wonder if our Samsik looked like this originally.”
My dog from my past life. Samsik, an experimental Beagle, had been covered in burns with all his fur singed away—such a pitiful sight.
I applied medicine and treated his wounds, but the scars from his injuries could never be erased.
That such a gentle soul, one who harbored no hatred toward humans, had to suffer as a test subject—it broke my heart.
The puppy, who had hesitated and sniffed cautiously at first, soon began wagging its tail and licking my hand.
It even exposed its plump belly.
“Oh, how adorable! Where did this precious little angel come from? What’s your name? Is it okay if I pet you?”
Without thinking, I exclaimed enthusiastically and checked the name tag attached to the collar.
“Found it. The name is….”
「Dog」

The name is just Dog…?
What kind of careless person names their puppy so carelessly?
Then I recalled when the Admiral had introduced his own dog’s name as “Dog.”
“Could it be… Kelsedny Admiral’s dog?”
“Woof!”
Just as I grew serious, the puppy suddenly sprang to its feet and began barking upward at me, its tail spinning like a propeller.
A chill ran down my spine.
Following the puppy’s gaze, I looked up and locked eyes with a tall man looming above me.
“Why.”
Kelsedny Admiral, dressed in a form-fitting formal vest with an overcoat draped over one arm, slowly parted his lips.
“Did you leave without even telling me.”

Displeasure increased [+300]

If not for the displeasure stat, I would have mistaken him for an obsessive man coming to capture his runaway lover.

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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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