For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 127

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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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Chapter 127

Twenty-one years ago, Simona wandered the continent with her younger sister, both bound to the Traveling Troupe.
Her beloved sister danced with the grace of a butterfly, captivating even the heart of the Betuzhenia Empire’s Emperor.
I should never have let her go back then.

“There’s no helping it.”

At twenty-one, I answered the Troupe Leader as I prepared to leave the Imperial Palace.

“The Emperor’s eye has fallen upon her. I’ve never seen Raphael so happy before.”
“I don’t understand. You hide that you’re a mage because you want to travel with your sister. Tell me—you’re already at the Fifth Circle now, aren’t you? Isn’t that genius-level for your age? Are you really sure you don’t need to register with the Mage Association?”

I answered the Troupe Leader’s pressing questions as if it were nothing.

“Registration just restricts your movements anyway.”

War raged between the Tunterra Empire and the Betuzhenia Empire.
Each empire watched vigilantly to prevent the other from claiming their skilled war personnel.
Take the mages of the Tunterra Empire, for example—they all had to register with the Tuuntera Mage Association so the organization could monitor their locations and movements. But neither I at the Fifth Circle nor Raphael at the Third Circle fell under that requirement. We were unregistered mages.
Unregistered mages might be captured by the Tunterra Imperial Army for investigation of treason, but how could they find a mage who never registered in the first place?

“High-ranking mages can’t leave Tunterra Empire territory.”
“Your people produce many mages, don’t they? There must be quite a few high-ranking ones?”

The Troupe Leader asked me with arms crossed.
Five years ago, when Raphael and I had just begun our travels, we were swindled by a con artist and lost our entire fortune. Even our Subspace pouch was stolen, leaving us destitute and wandering the streets. The Troupe Leader was the benefactor who helped us starving sisters survive.
That’s why I trusted and followed him like a parent.

“I’m not sure exactly. Many mages have been born in my family line, but they all wander different parts of the continent.”
“Different parts of the continent? So outside Tunterra Empire territory too? My, even among the same people, some might never see each other’s faces in a lifetime.”
“Not necessarily. Our people gather once every five years for a ceremony. This year happens to be that time.”

The wandering mage tribe gathered at their homeland once every five years for a sacred ritual. It was located at the eastern border of the Tunterra Empire.
It was an important ceremony passed down through generations, so every single member had to attend without exception.
All the Shaaten Tribe would gather there—except for my younger sister, who had entered the Imperial Palace and could not leave.

“…Simona, can our troupe come along too? Since it’s a tribal festival. It would be nice if we could perform while we’re there.”
“Your troupe as well? Of course. The Troupe Leader is our benefactor, so my people will welcome you.”

Foolishly, I took it as kindness.
I failed to see the greed gleaming in the Troupe Leader’s eyes and those of his troupe members.

“….”

That winter came.
When Simona returned to her homeland, what greeted her were the cold corpses of her kinfolk.
Simona searched for survivors, her feet staining crimson with the blood of her people as she ran through the bodies of the dead.
The troupe that had come with her merely watched. The Troupe Leader, his eyes glistening with tears of pity, spoke.

“The Tunterra Empire considers mages not registered with the Mage Association to be traitors. It seems the fact that the Empress Consort of the Betuzhenia Empire is of Shaaten origin weighed heavily. They said they need no further investigation—they’ll execute them as rebels.”

Abruptly.
Simona stopped and turned. At her feet lay her nephew, struck by an arrow, his eyes never even closing before death claimed him.

“The Tunterra Empire did this…? Troupe Leader, how did you know that? Did you report us?”
“The bounty was too high—I had no choice. Don’t look at me like that, it’s terrifying. Look around you, Simona. The Tunterra Imperial Army soldiers are closing in to capture you…. S-Simona?!”

It was then that I spoke the tribal taboo—the one thing that should never be uttered.
The Troupe Leader, his troupe, and the lurking Tunterra Imperial Army soldiers vanished before that forbidden word.
Yet speaking it did not bring my slaughtered kinfolk back to life.

With regret, I clawed at the earth.
My hands were cut by sharp stones. Soil particles lodged in the wounds. My nails tore away and my skin split open. Each time I scraped away earth mixed with blood, unbearable pain surged through my fingertips. But it was nothing compared to Simona’s anguish.

Forty-six graves.
That was the number of kinfolk she buried with her own hands.

‘Raphael.’

I longed for my younger sister, whom I had left behind in the Betuzhenia Empire that spring.
But my beloved younger sister had died giving birth to the Emperor’s child.
It was on that very day, while Simona was creating graves for her kinfolk.
She knelt before the Emperor of the Betuzhenia Empire, her heart torn asunder by grief.

“Your Majesty, I know this is an unreasonable request, but I wish to take my sister’s body with me.”
“Do as you wish.”

Cheinols Heteroven.
The Emperor who had coveted my sister so intensely now responded to me as though I were a stranger—less than a year had passed.
Simona steadied her turbulent emotions.
He sits in a high place, so perhaps that is why. That coldness was surely directed at me in my lowly station, not at Raphael.
Simona’s hope was a delusion.

The Second Empress Consort’s palace was a small, dilapidated Separate Palace.
Simona waited before it for her sister’s body. A servant emerged pulling a cart.

“Take it.”
“…What is this?”

Simona saw something dried upon a filthy carpet. Black hair spilled from between the carpet’s folds as it lay bundled on the cart like cargo.
Simona’s gaze could not tear itself away.
The Second Empress Consort. Raphael’s position should have been certain.

“Something the Empress dislikes.”

The servant smirked.
Black mana descended upon him in an instant, killing him.

“…”

Simona pulled the cart through the Imperial Palace.
It was a funeral procession for the Second Empress Consort, utterly devoid of dignity.
Among the many who walked the Imperial Palace, none spared a glance for that lonely procession.
Raphatel Heteroven, the Second Empress Consort, was visible to their eyes, yet she was one who should never be seen.
Simona’s eyes, rippling with venom, took in the desolate Imperial Palace.

‘Now I understand, Raphael.’

This Imperial Palace killed you.
The Heteroven destroyed you.

‘I will erase them all. The Betuzhenia Empire they belong to, and the Tunterra that annihilated our people.’

I swallowed my vengeance between clenched teeth, hard enough to crack my molars.
Loss was enlightenment for a mage.
Simona, a 5-Circle mage, underwent awakening upon awakening.
Seven rings encircled my Mana Heart.
The toxin no longer coveted my spirit.
Only vengeance toward the Tunterra Empire and Heteroven remained.

***

“Krraaaagh!”
“P-please, save me!”
“Guard! A monster! A monster has appeared!”

The underground prison of the Imperial Palace.
Screams of the inmates echoed through the darkness.

“Ah, ah…!”

Giggling shadows were devouring the terrified prisoners whole.
Simona emerged from the prison and sat in a chair, catching her breath. Exiting Raina Hart’s Subspace had consumed far more life force than anticipated.
The toxin mingled with her mana rippled, targeting her destabilized spirit. The skin of her right arm had already turned a dark crimson.
Simona absorbed the souls consumed by the shadows with her own power. Still not enough.

“Devour them all.”

At her command, the shadows crawled up the floor and walls of the underground prison, converging upon the ceiling. The few remaining inmates trembled with fear, lifting their heads. Squelch. A massive black maw swallowed them in a single bite. Gulp, gulp.

“…”

Simona watched the scene in silence, breathing deeply. The toxin that had spread across her right arm began to fade.
The monster that had consumed the underground of the Imperial Palace slowly rose to its feet. Desolate, clattering footsteps echoed through the now-silent depths where screams had ceased.

***

Kevenriak teleported to the front of the villa in Jenia alongside Raina Hart.
It was to reclaim Raina Hart’s body.

“Raina Hart.”

Kevenriak caught Raina Hart’s arm as she reached toward the villa door.
Raina turned her head.
Luminous blue eyes gazed at me. Her crimson lips parted as if to speak, yet no words escaped them.

“Keri, are you anxious?”
“….”

To say I wasn’t anxious would be a lie.
If things went wrong and I had to weigh Raina Hart’s life against my own, I wanted to tell her to take mine.
Because I cannot live a life without you.

“I’ve come to want to live. With Keri.”
“My happy ending needs Keri in it.”

But hadn’t Raina Hart said exactly that?
I wanted to grant that wish. Even if the day came when it seemed impossible.

“No. I’ll survive, Raina Hart.”
“That’s my Keri for you. I have no intention of dying either.”

At Kevenriak’s words, Raina Hart laughed brightly. Kevenriak gazed at her radiance before continuing.

“Raina Hart, I….”

It was then that the villa door swung open with a bang.

“When are you coming inside?”

A petulant voice rang out.

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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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