For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 143

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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 143

My dear child, Raina.

‘Is this Simona Asperada’s doing?’

Kevenriak did not react to the shadow bowing before him, instead attempting to assess the situation with cold clarity.
Based on what he’d gathered from Maverick and the other Disciples, Simona Asperada had a shadow that moved like an aide at her side.
One that devoured people at Simona’s command and always stood beside her.

“Swallow.”

From Simona Asperada’s command just moments ago, this shadow had to be that aide. A high-ranking shadow. Now that he knew its identity, even this clumsy voice pretending to be a mother seemed like Simona Asperada’s machination.
She had apparently ordered the shadow to act this way to shake him.
It was futile. For one without even memories—.
It was useless. Not even memories—.

“Raphael!”

Vivian burst through the door with a shout.
Vivian burst through the door and shouted.

CRASH!

It was just as Kevenriak Heteroven teleported and they were about to enter the Duke’s Castle to search for people, when a massive explosion erupted, shattering the windows on the first and second floors, including those of the Duchess’s chamber.

“It’s dangerous, Vivian!”

Was a battle between the highest-ranking mages beginning? But there were no sounds of combat following?
While discussing with Tiernan whether to enter the Duke’s Castle, Vivian sensed Raphael’s presence. The moment she realized it was where Kevenriak was, Vivian rushed straight into the castle and bounded up to Simona’s Room.
Vivian opened the door without hesitation, and Tiernan, following behind her, fidgeted anxiously at her side.
Vivian opened the door before anyone could stop her, and Tiernan Fargan, following behind, fidgeted nervously at her side.

That’s how it is now.

“…!”

When Vivian opened the door, what entered her view was Kevenriak cradled in Raphael’s arms. …parts of his body.
From where Vivian stood, it was a sight that could easily appear as though Raphael were consuming Kevenriak.
Vivian cried out in alarm.

“No! He’s the Fourth Prince! Raphael’s son! Spit him out!”

No matter how much of a mindless monster Raphael had become, I couldn’t allow her to devour the son she had worried so deeply about in her dreams.
I had to make her spit him out.
Vivian rolled up her sleeves and stepped inside, only to be caught by a firm arm and lifted into the air.

“Tiernan?! Put me down!”
“My apologies.”

Tiernan carried the struggling Vivian out of the room and closed the door behind him.

Click.
The room fell silent as if no one else had ever entered it.

“…Raphael.”

Kevenriak murmured. Though I had always known it, the name felt strange spoken aloud for the first time.

“If you wander alone, you may be devoured. Since you’re searching for your son.”

The maid had said my mother was searching for me at Duke Asperada’s Castle—she was not a ghost.
I stepped back, creating distance between myself and the shadow. Kevenriak eyed her warily and asked.

“…You claim to be my mother?”

Crunch. Crunch.
The shadow did not answer.
An indignant voice came from the bedroom.

“Raphael, what are you doing?!”

Simona, who had been observing the situation, was walking closer.
The venom, responding to her intense emotions, spread rapidly. The skin on her neck and the backs of her hands, exposed beyond her clothing, darkened to a deep crimson.

“Are you forgiving Heteroven right now?”

Even as Simona’s angry voice rang out, the shadow’s face remained turned toward Kevenriak. To think she would whimper and search for her son while wearing that form.
I had placed Raphael’s soul into the shadow precisely because I found that sight unbearable.

“Why would I have given you that body? I helped you so revenge would come easily. You’re not still spouting that nonsense about forgiving Heteroven, are you?”

A monster like myself attempting some touching mother-and-son reunion seemed absurd.
Simona’s mind had been dominated by vengeance for far too long. Raphael moved her lips as if trying to persuade her.

Click. Click.
“…Very well. If you won’t do it, there’s nothing to be done.”

Simona appeared to relent and stepped toward them. But her thoughts ran in a different direction entirely.
My shadow refusing to obey orders was problematic. If I killed Kevenriak here, that pathetic lingering attachment would vanish as well.
Simona’s steps halted between Kevenriak and Raphael. Kevenriak’s gaze briefly touched her before falling away.

“How could I possibly prevent a son’s reunion with his mother?”

Speaking in a gentle tone, Simona moved the hand she had been concealing behind her back.
With my Mana Heart incomplete as it was now, this was the only method to sever Kevenriak’s breath.
A dagger inscribed with a spell of magic nullification—recovered when I entered Raina Hart’s Subspace.

“I’ll handle this myself.”

Thud.
The weighty sensation of the blade piercing flesh transmitted through my palm. And then—

“….”

Simona lowered her head.
My wrists bent backward, both hands twisted in the opposite direction.
The dagger buried deep in my heart, my hand gripping the hilt—seized firmly by a black hand.

“I saw your final moments. A blade would pierce your heart.”

The Old Elder’s prophecy echoed in my ears. Simona slowly raised her head. In her trembling eyes was reflected the monster I had created.

“You… why….”

Raphael. Why are you—
Raphael spoke.

“S-stop… s-sister…”

Kevenriak watched the shadow break Simona’s wrist and drive a blade through her heart.
Just moments before—when he’d noticed Simona Asperada concealing something behind her back and moved to strike first. That shadow had stretched its form to seize his hand.
As if to say: let me handle this. Stay still.

‘I couldn’t move.’

Vivian had called that shadow Raphael, yet until now it had acted only upon Simona’s commands. The Kevenriak of old would have ignored it and attacked Simona instead. That would have been the certain choice.
And yet he’d trusted something untrustworthy and acted accordingly. Why…?

“Stop?”

Simona twisted her lips into a smile, her mouth stained crimson with blood flowing backward.

“There is no stopping.”

She scraped together her mana and unleashed dark magic. The ceiling filled with roiling black clouds, and thunder and lightning erupted within the chamber. From the clouds emerged a massive black hand—larger than Raphael itself—reaching toward Kevenriak.

“I… can’t…”
“I must have my revenge—!”

Crunch.
With a grotesque sound of something being devoured, Simona’s breath ceased. The hand withdrew back into the roiling clouds, and the clouds dissolved.
Raphael had swallowed Simona whole.

“…”

Kevenriak gazed at the massive shadow standing before him in profile. With its master gone, the shadow too was destined to fade.

“…Where is Raina Hart?”
“She’ll… come…”

Perhaps because Raphael had revealed such a monstrous form in devouring Simona, or perhaps lacking the courage to face her son. Raphael stood motionless as stone after those words.

Both seemed to have something to say, yet an awkward silence stretched between them, neither willing to break it.
Then, from the surface of the shadow, a body began to scatter like black mist. Kevenriak reached out without thinking.

“Wait, please.”

I had thought I would feel nothing. The dead Second Empress Consort was merely connected to me by blood—a stranger whose face I had never known.
Yet I had learned far too many emotions from Raina Hart for that to be true.

“Mother.”

Kevenriak’s voice trembled. Had I ever imagined a moment when I would call someone by this word?
The dissolving shadow slowly turned its head toward Kevenriak.
In that instant, a woman with black hair and blue eyes seemed to look at me, her eyes glistening with tears as she smiled radiantly.

“You’re… so… beau… ti… ful…”
“…!”

Kevenriak tried to grasp her, but even her final form scattered into black mist. I gathered my empty hands helplessly.
Raphael’s first question to me came to mind.

“Does… it… hurt…?”

Kevenriak spoke a belated answer aloud.

“It doesn’t hurt.”

***

As all the shadows vanished, Raina Hart appeared in Simona’s Room. Kevenriak rushed to her and checked her condition.

“Are you all right?”

Raina Hart looked at Kevenriak, then instead of answering, embraced him tightly. As I caught the subtle fragrance emanating from her embrace, I finally felt as though I had returned to my rightful place.

“I’m back.”

At those words, Kevenriak drew her closer, tightening the arm wrapped around her shoulders.

“Welcome home.”

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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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