The Abandoned Villainess Takes Everything This Time - Chapter 169

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

169.
“Lillian, look at this.”
Evren pulled an artifact clean from the still-living body.
“These—you designed them, didn’t you?”
“That’s right.”
There were those wearing the Unbalance Earring, and bracelets like the Moon’s Protection.
Sigh.
“Someone in this place is profiting handsomely by selling future knowledge.”
I’d wager anything—the one who killed Ren by attacking Lillian’s mark is that very someone.
But then a woman who’d been held captive alongside Lillian approached cautiously.
“Um, excuse me. Thank you so much for saving us…….”
Even the Controllers who’d been bound bowed their heads.
“We’re truly grateful.”
“We were certain we’d be dragged off to the Sacrificial Ritual as is-.”
What on earth is this now?
“The Sacrificial Ritual, you say?”
“Yes.”
Listening to their account, the story was this:
True to this age of savagery, Controllers had lost all standing, and recently rumors had spread that to eradicate Ability Sickness, Controllers must be sacrificed in great numbers.
‘This is infuriating.’
The Empire was spearheading this heresy.
But then…….
“I think I understand now.”
“Lillian?”
“Why the Creator God summoned me here.”
And in the sanctuary…….
Salvation for those cast away unjustly, by your own hand.
The reason for that request as well.
‘I wanted to mend Ren’s body with divine power.’
But to do that, I’ll have to pay a price, won’t I?
Very well.
“First, all of you—run.”
“But—but what about you, Miss?”
Lillian raised her clenched fist.
The eyes of those watching widened.
It wasn’t because her fist looked powerful. She was wearing the Sacred House Ring.
“Even with Controllers under persecution, Tillard would surely exempt itself, wouldn’t it?”
Predictable as always.
And Lillian, lacking time, would march straight to disrupt the Sacrificial Ritual openly.
* * *
In the temple where the Sacrificial Ritual was to be held, preparations were well underway.
Whispers drifted through the corridors.
“……Is it true that she knows the future?”
“She appeared suddenly from heaven, after all…….”
“Ah, she’s come!”
A slender platinum-haired woman emerged, escorted by Holy Knights.
But then a blonde man burst forward before the Knights held him back.
“Saint! Please!”
“Ah. Lord Sinclair.”
“Spare my family from the sacrifice!”
Iris shook her head sadly.
This man was a distant ancestor of the Holy Knight Order Captain, Noah Sinclair.
Even before, his descendant was smitten with Lillian, and this ancestor is no different.
His divine power is outstanding, yet he lacks all sense of sacrifice.
“That’s…… difficult. I’m truly sorry.”
“But—.”
“This is all for the future of Ability Users. For everyone to become stronger, Controllers must make this sacrifice…….”
Iris repeated what the Revenants had said. Yet her true thoughts were entirely different.
‘I alone will be the sole Controller in this world.’
The original era?
Lillian can have that wretched place.
Such a base and foolish world.
‘The old days were far more perfect.’
For once, no one contradicted Iris’s words.
The Saint’s Guard, mixed with members of the Five Great Families, rounded up Controllers indiscriminately.
Among them, only the highest nobility could avoid the sacrificial procession.
Unless they were Tillard-tier or had slipped Iris bribes under the table, it was impossible.
A young Count Kaiuus Pavil, who served as a captain of sorts, kicked his opponent down.
“Ugh……!”
“Daring to defy Iris’s will.”
“This is too much! I’ve given everything to the Saint and the temple, my family is innocent-!”
“Enough of that!”
Iris smiled sweetly watching her faithful servant.
This one was rather amusing too.
Despite bearing only the Tarandia name, you could tell Kail was descended from this line.
“Thank you, Count Pavil.”
“You honor us, Saint.”
The young Count Pavil lowered his voice.
“……It’s only natural, since you’ve forgiven my family.”
“Hehe.”
Occasionally, even the illustrious Ability User families bore a Controller child.
Iris had quietly exempted one of the Pavil household from the sacrifices.
Then another Knight emerged from the ritual preparation chamber and whispered to her.
“Saint, trouble has arisen.”
“What is it?”
“Contact with the Controller pursuit squad sent to the Outskirts Forest has been lost.”
“……? Do you mean they deserted?”
“Impossible! But we’ve found neither the captured nor the Knights-.”
“Ah…… so there are those who resist.”
“Yes. But the traces are so suspiciously absent we should investigate whether Monsters appeared-.”
“No, it won’t be that.”
Iris bit her lip, stifling a laugh.
This is purely a hunch, but—
Lillian has come to obstruct her path once more, hasn’t she?
How strange and impressive…… no? Quite impressive indeed.
Having endured so much already, Iris found herself unsurprised by such circumstances now.
But now the situation has changed.
This world already adores Iris.
‘Because I’ve already healed many Ability Users afflicted with Ability Sickness.’
High nobility.
And knowledge of the future.
Plus a rare S-rank.
Beauty befitting her Tillard origins.
With such gifts, there’s no way people wouldn’t adore and follow Iris.
Iris declared solemnly to those awaiting her answer.
“Everyone. The calamity I’ve feared has finally come to pass.”
“Saint, what has happened?”
“The Creator God’s enemy—the most wicked villainess—has revealed herself.”
“……!”
“That villainess’s name is…….”
Iris deliberately whispered low.
“Lillian.”
“Lillian…….”
“A being with a cunning tongue and terrible power who blasphemes against the divine. Once ensnared by her, none can escape.”
“Then, Saint, we shall seize her even if we must sever her limbs!”
“Hehe, no.”
Iris smiled brightly.
“There’s no need for that.”
“Ma’am?”
“If my suspicion is correct, soon-.”
Iris corrected herself.
“……Lillian will appear of her own accord.”
In some extraordinary fashion.
She’ll come to achieve her goal and make a fool of Iris.
‘But not this time.’
She’d sent word to temples across the Empire to conduct the Sacrificial Ritual.
If this proceeds flawlessly, Iris would become the most powerful Saint in history.
“Let her grow complacent, and lead her here.”
Iris smiled and pointed with a finger toward a side chamber.
“To the room where the honored guests are waiting.”
To where the ancestors of those Lillian loves are waiting.
“Understood!”
“My, thank you for your trouble.”
Iris cupped a cheek and smiled softly.
Following Lillian’s example made everything easy.
But then…….
Iris scratched her skin lightly.
That’s strange.
Her skin keeps itching……. No matter how much makeup she applied, no matter what luxuries she consumed…….
“Why is this happening?”
Purple marks kept appearing on her hands.
Where had she gotten bruised?
* * *
Lillian cautiously poked her head over a hill overlooking the Central Temple.
“They’ve layered the temple in Sacred Barriers. And Nullification Barriers too.”
Last time, I relied only on Kail’s power and set up few countermeasures.
‘This time she’s set up twenty layers of barriers.’
This means instead of dropping straight into the temple’s heart, I’ll be forced to navigate step by step.
Iris must have given this real thought.
“Still, you and I could break through them.”
“Yes. But…… they’ll likely have alarms rigged as backup.”
If I miss even one security measure—
‘the captive sacrifices will pay the price.’
Should I accept that risk and proceed?
Or is there a safer way in?
But then commotion erupted from the temple’s rear entrance.
Someone was being thrown out. A brawl?
Lillian slowly turned her gaze to Evren.
“……Your Highness. Are you perhaps thinking of kidnapping someone else besides me?”
“…….”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————