The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 32

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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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Episode 32
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About one hundred fifty kilometers north of the empire lay the Salt Desert.
Beyond the Salt Desert stretched a forest that resembled a vast jungle, and from there began the realm of Kaluuta.
In other words, the Salt Desert served as both their border and an unspoken neutral zone.
Beyond the forest existed a colossal mountain range.
Kaluuta’s terrain was remarkably unique.
The sea lay to the north, the desert to the south, and spread across the center were vast highland plateaus rising above the mountains themselves.
Near the Salt Desert stretched broad forests as well, so as long as one knew how to hunt beasts, there was little danger of starvation.
The current location of ‘Kaluuta’ existed somewhere along those towering mountains, yet that place was not necessarily the heart of their nation.
Strictly speaking, they did not maintain the form of a state.
Perhaps because of their nature as nomadic peoples, Kaluuta periodically relocated their settlements.
One day they would establish themselves on snow-covered highland plateaus that stretched far beyond six thousand meters elevation, and the next they might mysteriously appear deep within a forest.
This elusiveness, coupled with their treacherous terrain, served as another shield for Kaluuta.
So when Kaluuta repeatedly encroached upon the border, the Emperor remained silent.
Should they move, the Emperor’s personal regiment, Labyth, would inevitably mobilize in response—and then they would have no choice but to fight until one side lay dead.
For Rozerin’s world, that was precisely how things had always been.
To be exact, ‘Kaluuta’ was the Kaluuta Tribe—the strongest tribe to have unified the barbarians—and they had since become a single nation bearing their own ethnic name.
Still, within the country of Kaluuta, each tribe lived separately.
Strike one tribe, and countless others scattered across the land would rise in response—making them a daunting problem to handle.
“It was a long journey. Well done.”
By noon, having reached the mountainside, Rozerin spotted a young man who had come to greet them.
He wore pale white trousers and his upper body was bare save for the way his chest garment hung wide open—an unusual style of dress.
On both wrists he wore thick golden bracelets.
“I am Bayan, a minor chieftain of Kaluuta.”
The bronze-skinned, muscular youth—who identified himself as the heir apparent—possessed striking green eyes and silver hair.
‘Bayan…?’
Rozerin’s eyes widened slightly.
If he was the elder brother Batar had introduced her to, he would likely be seventeen now.
Yet his height and build surpassed even that of a well-trained knight, and while his gaze held pride, it was not discourteous.
“Ah! Forget the formalities. Show us to our quarters quickly. I’m exhausted and need a bath and rest.”
Unlike certain others.
The second prince, who had complained constantly throughout the two-week journey, continued his loud protests despite being a foreign envoy in another land.
Bayan glanced briefly at the second prince, then at Arma beside Rozerin, and finally at Rozerin herself, before his gaze returned to Arma.
“Are you the one commanding this delegation?”
Arma gave a slight nod.
“Third Prince Arma Dianitas.”
Rozerin, arms crossed, watched Arma speak with a rather indifferent tone and nodded inwardly with satisfaction.
This was the result of the intensive training she had put him through—despite his utter lack of natural talent for deception.
‘This ought to impress at least one of them.’
Rozerin thought contentedly.
“Though our time together will be brief, we look forward to good relations.”
When Bayan extended his hand, Arma grasped it lightly.
……
Bayan’s eyes twitched once.
Despite his deliberate attempt to establish dominance by applying pressure to the handshake, Arma’s expression never wavered.
Though Bayan had exercised some restraint—he had no intention of breaking bones—an ordinary person would have cried out in pain.
The pain should have been severe enough to at least change one’s complexion.
‘Strong.’
The moment Bayan tried to release his grip.
Crunch.
His eyes widened slightly as the hand grasping his own tightened savagely in return.
‘…What kind of strength is this.’
Surprised to discover that those not of the Kaluuta Tribe could possess such power, Bayan burst into hearty laughter.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he released his grip cleanly.
At the sound of Bayan’s laughter, Rozerin’s eyes widened.
“Indeed, you are well-suited to lead. My apologies.”
“…Not particularly.”
Arma glanced at Rozerin, then fell silent.
“The third prince appears to be a quiet sort.”
Bayan let Arma’s somewhat discourteous behavior pass with remarkable tolerance.
‘……I didn’t expect him to be this gracious.’
The Dianitas Empire and Kaluuta had clashed in skirmishes large and small, so neither held warm feelings toward the other. Kaluuta’s sentiments, in particular, ran sharp and unguarded.
‘The Kaluuta Tribe welcomes outsiders they’ve just met for only two reasons.’
One was if they owed that person a debt—as Rozerin had engineered.
The other was if they acknowledged the person’s strength.
Perhaps because of the weight of his station, Bayan spoke with the measured cadence of someone far older than his boyish frame suggested.
He soon approached Rozerin with an easy smile.
Arma’s brow twitched once.
“Might I inquire who the lady before us is?”
“Rozerin Bellion. I’ve come to assist our delegation in these negotiations.”
“Wise enough to be chosen over countless others for such a post, it would seem.”
Bayan extended his hand as if to shake hers.
Since refusing would have been impolite, Rozerin clasped it without hesitation.
“I know such words are improper by imperial courtesy when meeting for the first time…….”
His green eyes held her red ones steadily as he spoke.
“Yet you possess remarkably beautiful eyes. Tell me—do you have a lover?”
After shaking her hand, he brought the back of her fingers to his lips in the manner of an imperial knight honoring a lady, still asking his question.
Rozerin’s eyes darkened visibly in real time.
‘Kaluuta customs are utterly impossible to predict.’
From Batar she’d heard endless praise of his older brother and personal anecdotes, yet that very brother seemed intent on conducting a thorough interrogation from the start.
“I have no lover, though I do have a betrothed,” Rozerin answered lightly.
She smiled as she spoke.
“But I do have a gift for you.”
Rozerin swiftly steered the conversation in a new direction.
She recalled hearing this once.
The Kaluuta repaid grudges fivefold, debts tenfold, and affection a hundredfold.
“A gift?”
Arma had drawn near without a sound and took his place at Rozerin’s side, silently grasping her other hand.
“Yes.”
Before she’d finished speaking, the knights threw open the carriage door, which had been sealed shut.
“Brother!!”
“Batar……?”
At that voice, Bayan’s green eyes widened.
Bayan released Rozerin’s hand and leaped from the carriage to embrace the boy rushing toward him.
“Brother, brother—!”
“Bar! You rascal……!”
“Waaaaah!! Brother!!”
Batar had worn a composed expression the entire journey here.
He’d played escort for Rozerin and even offered guidance through the harsh terrain.
That same child who’d seemed so steady finally broke down in sobs the moment he fell into his brother’s arms.

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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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