The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 49

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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 49
“You seem to know what it is.”
Gerun hesitated at Roserin’s question, then after a measured pause, answered with his usual ease.
“I’ve always had quite the interest in mythology, you see.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You’ve acquired something precious. I was wondering if I could guess what you intend to do with it.”
“Never mind that. You should hurry and rejoin the others.”
“And what of you?”
“I’m going to run an experiment with this.”
Roserin gave the Orb in her hand a light shake as she spoke.
“Alone, then?”
“What of it?”
“You’re rather unskilled at this, aren’t you.”
“I don’t care to hear that from someone who was dying after getting rejected by his wife every single day.”
Gerun looked at Roserin and let out a soft laugh.
“I’ll help you.”
“I have no idea what you’re thinking.”
“The feeling is mutual. But there’s one thing I’d like to propose. What do you say?”
“What is it?”
“Would you consider becoming my daughter?”
Heavy silence descended into the darkness.
“You’re insane.”
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
“Is this some kind of adolescent phase?”
Gerun chuckled softly, pushed open the door that had been sealed shut, and followed her outside.
The city was already half-devoured by the Flame Demon.
* * *
Rumble…
The flat ground heaved upward.
Screams erupted from all directions, and those fleeing found themselves helpless before the waves of flame that came sweeping down.
Cherti clicked his tongue sharply.
“Bring Roserin to me, and then get distance between yourselves and this place.”
He spoke with fierce resolve.
He intended to melt the risen earth with poison.
Cherti pressed his palm against the wall. His hand, stained violet, began melting the earth that had shot up like a barrier.
The problem was…
“The regeneration is fast.”
Melting it was fine enough, but earth and soil are endless. Even when he created an opening, within less than three seconds it regenerated completely.
The time window was far too short for people to escape.
‘If I use more power, I could create sufficient gaps, but…’
His ability is poison.
So escaping himself would pose no problem. He could carry Roserin out in his arms, so that was manageable.
He had an antidote.
‘One person’s worth at most.’
He could save only one.
‘And this is the work of the Abyss.’
This was no simple natural disaster or act of terrorism by some incompetent group—this was arson by the Abyss.
And someone had deliberately set out to burn every soul in the village alive.
So that no one could escape.
That explained why the reports mentioned earth torn and scattered in chaos everywhere.
‘Earth and fire. At least two different Abysses.’
Whether one person was wielding two Abysses or whether it was a joint crime by two individuals remained unclear, but it was troublesome either way.
The exits of the village were crowded with people, packed shoulder to shoulder.
“Get out of the way! Move, damn it!”
“You nobles, get out of the way!”
“Hey, are you mad! To speak to the nobles like that—”
“Who cares! Don’t you get it?! If we die, it’s all over! Damn it, damn it!”
All manner of panicked noise erupted from every direction.
Cherti’s expression darkened at the bothersome din.
Recovery is swift. If they use the Abyss, they might manage to escape.
‘Roserin and I alone could slip away, but……’
The others were out of the question.
Besides, the solid wall of earth rose higher with each passing moment, as though intent on swallowing the entire sprawling city whole.
Cherti watched the wall climb skyward, its surface growing smoother, curving gradually into a perfect semicircle. It was taking shape like some colossal prison.
“Count Cherti!”
The knight who had gone to fetch Roserin came running.
His pallid face bore only three expressions: tension, bewilderment, and terror.
An unexpected chill of dread swept through Cherti, and his expression twisted.
“What is it?”
“I—I apologize! Miss Roserin has gone missing.”
“……What?”
He went rigid.
A dozen emotions crashed through his widened eyes in an instant.
“……Since when?”
“Sir?”
“How long has she been gone?”
The knight, eyes clamped shut and head bowed, his voice hollow with shock, rushed to finish his explanation.
“I only just confirmed it……”
“……”
“I saw her board the carriage myself and closed the door. But when I opened it just now……”
“Get out of my sight.”
Cherti shoved the knight roughly in the chest, his own face drained of color.
The knight screamed as he saw the violet poison melting through his armor, and he frantically tore it away.
“Count! Where are you going, Count!”
The knight blinked in panic.
Cherti’s ashen face turned toward the direction of the Flame Demon and broke into a run.
“I’ll pursue the Count myself. You find a way out of here. Otherwise……”
Arma laughed softly.
“We’ll all be roasted alive.”
The frail-seeming man who had whispered those words with a smile vanished in an instant.
“……Third Prince?”
The knight stood slack-jawed in astonishment.
Was that truly the same Third Prince—the timid, cowardly one mocked not only by his elder brothers but by every noble in the realm?
“Why……does he seem angry?”
The knight muttered numbly.
A chill had run down his spine. Even though Arma was smiling as usual, there was something terrifying about it.
‘……Am I mistaken?’
Perhaps the urgency of the moment had warped his perception.
“Damn it, why can’t any of you break through?! Weren’t you sent to protect me?! How are weaklings like you supposed to be the Imperial Knights?! When we get out of here, you’re all dismissed! Hell and damnation!”
Second Prince Yuldian’s face twisted with fury as he thrashed his head about.
Confronted with death, he was visibly agitated and panicked.
‘Where the hell did that sickly fool and that cunning woman disappear to?’
His idiot of a younger brother he cared nothing for—alive or dead—but the princess’s death was something he wished to avoid.
All negotiations with Kaluta had been led by the princess. If she died here, the carefully forged peace would crumble.
After all, Kaluta—which had sealed itself away for so long—had sent someone as a gesture of peace. Their deaths would become an international incident.
‘……I’m losing my mind.’
Yuldian ran a rough hand through his disheveled hair.
Whether he survived this or not, the future looked black either way.
“Don’t worry, my love. If it comes to it, I’ll step in. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
A soft voice suddenly came from beside him.
A small hand reached over and carefully smoothed his tangled hair.
“I protect what’s mine. You’re my man, so I’ll protect you.”
“My head’s killing me—don’t spout nonsense now……”
Bang!
Crash—!
Crash—!
Crash—!
One section of the wall trembled through several thunderous impacts before finally collapsing.
A gaping hole had been torn open.
As Yuldian turned his head, he saw the Kaluta natives dusting off their knuckles lightly.
“Tougher than expected, aren’t they?”
“You should eat properly. What good is it being this weak?”
“Enough talking—let’s get the cargo out first.”
Through a gap large enough for a person to pass through, they unloaded the baggage and horses they’d brought from Kaluta.
“That’s right. Move along, move.”
As they swatted the horses out, Yuldian opened his mouth.
He turned his stiff head back toward Naryan.
Naryan laughed brightly.
“I didn’t catch what you said earlier. So what was this nonsense you were spouting?”
“…Ah, I promise I will never speak nonsense.”
Yuldian stood dazed, his lips moving soundlessly.
The hole the Kaluta natives had punched through was instantly filled again by cascading earth. So they punched another hole right through.
‘…I could end up with a hole through my belly like that.’
Yuldian shuddered slightly and turned his head quietly.
“Listen up! Form an orderly line and get out of here!”
The Kaluta natives nodded.
Since they could escape no matter what, they shouted to the empire’s citizens, who were sweating profusely as the air passage grew ever narrower.
“…Kaluta natives?”
“The monsters that eat humans too…?”
“Hmph…? What rubbish are these pathetic fools spouting now…?”
Seeing the Kaluta native snort and clench his fists, Yuldian steeled his gaze.
‘Those madmen…!’
Yuldian stepped forward.
“These are honored guests with whom we have established friendly relations! I will not tolerate rudeness!!”
Thinking that trembling fist could pierce right through his stomach, Yuldian shouted.
“Follow their orders and leave this place at once! Didn’t you want to survive?! That is my command!”
“Who are you, brat?”
“I am the Second Prince of the Dianitas Empire—Yuldian Dianitas.”
At Yuldian’s sharp words, people’s eyes widened and they began shuffling forward hesitantly.
They could look down on Kaluta and nobility, but not on the royal family.
“Come on, let’s go!”
People began shuffling out through the hole the Kaluta native had made.
When no attack seemed forthcoming from the Kaluta natives, those who had been cautious at first quickened their pace of escape.
But the open hole could only allow about five people through at a time.
The earth repaired itself that quickly.
“Ah… this isn’t right. That’s cheating~. This is really annoying….”
A languid voice echoed from outside the earthen dome.
Whoosh—.
“Aaaahhhhh!!”
At the same moment, flames engulfed those who had escaped outside the dome, and terrible screams tore through the air.
“What in—!”
Fire caught on Sanja’s body as well, the one who had come from Kaluta.
“Sanja!”
Batar, who had been commanding the Kaluta natives, cried 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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