The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 37

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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 37.
Left alone, Yusiel reached into the empty air, searching for her sister.
“Yusiel!”
“Don’t come out! There’s malevolent energy flowing here!”
“What?”
Yusiel’s words proved true.
The blue Holy Power barrier drawn around the carriage flickered as though locked in combat with something unseen. The Sacred Leaves hanging from the branches trembled as well.
“The Duke’s headache is starting! It looks like he’s emerged!”
Bleo called out loudly.
“That can’t be.”
Yusiel still felt nothing.
Malevolent hearts existed everywhere. To seek them out and purify them was a Saint’s instinct—yet she sensed no particularly stronger evil.
What if he had reached a higher realm of cultivation, and found a way to conceal his presence? And done so with Holy Power itself?
‘Bertia, what on earth have you done?’
She couldn’t believe it. Could that assumption truly be correct?
A Holy Knight renowned enough to be considered as a candidate for the wielder of the Holy Sword—one with unshakeable faith and will—selling his strength to a malevolent entity?
And more troubling: when had the seal been broken such that the Source of Malice and he could even meet?
‘Calm yourself.’
Yusiel drew a deep breath.
Even if she couldn’t find the Source of Malice, she could find her twin. They shared blood and soul—perfect mirrors of each other.
She closed her eyes and traced her sister’s aura. A spiraling shimmer like fresh shoots catching the sun—and it was safe, not far away.
“When did she make it all the way there?”
It was where Artiella had pointed earlier.
The very center of the forest where the sky opened wide.
Yusiel ran toward it and gathered light in her hand, releasing it in that direction.
A blue Holy Fire Arrow.
Holy Power ordinarily held no offensive strength, but Yusiel could wield it. She alone was the Saint who had inherited her mother’s mage ability and could combine Holy Power with Mana—the only one who knew how.
The arrow of light shimmered like a peacock’s tail as it flew toward the forest, piercing the air beyond—but it dealt no blow. Instead, it was absorbed and vanished.
Yusiel stood at that boundary and beat against the wall desperately, her hands wreathed in Holy Power.
“Artiella! Can you hear me? You have to come out now!”
But the unyielding barrier merely absorbed her Holy Power without resistance, refusing to yield even an inch.
* * *
“Why don’t you just come out?”
Artiella sighed and spoke toward the pitch-black darkness. It stirred sluggishly and drew forward.
The shadow—the dark one. There it was.
It slowly revealed a beautiful face modeled after Kirien.
“Whose body is it this time?”
“My servant?”
“A dark mage?”
“Well, yes.”
Just as well. Dark mages were criminals who wielded forbidden magic. Bardo would never forgive them.
This was no one foolish enough to surrender his body over some petty temptation.
“No guilt, then.”
The previous incident nagged at her still. Dabbling in Dark Magic had been a punishment she deserved, even if her only reason had been a desire to grow stronger.
“No? You had no need to feel guilty then either.”
“Right—it was your fault.”
“The fool who signed the contract just because I promised strength in exchange for killing those sardine-like wretches deserved to die, didn’t he?”
“Ah……”
She had gotten it entirely wrong.
She hadn’t traded her body in exchange for power.
She had gained power as the price of doing something wicked. Indeed, if she had been truly innocent, Bardo wouldn’t have run her through without mercy.
“Should I say thank you?”
“Well, something like that.”
“Then why summon only me? Are you proposing a deal?”
The Source of Malice wearing Kirien’s face broke into a smile.
She’d felt it before—how utterly opposite this was to the real Kirien. The real one could never manage such a seductive smile.
“No, I’m warning you.”
“How kind.”
It had to be scheming to drive a wedge between them. Artiella scratched her ear casually, unbothered.
“The Emperor harbors impure desires toward you.”
See? I told you so.
Setting aside personal taste, he’s a good emperor with a strong will. He was quick to choose a new empress once he decided to accept Artiella’s refusal.
To frame a man like that—how pathetic.
“Already settled, then?”
“Really? Does it seem that way to you?”
The creature’s mouth twisted into a grin. Then, without warning, it snatched Artiella’s right arm.
Hm, thought you’d let your guard down, did you?
“Not happening!”
Bardo was already in her grasp. As the pale green arc carved through the air, the Source of Malice retreated swiftly.
“You humans are really something.”
The Source of Malice laughed brightly, then sucked on the hand that had just gripped Artiella—more precisely, on the fingernails stained with her blood.
Half-closing its eyes as if savoring the sweetest honey, trembling with sensual pleasure, the sight was obscene.
If this had truly been Kirien, she might have stopped breathing.
‘Did I bleed much?’
She’d let her guard down. Wearing Kirien’s face, she’d thought like Kirien. His hands were always kept neat and trimmed.
The scratches stung, but it wasn’t serious—barely a wound deep enough to need cleaning. Still, given the nature of her opponent, she should perform Purification to be safe.
Artiella pushed off the ground and lunged at the Source of Malice.
“I hope you’ve had your fun. I’m thoroughly sick of you.”
She extended her legs in a clean, fluid motion, driving at its center.
‘Its movements are duller than last time.’
Back then, it had the body of a knight, but this time it was inhabiting a mage’s frame. Even so, she managed to leave a shallow gash in its garment.
“But here’s what’s funny—the way you cage things you want by breaking their wings.”
“Quiet. If you’re going to fight, just fight.”
“That one hopes you never grasp Bardo again.”
That almost shook her.
When she moved to recover Bardo from the Source of Malice’s side, she hesitated—just half a beat too slow.
“It was probably just a passing thought in a fit of emotion.”
“Was it? Even knowing it was poison, when you were small, that creature let you steal its cookies. It was trying to use your mother’s hand to deal with rivals and set you up as Crown Princess in one stroke.”
……
“And if it succeeded, it would have the justification it needed.”
“Stop it already! I knew all of that!”
Artiella swung her sword irritably, pouring power into her bracelet. Holy Power began to coil around the pale green aura.
‘Praise the Goddess!’
The sacred item’s effect was remarkable.
As the explosive surge of Holy Power and aura collided, space itself began to distort. At the same moment, Yusiel’s voice came from behind.
“Ati!”
Her sister had come for her after all.
To protect her.
But protecting those you cherish wasn’t the Saint’s duty—it was hers, as a knight.
Artiella threw herself at the creature, completely shielding Yusiel from view. Her blue cloak soared skyward, then plummeted with its wearer.
Bang—enormous forces collided head-on.
“Ugh…….”
“Done.”
She’d pierced its heart far more quickly than before.
But then—
“Why are you laughing?”
Even as its heart was pierced, why was it grinning so hideously? This ominous feeling was…….
Her right arm was seized again.
“Ati, let that hand go!”
Yusiel’s warning came from behind.
“What? What!”
Artiella yanked her arm free. The creature didn’t resist, simply letting its body fall backward. And as she’d expected, the Source of Malice abandoned its host and fled.
“Cowardly thing.”
Once it had gone, the face of the thing wearing Kirien’s form was revealed. It resembled the Dark Mage that her mother had been pursuing.
“Ati, are you hurt?”
“No, just some scratches. Are you okay? You’re really okay? Nothing happened to you?”
“I’m fine, but this—ugh, we need to Purify this quickly.”
Malevolent Energy began seeping from the corpse of the Dark Mage. Yusiel drew sacred symbols around it, just as she had done in the carriage.
“Go on back to the carriage for now. I’ll treat your wounds after I Purify this.”
“Okay.”
Artiella turned quietly and walked toward the carriage.
Bleo, Kirien, and Peter had all emerged outside, worry etched into their faces.
She’d told them to stay safely within the barrier.
Artiella sheathed Bardo and made her way toward the carriage at an unhurried pace.
“Are you all right, sister?”
“Are you hurt?”
……
“Of course I’m fine. It wasn’t much this time either.”
Unlike the men who fussed over her, Artiella remained composed. There was nothing to be concerned about, after all.
“Peter, do you have a handkerchief?”
“Why?”
“I scraped myself a bit.”
“I have one.”
Peter offered the handkerchief while barely catching his breath. The moment Artiella crossed the boundary Yusiel had drawn to take it—
“Wait, why is that—?”
The leaves on the twigs Yusiel had placed began to fall, one by one.

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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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