The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 55

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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 55.
“Let me see—this ring must be a Sacred Artifact that creates a barrier using Holy Power.”
Was it called Goddess’s Will?
“And this ring is for enhancing physical stamina. It converts Holy Power into physical strength, so you don’t tire easily.”
“It seems this was something she needed when fleeing from the Source of Evil.”
“No, I think it was more that she wanted to protect the child in her womb?”
That made sense—before she vanished, her last mission had been monster extermination.
So she would have needed all of these to keep the fragile, precious child inside her safe from harm.
“But I’m not sure why this one was necessary.”
Inside the urn lay a small mirror as well.
“This seems to be the Mirror of Truth.”
It was a Sacred Artifact with similar properties to the Bardo.
The Bardo showed only human souls, but this one revealed non-human beings as well.
For example.
“Look here.”
Artiela held her right hand up to the mirror, and a grotesque curse marking materialized.
“Wow, time moves fast.”
It had been three days since she’d halted the curse on her hand?
Not much time remained. Not until the curse’s progression began again.
“I can see your true nature as well.”
Artiela held the mirror up to his face.
Kirien’s eyes widened as he gazed into it.
“So my soul looks like this.”
“Exactly the same, isn’t it? But see how it’s shimmering so beautifully.”
“So this is what I look like to you.”
Artiela’s lips curved upward in a broad smile as she nodded.
“I thought you were a good person the Source of Evil forced into goodness, but you’re not, are you? Kirien, you were always kind-hearted—that’s why your essence shines like this.”
Kirien gazed at his reflection in the mirror for a long moment, tilting his head slightly in wonder.
He handed the mirror back to Artiela, then pressed himself close behind her as she crouched before the urn, looking down at her.
“Are there no Sacred Artifacts related to Purification?”
“No, unfortunately not.”
“I need to break the curse on my arm soon. Because of my mother’s Holy Power…….”
Artiela tucked the Sacred Artifacts back into the urn one by one, then turned and rose with a forceful cry.
“Don’t be so gloomy!”
Oh no. He’d been far too close.
Artiela’s lips brushed against his in that instant. Indirect kisses were supposed to be forbidden, but……. Wasn’t a proper kiss something you could do between people who were courting?
Smack!
Artiela leaned forward and pressed her lips deliberately to his. She felt embarrassed when Kirien straightened in alarm and pulled back.
“I’m claiming you as mine.”
Feeling both frustrated and self-conscious, she spoke without thinking and turned away.
Behind her, Kirien wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“You can’t keep doing this.”
Kirien buried his face in the nape of her neck.
The ticklish sensation of his nose brushing against her skin was unfamiliar and strange. She didn’t dislike it, but it was bewildering.
He’d said he would practice abstinence for fear that impure thoughts might summon the Source of Evil.
Kirien pulled her closer and closer, until her body was pressed completely against his—so close she could feel every contour of him.
‘Wait, just a moment.’
As Artiela reeled from the unexpected sensation, she felt his warm breath against her ear.
“If you keep tempting me like that, what am I supposed to do?”
Huh? His tone sounds strange…….
Where did the polite Kirien go?
It was attractive, in its own way, but oddly unfamiliar. Artiela turned to look at his face.
“Facial attacks are foul play.”
Kirien ignored her protest and slowly lowered his face toward hers.
Just then, Frail’s commanding voice rang out from beyond the wall.
“Commander! I’ve confirmed it with the merchant chief of this village! He says he once sold various decorative items to House of Ypeilleur!”
“Kirien, wait a moment.”
When Artiela gently pushed his face back, Kirien obediently retreated. Or rather, was it more accurate to say he startled and pulled back?
“I—I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
Kirien covered his mouth with his large hand and stepped further away.
“I—I’ll be careful.”
Kirien’s voice had returned to its usual measured tone.
Part of her wished he hadn’t.
“Go see Frail.”
Either way, it was mortifying. Especially those vivid sensations she’d felt when he held her from behind……
Artiela shook her head vigorously and climbed onto the wall first, but distracted thoughts made her lose her balance and she jostled the urn badly.
“You dropped it, Artiela.”
He picked up the Mirror of Truth and hurried after her over the wall. The boutonniere on his shoulder still shone its delicate pink.
* * *
Frail confirmed that some of Bertia’s possessions had found their way to Grand Duke Ypeilleur.
With no reason for further delay, Artiela retraced the path she and Kirien had taken over two days, heading back.
Half the allotted time remained, then? Artiela glanced at her right hand holding the reins and briefly considered what lay ahead.
‘After I find the Goddess’s Tear and purify my hand, what comes next?’
She harbored no real doubt about obtaining it.
She had seen herself using it in the future the sacred tree showed her.
The problem was that everyone already knew the one who truly needed it wasn’t her—it was Kirien. The curse had to be erased.
Breaking the chain binding him to the Source of Evil mattered for the world’s sake too.
The despair and dread that befell the world’s most virtuous soul fed that abomination’s power—it had to be severed.
“This is harder than I thought.”
Kirien, holding the reins behind her, caught the faint sound of her sigh with uncanny precision.
“Once you’ve used the Sacred Artifact on Artiela, report my mother’s letter to the Saint without delay.”
“But if you do that……”
What if Yushiel decided to save the world instead of her brother’s beloved?
“Artiela is the Holy Sword Owner, is she not? I’ve heard that those who cannot make the righteous choice may have to sacrifice the life they so desperately desired.”
“Even if I’m not the Holy Sword Owner, I can still be a Holy Knight.”
Of course, she’d face tremendous backlash. Her honor would be shattered, her reputation in tatters, fingers pointed at her.
She’d have to surrender her position as leader of the Holy Knight Order, naturally. Such things didn’t frighten her, but……

Losing Kirien’s life—that terrified her.
Yushiel would probably be the angriest of all.
When it came down to it, she’d known Kirien less than ten days, yet she was ready to abandon years of work and dreams.
“You’re throwing away your life and your dreams for some wild first love? Every time you meet a man with a handsome face and beautiful soul, you lose your mind! Good grief!”
Even with her eyes closed, Yushiel’s reproach pierced her mind like thorns.
But the person most likely to work harder than anyone to save Kirien—for Artiela’s sake—would be Yushiel.
“I understand. I’ll tell her everything honestly and discuss it to find a way forward.”
“Well reasoned.”
Kirien stroked her hair from behind—the same gesture her father and Bleo would give her often.
She didn’t know why it made her skin tingle so. Fine hairs stood on end.
“We’ve arrived. This is Grand Duke Ypeilleur’s Mansion.”
A gloomy atmosphere.
Even though the master was absent, a steward would be resident in an imperial property—yet death’s shadow hung thick and deep over this place.
As Artiela dismounted, she checked Kirien’s boutonniere.
Throughout their journey, it had maintained its lovely pearl-pink hue. Though the place itself reeked with corruption.
“Welcome, Commander Solteese.”
Pursell was waiting at the mansion’s entrance.
“It’s been ages. Has His Majesty come as well?”
“No, I’m here with something to convey.”
Pursell held out a box with a slightly troubled expression.
“He calls it a gift.”
A gift at such an untimely moment boded nothing good.
Like, for instance, the arrival of some wicked thing that fed on Kirien’s jealousy and dark heart?
Artiela glanced sidelong and checked Kirien’s boutonniere.
‘Oh no, this is bad!’
An emergency. The pearl flickered to a sickly gray for the briefest instant before returning.
‘That startled me.’
Was it all right?
The moment she began to relax, she felt a sinister aura emanating from the box itself.

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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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