Translator: Nox

The Baddest Villainess Is Back

Chapter 45

“Ah, so that reaction means it’s true….”

He muttered, scratching his head with an air of annoyance.

The leaf cigarette clamped in his mouth emitted a scent that was uniquely refreshing yet acrid, characteristic of the herb.

“How did you know…?”

He glared at Roselyn, his voice trailing off into a drawl.

Though he appeared to be questioning her, he didn’t press for an answer, as if he hadn’t particularly expected one in the first place.

“I’m not usually the type to commit such a stupid blunder.”

Rubbing his patchy beard with one hand, he let out a short sigh.

“Young lady, despite how I look, I don’t really enjoy thinking very much.”

“……You don’t look like the type who enjoys thinking much either.”

“That’s harsh. Anyway, that’s why I hate it when my plans get disrupted.”

“…….”

Roselyn narrowed her eyes as he rattled on, answering questions she hadn’t even asked. She couldn’t fathom his intentions at all.

Slowly, he raised his hand and seized Roselyn by the throat.

Because there was only a sense of lethargy about him, devoid of any malice or hostility, Roselyn only realized she had been caught after his grip had already tightened around her neck.

Thump, thump, thump.

Thump, thump, thump.

The man, who had worn a bored and listless expression, smiled with a hint of ecstasy.

It was because, contrary to her expressionless face, Roselyn’s heart was pounding furiously.

“You seem used to hiding your expressions. My, my, young lady….”

Roselyn inhaled sharply, the tension making her feel as though her heart might leap out of her mouth.

It wasn’t so much the fear of dying that petrified her, but the atmosphere of terror and the pain she would endure until the moment of death.

“Ah, the truth is, it would be right for me to kill you,” the man said.

“But sometimes, there needs to be a variable or a thrill like this to make things interesting.”

A face laced with cruelty surfaced over his lethargic expression.

The hedonist smiled cruelly, the corners of his lips curling upward.

“Want to try convincing me? Give me a reason why I should let you live. I’m feeling generous enough to be persuaded.”

At the man’s voice, Roselyn glared at him, her lips pressed firmly together.

“……Off.”

“Hmm?”

“Take your hand off me. It’s unpleasant.”

The man blinked blankly at Roselyn’s words.

“Is that your attempt at persuasion?”

“I am telling you not to touch my body with those filthy hands you haven’t even washed after eating….”

Roselyn slowly closed and opened her eyes, lifting her chin high.

“I am giving you an order.”

“…….”

The man remained silent for a long time, as if unable to process the situation immediately.

He looked down at Roselyn for a while with the cigarette still in his mouth, then took his hand away and burst into laughter, clutching his forehead.

“Wow, this is a riot. What, is suicide your hobby or something?”

“Choosing to use such utterly vulgar language—your level is clear to see.”

When Roselyn didn’t back down an inch, the man narrowed his eyes and took a deep drag of his cigarette in silence.

“What is it? Do you have some hidden trump card?”

It was the man who grew suspicious at Roselyn’s calm demeanor.

“Does a child who massacres ants fear the ants? Even a passing dog would laugh at that.”

At her indirect jab—implying that his behavior was no different from a child slaughtering ants—the man spat out the cigarette and crushed it under his boot.

“You’ve got quite the foul mouth for a young lady. You’re certainly rushing toward your grave.”

The man shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, fine. Talking to a boring noble who has no will to even try persuading me isn’t fun. Just die, young lady.”

“Randarin, Rotan, Wardle, Terrace.”

The man, who had been reaching out his hand, froze at Roselyn’s words. Every single one of them was a town he intended to strike next.

And in the exact order she had spoken them, no less.

“You’re going to die anyway, Aximus.”

The man, Aximus, lowered his hand.

“No, should I call you Count Aximus Baldur instead?”

“Young lady, what are you?”

He asked, lowering his head quietly.

Roselyn looked at him indifferently.

“Hmm. Just how much do you know?”

“Well, I wonder who I am and how much I know?”

“Roselyn……\!”

No sooner had her cryptic words ended than a violent storm erupted in front of her with a thunderous crash.

“How dare you……\!”

The fiercely distorted face and eyes dripping with rage belonged to Arma, yet they did not seem like his own.

“…Arma?”

“You weren’t coming back, so I came out to find you…….”

Muttering softly, Arma drew his sword and lunged at Aximus.

Roselyn gasped as she watched the battle between Arma and Aximus, their movements so fast they were nearly invisible to the naked eye.

“What are you?”

“Whoops, kids these days sure are full of vigor~. I’m so old my whole body is creaking…….”

The man said, backing away and evading Arma.

Seeing how skillfully Aximus dodged hither and thither, Arma reflexively started to use his Abyss, then hesitated.

‘He’s strong.’

Arma narrowed his eyes.

But he was an opponent he could handle—provided his hands and feet weren't tied.

However, the moment he activated his Abyss and used his power here, Arma would inevitably be caught up in something troublesome.

“Hey\!\! Which son of a bitch is laying hands on our fragile young lady\!\! Which one of you bastards wants to die? \!”

Craaaaash\!

The ground buckled under the fist of Sanja, a Kalutan who had belatedly heard the commotion and burst in from outside.

“……Oh. Silver hair…… Are you a Kalutan?”

“That’s right, you lowlife bastard. What kind of unprincipled, dog-like shit are you doing to our young lady, who looks like she’d collapse if the wind just blew on her? Today’s the day of your funeral, you son of a bitch.”

“What brings the beasts who live in seclusion in the jungle all the way out here?”

“Who are you calling a beast, you sub-human piece of shit\!”

Sanja grabbed the man by the scruff of his neck, hurled him out of the lodging, and immediately kicked off the ground to pursue him.

“Young lady, seriously, what are you?”

Roselyn remained silent at the voice echoing from outside.

“Roselyn……\! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“This is truly unexpected. Yes. It has to be at least this interesting. Good, good.”

The sound of the man’s jovial laughter could be heard.

As if Sanja were dealing with him, screams and a succession of thunderous booms, like bombs exploding, rang out from outside.

“Hey, do you need help\!”

“Don’t be ridiculous\! This is my prey, you punks. Don’t touch him\! I’ve finally found something fun after a long time.”

The Kalutans chatted amongst themselves, snickering.

“……I’m glad, Roselyn.”

Arma gripped Roselyn’s hand tightly.

‘If I had been just a little later…….’

Roselyn would have died.

She must have known that, yet the way she smiled faintly made Arma’s heart sink.

“I’m fine, so don’t worry.”

Roselyn said calmly.

Arma’s face contorted sharply. He hadn’t expected her to lean on him, but he hadn’t wanted her to draw such a clear line either.

“Young lady, everything that happens from now on is your fault.”

For a moment, a voice lingered in her ear.

“So today will be…….”

“Today is the day of your funeral.”

Along with a voice that sounded as if it were being ground through teeth,

Rumble.

Flash\!

A brilliant bolt of lightning struck from the sky, and a purple rain began to pour down.

“Roselyn, are you alright?”

“It doesn’t look like you’re hurt.”

Roselyn’s eyes widened.

“……Father?”

Cherti Bellion, who shouldn't have been here, was standing before her, shielding her from view.