Translator: Nox

The Baddest Villainess Is Back

Chapter 47

“Give me another useful ability.”

“……Fine, I’ll at least grant you a blessing so you won’t fall ill easily.”

“That’s a given, considering you’re the one asking for a favor.”

Roselyn spoke brazenly, her arms crossed.

The corner of Sansar’s mouth twitched.

“……You mentioned it before, didn’t you? That in Kaluta mythology, there’s something called the Seven Luminaries Stone.”

“…….”

“Give me that.”

“Are you insane, Rose?”

“No? I just saved all of your children, and you can’t even give me that?”

Roselyn said, her brow furrowing.

“Hand it over.”

She shamelessly extended her hand.

“Or should I just use my knowledge of the future to suck your precious Kaluta dry?”

“You……!”

“You should at least give me that much if you want me to keep helping you in the future.”

There are still many mountains left to climb.

As Roselyn added those words, Sansar glared at her fiercely before snapping his fingers.

A bracelet, made of seven differently colored stones strung together, appeared around her wrist.

“……It’s tacky.”

Roselyn said honestly.

“What does that matter! How on earth did you even know about this? Honestly, how did I end up befriending someone like you……”

At the sound of the voice grumbling quietly that she hadn't changed a bit, Roselyn calmly added that she felt the same way.

“Anyway, I only have one thing left to say.”

Roselyn’s gaze met Sansar’s.

She raised a hand to cut him off.

Sansar faltered.

“What?”

“Don’t try to cheat me. Give me the blessing too.”

“……A true swindler.”

Muttering discontentedly, Sansar bestowed a blessing upon Roselyn.

“Regardless, if you die, you can live again in your original world.”

“…….”

“Of course, you won’t be able to live as ‘Roselyn Bellion,’ but the future could still change.”

Roselyn remained silent.

“Think carefully. There’s nothing here that truly belongs to you.”

As soon as Sansar finished speaking, her vision began to blur, and in an instant, everything went black.

*

*

*

“Ugh.”

Roselyn’s eyes flew open along with a terrible headache pounding inside her skull.

“Roselyn……?”

The first thing she saw was Cherti, looking haggard.

His eyes were bloodshot as if the vessels had burst, and he wore a dazed expression, seemingly startled by Roselyn suddenly opening her eyes.

“Roselyn……”

“Fath—ahem…… Father.”

Roselyn shook her head.

She glanced briefly at the bracelet dangling from her wrist before slowly pushing herself up.

Or rather, she tried to.

Grab.

If not for the warmth that suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Roselyn……. Roselyn.”

Roselyn’s eyes widened at the arms holding her body firmly.

“…….”

The warmth of the embrace felt foreign and awkward. Only then did Roselyn realize it had been a very long time since she had been held by someone.

It was warm and cozy, so it wasn't half bad.

Roselyn blinked slowly. Since even her arms were pinned in the hug, it was impossible to hug him back.

‘……I like this.’

Once she admitted that fact, she realized she had indeed been lonely.

‘I was lonely.’

Come to think of it, she felt like she had said something similar to Gerran before she died.

“I thought you, even you…… were going to die.”

His voice trembled violently.

“I thought I had killed even you……”

‘……Hm?’

Roselyn tilted her head.

If Roselyn had died this time, it would have been entirely due to her own carelessness. Failing to manage her gaze and letting her emotions be discovered by the opponent was Roselyn's fault, through and through.

“I…… you……”

“No, that’s not it.”

Roselyn cut off Cherti’s words as he began to spiral into self-blame, her voice indifferent.

Cherti faltered at that dry tone.

“I was the one who insisted on going to Kaluta, so why is that your fault, Father?”

“If I had been firmer in stopping you from coming here……”

“I would have come anyway.”

Roselyn added nonchalantly.

“It’s not like I’m the type to listen to others.”

Cherti looked at Roselyn, who was so composed she almost seemed cold, with a flickering gaze.

‘……Others?’

A slight sense of hurt welled up within him.

“Am I an ‘other’ to you?”

“It’s just a figure of speech.”

“…….”

If that’s what his daughter said, then what else could he do?

As a father who hadn't properly cared for her until now, he had nothing to say.

Even so, feeling dejected, Cherti’s lips parted before he finally nodded.

“I should have just locked you up……. Then you wouldn’t have been in danger. Shackles are crude and hurt if used to tie someone down, so an Abyss that prevents you from leaving your room……”

Roselyn, who hadn't heard Cherti's voice as he began muttering to himself, turned her head with a puzzled expression.

“What did you say?”

Cherti looked up at Roselyn with a gloomily sunken face before slowly shaking his head.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“But Father, what brings you here?”

“I was concerned about the plague spreading through the Empire and the arson attacks occurring in various villages, so I came out to meet you.”

At Cherti’s words, Roselyn’s eyes widened slightly before she gave a faint smile.

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

“It wasn't worry! I just happened to be lying at home, and since you weren't returning, and as my daughter in name, it would be a nuisance if you brought shame to the family……”

Cherti, who had been shouting as he rambled, faltered when he met Roselyn’s indifferent gaze.

“……Fine. I was worried something might have happened to you.”

After a long silence, Cherti muttered quietly, pressing his hand firmly over his mouth to hide it.

“Yes, I know.”

“……You know?”

“Yes.”

Now Roselyn knew that Cherti liked and cared for her well enough.

“…….”

Cherti’s face flushed red.

“You really are quite shy, Father.”

“……Who’s shy……”

“More importantly, hug me a little more.”

Roselyn asked, looking at her father who had already released her and stepped away.

At Roselyn’s words, Cherti stiffened and looked at her with wide eyes.

“……What?”

“The hug wasn't bad, so please hug me a little more.”

Roselyn said once more.

Startled, Cherti stood at a distance and shook himself off before creeping closer and spreading his arms wide.

‘……It’s not like we’re a young lady and a young lord in their prime.’

Roselyn stifled a laugh inwardly as she leaned her body against her father’s chest.

The large, firm embrace felt good, so Roselyn smiled softly.

“It’s nice. Your embrace, Father.”

“……Is it.”

“Being held by someone was quite a pleasant thing.”

Roselyn whispered softly.

“I didn’t know because I have no memory of being held like this.”

Her life had been spent telling herself she was fine, pretending to be strong, and living without leaning on anyone.

“I was lonely.”

She murmured quietly.

“I didn’t realize it, but I must have been very lonely, Father.”

At Roselyn’s murmur, the strength in the arms holding her tightened even further.

“I think I needed something like this.”

Not words to comfort herself that she was okay, nor sharp, prickly words and shields wrapping her body…….

Perhaps she just needed someone’s warmth.

Roselyn was thinking that she had learned something new when she tried to pull out of his embrace.

If only the strength holding her hadn't become even more intense.

‘……It hurts.’

Just as Roselyn was about to speak with a grimace.

“……I will hug you every day.”

Cherti said in a strained voice.

“You……”

Cherti’s lips quivered.

He was a monster who had been born by devouring his mother, born by killing his mother.

While growing up, he had killed several servants because he couldn't control his Abyss. He had even been locked in a small back room made of Soul Stones.

Once he had matured to some extent, he had walked into the basement himself.

He had draped himself in jewelry that acted like restraints and grew up amidst his father’s pathetic glares and all sorts of verbal abuse whispered around him.

“I didn’t know you were lonely.”

“…….”

“Because I grew up that way, I thought you were fine too. Because you are her child…… I thought you would be strong. I believed you were strong.”

The words pouring out like a confession made Roselyn feel a bit awkward.

‘This isn't what I wanted.’

In the moment she was debating how to break this heavy atmosphere, Cherti’s voice was heard once again.

“But thinking about it, I was lonely too.”

“…….”

“I, too, was lonely.”

Roselyn recalled her father’s past, which she knew of vaguely.

She twisted her arms to pull them out of Cherti’s embrace, then lightly hugged him and awkwardly patted his back.

Cherti’s eyes widened.

“Even so, thank you for not abandoning me and raising me until now. If it weren't for you, Father, I surely would have died a long time ago.”

She had heard her body was that weak, and her life had been one where she wasn't even allowed to step outside her bed.

At Roselyn’s words, Cherti’s arms trembled slightly.

Tears began to fall from the eyes of the man who had been filled with gloom.

“Because no one in the world needed me……”

Roselyn felt her shoulder becoming damp. She parted her lips but then quietly closed them.

She wasn't accustomed to this kind of comfort.

“I thought you didn't need me either. But……”

“…….”

“You needed me. Just as I once did…… you needed me too.”

Even if everyone in the world condemned him as useless, Roselyn had never looked at her father as pathetic.

As a child, she had always looked directly at him, wanting only affection.

Cherti, unable to overcome his fear, had pretended not to know that.

“……I’m sorry.”

“…….”

“I’m sorry, my child.”

Roselyn stopped moving, forgetting even to pat his back.

It was a bit of a strange feeling.

She had never expected to hear an apology in her entire life.

“It’s okay, since I’ve never resented you.”

That was a lie.

Roselyn had resented him once, and it was only when she became an adult and came to understand him that she was able to let go of it.

“……Resent me. Rather, blame me.”

He muttered quietly, as if choked with emotion.

“Your father…… loves you the most.”

Roselyn’s eyes widened slightly at the softly heard sincerity.

It was the moment she smiled after a short silence.

“Fire—!!”

A sound like a scream rang out.

When she reflexively turned her head, the view outside the window was already stained a bright crimson.