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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Reason the Villainess Wields a Sword
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When she was little, every time the Marquis's Wife finished disciplining her, Erin would always lose herself in imagination.
She would curl up and wait in the marquisate's spire, believing a prince on a white horse would come to rescue her.
‘Then this pain will end, and I’ll finally be happy.’
So, she had waited endlessly, filled with the hope that someone would save her if she just held on.
But it was nothing more than a fantasy.
Reality was always more cruel, and nothing changed just by waiting aimlessly.
She wasn't the protagonist who eventually received everyone's love, like in the novels she'd read in modern times.
The girl who waited and endured, hoping to become the protagonist, had, without realizing it, become the villainess.
From some point on, people called her a villainess and pointed fingers, but Erin said nothing.
Yet, even then, she always hoped someone would truly see her.
That it wasn't her doing. That someone would truly look at her, here.
That she wasn't a villainess.
But nothing ever changed.
She hadn't known then that she had to seize her own salvation, rather than simply wishing for it.
Thinking this, Erin gazed into Amon's clear eyes.
She distinctly remembered how he had died in her past life.
It was after Ferdin's death, when the Marquis's Wife was about to dispose of her.
Amon Hedor, at Ferdin's request, had tried to protect her until the very end.
"Damn it... Erin Resus, you're only in the way if you stay, so run!"
He was the kind of person who couldn't say anything nice, even at the very end.
Yet, the tone he used with her now was incredibly gentle. Erin could feel how hard he was trying.
Therefore, she absolutely could not succumb to that kindness. Hadn't she learned the bitter consequences of that in her previous life?
Staining her hands with blood was, after all, her duty.
"Sir Amon, don't worry about trivial matters."
Erin stood up. Amon's hand, lost, hovered in the air.
"Trivial matters... You...!"
"Please return with the Princess first."
"What?"
"I'll buy you two time to escape."
He doubted his own ears. He couldn't understand what Erin was saying.
"What about you?"
"The Princess isn't well. She's been strange for a while, and it seems to be getting worse."
"Then you escape with the Princess. I'll buy time!"
"I can't carry the Princess and run as fast as Sir Amon."
Erin said this, shaking her arm a couple of times.
Amon was dumbfounded by her gesture, as if telling him to look at her thin wrist. Hadn't that same arm easily blocked his sword and even overpowered him?
Her argument was unconvincing.
"I will handle the monster horde."
Erin said, approaching the Princess and placing a hand on her forehead.
Erin had once thought that if she was the villainess in the novel, the Princess would be the protagonist.
Because Princess Ashili, in her eyes, was always loved by everyone.
Though she had lost her name and was always ill after becoming a saintess, Erin had arrogantly believed the Princess would be happier than her.
Erin had no intention of letting her die in this life.
And if the Princess returned alive... Erin intended to disappear so that she could be happy with Ferdin.
The moment she thought that, Erin felt a sharp pain, as if something was gouging out her heart.
‘Why? Everything is going well.’
Everything was unfolding exactly as she had planned when she first opened her eyes here: to give everything back to him.
Everything was returning to its rightful place.
Both the Princess and Ferdin would be able to find happiness.
‘And I...’
At that moment, the Princess's closed eyes slowly opened. She looked at Erin with helpless eyes.
Her appearance reminded Erin of her past self, so Erin took the Princess's hands and whispered softly.
"I'll protect you. Don't worry."
It was the very words her past self had most wanted to hear.
Having said that, Erin turned her gaze to Amon.
It was time to return the exact words he had spoken in her previous life.
"You're only in the way if you stay here, so run."
* * *
Amon ran. He could hear the Princess's shallow breaths behind him.
Despite his insistence that he would never leave her alone, Erin Resus was resolute.
"I don't have the strength to carry the Princess, Sir Amon. If you don't leave me, what will happen to the Princess?"
She seemed to have no intention of carrying the Princess.
Instead, her tone was fierce, almost scolding Amon for implying he would abandon the Princess.
He had to choose: die together there, or abandon Erin Resus to save the Princess.
No matter which choice he made, it would mean failing to uphold a knight's honor and abandoning his duty.
But the words Erin spoke next forced Amon to move.
"Upholding honor is only possible if you're alive. Don't let the Princess die for your honor. And most importantly, I won't die."
The last words she added, *I can't die right now*, were pregnant with meaning.
They would soon reach the Extermination Squad. He could already faintly sense the presence of people.
Ferdin must have sent knights to search for them, as there had been no news for a long time.
‘Damn it, faster!’
His legs, unwilling to move as he wished, were frustrating.
Amon regretted slacking off on his stamina training in the past.
If only he had trained a little harder... then he could have run faster.
And perhaps he could have fought Erin Resus on more equal terms.
Amon's eyes trembled as he ran. What would happen if he was late?
If he was late and Erin, fighting the monster horde alone, ran out of stamina and died...
Her sword, as she wielded it, flashed through Amon's mind.
It was a sword art that, while relentlessly pushing him back, was incredibly concise.
The textbook movements Amon knew were absent in her.
Thrust, cut, and block. Those simple actions combined to form a single sword.
Every single one of her sword paths lingered in his mind.
Even at this moment, as he ran with all his might, the sword Erin had displayed replayed in his mind.
Was Erin Resus truly the villainess from the rumors he knew?
The beautiful moment when his back wound and her sword clashed... if he were never to see that sword again...
Amon's thoughts broke off.
Before his eyes, Karon Resus appeared, holding a sword and glaring at him with a fierce expression.
"Amon Hedor!"
Beside him were Ferdin, Derek, and Lilia.
Lilia immediately rushed over and spread the cloak she had been wearing on the ground.
Amon carefully laid the Princess, whom he had been carrying on his back, onto the cloak.
Lilia quickly cast a spell and began to heal the Princess.
At that moment, Karon grabbed Amon's shoulder. His eyes, glaring at Amon, flickered wildly.
"Why... are you and the Princess the only ones?"
"..."
"Where is Erin?!"
Amon shook off his hand. There was no time to argue with him now.
Monsters empowered by moonlight grew stronger. He had to hurry before Erin Resus was overwhelmed by the strengthened monsters.
Amon spoke to Ferdin.
"I need backup."
"..."
"Erin Resus is fighting the monster horde alone."
As his words fell, Karon's face turned pale. The others were no different.
Ferdin's face hardened terrifyingly, and Lilia seemed shocked.
Derek repeatedly rubbed his ears, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. But then he realized it was true and gaped foolishly.
Erin Resus fighting the monster horde alone...?
Lilia's face crumpled as she spoke.
"That's impossible. That sounds like she walked in to commit suicide. She shouldn't die so easily..."
"Lilia, don't speak carelessly."
At Ferdin's warning, she fell silent.
Ferdin's gaze, usually not prone to anger, was sharp.
Karon rushed at Amon and grabbed him by the collar.
"Don't tell me... you abandoned my sister to save yourself? Is that what a knight does?! A dishonorable bastard!"
Amon suddenly recalled the words he had once flung at Erin.
A dishonorable person.
Was Erin Resus truly someone who deserved to hear such words?
Amon could no longer be sure of anything.
