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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Reason That Villainess Took Up the Sword
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As a child, he too would often crawl under the bed, curl up, and weep, just like Erin. He understood the depths of such despair.
That was why he couldn't take his eyes off Erin.
Yet, he had others by his side to help him endure. Many people who cared for him had become his strength at some point.
Ferdin had been able to grow stronger for them, and he wasn't lonely.
But the Erin he saw was always alone.
The moment he first saw her at the Academy, Ferdin couldn't help but be astonished.
'How is she enduring that situation?'
Everyone was condemning her. Of course, the rumors circulating on the surface painted Erin Resus as a villain.
But was the Erin Resus they had met truly a villain? Was she truly capable of killing someone?
Of course, Ferdin couldn't be certain that Erin wasn't a villainess.
He couldn't definitively conclude that just because she had cried as a child.
So, Ferdin began to observe Erin. He wanted to judge for himself whether she was truly evil or not.
'She's not a villain.'
He became certain after seeing Erin burying a dead cat and weeping.
With her delicate, unblemished hands, Erin covered the earth, then mourned the cat.
Ferdin watched her from behind for a long time.
Seeing Erin quietly shed tears, as if accustomed to it, he felt something within his heart go awry.
Could someone who arbitrarily harmed others cry like that? It was absolutely impossible.
Then what were all those rumors? Who was to bear the irrational hatred and condemnation she had suffered?
Who, indeed, dared to spread such rumors?
"What are you thinking so deeply about, Ferdin?"
Duke Ashili's words jolted Ferdin from his thoughts.
The Duke continued, looking puzzled.
"And that incident a while ago during the monster extermination, where the entire monster horde was wiped out. Do you know who was responsible? No matter how I think about it, that wasn't a horde that an ordinary knight could defeat... There are rumors that a new Sword Master has appeared."
"I know nothing about that. I only know that I am here thanks to the person who defeated the monster horde."
"Well, that's possible. I should look into the others who were on the extermination party as well."
"Could it have been someone from the extermination squad?"
Duke Ashili shook his head at Ferdin's words.
"Unfortunately, those who have reached a certain level cannot gauge each other's skill. So, even if I look at the people in the extermination squad, I cannot be certain. I, too, would truly like to meet this hidden individual."
"It's been a long time since I could find a worthy opponent..." Duke Ashili added.
While two other Sword Masters existed in the Empire, they were no match for the Duke.
He always sought someone who could be his rival.
'If there isn't one, perhaps I can create one.'
A sudden thought made Duke Ashili's eyes gleam.
After all, there was someone with astonishing talent. What if he took Erin Resus as his disciple?
Learning swordsmanship under him would yield much faster progress than learning it at an academy like this.
Duke Ashili smiled contentedly and nodded.
The thought of Erin refusing his offer to become his disciple simply didn't exist in his mind.
After all, what knight would refuse his discipleship? It would be the fastest shortcut to becoming a Sword Master!
The Duke recalled Erin, who had only ever given him a respectful bow. Her arrogant nature also seemed suitable for becoming his disciple.
The more he thought about it, the more perfect the plan seemed, and the Duke's mood brightened. He was a simpler man than he appeared.
'Next time I come to Atenz Academy, I should propose it immediately.'
Thinking this, Duke Ashili spoke to Ferdin.
"By the way, it seems the Emperor will soon give you a mission."
"Here we go again."
"This time, it won't be so easy to say that, will it? You'll be going into their territory to exterminate the Werewolf Tribe and rescue refugees. Of course, the Second Knight Order, led by Leon Count, will accompany you, but..."
"..."
"Well. That means it's a dangerous mission. I pray you survive this time too. Who knows? Perhaps a passing Sword Master will help again."
With those words, the Duke rose from his seat.
* * *
Two months passed quickly.
Erin sat at the dining table, holding a small quill, drawing circles.
As she did, she recalled the events of the past two months.
Erin diligently participated in the Swordsmanship Department classes.
As a result, she achieved excellent grades and was among the top five students qualified for missions.
Occasionally, she would encounter Ferdin within the Academy. When they met, they would exchange awkward greetings and pass by.
Thinking of him, she felt an emotion she couldn't quite describe.
Erin gently pressed her hand to her chest. Then, she continued her thoughts.
Sometimes, the Princess would visit and chatter about her daily life.
Most of these were ordinary conversations, like how beautiful the weather was today, or how a certain shop had delicious desserts and she wanted Erin to go with her.
And... she also sparred with Amon.
Erin drew Amon's characteristic angry expression on the paper. He always walked around with an angry look, even when nothing was wrong.
He would request to spar with her at any given moment. But Erin never avoided him.
Thanks to that, Amon's skills rapidly improved, and seeing this, other Swordsmanship Department students asked her to spar with them too, putting her in an awkward position.
She didn't know how Karon had heard the news, but he even requested a spar, leaving Erin speechless.
However, she didn't avoid sparring with her younger brother either.
Karon, thoroughly beaten by Erin, kept muttering, "I can't believe it."
Then, from the next day on, he started seeking her out and acting like Amon. That is, he began to constantly badger her for sparring sessions.
Erin chuckled softly, thinking of Karon, then recalled an incident that happened recently.
While walking, she unintentionally overheard a conversation between Swordsmanship Department students.
"I can't believe any rumors these days. The rumors about Erin are just too strange."
"What do you mean?"
"Erin is kind."
"Well, it's true, it's hard to imagine her doing such things."
It was something she had wished for in the past, but hearing it now, she felt surprisingly little emotion. It just felt unreal.
And Raymond, like a foreign object, intruded into Erin's ordinary daily life.
Just when she was about to forget him, she would catch him secretly watching her practice swordsmanship.
Looking at him, Erin thought about how she should live this life after her regression.
The events that would unfold, and those that needed to be prevented. And... those who needed to be killed.
In the past, Erin couldn't even kill an insect, and she had never considered killing a person, let alone an insect.
Even when she was being whipped by the Marquis's Wife, she only thought, 'It hurts,' or 'I'm scared.' She never dreamed of revenge.
She believed it wasn't her place to judge the lives and deaths of others.
But what if that person tries to kill her? Should she still just endure it?
If she was used to her fullest, then discarded like trash, would she still forgive that person?
Raymond coming to the Swordsmanship Department had happened the exact same way in the past. The reason given was that the Princess had died because of Erin, so he needed to monitor her to ensure she didn't cause any more trouble.
At that time, Erin thought it was fortunate that Raymond had come. She believed that with him, she finally had someone on her side.
And Raymond, as she had expected, was glad to see Erin. With his familiar smile, he said the same thing.
"Erin! It's been a long time."
But after that, Erin often heard insults for no reason.
Many people, even when it wasn't her fault, would come and vent their anger at her.
More tragedies began to befall Erin after Raymond arrived.
'But Raymond is here, so I'll be fine.'
She must have been complacent, even though she knew better.
Raymond would comfort Erin every time.
Erin recalled this time in the past.
Ferdin, in the past, had also received the same mission: to exterminate the Werewolf Tribe and rescue the captured refugees.
However, Erin didn't immediately know the outcome of Ferdin's mission completion. This was because she had fallen into the lake and hovered between life and death.
It had happened when she was with Raymond.
