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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: The Reason That Villainess Picked Up a Sword Chapter 25
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He said he saw someone push her and chased after them, but ultimately couldn't catch them.
Erin trembled in fear, realizing someone was trying to kill her, and her distrust of people deepened further.
"Erin, don't worry. I'll protect you."
But now she knew.
It was Raymond who pushed her into that lake, and because of him, she had lived her entire life in fear of being murdered.
Raymond had played with her like a toy in the past and ultimately killed her.
He had scoffed at her emotions, finding it amusing.
Erin wrote Raymond's name on the paper where she had been drawing circles.
It was true that he had done terrible things to her, but that was in the past.
Was it acceptable, then, to punish him for something that hadn't happened yet, based solely on the fact that he would commit such an act?
But her hesitation was fleeting. Erin was certain. Certain that Raymond would repeat the same actions as in the past.
And today, the Extermination Squad would depart to carry out their mission.
* * *
It was a long journey from the Atenz Academy to the Southern Mountains, the territory of the Werewolf Tribe.
It was a distance that would take a month for a round trip.
It would take nearly two weeks just for the Extermination Squad to reach their destination to perform their mission.
For a day or two, their physical condition was fine, but after five days, the Extermination Squad's stamina significantly decreased.
Everyone's steps slowed, and they were noticeably struggling.
Karon didn't leave Erin's side, just as he hadn't during the last monster extermination.
Although the gazes directed at them had improved compared to before, Lilia was still part of this Extermination Squad.
Still, Karon was less nervous than when he first set out on a monster extermination.
Through several sparring matches, he had realized how strong a knight Erin was.
Erin said it was because she was an incredible genius... Karon couldn't understand it.
But history books occasionally spoke of geniuses beyond measure.
'Is that my sister?'
Thinking that, Karon felt a strange unfamiliarity with the person beside him.
He glanced at Erin, then swept his gaze around, frowning at a sudden sense of incongruity.
Karon, after pondering for a moment, couldn't suppress his curiosity and asked her,
"Did you fight Raymond? Why isn't he approaching you, Sister?"
"..."
"Why? Raymond is a good person."
As Karon said, Raymond and Erin kept a significant distance from each other.
For two months, Erin had intentionally ignored him, and Raymond, having been rejected several times, merely watched her with narrowed eyes, no longer approaching.
Still, seeing him constantly lingering around, it seemed he hadn't given up on whatever scheme he had.
Erin thought that and shook her head.
She didn't answer Karon's comment about Raymond being a good person and moved to Ferdin's side.
Then she felt Karon quickly follow her.
Erin had several things to resolve on this mission.
Raymond was bothersome, but not immediately important. The most crucial matter on this mission was Ferdin.
In the past, he had returned safely from the mission, but with a large scar on his face.
However, Erin didn't know the specifics of what had happened during the Werewolf Tribe extermination mission.
This was because everyone who returned alive from that mission was reluctant to speak about it.
Karon, seeing Erin move to Ferdin's side, looked at her with a strange expression.
After becoming engaged to Ferdin, Erin had started keeping an oddly noticeable distance from him.
But as soon as this extermination began, she clung to Ferdin as if nothing had changed, showing no intention of leaving his side.
Other students were whispering about it.
"So, they really are engaged, aren't they?"
"No, then what about the Princess? Is it really over?"
"They do look good together."
"Even so... they were forced to break up because of Erin Resus. That's not right."
A student, seemingly holding resentment towards Erin, added the last remark in a low voice.
But there was no way she hadn't heard what that student said.
When one reached the Master stage, all senses became heightened, making it harder *not* to hear even the quietest whispers.
Hearing their words, Erin's resolve became even firmer.
It was time to put into action the decision she had made the moment she met Ferdin again.
Evening fell, and the Extermination Squad began preparing for camp. Erin started helping with the tent setup with practiced skill.
Karon grumbled again, saying, 'No, how is she so good at this?'
He had surely camped far more often, yet Erin seemed more skilled than him.
"If you're excellent with a sword, you're excellent at everything."
Karon's face contorted at her words.
All camp preparations were finished, and dinner was over. It was time for everyone to rest.
At that time, when most had fallen asleep, Erin sought out Ferdin.
"Sir Ferdin."
His golden hair, slightly disheveled as if he had been relaxing, was visible as he sat outside his tent.
At Erin's call, Ferdin looked at her with a flustered expression. Derek, who was beside him, reacted the same way.
Derek, who had been stuffing jerky into his mouth next to Ferdin, froze mid-motion.
The jerky in his hand fell to the ground, but Derek merely rolled his eyes to look at Erin.
"I have something to say."
*I've heard that before...* he muttered to himself, then shifted his gaze to Ferdin.
Ferdin, too, was feeling something strange.
It was the first time Erin had spoken to him since the monster extermination. He felt inexplicably happy, yet also a sense of foreboding.
"I'd like to talk somewhere quiet, not here."
Ferdin recalled what had happened the last time she asked to speak alone.
Back then, Erin had made an unexpected declaration: that she would accompany them on the monster extermination.
He had a premonition that this time would be similar.
At Erin's words, Derek muttered with a deeply shocked expression,
"Just the two of them... somewhere quiet?"
But neither Erin nor Ferdin paid any mind to Derek.
Ferdin somehow felt reluctant to follow Erin, but he couldn't bring himself to refuse her request for a private conversation.
He nodded, then began to follow Erin.
* * *
These were words she had rehearsed dozens, hundreds of times. It was something she had always mentally prepared for.
Her engagement to him had been forced by the Marquis's Wife.
Even though Ferdin had broken up with the person he loved because of the engagement, he had never once resented her.
The same was true for the Princess he had met in this life.
She would often seek out Erin and talk to her without pause.
Yet, during that time, the Princess had never shown any sign of resentment towards her.
Erin could no longer let them suffer like this.
Being good people, they might not resent her. But that didn't mean their hearts were at ease.
The Princess's statement that she and Ferdin were nothing was clearly a kind lie for Erin's sake.
"When this mission is over... I will break off our engagement. Instead, I hope you will stay with me throughout this mission."
"Break off...?"
"Yes. There's no need for you to continue an engagement you dislike and were forced into."
Ferdin's face hardened.
In the past, Erin had been afraid of the Marquis's Wife and had dragged him into the mud with her.
But now that Corelia no longer frightened her, she shouldn't hold onto him.
What Erin feared now were the people who might get hurt by staying by her side.
'Until I put an end to everything... I can't involve this person.'
So she lied.
"I didn't want it either, you see."
"If you didn't want it... why did you want to get engaged to me?"
"You know what kind of person I am. It was just a fleeting whim."
Ferdin couldn't understand a single word Erin said.
She wore such a pained expression, yet her tone when speaking to him was remarkably composed.
The Erin he had known always wore a similar expression. A face that seemed to want to say something... but remained silent.
He easily realized that she was lying.
In truth, ever since Ferdin learned of Erin's past, she had been constantly on his mind.
He was even seized by a strange feeling, as if they had known each other for ages.
'Why am I thinking this?'
If she said she didn't want it, breaking off this engagement was the natural course of action.
But... he didn't want to.
It was a truly strange thought. He wasn't usually such an emotional person.
But the person before him, who seemed to bear the weight of the world alone, concerned him.
Erin stared intently at Ferdin, then turned her body.
"I've said all I needed to say, so I'll be taking my leave."
"Sir Erin!"
Ferdin tried to stop her, but Erin was faster. She left the spot at a speed Ferdin couldn't keep pace with his eyes.
He probably felt something strange seeing her vanish from his sight in an instant.
However, Erin didn't have the confidence to hear more from Ferdin. She didn't want to hear him agree to breaking off their engagement.
'And a rat was following.'
Feeling a foul presence from afar, Erin twisted her lips.
She hadn't wanted to leave Ferdin's side for even a moment during this mission, but she had no choice.
She decided to trust her own strength.
'If it's not too far, I can detect any danger to Ferdin before it reaches him.'
It would be fine if she resolved it in a very short time.
Thinking that, Erin hurried her steps.
