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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Reason That Villainess Carries a Sword
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It must have been a nightmare.
Corelia, waking with a gasp at Erin’s words, let out a ragged breath.
The feeling was unbearable. Why would she have such a dream?
Erin was utterly worthless of her attention. Raymond would have resolved everything by now, anyway.
Talent? Don't make her laugh.
But even as she thought this, the trembling in her hands wouldn't stop.
“Charlotte!”
She called out loudly for the maid waiting outside the door.
The door opened cautiously, and a tall maid appeared. She bowed her head towards Corelia.
“It seems you had a disturbing dream, my lady.”
At the maid’s words, Corelia gritted her teeth.
“What about what I told you last time? The young Mage, a provisional knight of Ferdin Lexia.”
“I successfully met him and delivered the message.”
“And so… will he accept?”
Despite Charlotte’s confident words, Corelia frowned uneasily.
“But you know what kind of people they are. They’re filled with useless righteousness.”
“That’s precisely why he won’t be able to refuse. If he truly possesses justice, he wouldn’t just stand by while the person who killed my brother goes unpunished.”
“……”
“In truth, I don’t believe Raymond will fail. He may look like that, but he’s an Advanced Knight, after all.”
Corelia felt her mind calm at Charlotte’s words.
Yes. She was right. Raymond would succeed in his mission.
Even if Raymond failed, the Extermination Squad would have reached the Werewolf Tribe’s territory by now, so the outcome would be the same.
The Werewolf Tribe was one of the beastfolk, known for their ferocious nature, appearing as half-human, half-beast.
They would surely feel threatened by uninvited individuals approaching their territory.
If Leon Count were there, the situation would be different… but the knight order he led would be unable to reach the Werewolf Tribe’s territory as their passage was blocked by the sudden, heavy downpour.
The Extermination Squad would wait for non-existent support and face great disaster.
Corelia wore a bitter smile, contemplating the tragedy that was soon to unfold.
* * *
They finally arrived at the Werewolf Tribe’s territory. Despite it being midday, the dense forest was dark and cool.
The members of the Extermination Squad already looked utterly exhausted. Erin recalled what she needed to do in the Werewolf Tribe’s land.
Above all, preventing the tragedy that would befall Ferdin was the first priority, but besides that, there was something else she needed to confirm in the Werewolf Tribe’s territory.
In the future, the Werewolf Tribe would appear with a certain Mage. And that suddenly appearing Mage would inflict great damage on the humans living near the border.
However, the Werewolf Tribe was a race incapable of using magic. Therefore, Erin wanted to confirm if that Mage was one of the ‘refugees kidnapped by the Werewolf Tribe.’
Normally, she wouldn’t have paid attention to anyone other than Ferdin’s provisional knights, but this time was different.
Because later, rumors would spread that the Mage was a refugee they had failed to save in the past, leading to Ferdin receiving severe criticism.
She had no intention of letting anything that could harm him happen.
Ferdin scanned the area around the Werewolf Tribe’s territory before halting the Extermination Squad.
The forest, devoid of human presence, was so quiet it felt eerily unsettling. Leon Count, who should have arrived first, was nowhere to be seen.
“Something’s strange, isn’t it?”
“Where is Leon Count?”
The mood of the Extermination Squad grew uneasy.
“We need to turn back.”
Derek’s face hardened at Ferdin’s words.
“But you know, Ferdin. The Emperor won’t stand for it if he finds out. Who knows what he’ll do to you again if you fail this mission…”
Erin listened to their serious conversation from a distance.
Ferdin and Derek spoke in voices too low for others to hear, but they couldn’t escape her excellent hearing.
This mission would fail. This was a fact Erin also knew.
Not only would the mission fail. Half of those who participated in the Extermination Squad would lose their lives, incurring the Emperor’s wrath.
“We need to send a search party at least. Even if Leon Count doesn’t come, we need to prove to the Emperor that we made at least some effort.”
Derek said this, carefully observing the Extermination Squad.
He seemed to suspect there was an imperial spy among them. Derek’s words made sense.
Ferdin ultimately had no choice but to send a search party. However, he regretted that decision shortly after.
Because Lilia and Amon were kidnapped by the Werewolf Tribe.
* * *
“What do you mean Lilia and Amon were kidnapped?”
At Derek’s loud voice, the provisional knight in front of him trembled. He seemed to be in extreme fear.
“Damn it, damn it!”
Derek cursed, throwing down the glove he was holding.
The Extermination Squad was instantly plunged into chaos.
Several members of the search party returned heavily injured. And they reported that Amon and Lilia had been kidnapped by the Werewolf Tribe.
Erin couldn’t help but harden her face upon hearing that report.
For the Werewolf Tribe, who should not yet have Mages, Lilia would undoubtedly be an invaluable hostage.
This was something that hadn’t happened in the past.
Amon and Lilia both should have returned to Atenz Academy without any harm.
Had she changed too much of the future? Erin couldn’t tell if a predetermined fate had been twisted.
But one thing was certain: no matter the risk, she would save them.
Erin turned her head and looked at the other knights.
They all looked terrified, clearly wanting to leave.
Except for Philip and a few students from the Swordsmanship Department, they all wore the same expressions.
“Sir Ferdin, what will you do?”
His provisional knights had been kidnapped. However, there would undoubtedly be a Werewolf Tribe chieftain with power comparable to a Sword Master within the Werewolf Tribe’s territory.
If Leon Count had been present, they could have conducted a search, but in the current situation, fleeing immediately was the right choice.
Derek’s face was pale. He was feeling guilty.
This wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t suggested searching. But the incident had already occurred.
There must be an imperial spy among these knights.
If the situation of hostages being taken by the Werewolf Tribe reached the Emperor’s ears, Ferdin would undoubtedly face severe criticism, regardless of the outcome of his choices.
‘And if they couldn’t find Amon and Lilia like this…’
Derek swayed, just imagining such a horrific scenario.
“Sir Ferdin! You must choose!”
“The kidnapped people can’t be saved anyway. We need to save ourselves at least.”
“Sir Ferdin!”
At the knights’ shouts, Erin moved. It was to block the long spear flying towards Ferdin.
Clang!
A clear clang echoed as the spear fell to the ground.
As Erin blocked the spear with her sword, she grabbed Ferdin and quickly pulled him back.
It was certainly a bizarre sight. No matter how unusually fast Erin Resus had grown strong, it was a spear so fast that even Ferdin, who might soon become an Advanced Knight, couldn’t react.
Yet she had blocked it with surprising ease.
But the other members of the Extermination Squad didn’t notice this fact.
They had been too preoccupied with the sudden appearance of the uninvited guests to properly see the situation.
The Extermination Squad’s gazes turned to one spot.
“So the pests were here.”
A group of Werewolf Tribe members stood there.
The faces of the Extermination Squad turned ashen. They slowly backed away.
It was a normal reaction. Even for knights, experiencing combat with beastfolk, not just monsters, was rare.
Erin secured Ferdin’s safety, then subtly stepped forward. She sharply assessed the current situation.
There were five Werewolf Tribe members in total. No matter how strong they were, their numbers were not large.
So the ones currently in front of them were actually no big problem.
However, if they fought here, due to the Werewolf Tribe’s excellent hearing, the Werewolf Tribe members deeper within the territory would immediately come as reinforcements.
The Werewolf Tribe members approached the Extermination Squad with very slow steps. Their movements were leisurely, like a cat toying with a cornered mouse.
Then, Ferdin shouted with a resolute face.
“Run!”
It was a humiliating command for a knight. But humiliation was only possible if one was still alive.
The extermination of the Werewolf Tribe and the rescue of refugees. This was not a mission that could be carried out without the support of Leon Count, a Sword Master.
As soon as Ferdin’s command fell, some knights immediately began to flee.
Ferdin also tried to move immediately. Derek pulled his arm from the side, urging him to hurry.
Some knights might lose their lives, but it was better than everyone being annihilated.
But after a short while, Ferdin sensed something was off.
The Werewolf Tribe members who should have charged them were nowhere to be seen. And… Erin, too.
She was nowhere to be seen.
