Chapter 30

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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Reason That Villainess Wields a Sword
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"Erin!"

Ferdin grew anxious. Where on earth had she gone in this situation?

Frantically looking around, he saw the direction of the dense forest and his face turned pale.

He saw Erin luring the Werewolf Tribe, moving deeper into their territory.

It had happened while the other knights were fleeing.

"Ferdin, what are you doing! Hurry up! What the— Erin Resus, why is she there again! Is she crazy? Is she trying to die?"

Derek, his face aghast, pulled Ferdin's arm, looking where Erin had gone.

Entering the Werewolf Tribe's territory carried a different level of risk than not entering.

If you went in there, it was completely over.

The Werewolf Tribe was famous for never letting go of humans who entered their territory.

"Ferdin, the lives of countless people rest on your shoulders. I'm sorry for burdening you with such a weight. But promise me. No matter how painful life gets, you will survive... somehow."

His mother's words came back to him.

That was one of the reasons Ferdin had continued his hellish life until now.

If he confronted a large number of Werewolf Tribe members with his own skill, he might not return alive.

Perhaps he could be taken hostage by the Werewolf Tribe and become a nuisance to the Empire.

If that happened, the Emperor would be thrilled to tear him down even further.

This was foolish. Ferdin knew in his mind that this was something he shouldn't do.

Would anything change if he followed Erin into that land?

No, nothing would change. Just as his life, which had struggled to escape fate, hadn't changed until now.

'But Mother, I have a strange feeling. A feeling that if I don't go now, I'll regret it.'

His hesitation was brief. Ferdin clutched the plain necklace around his neck.

He shook off Derek's arm, which was pulling him, and then, without hesitation, dashed into the Werewolf Tribe's land.

* * *

"I hate you."

Erin recalled the past. Not long after Ferdin died, Lilia had come to find her.

At the time, she had left Ferdin's knight order, saying she couldn't bear to see Erin anymore, and was making a name for herself as the youngest 5th-circle Mage in the Magic Tower.

Her life was full of a brilliant future. Erin had thought that Lilia might come to seek revenge on her someday.

So she had calmly waited for that moment.

After Ferdin's death, Erin had lost all meaning in life. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to end her own life.

Ferdin's words, asking her to live happily, remained in her heart, preventing her from letting go of the thread of life.

So on the day Lilia came, Erin harbored a tiny bit of hope. *Finally, I can escape this hell,* she thought.

And she only thought that she would meet Ferdin in heaven.

"I thought about it dozens of times. How best to kill you. How to ease my heart."

Lilia said that and wrapped her hand around Erin's neck.

Erin didn't resist at all. She just wished she could close her eyes with a little less pain.

But Lilia didn't tighten her grip, just stared at Erin for a long time before turning away.

And the next day, news spread that the youngest 5th-circle Mage had taken her own life.

Lilia had chosen to kill herself instead of killing Erin.

Erin's eyes were bloodshot. Remembering that moment, her steps unconsciously slowed.

It was hard to breathe with the overwhelming emotions. But she couldn't keep going like this.

Erin closed her eyes and sensed the presences around her. She felt the Werewolf Tribe members hot on her heels.

She had deliberately entered the Werewolf Tribe's territory to lure them.

It was a choice made because she knew how obsessed they were with their territory.

At that moment, her delicate brow furrowed.

'Ferdin?'

She sensed the presence of someone who shouldn't be here.

Why is Ferdin here?

Erin felt puzzled. But this wasn't the time to be dazed.

Five Werewolf Tribe members also seemed to have spotted Ferdin, not just her. Seeing them stop in their tracks, they appeared to be conflicted.

They must be wondering whether to chase Erin or target Ferdin, who had just entered.

After a brief moment of deliberation, she felt the Werewolf Tribe members move towards his location.

'How dare they...'

Erin's eyes darkened heavily.

She lightly propelled herself forward. It was a speed on a different level from how she had been running just moments before.

"You—!"

Seeing Erin appear suddenly, the Werewolf Tribe member tried to shout.

But her blade was faster, severing his neck.

Blood splattered on Erin's face, as she instantly dispatched one Werewolf Tribe member.

Following that, she plunged her sword into the abdomen of another Werewolf Tribe member attempting a surprise attack.

And with a couple more swings of her sword, the remaining two Werewolf Tribe members also fell without even a scream.

"Who... who are you! A human, no, are you even human?"

The last one's face showed clear signs of tension.

He realized at a glance that the human woman before him was someone he couldn't contend with.

Originally, Erin had intended to calmly lure them while making her way to Lilia's location, but now the situation had changed.

"I won't kill you. Because I need someone to deliver a message."

At Erin's words, the Werewolf Tribe member stumbled backward.

Even as she said she wouldn't kill him, her aura was fierce enough to suggest she'd cleave his neck at any moment.

The Werewolf Tribe member was feeling fear.

The ones who had just fallen were excellent warriors even among the Werewolf Tribe.

Such individuals had been felled in an instant by a human woman.

The Werewolf Tribe was a race that pursued strength. He felt his body tremble as he looked at the woman before him.

Instinctively, he realized she was strong. The human woman's eyes were chilling. It was as if darkness slumbered within them.

"Tell your chieftain. If they touch the humans they kidnapped..."

Erin said that and brought her sword close to the Werewolf Tribe member's neck. The chillingly sharp blade dug into his neck, drawing blood.

At the terrifying warning, the Werewolf Tribe member unconsciously held his breath.

"Tell them they'd better be prepared."

* * *

"Ferdin."

Ferdin, who had been running like mad, turned his head at the sound of his name.

Erin was standing on a tree, looking down at him.

Ferdin was momentarily flustered but then a sigh of relief escaped him first.

Thank goodness. She wasn't caught by the Werewolf Tribe too.

He didn't know what method Erin had used, but it seemed she had escaped the Werewolf Tribe members who were chasing her.

"Why are you here?"

"Sir Erin, why on earth have you come all the way in here?"

At Ferdin's words, Erin fell silent. She had no excuse for him.

How could she tell him that she intended to defeat the Werewolf Tribe alone and take Lilia and Amon?

Instead of answering, she jumped down from the tree and stood before Ferdin. Then she gazed intently at his face.

'Why is Ferdin here? Could he have seen me go in and followed?'

That's impossible. Erin gave a self-deprecating smile at the fleeting thought and said,

"Go back."

At her nonchalant words, Ferdin's expression hardened.

"What about you?"

"I have something I need to do."

"You're not saying you came all the way here to rescue Lilia and Amon, are you? And alone?"

At Ferdin's words, Erin couldn't say anything.

She wasn't good at lying, so when a moment called for a lie, she would often choose silence.

Ferdin, who had been silently watching Erin for a long time, stood beside her.

"If there's something to be done, we can finish it together. Don't think of going alone."

Erin frowned, looking troubled. She hadn't expected him to say something like that.

Ferdin doesn't know she's a Sword Master.

If an ordinary person had seen her actions, entering the Werewolf Tribe's territory, they would have treated her as insane.

So Erin had expected Ferdin to also tell her to get out of here immediately. She had intended to persuade him somehow and stay here herself...

In a way, it might be for the best.

Even though they were in the most dangerous situation, paradoxically, as long as they were in the Werewolf Tribe's territory, her side would be the safest.

Thinking that, Erin began to walk. Ferdin also silently followed behind her.

Erin hadn't lost track of the presence of the Werewolf Tribe member she had sent.

There was no hesitation. She pushed through the bushes with practiced movements. How far had they gone?

Erin saw the sun setting and stopped walking.

"Let's rest for a bit before we go. We need to conserve our energy."

Her body was still excessively weak. To fight properly in the battle that would come soon, she needed to rest, even if just a little.

Ferdin agreed with her words.