Chapter 137
Since ‘obvious killing intent’ was the condition for harvesting, ‘faint killing intent’ wasn’t enough to kill Viviana and steal her ability.
I didn’t know whether Viviana’s charm ability would work on a god, but it would certainly be useful for winning over the Order’s high-ranking officials.
This applied to Viviana as well. No matter how thoroughly I destroyed her image, there was a high chance she’d use that damned ability to bounce right back.
She’d always been quick to rebuild her network and reappear in high society, after all.
Still, I think I’ve figured out an approach.
“So why did you call me? I rushed over thinking mid-shift rations were being handed out.”
Johann glared down at me.
Was it too much to ask for him to show up at the perfect moment like a romance novel male lead, radiating killing intent, and say, “What’s wrong? You don’t look well. Don’t you dare pretend you’re fine!” And then beat everyone up on my behalf?
“Number 10 brutally assaulted Kido and Eliza with a canteen!”
Leah, who would make an excellent villainess’s right-hand woman, cried out.
“That’s correct. I was beaten to this state trying to intervene.”
Deneb held up her reddened, swollen arm.
That looked more like she’d been savaged by autumn mosquitoes, honestly.
“She used the cowardly method of concealing herself, then ambushing from behind. This goes against the way of the warrior, does it not?”
Clara, too, threw herself into it with her characteristically grave expression and commanding voice.
Leah and Deneb gave me a thumbs-up.
The kind of loyalty that throws your own integrity under the bus just to avenge a friend’s cheating ex. I’d engrave the devotion of these people who had elevated me to proper villainess status deep in my heart…
To live up to their expectations, I arranged my face into the poignant expression of a detestable yet pitiable villain.
I also leaned my head against Enrique’s shoulder for added emphasis on my fragility.
Johann began whispering in my ear.
“You’re trying to extort choco pies and potatoes through a self-harm con, aren’t you? You should probably put down the canteen in your hand first.”
Ignoring Johann’s whisper entirely, I focused on projecting my intimate relationship with these two men, saying only what I needed to say.
“Look, Eliza has already fainted.”
At my words, Eliza, who had been fidgeting, clutched her head and dramatically crumpled to the ground as if on cue.
Enrique wrapped his arm around my shoulder and spoke.
“That must have hurt. You can cry now, it’s okay.”
Enrique offered his soulless sympathy purely because he was curious what my crying face looked like.
Johann, who had been giving a displeased look at Enrique nuzzling his head against mine like an affectionate cat, grabbed my arm and pulled.
“Taking advantage ofthe lull to recharge your spirits and your battery, I see? Not bad.”
And subtly tried to recharge himself in the process.
They were treating me like a portable power bank, but outwardly, it would look like they were competing over who got to worry about me more.
The proof was that Viviana’s jaw was hanging open in stunned disbelief.
The woman who had been wearing an expression of sheer incredulity shrieked:
“You’re the one who hit her with the canteen! How dare you play the victim!”
“Me? When? I’m too tenderhearted and physically weak for something like that.”
“What kind of nonsense is that? Everyone saw it!”
Viviana spun around to the gathered prisoners, seeking agreement, but—
“Actually, I did see tha— OW, HOT!”
The prisoner who had been about to speak up found his backside bursting into flames.
Johann was eager to join the self-harm extortion ring[1] and claim his share as he swept a chilling gaze over the prisoners.
“Did anyone here actually see Number 49, with her pathetically abysmal constitution, do such a thing?”
At that, every single prisoner shut their mouths.
When even Enoch, whom she had trusted, sealed his lips, Viviana’s face drained to a ghastly blue.
“Bullying someone with a weak body is a cowardly act. Let’s settle this for five choco pies.”
Enrique was good at tormenting the weak better than anyone, and attempted to negotiate.
Viviana’s red eyes blazed even redder.
“Kido, what is this? Playing some idiotic villain? How childish.”
I strode right up to Viviana, and she stepped back, glaring.
“Villains aren’t idiotic. They’re just realistic human beings ruled by their own emotions, the kind of ordinary people you can find anywhere. So you’re not stupid either. You’re just not special.”
She glared at me in silence as I dismantled her through a neat syllogism.
She seemed to be calculating, searching for a way to turn the unfavorable situation around.
“Viviana, this isn’t high society where you flaunt expensive gowns, jewels, and dazzling connections to get under people’s skin. I simply gave you a taste of your own medicine, and these childish games end here.”
Viviana, mask slipping but too proud to drop it entirely, leaned in and whispered:
“It doesn’t matter what you do, you’re still Number 49, the lowest of the low. Do you want to die without anyone knowing?”
For someone making that kind of threat, her killing intent was disappointingly lacking.
“Starting now, shall I do things my way?”
I straightened up from the fragile-damsel lean I’d been maintaining.
“Viviana. While you were on the run, you teamed up with Inmaz hunters and sold out fellow nobles in exchange for payment, didn’t you? I imagine there are quite a few prisoners in here whom you sold out.”
At my words, the prisoners’ gazes, including those of the higher-ranked ones, turned dangerously menacing.
But Viviana brazenly lifted her chin.
“Do you have proof? I was captured and brought here too. Pinning absurd charges on people. That’s always been your specialty, hasn’t it?”
The instant she finished speaking, skin-prickling predatory energy flooded in from the entrance.
“VIVIANA!”
Grandis, freshly released from the punishment cell, stood there with blazing eyes.
Translation Notes
[1] ↩
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