The Final Villain Has Fallen to the Lust Demon - Chapter 1.15

A story that would have been better buried in my heart for the sake of my reputation flowed out of its own accord.

“Actually, the reason I came to the Academy is similar. My uncle forged the documents and submitted the application on his own. He probably planned to make me live in a villa under the pretext of distance, and then run the count’s residence as he pleased.”

“…….”

“Fortunately, I found out just before admission. I even discovered a separate charge of embezzlement and handed my uncle over to trial, but…… honestly, I don’t feel great about it.”

As long as I had found out that someone close to me by blood was blinded by money and power and tried to get rid of me, I couldn’t just feel refreshed even though I had made him pay for his crimes.

Even more so if I thought about how much he must have looked down on me to proceed with such a thing.

Ayla seemed surprised that Heron also had internal circumstances and couldn’t continue her words for a moment.

Then, she soon wore a warm smile filled with deep relief.

“That’s a relief. It seems the young lady of House Heron has managed to escape her uncle’s clutches.”

“…….”

“I wish I could do that too, but I just can’t escape. Is it greedy of me to wish that I could quickly become a strong person like the Lady of Heron?”

While looking at me with eyes that looked like they were about to cry, Ayla smiled brightly with sincerity.

A strong person. It was an unfamiliar evaluation for me, who was born sickly and called the defective product of Heron.

I was grateful to Ayla for calling me that, and because I was currently experiencing my uncle’s embezzlement, I felt I knew her situation—which I had only read about in books—a little better, so I wanted to reach out a hand.

“Then, shall we spend time together tomorrow afternoon? To look around the Academy as well.”

“Pardon?”

Blue eyes gazed at my face for a moment.

“Together?”

“Yes. Together. We might be able to find a way while hanging out.”

Ayla hesitated for a moment, mumbling. She seemed worried that my reputation would drop if she hung out with me.

I shrugged my shoulders and said nonchalantly.

“In exchange, I’d like you to keep it a secret from others that the heir of Heron was startled by a single bat and threw a summoned knife at it.”

“But—”

“I’ll bring some delicious snacks tomorrow, so see you here at noon. The cooking skills of my family’s chefs are truly amazing.”

I turned my body, making an unnecessary joke.

I intended to leave the spot before Ayla could refuse out of worry for my reputation.

However, on her face as I glanced back, a faint pink blush had settled.

Contrary to my expectations, Ayla didn’t push me away while self-deprecating. Instead, she was looking at me with eyes full of longing.

I couldn’t know why she, who always pushed others away due to her timid personality, wasn’t pushing me away, but—

“I’m not joking, so you can believe me.”

When I gave her assurance, a smile spread across Ayla’s face. Through that smile, I could clearly feel that she was happy.

‘Anyway…….’

Instead of heading straight toward the family carriage, I looked around for the corpse of the bat I had killed by throwing the knife earlier.

As expected, the bat’s corpse had disappeared without a trace.

What was lying lonely on the ground was only the small knife I had created using the Blessing of the First.

Even that didn’t have any of the bat’s blood on it.

A bat with green eyes.

A watcher that acts like a shadow without leaving a trace.

I already knew whose minion this guy was.

***

A week has passed since Levi and Ayla met near the dormitory.

‘To think I’ve gained a friend to walk the campus with. And so quickly…….’

To Ayla, the days spent attending classes and having lunch with Levi were like a dream.

When she first saw Levi hunting a bat by creating a knife, Ayla could only watch the scene in a daze.

‘I clearly heard that the Young Lady of Heron has a weak body and many difficulties with public activities.’

The moment Levi, who looked like a frail princess, threw the knife, a killing intent worthy of the title ‘the Emperor’s Sword’ weighed down the air around her.

I don’t know how much my heart throbbed while watching her eyes as she stared at the spot even after accurately hitting the target.

Levi Heron was like a combination of a strong knight, which was her secret dream, and a pretty princess from a fairy tale she had read as a child.

To think such a person was hanging around with me.