Chapter 005
2. My Goodness, This Original Story Villain!
The third day of escorting the villain’s party—
Lillian was still turning crises into opportunities and living quite well. A freelancer hunts for clients under any circumstances, after all.
Although the Shadows were hesitant at first, they began approaching her one by one, carefully cradling their artifacts.
“Could you… fix this for me too?”
“Of course.”
It seemed they treated their equipment quite roughly; minor malfunctions were everywhere.
‘They left them like this because they knew trying to fix them themselves would lead to disaster, right?’
So, even if what she provided was just a temporary patch, the effects were immediate.
“Wow, it’s like new again.”
“I felt like my power wasn’t coming out at full strength; it turns out this was why!”
“The circuit was about to snap, but it was saved!”
Those who had watched her warily at first were now bowing to her with a mixture of gratitude and hesitation.
‘Truly, a person must have manual skills.’
Not just in her past life, but the coming world would undoubtedly be the era of craftsmanship.
By the way, she didn’t stop at repairing artifacts. Lillian was selling out her family with absolute sincerity—specifically to Elias Balthazar, the villain’s right-hand man in the original story.
“There’s a hidden shortcut leading to the mine from here. It’s a straight path that saves you from circling the valley.”
“…How did you know such a path—”
“That’s because I’m a Tillard.”
In truth, Iris was the one who would discover it in the future.
“Beyond the Aeterna region, more veins of control stones are scheduled for development; Derby in the south, and Rincal in the west…”
“…How do you possess such information—”
“Hehe, they are the latest secrets of the Tillard family.”
In exchange for my safety, sacrificing a few family secrets was a bargain. Elias eyed Lillian with deep suspicion.
“…Do not think that divulging these Tillard secrets will make us take responsibility for your future consequences.”
“My goodness, of course not.”
It was better to view it as a life insurance premium and move on. She had learned that bitterness after her death in the hospital in her previous life.
Lillian looked wistfully toward the northern mountains. Once she crossed those peaks, she would be free.
Goodbye, foolish Empire.
“It’s fine. This is going to be my last journey anyway…”
“…….”
“It’s best for one to leave with a light heart.”
Wouldn’t it be satisfying to give my family one last bitter taste before I go?
Lillian returned to her tent and pulled her sketchbook from her bag. It was for documenting the designs she intended to sell in the Kingdom. But as soon as she picked up her pencil, a resonant voice came from the opposite side.
“What are you doing, Lady Tillard?”
Lillian snapped the notebook shut. The villain stood against the light, looking down at her.
“I didn’t know you had a hobby for drawing.”
“Yes, inspiration comes with running away from home.”
“Hmm.”
She received no response other than a smile that suggested a lack of interest. He was as beautiful as a protagonist, but Lillian felt a shiver run down her spine.
Why, for heaven’s sake? Is he looking for an opening to kill me?
She didn’t know if this man realized his own state right now.
‘A pattern has appeared under his left eye…!’
It was a faint trace resembling a translucent red spider web. She involuntarily recalled a passage from the original novel:
“…It was a spell left by the First Empress; a measure intended to manifest any intent her son had to harm others upon his skin. With the hope that those around him would notice and avoid him… but the appearance of that pattern was extremely rare, occurring only when his destructive impulse reached its peak.”
‘Why is he showing me this pattern?’
I told you the way to the mine! I fixed your subordinates’ artifacts! Even if it wasn’t a grand contribution, wasn’t it enough? Honestly, she felt a sense of injustice and resentment that outweighed her fear.
But the “early bird catches the worm.” There must be a reason this mad dog was acting up.
Anyway, there was one way to soothe that destructive urge immediately.
‘I need a piece of jerky to throw to this mad dog!’
Lillian reached into her bag with lightning speed and total silence.
* * *
This was strange. Evren stood staring at Lillian without blinking. His power was currently screaming with attraction.
‘This scent is going to make me lose my mind. I love it to death. I love it so much I want to break her right now.’
What a mess. For his power to respond to a powerless woman? Had he lost his mind because of the monster hearts?
‘And she’s a woman of the Tillard family, to boot.’
Lillian cupped one of her cheeks and smiled brightly.
“Your Highness, it seems I am late in thanking you for allowing me to accompany you, so I shall do so now.”
“Hmm? A member of the pretentious Tillard family thanking me? Is it an anniversary?”
“My goodness, what a joker you are.”
Lillian pulled a “brooch” from her bag. It shimmered with a quiet luster between her soft white hands.
“Do you recognize it? It’s a brooch artifact that helps supernatural users recover.”
“I remember it. That’s what you got at an auction five years ago.”
“That’s right. I’m honored you remember—”
“You spread false rumors beforehand that another item in the auction had recovery effects, then provoked the people who wanted this brooch by raising the price by 10 gold each time until you won it.”
“…….”
“It was impressive. I got chills back then.”
“Ohoho, the family budget was tight.”
“Hmm. The prestigious Tillard family was being humble at that specific time.”
Evren narrowed his eyes while smiling. His instinct whispered constantly in his ear.
‘Can I break her now?’
‘Wait a bit. I feel a desire to make that softly smiling face cry just a little.’
“If a supernatural user possesses a gem dedicated to them, even a Guide can boost their abilities.”
“…….”
“Didn’t you buy it because of that superstition? Because you are powerless.”
He waited for Lillian’s next reaction.
‘If she gets scared or cries…’ Just imagining it made his desire vanish instantly. If her reaction was predictable, he would take the information he wanted and then discard her.
But at that moment, Lillian smiled ruefully.
“That’s true. There was someone else who deserved it, but I was too greedy.”
“……?”
“I won’t make such a mistake again. I will live according to my fate.”
Lillian waited, holding the brooch out.
“And since keeping it with me does me no good, I hope you will accept it from me.”
The silence lasted longer than expected. Evren slowly turned his back.
“Get it out of my sight.”
“What?”
“Because it has become just a worthless stone.”
Evren threw those cold words over his shoulder and left. It was too late to get any effect from such an object.
‘And above all, why do I feel so bad?’
She was the one who offered it of her own accord. But it felt as if she were saying, ‘Take this and get out of my face.’ Furthermore, wasn’t she the woman who had clung to it with all her might at the auction? Didn’t she know people mocked her behind her back?
‘Truly, how vulgar.’
‘Even at the auction, she clings to things like a common merchant.’
‘How different she is from Lady Iris.’
He spoke to his assistant who approached him.
“Elias. If a normal person does something they don’t usually do, how should we understand it?”
“……?”
Elias thought for a moment and replied, “Hmm, the first thing that comes to mind is… that they intend to die.”
“Hmm? Even if it’s Lillian Tillard doing it?”
“What? Ah…!”
Elias’s confusion grew. “Actually, I felt something strange about the Tillard girl as well.”
“Why?”
“I’ve confirmed that all the information she has provided so far is accurate, and if that’s the case… this won’t end with just a simple runaway for her family.”
“That’s true.”
“She also said this was her last escape…. perhaps that is a metaphor for her wish to die.”
At that moment, Evren furrowed his brow. Strangely, hearing those words made his mood truly foul.
* * *
Lillian smiled sadly after watching the villain return to his subordinates.
Heh…
“I survived…!”
I must thank my past self for reading the “original story” so thoroughly. And I must thank myself for bringing these jewels with the intent to sell them!
‘Be useful, but never show your greed. However, don’t be too submissive.’
It was a handling style that felt like a “Hot Iced Americano.” But what else could be done if this man was that type of person to begin with?
‘Well, I’ll just keep throwing him pieces of jerky one by one, won’t I?’
If the villain shows a destructive urge like he did today, I’ll just toss him one.
‘Even if war breaks out, please just don’t turn the world upside down like a madman.’
Conflicts between the powerful affect other nations as well.
‘I want to live a comfortable life in the future.’
I no longer want to put in the effort to be loved; I want to be cast aside to feel at ease.
But after talking to the Prince, for some reason—
“Mmm…”
She felt a faint heat coursing through her body.
I must cross the border quickly.
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