Chapter 31

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 7. The Role of the Villainess (9)

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The villainess's role was fundamentally to make the protagonist shine.

She was the protagonist's shadow, her antithesis, a device that sparked conflict to highlight the heroine's charms.

No matter how captivating the protagonist might be, without standout incidents to bring that out, readers wouldn't feel it.

Edelaine decided to focus on fulfilling that role.

The heroine was Saintess Genevieve.

The villainess stood in direct opposition to the heroine's personality, background, and abilities.

One might ask if their similar appearances were at least a small mercy, but no—not at all. Their looks were alike on the surface, but that only served to emphasize how worlds apart they were inside.

If the story had followed the novel's path, this was the girl who would try to kill someone out of resentment for not being loved enough. Her nasty personality went without saying, her background as someone who had everything was the polar opposite of the protagonist's nothing, and their abilities were no different.

So, what might the environment of the true villain Edelaine was searching for look like now?

It was a simplistic guess, but Edelaine suspected the villain might be someone standing in opposition to Shane.

'Then, unexpectedly, isn't Lucian the closest match?'

If Lucian hadn't been slotted as a supporting character who aided the saintess, Edelaine would have pegged him as the real villain long ago.

But he wasn't a warlock.

A Greenwinter noble standing opposite Shane.

Simply judging by the conditions, he'd be a noble from some rural outpost. Sly playboy type, poor rather than wealthy, and even as a noble, not wielding much real power.

'Shane's conditions are so extreme that the real villain's specs feel kinda underwhelming...'

Probably someone scheming to revive their fallen house or chase fame and fortune through their own talents.

Or maybe a madman who just wanted the world to end.

'I've pretty much seen the faces of every noble up in Delmuse by now.'

She'd met nearly everyone who had been in the church chapel during the attack.

Mostly middle-aged couples, and even after pulling every string through Lucian and Jeff for background checks, not a whiff of anything warlock-related turned up.

There were six young people too. Four men, half of them married.

None had any notable quirks.

If there had been something suspicious, it would've shown up in Lucian and Jeff's investigations.

Thinking maybe she'd recognize something upon seeing their faces, she'd gone around meeting them all personally, exchanging eye contact and greetings one by one, but still nothing.

Unexpected popularity was just a bonus.

'But today, I've met everyone on the warlock suspect list Jeff gave me too. No prime suspects left—what now...?'

Genevieve had been attacked twice.

The warlock was definitely nearby.

She'd instantly purified and freed someone the warlock had hypnotized and controlled, and the warlock would know that better than anyone. Genevieve was only getting more dangerous.

'Think he'd just let that slide?'

As if. He wouldn't touch a hair on her head...

She'd met everyone she could meet and exhausted every effort she could make.

Deep down, she wanted to become Genevieve's maid and stick by her side 24/7, but fretting wouldn't help.

Now was the time to wait. For the warlock to make a bolder move. To drop a clue.

'With Crown Prince Edwin guarding her, she should be fine for a while...'

But Edelaine was underestimating the protagonist's life.

The truth was, protagonists sat at the center of every incident, sweeping up everyone around them.

The commotion started right in the middle of the hall where the banquet was held.

The floor glowed faintly, forming a magic circle the size of a human palm.

Then, like a camel bursting through a needle's eye, a monster reeking of foul stench was summoned.

Grraaak! Grrruuurrrk!

A earsplitting roar came as a bonus.

Thanks to heading to the second-floor landing to talk with Shane, Edelaine got a safe, front-row view of the monster summoning.

Even in seclusion, she'd never gone to uninhabited places, so this was her first monster since reincarnating.

Her first impression: reference images were pretty accurate.

Nearly three meters tall, body covered in thick muscles. Green skin glistening with filth, two jutting tusks, yellow eyes. A gruesome beast.

Shane whispered in her ear.

"It's an ogre, Edelaine."

"Oh, right... Wait, why are you still here?"

Edelaine blinked at the sight of Shane calmly watching the screaming, fleeing crowd.

"Where else should I be?"

"Protecting people or rescuing them...?"

Shane took her hand.

"That's for the knights and soldiers to handle."

His face was utterly indifferent.

That's when Edwin and Genevieve approached. Genevieve, breathing raggedly, grabbed Edelaine's arm.

"Lady Edelaine, are you alright?"

"Yeah. I've been up here talking with Shane since earlier. You're not hurt, are you, Genevieve?"

"No. Being with His Highness Edwin made me a top priority for protection."

"Even without me, you're top priority. You keep forgetting your status."

Edwin added.

"We'll need to investigate later why that thing popped out, but three knights can take down one ogre, so it's not a big deal. Though... if someone who's too busy holding his lady's hand would step up, it'd be sorted in no time."

"If you order it, I'll consider it."

Shane replied in a tone devoid of enthusiasm, despite the sarcasm and glare.

The personnel stationed in the hall could handle one ogre easily enough. But that didn't stop the irritation. She was about to snap back when the ogre roared from behind, cutting her off.

"How dare it interrupt His Highness."

Edwin muttered to himself.

Grrroooaaak! Kraaaahhh, guhk!

"Wait, hold it! It's targeting the Saintess!"

"Block it!"

The ogre, bound by chains, thrashed wildly and locked eyes straight on Genevieve.

Monsters had no intellect. They devoured humans, harbored hostility and aggression toward them. But they couldn't distinguish between them. Unless controlled, they wouldn't target another while being attacked by one.

The knights were barely holding the ogre with chains, but the beast ignored them, yellow eyes fixed solely on Genevieve. Madness gleamed in its gaze.

Edelaine smacked Shane's arm.

"Do something, quick!"

"No."

"Shane Blancard!"

"I'm not some kid who scares at his name, and adding the family name won't make me flinch, Edelaine."

Shane twisted his lips in a mischievous smirk.

"This is the time to fight? My ears are ringing. Hurry up and deal with it!"

"From experience, whenever commotion hits and I leave your side, it never ends well."

"Do I look crazy enough to jump in there? I value my life too, you know."

"Didn't seem like it."

"Commotions vary. I know my place. Hate butting in where I don't belong most."

That's why I've worked so hard not to get between you and the heroine. Edelaine wisely swallowed the rest.

A standoff ensued.

Moments later, Shane let out a small sigh. His blue eyes, mixed with reluctance and worry, dropped downward. Reluctantly, he pressed his lips to the back of Edelaine's hand that he held. His voice came out half-muffled against her skin.

"Promise you'll stay put."

"Fine, fine, just hurry...!"

"Break it, and I'll lock you up. That okay?"

"Go!"

Shane dragged his feet as he finally moved. Descending to the first floor, he snatched a sword from a knight awkwardly blocking the panicked crowd.

"This is such a pain."

Edwin grumbled irritably. He'd only said he'd consider the order, yet here he was moving just because Edelaine glared a bit. Still, with Shane stepping in, the crisis would resolve quickly.

Genevieve tugged Edelaine's arm and whispered softly in her ear.

"Lady Edelaine, could it be...?"

"Probably."

Edwin shot her a look.

"Got a hunch?"

"Your Highness has one too, so don't bother fishing. Genevieve, get behind me."

"Genevieve?"

But when Genevieve didn't budge, Edwin called her too, scrutinizing her expression.

Genevieve glanced between Edelaine's thoughtful face and the ogre glaring at her. Sensing a premonition, Edelaine grabbed her wrist.

"Don't. Do nothing!"

"Lady Edelaine..."

"Shane will take care of it. Just wait."

Shane raised his sword. He sliced through the charging ogre's arm toward Genevieve like cutting cheese.

The crowd cheered, and Shane, looking immensely annoyed, positioned for a one-strike decapitation.

Genevieve clasped Edelaine's hand and said. Her violet eyes were hazy.

"I... I think I can do it."

"Don't. You'll just make yourself a target."

"Target..."

Genevieve laughed, deflating.

"I'm used to that. More importantly, I need to show this trick won't work anymore. It's the third time already."

Warmth spread from their clasped hands.

Her profile, staring straight ahead, shone with iron resolve to succeed.

There are moments like that. Moments when you face something you must accomplish.

Edelaine unconsciously tightened her grip.

"You can do it. I know you can."

"Yes. I can."

Genevieve seemed to smile.

A burst of light unlike any she'd seen erupted.

The light swallowed the hall just as Shane's strike sent the ogre's head flying—nearly simultaneous.