TBVL 02

The Villainess Who Was Betrayed Is Looking for Someone to Have Her Back – Chapter 2

The hellish life I had lived in my previous life—graduate school followed by working as a pharmaceutical researcher—had finally paid off in this world.

The first ability I awakened was the ability to manipulate energy. It had always been a talent I possessed, but around puberty, my Awakening caused it to grow exponentially.

My second ability awakened a little later.

Thanks to it, I gained the ability to see status windows, as well as a personal subspace.

For the record, I named that subspace Farm.

“If I’d had an ability like this in my previous life, I would’ve never been scolded for not organizing my research notes properly. Ugh.”

I had wished so desperately for research notes that would never be damaged and would automatically sort only the information I needed.

It seemed that wish had finally come true in this life.

I was an unusual case—someone whose abilities awakened twice.

And the Kingdom tended to avoid people like that.

It was because of its founding legend. What was it again?

“The witch defeated by the first king had tried to rule the world using the power she gained through three awakenings.”

Ridiculous.

So ruling a country was acceptable, but ruling the world wasn’t?

The hypocrisy of a legend like that, blindly believed by everyone, was utterly pathetic.

In any case, people don’t avoid filth because they’re afraid of it—they avoid it because it’s filthy.

So I hid my second ability from everyone.

Even from Rigreto and my other friends.

Looking back now, that had been a very fortunate decision.

Curling my lips into a faint smile, I silently stared at the status window.

Effect: ???

“So what exactly does it do? Isn’t it about time you told me?”

Whenever I encountered a material for the first time, its information wouldn’t appear properly in my status window until I fully understood its effects.

That was why, after arriving in this world, I had become completely absorbed in researching the Byproducts of the Radiant Dragon.

“Inventory.”

A world where magic and divine power existed.

Nature itself was filled with every kind of energy that composed them.

When refined into a form humans could use, that energy became Aether.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I was a genius when it came to handling energy and Aether.

Everyone thought so.

I didn’t stop at weaving energy into medicinal items like potions.

I could also infuse already-crafted objects with energy or refine the energy within them with ease.

Weapons and armor that passed through my hands became two or even three times more effective.

That’s why people called me an Alchemist, not a potion maker.

Here, I became humanity’s first alchemist and was supposed to rake in all the wealth in the world.

Or so I thought.

Of course, none of that mattered anymore.

Now that I was trapped in this cabin for the rest of my life, worldly wealth was completely useless.

After being exiled, I gave up my dream of becoming rich and decided instead to continue life as a mad alchemist.

“Maybe I’ll mix it with Dahlia today… If I mess this up, it’ll be a real disaster.”

After carefully putting on my protective gear, I dropped part of a Radiant Dragon’s claw and two Dahlia roots into a pot of boiling water.

Bubble, bubble.

“Oh… this doesn’t look normal.”

Grrk… grrrrk.

“…Should a potion be making sounds like that?”

Grrrk… grrk… Grrrrrk!

This was definitely not normal.

“I’m screwed.”

BOOOOM!

The violently boiling mixture, as if it had a will of its own, finally burst through the roof of the cabin before landing in the yard with a wet splatt.

Rainwater poured freely through the enormous hole.

“…Fuck.”

How was I supposed to patch that hole now?

I was staring at it helplessly when—

BANG!

“Violetta.”

“What the fuck? Who is it?!”

“So you’ve stopped pretending, have you?”

An unwelcome guest.

A giant who looked close to 190 centimeters tall, with a muscular build and sun-bronzed skin.

The fourth Hero drafted for the Radiant Dragon subjugation.

The second son of House Scarlet.

And my childhood friend—

Calix Scarlet arrived at the cabin carrying supplies.

“Why don’t you get lost?”

“I brought supplies.”

“Leave them and get lost.”

He had barged into my house without permission, yet all he did was grin as if he found everything amusing.

It was infuriating just looking at him.

His black eyes curved into a smile as he looked at me.

“Today was originally Rigreto’s turn.”

“So?”

“But Rigreto’s about to get engaged. So I volunteered instead. I couldn’t let him see someone like you before such an important occasion. Besides, he never came here when it was his turn anyway.”

“So?”

“She’s a far better woman than you. She suits Rigreto perfectly.”

A headache began to pound in my temples.

Of all people…

Unlike Baneta or Leonhardt, who simply delivered supplies, chatted briefly, and left, Calix always came looking for a fight.

Just like now.

Ignoring his provocation as I always did, I answered calmly.

“Should I congratulate him? Maybe give them a wedding gift? Oh wait, I’m broke. Want to take a potion instead?”

“Violetta… what exactly gives you the confidence to act like this?”

“My innocence.”

BANG!

My breath caught instantly.

Calix had grabbed me by the collar and slammed me against the cabin wall.

Meeting his blazing gaze, I let out a choked groan.

“You betrayed us.”

“I… never… did.”

“We all nearly died after drinking the potion you gave us.”

I tried to pry his hand away.

Unfortunately, I was nothing more than an ordinary person without physical strength.

Ignoring that entirely, Calix continued pressing me against the wall.

“Violetta. Even when you behaved horribly… even when no one stood by your side… we were the only ones who did.”

What a joke.

When no one stood by me…

The only person on my side had been me.

“I thought you’d finally come to your senses.”

“L-Let… go… first…”

“Does it hurt? Is it hard to breathe? Because of you, my friends almost died. And you’re complaining about this?”

Calix sneered at me.

“You think Leonhardt and Baneta have forgiven you? Think again.”

“…What?”

“If it weren’t for that, we’d have killed you long ago…”

That?

Those words, dripping with hatred, echoed louder than anything else.

My heart sank.

For the past two years, Leonhardt and Baneta had acted as though nothing had happened between us.

Without realizing it, I must have started hoping.

But that wasn’t it.

They simply had a reason to keep me alive.

“Why don’t you admit your crimes and repent already? Then maybe someday— AAGH!”

The pressure disappeared.

Finally able to breathe again, my lungs desperately sucked in air.

Panting heavily, I held up a specially prepared potion right in front of Calix’s face.

My thoughts were in turmoil.

But my heart had never been calmer.

Now…

Everything finally made sense.

“You brainless idiot. I’m only going to say this once, so listen carefully.”

“Violetta Sykline!”

“First. I’m not Sykline anymore. Just Violetta. It’s been that way for about two years now. Though I suppose someone as stupid as you wouldn’t remember.”

As I spread two fingers and waved them in front of him, a loud crack came from between Calix’s clenched teeth.

“Second. If I’d really wanted to kill them, they wouldn’t still be alive. My potions are perfect.”

“How dare you say something like that!”

“The proof is standing right here, Calix. Look at yourself—completely helpless in front of a girl much smaller than you.”

The paralysis potion had worked perfectly.

Satisfied, I sprinkled the remaining liquid over the tops of Calix’s feet.

Not because I disliked watching him twitch…

Well, partly.

But mostly because I needed to make sure a man his size couldn’t threaten me anymore.

The pain effect was just a bonus.

I’d added that personally.

“AAAGH! Violetta!”

“Quiet down. I’m sensitive to noise. What? Want me to make it so you can’t move your mouth too?”

“You…!”

“Idiot. You believed I made poison to harm all of you, yet you walked into my house completely defenseless. That’s why you’re lying on the floor.”

Watching him tremble helplessly on the ground was almost laughable.

“And remember this carefully.”

“I… will never… forgive you.”

“That’s your choice.”

I turned around.

The worn hem of my skirt flared like a blooming flower before settling again.

“Third—and this is the most important one.”

“I never play games with the potions I create. I never deceive people with them, and I never hide the truth about them. Because they’re the only thing I have left.”