Chapter 03

In the Kingdom of Tenebrin, people without abilities were called “Non-Awakened.”

Even that slight difference in terminology gave a completely different impression.

And since there were so many Non-Awakened people, there wasn’t much discrimination against them.

“A new life should begin in a new place.”

Lilian pulled a small sketchbook out of her bag.

Flip. Flip…

Every page contained a different artifact design.

“Hehe. Ah, my beautiful creations.”

My future livelihood!

An Artifact fitted with a control stone was, simply put, a combination of a medical device and an accessory.

“It suppresses Ability Rampages and even eases Ability Sickness.”

Controllers were far rarer than Ability Users in this world.

“I think the ratio was around seven to three?”

If an Ability User couldn’t find a compatible Controller, they had no choice but to rely on Artifacts.

And the Tillerd family was the leader in this field.

By exploiting Lilian.

“They sold the Artifacts I designed under Iris’s name and didn’t give me a single penny.”

A nobody like you should devote yourself to Iris.

What could you possibly accomplish on your own?

But in her previous life, she had even opened her own workshop.

That was why, after regaining the memories of her previous life, she had hurried to prepare.

She secretly forged a fake identity badge and secured a way to earn money somewhere new.

Now that even Ramio and the knights had been neutralized, she needed to hurry toward the border checkpoint.

After traveling in a daze for some time…

She finally reached the forest path leading north.

“I’m supposed to meet the mercenaries who’ll smuggle me in with their group.”

Lilian took a map out of her shoulder bag.

Both forks in the road led to the meeting place.

“Which one should I choose? Let’s take a guess.”

Then, from the path on the right, a gentle fragrance tickled her nose.

It was as pure and mysterious as a snow-covered forest, yet somehow comforting.

“Phytoncides are supposed to be good for your mental health.”

There would only be more things ahead that required a strong mind.

Let’s take the right path.

Lilian stepped forward.

It was a small step, but for the insignificant villainess of the original story, it was a tremendous leap.

Aeterna, the region bordering the northern frontier.

The road leading there.

Though it was only the beginning of winter, the dense evergreen forest remained lush.

It would have been a refreshing landscape if not for the colorful blood of monsters splattered everywhere.

“Don’t let a single one escape.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Kill them cleanly. Don’t damage the cores.”

At their leader’s command, the Shadows swiftly swung their weapons.

Ironically, the one giving the orders—First Prince Evren Tarandia—cut down monsters with remarkable laziness.

He even hummed to himself absentmindedly.

“Hmm-hmm…”

His long silver hair was loosely tied behind his neck.

The front of his black uniform hung open.

He looked every bit the carefree idler.

The only reason he didn’t actually appear that way was because of his fleeting, almost unreal beauty.

His emotionless green eyes followed a fleeing wolf monster.

“Just one left.”

Oddly enough, the monster smelled like pale white flowers.

But Evren paid it no mind and swung his sword.

The monster split cleanly in two and died instantly.

Splatter.

Blood sprayed in every direction.

“…Hm?”

His quiet humming stopped abruptly.

Beyond the dying monster stood a pink-haired woman wearing a robe.

Frozen in place.

Completely drenched in the monster’s purple blood.

A few minutes later, Lilian came to a conclusion.

Phytoncides were complete pseudoscientific nonsense.

Mental health?

A monster had appeared.

And she’d even been covered in its blood.

“Ugh… this is disgusting…”

Still, seeing the slaughtered monsters didn’t make her scream.

Compared to dead monsters, the living original-story villain was far more terrifying.

More importantly—

“Hmm… So you saw us. You really did.”

“May the Creator God’s blessing be upon you. Thank you for the fine towel.”

“So, Miss… you witnessed what we were doing?”

“Of course, Your Highness. I am deeply honored and grateful beyond words to the First Prince. Watching you cut down those monsters, I could truly feel the Empire’s highest dignity.”

“You even sensed dignity while watching us extract the cores? How embarrassing.”

“Oh my, there’s still monster blood in my eyes. Ah…”

Could you please stop asking questions while openly committing crimes?

He had just harvested cores from monsters he had openly killed.

The enemy of the heroine Iris and the male lead, the Second Prince.

An S-Rank Ability User possessing the Ability of Annihilation.

…And that very villain was casually tossing around monster cores, items classified as first-class contraband.

Those required the Emperor’s personal authorization.

Which he definitely didn’t have.

“I thought he was supposed to be in the eastern region right now… so that was a lie.”

She had made sure to learn his whereabouts before the original story began specifically to avoid him.

How had this happened?

There were many reasons Lilian wanted to stay away from Evren Tarandia.

First—

“I died because of the war he started. Hall collapsed during it.”

He had started a war to seize the Imperial Palace.

Granted, her family had abandoned her.

But the disaster itself had begun because of him.

Naturally, that made things awkward.

Second—

“He’s the genuine villain that not even the heroine’s love can save!”

Getting fooled by that beautiful, easygoing smile would be a fatal mistake.

If someone became useless, he killed them.

If he lost interest, he got rid of them too.

A calculating man driven by destructive impulses.

He was like…

A warm iced Americano.

Though at least an Americano was harmless.

That man was an S-Rank weapon.

“I almost feel sorry for whatever Controller has to deal with him.”

Though Iris will eventually be the one handling him, so maybe not.

After all, in the original story, he occupied the Imperial Palace just to take Iris away.

But right now…

The one who had to deal with him was Lilian.

She continued rubbing her eyes vigorously, pretending not to notice the illegal activity.

Rub. Rub.

“Why, of all places, were you passing through here…?”

“Ugh… The reason I’m here is… because I ran away from home, Your Highness. Ah, my eyes…”

“Hmm. Ran away from home…”

“My fiancé had an affair with my cousin. I was heartbroken, so I… left.”

If this keeps up, the mercenaries I’m supposed to meet are going to leave without me…

Just then, knights in black uniforms emerged from the forest clearing.

“Your Highness! We’ve finished on this side as well!”

“Did you catch them all?”

“Yes. We’ve arrested every mercenary operating without a valid permit.”

“We keep telling them they’ll be arrested if they don’t renew their permits, but they never listen.”

…Why?

Why was someone openly breaking the law arresting other people for it?

Life really was unfair.

Evren tilted his head.

He was as beautiful as freshly fallen snow.

But though his eyes smiled…

They were as cold as a graveyard.

“I wonder why. I simply can’t believe that the quiet Lady Tillerd would run away from home.”

“Even a loyal citizen of the Empire has the freedom to run away, Your Highness. Quiet people are no exception.”

“Then how am I supposed to trust your loyalty? It’s not as though I can simply use my ability on an innocent young lady like you…”

“…”

“I only know how to use it on monsters and idiots. It’s quite troubling that I can’t use it on the precious daughter of House Tillerd.”

Are you really troubled?

You look like you’re waiting for the perfect excuse to use your Ability of Annihilation.

“With that ability, you could commit the perfect crime.”

Impressive.

Unfortunately, being the victim wasn’t impressive at all.

Think, Lilian.

Why is he here?

How can I fool him…?

Then inspiration struck.

“The truth is… I was on my way to northern Aeterna.”

“Oh?”

“They recently discovered a new control-stone vein there.”

For the first time, the villain’s smile disappeared.

Bingo.

The primary material of a control stone was the power infused into it by a Controller.

But naturally…

You still needed the right mineral to hold that power.

However—

“The Tillerd family monopolizes it. They’d never sell it to the villains.”

Moreover, he still hadn’t found a compatible Controller.

“So that’s why he’s been using monster cores as substitutes.”

Unlike control stones, monster cores caused far more frequent rampages, and once one occurred, the consequences were much worse.

Still…

They were better than having nothing.

…In that case!

“I ran away toward that region because it would take longer for word to reach my family estate.”

And it wasn’t far from the border checkpoint either…

“How surprising. Coincidentally, we’re heading to Aeterna as well.”

Liar.

“My! What wonderful luck!”

But I’m lying too!

Clap!

Smiling brightly, Lilian clapped her hands.

“You see, I intend to stay away from home for a very, very long time. I want my family to worry themselves sick. Surely watching House Tillerd suffer would please Your Highness as well?”

“…”

“Though I am unworthy, I would gratefully accept the honor of accompanying Your Highness’s party. When shall we depart?”

The original story hadn’t even begun yet, had it?

“If I can’t avoid him…”

Then she might as well use the original story’s villain…

To travel for free under the protection of the Empire’s elite knights.

And then escape the moment an opportunity presented itself!