Fated to Be Loved by Villains
chapter-121

༺ Seal (1) ༻

Being suddenly caught up in a battle was not a common occurrence for Eleanor.

In the first place, it was the first time her room exploded out of nowhere while she was just in her pajamas and also the first time she was suddenly attacked by a person wielding a sword in such a situation.

To think that it was an indiscriminate assassination attempt without any signs or reasons. As the Lady of the Tristan Duchy, she had faced many tough situations, but this was the first time she encountered such a sudden battle.

Of course, even considering that, the ‘disadvantage’ she was currently experiencing was definitely far from the norm.

After becoming an adult…

Had there ever been a time when she was pushed back in combat to this extent?

“…You said there was someone you wanted to introduce to me, Chief Priest Tatiana.”

Eleanor breathed heavily, glaring at the people in front of her.

“They definitely are not ordinary people. They indeed have the capability to so confidently confront me.”

Two people were standing far back with their arms crossed.

One was Tatiana and the other was a frivolous-looking man, bedecked with ornaments all over his body.

And, standing right in front…

Was a ‘masked’ woman who spoke in a nonchalant tone.

She was the person who had appeared out of nowhere and attacked Eleanor with a sword after the massive explosion.

“How about you end it here and give up? You know you can’t win, right?”

Eleanor frowned deeply at the relaxed voice that flowed out.

The tone was half-mocking her, just listening to it made her feel irritated.

“…Well, I don’t know. I’m not the type to run from a fight that was picked on me first.”

The masked woman let out a light chuckle.

“You really haven’t changed. As stubborn as always. I have seen you so many times, yet you’ve never shown a different response. Not even once.”

“…I have never met a suspicious person like you, though.”

She was telling the truth.

There was no way that Eleanor wouldn’t remember such an unpleasant person as this masked woman, even if she only ever met her once.

“No.”

However…

The masked woman retorted in a low voice.

“We have met many times. An excruciatingly tiresome number of times.”

“…”

She couldn’t understand what in the world she was saying at all.

Eleanor sighed and got up. Rather than paying attention to such an incomprehensible talk, she thought it better to focus on trying to escape.

Her eyes narrowed, fixing onto her opponent.

“…”

The face of Eleanor, watching the masked woman casually swing her sword around, hardened.

At a glance, it was obvious that there was a vast difference between their capabilities.

Forget being trained to her own level of extreme refinement; The masked woman barely possessed a body that had reached an average level.

Originally, such a person should have fallen helplessly under her barrage of attacks.

-!

Eleanor lunged forward, kicking off the ground.

A flash-like strike, just as always.

With a body exuding superhuman physical power and swordsmanship honed to the extreme, normally, someone with such a frail body would be overwhelmed and crushed on the spot.

However…

-!

She was bounced off.

Eleanor barely regained her faltering balance, gritting her teeth slightly. At that moment, the opponent’s sword grazed her shoulder.

A shallow, yet definite scar was etched on her body.

‘…It’s strange.’

There was a problem.

Just now, once again…

This woman ‘suddenly’ became stronger.

The overwhelming difference in power between them was clsoed in an instant.

As if she had a trait that made her suddenly stronger when her life was in danger.

The stronger Eleanor attacked, the stronger the trait seemed to become.

She had seen a similar type of person once before.

Not just similar, but a person who seemed to have the exact same kind of trait.

“…You.”

Eleanor opened her mouth with a chilling voice akin to frost.

“Are you related to Dowd in some way?”

“…”

The masked woman just shrugged her shoulders.

“Even if I am, do I need to tell you?”

“…”

“Instead of asking that, it would be better if you just die here.”

Eleanor sighed once again.

“I can’t do that.”

“…You talk quite confidently for someone who hasn’t landed a single effective hit so far. On what basis are you—”

“I have to give birth to a child.”

“…”

“I made a promise with Dowd.”

The masked woman fell silent for a while at Eleanor’s words, spoken with utmost sincerity, and then sighed heavily.

“…Well, whatever. Try your best then. That would only be possible if you survive, anyway.”

Then they faced each other again, swords in hand.

It was a scene that had been repeated a few times until now.

The outcome of the current clash would be likely similar as well.

It was unbelievable, but in close combat against this woman, Eleanor was actually being pushed back.

‘…Is there no other choice? Do I have to use it?’

Eleanor thought as such, adjusting the ‘aura’ wriggling inside her.

She had been reluctant to use this strength ever since the Ice Tiger hunt with Talion.

After all, it felt like her very ‘essence’ was completely changing because of it.

“…”

However…

Apart from just that…

There was an indescribable sense of foreboding that prevented her from using that ability.

Eleanor’s gaze lingered on the man standing in the far back.

The man, flamboyantly adorned with ornaments all over his body.

Despite his questionable appearance…

She felt an ominous and terrifying premonition coming from the man.

As if she must never use this aura in front of that man.

“Do you have some hidden power you’re not using?”

In the meantime, a teasing voice came from the masked woman.

“If you have such a thing, why don’t you use it? At this rate, you’re going to die, you know?”

It was as if…

She knew Eleanor was hiding something.

And unexpectedly, she was actually waiting for her to use it.

“…No.”

Since that was the case, she decided to not play into their hands.

Eleanor let out a sigh and readied her sword again.

“Just a sword is more than enough to handle you.”

“…Well, do as you please then.”

Once again, their swords clashed.

Or to be more precise…

They were about to.

Suddenly, an ‘Array’ appeared in front of them, who were about to clash.

“…?”

“…?”

Confusion spread across everyone’s face at the unexpected phenomenon.

Since it wasn’t caused by anyone present, it was naturally surprising.

And then, during that slight hesitation…

‘Something’ dropped with a thud from that Array.

Come to think of it, my plans had rarely gone smoothly.

I always thought I had considered all variables when planning, but something ridiculous happened all the fucking time.

“…”

But despite knowing that, this situation still left me a bit dumbfounded.

Though the sensation of pain was blocked, a feeling of something seriously wrong was intensely conveyed.

Any sensations coming from below my chest were completely severed, as if there was almost nothing there.

In other words, I received a fatal wound on my entire lower body.

Something flowed out from ‘inside’ my body and squelched under my feet.

“…”

‘Don’t think about it.’

It would be too hard for me to take it if I were to seriously think about it. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

System Message

[ HP Below 0.5%! ]

[ You are on the verge of death! ]

[ Emergency treatment recommended! ]

The fuck did you mean? How could this kind of shit be solved with just emergency treatment?

In the corner of my visions, someone capable of at least something similar was spotted.

The Saintess, who had been sitting quietly in a nearby bush before emerging with a pale face.

“…Don’t move! And stay calm!”

Before I could even say yes or no, the Saintess clung close to me and started pouring out Divine Power.

A torrent of High-Grade Miracles, incomparable to the Basic Graces I handled, cascaded onto me.

Things that could immediately revive even a dying person back to a perfectly healthy state continued to fall upon me.

However, they didn’t seem to be that effective.

System Message

[ The Demonic Aura of the ‘White Devil’ interferes with regeneration! ]

I had just been hit by Yuria, who was being influenced by a Devil, so my body was covered with Demonic Aura.

Seeing that my wound didn’t get any better, color drained off the Saintess’ face.

“J-Just wa-wait. N-No matter what I have to do, I’ll save you…!”

Saying that, the Saintess’ body began to emanate white light once again.

I could roughly guess what she was trying to do.

She was trying to burn her own lifespan. It was a type of taboo black arts, treated as the most insidious among Miracles.

“…”

Though I appreciated her willingness to save me, even at such a cost…

When delving into why a person bearing the title of ‘Saintess’ knew such a thing, it became an incredibly deep and complicated story.

There were ‘eyes watching’ here. I couldn’t let her expose such things.

“…Stop.”

It was hard to form sentences due to the blood filling my throat, but I could at least manage to convey that much with some difficulty.

“Don’t do it.”

I struggled to continue.

“You’ll…get hurt. Stop.”

“…”

The Saintess’ eyes widened immensely.

A myriad of complex emotions filled her eyes, then she bit her lips hard enough to make it bleed.

System Message

[ Target ‘Lucia’ is greatly shocked by your statement! ]

[ Guilt is engraved even in her in-depth awareness! ]

[ Marked with Negative Tendency! ]

[ 3 Stacks of Negative Marks! ]

[ Significant changes in personality occurs. ]

[ Changes in behavior patterns occur! ]

[ Increased dominance over the target! ]

[ Rewards Available! ]

“…”

Skills were still being faithfully applied even in this situation, huh?

But now was not the time to focus on that.

“…Is that really the issue right now?! Even in this situation, why are you still—!”

I shook my head at the Saintess’s angry voice.

No, that wasn’t the problem.

If my thoughts were correct…

Beyond it being simply ineffective and harmful, there was ‘no need’ or it at all.

“…”

My consciousness started to sink deeply.

I checked my original ‘purpose’ thoroughly.

I barely maintained consciousness, considering what was the best decision I could make to survive in this situation.

Even with a body bolstered by all sorts of cheat-like skills, I only had a few tens of seconds left. Panicking felt like a waste of time.

“…Saintess.”

After saying that…

I conveyed my words to the Saintess as clearly as possible with hand gestures.

Telling her to hand over the amulet she was wearing to me.

“…”

I received Soul Linker that the Saintess was offering with trembling hands, before barely clasping it onto my wrist.

[You fuc- Damn it! Stay awake! Keep your mind focused! One wrong move here and it’s all over!]

[Can you hear me?! I’m about to set up the Array right now, so just stay still…!]

As soon as Soul Linker was connected, the voices of Caliban and Valkasus screaming simultaneously echoed in my mind.

“…”

‘Be quiet. Speak softly.’

I lost too much blood. It was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain consciousness.

‘Valkasus.’

My request was for Valkasus.

At this moment, my life depended on whether this person could fulfill this request.

‘Is a teleportation spell possible?”

Teleportation was a high-level spell for any system of Special Powers. It was incredibly difficult to implement.

Frankly, Faenol being able to send Riru flying off that far away just from one mana stone was a bizarre case.

However, if this person couldn’t do it, I was as good as dead.

[…The number of Tattoos engraved on your body is too few to send you far. The limit is only about one-tenth of the mana stone you used on that lady called Riru.]

‘That’s enough.’

Fortunately, it seemed that such a situation would not occur.

As expected of the greatest Forbidden Sorcerer in the world. He readily agreed to such an absurd request.

I passed these coordinates to Valkasus. And then…

“Mr. Dowd, t-the b-blood, the blood— N-No, i-it’s m-my fault. It’s my fault- P-Please, pleasee-”

I also left some words for this girl, who was sobbing her eyes out.

“It’s okay, Yuria.”

I mustered the last of my strength to leave those words.

“It’s not your fault.”

It truly wasn’t.

I had caused her a lot of heartache, so wasn’t it only fair to take a hit like this at least once?

Besides…

I had no plans of dying yet.

‘…Caliban.’

I muttered in my fading consciousness.

‘Just make one promise with me.’

[…If it’s some tacky cliché like a last wish or will, I’m not listening. Don’t even think about dying.]

I chuckled at the slightly tearful voice.

‘It’s not like that, so don’t worry.’

I can’t with this Ahjussi. He was always so sarcastic, but in reality, he was actually quite caring.

‘When I make excuses later, please listen. Don’t get angry.’

[…What?]

Though Caliban responded as if baffled…

I was being completely serious.

After all, it would be troublesome if he tried to ‘kill me’ later because of what this person would see from now on.

That was not a low probability at all, considering that he was a former Guardian.

Following that, the Forbidden Sorcery conjured by Valkasus wrapped around my body.

The scene before my eyes changed instantaneously.

This place was the student dormitory provided by the Forge of Struggle. To be more particular, it was where Eleanor was located.

It was half destroyed, broken, and crumbling here and there. Clearly, a ‘battle’ had taken place.

And if it was about now, then surely…

“…Dowd?”

Eleanor’s voice knocked on my ears.

Good. It seemed like I had come to the right place.

And considering this person’s usual disposition…

The reaction she would show at the sight of my fucked up state was already determined.

System Message

[ The aura of ¾̸̧̥̬͈͇̹̘͕̠̮̩̙̎ð̸̞͖̋¾̶͕̻́̊̇î̸̙̪͎̥͎͍͔̔̈́̀̃͗́̚̚͠͠͝͠ ̷̨̨̣̭̭͓̱̼͚̮̼̭̟̱̾̄͑̈́̋͝¼̸̢̛̞̟͓̗̙͗͊̆̓̈͘͜͠ is felt! ]

Nice. Just what I wanted.

System Message

[ ‘The Fallen’s Seal’ reacts! ]

[ You have had sufficient interactions with ‘Devils’! ]

[ Your attribute changes from ‘human’ to ·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ ̷̥͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̵̢̢̥̱̝̘̟͎̯̥̟͖̞͊͐͌̿̎̋̔̈́̃̕̚͘͜͟͝͞͞’! ]

Then…

As such a window appeared before my eyes…

My consciousness faded away.

You can rate/review this series here.