Fated to Be Loved by Villains
chapter-129

༺ Nice To Meet You (1) ༻

Seras Evatrice was an adjutant working directly under the pope, the leader of one of the most famous covert organizations in the continent, ‘Oath of the Crescent Moon,’ and an assassin so ruthless that some of the people in the underworld would piss in their pants the moment they heard her name.

Normally, someone with such a lengthy list of occupation would take the position of an overseer instead of going to the field themselves.

However, even that kind of personage had to confront someone by herself, occasionally.

This usually happened when the other operatives couldn’t handle the target by themselves.

For example….

When the target was escorted by several former Imperial Guards.

One of them was as strong as a regular Knight Order, two of them would make up a platoon, while three would be a whole company by themselves.

This was a saying that was considered as the truth about the Imperial Guards.

After all, they were one of the Empire’s strongest forces, second only to the now-extinct Guardians.

Deploying them to escort a single person could be considered a complete waste of manpower since they could be sent to raid some impregnable dungeons instead.

Nevertheless, no matter how specialized a group of assassins were in ambush and one-on-one combat, they still couldn’t afford to confront such highly skilled individuals.

That was why…

In such a situation, her involvement was greatly needed.

“M-Monster…!”

“…”

All too familiar with such responses, she didn’t even bat an eye towards it.

With an expressionless gaze, Seras looked at her opponent.

Bloodied corpses laid strewn on the ground nearby. Until moments ago, these were the bodyguards this fat man believed would protect his life even if the sky were to fall.

Among them were knights who were once members of the Imperial Guard, people who were considered impossible to best by normal people.

“….Compared to their active days, their skills are disappointingly inadequate.”

Muttering to herself, Seras casually threw aside the ‘tool’ she used to create this scene.

A dining knife and fork.

With just these, she massacred everyone around her.

Seras Evatrice. One of only two [Grand Assassins] on the continent.

After reaching such a level, such feats were just as easy as breathing for her.

“Smuggling within the Holy Land, multiple attempted murders, drug trafficking.”

Wiping blood off her face, Seras spoke.

“There are plenty of reasons for you to die..”

“Y-You! W-Who sent you here?! I-I’ll double your pay—!”

To that, she replied with an annoyed sigh.

“Well, I don’t know about that. This is a direct order from His Holiness. No matter how much money you offer me, I will not let you get away from here.”

“H-His Holiness? T-The Pope? That bastard! He’s doing all this bullshist because he’s just trying to take over the land near the sanctuary I boug—”

Before he could finish his sentence, the fat man’s voice abruptly stopped.

It was because Seras had kicked him in the abdomen.

Though it was a seemingly light touch, the effect of such an act was horrifying to see.

“…!”

His insides were instantly in turmoil, as if put through a blender. He vomited, his eyes rolled back, and blood gushed out from his entire body.

This had happened because she precisely targeted a vital area and pressed on a pressure-point.

“Don’t you dare casually mention His Holiness with your filthy mouth. He is not someone you can so easily address.”

Seras’ icy voice fell upon the man writhing in pain.

“I-I’m sor—! Sor—!”

Before the man could even finish his words, he rolled around on the ground, screaming.

“W-Wait! A-At least, let me speak—!”

“I will at least let you speak out your last words. Go ahead.”

“I-I’ll give up all the land! I-I won’t even ask you to forgive me! I’ll receive the public trial!”

His actions made it clear that he indeed was someone who had the qualifications to buy the land coveted by even the Pope.

Even at such a moment, he quickly understood what the other wanted and was ready to give up what was necessary.

Suggesting a public trial implied he was willing to let the Holy Land seize everything else he owned. Logically, taking up on this offer was far more beneficial than killing him.

Even Seras was aware of this, as she slightly tilted her head and stroked her chin after hearing those words.

“…Hm.”

Not long after, she scoffed and then approached the man gasping on the floor.

“You are right. Even though you are a criminal who deserves death, it is far more profitable to keep you alive and take everything that you own instead.”

When he heard Seras’ apathetic words, hope flickered in the man’s pain-stricken face.

‘Maybe, my sincere plea worked,’ he thought.

“However.”

Saying those words, a smile appeared on Seras’ face.

However, that smile didn’t reach both of her eyes.

“It’s none of my concern.”

Fitting of this, she was about to deliver another devastating line that would fill the man’s expression with despair.

“Because I just want to kill you.”

“W-Why—!”

“Did you not insult His Holiness? That reason is enough to spell your death.”

Before he could speak, his throat had already been cut.

To achieve this, Seras only needed a rather nonchalant gesture; Moving her hand horizontally across his neck.

“…”

She looked down at her suit that was splattered with blood.

Her beautiful brows furrowed. After all, this suit was something that His Holiness complimented her on. It wasn’t fitting for it to be stained during such a trivial mission.

“His Holiness probably will not mind just that much.”

“…Vizsla?”

As she was drowning in her displeasure, she suddenly felt a presence and turned her body around.

Vizsla. The head of the ‘Exorcists’, a sub-organization under the ‘Oath of the Crescent Moon’.

‘He’s supposed to be monitoring ‘that man’ at the Academy. What is he doing here…?’

“…”

At that moment…

When such a thought came to her mind, her face distorted, changing her expression from a grim one to a full frown.

Dowd Campbell.

Among those who harmed the Pope, he was the only one she had yet to kill.

Because His Holiness himself told her that he still possessed ‘utility value,’ and ordered her to leave him be.

“This is a special mission directly ordered by the Pope.”

After hearing his title being mentioned, Seras’ sullen look immediately turned into a radiant smile.

“His Holiness gave me the order directly?”

Her voice was filled with the excitement of a girl in love.

“…”

‘Of course…’

Seeing her make such a face while completely covered in blood, Vizsla felt chills running down his spine.

“…Yes.”

And, perhaps by coincidence…

“Judging by your expression… It seems you are already thinking about the individual in question.”

Vizsla, too, was about to mention the man she had just thought of.

Following that, he took out a mana orb from his pocket.

The object that recorded the Pope;s order while he was sitting at his desk.

[It is almost time, Seras.]

As Vizsla activated the orb, the Pope’s calm voice came from it.

At the same time, Seras prostrated herself on that very spot.

Although the person in question was not here, she still didn’t want to neglect her etiquette.

[It won’t be long until ‘Paradise’ will be brought forth into the world. As such, from this moment onward, we will be making our move to lay the groundwork.]

“Your wish is my command.”

[The first thing we need to do is to get rid of anyone who might interfere with our plan.]

His voice continued smoothly.

[Specifically, those who freely wield powers related to Devils. We must deal with them quickly. Are you able to infiltrate Elfante and inflict a fatal wound on that man? Take caution to not kill him. It is not time for us to take his life yet.]

“I am able, Your Holiness.”

[Make him incapacitated for a few months should suffice. Around… Three months, perhaps?]

“Three months. Understood.”

Vizsla looked at Seras silently with a stiff expression.

Her eyes sparkled, responding to every word of the Pope, as if in an actual conversation.

It was an eerie scene, as if she couldn’t possibly just stay still and listen, even if it was just a recorded message. As if just listening to his voice was a great honor to her.

This level of devotion was close enough to that of a fanatic.

“…”

As for Vizsla, he actually didn’t like the Pope.

Not only was he a black-hearted person, he didn’t even seem to view humans as humans.

However, he couldn’t express his feelings outwardly. After all, the leader of his organization followed him so devoutly.

Also, there was a possibility that the rest of the organization felt the same way as him.

“Vizsla.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Can you arrange the route and timing for infiltrating Elfante? You must know it well since you lived there.”

“…”

However…

It was clear that Seras didn’t care about such public opinion even though she was aware of it.

She must have her reasons.

Within the organization, she had overwhelming skills that no one in the organization could dare to defy.

To be one of the only two Grand Assassins in the entire continent, such a reputation naturally came with it.

“…If you wish to infiltrate, you can do it as soon as tomorrow. If the intelligence I’ve gathered is correct, that man will be returning by then.”

“Then there is no reason to wait. Prepare the means of transportation. I shall go right away.”

After saying that, Seras added after a moment of silence.

“…I’m looking forward to it.”

“Excuse me?”

“Finally, I can plunge a knife into that man.”

“…”

‘So that’s what she meant…’

‘She’s thrilled because she could finally cause harm to the Pope’s enemy.’

‘Still…’

‘If the fact that a Grand Assassin was deployed just to deal with a single student was known, the whole world would be shaken…’

‘You can’t even compare it to killing a chicken with a guillotine, this case is literally like trying to use a tactical weapon to kill a single flea…’

‘…Well, not my business.’

Vizsla secretly sighed inwardly.

He hadn’t been watching Dowd Campbell for long, but…

There was one thing that he was certain of.

‘That guy is a lump of variables.’

There wasn’t a single doubt in his mind.

The situation would not go as easily as the Pope and Sera thought it would.

[Is that really that difficult?]

Caliban tossed such words my way as I sat in the compartment, deep in thought with a grave expression,

[For someone like you, isn’t beguiling a girl in less than a month easy? No, fuck that. A month? You’ll do it in a week.]

“…”

‘What kind of man does he take me for?’

I glared at Caliban in incredulity.

“Cut your bullshit. A week my ass.”

[How unexpected. I thought if it was you, then surely—]

“One day is enough for me.”

[…]

After leaving a speechless Caliban to his lonesome, I fell back into thought.

Honestly, it wasn’t that strange for Faenol to ask me to ‘seduce her’.

The reason I could seduce her in a day wasn’t because I was some master at understanding women’s hearts, but because this development existed in the original game.

After all, there was a branch in the story where, while being friends with Iliya, she asked to be awakened to her ‘emotions’.

“…Though, that’s only possible if the woman in question is a normal living being.”

The problem was…

The reason she was asking for this was because she wished ‘to die’.

In the first place, resurrection from death wasn’t something that could happen so easily.

A Devil wasn’t a creature that gave away anything for free. Structurally, that was impossible.

If she was brought back to life, it meant she lost something in exchange.

[What is that supposed to mean?]

And what Faenol lost was…

“She can’t feel anything.”

[…What?]

“Touch, smell, sight, pain, hearing… She lost all of it. Even her emotions.”

A living corpse.

There was no better way to describe her.

Originally, she would have been like a zombie, barely breathing and unable to do anything. But the reason she seemed alive despite such a state was just because she was disguising it to ‘seem that way’ with her Mana Mastery that had reached the realms of perfection.

She was using the tremendous amount of mana, that she could use as easily as breathing, to replace her five senses.

However, even if that was possible…

Replacing ‘emotions’ with mana was impossible.

That was probably why my Fatal Charm didn’t work on her.

“She probably thinks that if she regains everything she lost when she was resurrected, she can break the Devil’s Ban that revived her.”

There was a possibility that she thought it would be better to die than to continue living in such a state.

Yes, she could replace her five senses with her own magic and she could awaken them with her own power.

But, when it came to emotions…

No matter what she did, she couldn’t get them back. That must have been devastating for her.

Considering this…

My disposition of seducing anyone related to ‘Devils’ would be her only hope.

In the original game, she would have approached Iliya, who often got entangled with them, but now, at least in terms of interaction related to Devils, I was way ahead of her.

[…So the reason she is asking you to seduce her is for that.]

“That’s right.”

[Alright. So, do you have a plan to make that woman feel emotions again?]

“…”

Well, of course.

It was a little complicated, but I had a plan for it.

“…But, before anything else, I need to calm some people down.”

The Homunculi sisters.

Yuria and Lucia.

The first step to awakening Faenol’s emotions started with them.

“…”

In order to make them feel better, ordinary methods probably wouldn’t work.

What I needed was to set off an explosive, fiery event.

[In other words, you’re going to do something crazy.]

“…Why do you naturally assume I’m going to do something big?”

[Have you ever done otherwise?]

He got a point.

But still, considering the sisters’ personalities, it would definitely work.

It’s just that…

“…It’ll be fine just as long as some strange and crazy woman doesn’t get involved during the progress of the plan.”

[It kinda feels like you shittalk every woman around you behind their backs, you know?]

“…”

No, I could never.

But, how ironic you say that, since it took one to know one.

“But such people aren’t common and it doesn’t make sense to run into them so easily. How high could the odds be?”

Originally, the Devil’s Vessels that would rush toward me were now, conversely, all avoiding me.

Unless some other people popped up, the chances of such interference were extremely low.

Saying that, I yawned and looked towards the gigantic academy far away from the station.

“…We’re home.”

I muttered blankly as I gazed at Elfante.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t really home, but after spending a whole day traveling by train, it really did feel like it was.

Spending a day on the train was more of a struggle than I thought.

‘…Let’s get inside quickly, wash up, and rest a bit.’

Even if there was a lot to do, nothing would work without rest.

As I looked around while thinking that, students began to pour out of the train.

“…Whoa, whoa, whoah…”

In the terrifying crowd that reminded me of the subway during rush hours, I involuntarily got swept up.

No joke, even if I was just standing still, the bodies of the people around me would move me along.

And…

It was around then that I felt ‘killing intent’ in the midst of this packed crowd.

System Message

[ A moment of danger has been detected.]

[ Determined the situation as tremendously, greatly, absolutely life-threatening. ]

[ Skill: Desperation raised to EX-Grade. ]

My eyes widened at the sudden appearance of such a window.

“…?”

The fuck?

Why would something like this turn on at a time like this?

“…!”

I gritted my teeth and looked around.

The killing intent was still palpable. Without a doubt, someone was targeting and releasing it at me.

I was not as sensitive to energy as other martial arts masters, so there was no way to tell how close it was, but I instinctively knew it was only a few meters away.

However, due to the density of the crowd, I couldn’t tell who it was or even in which direction they were approaching.

The killing intent drew closer and closer.

More and more. Just a handspan away. Just a few steps.

It was a distance where I should be able to see their face.

At this rate, they’ll get me!

Thinking this, I prepared to force my way out of the spot by kicking off the ground when…

System Message

[ ‘Skill: Desperation’ is deactivated! ]

[ Target ‘Seras Evatrice’ sees you and experiences a shock that jolts her mind! ]

[ ‘Skill: Fatal Charm’ activated! ]

[ The hostility of the target disappears! ]

[ The ‘Favorability Level’ of target ‘Seras’ is unlocked! ]

“…?”

Then, such a window…

Appeared out of nowhere.

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