A Third-Rate Villain Tries Her Best Today 215

Side Story 3: The Azure Knight and the Ashen Witch

Chapter 13

I frowned, and Lopetrefer’s eyes narrowed.

“I told you we were going to play a game, didn’t I?”

“…Yes, you did.”

“I realized something. That Emperor Lawrence would never pardon me just because I eliminated the monsters in the Wasteland. And even if the rebellion succeeds and Shina becomes the next emperor, he won’t either… Shina will never forgive me.”

So she knew about the rebellion.

But I couldn’t speak, I just watched as Lopetrefer, struggling to breathe, clutched her chest and leaned against the wall.

“…After realizing that, I decided to give up on everything and start over.”

She continued, her voice weak.

“But then, I remembered something. The words that Shina, who had always visited me in the dungeon, who had said he could never forgive me, always said at the end… Ha… Shina… he said, ‘Call me whenever you want to talk. No matter where you are, I’ll come to you and listen…’ Yes, and the letter you gave me… That letter said the same thing… Haha… It’s so frustrating. It’s over…”

It’s over.

Was it regret, or anger? It didn’t sound like the “I don’t care” she had been repeating.

I stood up to help her, seeing her trembling arm. But Lopetrefer pushed me away, gritted her teeth, and stood up, her hand on her chest. She then declared,

“Raines, I’m going to be king.”

“…King? That’s absurd…”

I couldn’t finish my sentence. Because I saw beads of sweat forming on her face and neck.

Lopetrefer was trembling, as if she had a chill. But she was still smiling.

“Shina, Lawrence… I don’t need them anymore, and it’s not fun. So I’m going to be king. I’m going to start from here. That’s why I got rid of all the toxins. This is practically the capital now. And… that’s why I came to make you an offer.”

Lopetrefer looked at me and said,

“Be my knight, Raines Noel.”

“…I refuse.”

I answered without hesitation. Because I had already made my choice, while listening to Enzhe Lopetrefer’s story, no, the moment she had stepped into this small room.

“I’m going back to the Imperial Palace.”

“…Why?”

“Lopetrefer, you’re going to die soon.”

I said, my voice calm and low.

“It’s because you absorbed the toxins from the Wasteland, right?”

“….”

She didn’t answer, just stared at me intently, as if I had hit the nail on the head.

“Why did you do that? Knowing you would die…”

“Hehe… Huhahahaha!”

Lopetrefer suddenly burst out laughing. She laughed for a long time. Her earsplitting laughter finally subsided as the faint light of dawn appeared.

Her laughter stopped, and her breathing gradually calmed down. The trembling stopped, and the cold sweat that had been covering her body dried up.

“Raines, wasn’t this what you wanted?”

Lopetrefer asked, her face devoid of any emotion. But I couldn’t nod, nor could I shake my head.

Had I wanted this? Had I not?

While I was hesitating, Lopetrefer placed her hand on her chest and declared,

“I’m not going to die.”

“….”

“Do you think I’m going to die? Enzhe Lopetrefer?”

It was an empty boast, but for some reason, it made me think that she might actually be right.

“Okay, then let’s play another game.”

Lopetrefer smiled arrogantly, bathed in the blue light of dawn. And I answered,

“Okay.”

I accepted her offer before I could even hear the rules of the game.

Because no matter what game Enzhe Lopetrefer proposed, the outcome would be the same.

“Whether I’ll die or not.”

The ashen witch said, her face filled with amusement.

“Whether I’ll become king or not.”

The azure knight slowly repeated her words. As if it was a real bet, he repeated her words in his mind, over and over again.

And then, the azure knight smiled faintly.

He said,

“You won’t die, but you won’t become king. Because I’m going to stop you, and in the end, I’m going to defeat you.”

---

It was a clear, sunny day.

I was standing at the bridge leading back to the barrier, being seen off by the residents.

I had told Senior Lionel that I was going back to the Imperial Palace, but I had asked him to get me a horse. I was planning to ride back to the capital, instead of taking a carriage or a train.

There was no grand reason. I just wanted to experience a journey.

“Sob… You’re abandoning me here and going back alone!?”

Ariel clung to my pants, crying, as I was holding the reins. She was acting like a wife saying goodbye to her husband forever. And the funny thing was that some people actually thought that was the case.

“I’m sorry, Ariel. I’ll try to get you back soon.”

“You promise? If you break your promise, I’ll come find you and kill you!”

“Yes… I promise…”

I managed to soothe her with empty promises. Honestly, I didn’t know how long it would take for Ariel to return to the capital.

I said goodbye to the people who had come to see me off, but Lopetrefer wasn’t among them.

“Seriously, that woman is so heartless.”

Ariel sniffled, but I had expected it.

A month had passed since the night of the festival, and I was about to leave the Wasteland.

There had been no change in my relationship with Lopetrefer. She had diligently eliminated monsters for the past month, and I had continued to observe her every move.

And because of that, because there had been no change, she probably didn’t feel the need to see me off.

“…Then I’ll be going.”

I smiled faintly and mounted my horse. The scent of flowers wafted in the distance. Was it from outside the barrier, or inside?

I had no choice but to move forward, to find out. I had to choose a path.

I wanted to see my mother. I wanted to see the Commander Yuna. I wanted to see Senior Lionel and my fellow knights. I wanted to see Soran Halo. I wanted to see Fritz. I wanted to see Jean Emilia, and I wanted to see Sue. And until the day I would meet Enzhe Lopetrefer again, as an enemy.

I cracked the whip, urging my horse forward. The horse, as if understanding my heart, galloped towards the capital, leaving the Wasteland behind.

The Wasteland, where the sun was shining brightly, and a single, white cosmos was blooming in the middle of the ruins.

And then, I pulled on the reins. My steps, heading towards my homeland, were lighter than ever.

Fin.

***

Epilogue: The Fates of Stars

Soran Halo: Achieves success with the Wasteland purification project and expands the Imperial barrier, ultimately becoming the youngest Minister of Magic in history.

Shina Fritz Digoril: Leads a successful revolution, deposes Lawrence, and becomes the new Emperor. After suppressing the rebellion led by his former friend, he journeys to Emnon to hear her story.

Melaine Vava Kretos: Finds fulfillment as a philanthropist, aiding both enemies and allies during the revolution. She later becomes a priestess at a monastery.

Yuna Vava Kretos: Sides with the Fritz family and becomes a key figure in the revolution. Two years after Shina Fritz’s ascension, she voluntarily resigns from her position as Knight Commander.

Reeves Acrea Ire: Faithfully supports the new Emperor. After being rejected yet again by Yuna, he travels to Lokor to mend his broken heart and reconnect with his brother.

Azette Delondariwood: Gains recognition for her service and secures independence for the Delondariwood Duchy. She encounters both the man she loved and the one who tried to kill her in Lokor, but her feelings for both have faded.

Giona Vercia: Marries into a prestigious family and has three children. Her marriage is known for its happiness and stability.

Peter Byron: Attempts to save his failing family but is swindled by a con artist. He ends up deeply in debt to his wife’s family and lives under her thumb.

Elizabeth Perlman: Abandons her fallen family and stops making “deals.” For unknown reasons, she starts returning the lifespans she had taken from those who had made deals with her. After returning everything, she has only the two years of life she had received from her husband, her first deal. She lives out the rest of her days happily with her loving family, without a single regret.

Nine: Returns to her hometown and becomes a farmer with her father. They enjoy bountiful harvests every year.

Ten: Works as a baker in Dande, then returns to her hometown in the north. There, she has an unexpected reunion with Jean Emilia and the high priest. She later becomes a devoted godmother to Michaela.

The High Priest: Dedicates himself to raising Michaela. He later receives the name “Karis” from Jean Emilia and accompanies him on his journey to educate Michaela.

Jean Emilia: Passes on all his knowledge to Michaela. After she becomes an adult, he sets off on another journey alone.

Michaela Lopetrefer: Grows up to be a mischievous and talented mage. She later embarks on a journey to find her only living relative, her sister, but gives up after less than a year.

Ariel Sotetis: Returns to the capital after serving her sentence, but her bad habits haven’t changed, and she is welcomed back to Emnon within three months. She becomes a master of dark magic theory, devoting herself to research alongside Enzhe.

Enzhe Lopetrefer: Eliminates all the monsters in the Wasteland. She later rebels against the empire and clashes with the Imperial Knight Commander several times, but ultimately spares his life. She never seeks treatment for the toxins accumulating in her body and passes away peacefully next to the man she loved, after entrusting all her knowledge to Ariel.

Raines Noel: Is appointed as the next Knight Commander after Yuna resigns. He excels in his role and wins a bittersweet victory in his game with Enzhe. He later reunites with his precious friend in the Lokor royal palace.

Woo Acrea Ire: Travels the world with the woman he loves and gains a new understanding of life. He later settles in the Lokor royal palace and receives a noble title from King Pheilik. His love for his wife never fades, and they have three children: a daughter and two sons.

Sue: Travels with the man who taught her the meaning of love, creating countless precious memories. She later settles in the Lokor royal palace and becomes a companion to King Pheilik, sharing stories and laughter. She becomes the biggest sponsor of the mage guild “Karina,” greatly contributing to the research of magic formula theory. Her love for her husband deepens with each passing day, and she builds a lifelong friendship with her old friend, whom she reunites with.

End