Chap 20-A Happy Life

 

The slender warmth was completely conveyed from within her arms.

Although she was small and frail, Lina wanted to hold this child, who was braver than anyone, even tighter.

But…

“Stop crying, Senior.”

As if snapping out of it at those words, Bella slowly released her embrace.

Yeon stepped back with a slightly embarrassed expression, and Bella carefully let her go.

‘Wait…’

Bella’s gaze naturally drifted to her legs.

The bruises and torn marks were still vividly visible.

“…Why didn’t you heal your injuries?”

The question popped out of her mouth before she knew it.

The unbelievable regenerative ability she had shown during the battle.

Later, when she learned it was Headmaster’s magic, she could understand.

With that kind of magic, she should be able to heal those kinds of injuries in an instant…

Yeon avoided her gaze for a moment, then answered with an awkward expression.

“Well… I thought… people might think it’s weird.”

“Weird?”

“Yeah. Everyone clearly saw me get hit, but if I walked around without any injuries… uh… well… strange rumors might start, right?”

‘Is she even worried about such trivial things?’

She could just heal if it hurts.

Remembering her limping walk, Bella became even more depressed.

“Still, heal them. If you leave them like that, you’ll have scars.”

As Bella opened a drawer to take out a Potion and hand it to her, Yeon shook her head.

“It’s okay. In this situation, if anyone sees me getting treatment, they’ll become suspicious. It’s better to just go out like this.”

Bella urged her several more times to heal the injuries so she wouldn’t have scars, but Yeon adamantly refused.

In the end, Bella took out a skirt she used to wear, at least so she wouldn’t feel ashamed.

It was a little bigger than the one Yeon was wearing.

And long socks that could cover her calves as well.

“Then wear this at least. It’s better to cover up the injuries.”

Yeon looked at the clothes and hesitated for a moment, then smiled softly.

“It’s okay…”

Yeon took the clothes and seemed to hesitate for a moment.

Perhaps sensing Bella’s worried… or maybe pitiful gaze, she reluctantly nodded.

“…Okay. I’ll wear them.”

Yeon hugged the skirt and socks to her chest and lingered for a moment.

Then she awkwardly looked up at Bella.

Slightly flushed cheeks, uneasy eyes.

It was a completely different expression from her usual self, somehow defenseless and fragile.

“Um… Do I have to change here?”

Her slightly hunched shoulders and the way she didn’t know where to look made her look like a lost kitten.

In that instant, an unexpected emotion stirred deep within Bella’s heart.

A strangely dark and intensely compelling impulse.

‘Should I tell her to change here?’

The thought flashed through her mind.

She wanted to see that embarrassed and flustered face a little more.

She wanted to order her forcefully.

To change her clothes right here, in front of her eyes.

The sight of her face turning red, not knowing what to do, hesitating.

She wanted to see her trembling with shame, yet unable to disobey, taking off her clothes one by one.

The thought of wanting to see the injuries on that slender body with her own eyes, and then dress her in her own clothes to possess her completely…

‘…What am I thinking!’

Bella was horrified and shook her head violently.

She was disgusted by the dark thoughts that had just crossed her mind.

Feeling self-loathing, Bella hurriedly composed herself.

Suppressing the dark impulse within her, she spoke in a voice that was as casual as possible.

“No. The bathroom is over there. Next to the door. Yeah, right there.”

Bella gestured towards the bathroom door with her chin.

Her voice seemed to tremble slightly, but Yeon didn’t seem to notice, nodding her head and carefully walking towards the bathroom.

Bella only let out a long sigh after confirming that Yeon had closed the bathroom door and gone inside.

Her heart was still beating uneasily.

What was the identity of the emotion she had just felt?

Bella tried to calm her confused mind.

Now was not the time to be thinking about such things.

Not long after, the bathroom door reopened, and Yeon emerged, having changed her clothes.

The skirt Bella had given her was a little big on Yeon, but the loose fit seemed to accentuate her slender figure even more.

The long socks perfectly concealed the scars on her calves.

She looked much neater than she had when she was wet.

Yeon bowed slightly to Bella and said,

“Thank you for the clothes, Senior.”

Her voice was a little shy.

“…It’s nothing.”

Bella replied awkwardly, avoiding her gaze.

The confusion in her heart still hadn’t subsided.

“Then, I’ll go now.”

Yeon said a brief goodbye and moved towards the door.

At that moment, Bella almost reached out her hand without realizing it.

The words ‘Don’t go’ rose to her throat.

The dark impulse she had felt earlier resurfaced.

‘Wouldn’t it be better to… keep her by my side?’

Suddenly, the memory of the Bastille prison came to mind.

Yeon’s figure trapped inside the cold prison cell.

A space cut off from the outside world, a perfectly controlled environment.

She was helplessly trapped inside.

As Yeon said, she was already raising her infamy to be hated by the world.

Even using the media and fueling people’s misunderstandings.

Then, was there a need for this child to be hurt in such a world?

After all, all that awaited her outside were cold gazes, criticism, and contempt.

Wouldn’t it be better to keep her safe by her side?

Bella was confident.

Although Yeon would be deprived of her freedom and placed under her surveillance…

At least she could give her a much better life than being exposed to indiscriminate hatred and violence.

A warm room, delicious food, and… she could cherish and protect her in her own way.

Yes, this might be the best path for Yeon.

Rather than suffering in the world’s hatred, wouldn’t living a stable life by her side be a ‘happier life’ for her too?

Bella’s delusion spiraled out of control and began to flow in a dangerous direction.

It was then.

Yeon reached out to open the door.

But her hand was far off the doorknob, reaching into the air.

Yeon’s body, losing its balance, staggered and fell forward.

“Yeon!”

Bella was startled and reflexively called out her name.

Just as she was about to approach, Yeon quickly placed her hand on the floor and stumbled to her feet.

“I’m… I’m okay. I just missed my step by accident.”

Yeon brushed off her palm with a light smile as if nothing had happened, but her expression was clearly flustered, and her movements were unnatural.

‘Missed her step?’

Bella paused.

Yeon’s movements just now didn’t seem like a simple mistake.

It was as if she couldn’t properly gauge the location of her target.

In that instant, the subtle sense of unease she had felt during their conversation earlier resurfaced.

When she made eye contact with Yeon.

The feeling that one of her eyes wasn’t pointing directly at her, but was slightly off.

She had dismissed it as nothing at the time, but now, combined with the moment she missed the doorknob, an ominous feeling flashed through Bella’s mind.

Bella quietly bit her lip.

‘Could it be…’

…

“Haa… I should refrain from doing that in the future.”

I muttered quietly, straightening my clothes and hair.

The clothes that were barely drying while comforting Bella Senior were wet again, and my hair was wet again.

‘Annoying.’

Even I thought it was too much.

I just wanted to feel a little more miserable, so I pretended to limp a little, but Bella Senior had to see it…

Seeing Bella Senior hug me and cry so sadly made me feel a little… no, a lot sorry.

Even so, I had no intention of telling her the truth.

No matter how close we are, there’s no way I can openly reveal my dark desires…

Moreover, my tastes are obviously very abnormal to anyone who sees them.

Still, I’m glad she seemed to understand at least roughly.

‘I was just imitating my favorite part of Lina’s lines.’

Still, not everything I said to her was a lie.

I think I’m really glad that I, who has a Masochist, got to seal the Authority of the Evil God.

Thanks to that, I can enjoy it to the fullest…

‘Haa…’

So…

Well…

Anyway, if I didn’t have this ability.

Would I have hated people?

No.

After all, I like being treated that way now.

And I, a sinner, had no right to hate people.

It was just the natural treatment I should receive as a villain.

Still…

There was one person I resented.

That bastard Isaac Bennett.

He knew everything…

He could have stopped it…

‘Haa, never mind.’

I stopped the meaningless delusions and moved to the next class location.

‘I need to be more careful.’

I thought I’d get used to using only one eye quickly because I was used to it.

As expected, it couldn’t be helped that it was uncomfortable because it wasn’t the eye I used to use.

The academy hallway was as crowded as ever.

The students were moving in groups of three or five, laughing, while I was alone.

When I first came to this world, I thought I wanted to become friends with the characters in the game, but…

I wasn’t lonely anymore.

Because I have a Master and a Senior.

At least it wasn’t a life of living without any meaning like in my previous life.

The feeling of existing for someone and for something.

Author’s words (Author’s afterword)

There will be no update tomorrow…

I’ll be back on Wednesday.