Chapter 13: I’ll make you happy

[Seraphina Fires’s Malice Gauge has been completely depleted.]
[Redeem Seraphina Fires.]

The final preparations were complete.

The Nobles’ Conference and the Pumpkin Knight event were successful.

In our absence, Grace Field had faced an attempted invasion, swiftly repelled by Captain Garkin.

The invaders wore mysterious robes, and I knew their origin: Black Swan, a village that constantly plotted against Grace Field.

I prepared for the final act of Seraphina’s redemption.

“Where’s my chess partner?”
“Just a minute. I’m planning my next move.”

Seraphina studied the chessboard intently, a thoughtful expression on her face.

She was determined to win this time, but with the “Guaranteed Win” item, I was invincible.

“…I lost.”

She sighed and lowered her head, defeated. I smiled.

“Time for my wish.”
“Fine… What is it?”

My wish…

“Wait!”

Seraphina held up her hand.

“What?”
“You’re not going to make me wear another ridiculous outfit…are you? Or…or make me do something embarrassing…or…or touch me…!”

Her imagination was running wild. I chuckled and shook my head.

“No, I have a different request.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“Let’s go on a date tomorrow.”
“A…date?!”

Yes, a date. The final step in her redemption. I smiled.

“But no complaining. Agreed?”
“You’re not going to take me somewhere weird, are you?”
“Absolutely not. It’s a nice place. Within the village.”
“Hmm…”

She crossed her arms, still suspicious.

“Alright. But no funny business.”
“Ha ha, of course.”

The Sanctuary of Falling Stars, a place where shooting stars were said to fall, was also known as…the cemetery.

I stood before Seraphina’s brother’s grave.

“…This is where you wanted to take me?”

Seraphina’s face darkened.

I looked at the inscription on the tombstone: Seraphim Fires.

“Yes. It’s time for you to know the truth.”
“The…truth? What truth?”

Her voice was laced with suspicion.

If she still had any malice left, I would be dead.

But she was no longer a villainess.

“Seraphina, you’ve been imprisoning yourself. You embraced the role of the villain, living a life of self-destruction.”
“…And?”
“I made some…preparations while we were in Elysion.”
“…Preparations?”

I dug into the ground beside the tombstone and retrieved a letter.

“This is the truth.”
“…”

Seraphina looked at the letter with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity.

“What is this?”
“A letter. Read it.”
“What’s so important about a letter?”

She reluctantly took the letter and opened it.

Her hands trembled as she read the contents.

It was a letter from Seraphim Fires, detailing his experiences.

________________________________________________________________________________

My dearest Seraphina,

I’m sorry. By the time you read this, I will be gone. You probably hate me, and I understand. But I had no other choice. I want you to know the truth. I killed our parents in front of you and tried to kill you for a reason. It all started when a spy from Black Swan infiltrated our household as a servant. The spy cursed our parents, slowly driving them mad. I discovered this when I was older. Our parents were kind and loving before you were born. The curse twisted them, corrupted our family, and forced us into a cruel competition for power, stripping us of our morality. I killed the spy, but the curse couldn’t be broken. I had to make a choice: let our parents kill you, or become the villain myself and be judged by your hand. I chose to preserve the Fires family line, to protect you. You may see me as a power-hungry murderer, but I did it for you. I hope one day you will understand and forgive me. I will always watch over you from the other side. Your brother, Seraphim Fires.

________________________________________________________________________________

Seraphina’s hands trembled as she finished reading.

She looked at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and grief.

“…You bastard.”
“…”

I deserved that. But this bitter medicine was necessary for her healing. I smiled.

“Why am I the bastard?”
“Why are you showing me this? Why…?! Why?!”

I knelt before her.

“To redeem you.”
“Redeem me?! How?! What do you want from me?! Do you want me to forgive him?!”
“No. I don’t expect forgiveness. I only want your happiness. I’ve been preparing for this since I promised to take responsibility for you.”
“…You bastard… Making me remember…all of this…”

She turned away, her fists clenched. This was a painful, but necessary, truth.

She needed to confront her past to move forward.

I gently embraced her.

“Let go of me…!”
“…Seraphina, I want you to be happy.”
“…”

Tears streamed down her face.

She wasn’t confused; she was grieving, realizing the truth behind her family’s tragedy and the weight of her own actions.

“Seraphina, look at me.”
“…”
“Please.”
“…”

She looked up at me, her eyes red and swollen.

“I made a promise at your brother’s grave. Before I came to your mansion, I swore I would redeem you, that I would make you happy.”
“You…knew my brother?”

Of course, I knew him. He was an NPC in LilTy. A soulful SD character I had briefly interacted with. A little lie was necessary.

“…I owed him a favor. A Black Hound assignment.”
“What assignment?”
“To make you happy.”
“…”

She flinched, her gaze intense.

“Let’s end this, Seraphina. For your brother. Let’s destroy the village that poisoned your family, the village that attacked Grace Field while we were away. Let’s destroy Black Swan.”
“…Revenge?”

I smiled and wiped away her tears.

“Yes. Let’s destroy them. You’ll be redeemed. We’ll erase Black Swan, the source of your misery, the reason you became a villainess. And then…you’ll find happiness. The benevolent Heroine of Sacred Fire. That’s who you truly are.”
“…Will you…stay with me? Even after my revenge is complete? Even after your…assignment is over?”
“I’m with you now. Your happiness is my assignment.”

I smiled gently. She nodded, her eyes filled with determination.

“Alright…”
“Let’s destroy Black Swan.”
“Yes…”

I stroked her hair.

Black Swan.

A den of thieves, murderers, pirates, and bandits.

A haven for criminals.

“Ha ha ha! Another failure!”
“Yeah. I thought our lord was going to…enjoy watching Seraphina suffer.”
“He he he… She’s still in Elysion, right?”
“Nah, I heard she’s back.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. And our lord is planning another attack.”
“Ha ha ha ha! He never gives up!”
“I know! Once we take over Grace Field, I’m going to…”

Vulgar conversations like this were commonplace among the guards of Black Swan.

“…What’s that light?”
“Huh?”

A faint light flickered in the distance, growing brighter.

A powerful gust of wind swept through the village, and the massive gates of Black Swan shattered.

“S*!”
“What the—?!”

Boom! The guards were thrown back by the force of the explosion.

“What was that?!”
“Look!”

A figure in a black hood emerged from the smoke.

“What is that?!”
“Guards! Get him!”

It was futile.

The figure drew a sword, its blade emblazoned with a fiery pattern.

Seraphina, reverting to her ruthless past, unleashed a barrage of attacks, slicing through buildings and people.

“Aaaaagh!”
“Help me…!”

A merciless massacre.

She moved with deadly efficiency, leaving no survivors.

The commotion drew the attention of Lord Spandyne and his generals.

“What’s happening?!”
“Look!”

The hooded figure stood before the lord’s castle.

“…Long time no see.”

The figure greeted the lord casually.

“W-who are you?!”

Lord Spandyne trembled, pointing a shaky finger.

The figure removed their hood and smiled.

“Thanks to you, I’ve had a…very interesting life. You took everything from me. My brother. My parents.”
“Y-you’re Sera…”
“Consider this a thank you gift. You helped me become who I am today.”

Seraphina laughed, a chilling, predatory sound. The generals, terrified, wet themselves.

“M-My lord!”
“R-run!”
“Protect me, you idiots!”
“…”

Seraphina’s sword flashed.

Lord Spandyne was cut in half.

“Who’s going to protect you now?”

Her eyes glowed red, a hint of the bloodthirsty villainess she once was.

She channeled her rage into her sword, unleashing a devastating attack.

Kaboom!

The castle, the village, everything was destroyed.

Black Swan was erased from the map.

No one dared to speak of the incident.

The neighboring villages, even the Emperor himself, chose to ignore it.

Black Swan, a haven for criminals, was gone, and no one mourned its passing.

That was the end of Black Swan.