Read Villains 2nd half :: 193

Chapter 193

Leaving Winter’s establishment, I picked up the pace. I knew that he wasn’t the treacherous sort, but I intended to find a different alleyway to use one of the magic scrolls, just in case he decided to follow me. I was shocked when I stepped out onto the main street and noticed that the Eckhart coat of arms was everywhere.

Son of a—

This time, I was certain. The Eckhart knights had not been sent out for security reasons, but to capture me.

What do I do now? I considered for a moment, then rummaged through the bag Winter had given me. He’d made it sound as if there were only a few scrolls, but the bundle of rolled-up paper seemed to be quite thick.

I shook one free and opened it.

Use the [teleportation scroll] to move to a different location?

[Yes. / No.]

A familiar window appeared in my vision. I pressed [Yes.] without hesitation.

Say the words of the spell and tear the [teleportation scroll].

(Magic spell: Purr-ra-tee-oh ???)

The irritating spell word made me frown, but I calmly read it out loud nonetheless.

“Purr-ra-tee-oh Arkina!”

I tore the scroll down the middle at the same time and the words within the window shifted.

Using one [teleportation scroll] to travel to [Arkina].

Error! Error!

A powerful magical barrier exists around [Arkina]. You cannot use a [teleportation scroll] to go there!

“Goddamn it!”

I found myself saying out loud seeing the unexpected error message. The scroll I’d torn up had already turned to ash.

How am I supposed to get there, then? Making an effort to calm my rage, I irritably shoved my hand into my bag. It collided with something within.

“Oh.”

I groaned softly. I thought I knew a way to get where I needed to go, but the trip would be far from easy.

This damned game… With a deep sigh, I pulled out a new scroll. A chill spread throughout my body starting from the top of my head. I turned and locked gazes with the pair of blue eyes that were staring intently in my direction. Derrick’s face twisted into a scowl.

N-no way... He can’t have recognized me, I thought, hurriedly ducking into an alleyway. I was disguised using the magic bracelet. Derrick had seen me before while wearing it, but he’d failed to recognize me then. And he wasn’t the sort to remember the face of a servant he’d only seen in passing.

Damn it, I can’t take the chance. I need to run! Holding the scroll, I hurried back down the alleyway leading to Winter’s guild.

Purr-ra-tee-oh…

I was about to tear the scroll when a chilling voice echoed down the street.

“Penelope Eckhart!”

My hair stood on end.

Oh, goodness… I clamped my eyes shut, hid the scroll behind my back, and slowly turned around as naturally as I could.

“Y-you’ve got the wrong person—”

“I had that bracelet imbued myself. Did you really think I wouldn’t recognize you?”

My jaw dropped open. “You... you knew?” I stammered.

“I pretended not to recognize you last time. How many times must I act the fool?” he shouted at me.

He seemed to have run a considerable distance to reach me since his face was dripping with sweat. I stared at him blankly, noticing something strange about his affection score bar.

It was bright yellow up until the coming-of-age ceremony... I noticed now that it was a reddish color. It was hard to say what exact color it was since it wasn’t precisely orange or yellow—now that was none of my concern. Watching him impassively, I took a step back to make sure I had enough time to tear the scroll.

“Don’t leave.” He gasped. He’d been panting angrily, but his expression suddenly contorted. “You haven’t even recovered yet. Where do you mean to go in that state? I won’t be angry with you anymore. I won’t ask any questions, either, so let’s just go back. Please, Penelope...”

It was almost like he was pleading, and I found his expression unfathomable. The sweat dripping down his chin almost resembled tears. I stared at him, unable to comprehend his actions, and took another step back.

“You get back here right now, Penelope—” He ordered urgently.

“No,” I denied him tersely, frowning at the way he was shouting at me. “I’m leaving. Why should I listen to you, of all people?”

“Penelope Eckhart!”

“What, Derrick Eckhart?”

I had nothing to lose. Those damned affection scores no longer existed.

His blue gaze wavered at my lack of hesitation. I’d always been unfailingly polite to him, so perhaps he hadn’t expected me to shout back. I didn’t stop at simply abandoning my good manners. With a mocking smile, I asked coldly, “Is once not enough? You want to drag me back there and kill me again?”

“That’s absurd... Why would I kill you?”

“Why won’t you admit it, Derrick? You saw me that day. You had your eyes on me the entire time.”

He was greatly mistaken if he thought I’d been silent because I hadn’t noticed. It just hadn’t been worth mentioning. Just like Winter, I had no expectations of him at all.

“You watched me switch cups with Ivonne. You saw everything, Lord Derrick.”

Derrick’s gaze trembled violently, and my derisive smile broadened.

“You, the duke’s noble son, don’t want to admit that it was because you brought Ivonne to the ceremony that I tried to kill myself.”

“No!” Derrick shouted. His lips were pale and trembling. “That’s not true. It wasn’t my intention to—”

“...”

“Why... Why do you never...”

“...”

“Why is it only me you never smile at?” he finally stammered out, his composure falling apart. “You would always smile when you received a gift, even if you were angry. You called Reynold ‘Brother,’ even though you despise him. So why… Why do you distance yourself from me?” he muttered, sounding like a lost child. He didn’t even seem to be in control of what he was saying anymore.

His clenched fists shook.

Ah. I finally understood what emotion was wreaking havoc within him.

“Why do you think?” I also knew exactly how to cast him into the depths of despair. “Because I hate you, Derrick Eckhart.”

I smiled, like a flower slowly blooming, just like I had once before when he’d gifted me a scarf all those months ago.

So that’s when this started. I suddenly knew why he’d started giving me gifts. He must have been terribly anxious when my attitude toward him didn’t change despite his many attempts—unaware that I’d discarded him as an option long before then.

His quivering blue gaze suddenly froze. His pupils dilated as he stared, and I drove in the killing blow.

“I hate you so much, I’d rather die than ever see you again. So… Just keep doting on your sister until you’re in your f*cking grave, you son of a b*tch.”

I tore the scroll straight down the middle, right in his face

Using one [teleportation scroll] to travel to [Tratan].

“Penelope—!” He gathered himself enough to rush toward me, but it was too late.

I relaxed, closing my eyes as white light enveloped me.

* * *

I could hear seagulls squawking high above me when I opened my eyes. I was standing on the beach I’d visited once before. Unlike the sunny capital, Tratan’s skies were filled with ominous clouds.

There were many ships moored in the harbor, perhaps because of the terrible weather. This was fantastic news for me. I made for the harbor right away.

“Darn it! No getting any work done today, I see.”

“I haven’t been finding any fish lately. And now the weather has turned sour?”

When I reached the harbor, I found a few muscular men gathered, smoking. I examined them closely, unable to determine if they were who I was looking for based on their shabby clothes.

“Never seen a fishing vessel before? What are you skulking around for?” spat a nasty-looking man wearing a large, stereotypical pirate hat. Thankfully, they appeared to be the captains of the ships.

“We can’t get any work done today, so we’re not hiring. Just leave.”

They must have thought I was a young boy looking for work, so they waved me away impatiently. I ignored them and approached. “Are there any ships going to Arkina City?”

The chatty, casual atmosphere instantly evaporated.

“Are you bananas?” cried the man who’d spoken first, like I was some rare, mythical beast. “These days, the monsters will eat you before the currents even get the chance to crush you to pieces if you try to go out that way.”

“I have plenty of gold, so could you at least get me nearby? I’m acting on behalf of some pretty powerful people.”

“I told you it’s not possible! It’s irritating as it is that we can’t fish. Who does this piece of sh*t think he is…?”

The men tried to scare me away. It seemed as though many people had died in the waters near Arkina. There was nothing to be done about it. With a sigh, I threw down the small purse of gold I’d prepared on the walk over.

“In that case...” It clunked against the wharf. The men all froze when they heard the heavy purse hit the ground. “Who’s willing to sell me a ship?”