The Villain’s Ending

Sunset (15)

I dragged the punks and roughly dumped them on the roadside.

After catching my breath, I picked up the bag that had fallen to the floor.

It looked quite old, like a bag handmade.

As I was about to hand it to Kyle, he suddenly approached and snatched the bag.

He’s always been an ill-mannered bastard, so I wondered if I should just understand him, but somehow, my irritation wouldn't subside.

"Don't carelessly touch other people's things."

"I just picked it up for you."

Since Kyle didn't offer any particular reply, I picked up the cigarette pack Marcus had knocked away and lit one.

The smoke entered my lungs, then faintly dispersed.

Kyle was looking at me with dissatisfaction.

"What? I helped you exactly as you asked."

"So why did you come looking for me again?"

"I didn't come looking for you."

"Sure you didn't. Are you going to say you just happened to wait on the bench I always use, smoking?"

"Yeah."

"And you expect me to believe that?"

"Or what are you gonna do about it?"

"......."

"No, honestly, I was just looking for a quiet place because I had a headache."

"You used to follow me around making those ridiculous excuses, annoying me."

"Did I? I don't think I did anything special, besides trying to strike up a conversation."

"Just shut up and get out of my sight. I have nothing to talk about with you."

"I have a lot to talk about, though."

I said that and stood up.

"It might sound like a joke, but someday, the demons will invade. Far too many of them."

Kyle just glared at me as if asking what nonsense I was spouting, but he didn't answer.

I walked closer to Kyle.

And I poked his shoulder with my finger, pushing him away.

Though Kyle quickly slapped my hand away.

His muscles, where they should be firm from training, felt strangely soft. Perhaps he just slacked off here every day and wouldn't be able to properly fight back when the demons invaded.

Now, I think I vaguely understand why our esteemed hero was always pushed back on the front lines.

It's definitely because he was lazy.

"You'd lead the way even if I didn't say anything, but still, you're a bit lacking right now."

As I approached again, Kyle gritted his teeth and tried to push me away.

"Don't come closer. It's disgusting."

"And you'd probably die if even just three proper demons surrounded you."

Honestly, even dreaming that Kyle and I were once "like that" didn't stir any particular emotions in me.

Because he was still a fucking bastard to me.

And he was still someone I felt I needed to get close to.

Because if Kyle did it, not me, not someone like me, something might be different.

Could someone like me, who seemed so normal but failed, accomplish it now?

Surely, even my past self must have thought that if Kyle had done it, something might have been different.

Because he's upright, not petty, and among the humans around me, he's at least a decent person.

At least he'd be better than me.

Though it doesn't seem like it now.

I lightly dodged Kyle's hand as he tried to push me away, then kicked him in the shin.

I tripped the staggering Kyle and said,

"You've never been any help to me, but I'm kind, so I'll help you. We agreed to be friends, didn't we?"

I said that and extended my hand to the fallen Kyle.

Looking down from above at an opponent I've somehow felt inferior to since a long time ago, in its own way, fills me with a base satisfaction.

Enough to momentarily push aside the thought of spending a night with Levina.

"Once a week, preferably at night, come to my room. I'll train you instead of your inadequate master."

"......At night?"

Kyle asked back.

With a slight blush on his face.

It's somehow disgusting to see a guy looking at me with a flushed face.

And the way he's been breathing heavily since earlier, perhaps he's just as flawed as I am.

"Why at night of all times? Why would I be with someone like you at night... You don't mean-"

"Yeah, you wouldn't want rumors spreading that we're hanging out, would you? Such talk circulated before because of Levina."

"......What if I refuse?"

"Then I'll just come find you. I can figure out your room somehow."

"Do you think you've got some kind of leverage over me now?"

Not understanding what nonsense he was spouting, I just shrugged.

Then Kyle bit his lower lip slightly, shivered a little, then spat on the floor in disgust.

After that, he grabbed his small bag and left somewhere.

Without even giving an answer.

It didn't really matter anyway.

If I went, dragged him out of his room, and beat him up, he'd probably train hard just to survive.

Anyway, after what was, in its own way, a friendly conversation with Kyle, the place I headed to was Lineta's room.

It seemed pointless to rack my brain trying to get close to her by myself.

I know well what Seraphina likes, dislikes, what she knows, and what she mistakenly thinks she knows without actually knowing.

Because she's less of an fiancée and more of a childhood friend I grew up with.

Knowing such things didn't allow me to change the stares from those around me, the words directed at me, or their minds.

But still, now, it's somewhat okay.

Except for Seraphina, who constantly tries to ruin her family and somehow stay by my side.

It's good that she's by my side, but I wish she wouldn't needlessly burn down wheat fields or mansions.

Anyway, the door was locked, but when I inserted a thin shard of ice into the door crack and lifted it, the lock, which seemed pointless even when present, quickly disengaged.

I could easily enter the room.

It didn't look much different from the room I had saved for Seraphina before.

There weren't many items visible in the room.

A few books were shelved, but even those felt like they were left there purely for decoration.

I pulled out a suitable chair, leaned back, and waited for Lineta, reading a book that didn't even catch my eye.

When I had read about half of the thin book, I heard the rattling sound of the door.

As the door opened, I closed the book and stood up, but it wasn't just the person I was expecting.

Seraphina and Lineta were looking at me with bewildered expressions.

I had a feeling something was wrong.

"Lavin? Why are you here?"

Seraphina asked.

"Ah, um. That. Um. I had something to ask Lineta."

"So, you snuck into a girl's room alone and waited for her?"

"No, before that, why are the two of you together?"

"Why, is there a reason we can't be close?"

"Yes. She's a heretic."

At my words, the air in the room suddenly felt heavy.

Lineta, glancing between me and Seraphina, couldn't utter a single word, while Seraphina naturally walked into the room and sat on the bed.

"She's decided to repent and even convert."

"If so, that's a relief."

"You brought a girl and entrusted her to me, so you brought her here for this after all?"

"No, it's not like that-"

The moment I was about to speak, I saw Seraphina suddenly on the verge of tears, and I was speechless.

"Today I went to see the junior head of the Edelgard family.

Even if they try desperately to break off our engagement, I'll somehow stick by your side, Lavin, and I don't care if I'm disowned or what happens to my reputation."

Lineta, caught in the middle, busily rolling her eyes, came into view.

I had just come to ask about Kyle.

How did things end up like this?

And damn it, how did Levina's story come up again?

Lineta entered the room, familiar with the process, brewed tea, and brought it to me and Seraphina.

Feeling my mouth parched, I took a sip of tea, and it seemed like cold water had been slightly mixed in, probably because Seraphina might splash the hot tea on me regardless.

I desperately wished that story wouldn't come up, but ominous premonitions never seem to miss their mark.

"D-do you know what Levina, that crazy woman, told me today?"

I unconsciously swallowed and bit my lower lip.

"She said she slept with you. She was earnestly bragging to me about doing more than what lovers and married couples do. Seriously."

"Ah, fuck."

"B-but you two are siblings, aren't you? That's what it is. Whether you're a bastard or not, you're blood-related, aren't you?"

I couldn't answer and just stared down at my teacup.

"So you don't love me after all?"

"That can't be true."

"But then why would such words come from that woman, Levina's mouth?

She said it's natural for you to like your older sister, with whom you've lived, more than someone like me. Are those really words that should come from the mouth of the person who tormented you so much?"

"There's no way I'd like anyone more than you."

I approached Seraphina.

But Seraphina, shedding tears, pushed me away.

"I thought I'd be okay just hearing empty words every day, but I guess I was mistaken. How could you choose her over me...?"

Objects in the room began to tremble.

I felt as if her magic had become unstable.

"Or maybe it's just nonsense after all? Were you forced?

Or are you really a pervert, Lavin, who likes his sister more than his fiancée, me?"

Silence fell.

I tapped the teacup handle with my index finger, then spoke quietly.

"With Levina, it was just because of the alcohol..."

As I spoke, Seraphina, instead of splashing the tea, grabbed the teacup itself and slapped my cheek.

CRASH!

The glass shattered, and my face was scratched, bleeding.

But I had nothing to say.

I pulled out the glass shards embedded in my face, then opened my mouth.

"I'm sorry."

Seraphina, hearing my words, began to sob uncontrollably.

"Who the hell sleeps with their sister because they're drunk!?

I researched everything I could, asked about everything they were doing! That, that kind of thing, with your sister...!"

Her voice trailed off, and Seraphina, looking at me with blood on my face,

"Ah, ah..."

made a sound.

She approached and cupped my face with trembling hands.

"Ah, no. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Lavin. For getting angry, me. Don't hate me, Lavin. I, I just felt dizzy, a-accidentally."

Seraphina slowly removed the glass shards embedded in my face.

Every time her fingertips touched my wound, I flinched.

The demons hadn't even invaded yet, but I suddenly wanted to kill them.

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