Villainess x Grimoire

Year 5015, day 50 of the flowering season.

Almost two seasons later, the guild called me to take the promotion. Today would finally be the day when I could stop being a helper and instead become an adventurer. The utmost freedom I sought, along with one of the guild cards, which exempted me from paying some traveling taxes and gave me access to certain places.

As I walked near the village fountain, I felt a hand touching the back of my right shoulder.

“Now you’re it!” An unfamiliar cute tone, followed by an adorable giggle, caused me to turn around smiling.

Once our eyes met, it felt like time stopped. It was one of those very rare moments when I could actually match the voice properties to the physique of the person. And by all means, this girl was the cutest I had ever seen in my entire life. A black-haired teen, whose curls extended throughout her long white dress with similarly toned roses engraved on the bottom part. Her clothing yelled the word wealth. It was easily the most beautiful dress I had ever put my eyes on.

The leaves that were blown by the refreshing breeze passed between us, gently hitting the ground.

“Are you okay?” she asked, blinking her eyes, fanning me with her long eyelashes, and extending her hand to my cheek, sheltering it softly.

“Ah, yes!” The embarrassment turned my cheeks rosy, having never experienced such kindness from a stranger before, nor had I allowed it. But this girl had taken me by surprise in an unforeseen way at that. She had made my heart race practically just by existing.

“I’m it!” A yell flowed out of me, warning the surrounding players that I entered their little game of chase. It had been a while since my last time, as I had been busy working as a helper. But the money had been a great help to my parents. It was especially useful to buy food for my pet, who seemed to have a black hole instead of a stomach. And as he grew, the hole seemed to expand.

My hands went out after her, only to be outrun by her unforeseen speed.

‘How come I can’t catch her? She can't be older than me,’ confusion engraved inside of me as she dodged my every attempt as if her feet were light as plums. Yet, her legs were fast like those of a horse. For someone who looked to be my age, she sure outshone everyone else, and that increased my interest.

The surrounding kids started chanting for me to catch her since none of them could. They yelled my name, gradually raising their voices in excitement whenever I got close to her.

What started as a little game had now my full attention and motivation in it.

“Having a hard time, Iris?” She teased me, smiling happily like this was the best day of her life. 

Her happiness felt rather contagious.

She irradiated a cute charm to others. The surrounding young men's eyes remained fixed on her face.

It made all of us feel strangely blissful just for spending time with her.

However, the bit of pride within me wanted to catch her at least once. Thus, I sneaked a magical circle below her feet, freezing the ground right before she landed, and causing her to slip.

As she was about to fall, my hands got hold of hers, bringing her enough stability to not hit the floor. Yet, I failed to save the bottom of her dress.

“I finally got you,” my lowly voice reached her ears, taking note of how surprised she was.

Her gaze soon lowered, finding out what trick I had pulled on her.

“That’s cheating,” she giggled.

“There are no rules,” I laughed at her as we got showered with praise from the surrounding kids.

After playing with them for a bit more, I ended up taking a stroll through the village with Alicia.

We held each other's hands as we moved along. It felt strange how fast we had bonded.

I hoped this friendship would last forever.

“I didn’t expect to find an ice mage in such a remote village.”

“To find?”

“Yes. I’m not from here.”

“Oh…” In this small village, everyone knew each other. It was strange that I had never seen Alicia, but I had been so lost in her that I didn’t even realize it.

‘What a shame,’ my saddened eyes brought her to a halt.

“Hey! It’ll be fine!” without giving me a chance to contest. She removed one of her five white rings and placed it on my middle finger.

“What are those?” I looked at its glow and the way it adjusted perfectly to the width of my finger.

“It’s a gift,” she smiled faintly, pulling me in with her kindness.

“It’s so pretty,” it was pure white, with a rose on top, similar to the ones adorned on her dress.

“This is part of my family heirloom. We give it to potential knights, but in this case, it’s just so we can meet again.”

I swayed my head to the sides, “I’m sorry, I can’t keep something so important.”

As I attempted to take it out, her hands quickly rested on top of mine. “It’s alright, Iris. Please accept it. It’d make me happy to see you again someday.”

As I was about to insist, her arms embraced my body, leaving me with no option but to concede.

“Go now. We’ll meet back near the fountain once you finish your business at the guild.” She let go of me as fast as she had captured me. 

I couldn't help myself but to nod in agreement. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I smiled widely to show her everything was fine between us. We split ways there, and I found my way to the adventurer’s home.

After passing through the typical gruesome stares of fellow members, I reached the receptionist area.

“Hello, how can I help you today?”

“Hi Leonor,” I smiled happily since she was my favorite worker in this association.

“You seem to be in high spirits today. Ready for your promotion?” I saw her grinning mischievously, fully understanding that she knew what I was there for.

“That too, but I also made a new friend.” My emeralds must have glinted.

“That’s amazing! I'm quite happy for you.” She added naturally without pursuing the subject.

“Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome. It makes me glad you’re having a good time in Astia.” At those words, we exchanged smiles. I heard from others that this was not the best place in the world. It had a lot of impertinent fellows. Yet, it was mainly a pleasant village to live in and be part of.

“Regarding the promotion,” she checked some papers on the table. “The guild master has acknowledged your ability despite you lacking a class.”

I remained dumbfounded at her words. It was hard to pass without the full requirements, causing me to work with a lot of parties to this very day. I had stocked positive reports about my cooperation with many of them, and I did my best to learn from them.

“Follow me,” she lifted a wooden blockade between two tables, allowing me to pass to her side of the counter. Then, we went through a small hall and entered a room with a bookshelf, two large sofas, and a table between them.

She told me to sit on one of them as her finger and eyes searched through the bookshelf. Once she found what she was looking for, she brought a thick, heavy book and placed it on the table.

‘It looks so strange,’ it looked almost fully brown, covered by grey at its edges, along with a peculiar stone handprint in the middle.

“Place your hand on the mark.”

I followed her instruction, placing my hand on top of it.

“Once it finishes registering you, a card will appear. You can present it in many territories, and the guards will let you pass. Any guild base can update your rank in it as you complete quests.”

“Oh, so it shows my name and my rank?” I questioned to make sure I hadn't missed any details about it.

“Yes, pretty much, and also where you registered. I’ll be back soon. Wait for me here, alright?”

“Yes, ma’am!” I raised my free hand in the air.

A few moments after, a light appeared above my hand, and a white card came into sight. 

"That should be it."

As I was about to take my hand off to grab my card, the entire process repeated. Excitedly, I get hold of both cards, turning the first one around.

“Name: Iris, Age: 15, Registered at Aria Village, Rank: F.”

As I was about to check the second one, Leonor entered, startling me, causing me to store the second one in my pocket.

She closed the door, then turned to me, “Is it done?”

“Ah... Yes,” I give her my card.

“There, there,” Leonor patted me briefly before looking at the card. “No need to be scared, Iris.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Did I look scared to her?

She smiled at my words.

“Okay, the card looks perfect. Here you go.”

I got hold of it with both hands. “Thank you! I’ll cherish it!”

“On our side, it’s complete. From this day onwards, you can just drop by and talk to one of us. We’re the ones who handle all the quests and deliver them to the adventurers based on their ranks.”

“Okay, I will!” I stored it in my other pocket, getting up from the sofa. We then left together.

We came to the positions before everything started, once more having a counter between us.

“I’d like to receive my first quest if possible,” eager to get to work and to get some money.

She went through papers, making different facial expressions upon reading their content.

I took a quick glance around, evaluating the extensive building, which contained many tables with long benches of the same length. There was an enormous hall between the front doors and the receptionists.

“I’ll be right back, Leonor.”

“Take your time.”

On the sides, there were counters where mainly adventurers bought food and drinks. I approached one and got myself 3 sizeable pieces of bread with ham and cheese. The woman placed them inside a black cloth bag that was then given to me.

Thanks to my card, they put the price on my tab since I didn’t have money with me. With this system, every time an adventurer finished their quest, part of the reward was deducted to pay off any debt.

I returned to the receptionist’s area, finding Leonor. “Iris, I’d like you to take this quest,” she handed it to me and asked, “Do you know how to read?”

“Yes, I do. Let’s see...”

[

Quest

Rank: F

A farmer has sighted a group of slimes between 10 to 20 to the east farm of Astia. They have been eating the crops, and if left alone, they may end up hurting someone.

Reward: 2 points and 5 mana coins per slime killed.

]

“Leonor, what are these points in the reward?”

“Oh, they are the values I mentioned before. To rank up an adventurer via their card, you'll have to accumulate them.”

“I see…” I took mine out, noticing there wasn’t anything related to it.

“You’re very welcome. Don’t forget to get an ally or two to help you out. Oh, and you must bring the soul stones as proof to get points!”

“We’ll then trade it for points, and we’ll pay you for their grades properly,” she waved goodbye as she finished talking.

“Can I bring any other soul stones I find aside from slimes?”

“Yes, of course. We’ll exchange them for points and money. We have a device that checks their soul wavelength, so it’s always the correct reward.”

“Alright,” I nodded excitedly. “See you later, Leonor, and thank you!”

“Be careful, Iris. Make sure to only go for the blue slimes!”

“Will do!” I left the adventurer’s guild with a radiant face, heading towards the fountain to meet Alicia. 

Upon arriving, my blood instantly boiled as an older man slapped her. My hand quickly went for the hilt of my sword.

“I told you many times not to play with these peasants. How many times do I have to repeat myself?”

Alicia was crying with her head lowered. “I’m sor-ry fa-ther,” lowly mumbling followed as tears rained.

With her response, I froze. It was her father. Was he bad like my past one had been?

“Look at your dress. It’s so dirty. Do you have no dignity!?”

Another man approached them, a man dressed in black attire. “Master, your wife has called for you. She has finished shopping,” the man politely bowed.

“It’s time to go,” her father grabbed her daughter's hand, forcefully pulling her towards the carriage. The moment he started moving away, his arm got stuck. He turned around and asked his daughter. "Why aren’t you moving?” His face turned even redder, filled with anger.

“I...” Alicia grabbed her dress tightly. “I promised I’d wait for my friend Iris.”

“Did you not understand what I said earlier!?” he lifted his arm in the air to slap her again.

As I saw what was unfolding, I stepped in close to them.

“Hello, lady, Alicia, I’m truly sorry for the wait.”

Happy to see me, she replied, “Welcome back, Lady Iris.” She smiled nervously at me, holding back her tears.

“I’ve just finished my business in the adventurer’s guild,” I said in a composed, proper tone.

Her father halted, probably thinking about what kind of business a young girl like me could have in such a place.

I then flawlessly bowed slightly towards her, lifting my casual dress properly, and then turned to her father, repeating the gesture. In my past life, they forced me to learn noble etiquette, which was quite similar to the one in this world. I tested this with my mother, as she taught it to me when we weren’t training. She said I was a natural. For a change, I became glad learning it hadn’t been for naught.

Alicia bowed properly by picking up her skirt dress and lifting it slightly, bowing in my direction. Her father mistook me for a noble because of my trained courtesy and elegant yet childish tone. However, my attire wasn’t the best, but it was still on a level slightly above what most kids wore. The guild business must have also helped camouflage my identity.

He then, feeling a little calmer, added, “seems like you learned something after all. We’ll be waiting in the wagon. Have a good day, Lady Iris.”

“Have a good day, my lord.”

“Don’t take too long, Alicia. The trip back to Lumen awaits.”

“Yes, father!”

The butler smiled kindly at me, doing a brief bow before leaving, almost as if he was thanking me. I repaid him with a cute smile.

Without having the chance to look at my friend, she grabbed my hands, “I’m sorry you had to see that, Iris.”

“It’s okay, milady,” I teased her.

Her body loosened a bit, laughing along with me.

“How did the trip to the adventurer’s guild go?”

I took out my adventurer’s card and showed it to her.

Her eyes became brighter as she took hold of it.

In the corner of my mind, I had thought of her attire, but the truth was that I had failed to notice how important she could be. I guess... I just didn't want our relationship to break due to our social positions.

“I’m so proud of you! I hope you become a famous adventurer!”

“I’ll do my best to become strong!” 

Upon hearing my words, her expression changed. “I must go, but I hope to see you again someday. Perhaps one day I’ll come for that ring and make you one of my knights.” Her smile was gone; only a serious glint in her eyes remained.

“A knight? I’m an adventurer, though," I clarified.

“Yes, for now, but we never know in the future.”

“I don’t know if I’ll want to be a knight though...” I replied, feeling awkward about that proposition of hers.

She hugged me and whispered in my ear, “Even if you don’t, you’re a friend I don’t want to lose. And this way we’ll surely meet again.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“I really have to go, dear friend. I’ll see you someday!” she ran off, waving briefly before going.

“Take care, Alicia!” I waved her goodbye, thinking about her proposition. ‘A knight... perhaps that could be fun too. Should pay well.’

A bit later, inside a moving white carriage with rose patterns. A female silhouette, sheltered by the shadows of the wagon curtains, spoke. “You seem happy, my dear daughter.”

Alicia looked at the woman in front of her and replied with a smile. “Yes, mother, very.”

“Did anything fun happen?” She questioned curiously, noticing something about her amiss.

She focused on her daughter’s face, passing the right hand softly on it, noticing a swelled cheek. Her arm returned to her chest as her gaze befell her husband.

Without giving a chance for anyone to do anything, she released an intimidating aura. 

The carriage shook under pressure, and the horses shrieked in despair. If it wasn't for the reins, they would've escaped.

“Alfred, did you hit Alicia!?” Her heart consumed with rage caused her menacing eyes to glare at him. The husband looked at her, slightly shivering from the pressure but not lowering his noble gaze.

“Someone has to educate our daughter. She was playing with peasants,” the father replied coldly, without giving in to the aura that felt like death approached.

Sweat was dripping from everyone inside the carriage. The butler next to the child pitied Alicia with saddened eyes.

The mother looked back at Alicia and stretched the right hand once more slowly toward the child's hair. As the hand approached, the girl felt more and more pressure, shaking fiercely from it. In her eyes, it felt like a beast was about to devour her. To this, the child’s arms rose in the air, defending herself.

However, the moment her hand touched the daughter’s hair, the aura vanished, and words came out. “Well, your dad is right. It would bring shame to our family if someone important saw you with them, Alicia.”

Her arms lowered down to her lap as she looked at the mother in the face. Sweat was running wildly down her spine.

“I...” She reminded herself of Iris wanting to become strong, gripping both hands onto each other strongly. “I understand, mother; I’ll be more careful in the future.”

The mother didn't feign surprise. There had been times when similar fights occurred in their household. This time, however, Alicia, a child, had managed to resist.

In Alicia’s eyes, the reflection of a faint smile on her mother’s lips went through.

“So, Alicia. You haven’t replied to my question. I’m very curious to see where one of the five heirlooms has run off to.”

Upon hearing that comment, the husband and butler looked simultaneously at Alicia’s hand.

“I gave it to someone I estimated worthy of wearing it.” She declared to her parents, having grasped a degree of confidence that they had never experienced.

The father, upon remembering the girl with the exquisite hair color, turned his face back to the window. The mother, noticing his behavior, realized she had finally made friends with a fellow noble.

“I made a friend. Her name is Iris. She’s 15 years old, and today she became an adventurer.”

Upon this information, the butler's eyebrow rose. Noble children were usually lazy and spoiled. Becoming an adventurer was definitely not an ambition the majority had, especially so young.

“Sounds like this Iris friend of yours has some potential... but...”

Alicia, upon hearing those words, expressed a confused face.

Her mother, realizing the cheek was already red, decided to leave it at that. After all, she knew that no noble girl would take such an exam at such a young age. Noble kids at such an age already had everything they wished for. Which meant, the odds that this 'lady' was of noble birth, was rather low.

“What is your friend like?”

“She’s fun, friendly, kind, and... strong-minded,” Alicia smiled as she finished.

“Talking on lady Iris, what’s her family name?”

“I didn’t have time to ask father.”

“Very well, also, you could improve your greeting to her level. Hers was flawless.”

Upon hearing that, her mother stared at her husband, confused. Peasants don’t learn etiquette, praiseworthy of a noble. At best, they learn how to bend their backs as the inferior humans they are.

“Daughter. Tell me about the appearance of your friend.”

“She was truly beautiful. Eyes  so green and hair so golden.”

“Robert.”

“Yes, Milady?”

“I want you to find out which family Iris belongs to. I wish to meet her.”

“As you wish. Though it might take a while.”

“That is fine,” she declared effortlessly, looking through the wagon window.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!