My Villain-of-the-Week Record
Chapter 30
The snake crawled out from beneath Telecus’s body and flew toward me.
I couldn’t ignore the expectation and affection filling its black eyes, so I held out both hands.
“Come here, little snake.”
It climbed onto my palm, coiled up, and drooped limply.
So using venom drains its energy. It had slumped like this for a while after biting that kidnapper boss earlier, too.
Snake, if it’s that exhausting, I wish you wouldn’t bite unless you have to…
Maimon looked at the snake and asked,
“Is that really a wild snake? It seems friendly.”
“It is a wild snake.”
That’s true. I never adopted it. I never even intended to pick it up.
“You shouldn’t keep a venomous snake.”
“I know.”
“If you know, you should release it.”
“I want to, but…”
Having recovered a little, the snake flew over to Irix, settled beside his neck, and rubbed its head against him.
I saw it clearly—cold sweat glistening on Irix’s forehead.
“Maimon, this belongs to Senior.”
“Wild.”
“Shut up. It was in Senior’s room.”
“That’s not right. The snake was there before I was. Technically, I entered its habitat.”
“You’re the one who brought it out of that habitat.”
“I told you, it followed me.”
“And you still haven’t abandoned it.”
“You know I can’t.”
It follows me on its own. And it’s already helped us twice—I can’t just throw it away after that.
The only problem is that its “help” always results in someone dying.
I just hope they both deserved it.
Just then, a large man appeared in the wrecked train car. It was the waiter—the one who had shot an arrow at Irix.
The waiter spoke calmly.
“So you were here.”
If someone else had said that, it might have sounded like “Glad to see you.”
From him, it sounded more like, “Found you.”
He raised his hand. A coin-sized orb of light formed at his fingertips. Fortunately, he didn’t fire it at us. It merely illuminated the area.
“Are you all right?”
What a ridiculous question.
All right?
You’re asking if we’re all right?
Irix raised his injured hand. My handkerchief was tightly wrapped around the wound.
“Ah, then you’re fine.”
He seemed like the type who would call someone “fine” as long as they were still breathing.
A gust of wind shook the train violently.
Screeeech—
After waiting for the shaking to subside, Irix spoke.
“If I’m going to remain fine, I’ll need some help, Zephyr.”
Oh?
What’s this?
“Someone will arrive shortly to resolve the situation, Young Master.”
And then he said something absurd.
“I’m relieved you’re unharmed, Young Master.”
You shot a missile-sized arrow at us.
Irix, who had nearly been hit by that missile, replied,
“Do you remember that you tried to make sure I wasn’t unharmed?”
“Of course I remember. It was only moments ago.”
Is it normal in this world to casually fire things like that? He’s so calm about it.
“Were you trying to kill me?”
“Yes.”
I glanced at Maimon. He remained composed, though his pupils trembled slightly.
Good. Even in a fantasy genre, it seems shooting someone you know is still frowned upon.
“Why?”
Irix glared at Zephyr. Zephyr smiled brightly.
“It wasn’t out of personal resentment or emotion.”
Even if it were, that still shouldn’t be acceptable.
“I was ordered to.”
“By whom?”
“His Excellency. He instructed me to kill you if the situation allowed.”
Irix closed his eyes and tilted his head back. Thankfully, he didn’t look heartbroken. It seemed his father had given such orders before. He looked used to it.
“Were you truly going to kill me?”
“I was ordered to. I’m sure His Excellency had his reasons.”
“What reasons?”
“I don’t know.”
So he was going to kill him without even knowing why.
Why is this world like this? Well, no wonder it’s doomed. Maybe I really did come to the right place.
“Senior was in danger too. And Maimon almost got hurt.”
“I input a basic targeting spell into the arrow to attack only the Young Master. Even if it had struck his friend directly, it would’ve felt no worse than being hit by a feather.”
“…So you were only trying to kill me.”
“Yes.”
You probably shouldn’t say that so confidently.
“You didn’t feel curious about the reason?”
“No.”
Irix pressed a hand to his forehead.
He clearly didn’t think it was worth continuing. Honestly, I’d rather this conversation end too. And although the intention was malicious, the result was helpful. When Zephyr attacked Irix, Peregion and Telecus focused on fighting him and stopped paying attention to us. That created an opening.
Well done, you bastard.
“Did Father say anything else?”
“He said you likely wouldn’t die easily. And that I shouldn’t overexert myself.”
I said in admiration,
“You must’ve seriously messed up with your father.”
“Shut up. This is happening because my father’s a complete bastard.”
Zephyr looked as if he’d seen scenes like this many times. But Maimon looked shocked, as though he’d just heard the worst curse imaginable.
Maimon, who grew up in the slums seeing all kinds of people, surprised by one unfilial son. Still got a lot to learn.
“Fine. Now get lost.”
“Why should I?”
“I don’t want to see your face.”
“I see. The Young Master doesn’t wish to see me. And?”
“….”
Irix gave up and said nothing more. I wondered—does Zephyr act like this on purpose, or is he naturally like this?
“By the way, Young Master, are you raising that now?”
He pointed at the snake.
“Why do you care?”
“It looks magnificent.”
“Bite him.”
“Even if it bit me, it probably wouldn’t hurt much.”
“That wasn’t directed at you.”
Right. That was meant for the snake, not Maimon.
“And if it bites once, you die.”
Maimon said.
“That’s correct. You die immediately. I saw it myself.”
He pointed at Telecus.
Zephyr glanced down at Telecus.
“Is he dead?”
“Check if you’re curious.”
“That’s fine. So this man died because…”
“Accidental death.”
Irix answered.
“He was bitten by a wild snake.”
He gestured to the snake flicking its tongue. It shook its head at Zephyr. Attack posture.
Honestly, I wanted to let Zephyr get bitten. But I didn’t want the snake to carry the karma of killing three people in one day, so I grabbed its wings.
* * *
The assault on the Central Line express train by a horde of corrupted magical beasts.
When the Order halted the train to apprehend cultists, the beasts attacked, causing massive damage.
The train was wrecked and derailed on the bridge, nearly falling into the gorge under consecutive attacks. Passengers trembled in fear while the Order could do nothing.
Then, as suddenly as they had appeared, the beasts vanished—like waking from a dream. They evaporated without a trace.
Though it had grown quiet, the passengers continued trembling, unsure what might happen next.
Before long, soldiers in blue uniforms appeared in the gorge. Spheres of light floated around them, illuminating their path.
At their head stood a woman with short dark-brown hair. She stopped before the iron bridge and raised her staff—tall as she was, and just as powerful.
“[Even a great mountain becomes a pebble in your hand, Remotio!]”
A brilliant spell formation, as if drawn in glowing ink, flared to life. As the levitation spell activated, the train slowly lifted and moved across the bridge.
Thud—
When the train settled onto solid ground, the earth trembled. The passengers sighed in relief. It was finally over.
An announcement echoed:
—All passengers on board, please evacuate the train immediately!
As soon as the message ended, passengers poured out. Those too injured to walk were carried. Among them were Anerica and Depor.
Anerica had only minor injuries. Depor was unconscious. She used magic to float him out.
The uniformed mage who had moved the train recognized Zephyr and approached.
Zephyr bowed politely.
“Greetings, Lady Gatra.”
“Hello, Zephyr.”
A white camellia badge was pinned to her chest.
The White Camellia Corps—like the Red Camellia—was a military force tasked with tracking down and killing or arresting magical beasts and criminals.
White Camellia members were more experienced and skilled than the Red Camellia, and thus handled more serious cases.
“We were responding to a report of criminals. Human trafficking, kidnapping, robbery—fleeing to Mavelus.”
But none such people were here. At least, none Zephyr knew of.
“However, on our way, we received a new report. A massive beast horde was attacking a train at the First Iron Bridge of the Grand Gorge.”
Gatra surveyed the surroundings.
“And now those beasts have vanished completely. Only traces remain to show they were ever here.”
