The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 97
“You seem to know what this is, don’t you?”
Roxelyn asked, noticing Gerun’s hesitation before he answered with his usual nonchalance.
“…I’ve always had an interest in myths.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You’ve acquired something valuable. Shall I guess what you plan to do with it?”
“Forget that, you should hurry and join the others.”
“And what about you?”
“I want to test this out.”
Roxelyn flicked the bead in her hand lightly.
“…Alone?”
“So what?”
“……You really are too reckless.”
“I don’t want to hear that from someone who was about to die after being rejected by his wife every day.”
Gerun looked at Roxelyn and chuckled.
“I’ll help you.”
“I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
“Mutual feelings. However, I have a proposition for you, what do you say?”
“What is it?”
“Would you consider becoming my daughter?”
A heavy silence fell in the darkness.
“……You’re insane.”
Bang! The door closed.
“Is this puberty……?”
Gerun laughed lowly, opening the door firmly shut behind her and followed her out.
The town was already half swallowed by the inferno.
* * *
The ground that had been flat started to bulge.
Screams filled the air, and those trying to escape were helpless before the sweeping flames.
Zerti clicked his tongue lowly.
“Take Roxelyn and get as far as you can away from this place.”
He muttered fiercely.
His plan was to melt the risen ground with poison.
Zerti placed his palm on the wall.
His hand, dyed purple, began melting the ground that had risen like a wall instantly.
The problem was……
“……It repairs too quickly.”
There was no problem melting it, but the earth and dirt were infinite. Even if he created a hole, it would repair itself in less than three seconds.
It was hopelessly short for people to escape.
‘I could make a gap if I used more power……’
His ability was poison.
So, he could escape without a problem. He could carry Roxelyn in his arms, which was fine.
There was also an antidote.
‘……But only for one.’
He could only save one person.
‘……And this is an Abyss.’
This raging fire wasn’t a simple natural disaster or a terror act by some incompetent group.
It was an arson caused by an Abyss.
Moreover, someone intended to burn everyone in the village alive, ensuring no one could escape.
That’s why there had been reports of the soil being chaotically disturbed everywhere.
‘Dirt and fire. At least two Abysses.’
Whether one person was using two Abysses or it was a joint crime by two people was still unknown, but it was a headache.
The village’s exit was crowded with people.
“Move! Get out of the way!!”
“Damn nobles, move!!”
“Hey, are you insane! To the nobles……”
“Do you not understand? We’re all dead if we don’t get out! Damn it, god damn it!”
All sorts of noise from panicked people filled the air.
Zerti’s expression soured at the annoyance of the noise.
The recovery was quick. If they used the Abyss, they might be able to escape.
‘I could escape with Roxelyn, but…’
It would be impossible for the others.
Moreover, the walls made of dirt were rising higher and higher, as if intending to swallow the whole giant city.
Zerti watched as the wall, rising to cover the sky, began to curve into a semicircle, as if creating a giant prison.
“Lord Zerti!”
A knight who had gone to fetch Roxelyn rushed over.
His face, pale with tension, confusion, and fear, showed clear signs of distress.
Zerti frowned, sensing something unsettling.
“What is it?”
“I, I apologize! Miss Roxelyn is nowhere to be found!”
“……What?”
He paused, a storm of emotions swirling in his widened eyes.
“……From when?”
“Milord?”
“Since when has she been missing……?”
With a voice almost lost, the knight, eyes shut tight and head bowed, hurriedly added more details.
“I checked only now……”
“……”
“I’m certain I saw her get on the carriage and closed the door. But now when I opened it……”
“Get lost.”
Zerti pushed the knight away with a pale face, his hand leaving a trail of purple poison that began to eat away at the knight’s armor. The knight screamed and hastily stripped off his armor.
“Milord, where are you going! Milord!”
The knight blinked in confusion.
The pale-faced Zerti ran towards the direction of the flames.