I Reject the villain’s ending.

Chapter 10

I grinned mischievously at Iros’s rarely disarmed face.

‘What, you weren’t going to send me alone?’

‘No, of course not.’

‘Really?’

‘I knew you’d get into trouble if I sent you alone.’

‘…….’

I was such an untrustworthy person, it hurt a little to hear him sound so sincere.

I let out a small sigh and laughed, haha.

I wouldn’t have signed up for a death squad just because I was bored.

I had a plan, and I did what I had to do to avoid being bothered.

Seeing Iros’ anger, High Priest Diego nodded and said.

‘My thoughts are the same as yours, Iros. After all, slaying a warlock is dangerous…….’

‘I have my guardian sword with me, what are you so worried about?’

‘Lady Haona.’

I looked at High Priest Diego and the others who were calling me with stern faces and said, holding my weight.

‘The peace on the continent has been very long. In the intervening years, unseemly warlocks have crawled out of the woodwork, and innocent people have been harmed.’

‘True enough.’

‘That’s why I’m here. It is part of the duties of a saint to destroy evil.’

What do you think? She seems like a good saint, doesn’t she?

I looked back at Iros with an expression that seemed to say… and he looked quite surprised, his violet eyes fluttering slightly.

Sadly, it wasn’t because he was impressed by my speech, but because he was shocked as if to say, ‘Did you eat something wrong?

Iros’s mouth opened slightly.

‘Seo, you’re not feeling well. I think we should call a doctor…….’

‘…….’

Was it really that shocking to hear me say something so fancy? The other Guardians’ jaws dropped, as did the priests.

When my eyes locked with Shieldmaster Diane Emore, he coughed in embarrassment and shut up.

The nameless green-haired Wisdom watched me warily, her eyes filled with distrust as if searching for a trick.

‘Anyway, I’ll join you and Pink-no, I mean Iros-in the raiding party.’

‘Yes. That’s how I’ll organize the battalion…….’

‘Oh, and since I’m going as a saint, of course, I’ll have my guardians, Shield and Wisdom, with me, right?’

‘Yes ……!’

‘Well, if Wisdom goes with you, we won’t have to send out investigators, and it’ll be more economical.’

I smirked, and Wisdom looked at me with a glare that could have burned me alive as if I’d planned this.

Iros stared at me, a little surprised, as if he hadn’t expected me to draw shield and Wisdom.

I smiled at him and whispered in his ear.

‘So I told you I had an idea.’

A sword and shield worthy of a hundred paladins, and the wisdom of a strategist to see through any trap or spell.

The four of us are far more efficient than sending dozens of priests and common paladins.

‘Then the hunting and investigation of warlocks in the Elotar region will be done by the Saint and the Guardians.’

‘An excellent choice, High Priest Diego.’

‘It would seem that a maid should accompany you as well. Would you like to take the child who has been assigned as your maid this time?’

‘Mei? Yes. My sword will protect her, so there will be no danger, and there will be five of us traveling with her.’

‘I understand and will make the arrangements. This concludes our regular meeting for today.’

I grinned broadly, unable to contain myself as I looked at Wisdom, who looked exasperated, and Shield, who looked somewhat bewildered.

We’ve all been caught, now let’s go out and have a bit of a mingle.

Iros gave me a small shake of the shoulders, noting that my smile looked even more sinister today.

There’s a reason I’ve been pushing things so hard.

Firstly, it’s more effective to improve the image of a villainess, who is eviler than a demon, with one big blow than a series of small ones.

When a villain does something good, it turns their usually bad image on its head, and public opinion turns in their favor, with people saying, ‘What a surprise!

‘And secondly. This is more important.’

The people who helped kill me, the black curtain around the emperor and the country.

The three guardians of the temple: sword, shield, and wisdom.

Wisdom strategized and created tactics to rally the troops, Shield led them through the gates, and Sword slaughtered all the knights of the imperial city and killed me.

So perfectly and effortlessly was I captured and killed, and so was the young emperor.

‘So I must use this journey to turn the Guardians all to my side.’

If I continue to foster the perception that I’m better than they think, they’ll at least think twice before trying to kill me.

Better yet, if they don’t kill me, they’ll protect me.

With a flourish of determination, I walked out of the meeting and smiled at Shield and Wisdom.

‘We’ll be leaving in two days, so take care of the Elotta region, Diane, and the nameless Wisdom.’

‘Ah. This fellow is-’

‘Eldrakis. No last name.’

‘Very well. Take care, Eldrakis.’

Eldrakis cut off Diane’s words and blurted out his name.

When she looked at him in surprise, not expecting him to give her his name, he gave her a chilly look and turned and walked away.

I was dumbfounded. Somehow, his face didn’t look familiar.

‘There’s another bastard here who can match me.

I looked back at Eldrakis, who was walking away with a masked smirk on his face, and then at Dian.

‘Ah. I’m sure you have a lot to prepare before you leave, Diane.’

‘…Yes. I see, I’ll go first then.’

‘Okay. Bye.’

I waved and saw the reticent Dian off.

At least Diane doesn’t seem to be hostile to me.

Sure, he doesn’t seem to care, but where’s the basic courtesy?

Once the corridor was clear of everyone, I wiped the smirk off my face and flopped back onto my bed.

‘Hmph. That was hard.’

I leaned back without much tension, even though I could have easily slammed the back of my head into the corridor.

Instead, the back of my head touched the soft, slightly hard pecs of Iros’s chest, and before I knew it, he grabbed my shoulders and pulled me up.

‘It’s dangerous to try to lie down anywhere like this.’

‘It’s only because I know you’ll catch me. You’re partly to blame for my bad habits, aren’t you?’

‘What?’

He looked into Iros’s gentle mauve eyes, bewildered, and smiled foolishly.

‘It’s just that I’m getting so comfortable with you being so sweet and accepting.’

It was a lie, but Iros’s eyes narrowed, and the hardening of his features softened like a spring breeze.

‘You’re a good talker.’

‘I am.’

‘You must be tired, why don’t you go back to your room and rest.’

‘Carry me up.’

‘I don’t want to, it’s heavy.’

‘What?! You used to carry me when I was younger!’

‘You were light then, weren’t you?’

As we exchanged words that could only be described as tantrums, Iros gently picked me up and carried me down the corridor.

As we reached the room, Mei, who had been waiting for us in the corridor, trotted over and squinted at Iros as he carried me.

‘Saint, why is the Guardian carrying our Saint?’

‘Our… Saint?’

Iros trailed off like an unwelcome intruder, but Mei held her arms out in front of her.

‘Saintess, I’d rather carry you, I’m stronger than him!’

‘Hmph. Mei, don’t you think you’d break your arm if you tried to pick me up? Besides, I’ve come to my room, what’s the point of carrying me?’

‘Ouch! This was my chance to hug a saint.’

‘…….’

I think I just heard something quite impure.

I shake my head, thinking to myself, ‘I must have misheard,’ and slide back down to the floor.

‘Let’s go in. I have to leave for the Elota region in two days, and I have a lot to get ready.’

‘Where are you going?’

‘Yes. You’re coming with me.’

‘Really?!’

‘Yes. Because you’re my only dedicated maid.’

Mei, unaware of the homelessness and rough roads ahead, looked gleeful, while Iros looked somewhat disgruntled.

‘I’m what.’

‘What? What are you?’

‘I am what, dear saint? I’m the only one who’s stuck by you this whole time, so why do you seem to care more about Mei-’

‘Are you jealous?’

‘Jealous of her? Jealous of what?’

‘Because of me.’

‘Oh, no, I wouldn’t do that.’

Iros raised his voice in embarrassment as if it hadn’t occurred to him that he was jealous.

It was the reaction of a child who had never experienced jealousy before.

‘That’s cute.

I think he’s secretly feeling a little competitive because Mei has entered the fence for the first time after being alone with me all the time.

‘He used to follow me around reluctantly. Now that I’m being gentle with her, she’s changed a lot.’

He’s more relaxed with me, more open, more like a puppy with separation anxiety.

He used to wake up startled at the slightest movement and would follow me everywhere I tried to go, clinging to me.

I smirked and sat down on the couch, beckoning.

‘Come here.’

‘…….’

Without a word, Iros walked over and sat down beside me, kneeling and resting his head casually against my leg.

‘You don’t have to kneel there anymore.

It’s like she’s been taught over and over again that she can sit next to me comfortably, and now she sits on the floor like a dog.

I put my hand on Iros’s light pink hair and stroked it gently as he looked up at me anyway.

Mei blushes, shielding her eyes with her hand and peeking through her fingers.

‘Pink, you’re my sword.’

‘…….’

Her face is still stoic, but I can tell by the way her lower lip is slightly protruding that this isn’t enough to ease her pout.

So what can I do to make my dog feel better?

After a moment’s thought, I lean down and stroke Iros’ head, then slowly lower my hand to caress his cheek.

The soft skin was warm against my fingers.

Her violet-scented eyes fluttered open and lowered their lashes as she followed my finger along her cheek.

It was like a puppy chasing a toy, and I smirked.

‘You’re the only “mine” I’ve ever had, and I can’t have you getting jealous of May, who just walked in today. We’re supposed to get along, Pink.’

‘You’re mistaken. She’s not a child, and I’ve never been jealous.’

‘Oh, well, then I don’t need to comfort you. Now get up and get to work.’

‘No, he!’

‘Huh?’

‘…You don’t have to.’

When I asked him, ‘You don’t have to do what?’ he muttered softly, his earlobes twitching slightly in embarrassment at the thought.

‘I’m saying you don’t have to soothe them.’

‘Does that mean you’re asking for more soothing?’

‘…….’

Iros was speechless, and Mei’s face looked like it was about to explode as she glanced over.