Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

The encroaching fear rapidly escalated into sheer terror.

Instinctively, I grasped the ring adorning my finger.

‘If I call Jen, he’ll come. He definitely will.’

As the monster raised its massive, weapon-like appendage to smash through the door, I was about to shout Jen’s name.

That was until Luka’s silhouette came into view, shielding me from the impending shower of splintered debris.

“Ria, are you alright?!”

Before I could respond, the creature launched another attack, prompting Luka to wield his sword against the monster several times his own size.

Sword energy flowed forth from the slender blade like coursing water.

The monster soon sustained severe lacerations before crumpling to the ground with a resounding thud.

Confirming its demise, Luka immediately rushed to my side.

“Are you unharmed?!”

Steadying my trembling breaths, I observed him frantically checking me over.

Thankfully, he seemed to have deflected all the debris unscathed.

“I’m sorry… You told me to remain inside, but I opened the door to peek outside for a moment.”

Luka embraced my quivering form reassuringly.

“It’s alright, just breathe steadily.”

As the situation stabilized, the cause of this disturbance became apparent.

A renegade from the magical community, expelled from the Magic Tower for delving into black magic, had been dining at this restaurant.

His name was Count Rivihit, and he had ultimately succumbed to the dark powers coursing through his veins, losing control.

This rampage had inadvertently summoned a few stray monsters lingering in the Dark Forest to this location.

Fortunately, thanks to Luka’s swift intervention, the sole casualty was the rampaging Count Rivihit himself.

‘Count Rivihit, you say.’

Surveying the chaotic scene amidst the scattered belongings strewn about where the man had been, I noticed his attire.

The Count’s corporeal form had vanished without a trace during his manic outburst, leaving only his clothing, hat, and staff behind.

According to the original story, he had relentlessly pursued becoming the Tower Master, but unable to surpass the innate genius of the current one, he had ultimately resorted to black magic instead.

This brief account had surfaced when the female protagonist, Senia, had visited Troisen, the Empire’s clandestine premier information guild.

The guild master had fallen victim to Count Rivihit, who had stolen an ancient mana crystal – all to acquire a vessel capable of withstanding the strain of powerful black magic.

The Count had swallowed the entire crystal, yet ultimately met the predetermined fate of all who dabbled in forbidden arts.

The forces he couldn’t control eventually reached a critical threshold, culminating in utter obliteration.

Having learned of this, Senia eventually located the mana crystal buried within the late Count’s possessions a year after his rampage-induced demise.

She then bartered it to the guild master in exchange for the information she sought.

‘Sorry, but I shall have to utilize that card first.’

Seizing the chaotic opportunity, I addressed the officers overseeing the situation.

“Excuse me, but has anyone happened to find an amethyst-studded ring in the vicinity?

The mana crystal had been set into a ring.

It was fortunate Count Rivihit hadn’t choked after consuming it whole.

“It’s quite important to me, and I believe I may have dropped it while fleeing from those creatures earlier.”

At my words, an officer donning an extravagant feathered hat instructed his subordinate surveying the scene:

“Did you come across any rings amidst the remains?”

“A ring was indeed discovered amongst the Count’s discarded garments, sir.”

The subordinate displayed his gloved hand, revealing a violet gemstone encircled by a golden band, which was unmistakably the crystal.

‘That’s the one.’

“Yes, that’s it! What a relief, I thought I had lost it for good.”

Extending my hand with a smile, I affirmed my ownership.

“B-But this ring was retrieved from Count Rivihit’s attire…”

“Well, if Count Rivihit had any associates present, we could always inquire with them.”

Since no companions could corroborate the ring originating from within his person, I offered that suggestion.

“The Count has been confirmed to have dined alone, miss.”

“How unfortunate. It’s definitely mine, yet I lack any means to prove it. However… does the fact that it came from the Count’s clothes automatically confirm his ownership? Amid that earlier chaos, with so many people passing through and the scene in disarray.”

Of course, I hadn’t actually witnessed the chaotic scene firsthand.

But those words prompted the officer to nudge his subordinate, signaling him to relinquish the ring.

He must have recognized my identity.

“You’re right, miss. What reason could you have to lie? You even described the ring’s appearance beforehand.”

The subordinate finally handed me the ring without further protest.

“Please rest assured, I never doubted you for a moment, miss…!”

“Of course. Now, I shall take my leave so as not to impede you further.”

Turning away, I extricated myself from the crowd of onlookers.

Soon, the mana crystal ring emitted a faint glow beside the one Jen had gifted me.

While the thought of it having originated from the Count’s possession left me slightly unsettled, the ring itself was quite exquisite.

In the original story, Senia had procured this ring and bartered it to the guild master, seeking information she desired. The true Laveria Rayes’s whereabouts.

[Tell me where the real Laveria Rayes is. Is she even still alive?]

[Weren’t you just at that party with the Laveria Rayes the other day?]

[I’m not joking. I mean the real Laveria Rayes.]

[You expect me to uncover what even the Duke couldn’t?]

[If that ring is the price, then perhaps I can achieve what the Duke couldn’t.]

[That…! Haha, very well. With that, the situation changes entirely.]

A month later, the guild master had relayed to Senia: ‘The real Laveria Rayes perished from an epidemic in her kidnapper’s hometown before reaching ten years of age.’

Essentially, the guild master had deceived her.

For here I stood, very much alive.

He must have coveted the ring, while the prospect of locating the genuine Laveria Rayes had seemed unattainable.

As for Senia’s motives in seeking me, I could only speculate.

In any case, that fleeting episode had concluded rather anticlimactically.

Thus, my utilization of this ring to sway the guild master didn’t drastically deviate from the original narrative’s flow.

‘Not that I particularly care about adhering to that original story anymore.’

Luka had escaped the orphanage through his own efforts, and I could walk on my own two legs. The original had already undergone a cataclysmic upheaval.

I observed Luka conversing with the supervising officer regarding the situation.

Once their exchange concluded, he scanned the crowds until our gazes met, whereupon he swiftly approached.

Having excused myself under the pretext of visiting the restroom, I naturally waved him over, calling out his name.

“Are you alright? How is your condition?”

“Fortunately, no serious injuries occurred. With the rampaging Count Rivihit now absent, this incident should reach a swift resolution. I’ve already notified the Magic Tower…”

I interrupted his explanation.

“I’m asking if you were hurt anywhere.”

He had singlehandedly confronted several monsters with just his sword – it was implausible for him to emerge completely unscathed.

Perhaps ‘transcendent’ carried another connotation akin to ‘monstrous.’

My gaze then fell upon a purplish blemish visible through the tear in his sleeve.

“That is…”

Following my line of sight to the wound, Luka calmly remarked:

“It seems I’ve been injured.”

Despite its ghastly appearance, he nonchalantly mentioned seeking out the court physician later.

“I’m a healing mage, you know. Why not ask me to treat it…?”

Jen had explicitly stated that now that I had awakened as a healing mage, people would instinctively turn to me first whenever injuries occurred, regardless of the situation.

Those unaware of my circumstances would undoubtedly condemn me for withholding healing magic when capable of providing it.

To refrain from action despite the ability would brand me a callous child in their eyes.

Meeting my gaze steadily, Luka responded:

“You only awakened recently, and after erasing those witnesses’ memories yesterday, your powers must have been considerably drained. Don’t burden yourself with a sense of obligation.”

He tore a strip of cloth to bind the wound. Observing his pragmatic demeanor, I found myself momentarily at a loss for words.

Soon after, having noticed the imperial water mages dispatched to the scene, Luka summoned them to treat his injury instead.

Thankfully, as a superficial bruise, the water magic proved visibly restorative.

“You see, I’m fine now. So please, no more of that expression.”

“You…”

As I attempted to articulate a response, a familiar voice called out from behind.

“Oh, Ria?”

It was Rachel, her lustrous black hair partially concealed beneath a hat.

Accompanied by Sir Heild.

“We came to investigate the commotion, but you two were dining here as well?”

“Count Rivihit lost control, summoning monsters.”

“Count Rivihit? So that eccentric mage finally snapped. Are you both unharmed?”

“Fortunately… Luka resolved everything.”

“I see.”

Rachel’s gaze fell upon Luka.

“I heard about yesterday’s Grand Nobles’ Council incident.”

She too had evidently not overcome her outrage towards Marquis Gassen.

“That &#%$#%@#% almost made me $@#%@%#! How dare he insult Mother?!”

Her vehement cursing prompted nearby passersby to flinch.

“Execution was too lenient a punishment, you did well.”

Exhaling deeply, Rachel remarked.

“I really get tired of hearing the princess swear like this all the time.”

Rachel responded to Sir Heild’s words:

“It’s the key to survival in the imperial castle.”

“But Rachel, what brings you into the city?”

Draping an arm around my shoulders, she replied:

“Want to come along, Ria?”

* * *

“Welcome!”

As the jingling bell announced our entry through the door, we found ourselves in an establishment specializing in finely crafted noble armaments.

Prioritizing ornate embellishments and resplendent aesthetics over pragmatic efficiency, their merchandise spanned an array of swords, crossbows, shields, and more.

We had come to browse weapons for the upcoming Imperial Hunt marking summer’s conclusion.