BVGW 52

chapter 52 

Even the duke and duchess looked up at the ceiling.

“…It’s the youngest one.”

“It’s the princess….”

They murmured blankly.

—Unit 1 here! Huh? Where am I? Anyway, I’m here! I’ll head to the biggest place, so the villain family that lost cute Li—no, Luna—better come get her quickly! Ah! Be good nowww!
—Kuh…!
—Heave-ho, secret base secured! Byeee!

Are you crying because Mom and Dad aren’t there?

Are the bad guys bullying you?

“She really is my daughter.”

Caesar coughed awkwardly as he looked at Lirian—so confident and brave even by herself.

And with that, the broadcast that threw the entire auction house into chaos cut off—leaving only a cheerful children’s song behind.

—Baby villains! Doo-roo-ru-doo-roo—so cute! Doo-roo-ru-doo-roo—of the Empire! Doo-roo-ru-doo-roo—baby villains! We’re the—doo-roo-ru-doo-roo—Empire’s—doo-roo-ru-doo-roo—dark—doo-roo-ru-doo-roo—villain family!

The “Villain Family” song played like background music.

The group exchanged silent glances.

“Let’s go.”

“If it’s the biggest place, it has to be there, right?”

“The auction stage.”

They headed toward the stage—by now, surely the most dangerous den of greed imaginable.

Meanwhile, Lirian, who had also “secured” her own secret base, hopped down from a chair.

She tightly clutched the black lace parasol—she had gotten it back from the boy.

“Oh right, I need to bring this too.”

She carefully picked up the giant tome she’d been using as a footrest—(Special: Sacred Relic)—not forgetting to take it with her.

Whoosh.

And so, Lirian dashed outside—leaving behind only the forcibly “reformed” villains.

14. Finale – The Path Where Light Flows

Thud, thud.

Lirian steadily “educated” every villain blocking her way as she made for the auction stage.

‘Where is everyone? Hm? Wait—that’s…’

Up on the high stage—
She saw the massive form of a serpent made entirely of evil, demonic energy.

Hissss!

Its fangs slashed through the air, and dark-blue light rippled, tearing open a crack in space.

‘An anomaly!’

Recognizing her old nemesis, Lirian’s eyes grew cold.

She gripped her parasol handle tightly and approached the rift.

Then, the scene on the stage gradually became clear.

“Ahaha! I’m rich now!”

Below the rift, mountains of gold and jewels were piled up—and people scrambled to grab them.

“You bastard! You stole mine?!”

“You’re the thief, you filthy rat!”

Red-eyed people fought viciously over glittering treasures, grabbing at each other’s throats.

Lirian quietly scanned the chaotic stage—
People rolling over each other to claim riches,
A man cackling madly as he scooped up coins,
A woman shrieking to kill anyone who came near her treasure.

Dark filth clung to their bodies, and their bloodshot eyes glowed an eerie red.

If Illei had been here, she’d have calmly said,
“They’ve been consumed by the rift’s madness. Be careful—the treasures are illusions.”

But unfortunately, the duke, duchess, and Illei hadn’t arrived yet.

So, inevitably—

“Treasure!”

Lirian’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the shiny piles before her.

After all, villains love pretty, glittering things—
whether they’re people (maybe) or objects.

Clink, roll.

A radiant jeweled crown tumbled to her feet.

‘Sparkly!’

She reached out eagerly to grab it—

“This is all mine!”

Someone snatched it up first, just a split second faster.

Lirian blinked, disappointed.

“Don’t come closer! It’s all mine! You bastards think you can steal from me?!”

When she looked up, she recognized the grubby figure desperately hoarding the treasure—
The crooked fake mustache, the greasy face, the shifty expression.

It was Squeak-Squeak.

She had no idea how he’d survived the banquet hall, but he was now snarling and guarding his loot.

Having her “claimed” treasure stolen, Lirian clenched her trembling fists.

“Squeaky, you rat! Give me back my shiny thing!”

“What? Why’s this yours? It’s mine—wait, hold on.”

The man arguing with a five-year-old suddenly froze.

“…The Demon King’s kid?”

He realized—the child in front of him was the daughter of the demon who’d once crushed his very soul.

Then his eyes, normal until that moment, turned blood-red.

“The Demon King’s brat… took my treasure key?! Fine, suffer like I did!”

He reached out toward her.

Seeing the shadow of an adult loom over her, Lirian muttered softly,

“I warned you.”

She grabbed her parasol handle.

“What are you—huh?”

Squeak-Squeak blinked. The child in front of him had vanished like smoke.

Startled, he lifted his head—
and saw her behind him, eyes glowing violet like amethyst.

“Villains…”

She swung the parasol.

Some instinct made him turn around just in time—
Her shadow loomed over him like a mountain.

“…should act like villains!”

SMACK!

The parasol struck him square in the face.

“Gahhh—!”

A tooth flew out like popcorn.

Squeak-Squeak had a long list of crimes—
stealing food, selling allied information to cultists, tormenting people.

So it was best to make sure he’d never think of doing it again—
not that she had any personal motives, of course.

Absolutely not because he took her crown.

“Be good now—!”

BAM!

A flash exploded before his eyes—like a newborn star.

As he rolled back, he thought dimly:

Right… the Demon King’s daughter…

Blood doesn’t lie. Father and daughter—truly copy-paste.

Tears streamed down his face.

But… why does a villain need to be good…?

Thud.

He collapsed, unconscious.

Lirian landed gracefully beside him.

She poked him with the tip of her parasol.

“Squeaky, are you dead?”

“H-hit me… then poking… that’s foul… urgh… I-it hurts…”

“Not dead then.”

“Urk! D-damn—”

“Bad words are not allowed!”

Another swift “lesson” followed.

WHACK!

Squeak-Squeak fainted instantly.

Lirian shook her head.

“I barely hit him. Still such a weakling.”

If he’d heard that, he’d have fainted again from pure frustration.

But she didn’t care. Having defeated a villain, Lirian was proud.

Now it was time for the spoils of victory.

“My treasure!”

Eyes sparkling, she looked around for the jeweled crown she liked so much.

But—

“It’s gone?!”

The crown was nowhere to be seen.

Her little antennae drooped sadly.

Then—

Creak, creak.

An eerie laugh echoed from somewhere.

As if mocking her.

Lirian whipped her head toward the sound—
and saw, atop the mountain of treasure, a figure wearing the jeweled crown at a jaunty angle.

‘The Abyssal Mage.’

The master of this rift.

Lirian’s violet eyes gleamed.

“Give me back my crown!”

She kicked off the ground, sprinting up the glittering pile.

The distance closed in an instant.

Their eyes met—monster of the abyss and human girl.

Her parasol nearly reached him when—

Creeeak!

Darkness surged beneath the mage’s feet, and he vanished.

Lirian rolled down the other side of the gold pile.

“Eh? What the—?”

She shook her head, scattering coins everywhere.

Sitting up, she saw the mage had reappeared far away—grinning mockingly.

Lirian puffed her cheeks.

“Stop right there!”

Creak-creak.

“Give back my crown!”

Creak!

Every time she charged, he teleported away, teasing her.

But with her tiny body, there was no catching someone who could blink through space.

After endless chasing, Lirian grew furious.

She clenched her teeth and raised her parasol high with both hands.

“Fine then! My secret weapon!”

Creak?!

A strange aura gathered around the parasol.

Woooosh—

The Abyssal Mage’s eyes widened, and he pulled out his spellbook.

Lirian shouted proudly,

“Thunder-boom, super-strong Auraaa—!”

Invisible mana flared atop the parasol.

The mage panicked, thinking she was about to unleash sword energy—
something impossible for a close-combat type—and immediately teleported again.

Darkness pooled and seeped into the air.

Then, behind Lirian, space rippled—his form reappearing.

“…Nope! Be-Good Punch!”

Just as his head peeked out from the shadows—

Lirian’s Reform Punch struck.