MMLP 20

Chapter 20

With my arms full of fragrant flowers, I rode on a unicorn across the fields. A rainbow arched brightly across the sky after the rain, and for a moment I felt like I had become a fairy straight out of a storybook.

If only the chatterbox ghost beside me would shut up, I could have enjoyed the mood fully.

—If you’re weak against handsome men, you don’t secretly harbor feelings for me too, do you?

At times like this, I honestly wish I were a shaman—so I could exorcise (physically) that damn mouth of his.

What annoyed me even more was that Zerodines could spew nonsense like that and still never be criticized—thanks to his appearance.

A tall man with sharp features and striking red hair. If this world were one of those reverse-harem romance stories, he would’ve easily been cast as at least the second male lead.

But the protagonist? Not a chance. Male leads are always either black-haired or blonde.

“My heart only reacts to blond men like Rocinante.”

I just blurted out whatever came to mind in order to shut Zerodines up, regardless of my actual taste. Unfortunately, it didn’t really work.

—As far as I know, Mikhail Grimloir, Eve-Maria’s real brother, fits that description too.

“Bad personality disqualifies a man. That goes for you too, so rest assured.”

—So, when are you planning the wedding?

“Not now. Maybe after the hunting tournament.”

Once the swap with the spy is complete.

He has no idea, but Rocinante is scheduled to be replaced by a double.

Once everything is over, I’ll let Zerodines in on the secret, just him.

The thought of keeping such a secret to myself tickled me, and I almost burst out laughing.

Oops. Not the time yet. I had to control my expression.

“It won’t be too late. The reason Diego secured his claim was because he had the Archmage backing him.”

Now that cheat card was mine.

True, without a body of his own he couldn’t unleash his full potential—no world-shaking magic, no turning back time, no dimensional upheaval. But having him on my side meant I was starting the game already ahead.

At the very least, I wouldn’t have to worry about Diego stealing that power.

“With you at my side, tricks like that are impossible. The one who should be anxious isn’t me—it’s Diego.”

And Eve-Maria too, who hadn’t managed to strip away my strength. By now, she must be feeling desperate.

That girl always ran to her father or brother for help when things didn’t go her way, so it wouldn’t be strange if some crisis were already headed toward me.

I hoped I was wrong, but…

When I returned to the Grimloir duchy, I entered the main house with an armful of flowers.

My vision was half blocked by the blooms, and the rain had made their fragrance even stronger, almost dizzying me.

—Levieta. Ahead.

“Ahead?”

Before I could process Zerodines’s warning, it happened.

I bumped into someone and stumbled to the ground, the red Abenraiz flowers scattering all around me. I rubbed my sore backside with tears prickling my eyes.

“Ow, ow…”

When I looked up to check on the other person, I froze mid-motion.

Why is he here…?

The blond man glaring down at me was none other than Eve-Maria’s older brother—my tormentor and enemy from my past life—Mikhail Grimloir.

Did Eve-Maria call him here?

The hostility in his gaze left no room for doubt. I was certain he had come at her request.

But should I really smile and apologize like a fool to someone clearly here to hurt me?

I met his killing intent head-on and snapped at him.

“Hey.”

“…Hey?”

“Watch where you’re going.”

Bastard. Now that I had the Archmage cheat card, you’d regret crossing me. I’d show you just what it means to be crushed by the villain.

“How amusing. Do you even know who I am, to let your tongue wag so freely?”

Mikhail smirked, lifting one corner of his mouth. Beneath the blond hair, his handsome face resembled Eve-Maria’s so closely he could have been her male twin.

He was thirteen, the same age as Diego. Back then, every time he oppressed me with his strength, I had despaired over how much four years could matter. As if I could forget.

“If you want me to acknowledge you, introduce yourself properly.”

“Insolent brat.”

“Want me to do it for you? You’re the kind of idiot who picks fights with girls, thinking you’re great. Mikhail Grimloir.”

“…You know me?”

His smugness dried up, his expression twisting. The fingers that had been twitching cockily near his hip froze.

“So you knew who I was, and still dared to talk back?”

His pride, stung by my storm of insults, left him circling the same question like a lost child. Sure, anyone would be flustered if a worm bit their foot before they could crush it—but I had no reason to pity him.

Maybe I’d caught Zerodines’s snark, but I answered in his style:

“Don’t make me repeat myself. It just makes you look dumber.”

“Best shut up before I cut your tongue out.”

So alike, those siblings. Eve-Maria and Mikhail—neither had changed from my past life.

“Call yourself my sister’s plaything in public, and I’ll cut your tongue out.”

“Slurp down maggoty stew, and if you can’t keep it down, I’ll rip your tongue out too.”

Really, just the same as before.

But the world wasn’t the same anymore. The helpless soul who once begged not to be bullied was gone.

I didn’t cower before Mikhail’s threats—why should I?

Eve-Maria wanted to hide from her own lack of talent in swordsmanship and academics, so she clung to her brother’s status. At school, she bullied easy targets to feed her ego.

Trash, plain and simple.

“This isn’t some corner you can blame. We bumped into each other in a wide hallway—clearly you shoved me on purpose to make me drop my flowers.”

“I only tried to squash the pest I saw. So what?”

“Apologize, you villain.”

“Apologize?”

He chuckled like he’d heard the funniest joke.

“No wonder you managed to win over even my uncle and the mighty Grimloir Duke. For my precious sister’s sake, I’ll make sure to teach a bug like you proper manners.”

Muttering loudly enough for me to hear, he slipped a hand into his jacket.

A common trick of his. That plain-looking jacket was expensive because its pockets were connected to a subspace, letting him store anything inside.

Predictable fool.

So this is what Zerodines meant when he said his moves were obvious. Sure enough, Mikhail pulled something out—something that squirmed.

Glittering scales. Fangs dripping venom.

Holding the snake proudly, Mikhail declared:

“This isn’t some cheap chemical poison. This venom paralyzes the nerves, choking off your blood flow.”

The snow-white viper hissed, its red eyes flashing menacingly.

“Once your limbs rot away, you’ll be crawling on the ground. Perhaps then you’ll learn your place, worm.”

He thrust the snake toward me, as if giving me one last chance.

A chance? Oh, yes. My chance.

I grabbed the snake without hesitation and yanked it from his grasp.

“What are you—!”

“You need to be taught a lesson.”

His shocked face turned to terror in the next instant.

The snake I cracked like a whip sank its fangs into his neck.

“The snake—it bit me…!”

He stammered, then began to hyperventilate.

Idiot. Breathing like that will only make the venom spread faster.

So this was the terrifying enemy of my past life? What a disappointment.

As I looked down at him in dismay, his limbs went rigid, then his body crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Writhing on the floor, his face contorted in agony, he truly looked like nothing more than…

“A bug. So—how does it feel to become one?”