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Chapter – 13
Well, well… this guy…
I was barely holding back my anger, and yet he kept poking at it.
“The food you make is decent enough; that’s enough of a role for you…”
“What do you know?”
Trying to brush me off lightly?
Am I supposed to accept being weak and worthless? Just be satisfied with running errands and carrying burdens, and get by that way?
“Do you find it funny that I’m struggling to survive?”
“What?”
I was now Wendy Porcelain.
Damn it… in the original story, I was a villainess, and now I had an audience among the constellations.
“You’re strong, so people pay attention to you even if you just stand still. You wouldn’t understand my determination to do whatever it takes.”
He had no idea that in this world, ruined by God’s foolishness, for a despised villain to survive, you had to grasp at anything, even straws.
I had to do something to earn the favor of the constellations, to gain recognition from my companions.
I had to grow stronger, to gain the power to protect myself.
‘It’s a lie… isn’t it? Javier, Kaltein, Lyria… don’t leave me here. Please, let me live, please!’
My ending was one and only.
I would be hated by everyone, face a brutal death in a nightmare of suffering.
Or perhaps be trapped in this shitty novel, living a lifetime in it.
That was my fate.
“You don’t know what it’s like to dismiss my efforts!”
I couldn’t forgive him for mocking my desperate attempts to avoid that ending.
“I just wanted to live.”
Survival… the fact of existing like air around living people, so meaningless, but to someone it was the result of a desperate struggle. Why couldn’t he understand that?
Blood rushed to my face for the first time in a while, my cheek burning.
“In the end, you’re alive because of my struggles, remember?”
“That’s…”
“I remember. Yeah?”
If I hadn’t run around like crazy during the mission to save team members and brought Eden back, this team would have collapsed before it even started.
Yet he told me not to struggle?
“Don’t mock other people’s efforts for your own amusement.”
Not even funny.
I would struggle to the very end.
Whether it looked funny or ferocious.
That was how Wendy Porcelain, the villainess, survived.
“You’re nothing but a handsome face with no redeeming qualities, a disgusting, unappetizing jerk!”
Whew… letting all that out felt amazing!
Damn, this is what a true catharsis feels like.
After chugging a whole cup of relief in one go, I lifted my head with satisfaction.
So far, so good.
Then, as my head cleared and my mind became sharp, I noticed Xenon’s stone-faced expression.
“Hmph, anyway… even though we’re on the same team, it’s rude to ignore and mock someone.”
Anger is always a great source of energy.
The problem is, it always fades, leaving you to face reason again.
“Let’s be careful with each other from now on. Got it? I’m leaving.”
First, I had to escape this scene I’d stirred up.
‘What was I thinking?’
Why did I say something nasty to someone whose stats are light-years above mine?
And he even had a sword.
‘I’m completely insane… absolutely insane.’
While I was thinking of escaping, his hand grabbed me, and I had to stop dead in my tracks.
How strong must his arms be to stop me like that?
“Why? What? Do you have more to say?”
I tried to act unbothered, but…
“I-I’m tired, I just want to sleep.”
That awkward, broken robot-like tone…
‘Oh no, this is a disaster.’
Look at that stiff face. He’s like a statue.
‘Should I apologize now?’
If I begged a little, would he forgive me?
Even a grand gesture would hurt my pride… I’m a villainess, after all.
Thoughts raced through my mind until I finally decided: ‘Pride won’t put food on the table. Just survive first.’
“I’m sorry.”
Completely unexpected.
“You’re right.”
“…”
“If it weren’t for you, we’d all be dead.”
His awkward expression, almost childlike. Xenon stammered but continued.
“And what I said earlier… it wasn’t meant like that.”
“What…?”
“I didn’t belittle your efforts. I just meant you didn’t have to risk yourself unnecessarily.”
“…Huh?”
“Everyone has a role suited to them. You don’t have to take on more than you’re meant to.”
Don’t overextend… don’t overextend!
Was I… hallucinating from being beaten?
I froze, staring blankly at Xenon.
It was unexpected.
A cold-blooded guy like him, apologizing awkwardly and flustered…
‘How should I respond?’
Like a morality textbook: “I’m sorry for getting angry. Let’s get along.” Should I say that?
I was dazed, but suddenly a thought struck me.
This rare moment of a flustered Xenon…
“This is a chance.”
“What?”
“You might have misunderstood me, but for a moment, you probably thought of me as a mere errand girl.”
“Errand girl?”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Oops, that came out wrong.
I shouldn’t have made that comparison—especially recalling my TV-watching childhood!
“Anyway…”
I straightened my shoulders, lifting my head high.
“Who says you can’t repay an apology just by words?”
This guy may struggle even to apologize verbally… but that’s none of my business.
I wasn’t going to miss this perfect opportunity.
“Fine.”
He furrowed his brow at my blunt demand to repay him.
But soon, seeing he had no argument, he nodded.
“How should I repay you?”
There was only one thing I wanted from this now-compliant guy.
“Heh heh…”
“You’re making a weird face. What are you thinking?”
I stepped closer with a sly smile.
“Because you mocked my struggles.”
See? There’s no need to panic. I’m not going to eat you.
“You’ll repay that by helping with my struggles.”
I just wanted to siphon a little of his skill, that’s all.
‘You’re basically an NPC for skill acquisition.’
“Hit me. With full force.”
It was twisted, but at least I’d achieve my goal.
He sighed, looking defeated, but… what do I care!
Serve you right for speaking nicely all the time.
After walking for a while, we reached a clearing a bit away from the campsite so the others wouldn’t wake up.
“This should work.”
The chilly dawn wind ruffled Xenon’s jet-black hair.
Moonlight brushed the tip of my nose. Finally, it hit me.
I’m really about to get hit…
By a stranger I just met?
Of course, we had agreed on it beforehand.
I’d take the hit with the sword in its scabbard. A real sword would end me before I could acquire the skill.
We even set a signal: if I wanted to stop mid-hit, I’d make a big X above my head.
We even chose the target area.
The left arm!
‘Perfect.’
I looked at the arm wrapped in blankets.
Inside were leaves to absorb the shock.
So full that the arm rustled whenever I moved it.
This should prevent serious injury.
I gripped my guard and faced him.
‘Come at me, villain!’
Now all I had to do was get beaten by Xenon.
But the more I stared at his glaring eyes, the more my expression faltered.
“…Huh?”
Strange.
No matter how long I waited, he didn’t make a move.
He just kept his distance, staring at me.
“Xenon?”
I called his name in confusion. He sighed and slowly lowered his sword.
He frowned and spoke.
“If you’re not serious, we can end this here.”
Apparently, he misunderstood my resolute expression.
“You seem tense.”
He mumbled, trying to smooth over the awkwardness.
I smirked.
‘Most people tense up before getting hit!’
But he lowered his sword just because he thought I was nervous?
‘I told him to treat me as an enemy when hitting me.’
I smiled slightly and spoke.
“I told you, I don’t want to hold the team back.”
I wasn’t fearless of the pain ahead.
But if I backed down, I’d make a habit of being weak and indecisive next time.
I couldn’t allow that.
So this was also a kind of vow.
“I’ll get stronger.”
A promise to myself.
That uncertain certainty made me stronger.
His gaze slowly followed mine.
His expression was subtle.
Trying to judge if I was serious.
“Are you serious?”
It was time to give him that certainty.
“Yes.”
I raised my guard and shouted at him.
“So don’t hesitate—come at me, you idiot!”
