TSYMVF 31

 Chapter 31

 “The Sickly Youngest Member of the Villainous Family.”

[The Orb of Protection activates.]
[50% of the impact has been negated.]
[The Orb of Protection activates.]
[70% of the impact has been negated.]
[The Orb of Protection activates.]
[30% of the impact has been negated.]

“Ugh!”

I tumbled down the slope and landed hard on my butt with a groan.

What just happened? I retraced my memory.

The floor of the mountain lodge had jolted, and a large rock had crashed through.

Maya had tried to carry me outside to escape, but the sudden shock had separated me from her arms. The moment I was free, I began to roll down the slope.

I think I heard people screaming just before I lost all control.

“……”

Now, I sat dazed in grass as tall as I was.

The word “landslide” popped into my head.

Wow. Just my luck.

Still, thanks to the Orb of Protection, I had survived with only a few scrapes, despite the distance I’d rolled.

[The Orb of Protection has been depleted.]

I brushed off my knees and stood up, scanning the area.

Neither Maya nor anyone else was in sight.

Only the distant sound of water flowing through a narrow ravine reached my ears.

Hmm… What now?

I much prefer nature and bugs from a distance.

As the sound of a snake slithering closer reached me, I took a deep breath.

Then, I opened my cheat item—my Inventory.

In a dense forest path, a white-horned deer collapsed, struck by Jin’s arrow.

Permetis clapped her hands with glee.

“As expected, you’re amazing, Brother.”

Both Othello and Jin never missed their mark.

“I’ve learned a lot today thanks to you both.”

All Permetis had caught was a small rabbit.

Considering she was only seven, it was still impressive, but compared to her direct-line brothers, her skills were laughably behind.

The soldiers following them cleaned up the animal carcasses.

“This place has changed a lot,” Jin remarked, readjusting his arrows.

Permetis smiled softly.
“Mother has put a lot of effort into it.”

“I see. How is she doing these days?”

It seemed like a casual question, but Permetis flinched for a second.

She remembered what Jestia had told her.

— Lead Othello and Jin deep into the hunting grounds. Make sure they don’t get involved.

Recently, a healer had taken residence at Grandfather Bashron’s house.

Whenever he had time, he would converse with Jestia and share his wisdom.

After being humiliated during the Day of Darkness and receiving a warning letter, Jestia had been consumed by hatred toward Ricardio. But after talking with the healer, she began to show signs of life again.

He had even come to the summer estate not long ago and gone on a tour of the hunting grounds with Jestia.

— You’re not thinking of harming them, are you? If you’re caught, both you and Mother will be executed.

— Don’t worry. Trust your mother.

Jestia had replied with eyes that looked as if she were possessed.

— Everything I’m doing is for you. Just behave and entertain our guests.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t anxious.

But the reason Jestia had ordered her to guide Othello and Jin likely meant she had no plans to harm them.

That was enough. That brat Sasha didn’t matter.

“She’s the same as always. Before leaving, she made sure to tell me to treat you both well. Look forward to dinner.”

Moments later, Othello readied his bow and drew the string.

A white-horned deer was visible in the distance.

Just as the bowstring stretched taut, Othello’s eyebrows twitched.

“……”

After a moment, he lowered the bow and returned it to its place with a cold expression.

Permetis looked puzzled.

“Why didn’t you shoot, Brother?”

Othello parted his lips.

“Don’t you hear it?”

Permetis shrugged, clearly not understanding.

Then Jin turned a sharp gaze toward Othello.

Othello continued,

“Peep, peep. A baby bird is crying.”

His eyes sharpened, and then Othello spurred his horse into a run.

Permetis panicked.

“Brother!”

Jestia had told her to keep them in the hunting grounds.

There’s no way a sound from outside would carry this far, she reasoned. She turned to Jin.

“It rained recently. Riding that fast could be dangerous. Please stop Othello—”

But Jin also drew his whip with a chilling expression.

“You didn’t hear it, huh?”

The gentlemanly expression he usually wore had completely vanished, leaving behind a deadly calm.

In that moment, the distance between them felt vast.

“The voice calling us… It’s so clear.”

It felt as if an invisible wall had suddenly risen between them.

Permetis felt her heart skip a beat.

With black flames surrounding his horse, Jin began to gallop.

“Brother! Wait for me!”

I had put on the “Squeak-Squeak Shoes,” so someone was bound to come rescue me.

I decided to relax.

After all, I was already stranded—no point panicking about it now.

It’s not like I could climb that towering cliff back up either.

If not for the Orb of Protection, I’d probably be dead.

Items are powerful, and I trust in them.

“First, let’s secure some water.”

It would be safer to stay put, but in this weather, I’d get dehydrated if I just waited around.

I’m only three, after all. I need water frequently.

I listened carefully and heard the sound of water flowing.

Even though the grass was taller than I was and kind of scary, I moved forward.

And just a few steps in, I ran into something I really didn’t want to see.

Slither, slither—

A triangular head with bright patterns—it was definitely a viper.

The problem? The snake was longer than I was tall.

And it was staring at me like it had just found a delicious snack.

‘Ugh. Why did it have to be a viper?’

Its slit eyes were fixed on me, and cold sweat ran down my spine.

If it opened its mouth, it could swallow me whole without effort.

Howl— Howl—

To make matters worse, I could hear wolves howling in the distance.

I was like a juicy prey dropped into a cage of starving predators.

Sweat trickled down my back, but I wasn’t ready to give up.

[Activating Skill: “Black Domination (SS/Lv.1)”]

Staring at the snake, I activated a skill I’d obtained a while ago.

I hoped it would work on the snake, just like it had on the man cursed by Kaisa.

But the snake didn’t seem to care and kept slithering closer.

‘This can’t be how it ends.’

I focused all my strength.

Then, I smacked my own forehead hard.

If this skill didn’t work, maybe another would activate.

But… nothing happened.

The snake kept staring.

“W-Wait a sec. Where’s the Grim Reaper when you need one? If I die here, someone’s gotta—AAH!”

The snake was right in front of my nose. I shut my eyes tightly.

Was it going to swallow me whole? Would it hurt?

Curled up and preparing for the worst… but no pain came.

Instead, I felt something wet flick against my nose.

Startled, I opened my eyes.

The coiled snake had raised its head and was gazing at me.

Then it flicked its tongue and licked the tip of my nose.

“Wh-What?”

The snake that looked ready to devour me was now calmly watching me.

Like a puppy.

I cautiously reached out and patted its head.

Slither, slither—

It didn’t seem to have any intention of attacking me. It was incredibly gentle.

Maybe that skill had worked after all…

But the snake moved freely.

Maybe that skill only activated on enemies who meant to harm or obstruct me.

This snake never intended to hurt me in the first place.

“Do you know where I can find water?”

The snake just flicked its tongue with a blank look.

I sighed softly.

Then patted its head again.

“I’ll find it myself. Sorry for the misunderstanding.”

The snake flicked its tongue again and slithered away on its own path.

I walked more confidently now toward the sound of water.

Whether human or animal, judging based only on appearances is never the right call.

Just as the sun began to set, I heard signs of life.

Someone had finally come looking for me.

In front of me was a cup made from leaves. I had collected fallen leaves to make myself a cozy little resting spot.

It had been terrifying at first, being lost, but once I felt confident I’d make it back safely, I let out a sigh of relief.

Then, someone slowly stepped out of the brush.