How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

“Besides, I don’t accept people dictating their final words to me. Telling them to me is useless anyway. If you die here, that means I definitely won’t be getting out either. Who exactly would I pass them on to??”

“Tch.” Milian muttered.

“If you’re uncomfortable, then stay still and close your eyes. If that’s not enough, get some sleep. Better than sitting there overthinking everything.” Vinny could tell that even though Milian was still forcing herself to act tough the same way she always did, she didn’t have the same strength in her voice as usual.

Even though she was doing everything she could to pretend she was fine, Vinny could feel that Milian’s condition was getting worse and worse.

A heaviness settled in his chest. He didn’t know whether it was because Milian was an elf, or because her mind was still too immature, but her resistance to mental contamination was terribly low. She had only been here a short while, yet she was already in severe distress, deteriorating far more quickly than he was.

“If you don’t feel well, then stop talking.” Vinny adjusted the Milian on his shoulder and kept moving forward.

But Vinny wasn’t made of iron either. Moving at all with most of his soul already shaved away was hard enough. Carrying Milian on top of that and still lasting this long was no easy feat.

“You’re tired, aren’t you?” Milian asked.

“Oh? You can tell that?”

“Your breathing’s getting rougher. Louder too.” Milian lay across his shoulder as she spoke.

“I don’t think it’s louder than yours. Worry about yourself first.” Vinny suppressed his breathing. “Milian, when we get back, you seriously need to train your body. You barely even moved and now you’re already sprawled out and can’t budge. And here I thought you were full of energy all the time. That’s just embarrassing.”

“Do you know why only elves get withering sickness?” Milian didn’t answer his question directly.

“Withering sickness? How would I know that?” Vinny felt like he’d heard of it before, but as for what the illness actually was, he had no idea.

“Elves are protected by the sacred tree and the Mother of Earth. That’s why we receive senses and magical talent superior to the other races, along with long lives. But all of that is the sacred tree’s grace.” Milian answered.

“And what does that have to do with the question I asked you?” Vinny said, puzzled.

“Of course it has something to do with it.” Milian replied.

“...You mean this plane has no elf sacred tree, and you’ve lost the Mother of Earth’s protection too?” Vinny understood what she meant.

“An elf that loses the sacred tree and the Mother of Earth’s protection is like a plant without roots. Sooner or later, it withers away after losing nourishment and water. That’s the principle behind withering sickness.” Milian continued. Her voice was weak and drained, filled with decline.

“You—” Vinny turned his head, only to discover that at some point Milian’s body had become wrapped in a streak of decayed, listless black vapor. It seeped into everything, as if it intended to strip away every last trace of life from her. Milian, slumped on his back, was visibly losing her spirit. Those peridot-like eyes of hers had dimmed, like a pool of stagnant dead water.

“Do you remember the four questions you asked me before?”

“...What questions?” Vinny fell silent for a moment.

“You asked me what kind of person you were. What strengths you had. Why I was fond of you. What exactly it was I liked about you.” Milian listed them one by one in a feeble voice.

“Questions I don’t even remember asking myself, and you’re taking them this seriously. Should I praise you for remembering them so clearly?”

“Now isn’t the time for casual chatting. Save all this until after we get out of this damned place.”

“Just now, I thought that while I’m still clearheaded, I should think through those questions again. Fortunately, I think I can answer all of them now.” Milian ignored him and kept going. Her voice was frail and weak, giving the impression that she was on her last breath.

“Really? Then good for you. Do you want me to award you a little red flower on the spot? Milian, even now you’re still talking about these pointless, meaningless things. At this rate I’m the one who ought to admire your mindset.”

“What if... there isn’t another chance to say them later?” Milian murmured softly.

“? What do you mean there won’t be a chance?”

“You idiot human. If you keep carrying me, you absolutely won’t be able to get out of this place. Put me down, and you’ll have a much better chance of making it out.” Milian paused. “This isn’t Tyrelis Continent. The sacred tree doesn’t exist on this plane. I can feel it—the Mother of Earth’s call and the sacred tree’s presence are growing farther and farther away from me.”

“Then stop talking. You know you don’t have the strength, and you’re still wasting it on all this nonsense. Are you trying to make things worse for yourself??” Vinny snapped. “I get that a spoiled little kid wants to try acting like an adult for once, but now isn’t the time.”

Milian lay sideways against his shoulder, and the hair that smelled of sunlight and wheat draped down from his shoulder and brushed against his cheek.

Vinny could clearly feel that her hair had changed. Before, it had been like high-quality silk. Now it felt like dried grass that had lost all its moisture.

Just as Milian had described—like a plant that had lost its roots.

Milian was running out of time.

Vinny said nothing. He only quickened his pace, though even he had no idea where he was supposed to go, or where he might find an exit, or whether this plane even had one at all.

“Tch. This princess has no interest in pretending to be some mature, steady adult. But a princess has no interest in dragging other people down either.” Milian gave a proud little snort with what sounded like the last of her strength.

“Oh, is that so? If you want to hear me praise you, wait until we get back.” Milian’s implication was obvious by now, but Vinny kept pretending not to understand.

“You really are the kind of person who can never quite harden his heart, aren’t you? Yet you love pretending to be the villain.” Milian’s hand reached up and gently brushed past Vinny’s ear.

“...Shut up!” Vinny gave up on explaining altogether.

“Hehe~” For some reason, Milian let out a soft, coy laugh.

“You golden-haired idiot, what are you laughing at?”

“Nothing. At least this time, I beat an idiot like you for once.” Milian squeezed out a smug little smile.

“You idiot. Even for someone like me, you’d still risk your life to save me?” Milian asked.

“Risk my life for what? Didn’t I already tell you I’m just doing this for myself? Without my radar, how am I supposed to get out of here?” Vinny lifted a brow. “Milian, stop flattering yourself.”

“Tch. And you’re not someone who says the opposite of what he means all the time??”

“The hell does that have to do with you??” Vinny clicked his tongue. “Milian, if you’ve got the energy to bicker with me, then do your job and keep watch around us. See if there’s anything nearby worth noticing.”

“You’re saying that so righteously, like you really are planning to sacrifice yourself.”

“Of course not. Didn’t you say it yourself? I’m a selfish little child. Why would I ever sacrifice myself for someone else?” Milian said it as if it were only natural. “What I said just now was only to test whether you were thinking about throwing me away.”

“Oh? Really? Looks like your IQ really has gone up after following me around.”

“Human, don’t you dare throw this princess away. Or I’ll pinch your waist.” Milian threatened him like a cat.

“Tch. Go ahead and try. It won’t even hurt.” Vinny had still found her earlier words somewhat strange, but hearing this, his suspicions gradually calmed down.

Right. How could this little brat possibly have that kind of resolve?

“Go southeast.” Milian suddenly spoke up from his back.

“Oh?” Vinny, who had been wandering without direction, raised a brow and followed her instructions. “What, did you find something?”

“Hmph. Looks like our luck isn’t bad after all.” Milian smiled.

“You mean... you found the exit?” Vinny could hardly believe it. To be honest, the whole time he had been doing his best not to think about what came next. Otherwise even he would have been swallowed by despair.

“You’ll see when you get there.” Milian didn’t explain any further.

Vinny stopped asking. Once he knew there was hope, he didn’t know whether it was adrenaline kicking in or not, but some strength returned to his steps.

As he moved forward, a hazy gloom gradually settled over the surrounding scenery.

“What is this?” Vinny frowned.

“If I’m not mistaken, the door should be behind this.” Milian said. “‘Life’ is telling me so.”

“How are you sensing that? Are elven senses really strong enough to perceive something like that?” Vinny hesitated.

“Yes and no. To be precise, I sensed it using my [Saint’s Favor].” Milian answered.

The Golden Elves’ [Saint’s Favor]??

Vinny couldn’t quite remember what the Chenfen family’s [Saint’s Favor] was. He remembered it being written in the game, but unfortunately, he had never progressed that far.

He walked into the haze. Within this vast and boundless white fog, time and space themselves seemed to dissolve into chaotic disorder. A chill rose abruptly.

“Turn back.”

“Huh?” Hearing Milian’s instruction, Vinny looked surprised. “If I turn back, won’t I just be retracing my steps?”

“Listen to me, Princess’s orders. Turn back. You can’t tell direction apart inside this fog.” Milian said.

Vinny said nothing and did as told.

After that, under Milian’s guidance, he walked back and forth through the dense mist. He kept feeling like he was just circling around in loops, but her tone remained so firm that he said nothing.

“We’re here.” Milian said it lightly.

Vinny lifted his eyes.

A colossal shape hidden inside the fog slowly emerged in black outline. It was an ancient black gate as towering as a heavenly chasm, its surface covered in endless relief carvings, like traces left behind by some ancient god.

The gate had only a frame.

There were no doors.

“This place carries the scent of where we came from.” Milian said.

“We came in through here? Why don’t I remember that?” Vinny said, puzzled.

“If there’s an entrance, then there must also be an exit. That creature was able to send us here, which means there must be some linked opening connected to Tyrelis Continent.” Milian stared at the ancient gate, as though uncountable ages stood embedded within it.

“If we walk through this, can we get out?” Vinny asked.

“Who knows? But at least now we know where the exit is, don’t we?” Milian said, and pinched the side of Vinny’s neck.

“Ah—ah, you brat, why’d you pinch me? Hiss—! I thought you had withering sickness and had no strength left. Looks like you’ve still got plenty of strength, huh?? You were acting so weak earlier too.” Vinny sucked in a sharp breath from the pain.

“Of course. Otherwise how was I supposed to make you keep carrying me willingly as free labor for this princess?” Milian stuck out her tongue at him.

“You brat! You were faking it??” Vinny stared at her with a deeply aggrieved expression.

“Then what else?” Milian snorted. “All right, now that we’ve reached the place, hurry up and put me down.”

“Tch!” Vinny took back what he’d said earlier. This golden-haired little female brat really was asking to be disciplined at every possible moment, wasn’t she??

Vinny set Milian down.

“Ah—hey! You blue-haired idiot, be gentler, will you?” Milian nearly stumbled and shot him a glare.

“Gentler? Were you gentle when you pinched me just now?” Vinny said, unimpressed.

“Bleh, cheapskate.” Milian made another face at him.

“You really heal and instantly forget the pain, don’t you? Tch. So the golden-haired idiot suddenly knows how to play mind games now, huh? I should’ve just left an idiot like you here and gone by myself.”

“Could you even have found this place alone?” Milian said disdainfully.

“Tch! Fine. Since we found the exit, let’s just go. I can’t be bothered arguing with you anymore.”

“From here on out, it’s up to each person’s own ability and luck.”

“? What do you mean by that?” Vinny frowned.

“I only found this linked opening. I’m not promising that walking through here will definitely get us out.” Milian said. “After all, our souls are incomplete. We might already no longer ‘match’ Tyrelis Continent.”

“So whether we can get out or not depends on each person’s luck.”

“What the hell...” Vinny looked at the ancient gate ahead and pressed a hand to his forehead. “Luck again. I hate that word more than anything.”

“I’d imagine so. People with rotten virtue usually have terrible luck.” Milian grinned.

“Who has rotten virtue? Who are you calling rotten?” Vinny rolled his eyes. “Then again, idiots usually do have great luck. That much I can’t argue with.”

“Hmph. Then you just wait and see, idiot. When the time comes and I make it back safely while you’re still stuck here, don’t worry—this princess is going to laugh at you mercilessly.” Milian mocked him with a teasing smile.

“Tch! You just wait! Don’t talk big now and then fail to make it back yourself! Then you’ll be the one stuck here alone, waiting to go insane and become nourishment!” Vinny shot back.

“Hmph. Are you done talking nonsense? Are you coming or not?” Milian shot Vinny a glance and stepped toward the ancient black gate.

Since Milian had already gone forward, Vinny naturally followed after her.

If they walked through this gate, would the two of them really return to Tyrelis Continent?

Vinny had no confidence in it. He kept feeling that things couldn’t possibly be that simple.

“Hey, blue-haired idiot.”

“? What now, golden-haired idiot?” Since Milian had called him, Vinny asked.

“At this point, why don’t you leave some final words or something? Then when this princess gets back, I’ll at least have something to tell people.”

“Get lost, get lost, get lost! You leave the final words. I’ll pass them on to your sister and your people when the time comes.” Vinny thought to himself that even now, at a time like this, this idiot still wanted to bicker with him.

So she really did still have this much energy?

She had acted so convincingly before that even he had believed it.

He really had fallen for her trick.

“Is that so?” A trace of bitterness and melancholy surfaced in Milian’s heart, but none of it showed in her voice. It was still as spoiled and proud as always.

The fog was too thick now. Vinny could no longer see her expression.

“Then tell my sister that all this time, her immature little sister has caused her a lot of trouble. She’s worked hard.”

“?” Something about those words suddenly felt very wrong to Vinny.

This golden-haired idiot—why did it suddenly sound like she was speaking from the heart??

“I remember you accusing me of not understanding what love even is, right?”

“Even now, I still can’t say exactly what it is. But I think maybe love is just something that can’t be put into words. It has some kind of magic in it. Before you even realize it, you’re bewitched by it and falling into it.”

“You were right. That feeling had nothing to do with any potion. Describing it as just a reaction brought on by alchemy medicine is a profanation of it. It’s a feeling that makes you feel grounded, yet sends your emotions surging up and down. At first glance, even you can’t understand it yourself—but if you carefully break it apart, every reason somehow feels perfectly reasonable.” Milian pressed a hand to her chest, her voice vivid with emotion.

“? Wait—golden-haired idiot, what are you even talking about?” Vinny had already realized something was wrong and started looking around wildly for Milian through the mist, but no matter how he searched, he couldn’t find her.

“If only I’d met an idiot like you earlier.” Milian pressed her lips together. Then, as if finally letting go of something, she smiled at Vinny. After that, she looked at him with eyes full of deep reluctance and sincerity.

“Blue-haired idiot... make sure you and little Shicodale end up happy together... including my share.”

“And if you ever make little Shicodale unhappy, I’m never going to forgive you, understand??” At the very end, Milian’s voice finally broke into the sob she could no longer hold back.

“???” Vinny turned sharply—

And discovered that at some point, the fog had already dispersed.

The road had come to an end.

Vinny stared blankly at the familiar surroundings, at the familiar underground research institute.

Everything around him was so familiar.

Including the monster still chewing on stone nearby.

Only one thing was missing.

Milian was nowhere to be seen.

He... had come out?

But where was Milian? Where was that golden-haired idiot?

Why had only he come out?

What... was going on?

Vinny stood there dazed for a long time, and then something suddenly struck him.

Only people with incomplete souls could enter that world.

Which meant that only someone whose soul had been made whole again could find the exit and come out.

But why?

His soul had been incomplete too, hadn’t it?

Tap.

While Vinny stood there in a daze, a bead glowing with an olive sheen dropped to the ground beside his foot.

Vinny lowered his head. The moment he saw what it was, he slowly crouched down and, with trembling fingers, picked it up.

Four words abruptly exploded through his mind.

Elf Soul-Heart.

Why was it on him?

Racking his brains, Vinny suddenly remembered the moment earlier when Milian had pinched the side of his neck.

“Yes. Half plus half makes one whole, doesn’t it?” Vinny stared at the emerald-like pearl, speaking one word at a time, his voice steeped in a crushing, oppressive heaviness.