BJ Villainess Chapter 350

Anyway, I’m a cultist of the Evil God. However, perhaps because I’m a possessor, I wasn’t affected by the Evil God’s influence. The other cultists of the Evil God, though, were evil by nature.

 

Cardinal Ilya knows better than anyone what kind of beings cultists of the Evil God are. That’s why I couldn’t understand why someone like him—who treated even fellow priests as coldly as stepping stones on the street—was showing me consideration.

 

Then Ilya furrowed his brow, as if hearing something unexpected. “Was I being kind?”

 

“Yes. You’re taking care of me so I don’t get hurt.”

 

He looked troubled, like someone confronted with a question he couldn’t answer. Oddly, that expression seemed… cute.

 

What the heck is wrong with me, thinking that huge, intimidating man is cute?

 

“I see. I’m not sure why you’d think that. If it felt like kindness to you, it’s probably because you’re still a little girl.” He said it in a tone suggesting he wouldn’t harm a child simply because he’s an adult.

 

But I’m too big to be called a little girl. I’ll be an adult soon too.

 

“…I see.”

 

Besides, I was originally an adult. I felt awkward being treated like a kid, but at the same time, strangely comforted.

 

Is this what it feels like to be protected by someone? It was like sipping warm milk with honey—melting away the chill inside. I fidgeted with my fingers and stared out the window aimlessly.

 

“We’ve arrived at the Nylas territory!”

 

At the priest’s shout, I confirmed through the window the tightly shut gates of the city.

 

So this is the Nylas territory.

 

As our carriage stopped before the gate, the guards approached. “Inspection required. Please show identification.”

 

The inspection was almost ceremonial—it proceeded with lightning speed. The moment Ilya identified himself, they didn’t even bother asking about the rest of us and waved us all through.

 

“Lord Ilya, are you sure you don’t want to visit the lord’s castle? The inn may be uncomfortable.”

 

“If we go there, it’ll be difficult to leave the territory within a day. We’ll keep a low profile and move on.”

 

If one was officially invited by a lord, it was expected out of courtesy to stay at least a few days. Leaving too soon would be seen as rejecting their hospitality—a major offense in noble circles, regardless of rank. Even cardinals had to follow such etiquette.

 

Before long, our carriage stopped in front of the largest inn in the territory. As Ilya was about to put on his hood, he suddenly looked at me.

 

“…?”

 

Does he have something to say?

 

I blinked up at him, and then, unexpectedly, he took off his robe and draped it over my shoulders. Not just that—he pulled the hood over my head to cover my face completely.

 

“Lord Ilya…?” A bit flustered by the inexplicable gesture, I tried to lift the hood, but he stopped me by grabbing my hand.

 

“If you don’t want to cause a scene, keep your face hidden.”

 

Is it because I’m a cultist of the Evil God and shouldn’t show my face? Though I was confused, I figured Ilya must have his reasons.

 

I cautiously stepped out of the carriage. Inside, the inn was bustling with people—mostly mercenaries or professional hunters. The innkeeper, recognizing our unusual appearance and status, welcomed us warmly and explained the availability of the rooms.

 

“We currently have six rooms left. Shall I offer them all to you?”

 

A priest, second in rank to Ilya, stepped up, paid, and took the keys. “Lord Ilya, please use this room. As for this cul— I mean, this girl—we’ll keep her under surveillance.”

 

Ilya shook his head as he accepted the key. “No. Theresa will stay in my room.”

 

Startled, I looked up in confusion. What did he just say?

 

Still looking only at the priests and knights, he continued, “This arrangement will continue. Make sure everyone knows.”

 

The priests jumped up as if hearing something world-shattering.

 

“That’s dangerous!”

 

“How could you keep that wicked thing near you?”

 

“Please let us handle it instead. We beg you!”

 

At this point, I felt like some kind of plague carrier. I mean, I do get where that comes from… But Ilya didn’t seem to think I was dangerous at all.

 

Ilya coldly asked the protesting priests, “Are you saying your judgment is superior to mine?”

 

The priests, momentarily blinded by hatred for the Evil God, realized their mistake and quickly bowed. “Not at all. We were foolish. Please forgive us.”

 

“I’ll forgive you this once. Don’t let it happen again.” With that chilly reprimand, Ilya left the priests behind and led me alone into the room.

 

I stood awkwardly in the corner. Theresa may be a minor, but Shin Jiwoo, who resides within her, is in her mid-20s.

 

Unlike my tense and flustered self, Ilya casually took off his coat and said, “You can take the hood off now.”

 

“Ah, yes.” I removed the hood that had been blocking my vision and pretended to look around. As I did, Ilya approached, having finished unpacking.

 

“No one will approach you if you’re with me. So be at ease.”

 

“…Thank you.”

 

So he is being kind to me.

 

“You can take the bed.”

 

“Huh? Then what about you, Lord Ilya?”

 

Ilya didn’t answer. Instead, he walked over and sat on the couch. Then, he began tending to his sword, making it hard to continue the conversation.

 

I quietly sat at the edge of the bed. I may be a cultist of the Evil God, but is it really okay to relax in front of a cardinal? And he seemed busy, so I felt awkward just sitting there. My corporate-worker instincts were flaring. “Would you like help with anything?”

 

“Are you bored?”

 

That was an odd reply—but not incorrect.

 

Ilya put his sword down and asked, “Tired?”

 

After a long carriage ride, I was a little exhausted. But who in their right mind would admit that in this situation? I shook my head. “No.”

 

“Then let’s go out.”

 

“Huh? To where?”

 

Ilya looked at me like I’d asked a weird question. “Outside the inn.”

 

* * *

Now I was walking through a busy street full of people, feeling oddly overwhelmed. It feels like I’m on vacation or something. In fact, I was even holding a huge stick of cotton candy.

 

“Do you want to eat it?”

 

I had merely glanced at the cotton candy out of curiosity, but before I could stop him, Ilya had already bought it for me. And that wasn’t the end. Any time I looked at something for more than a second, he tried to buy it. I’d lost count of how many times I had to say, “It’s okay! Really!” But I couldn’t stop him every time, so now I was holding a pinwheel in my other hand.

 

“…”

 

Is this really okay? What happened to my precious adult dignity?

 

I stared at the spinning pinwheel with hazy eyes and spoke to Ilya. “This place isn’t quite like the Lambert territory, but it’s still pretty lively.”

 

“The territories near here are usually like that. Because they’re surrounded by a big river.”

 

“That may be true, but I also think the local lord must be a good person. The merchants are generous, and the children play safely in the streets. The market is huge, even though there’s no festival.”

 

And this territory… was supposed to become a ruin, destroyed by a cultist of the Evil God.

 

When it was just a game, I liked the eerie, fantasy-like mood of the ruined land. But seeing it as a real world now, guilt pierced my chest. If I’d known this would happen, I would never have made such a game.

 

“I regret it…”

 

“What do you regret?”

 

The words slipped out of my mouth unknowingly. I couldn’t tell the truth, so I made something up. “This place is so beautiful. I regret not coming here sooner.”

 

“I see.”

 

Thank goodness he bought it.

 

“If you don’t want to tell me the truth, I’ll accept that.”

 

Never mind.

 

He seems oblivious, but why is he so perceptive sometimes? I didn’t know what else to say, so I took a bite of the cotton candy.

 

“…Huh?”

 

As I looked at the distance through the partially obscuring hood, I spotted a man with familiar features. That’s Louise, cultist of the Evil God. Just like Sella, before me, another named villain had appeared. And there was another cultist of the Evil God. The man standing across from him is Karl. Why are those two showing up here?

 

I grabbed Ilya, my expression hardening. “Lord Ilya. Come here for a moment…”

 

Louis knew what Ilya looked like. If he realized the cardinal was here, how would they react? They’d run away. That’s how monstrous a being called cardinal was.

 

This territory is supposed to become ruins, but I never specified who caused it. Which means—it could be them.

 

I moved to block Ilya’s face from their line of sight and leaned in, standing on tiptoe. He raised an eyebrow but leaned in so I could whisper.

 

“There are two cultists of the Evil God about 50 meters away.”

 

“Be more specific.”

 

“They’re standing near a stall with hanging meat, talking. The red-haired one knows your face and identity. Both of them have archbishop-level powers.” As I explained, I quickly pulled off my robe and wrapped it around him. “Cover your face.”

 

Ilya didn’t ask whether it was true or how I knew.

 

“Stay somewhere safe until I return.”

 

“I will.”

 

Only after hearing my reply did Ilya pull down his hood low and blend into the crowd.

 

I pretended to browse the streets to avoid suspicion. Was this a mistake? I was looking at a stall selling gemstone trinkets when the vendor cautiously asked, “Excuse me, are you a priestess?”