WeTried Translations

Translator: Goku

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◈ I Became a Villain Perfect for Leveling Up

Chapter 044

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44. Ill-Fitting Shoes (1)

Perhaps it was because everyone started the journey burdened with fatigue. The journey to the Altar of Lamentation stretched on for a long time.

Before departing, I was officially granted the title of honorary knight by the Valkyrie Knights. The relationship between Sigrun and Altair had dramatically improved, and I was able to erase a little of the darkness within me caused by worry.

The reason the time that had driven me mad was set right again was because of people.

“Dean.”

“…What is it?”

Just as I was poking the simple campfire with Freud’s Fang, Sigrun spoke to me, so I lifted my head and looked at her.

“Are you not mad?”

As if carrying an overt implication that she wanted me to interrogate her, she slithered closer like a snake, and Altair subtly blocked her path.

“Why would I be mad at Sigrun?”

“…I was moving with Dina, you know. Because of that, you died once too.”

“It was just once.”

“On top of that, trying to stop the fight, you got hit by my swords…”

“It was an accident, right?”

“…….”

Hitting a wall of abnormal logic far removed from common sense, Sigrun looked dumbfounded and, out of habit, flicked her tongue.

“Dean… What kind of life have you lived?”

“…A bad person. A life that’s neither more nor less than that.”

To describe what I am, it felt something like that.

Not completely consumed by malice, but one whose inner malice was stained more deeply than anyone else’s.

Now, I was walking a tightrope on the line that clearly distinguishes good and evil.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Dean. You’re definitely not a bad person.”

“…I agree.”

Though Sigrun and Altair both defended me in unison, it wasn’t a story that resonated much.

So I shifted my gaze and blankly scanned the status window I had pulled up.

《 Name: Dean Level: 70

Perk: Addicted to Defeat ( - Upon defeat, opponent’s level increases by +70)

Stats│

HP: 4 (+12)

Stamina: 7 (+10)

Mana: 6

Intelligence: 3 (+2)

Strength: 1 (+36) 》

Through the journey so far, my level had risen from 64 to 70.

It was now enough to explore the mid-to-late game areas of the 1st Playthrough without much trouble.

To reach a level where I could stably explore the late-game areas, I’d need about level 100. That meant my current growth rate was astonishingly immense.

Sigrun, who had been chattering, finally managed to slip past Altair, who was blocking her path, and settled down beside me.

“Looking at your status window?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s your level, Dean? 100? 200? Even higher?”

It was a light-hearted conversation, like comparing each other’s levels while playing an RPG game as a kid.

“Only 70.”

“…? That’s the same level I got through the Addicted to Defeat perk, right?”

“…….”

Due to Sigrun who had vaguely mentioned the Addicted to Defeat perk, tension crept into my shoulders.

Knowing better than anyone that human greed always precedes goodwill, I tightened my grip on Freud’s Fang.

“Surely… the level I got when I killed Dean is still with me…”

“Stop. Dean doesn’t like talking about that.”

Altair lightly blocked Sigrun, who was continuing the conversation without considering my state, covered in cold sweat.

“If you’re thinking of antagonizing Dean for the levels…”

Then, as Altair placed her hand on the greatsword she was carrying, Sigrun wore an expression of disbelief.

“Me…? I’m already pushing almost level 400 excluding the perks, why would I bother raising my level more?”

“Human beings never know when to stop.”

“Having most of what you want but still not being satisfied? That’s just weird.”

Sigrun knew that when people reach their intended destination, they mostly fall into apathy.

Knowing that wanting power beyond one’s capacity leads to self-destruction due to excess, she cast a seductive glance at me.

“What I want is Dean. Not Dean’s level.”

“…You’re not even listening to Dean’s opinion.”

“Are there people who dislike this kind of favor?”

“There might be, wouldn’t you say?”

Seeing a war of nerves so intense it felt like lightning was sparking from their eyes, I naturally took two steps away.

Regardless of escaping the sensation of having my life threatened, one-sided affection from someone was still uncomfortable.

Because of experiences where interest and affection suddenly turned hostile, I had come to distrust the power of the emotion called love.

Of course, considering that my decision not to run away was because of love, it was truly ironic.

As the flames burned the wood, making a pleasant crackling sound, and I watched Sigrun and Altair bickering, my hands trembled faintly.

…Am I allowed to be saved?

That question still follows me around always.

Even after deciding to become evil, I couldn’t abandon my original nature, and I found myself utterly disgusting for playing the hero.

Like a child in puberty, covering themselves with a blanket after being scolded by their parents, huffing and puffing that they want to disappear, meaningless self-contradiction only tormented me.

I wanted to get away from the calm peace, so I abruptly stood up from my seat.

The two women, who had been squabbling, instantly stopped their conversation, and their gazes, like guilty puppies, all turned toward me.

“I’m going to take a short walk.”

As I announced I wanted to clear my head by breathing in the forest air for a bit, the two exchanged glances and then stood up together.

“Three is better than one alone.”

“I agree. The knight order has something called a buddy system.”

Normally, I would have gladly accepted, but right now, I really wanted to be alone.

“…Sorry. I’ll go alone.”

“O-okay. See you soon.”

“Understood…”

Hearing my earnest refusal, Sigrun and Altair, awkwardly frozen mid-motion as they were getting up, blankly watched me walk away.

Unlike the desire to get away, the desire to run away wasn’t that strong. So I took a walk at a distance where the light of the campfire was still faintly visible.

Blades of grass brushed my ankles. The insects hiding beneath them all chirred loudly.

Owls perched on tree branches, watching the predators, shone their eyes.

A peaceful atmosphere, where even a rabbit family taking advantage of the night to feed was visible in the distance.

…It was the peace of nature that no one could imitate.

I watched the chewing rabbit’s mouth pluck a thin blade of grass, hold it in its mouth, and slowly chew, swallowing its food in a cute way.

Perhaps because I was in a state not much different from the dead, the small creatures treated me like a living stone.

Soon, the baby rabbit that had been nibbling on grass approached me, sniffing.

I crouched down and carefully placed my index finger on its twitching nose. The rabbit flicked its ears and then bit my finger hard.

“…Ouch.”

The moment I let out a small sound at the stinging pain, the peaceful nature erupted as if a bomb had gone off.

The insects all fell silent at once. The owl perched on a branch flapped its wings and flew away.

The rabbit family, which had been dining on grass, also quickly hopped away and hid deep into the bushes.

“………”

If humans are ultimately a part of nature, then the peace created by ties with people must also be peace.

As if telling me not to forget that fact, nature treated me coldly, forcing me to realize reality.

“…Should I go back.”

Thinking it would be too much to continue my walk like this, I returned to the only source of light illuminating the forest where even the moonlight didn’t reach.

The two women were silently staring at the flames, as if they hadn’t spoken a single word while I was gone.

“You’re back.”

“Good job.”

Soon, noticing my return, relief spreading across their faces, Sigrun and Altair pushed some wood into the campfire.

The flames flared up, warmth enveloped my entire body, and I sat down beside them to enjoy the comfort more.

A small drop of blood fell from the wound where the baby rabbit had bitten me, landing on the campfire with a sizzle as it evaporated.

“Dean? What did you do to get hurt?”

“I got bitten by a rabbit.”

Sigrun, who hadn’t missed the sound, came over to check my hand. A bead of blood was forming on my index finger, shining faintly like a jewel.

“…Lick.”

Sigrun carefully licked the wound with her tongue.

“What are you doing?!”

Startled by the sudden action of licking the wound, Altair hastily pulled Sigrun away.

“Guard your chastity! How can a woman be so loose!”

“Why? Is it wrong to do that to someone you like?”

“There are men who dislike women who only act coquettish!”

“…Is that so?”

Sigrun looked at me with a mature gaze, then soon detected a logical fallacy in Altair’s words.

“Wait a minute… You don’t have any dating experience.”

“Th-that may be true, but.”

“Don’t talk to me like you know when you only learned from books!”

“You’re no different! You only learned vulgar and obscene seduction from red-light books!”

“That’s…! That’s just one form of love, isn’t it!”

Listening to the love debate of the two women with no dating experience, I calmly looked at my index finger, covered in sticky saliva.

…Everyone has a place they belong.

The realization that this noisy peace was, in its own way, a form of peace, naturally curved the corners of my mouth into a smile.

“………”

“………”

Sigrun and Altair, seeing my smile for the first time, forgot the fact that they had been arguing and stared blankly.

Wondering if the two might feel the cold from the chilly night breeze, I nonchalantly threw a twig into the campfire.

Defining what kind of being I am is not something within my power to control.

Because the first button of evaluating a person’s worth must be fastened by starting from others.

So, my actions were a shy gift, stemming from the desire to cherish at least my own people.

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