WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈
Chapter 94: The Villainess (1)
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1.
Is there anyone who cherishes you as I do?
Has anyone else caressed you with such care?
Have you seen eyes more anxious than mine?
Have you ever felt a touch gentler than my hands?
There is none. There never was.
And I will ensure there never will be.
2.
Oh-hohohoho!
A romantic laughter echoed through the garden.
Struck head-on by the laughter, the Crown Prince’s face turned utterly crestfallen.
“Si-Silvia…?”
“Ohohoho! Speak, Your Highness!”
“Isn’t your laughter somewhat frivolous? Of course, your voice is like a bird's song to me. It always sounds like music to my ears, but still, consider the dignity of a noble…”
“Oh-hohohohot! I am quite satisfied with this laughter!”
“Is, is that so?”
The Crown Prince mumbled uncertainly.
“That, that's how it is… Right… No. On second thought, it's not bad. Hmm… Um, Yes! It's fine. It's perfectly fine! Beautiful, indeed. Today, I've discovered a new charm in you.”
Look at this Noodle Hair!
Even after that, his love for Lady Goldencup has not cooled? Every student watching them has gone completely cold, yet he has not?
-Zombie.
The Guardian Spirit, who had been quiet since entering this apocalyptic world, spoke up.
-I’ve been watching your play this time and tried not to interfere, but it's too frustrating to stay silent. Hey, aren’t you misunderstanding something?
‘Misunderstanding? What do you mean?’
-You think breaking up love is easier than making it, right?
‘Yes.’
-Sorry, but that's... it depends.
The Guardian Spirit said, with an expression like a mountain gorilla suddenly trapped in a zoo from ruling the jungle.
‘Depends?’
-Yeah. You exude strong forever-alone vibes, but love is different for everyone who falls in it, kid. No matter how much you try to cut it with scissors, there are loves that won't sever. From what I see, that Crown Prince seems to be one of those cases...
Before the Guardian Spirit could finish, the Crown Prince spoke up.
“Silvia! You are like a kaleidoscope, shining so variably. Yesterday, you were a snowflake, and today, you bloom like a plum blossom. Indeed, a person’s laughter isn't determined at birth. Is a noble's laughter defined by law? I should also change my laugh. Eumhahahaha!”
This crazy guy?
And then, a stunning duet echoed high into the sky in the garden.
“Ohoho!”
“Eumhaha!”
“Oh-hohohoho!”
“Eumhahahaha!”
The couple of the century was born right there.
I was at a loss for words.
‘What even is love…?’
I was shocked.
-You’ve never been in a relationship. You don't know romantic feelings, yet you think you can untangle these kids' twisted relationships.
The Guardian Spirit clicked his tongue.
-People have ruined entire nations just to look good in front of their loved ones. Your idea to prevent immersion by becoming delinquent was good, but it's not enough to break love. Yep. It might be insufficient.
Suddenly, the Guardian Spirit seemed very mature. Was I feeling inferior because I’m forever alone? To this mountain gorilla?
Isn’t that too damaging to my pride?
"........"
Step.
I stepped between the Crown Prince and the Heretic Inquisitor. As if to say, “Look at me.” Naturally, the Crown Prince furrowed his brow at this.
“You…”
“Lady Goldencup said that she trusts me more than anyone.”
Let’s see if your love still doesn’t cool off.
“Your Highness, you are noble. I am lowly. But while Your Highness is far away, I am always beside my Lady. My Lady’s family is my home, and my Lady’s life is the life I serve. Your Highness.”
A scream of “Kyaaa!” erupted in the garden. It was the voices of the observing ladies.
-No. Hey. Crazy. Hey. Hey!
The Guardian Spirit shouted desperately.
-Stupid! Ah, this forever-alone guy! He doesn’t get it! That guy’s a prince of an empire; imagine how strong his pride is! If you act like that, the Crown Prince will only get more jealous…
“Ha!”
The Crown Prince gritted his teeth.
“So under the guise of a butler, you’ve been loitering around the Lady, acting all high and mighty. Fine. Then I’ll take care of Silvia! While at the academy, I’ll look after her, so you can go back to your countryside.”
No.
You’re a prince of a nation!
Have you gone mad with love?
"Oh-hohohoho!"
Heretic Inquisitor, you’re getting distracting now, so please stop laughing.
“---What in the world is going on here?”
That’s when it happened. The buzzing of the students suddenly ceased.
Just for a moment. For no more than a second, the commotion quieted down. It was only for a second, but that was enough.
The ladies and gentlemen of the noble families bowed their heads and made way.
“…Lady Silver Lily.”
Only the Crown Prince kept his frown as he watched.
There, a lady with moonlight in her hair was approaching.
3.
“I heard you submitted a sick-leave request this morning.”
The Crown Prince spoke.
“So I thought you would be absent from the academy today, but it seems you have recovered. Ha. The Lady’s heart is quite mischievous, it seems.”
"......."
Lady Silver Lily didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she scanned the crowd once.
Flinch.
When her gaze met theirs, the students bowed deeply. These were students who had been buzzing about the royal scandal. Only after they froze, did Lady Silver Lily finally speak.
“I’ve been well, thanks to Your Highness's concern. I had a peaceful night.”
“…Is that so? That's good to hear. You spend half the year on sick leave, so a day like today must be precious. It’s a nice spring day with good sunlight, perfect for a leisurely stroll.”
An icy face.
[Enjoy a stroll] meant [Leave from here]. The Crown Prince, who had clung so desperately to the Lady Goldencup, was harsh with Lady Silver Lily.
Maybe even unusually harsh.
‘Even as royalty, it would be difficult to treat a ducal family so rudely, wouldn’t it?’
But Lady Silver Lily remained calm.
“A stroll sounds lovely. If the spring breeze gets just a bit rougher, the leaves of the magnolia will fall. I worry the flowers might feel lonely if I enjoy it alone.”
Unlike last night at the ball, where she struggled, Lady Silver Lily spoke smoothly.
“Your Highness. Do not soil yourself in such a noisy place. Why not join me for a walk and comfort the spring?”
“Ha. Why should I…”
“Lady Goldencup.”
Lady Silver Lily looked at the Heretic Inquisitor.
“Join us for the stroll.”
The Crown Prince shut his mouth.
All eyes were now on the Heretic Inquisitor.
“Hmm.”
The Heretic Inquisitor fanned herself and stole a glance at me.
‘What should I do, King of Death?’ Her eyes asked. ‘Should I follow?’ She was entirely reliant on my judgment.
Is it okay?
Lady Goldencup and the Crown Prince. Both are dangerous. Being with them will only deepen our immersion. The Heretic Inquisitor would become more like the Lady Goldencup, and I would become more like a butler.
As risky as it is, doing nothing won’t solve anything.
“...What's your current immersion rate?”
I whispered so only the Heretic Inquisitor could hear.
“Has it increased?”
“Yes. A bit.”
The Heretic Inquisitor whispered back.
"Currently, my immersion rate is 17 percent. Ahah, it increased by 1 percent while listening to the Crown Prince and another 1 percent upon seeing Lady Silver Lily. It has increased by a total of 2 percent since last night.”
2%.
Certainly slower than the skyrocketing rate last night. Should we risk entering the tiger's den now? If not now, then when?
I looked into the Heretic Inquisitor's eyes.
“When spring comes?”
The Heretic Inquisitor smiled brightly.
“The magnolias fall, King of Death.”
Okay.
I made up my mind.
“Alright. Let's follow, Lady.”
“I trust your judgment, butler.”
The Heretic Inquisitor neatly folded her fan.
“Oh-hohoho! How can I refuse when Lady Silver Lily herself invites me for a walk? I gladly accept your invitation!”
Lady Silver Lily frowned slightly and then casually turned away.
"Follow quietly."
4.
She led us to her residence, not the dormitory. Evidently, due to her family's influence, Lady Silver Lily didn’t stay in the dorms. Like living in a villa, she stayed in a separate building.
“This is where you suggest a [stroll]?”
The Crown Prince grumbled, having been somewhat forced to follow.
The Silver Lily Lady's residence was luxurious, unbefitting a student’s dwelling. The Crown Prince, raised in the imperial palace, didn’t seem overly impressed by such opulence.
“Of course not.”
Lady Silver Lily spoke nonchalantly as she walked. Tap. Tap. Her shoes echoed in the hallway.
“The stroll was just an excuse.”
“What?”
“There were too many eyes in the garden. I couldn’t speak the truth. It’s a matter needing secrecy.”
“…Secrecy?”
"Yes."
Tap.
“This is about dealing with assassins who dared to invade the cradle of nobility. Your Highness, we cannot allow the public to be disturbed by speaking rashly."
"......."
The Crown Prince was silent.
From what I deduced, the mastermind hiring the assassins was the Crown Prince. Although it might be my intuition, Lady Silver Lily's calm tone seemed to say, [I already know what you did].
“…You mean you've caught them? I haven’t even grasped the leads yet. How did you?”
“The servant of Lady Goldencup provided me with a clue.”
Tap.
“I dismissed Lady Goldencup and her servant from the ball last night. It was an overreaction. But I never ordered to confine them anywhere. It seems some of my subordinates harbored ill intentions.”
The Silver Lily Lady's residence had stairs leading to a basement. Standing there, she turned back to look at us.
Her face was expressionless.
“Shall we go down, Your Highness?”
“…The servants are not in sight. Strange. Where have the ducal servants gone?”
“Are you concerned? I suppose you would be. I shall lead the way.”
Lady Silver Lily, without waiting for a response, descended the stairs. Tap, Tap. Her steps echoed into the basement. Tap. Tap… She disappeared into the darkness.
The Crown Prince swallowed nervously and followed down.
We trailed behind them.
Descending the stairs, something became more intense. It was something too familiar to my nose, to my life. The smell of blood. The Heretic Inquisitor and I were unfazed, but the Crown Prince ahead of us twitched his shoulders.
“---I apologize for bringing Your Highness to such a humble place.”
In the basement, three people were tied to chairs.
All three were servants of the ducal house I had glimpsed last night.
“These are the masterminds behind the assassins who attacked Lady Goldencup.”
All three were soaked in blood.
"......."
The Crown Prince’s hands trembled.
Even I frowned slightly. Among those who descended, only the Heretic Inquisitor and Lady Silver Lily kept the same expression.
It made sense for the Heretic Inquisitor, being the Guild Master of the Pantheon, accustomed to torture and interrogation.
But the other was a ducal lady, seemingly fragile as moonlight, ready to collapse at any moment. Yet, she stood there as if familiar with such a place.
“After investigating all night.”
And then I remembered.
“They committed the crime out of personal vengeance.”
That the lady before me was the person who would destroy this world.
“Personal… revenge?”
“Yes. Shall I tell you?”
Lady Silver Lily grabbed one servant by the hair. "Aaack!” The servant opened their eyes in agony, though the right eye would not open. They looked at us with only the left.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is here. Show some respect.”
“Miss, ugh… Miss…”
“You conspired with your colleagues to hire assassins. You targeted Lady Goldencup. Why did you aim for her life? Confess the truth to His Highness.”
“Miss… Miss…”
“If you tell the truth, your family won’t be harmed.”
This woman.
“That, Lady Goldencup, a mere daughter of an insignificant baronial family, had the audacity to allure His Highness... Miss, you’re the rightful… Yes, the fiancée. It was decided long ago. She’s ruining it.”
Is dangerous.
“Ruining it... and so... I acted foolishly in anger and frustration. I apologize. Apologies, Miss. Apologies, Your Highness…”
“Is there someone else behind this, commanding you to hire the assassins?”
“No, there’s no one else… no other mastermind…”
No.
“Is this all just your doing, the three of you?”
It was false testimony.
“Yes… yes, Miss. That's true…”
To protect the Crown Prince.
“Is that really so?”
“Yes, absolutely… Miss…”
“Then, that’s how it is.”
Lady Silver Lily had deliberately created [false testimony] to protect the Crown Prince of this nation. I could tell that she had aligned the three servants’ stories, fabricated their alibis, and perfectly doctored every piece of evidence. The truth that they were [the Crown Prince’s agents] would never come to light. He was the [mastermind] who had arranged for the two of us to be locked in the storeroom so that he could appear when we were in danger and [play the hero]. Lady Silver Lily intended to bury all of that truth underground.
For the Crown Prince.
The man who’d suffer the most if the truth was revealed.
“Your Highness.”
Lady Silver Lily looked up at the Crown Prince.
“Execute them.”
The Crown Prince flinched.
“Execute them...?”
“Those who tried to kill Lady Goldencup, who invaded the cradle of nobility, are criminals. It’s only right to punish them, and you have the power to do so. You are the foundation of this nation, Your Highness.”
"......."
“Why do you hesitate?”
“Perhaps,” Lady Silver Lily began.
“Is there a different truth behind this case?”
"......."
“As a subject, not as a student, I implore you. If my investigation is inadequate, postpone the punishment. The matter is serious, I’ll inform the Emperor’s special forces.”
The Emperor's special forces.
Upon hearing that, the 'butler’s' memories resurfaced.
The empire’s hounds, beneath only one person and obedient to no other command. Composed of the empire’s finest swordsmen and magicians, they possessed absolute and independent authority to investigate.
The current Crown Prince secured his position precisely because they eliminated the previous prince involved in corruption.
“But if Your Highness is satisfied with my investigation, there’s no need to complicate matters.”
Lady Silver Lily bowed.
A sword lay on the floor, seemingly prepared beforehand.
“Execute them here,”
Lady Silver Lily rolled up her sleeves.
Her arms, revealed, were covered in countless scars.
“And upon me, who failed to properly manage my family’s servants,”
Puncture wounds, cuts, scratches, gouges, beating scars, and burns had eaten away at the ducal lady’s arms, which must once have been as white as lilies. And not only her arms. From the long furrow running into her shoulder, like the mark left after tearing out a burrowing worm, I somehow knew that her entire body was covered in wounds.
The bowed Lady of the Silver Lily whispered.
“Please mete out punishment.”
The Silver Lily.
The villainess of this world.
“As always, I shall bear the sins.”
The Crown Prince trembled.
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