Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Hero of Justice, Verdandi Astraia (3)
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The first time Verdandi laid eyes on Bing Yeon, the translucent window that appeared before her clearly read as follows.
[The person before your eyes is an 'Extreme Evil Person.']
It wasn't just any villain—it was an extreme evil person. Her first encounter with this category sent Verdandi's thoughts spinning rapidly.
A murderer? There were too many inconsistencies for that. A strangely dressed man and woman, rarely seen in this village, plus one who looked like a mage.
Outsiders, no question.
That left possibilities like an outsider murderer, a human traitor siding with the Demon King, someone who'd sold out the country, or a tyrant enslaving and exploiting people.
She believed the label from her [Truth-Seeing Eye] was absolute, no exceptions. There had to be a reason it said 'Extreme Evil Person.'
...The atmosphere feels off! This must be an incredibly powerful villain!
Just eliminate these people and slaughter the entire village. Done.
She'd already restrained her mother, Eila—whom her ability had branded a villain.
Left like this, Eila would surely die. The thought made Verdandi's breath hitch, a wave of unease rising in her chest.
"......"
Was she really a villain?
No matter that she'd tried to strangle Verdandi as a child or lied about loving her, Eila had still raised her all these years.
Don't get lost in distractions, Verdandi. Lord Solareon, the divine one, has confirmed it.
Verdandi shook her head, gazing at Eila's cooling form. She couldn't even entertain the idea that her ability was wrong from the start.
I will punish the villains of this world!
Verdandi gripped the kitchen knife tightly and assumed a battle stance. Whatever this man's true nature, it didn't matter—her mind was filled with that conviction.
[The person before your eyes is a 'Good Person.']
She was the Hero of Justice.
No matter what anyone said, a flawless paragon of good.
The fairy-tale hero who enforced justice and slayed evil.
Verdandi smiled inwardly at her reflection in the knife blade.
"You came to take me as your disciple? You must be out of your mind!"
"That's right. I came to guide you onto the proper path. Join me, and you'll suffer no more. You won't be chained to the hero title—you could live a normal life..."
[The words of the person before you are 'Truth.']
Verdandi froze, unable to hide her shock as she stared at the text reflected in her cornea.
...Truth? Really?
This extreme evil was speaking the truth. Right in front of her stood someone saying she could abandon her hero obsession and live normally.
A glimmer of hope: a normal child, loved by her parents, free from hatred.
But...
"Ha, hahaha! You're way too late!"
Verdandi believed everything was already ruined. She'd stabbed her own mother with the kitchen knife, after all.
"Even beasts cherish their young, but I nearly died strangled by my mother as a newborn!"
Honestly, she felt wronged.
Why wasn't she born normal?
Why did she have this ability that made her distrust everyone?
"I'd die before taking an extreme evil like you as my master!"
Verdandi shouted as Biwol closed in beside her. It was too late to turn back now.
Even if Eila healed, she'd despise and scorn Verdandi for trying to kill her.
Verdandi couldn't bear that cold gaze. Those piercing eyes terrified her.
"Not so fast—your opponent is me."
In that instant, one of Bing Yeon's eyes gleamed gold. It held no loathing or hatred—just steadfast resolve.
Kwarung! A deafening roar echoed as an ice wall erupted between her and Eila.
"...An ice wall? Are you mages?"
Verdandi stared in disbelief. With power like that, they could just kill her and save her mother effortlessly.
"Master, the injured is secured."
A black-haired girl moved at blinding speed, while the blonde mage instantly healed the grievous wounds.
"Gold Tower Lord, take her outside and staunch the neck wound. I'll handle this."
Among them, the most intimidating was the white-haired man who claimed to have come to save her.
"But, Master...! Aren't you unwell? This opponent's strong enough to react to my techniques!"
Blood trickled not just from nose and mouth, but ears too—yet he remained vigilant against her movements.
...One slip, and I'm dead.
The bone-chilling aura made Verdandi realize something was terribly wrong.
Why didn't this man kill her instantly when he could? Why offer to save her?
"Isn't it common knowledge that a master surpasses his disciple?"
[The words of the person before you are 'Truth.']
The translucent window relentlessly informed her of truth and lies. It had never flagged a falsehood before.
"I might not be the greatest of the demonic path, as you say. Nor the greatest in history. Certainly not the world's best."
It had to be false. It must be.
"But I am a master with countless disciples. Better than a hollow strongman—I'm an ordinary soul beloved by all."
Verdandi shook her head at the floating windows. Such a person couldn't possibly be an extreme evil.
"A master must do deeds his disciple can take pride in. So you can one day step over my shadow and achieve greatness."
[The words of the person before you are 'Truth.']
What if this white-haired man had truly come to save her and healed her mother for that reason?
What if he really was a good person who could understand her?
Then...
What would become of everything she'd done? Everything she'd believed?
"All talk! Even so, you're still an extreme evil!"
Verdandi screamed at Bing Yeon. Doubts crept in: a misunderstanding? Her mother actually loved her?
"Why do you think I'm an extreme evil from the start?"
"Because I'm the hero, of course..."
"...What if you're not? Have you ever considered you might just be an ordinary person?"
Her mother, Eila, even as she lay dying from Verdandi's knife, had only repeated, 'Mom's sorry.'
"What exactly are you trying to say?!"
"Your abilities are [Truth-Seeing Eye] and [Scales of Justice]. Each has two flaws."
Having fully subdued Verdandi, Bing Yeon met her gaze directly.
"The [Truth-Seeing Eye]'s flaw: if the speaker themselves doesn't realize it's a lie, it registers as truth."
"...?!"
His gaze was soft and warm—like a father's might be.
"The [Scales of Justice]'s flaw: when the gap between good and evil deeds is vast, the outcome can flip anytime."
Verdandi hated that look. It pitied her, invalidating her harsh life.
She tried to flee.
"Look closely once more with those eyes. See if the man before you is truly an extreme evil."
One stomp from Bing Yeon froze her lower body solid, immobilizing her.
[The target's karma value has changed. Recalculating.]
"......This can't be."
[The person before your eyes is a 'Good Person.']
Verdandi couldn't trust her own eyes. Just moments ago, he'd been the worst of villains, an extreme evil.
"Now, will you trust this master instead of your ability?"
"......"
Was her ability truly flawed? Had she jumped to all these conclusions on her own?
"I came here on a divine command to save you. From a god-like existence."
Blood trickled from his mouth, yet Bing Yeon smiled at her. That kind smile made her heart malfunction.
[The words of the person before you are 'Truth.']
"It's... truth. How can this be..."
Thump turning to thud, thud to boom.
Feeling her heartbeat accelerate, Verdandi sensed an unfamiliar emotion stirring.
"From me, you'll learn love laced with hate—the paradoxical feelings where sorrow and joy coexist. Just like your mother."
"My mother... you're saying?"
Was this love-hate? Verdandi nodded as if she understood.
"Yes. Your mother became pregnant against her will from a bandit who raided your home. Strangling you was unforgivable, yes."
"......"
She hadn't known. Her ability had tangled truths and lies amid the info overload, obscuring reality.
"But her love for her child was stronger. She was so ashamed and humiliated saying it that your ability read it as a lie."
[The words of the person before you are 'Truth.']
Only now did Verdandi realize Bing Yeon was entirely correct. If he'd wanted her dead, he'd have done it already. He wouldn't have saved her mother.
His two companions had dodged her earlier.
"Are you... an apostle of the Lord God?"
Feeling utterly exposed, Verdandi whimpered toward Bing Yeon. Knowing all this, he could be nothing less.
"No, I'm just an ordinary human. Like you—afraid daily that people won't grasp my true heart. A plain, everyday soul."
This echoed her own constant thoughts. No matter her efforts, villagers always looked on her with contempt.
"Don't mind the villagers scorning you. They're like snakes coiled together, bound by mutual misdeeds."
It felt like he was saying for her: It's not your fault. Theirs.
"Is that... true? That means I'm... a good child...?"
Verdandi had no choice but to open her heart to him.
"Yes, you're a good child. I regret not finding you sooner—my inexperience led to mistakes—but it's still salvageable."
She plunged into his embrace. His body was freezing, yet strangely, it felt warm.
"Waaah..."
A hot sensation welled in her eyes. She didn't want to cry, hated the tears flowing unbidden.
"I was so lonely. Mother registered as a villain—even her words of love showed as lies..."
She couldn't understand why she was baring her soul to a total stranger.
Perhaps because she trusted the divine oracle without question. From Bing Yeon emanated an odd familiarity.
"Yes, yes."
"Knowing she'd tried to strangle me as a baby, I was terrified to sleep near her... Every day felt like suffocating to death."
She just wanted comfort—from anyone.
"That must have been tough."
She just wanted someone—anyone—to hear her voice.
"Villagers despised me, snuck bugs into my food, spread rumors I lived like my slut of a mother..."
Right now, she just wanted someone to say she wasn't bad.
"My master and I will settle all your grudges. No need to worry. No one under heaven will curse you again."
Verdandi wept long in Bing Yeon's arms, finally quieting after about an hour.
"...I have a bad feeling about this."
At that moment, Biwol muttered to herself, staring at the house she'd fled.
"Huh? The treatment's all done! She'll regain consciousness soon!"
Wolfram tilted her head, eyeing Biwol oddly. What could be wrong?
Stabbed with a kitchen knife, minor organ damage—but fully healed. No scars, perfect recovery.
"What do you mean, bad feeling?"
Wolfram couldn't fathom why Biwol would say such a thing.
"A little hyena's flirting with Master. Taking advantage of my absence..."
Biwol bit her lower lip, picturing Verdandi's face as she whispered.
"Master belongs to me alone."
Blood seeped from her bitten lip.
"See? I told you. Once a junior sister shows up, you'll be obsolete."
A voice like a serpent's tongue drummed at her heart.