What Happens When a Beauty Gets Her Corn Stolen?
Esmi recalled the story Kang Jin-ho had told her.
The words about a follower of an Outer God plotting to corrupt her came back to her.
All the puzzle pieces fell into place.
She now knew who the true culprit behind this entire conspiracy was.
'It was that woman.'
Esmi bit her lip until it drew blood.
The metallic taste of blood spread through her mouth.
She steadied her faltering mind.
Gathering strength in her trembling legs, she pointed her finger at the culprit of this incident, who was smiling leisurely.
"It was you."
Esmi's voice was soft.
But she cast a voice amplification spell.
This made her voice audible to everyone present.
"It was you... who slaughtered the village livestock. You're the follower of the Outer God behind this whole mess."
Alexia’s face—the woman named Alexia—stiffened slightly at Esmi’s words.
Alexia’s voice rang in Esmi’s ear.
No one else could hear it.
Message magic.
She had used this spell to make her voice audible only to a specific target.
Only Esmi could hear the voice whispering in her ear.
The voice in her ear was as clear and pure as ever.
Alexia’s voice carried genuine admiration.
Meeting Esmi’s eyes, she casually shrugged.
Alexia’s lips curled up ever so slightly.
"……!"
Esmi’s eyes widened.
Alexia casually shifted the blame onto Esmi.
There was no trace of guilt from her, even as she foreshadowed a mass slaughter.
Her tone felt innocently naive, like a child tossing aside a boring toy.
Alexia proposed it as if showing mercy.
Her gaze shifted to the Village Chief.
He was bound alive, facing what looked like a brutal burning at the stake.
"Hey! Listen! That's a lie! I said it was a lie!"
"Shut up, traitor!"
"Where does this old fart get off talking?!"
Esmi couldn't stand by any longer.
"Stop it!"
She cast a Hold spell.
A magic that sealed the target's movements.
Mages or Aura users could easily break it.
But ordinary folk without magic or Aura couldn't escape.
"I-I can't move!"
"Witch! The witch cursed us!"
"Uwaaaah! The witch is gonna kill us!"
The villagers freaked out on their own.
They hadn't even heard Esmi call Alexia a follower of the Outer God.
"That witch is insulting Alexia!"
"And cursing us too!"
"Such a wicked witch!"
Their bodies were frozen.
But their mouths were free.
And from those free mouths poured curses at Esmi.
Hatred foaming at the mouth.
Esmi trembled at the horrific malice.
She'd used magic to save people.
Yet she got branded as evil in return.
They didn't even consider that they'd tried to kill someone first.
Alexia’s mocking message came again.
Alexia whispered like a devil tempting her.
Esmi shook her head.
She sent a message magic back, replying firmly.
Alexia continued at Esmi’s resolute response.
It was true.
Hold wasn't hard to dispel.
If she got serious, Esmi couldn't avoid a fight.
And the Village Chief and villagers would get caught in it.
"What?"
It was blackmail wrapped in temptation.
If Esmi swore to serve the Outer God,
She'd spare the Village Chief's life.
But still slaughter everyone else in the village.
"Unbelievable."
Esmi replied firmly.
She dropped all politeness.
Just glared at Alexia with resentful eyes and spat it out.
"You won't keep your promise. Your eyes show not a shred of respect for life."
Alexia shouted toward the villagers.
"Everyone! Did you hear that?! What that witch just said!"
She spoke in the tone of a righteous whistleblower.
Pointing at Esmi with a heartbroken expression.
"Instead of repenting her sins, she's slandering me and sowing discord! Me, a follower of the Outer God?! I swear on my honor—I, Alexia, have no ties to such monsters!"
She even faked tears of injustice.
The villagers, fooled by her, erupted in rage.
"That evil witch!"
"Shameless bitch! Trying to toy with us!"
"So cunning and wicked!"
Alexia nailed it down.
"I'll protect you all with my artifact! Let's execute the witch together!"
"Waaaaah!"
"Kill her!"
As she activated her artifact, Alexia subtly cast a spell.
The Hold spell broke on the villagers.
"Kill the chief first!"
"Chop off the traitor's head!"
"I'll take that evil old man's head!"
"Daring to sell out the village to stay young alone? Unforgivable!"
The villagers charged at the Village Chief, some raising sickles with murderous intent.
"U-Uwaaaah!"
The chief barely dodged, screaming as he put distance between them.
He fled at full speed from the villagers.
But his aged body wouldn't last long.
"No."
Esmi raised her hand.
A wave of mana pulsed from her toward the villagers.
A light stunning spell.
But.
Shuuu—
One of Alexia’s escorts drew his sword.
His swing precisely sliced through Esmi’s mana.
A sinister aura briefly cloaked the blade before vanishing.
Alexia layered her mana interference on top.
Disrupting Esmi so she couldn't cast at full power.
Alexia’s mana kept meddling, weakening Esmi’s spells.
In turn, Alexia couldn't cast her own spells while focusing on interference.
Alexia egged Esmi on.
Serious injuries would end it without killing.
But Esmi’s hand shook.
One gesture could maim all the villagers here.
As Alexia’s laughter echoed in her ear,
"Ah, this is annoying."
A voice poured cold water on the situation.
Utterly indifferent and bored.
"……?"
Alexia and Esmi’s gazes turned.
The fleeing Village Chief’s gaze turned.
The villagers about to kill him turned too.
It was Kang Jin-ho.
Esmi’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit upon recognizing him.
"Too predictable. I don't like stories where the answer's obvious from the start."
Kang Jin-ho clicked his tongue.
"Third-rate villains always pull the same crap. Sowing discord, inciting idiots. Breaking the good guy's spirit to corrupt 'em."
Alexia’s eyebrow twitched.
Instinct told her Kang Jin-ho was no ordinary man.
"Who are you?"
Alexia hid her wariness.
Then asked pitifully, like an innocent girl.
"Are you a traveler fooled by the witch? Be careful. That woman's dangerous..."
"Shut your fucking mouth, you bitch."
Kang Jin-ho cut her off.
"I expected some fun when you popped up. You ruined it."
Kang Jin-ho lightly cracked his knuckles.
The pops echoed threateningly.
"So get ready."