The Self-Proclaimed Villainess (1)
Half a year later, a grand banquet was held in the empire, attended by every high-ranking official. It was a celebration honoring the hero party, led by Park Bongpal, for their successful subjugation of the Demon King. Since it also served as a progress report for the powerful backers who sponsored the hero party, Park Bongpal himself stood as the speaker for the occasion.
When Park Bongpal stepped onto the elevated platform, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall.
“Woong, thank you yong.”
His peculiar manner of speaking grated on the nerves, but no one had yet made a serious issue of it. What drew criticism was something else entirely.
“By the way, why are you still wearing that iron helmet?”
“Woong, I suffered a terrible facial injury in the battle against the Demon King yong. It’s so severe that simply looking at it could damage one’s mental health yong. So I’ve had no choice but to wear this iron helmet for the rest of my life yong.”
It was an excuse meant to hide his bald head with its single remaining strand of hair, but Park Bongpal recited the prepared lie without a single tremor. Among the naïve audience, sighs of understanding rose, followed by another burst of applause.
“Not bad at all. Even with only your lower face visible, you’re quite handsome. It seems heroism cannot be concealed by injury.”
“Woong, thank you yong.”
“However, that fucking… I mean, that rather unsuitable speech pattern of yours—what is it? If it’s a private joke, I can overlook it, but this hall is filled with distinguished guests who have traveled from afar with high expectations for you. I would ask that you maintain proper dignity.”
Park Bongpal broke into a cold sweat. Of course he wanted to abandon this ridiculous way of talking, but the compulsion of the Geas was as absolute as the laws of nature. No matter how hard he tried to avoid it, the words slipped out unconsciously.
“Woong, there are circumstances yong. Please just bear with me today yong.”
“If it is a matter you cannot reveal, then I understand…”
The viscount serving as master of ceremonies let his words trail off and returned to the audience seats. The next item on the agenda was Park Bongpal’s speech.
Standing before the podium, Park Bongpal clenched his fists tightly.
Woong, now is the time to frame that bastard Jain, turn him into a public enemy of the empire, and have him subjugated yong!
Even after the other members of the hero party had returned to their hometowns, Park Bongpal had remained in the capital, grinding his teeth. This moment was what he had been waiting for.
Woong, if I cannot win with strength, then I will win with power and schemes yong!
His scheme was to pin false accusations on Jain—the man who had reduced him to this state—and turn him into an enemy of the empire for revenge. Even if it endangered all of humanity, the hero who had become Park Bongpal no longer cared about humanity’s safety.
Woong, for this very occasion, I commissioned the empire’s greatest calligrapher to ghostwrite my speech yong!
Park Bongpal pulled a large scroll from his pocket and began to read it aloud. The content itself was excellent. It would have been a magnificent oration.
If not for the Geas.
“Woong, listen yong, a hero is the pride of humanity, the embodiment of the human will that sprouts tender shoots even in the harshest soil and blooms flowers even in the most severe frozen wasteland, a being that stands against the crises of the world yong. Woong, however, there is a villain here who envies that destiny and seeks to steal its glory yong. Woong, therefore this is not a challenge against Park Bongpal as an individual yong. Woong, this is a challenge and a desecration to the very pride that humanity has built yong.”
“What on earth is he saying?”
“He’s babbling so much I can’t understand a word.”
“That speech pattern is really fucking… I mean, it lacks all refinement.”
The assembled nobles began to stir. The speech was already packed with elaborate rhetoric and metaphors that were difficult to follow; with “woong” and “yong” sprinkled liberally throughout, it had become utterly incomprehensible. They had already reached the middle of the prepared text, yet not a single person had understood anything.
Only then did the hero realize the problem. He tossed the scroll aside and switched to an impromptu address.
“Woong, so! That red mage bastard was scheming to steal my achievements! In the end, he even joined the Demon King’s side and attacked us yong!”
It was a tirade that viciously disparaged Jain’s accomplishments, wildly inflated his own, and saddled Jain with the charge of betraying humanity. Because it was simpler, far more people understood this time.
A murmur rippled through the distinguished guests. The red mage Jain was a familiar face to the nobles. He had attended these regular achievement-report banquets without fail.
And Jain’s reputation among them was not bad.
“Um… is that really true?”
A noble lady with orange hair quietly raised her hand. She was the young lady whose illness Jain had cured the last time he attended one of these events. She had been slowly poisoned by a jealous maidservant and was nearing death when Jain, in the middle of an achievement run, had discovered her, casually healed her, and explained the truth.
“Woong, are you saying you cannot believe the words of this hero Park Bongpal yong?”
“But I believe him. He is not that kind of person.”
Murmurs of agreement spread. Besides her, many nobles who had received major or minor help from Jain were gathered here. It was because Jain had attended the sponsorship meetings with blazing eyes, desperately hunting for quests to complete his achievements.
Woong… that ugly provincial noble’s daughter. Why is she interfering with me yong!
Still, it was one of the scenarios he had anticipated. Park Bongpal’s grudge ran deep. There was no way the plan he had prepared with such hatred would collapse so easily.
“Woong, that fellow was thoroughly hiding his claws, so it is not unreasonable that some still think that way yong. Therefore! I have prepared a witness yong!”
Park Bongpal signaled for the witness to enter.
“Woong, none other than the one who fought alongside us when we defeated the Demon King! The Saint, Elaine Enfield yong!”
At his words, the curtains behind the stage were drawn back and Elaine appeared, wearing her usual nun’s habit with side slits so excessive they bordered on vulgar.
Park Bongpal had bribed her beforehand, planning to have her commit perjury.
“Greetings, everyone. I am Elaine. This is the first time I have seen you all since the Demon King subjugation. You must consider yourselves truly fortunate to be able to behold my adorable self in person like this.”
She smiled, revealing her fangs with an arrogant flourish of her hand. She probably meant to lighten the mood, but the hall’s reaction was icy.
Growing anxious, Park Bongpal pressed her.
“Woong, then, Saint! Quickly expose the true nature of that vile bastard in full detail yong!”
“Well, if you insist.”
Brushing her long black hair back with the back of her hand, she gripped the podium and began her testimony. Park Bongpal’s face turned the color of ash.
“The truth is that every subjugation up until now was accomplished solely by the red mage Jain. The hero was merely leeching off him while deceiving the rest of us. Even I was completely fooled until right before the Demon King battle.”
Her words were the complete opposite of what they had rehearsed. She was accusing Park Bongpal instead. Aside from subtly exaggerating her own role, she recounted exactly what had happened that day in the Demon King’s castle.
Elaine had not the slightest intention of clinging to Park Bongpal, who was now a broken lifeline. On the contrary, she intended to use this incident to sacrifice him and draw closer to Jain.
Unable to endure any longer, Park Bongpal pointed at her and shouted.
“Woong, you filthy bitch, you’ve betrayed me yong! Just like the other bitches, you’ve abandoned me and sided with that bastard yong!… That’s not what I…”
Only then did Park Bongpal realize that his outburst had been practically a confession. He staggered backward.
The audience had already held a favorable opinion of Jain; that goodwill now transformed into open hostility toward Park Bongpal.
Regardless, Elaine finished her speech with a haughty expression.
“In the end, the subjugation of the Demon King was almost entirely the achievement and skill of Jain alone. It was not a triumph of humanity. The Demon World’s strongest legion, the Army of Annihilation, remains intact, and the powerful Demon King successors are still at large. Therefore, this occasion should not be a celebration but a venue to discuss future countermeasures. That is the cute opinion of this saint.”
“Woong, evidence! Present your evidence yong!”
“Evidence? Of course I have it.”
At Park Bongpal’s desperate cry, Elaine smiled slyly and produced a crystal orb. It was an artifact capable of recording conversations.
Park Bongpal’s complexion grew even more wretched. It seemed she had secretly recorded their exchange when he had tried to coerce her into giving false testimony.
‘So you want me to give false testimony for you? That the red mage had no achievements whatsoever and betrayed humanity?’
‘Woong, that’s right yong! I must have my revenge on that damn bastard yong!’
The crystal orb replayed their exact conversation from that time.
His mind reeling, Park Bongpal desperately searched for an escape route. At last he found a single flimsy defensive argument.
“Woong, that crystal orb cannot serve as evidence yong! That item has a critical flaw yong! The audio quality is so poor that the voices are hard to distinguish yong! Where is the proof that the speaker is me yong!”
Elaine smiled, showing her fangs. Then, with a mocking, provocative look, she said,
“My, in this entire world, who else but you goes around ending every sentence with ‘yong’ like a deranged person yong.”
“Ah.”
Instantly slain, Park Bongpal collapsed to his knees. It was as good as an admission of guilt.
“Is that the truth?”
Once the situation had settled, an old man who had been watching the farce with a bored expression finally spoke. He was a distinguished elder with white hair slicked back neatly, wearing a monocle—an older gentleman exuding mature charm.
The moment Park Bongpal saw his face, he trembled violently and denied everything.
“Woong, no yong. Absolutely not yong.”
The man was the Iron-Blooded Chancellor, Altrich. He was the renowned prime minister praised as the sole reason humanity had been able to endure while standing on the brink of extinction.
Altrich spoke with a sneer.
“Of course I believe you. However, the atmosphere has been completely ruined. As a way to liven things up, I would like to see a ceremonial duel.”
“Woong, by duel… who is the opponent yong?”
“It will be Sir Leonhardt, the Guardian Duke, who is attending as my escort.”
The eyes of Altrich as he spoke showed no trace of trust. It was clear he had almost completely accepted Elaine’s testimony but wished to test Park Bongpal one final time.
The empire’s greatest knight, his hair resembling a lion’s mane, stepped forward before Park Bongpal with a low growl.
“I would like to learn from the skill that defeated the Demon King. I ask that you indulge me.”
There was no longer any excuse to retreat. Trembling all over, Park Bongpal accepted the duel.