Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Flower of Evil, Aira #10
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Humans. Dwarves. Elves. Nymphs. Beasts. And so on.
The novel *Villain Hunter* featured a wide variety of races living together. Each with their own distinct traits, each living their lives in their own unique ways.
Nymphs were one such race.
These small fairies were said to have lived among people in the world before the era of humans arrived.
I’d only vaguely heard of their existence and figured it had nothing to do with me. That was just a few hours ago.
“You’re saying I’m a half-fairy... a half-nymph?”
I’d just heard a pretty shocking truth.
“That’s right! This body, forged in the fires of commerce, possesses eyesight as sharp as a gold-rank hero’s! In this Biernoy’s eyes, you’re definitely a half-nymph!”
Me, a half-nymph? In this world?
That was news to me.
I’d always thought I looked completely human.
Did this sleazy character Theo have that kind of backstory?
As a minor villain who just passed by, I remembered him only being described with the title “Naughty Young Monk,” nothing more.
Could it be that his eternally youthful appearance wasn’t due to some bizarre monkly magic, but because fairy blood ran half in his veins?
“If we press our foreheads together, I could tell you even more details! But seriously, who’s this girl constantly yanking on this body’s ears?!”
“Look, the ears are pointy. Not like a human’s.”
“If you keep pulling on them like that, this body’s short and stylish nymph ears will stretch out into those pathetic long elf ears!”
Just as the nymph Biernoy was about to pull off my hood, Aira grabbed his ears and saved me.
If he’d seen my face, it would’ve been game over.
I’d revealed it here earlier, after all.
Anyway, me being a half-nymph.
Of course, whether I was truly half-fairy or fully human wouldn’t change much about my current situation. Still, it was fascinating.
As if reading my thoughts, Biernoy nodded in the same wonder.
“This body, Biernoy, hasn’t seen a half-fairy in ages. Fascinating stuff. When was the last time...?”
But my musings were shattered by the nymph shopkeeper’s sudden chatter.
“Back then, it wasn’t the scheming spider Tarantella family leading the world—it was Demon King Angmar! The age of sheep. Nymphs everywhere. Humans everywhere. So half-fairies everywhere too...”
I could see the nymph’s eyes misting over with nostalgia. Fitting for a long-lived fairy race, reminiscing about distant history.
“Best not to bring up that story.”
Some things in this world are better left buried.
Sure enough.
—Demon King?
—What an ominous name.
The customers eavesdropping on our conversation from around the shop were already murmuring in fear and chills.
Demon King Angmar was that kind of word.
Taboo in itself.
They said he possessed the greatest magical power of anyone in this world, but in the end, he committed an irreversible sin.
Because of him, humanity had to erect a massive barrier.
Not much is known about the barrier, so explaining it in detail would take time.
Ah—by now, that tax collector from earlier might be heading there.
In my mind, I pictured the enormous barrier, carriages approaching it, countless torches illuminating the encroaching darkness, and patrol soldiers.
A world where even the brightest noon cast shadows like the darkest night.
Then, my sensitive ears caught a whisper.
—I know a guy who went beyond the barrier. He went mad... killed his whole family. A good guy who volunteered at church every day. The scene was horrific, he said.
—What the hell turns people like that? What’s beyond the barrier?
—Dunno. Don’t wanna know. But maybe... the Forbidden Legacy and curse that Demon King Angmar tried to hide...
At that moment, Aira slammed her palm lightly on the table with a *thwack*.
“The Demon King’s dead. Torn to shreds. Gone from this world. Curses are just superstition. No such thing as a Forbidden Legacy.”
“That’s right! Now it’s the world of spiders and lions!”
With that, Aira said nothing more.
Looking closely, she seemed sleepy, her head nodding forward bit by bit.
Makes sense—it was bedtime.
Aira’s routine was ironclad; come nightfall, she had to sleep.
It was a weakness of hers, but only a select few, myself included, knew about it.
“......Yawn.”
Seeing her yawn, it was time to leave.
We hadn’t touched the food, but getting out before something else happened was the wisest move.
“Shopkeeper. It was a pleasure. We’ll be going now—circumstances demand it.”
I pulled a gold coin from my pocket. But Nymph Biernoy shook his head.
“Nah. Meeting kin was a pleasure for me too. A half-nymph! No charge!”
No charge?
Did this world really have such sweet, free hospitality? I wondered if there was a catch.
As suspicion crept in...
*Swish.*
Biernoy grabbed my palm and added,
“...But now I see it. Beyond the fairy blood, there’s something else mixed in. Something very alien.”
“......!”
His words jolted me like a static shock.
Something alien mixed in?
Had he somehow noticed I’d possessed this Theo Gospel body?
No one had caught on before?
Before Aira could hear, I hoisted her half-asleep form over my shoulder and bolted from the shop.
Back to the palace—fast.
We could make it before midnight.
But then my sensitive herbivore instincts picked up trailing presences, and a wave of weary fatigue washed over me.
“Knew it.”
Today’s schedule was a nightmare to control.
* * *
We’d been walking a while when a narrow alley appeared.
I’d tried sticking to main roads. Troubling.
“Heh heh heh. Where you headed?”
“Looks like the noble miss is tired. We know a perfect spot to rest. Not far. Right nearby.”
Finally, the presences trailing me spoke up.
I’d hoped they’d give up, but they weren’t that smart.
“Hold up a sec.”
“Yeah, got something to say. Stop, like we said.”
The voices from behind: two men. Probably from the back corner table, like us.
Turning, I saw two guys approaching, just as expected.
Too dark to see faces clearly, but they were burly. Each had a dagger, potion, long sword, and axe at their waists.
Obvious street thugs—no need to inspect.
How’s Aira holding up?
“......”
Half-asleep. Maybe for the best. No need to crack eggs with boulders.
I drew my dagger and warned them.
“Best not to mess with us. Just let us pass quietly. You’ll regret knowing who she is—death won’t be the end of it.”
But they just exchanged glances and burst into synchronized laughter—*puhahaha*.
One drawing his long sword mid-laugh said,
“Everyone says that. ‘Know who she is?’ Of course we do. Some noble miss, right? Sneaking out at night, curious type.”
“Slipping out of a fancy mansion alone, no guards. Naughty miss. Right?”
“Yeah, naughty misses need punishment. From guys like us. Heh heh. Nothin’ big. Just ransom cash. Bit of fun while we wait. We’re pros.”
Pros—at crime?
From the chatter, they had experience.
Half-right, actually.
Not a noble—she’s the queen. That’s the issue.
Heard of thugs targeting nobles for ransom lately.
Probably them.
Newspapers and agendas mentioned it recently.
Name was... Black Robe Gang, I think.
If these were them, intriguing.
But just grunts—low-value intel.
Better bail before Aira wakes and wrecks everything.
“Heh heh, no goin’.”
“Yeah, no goin’!”
But the men skillfully blocked front and back alleys. Pros for real—efficient.
Escape meant fighting, and honestly, I sucked at that.
“Heh heh. Don’t know if you’re a servant or slave. Leave the miss and go. We’ll let you live.”
“Or obey nice, join the fun. Bet you’ve never had a noble miss. Right? They all love it.”
Reading my hesitation, they demanded I ditch Aira.
Abandon her, save myself.
Suddenly, an old nagging dilemma clawed at my mind.
If forced to choose between Aira’s life and mine...
Like now—betray her to survive—what would I pick?
“Mm...... Theo, so noisy.”
Aira, leaning on me, began stirring awake.
My hair stood on end.
If she saw this, they’d die.
She might snap, become the mad murder-queen Aira.
Should I negotiate, reveal myself? I pondered seriously.
“Enough of that. Tormenting a lady and her poor servant?”
From the dark alley came a *rattle-rattle* as someone emerged.
Tall and gaunt, with a bushy beard like a broom.
In his hand—not a fancy weapon, but a farm tool: a plow.
Ah.
I remembered.
The Plow Hero.
“Who’re you?”
“A plow?”
The thugs’ attention shifted to him.
But as the Plow Hero casually slung his dragged plow over his shoulder...
One thug shuddered, muttering,
“...That’s Darjen. Plow Hero, Darjen. That guy... same-rank hero. We can’t win. B-brother! Get brother!”
“Same rank...? Shit, we’re screwed. Yeah, get brother! Hey, you two stay put! Fetchin’ brother now!”
Terrified of the hero, the thugs who’d threatened us fled like shots.
Watching them go, Plow Hero—Darjen—sheathed his weapon and sighed.
“This city’s full of thugs everywhere. Little threat, and they bolt. You two okay?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, we’re alive. Allow me to recompense generously.”
As I offered thanks, the hero waved it off.
“Helping citizens is a hero’s duty. No need for rewards.”
“......”
“Anyway, I know those faces. The noisy Black Robe Gang lately. Before their ‘brother’ shows—let’s move.”
The Plow Hero guided us to a nearby hideout I’d arranged.
Smart to evade bigger trouble.
Same direction as the palace, so I followed. Midway, he spoke to me.
“Didn’t ditch the miss and run. Most would in that spot. Highborn lady, huh? Baron’s? Viscount’s daughter?”
“That’s a secret.”
“Fair enough. But this is on you, servant. Dragging a noble lady out on a dark night with no proper guard? Bound to tangle in crap.”
Infuriating, but true.
I’d anticipated it.
But Aira’s stubborn insistence on just us two sightseeing at night was unbreakable.
Her stubbornness had worsened lately.
Gotta fix this— I thought, when Darjen said,
“So, you really a half-nymph?”
“Huh?”
“Overheard at the tavern without meaning to. Saw bad guys tailing you, so I followed. Sounded like half-nymph talk.”
“Ah.”
Me being half-nymph was news to me today—no good explanation.
Barely mentioned in the original novel—no standout traits.
As I fumbled for words, Darjen added,
“Heard most half-nymphs are female. Males super rare. Even then, they don’t function, they say. That true?”
Ah, just curiosity—he brushed it off casually. But I couldn’t grasp his intent.
“Don’t function? What’s that mean?”
“Mule-like. Mules born sterile. Donkey-horse breeding. Sad fate of man’s selfish hybrids. You too? Sterile?”
Who asks a stranger if they’re sterile?
What the hell. Rude jerk.
Thought heroes had manners—nah, same crude world level.
Then, Aira’s eyes fluttered open.
“Lowly hypocrite. Don’t insult Theo.”