Chapter 176 - The Flickering Little Light

"Hiiing...!"

"We've arrived!"

As the carriage gradually slowed to a halt, the coachman announced our arrival at the destination.

"Young master, are you sure about this? If you wish, I can have shadows—"

At the same time, Kania's voice crackled through the communication orb.

Her tone trembled noticeably—she must be extremely worried.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"It's fine, Kania. She can't touch me anyway."

"But what if the Demon King has hidden subordinates? What then?"

"...In her current position, she can't have any. This was a surprise visit from the start."

Even as I said that, her unease was palpable through the orb, so I tapped the staff in my pocket and added,

"And if things get dicey, I'll just use the staff. It can handle even a combat executive."

"...I'll intervene at the first sign of danger."

Kania replied in a grim voice, and the transmission cut off right after.

"Sir? Aren't you getting out?"

Scratching my head thanks to that, I heard the coachman's irritated voice and pulled my robe tight before stepping down from the carriage.

'I need to get a foundation-exclusive carriage soon.'

As that thought crossed my mind, I took a single step forward.

"Ah, hello..."

""Hellooo...""

For some reason, the orphanage staff and children waiting out front bowed in greeting.

".........."

Normally, I'd smile at the kids whose faces had brightened up since the streets were revitalized, but right now, I couldn't manage my expression.

"Hello~!"

Because at the edge of the group.

"Welcome to our orphanage!"

The most hated woman in the world was grinning with that repulsive smile.

"Nice to meet you."

I felt like I might lose my mind any second, but I forced myself to bow in response.

"...Tch."

Of course, my expression control failed.

"Hm? Are you hurt somewhere?"

"...No."

"I see! That's a relief!"

As I kept my head bowed for a moment, Ruby approached with a concerned look.

"You just seem unwell somehow..."

She looked every bit the little saintess of the orphanage, caring for others.

"...Ha."

But she was staring right at my invisibility-cloaked staff.

"Come inside! I'll show you around!"

After an awkward silence, Ruby grabbed my hand with a cheerful smile and pulled me into the orphanage.

"Then, I look forward to working with you."

I gave her a soft smile in return and walked past the children into the orphanage.

I wanted to smile at them before entering, but I couldn't show them a fake one.

......

"The children look so happy, don't they?"

"They do."

The mysterious donor hiding his identity and Ruby chatted amiably in the middle of the orphanage.

"To think kids starving on the streets can now live so vibrantly... It's like a dream."

Ruby said, eyes glistening with tears, and the surrounding staff smiled warmly.

"Thank you so much for creating this miraculous place."

Bowing deeply in gratitude, Ruby smiled at the donor staring at her and continued,

"Ah, but... are you by any chance the 'Hero of Money'?"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"Yes, that's right."

The donor nodded, and the murmurs stopped instantly.

"I knew it! The rumors were true!"

Ruby's cheer echoed through the orphanage.

"Rumors about the 'Hero of Money' doing all sorts of charity are everywhere!"

"Is that so?"

"Unlike other tycoons, you only do charity! All business profits go to donations! And no one can uncover your identity with special magic!"

As Ruby rattled on with sparkling eyes, the donor scratched his head.

"Plus... rumors say you're connected to the recent 'slave market liberation incident'..."

Ruby asked with a mischievous grin.

"I, uh, won't answer that."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The donor waved it off in panic, prompting laughter in the room.

The awkward atmosphere had turned warm and friendly, thanks to Ruby.

"I've heard a lot about you too, Miss Ruby."

In that mood, the donor spoke up.

"Always leading by example, handling the dirty work without complaint or reward. Truly..."

As praise flowed from his mouth, Ruby smiled with her eyes—until.

"...You're so hypocritical."

The donor finished expressionlessly, and her face stiffened.

"Ah, ahaha!!"

"Pfft..."

Laughter burst out here and there moments later.

"Of course, it's a joke. The story of the saintess accidentally saying that to you is famous. With the mood even lighter now, the donor smiled and continued,

"Well, if you're hypocritical, Miss Ruby... then everyone in the world is a hypocrite."

Stopping in place, the donor said,

"Anyway, that's enough touring. Time for business talk."

He turned serious.

"I'd like to speak with the operations manager."

"Ah, that's me."

"You?"

As the donor tilted his head, Ruby shyly replied,

"The usual manager's on a business trip. I just returned today, so I'm filling in temporarily."

"I see. Sorry, with all the expansion work, I didn't keep up."

"No worries~! It happens."

Ending the warm exchange, the two headed to the office.

"So, where'd you hear that rumor?"

"Haha, it's such a famous anecdote."

Chatting and laughing all the way—

- Kiiiek...

They entered the office.

""........."

The mood flipped instantly.

- Pajijik, pajijijik...

Various anti-eavesdropping spells activated on the door and windows in just one second.

"...Fhew."

After that second—

- Pajiiiing!!!

The donor's—no, Frey's slash hurtled toward Ruby.

- Woooong...

"How cute."

But Frey's full-force strike halted right before Ruby's chest, blocked by some unknown power.

"You knew you couldn't hit me, right?"

"...I wanted to know how it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠works."

Ruby, her innocent, gentle facade gone, gave a chilling smile to Frey's low reply.

"Every action, every word—it's all so cute and fun."

"...Cough."

"Oh dear."

As Frey grimaced and coughed, Ruby tsked pityingly, then sat leisurely.

"Why come in disguise? It'd be better if I didn't know."

"Playing blind man's buff? You already knew this identity."

Frey replied coldly, and she nodded.

"True. Only gods or the system could fool my eyes. And gods aren't that kind."

"So you have a system too."

"You already knew that."

To Ruby's question, Frey stared into space and replied.

"Had to confirm with your own eyes."

"Even you're scared of the clear window?"

Ruby spoke to Frey, who stared silently at it.

"Accepting it gave you a penalty. Seems it only pops up after seeing the identity directly..."

"..."

"I got proof from my poor raven's final footage, burning its soul. Though you're seeing me directly."

Even then, Frey stayed silent, so Ruby frowned slightly.

"So, when are you pressing it?"

"...Now."

As Frey reached out—

"Wait."

Ruby halted him with mana-infused words.

"Let me make a proposal."

As she licked her lips—

"Join hands?"

Frey asked coldly.

"I haven't even—"

"System holders team up to rule the world nicely. Or become mine. Be my whimpering doll under me. Something like that."

Frey glared with a knowing look and sat. Ruby chuckled.

"Fun... You're just too fun..."

"Hm."

"No prophecy powers, right? Reading my mind? Nah, you'd be healthier if so."

Staring at Frey's stiff face, Ruby approached.

"This is my final offer to the most intriguing, fun being in my life."

With a seductive smile.

"Not even a little tempted?"

"......"

"Not even a shred of lust?"

Right ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beside him now, she whispered,

"Hate this young body? Want the real one?"

"........."

"I'd accommodate somewhat. 'Equal relationship' until your lifespan ends..."

But Frey replied coldly,

"You have 'Mind Reading' too."

Hearing that,

"Then... this isn't a proposal anymore. It's a declaration."

Her face turned icy, voice chilling.

"I'll enroll in the academy next semester first term."

"...!"

"As the Hero, no less."

Frey's expression crumbled.

"You don't think I've been slacking these months? I've already approached the imperial family and church. While you were bedridden."

"Ha."

"Soon, official Hero announcement. Rumors about you and the Demon King's army will amplify."

"..."

"Everyone except the few who know your secret will side with me. You'll be utterly ostracized."

Grabbing Frey's chin with a sinister look, Ruby continued,

"You'll struggle with your few allies till the end, lose to me. Then hell begins."

"...Hell?"

"First, kill all five girls."

Killing intent flashed in Frey's eyes.

"Black mage: inject divine power slowly, collapse from inside. Grand mage: tear apart alive. Saintess and princess: dog food. Smartass: my toy."

Staring him down calmly, she declared.

"And everyone else precious to you—killed as cruelly as possible."

"..."

"Illusion to make you think you killed them? Or reveal all truths first, drown in despair? Both fun."

Continuing,

"You'll be raped to death by me daily."

"......"

"Break slowly before your loved ones, become a tail-wagging pet that knows only me."

Gazing at frozen Frey, Ruby leaned back satisfied.

"Already looking forward. No boredom for a while."

"My declaration's done."

"Wait—"

"No. Last chance was before. Press accept, give me the penalty."

Cutting Frey off,

"Press or not, you have no chance."

She licked her lips.

""........."

Silence fell briefly.

"...Cough."

Broken by the Demon King's small cough.

"Kuhuhu... hahahaha..."

Laughing at the penalty before her eyes, Ruby suddenly stood, looking at Frey pitifully.

"Losing even in strategy."

"...What?"

As Frey tilted his head, she sneered contemptuously.

"I'm not a frail human like you. Not full awakened lifespan, but far longer than average."

"Meaning..."

"Unlike you teetering on death from penalties, special penalty halving life force won't fell me."

Frey fell silent, and Ruby grinned sinisterly.

"And that lets me frame your fake identity perfectly."

"What?"

Grabbing Frey's robe, she continued,

"I'm so strong, normal attacks barely scratch. Self-harm leaves permanent damage."

"No way..."

"But internal injury from this penalty? Perfect to frame the 'Hero of Money' attacking the 'real Hero'."

Flicking her fingers post-statement, evidence materialized everywhere.

"System only forbids revealing identities, not hiding them."

"...Urk."

"No issue making you the villain."

Smearing her blood on Frey, she said,

"If I go out screaming for help like this, what happens?"

"........."

"Best case: fake identity erased. Worst: Frey's true identity exposed. Either way, fun."

She staggered toward the door.

"Well, it was fun mee—"

"...Guhk!?"

But clutching her stomach, she collapsed right before it.

"Ugh...?"

Her baffled eyes saw—

A warning with an extra stack, inexplicably.

"Your words so far have three errors."

Frey approached.

"So listen well."

"...Urk."

Grabbing her cheek,

"First, you don't just get special stacks."

"Wh-what...?"

"...You owe Kania, Irina, Clana's stacks too—three more."

The moment Frey spoke—

"...Guhk!"

Ruby's stack increased again.

"H-how three people know my identity...? Impossible..."

"Not your business."

"Urgh..."

"Listen till the end, then pass out."

Pressing the staff to her stomach, infusing minor life force to keep her awake,

"The Demon God tampered with my quest."

With an exasperated look,

"Made it so no penalties apply to you till completion. To buy time for your schemes while I was down? Utterly unfair."

"Urgh..."

"...But it backfired."

Pressing the staff harder—

"...Heuk."

"Blame your overprotective guardian who didn't know excess protection harms."

Forcing near-death Ruby upright after the fourth stack,

"Second, I do have a chance."

"..."

"Besides these three stacks, you took one before, right?"

"...!"

Ruby's eyes widened; Frey scratched his head.

"No idea what it is, but... Serena said it's the key."

"How do you..."

Ruby stammered; Frey grinned.

"That's my chance."

For the first time, Ruby's eyes shook. Frey whispered in her ear, as she had,

"And third, the last..."

"Cough, cough..."

"...The one facing hell at the end is you."

Staring into her fading eyes,

"So look forward to it."

Silence flowed.

"Cough, cough... ugh..."

Vomiting blood amid it, Ruby.

"Heh, hehehe..."

Burst into a chuckle.

"...You're fun after all."

Then lost consciousness.

"Fhew..."

Silence again.

- Pajijijik...!

Activating star magic, slamming the staff down to meticulously erase Ruby's planted evidence, Frey.

"H-hey! Is anyone there!!!"

Began shouting urgently.

"Miss Ruby collapsed!!"

"Wh-what!?"

"She suddenly vomited blood and fell! Does she have some illness...?"

"C-come to think of it, last time...!"

Watching staff swarm, carry Ruby as they discussed,

"Finally."

Gazing at the special system amid the commotion, he muttered lowly.

"The real start."

......

Meanwhile, at that moment.

"Special system unlocked...?"

Glare, emitting faint light from her body as she hid and watched through the orphanage window,

"No, that's not important."

Glared at the opaque window before the blurry-robed man.

"...What's the Villain's Path?"

Her body still emitted a dim glow.