Please Bully Me, Miss Villainess!

Chapter 194 : Interlude - Crimson Snow

"The goods delivered this time include: 30 bolts of cotton cloth, 50 bags of wheat, 40 bundles of firewood... and some storable vegetables, the list is here..."

This Sister's gaze lingered on me for too long.

"...Sister Delia?"

Reporting the purchase order, Linda finally couldn't bear it anymore. She tapped her knuckles on the table as a reminder.

"Oh my, I apologize."

Reminded by her, Delia retracted her gaze with a smile,

"It's just that Linda is so beautiful, I couldn't help but be captivated."

"You're a nun, please refrain from saying such frivolous things."

"Before the Goddess, everything I say is the truth."

Indeed, she still couldn't handle this woman.

To better facilitate trade relations, Linda had also become the direct agent for this region. After the establishment of the teleportation gate, the frequency of deliveries to Capella increased, providing more opportunities to interact with this enigmatic Sister.

"These are the winter supplies. If you confirm, please sign here."

Taking the purchase order from Linda's hand, Delia signed her name at the bottom.

"Thank you very much, Linda."

As she handed the order back, she said gratefully,

"This shipment from North Kalos is truly a godsend... In previous years, getting through the harsh winter was always a challenge for these children, but with such ample preparations this year, I believe we should be fine."

"—New clothes!!"

"—I want this one!"

Noisy voices came from the backyard. Seeing the children's joy upon receiving new wool cotton coats, Linda's expression softened considerably.

However... not seeing that silver-haired demon brat made her somewhat uneasy.

Just as she was lost in thought, the woman sitting across from her suddenly grasped her hands.

"Linda... it's wonderful to be your friend."

"...Yes, I feel the same."

After having her hands held, Linda maintained her composure, politely and slowly withdrawing them.

"By the way, what's the situation with that monster over there?"

In the backyard of the monastery, a tightly bound tusked beast let out a shrill roar, making it difficult to ignore.

"Ah... This year, the town's hunters caught a herd of winter boars in the forest, so the relief agency was given a whole one as an offering..."

The Sister cupped her chin, looking very troubled.

Although receiving extra food was a good thing, processing the beast meat had become a troublesome task...

"The relief agency has no men, what should we do?"

After the teleportation gate opened, the town's young people all went to bigger cities for work. Although they return home around the winter solstice, they're all busy with their own winter preparations, causing a sudden shortage of manpower.

"...I understand,"

Faced with such a suggestive look, Linda sighed,

"I'll help."

"Thank you so much—"

...What a cunning woman.

In principle, Linda wouldn't refuse Delia for anything she could do.

...

"Annie, take the children inside."

"...Y-Yes!"

The upcoming scene might be a bit bloody.

Delia had the sensible Annie take all the children indoors,

Does this person really need help?

After putting on an apron and gloves for the task,

She approached the boar with its four limbs bound.

Even tied down and laid flat, this large tusked beast was still a massive creature like a small mountain.

The Sister knelt down in a prayer posture:

"I'm sorry... Your sacrifice is necessary for everyone to safely get through the winter."

She stroked the boar's bristly skin,

"May God guide and receive your soul..."

Strangely enough, her words seemed to carry a magical power. The previously agitated boar calmed down after hearing her prayer,

Then, the long knife was precisely inserted into the boar's neck.

After a couple of grunts, this massive creature lost its life.

"What a good child."

With blood spattered on her face, she smiled, revealing a flawless expression.

The combination of benevolence and cruelty found perfect interpretation in her.

Does this person... really need my help?

Linda felt she had been fooled,

The flowing blood steamed in the bitter cold of midwinter,

Although there was a degree of surprise, it also felt somehow reasonable. Linda didn't stand idle; she brought a large wooden basin, placed it under the tusked beast, and collected the hot blood flowing from its neck.

"What is this for?"

Wiping the blood from her body with the clean cloth Linda handed her, Delia asked curiously.

"It can be used to make blood sausage."

"Blood sausage?"

"Yes... It's an elven secret recipe."

Linda didn't hide the fact that she was an elf from Delia.

Because she felt that even if she didn't say it, it was only a matter of time before the other would figure it out.

No... Perhaps, even earlier, she had already sensed that Linda was an elf.

Fill the basin with salt water, mix it with the blood collected during the pig slaughter, stir to prevent coagulation, add chopped pork and minced onions, salt, ginger powder, pepper and other seasonings, then pour it into cleaned intestine casings, tie them tightly, and finally boil them in a pot—that's blood sausage.

"...Wow, this is the first time I've heard of such a method."

The Sister blinked, her face full of surprise,

"As for the beast fat on the belly, it can be used to make candles and gelatin. It would be best to skin the back in one piece as well..."

Elves are a race that lives in dense forests,

So Linda had quite rich experience in hunting magical beasts and processing game.

Smoked beast meat is also excellent winter provisions.

"...It seems this can't be finished in a short time."

Even if she used magic to speed up these processing steps, it would still take at least 3-4 days to complete everything.

"Is that so? Thank you so much—Then, Linda, you'll be staying for these few days, right?"

Learning that she would stay, Delia leaned forward slightly, her amber eyes gazing at Linda with anticipation.

"...A few more days should be fine."

Linda's expression remained unchanged as she continued working,

But her heart stirred with ripples.

She couldn't bear to make eye contact with this person; every time, her inner self would become very chaotic.

As a long-lived elf, this was the first time in all her years in this world that Linda had experienced such feelings.

·

...Finally, the dismantling of this massive creature was complete.

Using water magic to wash the blood from her hands, Linda looked at the categorized beast meat and let out a long sigh.

If the young lady were here, she would probably be eagerly preparing to cook the beast meat.

In this weather, the outdoors was the best cold storage. Soon, the butchered meat chunks and ribs began to harden.

After the autumn harvest, the courtyard crops were all cleared away, preparing for next spring's planting. Now it was completely empty and could be used to store winter supplies.

Frozen meat can be preserved for a long time, so there was no rush to make smoked meat; it could be done gradually.

"Ah... It's snowing."

—

Linda raised her head to look at the gray sky overhead.

The low-pressure sky always gave a somewhat unreal feeling,

One flake, two flakes, three flakes...

Countless snowflakes fell, dyed red by the blood, turning crimson.

Just as she raised her head, a giggling laugh suddenly came from beside her.

"...What's suddenly so funny?"

Linda found her behavior perplexing.

"Linda, a large snowflake has fallen on your hair."

She reached out her hand, seemingly wanting to help remove this mischievous snowflake, but Linda instinctively grabbed her hand to stop her.

"...This kind of thing will melt away on its own if left alone."

Moreover, even if this one wasn't removed, more would fall soon after,

Such an action was meaningless except for disturbing her inner peace.

Stopped by Linda, she smiled with some disappointment,

"Oh my... I was hoping to take the chance to touch Linda's smooth black hair, was I found out?"

"........."

Linda was speechless,

This woman's identity was clearly that of a nun, was it really okay to tease her like this?

—

While Linda was distracted, the hand she had grabbed somehow slipped through her fingers,

Delia gazed at her gently with narrowed eyes,

"Your hand... is so warm."

Holding Linda's hand like this, her face still wore that flawless smile.

"........."

...This bad woman.

·

Night fell.

After she went to sleep, Delia got up and slipped out of the room.

There was no moonlight tonight; without the support of the Moon God, the abilities of demons would be greatly reduced.

But on this moonless night, there was an ominous visitor.

A demon sword was placed against her neck.

"...Fiel."

Delia didn't turn around, yet accurately named the visitor.

Behind her stood a voluptuous, tall demon woman with ominous black demon horns on her forehead—it was Demon King Fiel, who had recovered most of her magical power.

"You—Have you been deceiving me all along?!"

Fiel said through gritted teeth,

"It seems you've heard something from that sister of yours."

"As expected... You're 'Ulo', aren't you?"

"Although I have many names, I'd prefer you to call me 'Delia'."

Delia lowered her eyelids and spoke softly.

Of all her names and identities, this was her favorite.

"—What exactly are you planning?!"

"If I were to say... that this 'world' is false, could you accept it?"

In this world, no matter what one does, it's meaningless, because this unfinished world will one day come to an end, and then continue in this cycle endlessly.

"What are you saying? I can't understand at all!"

"Of course, that's how it is for you."

Delia slowly opened her eyes, revealing blood-red irises,

"I hope you'll listen to what I have to say, Your Majesty the Demon King."

"—!!"

Feeling the pressure of this magical power, Fiel's face turned ashen.

"...Demon expletive! You... Where did you get such powerful magic?!"

Although she was still putting up a brave front verbally, her body was completely immobilized.

Under the pressure of the other's magical power, she found herself utterly incapable of any movement.

Fiel now realized that although they were both demons with the qualifications of a Demon King, she was completely outmatched in front of this person.

What is this—

Faced with this absolute power, a deep sense of helplessness welled up.

Had all her efforts until now been in vain?

How on earth could she defeat this person—this monster—?!

"Do you feel despair? Do you feel resentful?"

Delia crouched down, cradling Fiel who had reverted to a child's form, effortlessly taking the demon sword from her hand.

"If you, like me, had repeated this boring world ten thousand times, you probably wouldn't think this way."

"—!!"

As she spoke, she detached one of her own arms,

With a blood-stained smile on her face, she continued,

"Isn't it laughable... Demons and humans... meaningless conflicts, meaningless bloodshed. Everything in this world is merely a plaything of 'God'."

"It's so boring... this world."

"This is a world centered around that child. Don't you find it boring that we, as villains, are merely stepping stones on her adventure?"

"—What exactly is your goal?"

Hearing this classic question, Delia stood up.

"What I want is the 'truth' born from falsehood."

She wanted to know if, in this world constructed of falsehoods, something genuine could be born.

"And now... I seem to have found that answer."

"Ah..."

Fiel finally understood somewhat.

Was she referring to that elf?

So after all this talk, she just wants to pursue a romance!

But saying that out loud would likely result in death... so she'd better keep it to herself for now.

Delia took off her nun's cap and placed it on the now diminutive Fiel's head.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything. I'm merely observing from the sidelines as a spectator."

"...I can't trust you."

Fiel gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with hatred to the bone.

"I still remember everything your people did to my subordinates!"

"Ah, you mean those who helped you escape..."

Delia smiled gently, but this smile made the immobilized Fiel shudder all over.

"Don't worry, they're all still living well... just like this."

Her fingertip lightly touched the bloody cut on her own body, and new flesh quickly grew.

The arm... it recovered?? What a terrifying ability—

Fiel was dumbfounded.

"You should have heard this information from Fillo, right? Why are you still coming to question me now?"

What she wanted to create was a world without any soul sacrifices, where no one would get hurt.

This person... just what...

Mercilessly eliminating those who defied her, the Demon King 'Ulo' was undoubtedly a demon among demons.

Yet, not hesitating to use such enormous magical power to preserve souls and reconstruct bodies for her subordinates, Fiel seemed to understand a part of what the nun named 'Delia' was thinking, while feeling she couldn't understand at all.