The Villain’s Ending

Chapter 96

Afterimage (7)

After talking with Levina, I left the student council president's office.

The male student who had been sprawled in the hallway was nowhere to be seen.

Perhaps he had crawled away on his own, or someone had helped him up.

Paying no mind to others' affairs, I returned to my room and passed the day as usual.

And while I was reading a book, a knock sounded.

When I went to the entrance and opened the door, it was Estelle.

Her appearance, with her hair slightly covered and dressed in civilian clothes, was something I hadn't seen in a long time, so I found myself staring blankly.

Dressed not in her pure white priestess robes, but in ordinary clothes that revealed the curves of her body, she felt somehow like a different person.

"I know I'm pretty, but could you let me in first?"Estelle said with a playful smile.

I wordlessly stepped aside and let her in.

As soon as Estelle entered the room, she sniffed.

"Mmm, the stench of stale tobacco."

"Is it night already?"

"The sun is still up, but it's evening, so isn't it fine?"

Estelle sat down on the sofa as if reclining, looking incredibly comfortable, and held up the small bag in her hand.

"Do you know what's in here?"

Her voice was excited.

It was as if a child was boasting about a hidden treasure.

"Well, it's obvious, probably just full of cigarettes and food."

At those words, Estelle sprang up and exclaimed.

"H-how did you know?"

I naturally reached into her bag.

I pulled out the tobacco from a wooden case that looked expensive at a glance.

A subtle woody scent wafted past my nose.

I chuckled, opened the box myself, and took out a cigarette.

I approached Estelle, put it in her mouth, and created a flame at my fingertip to light it for her.

As soon as she inhaled the smoke, she erupted in violent coughs.

"Cough, cough! Gack!"

I laughed at the sight.

"T-this, this seems to be stronger because it's a good kind."

Estelle said, as if making an excuse.

The corners of her eyes were slightly red.

She pouted for no reason, approached me, and lightly poked me with her fist.

Though it was meant playfully, it hurt far more than I expected.

"Why is it so comfortable when I'm with you?

Like we've lived together before.

Even though we've only known each other for a few days."

Estelle murmured.

Saying that, she handed me an apple, then rummaged through my pockets and took out the cheap tobacco.

She then took out a cigarette, stuck it in her mouth, and nodded her chin as if telling me to light it quickly.

I bit my lower lip tightly, swallowing the words that welled up.

I extended my arm and placed the apple I held onto the table.

I thought I seemed to be imitating Seraphina.

"It's just that I didn't have anyone to talk to before, and now I do, so it's probably that."

I replied.

Hearing that, Estelle pouted her lips.

"It's not wrong, but can't you say it a little nicer?"

She stubbed out the tobacco she was smoking in the ashtray, then smiled faintly.

Then she approached me and, in a low voice, teased.

"So you don't have any friends besides someone like me, do you?"

"By the way, did you always have those civilian clothes?"

At that, Estelle boasted about the civilian clothes she was wearing.

"I made it myself when I was a child, by adding some fabric to a dress."

"You made it yourself?"

"Yeah. Though, my chest area feels a bit tight now."

She gave a playful smile.

"Anyway, is it okay for a Saintess like you to be alone in the same room with a man you've only just met, especially someone like me?"

"Because I think you know well enough that most of the rumors circulating are biased."

Estelle said.

"What do you mean?"

"It means it's okay for me to be here."

Estelle came a little closer to me, then got up again and opened the window.

After stretching, she inhaled the refreshing evening air.

"As expected, fresh air is good, it's so refreshing."

She turned her head slightly and looked back at me.

"By the way, I heard you got kicked out?"

"Did you hear that from Levina?"

"No, there's no way she'd tell me anything. It's just that the rumors are widespread.

Besides, you're quite famous, in a not-so-good way."

"I was kicked out, but I'm not sure if it counts as being kicked out."

Estelle didn't wait for me to finish, approached, and asked.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I guess so."

"Anyway, if you've been kicked out, you won't be able to stay in this room for long, right? Want to stay with me?"

"Suddenly? How long have we known each other?"

"It's, well, something like that. Think of it as charity.

Even if the Church doesn't care, a Saintess can't just pass by a pitiful human."

She placed her left hand on my shoulder.

"When I'm with you, I feel comfortable for some reason, and... only you seem to stand out clearly.

It's almost as if you used some dark magic, but now it feels incredibly warm and familiar, so it can't be dark magic."

Estelle looked at me, and as always, as she had always done, began to caress my face with her right hand.

"If I've been brainwashed by a Demon, I'd rather just live brainwashed."

Knock, knock.

A knock sounded.

And slowly, the door opened.

Soon after, Seraphina began to enter the room.

"Mmm, Lavin. Smoking in the room again..."

She couldn't finish her sentence.

She froze.

Her eyes met Estelle's, who was dressed in civilian clothes and smoking in the room, then she looked at me, then at Estelle again, then back at me, repeating the gaze.

"Y-you, who are you? W-why on earth are you with L-Lavin...?"

Seraphina's voice trembled.

Estelle gave a mocking smile, then approached my side and said.

"W-why on earth are you with L-Lavin? Heh. Are you a stammerer? Can someone like that even attend the Academy?"

"L-Lavin? Th-that's not right, is it? Not just a friend or something like that..."

Seraphina's voice trailed off.

"Lavin, w-we. Didn't we agree to try for each other? You and I both said we'd try."

Then she said, as if pleading with me.

"N-no, that's not it. From a young age, th-there were always many people who only looked at your face and flocked to your side, without knowing how lovable you are. Th-this time, it must be something like that too."

"Seraphina, it's not like that... Mmph."

As I tried to speak, Estelle approached and covered my mouth.

Estelle looked at Seraphina and asked.

"This time too?"

Seraphina glared at Estelle, gritted her teeth, and didn't answer.

Estelle also glared at Seraphina, removed her hand from my mouth, and said.

"Lavin, who is she? Why did she suddenly barge in and cause a fuss?"

"She's my fiancée."

"Hmph, you seem to be on good terms with your fiancée. Even giving her a room key."

Estelle's voice was laced with thorns.

"Rather than being on good terms, we were getting closer... though it seems to have just gotten worse."

"L-Lavin. It's not your fault."

Seraphina said.

"Y-you just found a room for me, so there's no way you'd suddenly do this.

With a girl you've never met. And, and you must have been tricked by some strange woman who only went after your looks again."

"You, don't you know me?"

Estelle was wearing civilian clothes, and unlike her usual neat appearance, her hair was somewhat disheveled, giving her a slightly rebellious look, so even with the same face, it seemed difficult to recognize her as the Saintess.

Especially in Seraphina's eyes, I wondered if she was seeing Estelle not as the Saintess, but as some kind of working woman.

"Ah, even if you suddenly gained the ability to use magic, Lavin, you're weak.

You must be being forcibly assaulted. Isn't that right?"

Seraphina ignored Estelle's words and continued speaking only to me.

"It wasn't by force, though."

"Shut up if you don't want to die, you fucking slut with only a pretty face.

I've seen plenty like you."

Seraphina said in a low voice, almost a growl.

Hearing those words, a vein visibly throbbed on Estelle's temple.

Clenching her fists, she tried to lunge at Seraphina.

A sense of crisis slowly crept up, making me wonder if Seraphina's head might be smashed and used to decorate the room if things continued like this.

Or perhaps Estelle would be fine, and only I would die from Seraphina's spell.

I held Estelle firmly, grabbing and pinching the area where her armpit met her side chest.

At night, I always used to grab and pinch her there.

Because Estelle was even cuter when she was limp and powerless.

"Eek!"

Estelle shrieked, all the strength draining from her body.

Seeing that, Seraphina seemed to think it was an act of affection and began to cry.

"I, I c-came to thank you for f-finding me a room."

As always, tears flowed only from her right eye.

"I, I wanted to w-walk side-by-side with you alone this evening."

"Lavin. Let go. I won't hit her."

Estelle said, pushing me away.

Then she stood up and approached Seraphina, who was still standing and looking at me, tears streaming down her face.

As Estelle drew closer, Seraphina looked at her.

The two stared at each other for a long time before Estelle spoke first.

"You two. I heard you're breaking off your engagement?"

"It's all baseless rumors."

"Well, I wonder if they're baseless rumors, or if you're just trying to deny them."

Estelle spoke, lacing her words with mockery each time.

"Why are you clinging on when I'm taking in this worthless bastard who's been abandoned by you and kicked out by his family?"

"Even if he's been kicked out, and even if he breaks up with me, he's not the type to associate with a frivolous woman like you, so just shut up and get out.

I'm only holding back because Lavin is here."

"It's me who's holding back, though."

Somehow, the situation seemed to be turning more hostile, so I approached to step between them.

As soon as Seraphina heard Estelle's reply, she gathered magic at her fingertips, and Estelle clenched her fists, trembling.

I approached Estelle, took her fist, and said in a slightly affected voice.

"Estelle, we can meet again next time, so could you please leave for today?"

Because at least this time, I didn't think we had become that close yet.

Estelle sighed deeply and murmured.

It had only been less than a week since we met.

I didn't know what it meant for her to 'see my face,' but I didn't think we were close enough to warrant this kind of reaction.

At least this time, if not before.

"Right, well, we're not that close yet.

Yeah. See you next time. Definitely."

She left the room, closing the door forcefully.

And only Seraphina and I remained in the room.

A heavy silence settled.

Seraphina stood blankly for a moment, then caressed my slightly stiff face, stroked my hair, sighed, and then perched on the edge of the bed where Estelle had just been sitting.

"L-Lavin."

Seraphina murmured softly, her lips trembling slightly.

"...I'm sorry."

"N-no, it's not that. Y-you said I was precious, and that we'd wait until after we were married."

As Seraphina spoke, her face flushed slightly.

"Still, if you were to take a concubine, I, I hope it wouldn't be a woman like her."

Then, not looking at me, she gazed at the floor and said softly.

"I-I know this might s-sound unpleasant, but I c-can't help it. I dislike people like that."

Seraphina's voice was trembling.

"A-actually, I wish you wouldn't see anyone but me."

Then she raised her head, looked at me again, approached closer, and said, caressing my face.

"...It won't work out, will it?"