There’s No Way My Maid Is a Villain

Chapter 40 : Conscience, that Thing

Conscience, that Thing

"If we're retreating just because of something like this, I disagree. My master's mental state isn't very good, either," the maid Aili spoke up.

"I'm just kidding. My intuition has never been reliable,"

Odin, rarely, said with a playful grin.

"But we must leave. The battle with Shui Cangxuan happened almost a week ago. We still don't know her stance, and after all, this is her residence. If this keeps up, it wouldn't be surprising if we get blown up in our sleep,"

Odin pursed her lips and continued, "Also, the bandits from yesterday—it looks like they were sent as scouts too. Maybe the people from Yuexing have already prepared to take revenge on us. And there's that mage who turned into a raven up in the treetops. None of this bodes well. I admit you're all strong fighters, but there's only three of us. If Shui Cangxuan really brings an army, we won't even have a chance to say goodbye."

"If it truly comes to that, I'll put my master's safety above all else,"

Aili said.

"That's right. Just keep doing that. Don't worry too much about us two."

"Is there any way we could set up traps here and counterattack?"

Zhixi asked.

*Bam*—Odin smacked her on the head with a book.

"This is the Imperial Capital, after all, and one of our opponents is the princess here. It's just like planting a bomb in someone else's army camp."

"I was just asking. Besides, since you're so strong, why are we running?"

Zhixi complained, nursing her head—Odin's strength really was something else.

*Bam*—another hit.

"I do enjoy watching humans tear each other apart, but I don't like getting involved myself. Plus, I have no obligation to help you."

Even though they weren't in Yogdonia anymore, Odin disliked senseless slaughter.

She had once been the Supreme Deity of the Divine Realm, with many human believers.

Gods existed because of faith; slaughtering humans would only weaken that.

Odin was different, though—Supreme Deities were given the power to judge all races.

Even so, unless war broke out, she did not enjoy killing.

"Alright, alright, go easy. Why do I even have to do this kind of thing..."

Zhixi muttered with grievance.

"Anyway, we can't stay here. It's best to leave the entire Imperial Capital. Do we have a map?"

"Yes."

Aili pulled out a map, displaying the layout of the entire continent.

"Do you know where these places are?"

"The address of Wanhua is in the east of the continent, so we're in the east. Further east is the Elven Forest. To the north is the Land of Extreme Winter, where almost nothing lives. To the west is Yuexing, homeland of the dragonkin, and to the south is the desert, where the beastfolk live near the sands,"

Aili explained.

"Anywhere you'd recommend?"

Odin asked.

"The north is absolutely out; it's uninhabitable. The west would be walking right into a trap. The south is desert—although, if we must, it's survivable. To the east is the Elven Forest, but the elves have always been wary of outsiders, and the place is a natural labyrinth. If they don't want us in, we simply won't get in,"

Aili frowned.

"So basically, there isn't anywhere we can go? Or shall we go beg in the desert?"

Odin smiled wryly.

"Wait, I remember there's something about Yinhua and the elves—a female elf once said something about it. What was her name?"

Zhixi chimed in.

"Niya,"

Aili answered, expressionless.

"Oh, right, Niya. So is there a way we can use that connection to get close to the elves?"

"Even so, it's unlikely the elves would shelter us. In recent years, they've become even more withdrawn and rarely interact with others. It's hard to imagine they'd take in people who've provoked two great nations,"

Aili shook her head.

"Maybe there really is a way,"

Odin said.

"The reason the elves have closed themselves off is simple: they're powerless, and everything has been going wrong for them."

"Why do you say that?"

Zhixi asked.

"Because the Elven Goddess is dead—Her Highness killed her."

............. A deathly silence.............

Well, that pretty much killed that idea. We wanted them to accept us, but it turned out we killed their Goddess.

Forget sheltering us—it'd be a miracle if we're not put to death.

After a long pause, Odin spoke again, "And more importantly, the Flower of Life of the elves has withered. No new elves have been born for ages. They must be desperate over this, because if it isn't resolved, their entire race might disappear."

"It's that bad?"

Zhixi asked.

"The Elven Goddess died a long time ago. The miracle is that their Flower of Life lasted this long,"

Odin shrugged.

"Then why say there's a way?"

"Uh... there is a way. The question is whether your conscience can handle it."

"What?"

Conscience? That's long gone.

"... After the Elven Goddess died, her Highness took her weapon—a longbow, an artifact of the elves named 'Voice of Life'. If Her Highness were to produce Voice of Life and claim that we are the chosen of the Elven Goddess, we would be treated as honored guests, and they'd do anything to protect us..."

As Odin finished, her eyes blinked rapidly, perhaps from nerves.

Even Zhixi, who'd done all kinds of evil, and Aili, who had killed without blinking, twitched at the idea.

Not only killing someone's Goddess, but then impersonating the Goddess's envoy to trick them into protecting us—that went far beyond questions of morality. Someone like that was surely bound for hell.

"... Honestly, you'd make a better demon than whatever you are now,"

Aili retorted.

"Come on, don't be like that. The issue now is whether Her Highness can actually bring out Voice of Life. She's lost her memory... but it's Miss Yinhua controlling the body right now, so it's still uncertain. We may still end up begging in the southern desert."

Odin was right. The odds of Yinhua retrieving Voice of Life were very low.

"Then, I'll go ask my master. If it really doesn't work, I won't force it. Be prepared to head south."

As soon as she finished speaking, footsteps sounded from the stairs—Yinhua was coming down.

"Master, are you all right? You shouldn't get up by yourself... Uh... What's that?"

Yinhua held a verdant longbow in both hands, tiny flowers blooming on it, crystalline light flowing along its surface. Though winter had just ended, flowers outside seemed to bloom out of season, trees sprouted green leaves, and fresh grass was pushing up from the soil.

"Luna told me to give this to you. She said it'd be useful,"

Yinhua said.

'Eyes of Cangtian really are a wonderful thing...' Odin thought.

"Too bad you don't have them, Luna said."

"Peering into people's minds is quite rude."

"You don't need them, Luna said."

...... MMP......

"So, what exactly is this for?"

Yinhua asked in confusion.

"Ahem... Your Highness, I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

Yinhua tilted her head.

"In fact, you are the one chosen by the Elven Goddess. The bow in your hands proves it."

"Eh? Me? But I rarely interact with the elves..."

Yinhua said softly.

"That's right. I would never lie to you. If you don't believe me, ask them,"

Odin gestured at Aili and Zhixi.

"Y-yes, that's right! I only just found out too. But you really are the true successor of the Elven Goddess!"

Zhixi replied, her voice trembling.

"Is that so, Aili?"

"Y-yes..."

For the first time, Aili, who should never lie to her master, told a lie to Yinhua...

*Crack*—something deep inside seemed to shatter.

PS: A word from the author—

You may see plenty of familiar names in this story, but I only borrow names to save the trouble of inventing new ones. For instance, Li Shihe (from Closers) is only a name reuse; personality and traits are different—no need to argue with me about it.

Same goes for Violet—all just borrowed names, not me copying settings. The he/she in my writing is not the same as the one you know.

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