The Villainess Meets the Mayor

When we finished getting ready and stepped outside, voices immediately called out to us from every direction.

“Thanks for saving the town yesterday!”

“You two are our lifesavers!”

“Please tell us what really happened later!”

I brushed them off with vague responses while Yua, as always, greeted everyone politely.

Together, we headed for the mayor’s residence.

Taklas was a small town. Small enough that you could walk from one end to the other in no time at all.

Compared to the capital where I had lived until recently, it felt almost tiny.

The reason we’d been able to secure a house here was simple—we built it ourselves.

Magic was surprisingly versatile. Creating a house entirely from nothing was impossible, but if you had the materials and understood the construction process, magic could assemble it with ease.

Only a handful of people could actually pull that off, of course.

For me, however, it was effortless.

Using that ability, we’d built a home on the edge of town and settled here as residents.

And now we were heading toward the largest building in Taklas, standing proudly at its center—

the home of the town’s leader.

“Big sis! Here, this is for you!”

“Thank you very much.”

A child ran up and handed Yua a wooden board covered in clumsy scribbles.

Yua crouched down and gently patted the child’s head.

A woman who was probably the child’s mother hurried over as well and bowed deeply.

“Um… thank you so much!”

“It’s really nothing,” Yua replied warmly.

I, however, couldn’t bring myself to say anything.

After all, I had intended to abandon this town.

I had no right to be thanked.

“Yua, let’s go. We shouldn’t keep the mayor waiting.”

A strange sense of guilt crept into my chest.

I grabbed Yua’s hand and pulled her forward a little more forcefully than necessary.

“Bye-bye, big sis!”

The child’s voice echoed from behind us.

I ignored it.

Yua waved back with her free hand.

“Is something wrong, Lady Vina?”

“It’s nothing.”

“…?”

Tilting her head in confusion, Yua allowed herself to be led along.

Soon we arrived at the mayor’s residence.

The fact that there wasn’t a single guard posted outside despite it belonging to the town’s most important official was proof of just how small Taklas really was.

I climbed the steps and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

After hearing the voice from inside, I opened the door.

“Excuse us.”

An elderly man sat waiting beyond it.

His posture was calm and unshakable.

“Come in.”

At his invitation, Yua and I entered the room and quietly closed the door behind us.

This elderly man was Eisen, the mayor of Taklas.

“I see. The rumors about how close you two are were true after all.”

His gaze drifted toward our joined hands.

Startled, I immediately let go.

“Ah.”

The small sound that escaped Yua somehow sounded disappointingly reluctant.

It was probably my imagination.

“My apologies.”

I lightly pinched the hem of my skirt and gave a graceful bow.

It was a habit left over from my noble upbringing.

Perhaps the reason I still unconsciously tried to present myself as elegantly as possible was because I hadn’t entirely shed my aristocratic mindset yet.

“No need to be so formal,” Eisen said with a wry smile. “It only makes me uncomfortable.”

“Exactly, Lady Vina.”

Apparently Yua had already made herself at home.

She was seated comfortably in one of the chairs that had clearly been prepared for us.

Unlike me, Yua wasn’t a noble.

She was royalty.

She’d spent far more time interacting with ordinary people than I ever had.

This kind of setting probably felt completely natural to her.

“I understand. I’ll try to relax a little.”

Even as I said that, my stiffness remained.

Eisen simply shrugged.

“Good enough. Go ahead and sit.”

“Yes.”

I took the remaining chair.

“So then, Mayor. What did you wish to speak with us about?”

I wasted no time getting to the point.

“First, I’d like to offer my thanks.”

Slowly, the old man rose to his feet.

Then he lowered his head.

“Thank you for protecting this town. The reason we’re all still alive today is because of you two.”

I shook my head and answered with the expected polite response.

“Please raise your head. I merely did what anyone should have done.”

“I see.”

Eisen lifted his face and settled back into his seat with the same composed dignity as before.

“More importantly,” I said, “surely you didn’t summon us here just for that?”

He shook his head.

“I truly did wish to thank you. But that isn’t all.”

A grin spread across his weathered face, revealing several missing teeth.

“I also wanted to give you this.”

He held out a card.

I floated it over with magic.

Written upon it were the following words:

We hereby recognize you as an S-Rank Monster Slayer. Continue your efforts without arrogance and devote yourself to the extermination of monsters.

…

What is this?

That was my honest reaction.

Monster Slayer was my profession.

Anyone could become one, which made it extraordinarily popular among the desperate fools willing to risk their lives for survival.

The profession had ranks from F to A according to ability.

At present, I was A-Rank.

Which was supposed to be the highest rank.

So being handed proof of S-Rank certification meant absolutely nothing to me.

Perhaps noticing my confusion, Yua leaned over and whispered quietly.

“That’s an S-Rank Monster Slayer certificate. It’s a rank above A… a title reserved for people considered superhuman. Congratulations.”

What am I supposed to do with that?

Honestly, I don’t want it.

I only need enough money to live comfortably.

“You’re giving this to me? I wasn’t the only one who defeated the dragon.”

“Hmm. I know that. Young lady, is there anything you’d like?”

Yua answered immediately.

“No.”

No hesitation whatsoever.

“My, my. Such a selfless little sister. It seems neither of you wishes to accept a reward.”

“In that case, I’ll follow her example and respectfully decline as well.”

I attempted to hand the certificate back.

Eisen shook his head.

“I’m afraid that’s impossible. Your official rank has already been updated from A to S.”

“You changed it without asking me?”

“My apologies. I genuinely thought this would make you happiest.”

For most slayers, it probably would.

Higher rank meant more opportunities and better pay.

But all I wanted was enough money to preserve the life Yua and I shared.

Truthfully, I hadn’t even wanted A-Rank.

However, anyone capable of using advanced magic beyond the fundamentals automatically received that designation.

I’d accepted it reluctantly.

Anything beyond that was entirely unnecessary.

As I considered how to return the certificate, Yua tugged gently on my sleeve and whispered into my ear.

“Lady Vina… there are only three S-Rank Slayers in the entire world right now. Being counted among them is… incredible.”

I haven’t agreed to become one yet.

And besides, Yua…

You’re hardly any different from me.

Still…

Only three?

Well, perhaps that made sense.

Most people capable of wielding magic at this level never became monster slayers in the first place.

“…Very well. I’ll accept it for now. But I refuse any assignments beyond A-Rank.”

I never wanted to fight a monster like that dragon again.

If we faced each other a second time, I’d almost certainly lose.

That victory had been luck.

Nothing more.

The last thing I needed was work that exceeded my actual capabilities.

“Hmm. That’s unfortunate.”

Eisen’s shoulders sagged.

“I had hoped to ask you to suppress the rebel army in the Eastern Capital.”

The Eastern Capital referred to Beirut, one of the kingdom’s largest cities.

As for the rebel army—

they were criminals seeking to overthrow the government.

Because such irredeemable offenders were classified as monsters rather than people, requests to eliminate them could be assigned to monster slayers.

“…The rebels.”

Yua murmured the words under her breath.

“Yua?”

“Eh? Ah, no. It’s nothing.”

“…I see.”

Her reaction was understandable.

Ten years ago, the rebels invaded the royal capital.

Declaring that they would purge the royal family for the sake of the people, they murdered Yua’s mother—the queen.

They had then attempted to kill the king, Yua, and Arnight as well.

By sheer chance, Lena and I happened to be there.

We exploited an opening and eliminated the attackers, managing to save the three of them.

Unfortunately, several rebels escaped.

Those survivors later rebuilt the organization and had recently become active again.

To Yua, they were her mother’s murderers.

The enemies responsible for stealing her family.

“Yua… what do you want to do? If you seek revenge, I’ll help you.”

I whispered the question into her ear.

It was the same thing she’d told me in the bath earlier.

Now I was returning those words to her.

But Yua shook her head.

“No. I don’t need revenge either.”

“Really? Holding everything in isn’t healthy.”

“I’m okay.”

She smiled gently.

Watching us whisper to one another, Eisen sighed once more.

“Such a shame.”

Royal Castle of the Rafalis Kingdom

The royal castle stood resplendent in white stone.

Red carpets stretched through endless hallways lined with statues of armored soldiers, each standing opposite another like silent guardians forming a ceremonial gate.

Along one such corridor walked a young man with delicate, almost feminine features.

His footsteps echoed softly against the carpet.

His name was Abel Lilifal.

The eldest son of House Lilifal.

A man as elusive as clouds and as changeable as the wind.

His manner was always carefree and relaxed.

Only two people in the world could see through the gentle smile he constantly wore—

his beloved father and mother.

No one else knew who he truly was.

Today, as always, Abel strolled leisurely through the castle.

Then he spotted a familiar face approaching from the opposite direction.

“Oh? Well, if it isn’t Prince Arnight. It’s been quite some time.”

The approaching young man possessed dazzling golden hair and clear blue eyes.

The kingdom’s Second Prince, Arnight.

Upon noticing Abel, Arnight snorted and stopped.

“It has. I see you’re still conspiring with Brother Hubert. You would be wise to abandon that and pledge yourself to me instead.”

For perhaps the first time in a long while, Abel was genuinely surprised.

He hadn’t expected such words from the muscle-headed prince who had cast aside his own sister, Vina.

Of course, Arnight hadn’t uncovered their true plans.

But the mere fact that he’d realized something was being planned at all was unexpected.

Abel halted before him and offered his usual pleasant smile.

“I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re referring to. Lord Hubert and I are merely drinking companions.”

“Hmph. Let me offer you one piece of advice. There are no Hubert supporters left in this castle. And many still remember the incident from ten years ago. Tell him he’d best watch his back if he wishes to avoid assassination.”

“Understood. I’ll be sure to pass along your concern.”

Abel responded smoothly, avoiding any conflict.

Then Arnight abruptly changed the subject.

“Speaking of which… have you found Vina yet?”

As though he had expected the question, Abel answered immediately.

“Unfortunately not. We’ve been searching, but my younger sister is rather capable.”

“Capable? You call that defective, personality-ridden disaster capable? That’s not even a funny joke. It seems the quality of House Lilifal has declined considerably from the family once known as the lineage of the strongest mages.”

Abel merely shrugged.

The gesture seemed to irritate Arnight.

“Do you have something you’d like to say?”

“No. Not at all.”

Abel concealed his thoughts behind a smile.

“I see. Well, if you ever tire of serving Hubert, come to me. I possess more than enough magnanimity to welcome you into my faction.”

With that, Arnight shoved past him and continued down the hallway.

No, Your Highness.

Someone of your caliber is far too shallow to contain me.

Mocking the prince inwardly, Abel resumed his walk.