A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 21.1
However, what first caught my eye was not the glaring, vivid red of his hair.
‘Why is his number so high?’
As I absentmindedly stared at the rampage meter above his head, which was steadily climbing closer, I snapped back to my senses.
“……!”
His ash-gray eyes, as dry and barren as the ashes left behind after burning all the corrupted, locked directly onto mine.
Only then did I realize he had called my name precisely.
‘……How did he recognize me?’
My hair and face were tightly covered by a bonnet and mask. Unless he was reading my mind, there was no way he should have recognized me.
‘Did he recognize the Duchy’s housemaid uniform? Or maybe, having once been his master, he could tell by my build?’
As I tried to figure out how he had recognized me, I bit my lip.
However he recognized me didn’t matter.
Now was the worst possible timing to be facing him.
Dylan Frederick. Male Lead #3, who not only saw the very existence of his former master Edith as a humiliation, but also resented her for giving him the name of a gigolo.
Unlike the others, who avoided me just because I tormented the female lead or because Edith was too obsessed with them, this one had a very specific grudge. That made things far trickier.
‘He’s going to be a much tougher opponent.’
Unfortunately, I didn’t have the energy left for a battle of nerves with any male lead right now. I was in such bad shape that it wouldn’t be surprising if I collapsed at any moment.
At that moment.
“Miss Nancy!”
Just then, Eston called out to me.
She looked like she might run over at any moment.
I shook my head to tell her not to come any closer.
And then.
“……Thank you for saving us.”
“……”
“But I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else. Goodbye.”
I offered Dylan a polite bow and quickly turned away.
At times like this, pride didn’t matter. Making a swift getaway was the best move.
‘……I’m so tired. I could die.’
Honestly, it wasn’t just tiredness. I was still reeling, my heart pounding.
The corrupted chasing and screaming had been terrifying enough, but…
Watching that overwhelming blaze devour them right in front of me was what really shocked me.
It made me realize, on a whole new level, just how powerful the abilities of an S-Class Awakener really were.
‘Edith was a non-Awakener, and yet she thought she could pick a fight with these monsters? Geez.’
She should never have gotten involved with them.
I was shuddering, hurrying my steps away, when—
Grab—!
Suddenly, a strong grip seized my wrist.
“What the—!”
“If you really want to fool someone, you should at least put in some effort.”
“……”
“Do you really think I wouldn’t know the name of your personal maid?”
The man spoke in a flat, expressionless voice.
I looked up at him in shock.
‘How did he… Ah.’
He had once served as Edith’s attendant, after all. Having spent time at the ducal residence, it wasn’t strange that he knew Nancy’s name.
Though it was surprising that he still remembered the name of a mere maid after all this time…
As I recalled more about Male Lead #3, my racing heart slowly calmed.
I looked at the wrist he was holding and said firmly,
“Let go.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“I can’t allow someone whose identity I don’t know to wander around the estate. Especially…”
“……”
“A suspect who might be spiriting away a child corrupted by miasma.”
His gaze shifted behind me.
Instinctively, I flinched.
I had just seen him burn all those corrupted to ashes without hesitation.
If he decided Theo was corrupted and used his ability…
‘Haa… shit.’
I barely managed to swallow the curse that threatened to slip out.
If anyone knew how cold the male leads could be to everyone except the female lead and how quick they were to abandon the extras… It was me, who’d transmigrated as the villainess doomed to be ignored by them.
Swoosh—
Left with no other choice, I took off my bonnet and mask with my free hand.
“Is this enough for you to confirm my identity?”
I looked Dylan straight in the eyes as I spoke.
I didn’t feel any particular astonishment at having my identity revealed.
All I wanted was to get out of this situation as quickly as possible.
“……”
But for some reason, even after confirming my identity just as he wanted, he just stared at me without blinking.
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