The Villain Is Destined to Die: But as the Creator, I know All Endings-Chapter 227: Day - 1: Princess of Merlin, and Encountering a Priestess

Chapter 227: Day - 1: Princess of Merlin, and Encountering a Priestess

Princess Asuna of the Merlin Kingdom was a well-known figure.

Among the citizens, she was regarded as the kindest of the royal family.

Despite the Queen treating her as little more than a formality, the people of Merlin held deep affection for her. They knew well that her chances of ever claiming the throne were close to none, yet their respect for her never faded.

Her position had not always been this way.

Everything changed after the King took his last breath.

The Queen ascended the throne, ruling until one of her own blood was deemed capable of inheriting it. From that moment on, Asuna’s standing within the palace shifted.

However, because of the King’s written laws, none of his blood was allowed to be expelled from the palace grounds.

That was the only reason the Queen could not cast the illegitimate princess out of the kingdom.

Later in the story, Eula, along with the Twilight Order, would ignite a civil war within the Merlin Kingdom.

Princess Asuna’s faction would ultimately emerge victorious, not through any type of sheer force, but because the Twilight Order threatened opposing nobles with exposure of their darkest secrets to the world.

For a time, it would be a glorious era for Merlin.

The common citizens would celebrate the outcome, believing the kingdom had finally been set right.

But that illusion would not last.

Asuna’s execution would shatter all that glory when the Twilight Order was eventually exposed, and her name was revealed as one of its core founding members.

Eula’s death would mark the end of the Twilight Order, and with its fall, everything they had built would collapse alongside it.

The Twilight Order’s involvement alone was enough to overturn the monarchy of an entire kingdom.

For a force like that to simply vanish...

...it would be a waste.

— — —

Asuna’s fingers tapped lightly against the table. And went straight to the point.

"So, Mr Cooper," she said casually, "did you bring it?"

Leon took out the rectangular box from his dimension pouch and placed it lightly on the table.

"You can check inside if you want," he gestured.

Asuna chuckled and said with a pleasant smile.

"There’s no need. If Eula trusts you, then so does the whole Twilight Order."

"Hmm, that’s good to hear."

Leon noticed how casually she mentioned the name Twilight Order despite sitting here in this restaurant.

The place was empty, but even so, there were waitresses and bartenders doing their regular jobs here, and yet none of them minded or even flinched at the mention of the Twilight Order.

It’s as if—

"Do you think it’s the Demon God’s mana signature in this blade?" Asuna asked, glancing at the weapon box on the table.

To her question, Leon simply said. "That’s the only entity I know who possesses Dark mana."

A mixed reaction of curiosity crossed Asuna’s face.

Then she relaxed, resting her cheek against her palm as her elbow settled on the table.

"You’re the one who fought the demon god’s vessel in Tiara," she said calmly. "Can I ask what was going through your head when you killed it?"

Her ruby eyes stayed on him.

"Did your hands shake when you killed that child? Or were you already used to it?"

The question was simple, and the answer could have been too. Yet Leon took his time, framing his words carefully.

"I’m curious," he said instead, a faint smirk forming. "Why does Princess Asuna suddenly bring this up now?"

He leaned back slightly. "Didn’t the entire Order receive a detailed report of that incident?"

Asuna smiled.

"That wasn’t my question, was it?"

Leon smiled back.

"The only thing on my mind at that time," he replied evenly, "was how to get Princess Eula out of there. Nothing else."

Asuna blinked. For just a moment, her composure cracked because of Leon’s absurd reply. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

She coughed lightly then said.

"Oh my... isn’t that romantic." Then her gaze sharpened. "So, is it because of your elder sister?"

"..."

Leon stayed silent, and let her continue.

"She was there when the Demon God’s vessel appeared," Asuna said softly. "A literal Calamity Head."

"And yet, you chose to take matters into your own hands while she stood there smiling."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "It’s almost as if she wanted you to kill the vessel... Am I wrong?"

Leon met her gaze with the same calm expression. "Why do you want to know that? Let’s say it was true. What would my sister gain from it?"

He paused. "Everything worked out in the end. I had Light. And I used it to kill it."

Asuna let out a short laugh.

Then—

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Her fingers struck the table three times.

"I’m an old player," she said lightly. "Keep that in mind, Leon Valentine."

She said his real name. Leon’s gaze flicked around instinctively.

The waitresses were still moving around them.

"Don’t mind them," Asuna said casually.

She gestured toward a passing waitress. "Taki, dear."

The woman stopped immediately, still holding a tray.

"Yes, Lady Asuna," the waitress said with a polite bow. "How may I serve you?"

Her posture was refined, and her movements were flawless.

Asuna slid the rectangular box across the table toward her.

"Take this to my station," she said. "And be mindful not to peek inside."

The waitress nodded without hesitation.

"As you command."

She picked up the Soul Eater and walked away.

Leon exhaled quietly.

Now it was clear to him.

"All the waitresses here... are your shadows?"

Asuna looked at him. "Hm?"

Then she smiled. "Not just this place."

She leaned forward slightly. "The majority of restaurants and shops in Karnak are run by my shadows."

"...That’s—"

Leon stopped himself.

Asuna finished for him. "Cool, right?"

She giggled softly. "Within the Order, I command the highest number of Shadows."

She waved her hand lightly. "Anyways, I won’t bother you with questions anymore, alright?"

She smiled again. "So, unless you have another task for me... or some information you’d like to share...shall we call it a day after lunch?"

"Actually," Leon nodded once. "I do have a task for you."

Asuna’s eyes lit up slightly.

"Oh? What is it?"

Leon informed Asuna that he had several weapons he intended to sell.

After inspecting them, Asuna took custody of the items. She told Leon that her shadows would handle the negotiations and find suitable buyers. Once the weapons were sold, the payment would be transferred to him directly.

Leon didn’t object. He trusted her network more than any open market.

"Fwaa—!"

Leon let out a satisfied breath as he placed his empty glass back on the counter.

"That was delicious," he said. "How much?"

"One copper," the stall owner replied.

Leon paid the amount and stepped away from the stall.

’All my work here is done...’

He looked around casually.

’Now what?’

Since joining the Twilight Order, Leon had gained easy access to an underground network that spanned multiple kingdoms. Influential figures, hidden reports, information brokers. All of it was within his reach now.

For the moment, though, he chose to wander. He wanted to act as casual as possible.

Earlier, during his meeting with Tsubaki, Leon had mentioned spotting the Crown Prince of Liora in Karnak.

Asuna’s response to that had been... underwhelming.

"Oh, him?" she had said. "Don’t mind that guy. He’s here to meet the Second Princess."

Apparently, Raven Lunovar and the Second Princess of Merlin were politically engaged.

Leon hadn’t been surprised by it.

Still...

’Is it really fine for him to fool around with other women right after meeting his fiancée?’

Leon frowned slightly.

There was something off about Raven.

After returning from Evana, Leon decided he would have Hibuki gather proper intel on the matter.

"Hmm... the houses here are clustered."

Leon had wandered a bit too far into Karnak.

From where he stood now, he could see the tips of docked ships and banners fluttering in the distance.

The City Harbor was close to where he was now.

’Let’s see what the other two are up to.’

The buildings here were made of yellow brick, giving the entire area a uniform tone. It reminded him vaguely of an Arabian-style district, warm colors layered with narrow streets and close-packed homes.

Leon took a sharp turn into a narrow road leading further inside.

According to Rumi, this was a shortcut.

He was still on foot, which stood in contrast to his attire.

A well-dressed merchant walking alone, without guards, was bound to draw attention.

"Hoho~ would you look at that..."

Leon halted mid-step and glanced to the side.

Four local men stood near the corner.

They wore loose shirts and long pants, with cloth wrapped around their forehead. Leon could see the concealed weapons beneath their clothing. A few knives, and three short swords.

One of them stepped closer.

"Lost, rich guy?" the man said with a grin.

He circled Leon slowly, whistling as he looked him up and down.

"Clothes like that, you must’ve dropped a few coins somewhere. Hehe~!"

The others moved in, spreading out subtly, cutting off the narrow road behind Leon.

Another man chuckled.

"Don’t worry. We’ll help you carry what’s heavy."

Leon exhaled softly.

"...Troubles really do find me everywhere."

Leon’s fingers were just about to reach the grip of his brass revolver, then—

"Haaalt!! Don’t move!!"

A feminine voice rang out from above.

BAAAM—!!

Leon’s eyes widened slightly as a figure dropped down from the rooftops and landed heavily beside him, her metallic boots cracking against the stone road and even creating a small crack on it.

She placed herself between Leon and the four men.

Silver armor covered her body, reinforced with brass-finished joints and gloves. A sheathed saber rested at her side, and a closed helmet concealed her face entirely.

The thugs froze. They had been about to rush at the armored girl, but then their eyes caught the emblem etched onto the knight’s armor.

A six-star sigil, enclosed within a crystalline snowflake, formed of sharp geometric ice patterns.

Their faces instantly drained of color.

"O-oh shit—!"

One of them stumbled back.

"R-run!! It’s the bitch from the Frost Tower!!"

Before they could even turn—

"Tch! Stop calling me that!" The knight flicked her tongue behind her helmet, she stomped her foot on the ground and in the next instant, frost erupted across the ground.

Sharp, translucent ice foils burst upward, spreading outward in a perfect arc.

Crack—!

Each man’s legs were locked in place, frozen solid within thick layers of ice.

"Wha—?!"

"I—I can’t move!!"

"Fuck—!! Don’t kill me Bitch!!"

The knight didn’t even look at them.

She turned her head toward Leon.

"Hey, mister," she started scolding him, her tone was sharp but not hostile. "You shouldn’t be walking around places like this without guards."

"People like you aren’t built to deal with trash like this. Next time, bring one or two with you."

Leon smiled faintly.

"I’ll keep that in mind," he replied calmly. "Thank you for saving me."

The knight didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she stepped past Leon and struck the frozen men with the hilt of her saber.

"GHaaa!!!"

Four dull thuds echoed, before all of them went limp.

Only then did she turn back again.

"Let me escort you to your destination," she said with a serious tone. "You wandered too deep inside. Even around here, this area isn’t safe."

Leon glanced at her armor and the sigil imprinted on it.

’A priestess from Frost Tower.’

He couldn’t see her face. But she was a Priestess from The Frost Tower.

Her sudden arrival indeed looked like a coincidence to him.

"That would be helpful. Madam Priestess."

.

.

[A/N: I’ve seen a lot of concern about my health (some even DMing me in discord). I’m doing better now, so please don’t worry. Thank you for your patience and suppor.]