Fated to Be Loved by Villains

→ Curing Poison With Poison (2) ←

Iliya Krisanax was someone who had the right to boast about her social skills.

The fact that she managed to somehow strike up a conversation in Greyhounder’s current state alone was enough to affirm that no one would dispute such a proposition.

“…Ah, excuse me, Miss Yuria.”

Iliya opened her mouth, a drop of cold sweat trickling down her forehead.

“I-I think y-you should relax a little. I-If Teach was really angry at Miss Yuria, he wouldn’t have asked for a favor like this…”

“…”

Yuria turned towards her silently.

Funnily enough, the first thought that came to Iliya’s mind when looking at her was ‘white’.

It was something that others couldn’t relate to.

After all, the impression Yuria gave, from head to toe, was black. No one in their right mind would even perceive her otherwise.

And Iliya would share the same sentiment if she hadn’t been watching a certain something ‘bloom’ from her body.

“…I definitely did what Mr. Dowd asked properly… Right…?”

The white aura Yuria exuded only proved to strengthen Iliya’s impression.

Iliya moved her gaze, starting from the sword the other girl was holding before sweeping through her entire body.

‘Yep.’

‘White.’

‘There’s no mistaking it.’

The shape of ‘White Yuria’ inside her body was emitting a terrifying aura.

‘…I see it, I see it, I said I see it…!”

Iliya barely managed to stabilize her trembling lips as she thought this.

Lately, she had been unusually ‘sensitive’ to things around her.

Trisha told her that she had strangely become too ‘smart’ or something like that.

Iliya herself didn’t feel particularly smarter, but there was something she certainly realized.

The fact that she could see ‘freaky things’ very clearly.

Like the ‘something’ inside Lady Tristan and the ‘something’ inside Yuria right now.

Things that used to look so vague that she could barely notice the outlines were now crystal clear!

“O-Of course. Teach will be satisfied as well.”

‘No, there’s no way he will be!’

Dowd clearly only asked Yuria to ‘adequately subdue’ the Unicorn she was sitting on, not to fucking kill it to the point that it couldn’t even resurrect.

However, how was she supposed to just say that?

Either way, Dowd said ‘I’m counting on you’ and stuck her next to Yuria. Considering his inclinations, he had most likely ‘calculated’ that she would somehow be able to calm Yuria down when she was in this state.

As such, she felt the need to live up to that expectation.

“…”

If one asked why she needed to do that, her face would probably turn red, screaming at the person to stay quiet.

In any case, she had to do it.

Yep. She had to, mhm.

After all, doing it would make it easier for her to ‘request’ something from him later.

‘I will get back what I’m owed by severalfold…!”

She couldn’t define exactly what she wanted to get back, but at the very least, this time, she swore to herself that she wouldn’t be used by him for free.

At the very least, she’d get him to go out somewhere with her for two days—

“Miss Iliya.”

“…Yes?”

“What are you thinking about right now?”

Iliya stifled a gasp.

Yuria was looking at her with dead eyes. The shape of White Yuria inside her practically shot out a piercing glare.

Almost as if she had read her thoughts about Dowd.

Even before this, she used to react sensitively to topics related to Dowd, but since Iliya started to see the white shape clearly, Yuria had virtually become a ghost when it came to noticing such matters.

“It’s-it’s nothing at a-al-allllll…!”

Though her throat was tightened in fear, Iliya barely managed to say that. Tears welled up in the corner of her eyes, but she pushed them back with all her might.

For now, she needed to change the subject.

A conversation.

They had to have a conversation.

Most problems in the world arose from a breakdown in communication. This situation could be solved with a conversation as well!

“R-Rather than that! You’ve been wearing that all the time!”

Iliya pointed to the collar that was still around Yuria’s neck, desperately changing the topic.

Although it was a bit forced, fortunately, it seemed to be effective. This was evident, as Yuria’s aura softened and she even smiled slightly.

As if touching a precious treasure, Yuria gently caressed the collar and the handkerchief tied next to it.

“…Yes.”

It was almost as if, when she touched it, the depression and dreariness that were eating her up from the inside just moments ago flew away.

“Every time I touch it, I feel Mr. Dowd.”

“…”

“It’s as if he’s nearby. How to put it… It makes me feel very relieved? Assured? I only have good memories related to this object.”

Iliya briefly recalled what Dowd did with that collar.

So…

He used that to drag Yuria around like a pet, choking her until she coughed for breath, tossed her around like an object, swung her in the air like an iron mace—

“…”

‘Good memories, huh?’

‘Mm.’

“…Miss Yuria must really like Teach.”

She couldn’t help but say that when witnessing her attitude.

No like… How much did she have to like him for all those things to remain as a good memory…?

The question was certainly asked in a light manner with such a thought in mind.

“Yes.”

However, the answer that came back…

“…I…like him.”

Was in her usual hesitant, unconfident, and quiet voice, but…

It was also a voice that was undoubtedly filled with so much ‘longing’ that it overwhelmed all of such emotions.

Iliya flinched without herself knowing, turning to look at Yuria.

Even though her eyes were downcast, making it hard to read her expression completely…

“I like him.”

She could hear it in that voice, mixed with a hint of tears.

“I really like… Mr. Dowd… I really… Really like him. I can give him my everything, anything.”

The mournful desperation seemed to carve out Iliya’s heart just by hearing it.

To Yuria, the sentence she was uttering was an absolute truth.

“I want to be with him… Now and forever.”

She could feel all of that ever so clearly.

“…”

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her.

If such an answer came back even to a reflexively asked question…

Perhaps, for this woman…

Dowd Campbell could be her ‘reason for living’ itself.

‘…Just like with Lady Tristan.’

Did that man have a talent for being loved by such terrifying people?

This wasn’t just love; It was obsession, or rather, ‘dependency,’ as if she’d accept literally anything that man did.

The only thing both Lady Tristan and Yuria couldn’t stand was being ‘abandoned’ or him prioritizing ‘others’ over themselves.

“…”

Uh, wait a minute.

Didn’t she pinpoint an incredibly important context just now?

Iliya frowned as she retraced her thoughts.

Dowd Campbell was a human loved by such terrifying existences, and the one thing they commonly couldn’t bear was not being able to monopolize that man.

A recent comment from Trisha flashed through her mind.

-…It’s as if he was forcibly suppressing his own feelings.

And the man hid his affection from others.

“…”

Mm.

Hmmmmmmm.

She could smell something.

It smelled like the man was ‘walking on a tightrope’ with his life on the line.

Her mind began to run at tremendous speeds.

‘…There’s a good chance that…’

Maybe…

She was the only one who realized this fact.

Originally, she wouldn’t have even had a chance to squeeze next to Dowd Campbell, who was surrounded by such terrifying women.

But what if she could be the only one who understood the man’s ‘behavior’ and ‘feelings?’

What if she could become a companion who he could comfortably approach, unlike the other women?

Could this be an opportunity for her to secure a ‘unique’ position next to Teach?

‘…Huh. Wait. What. Oh myyyy…?’

‘Wasn’t this…’

‘Perhaps…’

‘A chance to win?’

Whether it was Eleanor or Yuria, she might be able to outstrip them all, like a cheetah that started late…!

“…So, this is something….’

While she was lost in such thoughts, Yuria quietly threw out such a sentence.

“…I can’t yield to anyone else. It is a security that ensures that the memories of me and Mr. Dowd belong to only—”

Right when Yuria was continuing her sentence…

The collar was released with a click. The handkerchief tied next to it also slipped down smoothly.

“…”

“…”

A heavy silence fell.

With a dazed expression, Iliya looked back and forth between the loosened collar and the handkerchief fallen on the ground.

Then, like an unoiled machine, her head turned unnaturally with a creak.

And there stood the person who had undone the collar.

“…Mr. Dowd?”

As Yuria asked with a trembling voice, Dowd nodded while wearing a mask that even Iliya was familiar with.

“Yeah. It’s Mr. Dowd.”

“…That… Why, why…?”

Yuria stammered out such words with great difficulty, the light in her eyes dying out completely.

“Oh, this?”

Dowd, however, responded nonchalantly to her question.

“I’m going to confiscate it for a while.”

“…Why…that…why…would you…?”

As Yuria spoke with a voice that sounded like her neck was getting choked, Dowd shrugged his shoulders.

“You see…”

However…

His voice lacked any kind of emotion.

“It seems to suit someone that isn’t you as well.”

“…”

“I’m thinking of putting it on Miss Lucia for the time being. What do you think?”

“…”

Something clicked within Iliya’s mind

This fucker wasn’t just walking on a tightrope with his life on the line.

He was literally courting death! He wasn’t fucking sane!

While Iliya was thinking as such in horror…

Yuria drew her sword with a completely blank expression.

Then…

—-!!!!!!!

A white flash erupted.

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