I Raised the Villain's Daughter Too Well-Chapter 42: Didn’t Know! -

Talent is ultimately hereditary.

Olvesia knew this well.

It wasn’t simply about receiving a good education or being raised on fine elixirs.

A foal born of a fast horse would, by nature, be much faster than others.

A child born of a master of flame magic would grasp ignition as their very first spell—even without special instruction.

It was the same. Whether human or beast, everything was ultimately determined by the nature inherited from one’s parents.

However—

The world doesn’t turn like neatly meshing gears.

Sometimes, a raw gem is born from an otherwise unremarkable family.

The current head of the Senfenesia Family had rejected every arranged marriage proposed by the great noble houses, only to propose instead to Olvesia’s mother—who, though from a minor lineage, had once demonstrated a sword dance so brilliant it could make eyes pop out of their sockets.

And from that union, she had been born.

It was the one thing she was most grateful to her father for.

Though she still heard the sneers about her being born of a lowborn mother... what did that even matter?

Because of that union, she was born with talent so absurd it put everyone else her age to shame.

"But it’s not enough."

Not enough to shine the brightest.

Not enough to aim for the Empire’s throat—not even close.

She needed something that sparkled even brighter.

Someone her own age, but who had reached a higher realm than she had.

...Ah, and they had to be a man.

Olvesia slowly bent her body. She slid her short sword back into its sheath.

Her gaze fixed solely on the cadet in front of her, who looked a bit feral.

Full of openings.

She could rush in right now with a new-type evasive maneuver and slice through every part of him.

She would have, if it weren’t for whatever technique it was that allowed him to wield that intangible sword.

"You’d best not do anything you’ll regret."

“...”

“...Sigh.”

Virdem let out a quiet breath and picked up the sword that had fallen to the ground.

As expected, every movement he made was full of holes.

And yet, he didn’t move rashly.

At some point, an opening would reveal itself.

Even if he used that intangible sword again, there would come a moment—a fatal one—when even that wouldn’t save him.

"From this moment, I will be aiming for your neck."

“...Hah. Try it.”

Just ten steps apart.

Virdem began walking toward her, sword in hand, slowly.

Without assuming a guard stance, as if certain he was safe.

‘Just a little closer.’

The distance to slash a neck is the distance at which a neck can be slashed.

Olvesia’s pupils sank low.

The moment was approaching.

The moment she must strike—must cut, without fail.

‘Just a little closer.’

...Is it now?

No, not yet.

Just a bit more—

‘Just a little closer...!’

One more step.

If he took just one more—

—the blade would touch his throat.

“...Huh?”

Olvesia blinked, dazed, staring ahead.

Her hand had already gripped the hilt at her waist, ready to draw.

But now, it was meaningless.

Cold, sharp steel was pressed to the back of her own neck.

No master, no matter how great, could turn this around.

This was death. This was defeat.

“H-How...”

She stammered, mentally rewinding the scene.

Had Virdem moved quickly?

No.

He had approached at a steady, slow pace, never once accelerating—just calmly stepping forward until his blade was on her neck.

So slow that even a child could have reacted.

Then why had she stood still through it all?

Had there been no opening?

...No. That wasn’t it.

She could have stabbed, could have slashed, whenever she wanted.

‘...Why didn’t I?’

She asked herself, but no answer came.

It just felt like she shouldn’t.

Her mind had raced frantically in those few seconds, yet no proper answer emerged.

Instead, it was Virdem who responded—whistling softly in apparent surprise as he muttered,

"You made the right choice."

“...Are you mocking me?”

"Not at all. I mean it."

With casual ease, Virdem tossed aside the sword that had been aimed at her neck.

In that instant, paths opened up. Hundreds of vulnerabilities were visible.

And yet—her body still wouldn’t move.

“Kgh... Kghh...!”

Olvesia gritted her teeth and tried to draw her blade in a sharp motion.

But her arm wouldn’t move. As if the body wasn’t hers—as if it were refusing to strike, her sword refused to leave its sheath.

If it had been a physical force, she could’ve understood.

She might have assumed he used some kind of magic and resisted it.

...but it wasn’t.

It was her own body rejecting the act.

Even when pushed to the brink of death—at the very moment she needed to strike—it decided she would truly die if she went through with it, and so refused to draw.

Not once in her entire life had such a thing happened.

Staring at Virdem with a feeling close to horror, she saw him reach out a hand.

“Ugh...!”

Even that, she couldn’t avoid.

In a haze of helplessness, unable even to turn her head, Olvesia felt her chin seized.

She muttered in a daze.

“...Did I lose to fear?”

“Quite the opposite. You made the correct decision within fear.”

“...What?”

“Had you made a single irrational move, you’d have already been eliminated. Thanks to your judgment, you survived.”

Virdem pushed her back with a gentle but firm hand, and Olvesia—unable to resist at all—was forced to retreat.

“My Lady, the world is vast.”

“...”

“If you go around acting recklessly, you might find yourself badly hurt. I suggest you exercise caution.”

With that, Virdem turned and walked away with a slight stagger.

Once again—openings, openings, and more openings.

“...Hah...”

But Olvesia didn’t go for her sword.

—No, more precisely, there was no reason to.

She had finally found the thread.

“At last...!!”

She might be able to do it.

No—she could.

****

...Honestly, this is ridiculous.

I glanced behind me and looked at the Geminos, over ten of them, clinging to Olvesia’s body, with eyes chilled flat.

No—clinging isn’t quite right.

Their blackened hands hovered just short of touching her skin.

Olvesia probably had no idea that over ten Geminos had her life completely in their grasp.

“So? Are you satisfied now?”

“...Just what are you things?”

I asked out of pure curiosity.

I could accept that they were some kind of parasitic entities passed ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ down through the Seriratus line.

But still—I’d never seen anything like them in my life. Fantasy world or not, they were too strange.

Geminos smiled and lifted the hem of her skirt.

“We’re maids who serve our master. Just a little overly cute, that’s all.”

“...Tch.”

This level of secrecy is pathological.

Say a name and it makes you weaker—isn’t that how it goes with demon-type beings? The kind that weaken the more people know their true name?

“Well, anyway, I’m just glad it worked. But seriously, how come she didn’t move? She couldn’t see you, right?”

“Her instincts knew. That moving meant death. So she couldn’t move. I doubt she even realizes what happened.”

“...That’s possible? She’s a monster too, huh.”

If the Geminos hadn’t been here—or if she hadn’t sensed them somehow...

Imagining what might have happened made my skin crawl. I quickly left the food storage building.

Of course, the carriage was gone. I had told them to run.

Where would they have gone? I moved in to examine the wheel tracks and try to figure out a direction—

“Ohoho~? Looks like it’s already smashed~!”

“Hmm, I wonder who did that...”

Sweet, sticky voices trickled in like honey.

“...”

It wasn’t Olvesia.

I turned around to find six cadets gathered.

Those lily-of-the-valley ornaments, those sharp short swords... freёweɓnovel.com

Noble houses. Manerid and Lohulun.

I’d tried to slip away quietly, but their gazes had landed squarely on me.

“You there—who are you?”

...So much for sneaking off.

I bowed as respectfully as I could to the cadets now staring at me curiously.

“I am Virdem of the Serbus Family. I greet the Ladies of Houses Manerid and Lohulun. May I ask your business?”

“Virdem...? Ah, Firnea’s... I’m Elija of House Manerid.”

“And I’m Cysphia of House Lohulun. Are you the one who destroyed this food storage?”

“...Yes. I handled it.”

Were they going to pin it on me?

Elija and Cysphia seemed to be some kind of alliance.

...Ah. Then they’re the ones who’d been clearing strongholds at lightning speed.

That explains it.

The speed had seemed implausible for a single squad. They must have been helping each other.

“What a shame. This was the largest stronghold on our route...”

“Mmm, yeah. I think our pacing’s going to be off now~.”

“...My apologies.”

I wasn’t actually sorry, but I apologized anyway.

My condition was at rock bottom. If a fight broke out, I’d have to rely on Geminos again...

But honestly, I didn’t want to.

If Geminos really were demonic in nature, there would be a price.

Until I understood what this monstrous loli-maid actually was, I didn’t want to lean too hard on her.

I’d need to have a serious conversation with Maclain about all this.

Fortunately, the two girls didn’t seem as unreasonable as Olvesia. They shook their heads.

“No, there’s no need for you to apologize. It’s an exam. If anything, it’s our fault for being late.”

“Exactly. We’re not so shameless that we’d blame you for that.”

“You’re very gracious. Thank you.”

“Ah, but—”

Cysphia suddenly asked, as if something had just occurred to her.

“Why are you alone? Weren’t you in Lady Emily’s group?”

“Due to some unavoidable circumstances, I got separated. I’m heading back to rejoin them now.”

“Oh~? And how’s your group doing? Making good progress?”

“?”

She knew Emily?

No—how did she know I was in Emily’s group?

...Was she watching Emily during group assignments?

Maybe they’re just close. Not a big deal, probably.

“...Yes. We’ve destroyed about twelve strongholds so far.”

“Wha? Twelve?!”

Both girls gasped in disbelief.

“You’re joking—We’ve only just now hit thirteen... Are you serious?”

“Most were smaller ones. Lady Emily prioritized quantity over quality in her strategy.”

“Hooh... Emily, of all people...”

The two seemed lost in thought. I took the chance to slowly step back.

“I’ll be on my way, then. We’re still not in the clear, and I need to regroup quickly.”

“Ah, wait! You can’t go.”

“...Excuse me?”

As if it were obvious, the two snapped their fingers—

And the cadets behind them began to surround me.

...What the hell is this?

Elija gave me a cute wink as she offered a faux-apology.

“Sorry, but Emily can’t be allowed to pass.”

“Yeah~ we figured if she’s cornered just a bit more, she’ll finally fold and come crawling to us.”

“...Even if you eliminate me, it won’t make much difference.”

“Oh no, no~! As if Emily would ever choose quantity over quality. That had to be your idea, right?”

“So yeah, sorry, but—killing the strategist is basic wartime protocol. Hope you understand.”

I let out a deep sigh and drew my sword.

Fucking Emily.

Absolutely useless.