I Will Not Fall For the Villain’s Flirtations - Chapter 5 Part 5

“Even if I found it, I wouldn’t give it to you, you bastard.”

“…….”

It wasn’t my intention to pretend to be a hero.

From the moment I knew my place, I never vowed to accomplish something great. I wasn’t the savior who would rescue the world from peril, nor the Cinderella who would write the romance of the century, nor a merchant who would make a fortune with my wits.

In my previous life, I already learned enough to be sick of it—the reason why living desperately only yields mediocre results.

The fact that I was a supporting character in a novel only reminded me of what I had already learned once during that time. I was well aware of what it meant to have a second-rate life.

But still, still.

Even a worm will wriggle when stepped on.

Even if Duna Valorem is just a worthless character, I still have a chance to splendidly oppose evil at least once.

When I stared with eyes so wide they felt cold and dry, Keene slowly lowered his gaze. His face, lost in thought, turned back to look at me.

“Is that what you think is a great cause? Risking your life for something worthless?”

Although I am not yet a candidate for priesthood, caring for the welfare of the Holy Kingdom is definitely not worthless for a priest. Yet, the man’s eyes were full of perplexity suggesting he really doesn’t understand.

“Are you okay with not having visited Mattnum Pochon Tea House, the Le-Ten Museum, or a splendid ball yet?”

“…….”

My body shuddered as he listed things I had mentioned to him before. They were just things I blurted out, but they did make me feel that it would be somewhat regrettable to leave the world like this.

“I’ll ask again. Did you really not find the key?”

“…….”

Of course, what struck my mind at that moment was not Mattnum Pochon’s famous scones or the sculptures proudly displayed by Le-Ten.

[We’re proud of you.]

Until I was fifteen, and before I recalled harsh memories at the altar, my parents made me believe I was the protagonist of this life. They showed endless love to their daughter who wasn’t particularly outstanding in any way and always gave me a thumbs up, even for insignificant achievements.

They were devout people, but deep down I knew. They would rather have me live than become a martyr.

But.

“Why ask if you know.”

“…….”

“I don’t have the key to give you.”

What would the original Duna Valorem have done? If I hadn’t remembered my past life.

As someone who’s fearful and pragmatic, I probably would have tried to accommodate the blackmailer as much as possible. There’s no guarantee he would spare my life, but still, I would have wanted to try something.

Perhaps recalling memories of my past life was meant for this day. Maybe it was divine providence for someone who was always meant to remain a supporting character, telling me to try something heroic for once.

I don’t care if it was a mental victory or driven by hormones. Ever since we met, this man has been toying with my life, and I wanted to resist him properly at least once.

Thud.

Keene started stepping towards me, one step at a time.

As the man’s face drew closer, amidst the pounding of her heart and her body tensing with anticipation, his impeccably handsome features remained disgustingly familiar yet bittersweet from the first time she saw him.

So this is how it ends, why bother tormenting me so much. But I was somewhat glad that this unfortunate affair was about to end.

He came close enough for our feet to almost touch. His eyes, half-covered by his eyelids, looked down at me with an indiscernible gleam before his hand reached towards my face.

A shiver ran down my spine as his large hand reached out to me, and I tightly closed my eyes.

Scared.

Afraid.

Trembling with terror.

There was no time for other thoughts. I just prayed to God that the pain of death would pass in an instant.

“…….”

But no matter how long I waited, the pain I was expecting didn’t come.

Just when I wondered if I died too quickly to feel anything, I felt something being pulled from under my ear. Lifting my eyelids slightly, I saw Keene pulling out strands of light from me that looked like formless threads.

“What, what…….”

The extraction didn’t take long as the strands of light were short. Confused, I stood there dumbfounded, until he reached for my ear again and gently brushed away the tangled hair.

“What exactly…….”

Just when I began to feel at ease with his usual hypocritical behavior, his hand reached out towards my arm, and gradually further down. More precisely, to where I was holding the pendant.

Impossible. Did he realize I had the key?

But how? Could it be some kind of mind-reading?

In a panic, I tried to pull my hand away, but he smiled and wrapped his hand around my fist faster than I could react.

“No way!”

“Relax, Du.”

“……What?”

“I won’t do anything, so relax. You’re bleeding.”

“…….”

Only then did I lower my gaze to the floor and saw drops of blood falling. In my defiance, I hadn’t realized that the pendant was digging into my palm.

“…….”

Belatedly, I felt a throbbing pain. Catching my breath from the tension, I looked up again at the man who was looking down at me with a gentle face.

Keene was still smiling. His amethyst eyes, filled with moonlight, shone enchantingly, as if he were trying to convince me that no harm would come to me.

Mesmerized by that magical amethyst, I loosened my grip, and he stepped back, as though his business with me was done.

Yes, he stepped back. Unbelievably so.

“…What is it?”

“What do you mean?”

When I stared at him in a daze, Keene chuckled lightly in response to my question.

“You said you couldn’t give it.”

“…”

“If that’s Du’s wish, then I understand.”

I looked at him with utterly confused eyes. I never understood this man, not for a moment, but now more than ever, he was incomprehensible.

He must have noticed. That I was clutching the key in my hand. There’s no way he couldn’t have noticed it bulging out when he touched it.

Even if he hadn’t expected me to actually bring the key, would he just retreat after finding out I had indeed gotten it? A spy who had infiltrated the temple and even stolen a holy relic?

“I’ve lifted the restriction, but still, it’s better not to talk about me. Contrary to popular belief, the Pope is not forgiving and is very suspicious.”

“…”

“Be careful. You might get hurt.”

Why does he speak as if he’s worried, when he’s the one who put me in danger?

“Du, can you hear me?”

“…”

As I stared at him, confusion still clouding my eyes, Keene sighed and approached me again. The corners of his mouth slightly lifted, and his warm hand caressed my cheek.

“It’s regrettable, but looking at you any longer might really make me fall for you.”

“…”

“Take care. Don’t get hurt.”

His hand, which briefly touched mine, fell away as if it had never been there. The moment the warmth that heated my cheek vanished, a cold wind struck my skin more sharply.

I gazed distantly at his retreating back. Thud, thud. The distinct low sound of man’s boots echoed as it moved away along the external marble stairs.

My dizzy gaze, unable to accept the situation, fixated on him aimlessly. Watching his figure smoothly recede felt surreal.

Then, at some point,  the familiar dark hair blended into the night.

“…Gone.”

He vanished like a mirage, along with the light.

I don’t know how I made it back to my room after that. I just closed the door and stood there for a while in the dark living room, staring blankly ahead.

“…It’s all over.”

My legs gave way and I slid down to sit. If the door hadn’t supported my back, I might have just collapsed.

Leaning my head against the wooden door, I muttered once more.

“It’s finally over.”

I had finally escaped from the villain who threatened my life. I’m happy. Incredibly happy.

That’s how it should be, but…

I should be happy and relieved that I wasn’t robbed of the key or hurt.

But I just don’t understand this emptiness occupying a corner of my heart.

“Ah.”

Then suddenly, I realized. Where the disparity between the reality I should be happy about and the unrest in my heart originated from.

“…I’m back.”

That root of it all, was truly shitty.

Finding myself thinking such thoughts amidst all this was ridiculous. It’s pitiful and pathetic.

“Back to square one.”

Even in that moment, I thought about what would happen to a supporting character who had nothing special to begin with, since the presence that had disrupted my ordinary life departed

This is how I came full circle.

To the life of Duna Valorem, a second-rate existence with nothing noteworthy to speak of, serving as a sidekick to the protagonist Primis Starring.