I Will Create a Good Ending for the Yandere Villainess

Chapter 77: Beetle Vs... Beetle? (edited)

As the Beetle foamed at the mouth, the hill trembled once more. This time, it seemed to shift a bit as something began to burrow out of it.

A glossy horn, as black as the Beetleʼs carapace, poked out from the hill. In comparison, both of their horns were roughly the same size, albeit the one coming out of the hill was just a tad bit longer.

The surface of the hill then continued to expand before exposing a human-like face just like the Beetleʼs.

The difference was that it was covered in thin, narrow roots that infested it like throbbing veins.

The place where its eyes would be was replaced with thick branches with limp roots at the end.

Its teeth were jagged and decayed, supposedly over a long period of time.

And lastly...

Lillian stared at what seemed to be another beetle exiting the tall dirt mound with a shocked expression.

She then shifted her gaze at the familiar stump situated on its back with thick roots digging into its shell.

She then shouted:

”Huh!? Another?!”

Marionette rested her chin on top of Lillianʼs head with a curious and interested expression as she gazed at it.

”It would seem so... and the tree seemed to be its parasite...”

”Wait... how would it have gotten its body then? Did it kill it and then take over its body?”

”That would be the only answer from what I believe. Or it could have taken over when the beetle naturally passed on beside it.” Marionette said while shrugging, ”Either way, pay attention. I doubt youʼll see these types of scenes often in the academy.”

”Eh...”

Lillian held a strange expression, which she decided to put away. She would rather not say right now and be questioned about future events.

She stared forward and watched as the Parasitised Beetle slowly approached the foaming Beetle. Its movements were clumsy, almost as if it wasnʼt used to moving.

After reaching it, it paused before raising its head, tapping its horn against the Beetleʼs before rearing back its head and swinging it down.

BAM!

The Parasitised Beetle was then suddenly knocked back, having its back slam harshly against the dirt mound.

The Beetle that had been dealing with the effects of the poison had swiftly recovered.

It pushed forward, slamming its horn into the Parasitised Beetle once again..

The Beetle then shot it a hateful look that seems to have taken root in its very existence—specifically at the dark red eye situated at the bottom of the Parasitised Beetle.

Lillian and Marionette watched as the resentful Beetle kept ramming its horn into the Parasitised one—each hit making holes that oozed blood, which had a greenish-yellow tint.

”Who do you think might win? Because It looks like the damn Beetle is beating the other oneʼs ass...” Lillian inquired grimly. She really wanted the tree to win.

She also wanted to be the one to kill the Beetle, but she doubted she would be able to unless the tree finally stepped up its game.

Marionette thought for a moment before answering, ”Hard to say when we havenʼt seen what the tree could really do... but...”

The Beetle opened its maw and moved it towards one of the Parasitised Beetleʼs legs before stiffening, feeling something prodding and entering into it.

”I think the one of the poison might win...”

In the open wound caused by Lillianʼs attack that had taken its leg was a long braided rope of poison-tipped roots jamming themselves into it.

A sense of weakness washed over it once again. It changed the direction its maw was moving and bit down on the roots that stretched out of the open holes of the Parasitised Beetle.

Just before it could tear it off, a long, thick root wrapped around its segmented body.

More then came and did the same thing, and with a surprising turn of events, it was suddenly raised upwards, exposing its vulnerable underside.

Following its ascent, wooden spears numbering a dozen, all tipped in poison, stabbed into its underside.

Lillian stared at this with wide eyes and pointed frustratingly at the twitching Beetle that began to bleed profusely.

”That thing had a weakness the entire time! Man... I could have made use of that...” she grumbled, only to be comforted by Marionette.

”Blame the area that you fought in. Iʼm sure you wouldʼve done better in an area like this where things are much brighter.”

Lillian gave an exasperated sigh, ”Is that really the only reason that I almost died to it, though...”

”Itʼs not. Youʼre still weak, after all.” Marionette responded bluntly, ”Thatʼs why weʼll train more in the future.”

”That so...”

Lillian then fell into deep thought, ʼOnce I clear this Trial, Iʼm going to be given a little more freedom over my mana.ʼ

The Jester was a being that gifted humans a way to become stronger, albeit for the Godsʼ entertainment. So, it would steadily bestow its features once certain criteria have been met.

In this case, once she had successfully completed this Trial, she would be given the ability to influence her Mana Realm a bit, essentially allowing her to increase in Tiers or create more shells for her Mana core.

The process for the latter was the easiest, while the former needed far more requirements to happen.

So, she believed it would be wise to increase her Mana Shells first.

ʼOh... I guess Iʼll be able to enhance myself with mana, wonʼt I?ʼ

She still found it strange how Millis lost against her. Could it be she was actually bad at fighting? That shouldnʼt be the case since Millis, before entering the academy, had a mentor.

ʼWhich is the only reason how she got in anyway...ʼ Lillian rubbed her chin, ignorant of the fact Marionette had unwrapped her arms around Lillianʼs neck.

She had only realised this once she felt Marionette wrap them around her abdomen. She flushed red. Why was Marionette suddenly doing this?

Although this wasnʼt the first time she had done this since this mainly happens when they sleep, outside of that, it was very rare.

Before she could even question Marionetteʼs sudden intimacy, a strange, long shadow loomed over them.

Lillian was then swiftly pulled to the side, avoiding the falling body of the Beetle that crashed through the tall, narrow stone pillar behind her.

CRASH!

Effectively snapping and causing it to crumble instantly upon collision.

Lillian watched as its body bounced off the ground several times before landing on its back—immobile like a tortoise.

Lillian stared at its twitching body and the several holes riddled through its underside.

Despite these harrowing and brutal injuries, it was still alive, albeit incapacitated.

However, this sight wouldʼve left others concerned and cautious about the other Beetle. She was not.

In fact, she was ecstatic.

”Hey Marionette, do save me if that parasite attacks me,” Lillian stated, shuffling out from Marionetteʼs arms, who stared down at her with a perplexed expression.

Her eyes then widened slightly in realisation before nodding, ”Alright. Letʼs see if you get lucky enough to get an Item—”

Before she could even finish her sentence, Lillian had already dashed towards the twitching Beetle with a revengeful look in her eyes.

”Lucky~ lucky~ lucky~...” Lillian hummed, sticking out her hand to the side and constructing a near-perfect replica of the Sonata of Revenge, albeit made out of water.

Her aquatic blade reflected the light, giving the appearance of the familiar gleam her rapier would have occasionally.

As she rapidly approached the incapacitated Beetle, she caught the intimidating sight of a swarm of roots darting towards her.

They swerved in the air like birds and wiggled like sea snakes swimming through water.

They eventually lost their liveliness once Marionette appeared swinging her trusty battle axe, which she seemed to be quite fond of using.

ʼShe definitely has a weapon, right?ʼ Lillian thought curiously before raising her hand and grabbing onto the edge of the Beetleʼs shell.

After pulling herself up, she made her way past its legs and towards its face, glancing at the devastating wounds in its body and staring inside at its internal organs that began to shift in colour visibly.

What she believed to be a healthy red was now turning into a gruesome but beautiful shade of purple.

After reaching its repulsive face, which caused her face to wrinkle, it was a pain-filled expression, and her eyes had lost most of their colour and had begun to go cloudy.

She also couldnʼt help but sense it was feeling a sense of sorrow at the fact it couldnʼt kill the parasitic tree.

Her eyes closed, her face becoming thoughtful.

She then smirked and opened her eyes, ”Heh~ too bad, so sad.”

Lillian then pulled back her arm and stabbed her rapier into its brownish face, gripping the hilt. Then, she began to inject more of her mana into her rapier.

The Beetleʼs face began to bloat slightly, expanding as small streams of water left through its pores and mouth.

”I wonder how this feels for you... is it painful? Or are you already in too much pain to realise it?” Lillian sat on it, continuing to inject water into its face.

”Iʼm kind of like a reverse mosquito, arenʼt I?” Lillian snickered, staring at its now bloated face before kicking at it and watching it wobble.

”I really didnʼt have to do this. But think of it as revenge for breaking my arms, huh~? No hard feelings?” she said before stabbing through its eye and injecting its skull with water until...

[You have slain a Savage Maw, Carapace Hunter]

The Jesterʼs satisfying notification chimed in her mind. It brought her comfort, knowing she had killed the cursed Beetle.

Not only that... but another notification resounded in the Jesterʼs voice.

This time, it had an ominous echo to it.

[You have received a Shard of an entityʼs past.]