Raising Villains the Right Way

“Hmm~”

Alon ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍unconsciously let out a sound, released his contemplation, and opened his eyes.

“Phew~”

A ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍long sigh escaped him.

Then ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he closed his eyes once more and began contemplating again.

And ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍what appeared before him was—

Still ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the same gigantic eye he had seen a little while ago.

More precisely, perhaps it would be better to call it Alon’s manifested form.

‘What in the world is this?’

Alon blankly stared at his manifestation floating in the sky of the dark abyss.

The manifestation had become far larger than before.

And it wasn’t just its size that had changed.

The moment he saw it, Alon noticed the difference.

Last time, there had only been the gigantic eye, strings of characters that shattered and regenerated, and the Star Cluster.

But now, there were tentacles.

Not ordinary ones either, but enormous tentacles that looked as though they had been forged from the abyss itself—tentacles that felt as though merely brushing against them would cause one to be erased from existence.

Well, depending on how one looked at it, it could be considered a positive development.

After all, having eyes and legs was slightly closer to being human than having only eyes.

Of course, they weren’t legs but tentacles, yet something leg-like(?) had appeared nonetheless.

‘......No, why exactly?’

After escaping reality for a while, Alon eventually regained his composure.

He began pondering how things had ended up like this.

He had definitely given his statues to the divine-bloods.

And naturally, those statues had been shaped like a human, not an ‘eye with tentacles.’

Then why had tentacles appeared on his manifested form?

Could it be that the divine-bloods viewed human legs as tentacles?

Alon seriously considered the possibility before leaving contemplation.

“How was it, Lord Alon?”

The moment he opened his eyes, Evan asked.

Curiosity filled his face.

“Evan.”

“Yes?”

“Do I happen to look like an octopus?”

“Has your mental state suddenly deteriorated?”

At Alon’s absurd question, a look of pity appeared on Evan’s face.

Letting out a sigh, Alon rubbed his tired eyes and explained what he had seen.

“So instead of becoming human, it feels like something got added?”

“That’s right.”

“Shouldn’t you have gone and explained things to them after all?”

“Should I have...”

Alon let out a brief sigh.

But only for a moment.

As if suddenly remembering something, he glanced at an empty spot and asked,

“By the way, where did Penia go?”

“Ah, Penia? As soon as we came back, she started rambling about having something to do and disappeared.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Ah, and I heard from Alexion that you can start using Essence soon.”

“............Wasn’t it still unfinished?”

“It seems it’s developed enough for you to use now.”

Alon made a thoughtful expression.

“Well, if they’re saying that much, I suppose it’s about time I moved locations.”

“Mm—when you have some free time next, I’ll have them move at least the rough luggage over. You’re going to Rosario in a few days anyway, aren’t you?”

Alon nodded.

“I am. After that, I’ll stop by the Empire with Rine.”

“Sounds good. Ah, come to think of it, I heard Yutia is in the inner castle.”

”Huh? Yutia?”

“Yes. Apparently Seolrang, Rine, and Magrina are there too.”

“......Wait, didn’t they leave last time?”

“I heard they came back because they had something to say.”

Alon looked puzzled, but—

“Well, Yutia will be going to Rosario with me anyway, so that’s fine.”

“Mm, true.”

Judging that it wasn’t a bad arrangement, he nodded.

At that very moment.

Inside the inner castle, where the four had been gathered just moments ago—

“Umm... why exactly am I here?”

Penia, wearing an anxious expression, was surrounded by them.

***

The next day.

Alon decided to head to Rosario immediately.

Normally, after returning from a trip, he would rest for about a week.

However, ever since he started traveling on Basiliora and Blackie, travel times had become so short that he no longer needed recovery time.

Thus, after making preparations as soon as day broke—

“Have a safe trip, Godfather.”

“Brother.”

“Have a good trip, Master!”

Alon looked at Rine, Magrina, and Seolrang, who had come to see him off, with a peculiar expression.

After all, they had claimed they returned because they had something to tell him, yet none of it had been particularly meaningful.

They had merely talked about trivial matters.

Still, after already giving them a place in the inner castle and telling them to live freely whenever they wished, it would have been strange to ask why they weren’t leaving.

More importantly, Rine would be accompanying him to the Empire after they returned from Rosario.

“Alright, I’ll be back.”

After returning their farewells,

[Now then, let’s go~!!]

Basiliora shouted enthusiastically as though flying were still an exciting new experience despite having done it countless times already.

Alon climbed onto Basiliora’s back and rose into the sky.

Not long after they began gliding through the heavens, Alon turned his head and spoke.

“Yutia, are you alright?”

Since this was probably her first time flying, he asked just in case.

At his words, Yutia, who had been staring at the sky with a somewhat absent-minded expression, finally responded.

“Yes, it feels nostalgic.”

“Nostalgic? Have you flown before?”

At Alon’s question, a brief look of realization crossed Yutia’s face.

For a split second—

So brief that Alon could have thought he imagined it.

But only for a moment.

“Mm—I rode an airship once before. Rosario made one at some point.”

”An airship?”

Alon voiced his surprise at her explanation.

“Yes. It’s not used anymore because of budget issues.”

“Does flying on it feel similar to this?”

“Mm, this feels a little more free, so I personally like it better.”

At her answer, Alon nodded.

Then his gaze shifted farther back to Penia.

Ever since yesterday, she had been wearing a subtly uncomfortable expression.

“Penia.”

“Yes?”

“Is something wrong?”

Alon tilted his head.

But Penia simply smiled and shook her head.

“No! Of course not!”

......

While wearing an extremely awkward smile.

Alon realized she was hiding something, but he didn’t press the matter.

If she was trying that hard to hide it, she surely had her reasons.

And above all, he trusted that if it were truly serious, she would tell him herself.

“If anything happens, make sure to tell me.”

With that, Alon ended the conversation atop Basiliora.

It took exactly six days for Alon to arrive in Rosario.

He could have shortened the trip if he had hurried more, but he chose not to.

Moreover, worried that Basiliora’s arrival might cause a disturbance within Rosario, he had dismounted far away and entered on foot, which added even more time.

[...............It would have been the perfect opportunity to imprint my magnificent appearance upon them.]

Listening to Basiliora grumble for what was already the eighth time, Alon finally arrived in Rosario.

“Brother, have you been well?”

“Saint.”

He was soon able to meet Yuman.

Wearing the same smile as always, Yuman nodded firmly.

Though it had been a very long time since they last met, he looked exactly the same as before.

After exchanging greetings, Alon immediately headed off to meet the Goddess Sironia—

Or rather, Wanderer.

“Then have a good visit.”

“Alright.”

Leaving Evan, Penia, and Yutia, who was giving a small wave, behind, Alon entered the room containing Sironia’s statue.

[It’s been a long time.]

The moment he stepped inside, he heard Wanderer’s voice, as though she had been waiting for him.

“It has been a while. Though it seems you haven’t changed.”

[Hm? What do you mean by that?]

“When we met before, didn’t you say that with time you’d return to being the Goddess Sironia?”

At Alon’s words, Wanderer let out a small exclamation.

[First of all, the Goddess Sironia is perfectly fine, you know?]

“......She is?”

[Yes. You simply came here, so I revealed myself temporarily. Weren’t you looking for me?]

At Wanderer’s question, Alon replied,

“No, I was looking for you.”

[Then that’s good. No need for things to become awkward—more importantly.]

Wanderer fell silent for a moment as though choosing her words.

Then she spoke.

[You’re beyond expectations.]

“What part are you talking about?”

[Honestly, I had my doubts. I never imagined you’d become this strong in such a short amount of time.]

Wanderer sounded genuinely astonished.

“Is that so?”

[Yes. To be honest—no, let’s stop that conversation there.]

Wanderer closed her mouth after nearly saying something.

Alon became curious, but didn’t ask.

After all, he already knew that most divine-bloods capable of conversing with him would abruptly fall silent whenever a topic contained something they wished to conceal.

Thus, instead of dwelling on her silence, Alon took out an item from his pocket to accomplish his original purpose.

It was a flask.

A black flask.

[That is......?]

Wanderer looked at the flask and expressed her curiosity.

“Do you happen to know anything about the power contained within this flask?”

Alon asked.

Wanderer stared silently at the flask.

Then—

[Ah...]

She strangely dragged out the sound.

Rather than identifying the power inside, she seemed unable to understand why it had appeared here in the current situation.

Just as Alon was about to ask again—

[...............I do know it. In fact, it’s a power I couldn’t help but know very well.]

Wanderer answered.

“......A power you couldn’t help but know?”

[Yes. Because that power belongs to Abominable Blood. More precisely—]

Then she said,

[It would be more accurate to call it the power of Abominable Blood’s second child.]

And while Alon was listening to a truth of considerable significance—

Outside the room where he was speaking.

Penia sat waiting for him, deep in thought.

It wasn’t because she had done something wrong.

Yet the reason she was troubled stemmed from several days earlier.

More specifically, from the order she had received after returning from meeting the divine-bloods—a sort of punishment for a sin(?) she had committed before.

It wasn’t anything particularly grand.

To put it simply, she had to confirm something with Alon.

’Even excluding Seolrang, is biting Alon’s nose considered light physical affection?’

That was the question.

Of course, Penia understood perfectly well that this was bordering on insanity.

Most likely, everyone else understood that too.

............They understood, right?

They probably did.

And perhaps that was precisely why they were making Penia obtain definite confirmation.

Anyway, the question itself wasn’t really the problem.

It wasn’t particularly difficult to ask.

The real issue was the secret proposals that came afterward.

As if they had all made a promise beforehand, they approached her one by one after learning of her assignment.

Each asked her to tell lies to the others while telling the truth to them.

Seolrang had even attached a condition.

’Just make sure you say no. If you do, I’ll give you a really valuable piece of information.’

The others had made similar offers.

Was the problem the rewards themselves?

Not really.

The problem was that if she accepted one person’s offer, she had no idea what the others might do to her.

“U-ugh......”

And so Penia continued suffering in agonized contemplation...

Unable to ask a single question.

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