I Got Reincarnated as the Villain and Saved the World, but After the Ending I Was Betrayed and Exiled. I Just Wanted a Peaceful Life in the Frontier, but for Some Reason My Former Companions Started Chasing Me with Yandere Eyes… - 44

Chapter 44: Henrietta’s Doubt

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Time turned back a little, to shortly after Elena and Phantom had departed.

“It’s been a while, Henrietta. You look well, I’m glad. I was worried since you hardly replied to my letters.”

“I’m fine. I was just tired from the recent battle.”

In the royal castle, waiting for her in a conference room prepared for a secret discussion was Cain, a man she had once felt friendship for, but now could only feel disgust toward.

“I hear you’ve been in hiding lately, but demons appeared in your territory and his territory too, didn’t they? That’s dangerous. It’s not too late yet. Come to me. I can guarantee you’ll live far better than the life you have now as some borderland lord.”

“Sorry, but I like the life I have now.”

She brushed aside Cain’s hand as he tried to place it on her shoulder in a show of concern, rejecting him. She couldn’t hide the shiver at the greedy look in his eyes.

And… This man understood nothing. She didn’t become a lord because she wanted a good life. She chose this path because she wanted to protect the land where she grew up, the land that supported her.

Even if it meant betraying someone dear to her…

“Hmph, so you still can’t forget Phantom? You know, don’t you? To him, you were meaningless. If you really mattered, he would have come to see you afterward. By now he’s probably enjoying himself with some woman in another country. That’s why—”

“You didn’t call me here to talk about that!! I was told we were to discuss how to deal with the demons appearing in our country!!”

She knew it was a poor move, but she couldn’t help but raise her voice. because what Cain said was exactly what had haunted her thoughts…And… Recently, she started to believe that must be true. 

If he had truly cherished her, wouldn’t he have come to hear her out after his exile? No… That wasn’t right. She had been the first to betray him. Even if it was because she was caught between her territory and him, the fact remained that she put him aside. 

That was why he stopped trusting her. Even so, she thought it was enough if he lived safely. But when they met again, he pointed his sword at her for the sake of buying time for others. When she remembered how she had wounded him, regret and despair stabbed at her chest, making her nauseous.

“You look awful. If you’re not feeling well, you should rest in my room.”

“I told you I’m fine…”

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I see you’re both here.”

Just as Cain was about to put his arm around her shoulder again, the door opened, and in came Josef with a hooded figure whose face was hidden.

“Tch, and when it was getting good…”

“Henrietta, hero who slew the Demon Lord. The kingdom thanks you for once again serving. Rest assured, we will keep our promise.”

Ignoring Cain’s click of the tongue, Josef gave Henrietta a meaningful smile, watching her with amusement as she tried to suppress her emotions.

“As for the demons that appeared in the territory, we believe their true target is most likely Cain-sama. After all, he’s the hero and prince. We have succeeded in locating their general location. I would have Cain-sama wait here at the castle with an elite unit to receive them.”

“I don’t mind going out to hunt them, though. I have the power now.”

“……”

Cain tapped the unfamiliar sword hilt at his side and smiled smugly at Henrietta. But she looked only at Josef, as though Cain wasn’t even in her sight.

Something was wrong… This was too well-prepared. Demons weren’t so easily detected. During the journey to defeat the Demon Lord, Elena and Ceres had constantly used magic to remain vigilant, and though magical detection tools existed, they were extremely expensive.

Yet here they had installed such devices near the border, and now they could even detect demons at a distance. As though they had known in advance that demons would be attacking…

Reaching the worst suspicion, Henrietta opened her mouth carefully, hiding her doubts.

“Then the people will be endangered by these demons. Even against demons, I will not fall behind. If you know their location, send me as the vanguard.”

“Henrietta, that’s far too dangerous!!”

“Oh… For the hero who slew the Demon Lord to volunteer for such a perilous task herself. As expected of the hero!”

Cain raised his voice in surprise, Josef smirked, but Henrietta had no intention of being their puppet. She would discern the truth of her doubts and Phantom’s words… Were the demons he sided with truly evil? And who was the real enemy?

The truth was, this country had suffered under the Demon Lord, so demons were feared. But if… If they could truly be reasoned with… If, as Phantom said, there were good demons, then her fame as a hero and noble could be used to their benefit. In fact, she could atone for her sins for betraying him in this way.

“However, even for Henrietta, facing demons of unknown strength may be too heavy a burden. Take this one with you.”

“Sorry, but a mediocre human won’t stand against demons…”

『No need to worry. I am ‘Dottore.’ A magic doll created by the sage Loki-sama. My strength is… Hmm, about the same as yours, perhaps?』

“Loki!? The slaughter doll of the Sage who slew the Demon Lord!?”

When Dottore slipped off her robe and nodded expressionlessly, Henrietta let out a cry of shock. Having read many tales with Ange, who loved hero stories, she knew of Loki—and of the slaughter doll’s power.

“I understand. I’ll prepare to depart. Excuse me.”

They had obtained Loki’s relics. Which meant Cain’s sword was not ordinary either. Perhaps it was the Demon Lord’s sword Loki had sealed away, or a cursed sword Loki had forged. She had to inform Phantom and the others of this…

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“Hey, Henrietta!! Don’t be reckless!! Ahh, weren’t you supposed to fight them with me here in the castle? How are we supposed to grow closer like this?”

Chasing after Henrietta with such foolish words, Cain made Josef—or rather, Ose—think that humans truly were amusing.

“To think he wants her to fall in love with him, when with brute power he could easily make her his… So inefficient… And amusing.”

“……”

Dottore said nothing in response to Ose’s low chuckle. Dottore only stared expressionlessly, as if she was expecting something. Then Ose, preparing his next move, used magic to transform into the form of a human girl he had once seen during his service under the Demon Lord Surtr.

“Ahh, Master!! Master!! Please give me orders!! I’ve been protecting it all this time. I kept guarding the cursed sword, just as you commanded!!”

As though her earlier blankness had been a lie, Dottore now smiled brightly. Despite being a golem, her eyes were full of life as she clung to Ose, who had taken Loki’s form. The highlights in Dottore’s eyes were nowhere to be seen. Stroking the doll’s head, Ose gave his command.

“If you see any demons other than me, kill them without question. Ignore whatever Henrietta says. Understood?”

『Yes, Master!!! Your orders are absolute!! I will obey you!! So please hold me again!! Praise me!!』

He didn’t know what Henrietta was plotting, but he had no intention of letting her interfere.

With this, the Demon Lord would be slain, because Solomon could only use magic. Solomon wasn’t good at physical combat. The troublesome Phantom had already been exiled, and Cain was on their side. Apart from Henrietta, no one could stand against Dottore…

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