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… - 55

Chapter 55: Henrietta and Her Former Companions

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Henrietta grabbed Elena as the ground collapsed beneath them from Dottore’s assault, then immediately enhanced her physical abilities to prepare for the landing.

“Kh…!?”

They had fallen from what was about the height of a three-story building. Pain shot through her legs, but it was nothing she couldn’t handle. What mattered more was whether Elena, held against her chest, was safe.

“You… Did you protect me?”

“Yes… It was my fault you got dragged into this. Of course I did.”

“Henrietta…”

There were so many things Henrietta wanted to say to Elena, whose expression was difficult to read, but this was not the time.

Opposite her stood the beautiful golem, who had landed with perfect grace. Henrietta pointed her sword toward it, but hesitated to charge. She had the feeling that, if they could just talk properly, they might be able to understand each other.

“Wait, Dottore. Josef might be a demon. He’s trying to use you.”

『And what of it? My master is Loki-sama alone. Nothing else matters.』

“Loki, you say…? But she should already be dead… I’ve even visited her grave.”

At Elena’s casual murmur, Henrietta saw Dottore’s face twist. She recognized that expression. That was the face of someone suppressing doubts, just like hers ever since she had parted ways with Phantom.

“I understand now. Ose can change its form. It must have disguised itself as Loki and given you those orders!!”

“What a cruel thing to do…”

The moment Henrietta frowned at the inhuman cruelty of Josef—or rather, Ose—Dottore lunged at them without hesitation.

“Wait! You’re being deceived!”

『Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up!!』

Dottore, tears threatening to spill, attacked with incredible speed. Henrietta focused only on parrying and deflecting her fists and kicks. Her skill in defense was second to none in the party—this much was proof of it.

『I knew it! I knew it was fake!! And still… I was happy!! That he looked at me with that face!! That he spoke to me with that voice!! That’s why I…!!』

“How pitiful… But I can’t say I don’t understand. O’ ice of the underworld, freeze my foe solid!!”

From Elena’s staff burst black ice as dark as the abyss, forming chains that bound Dottore. Henrietta drew the golem’s attention while Elena cast precise control magic to restrain her. It was the way they used to fight together, and Henrietta was struck by a wave of nostalgia.

『Ghhhhh!!』

Dottore struggled, but eventually her strength gave out. When she grew still, both Henrietta and Elena let out sighs of relief.

“Elena… I believe you. The mastermind is a demon named Ose, isn’t it…”

“Finally, you see. Given time, even this golem’s orders can be undone. Once this is over, we’ll take her back.”

Seeing Dottore deceived by a demon who could change its form left no room for doubt. And that could mean only one thing.

“So Ose and Cain just used me like a pawn… What have I done…”

How much had Phantom suffered after being cast aside? He had been her fiancé, and yet she had abandoned him. How devastated must he have been, seeing her turn her back on him?

Her chest felt ready to burst from guilt and her own foolishness.

“Henrietta…”

“I’ll be fine. I can fight. I’ll help you defeat Ose. I… I probably have no face left to show Phantom anymore, but still.”

“With you here, we can use strategies that were impossible before. First, let’s regroup with Ceres.”

Elena looked at Henrietta, who smiled bitterly in self-mockery, with a complex expression. But just as they took a step forward—

『Please wait, Henrietta-san.』

“Dottore!? Have you returned to your senses?!”

Henrietta cried out happily at the sight of Dottore’s clear-eyed expression, but the golem shook her head apologetically.

『No… I merely regained my composure because my orders became impossible to carry out. Once the restraints are gone, I will attack you again.』

“I see…”

『Heh… Are you worried about me? You are kind. You remind me of Athena-sama.』

Henrietta groaned in anguish, but Dottore smiled faintly, almost happily.

『I cannot fight alongside you, but I can give you advice. Henrietta-san, do not run from your feelings. If you do, you will regret it forever. Unlike golems, you humans can decide for yourselves what your hearts should value most. And besides… The one you fear to face is still alive, isn’t he?』

“Dottore…”

She knew what the golem meant. 

Don’t run from Phantom. 

She had regretted it all along.

Even if he hated her words, even if he never wanted to see her face again.. But if she ran away from even trying to tell him how she felt, she would just destroy herself, condemned to eternal regret.

“Don’t look like that. Fine, I’ll mediate for you. But remember. You’re no longer his fiancée. If Phantom is flirting with some other woman…Say, me…Don’t you dare get angry.”

“…Yes. I’ve already prepared myself for that.”

Her chest ached at Elena’s words, but compared to the pain Phantom must have felt, it was nothing more than a scratch.

As Dottore closed her eyes and powered down, they prepared to move on… But then, Elena tapped Henrietta’s armor with her staff.

“And another thing. I’m angry at you. Why didn’t you come to us right away when Cain or Josef said something vile? If you’d told us immediately, we could have done something. A mere minister or prince of one kingdom couldn’t possibly defy the entire elven race or the Church. We could have fought power with power. Or… Did you trust us so little?”

“Elena… I’m sorry…”

Looking at Elena’s slightly sulky face, Henrietta remembered the old days. Elena had always been the one to help them with her knowledge and intellect. Why hadn’t she relied on her now? She recalled her own foolishness and Phantom’s old advice.

When she grew too heated, her thoughts grew narrow.

“I’m kind, so I’ll let you be with one slap. That should be enough to settle the bill.”

“…Yes. Please.”

“Yeeowww!!”

Henrietta offered her cheek without resistance, and though the strike stung slightly, it was Elena who cried out, clutching her palm.

“Are… Are you okay?”

“W-what was that!? It was like striking the World Tree itself! What on earth have you done to your body? Overtraining, surely! Your abs must be split into plates—”

“Don’t say it…”

Henrietta blushed, reminded of her own overly-trained six-pack. With that, she and Elena left the dungeon—while swearing to return for Dottore once all was over.

★★★

Soon after, Henrietta and the others hurriedly rented a carriage and caught up to Phantom, who was battling an unknown demon.

When she finally saw him again, he was battered and broken… Guilt ate at her, knowing her actions had been one cause of it. She did what healing she could, then entrusted the rest to the demon Amon, while she and Elena raced to catch up with Ceres’s carriage.

“Damn that demon!! I’ll kill him!! No, death is too kind as an end for someone like him!! I’ll drown him in holy water and make him suffer forever!!”

“Please calm down, Ceres-san!! We don’t know for sure yet that Phantom-sama is dead!”

“Glasya-Labolas is powerful, yes, but Amon is with him. He’ll be fine!! Incredible… This must be the power of love itself!!”

“But my rosary!! My rosary was destroyed!!”

When Henrietta opened the carriage door, she found Ceres with a demon’s rage-twisted expression, held back desperately by Stella and another young demon girl.

“It’s all right. I treated Phantom. He should be on his way to the castle by now.”

“Wha—Henrietta…-san?”

“I’m here too.”

Ceres froze in shock, then glared sharply at Henrietta, storming forward to seize her by the collar.

“How dare you show your face here!! How dare you act like a comrade after all that?! It’s far too late for you to be on our side!!”

“Calm yourself. Henrietta was deceived. Now she’s our ally again.”

“And what of it!? If you had fought at Phantom-sama’s side from the start, things would have been so much easier!! I wouldn’t have had to hate you so much!!”

Henrietta’s chest ached at Ceres’s tearful glare. She had hurt this girl so deeply and now, she had no right to embrace her.

“I’m sorry… I’ll listen to every complaint and every word of blame. But right now…Please allow me to lend my strength to you.”

“…Lend us… Your strength?”

“Yes. Now that we’re all together, we can use a strategy that wasn’t possible before.”

Elena smirked confidently at Ceres’s suspicious frown.

“Very well… But first, let me hit Henrietta-san once. If I don’t, I won’t be able to calm down.”

“…Of course. That much is the least I can offer to you.”

Just like with Elena, Henrietta offered her cheek. But this time, the slap carried far more weight—

“Oww!!”

“Ngh!? Hard!! Why does it hurt me more than her!?”

“She’s trained herself so much her whole body is as hard as rock, that’s why.”

Elena laughed at Ceres, who clutched her arm in pain. Henrietta only blushed and lowered her gaze.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your reunion, but… What is this strategy we’re talking about?”

At Stella’s words, Elena cleared her throat and spoke.

“It’s simple. The three of us will bring Solomon and march straight in the front gate…. Actually, that’s all.. Stella, can you watch the carriage here?”

Elena grinned mischievously, while Ceres and the others looked on in bewilderment.

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