The Villainess Who Was Dumped Got Married into My Family, a Mob Noble from the Frontier, and Turns Out, She's an Amazing Capable Wife? - Chapter 91: The Reason for Destruction (?)

Chapter 91: The Reason for Destruction (?)

This world is almost exactly like that otome game, but even the most ridiculous settings are somehow justified and make sense in their own way.

For example, the Brave family.

Despite being high-ranking marquises in the borderlands, they are treated terribly, and while there’s a war every year, the capital remains carefree.

It’s an impossible situation, but if you dig into the history, it seems they’ve had various issues in the past.

The capital itself is also strange.

To color the game world and host various events, it has a population density almost like a modern city. 

Because of the absolute safety provided by the protective barrier, people in this country live closely packed together.

The aristocratic academy with an unnecessary number of students exists because, without wars, giving them ranks is the only way to honor their achievements. 

This kind of logic holds the world together.

If, as Patricia says, the holy relics—sacred tools—can maintain the protective barrier even without the saint, then why does Mariana exist? 

The obvious answer that comes to mind is as a human sacrifice.

“Is the saint’s magic necessary to maintain the barrier?”

“Who knows? We won’t know until we check for ourselves.”

At my words, Patricia tilted her head and laughed mockingly.

“Answer seriously.”

“Oh, but… the moment people realized she was the holy maiden, everyone suddenly changed their attitude like flipping a switch.”

Patricia stopped her head tilting and started speaking as if she remembered something.

“It’s the same in the game, right? The surrounding nobles were all enemies, but as soon as she became the holy maiden, they suddenly started accepting her.”

“Why are you suddenly talking about this?”

Creepy.

“Those disgusting, twisted, bloated pigs should just sink to the bottom of the deep sea.”

“Hey. That contradicts what you said.”

I kicked Patricia back to reality as she seemed to drift off.

“In Edward’s route, Alicia destroyed the barrier.”

Mariana, who awakened thanks to the sacred relic, restored the destroyed barrier, and in the happy ending, there’s a scene where she laughs with Edward in good health.

“What are you doing, you pervert? It’s the same method as mine anyway.”

“So, instead of destroying it, you stopped the barrier temporarily with another holy item?”

Reconstructing a barrier using someone else’s magic is difficult without expertise.

“Ah, so that’s why Mariana was able to…”

I nodded to myself, understanding how she managed to restore it.

If the saint’s magic is involved, then Mariana, as her reincarnation, could do anything.

And the sacred relic she had at that time belonged to Edward’s route.

The current barrier is entrusted to the Aetherdam royal family, so using the sacred relic from Edward’s route perfectly restored it.

“If that’s the case, then the number and location of sacred relics needed for each target character would be different…”

“The game’s happy ending is like a change of power.”

Patricia joins in my muttering.

“It’s a ridiculous conclusion, but if that huge barrier is maintained by the saint as a sacrifice, then no matter what happens in the game, that girl’s death is certain.”

She’s right.

If the barrier’s maintenance can be transferred with just sacred relics, then Mariana Ocean’s birth was only to replenish the barrier’s dwindling magic.

“They’d claim the barrier is losing magic and can’t be maintained, then suddenly find the reincarnated saint at the right time… and use her as a sacrifice. Hahaha.”

“It’s not a laughing matter.”

“But if she’s having fun now without knowing anything, isn’t that fine? If told it’s for the country, she’d quietly become part of the barrier, wouldn’t she? She’s always been like that, hahaha.”

I spoke to Patricia, who was covering her mouth to stifle her laughter.

“Then why are you pretending to be the holy maiden?”

Patricia, pretending to be the holy maiden, seemed like she was willing to become one of the sacrifices. 

In reality, she couldn’t provide the magic needed to maintain the barrier, but I didn’t understand why she would go to such lengths with no benefit.

Even if she wanted power, by her own admission, the barrier’s magic would eventually run out, exposing her lie.

“This makes even less sense.”

“—Because I want to destroy this country.”

Her smile vanished instantly. 

Just then, Edward had disappeared with the delinquents, promising to teach them some magic.

“Don’t you ever feel like breaking things that were predetermined from the start?”

No, I don’t, I thought to myself. 

The constitution existed since I was born, and we humans are weak creatures who can only survive within society.

“When the barrier reaches the end of its lifespan, a new bearer is born, and everything proceeds like a predetermined scenario, just like in the game. Then, they marry someone with the sage’s blood and their story ends tragically.”

Patricia spoke eloquently.

“This world is an ideal forced upon us by the ancient sage who thought ‘this would be nice.’ And to live your whole life under someone else’s control, not even in the spotlight—I can’t stand it.”

She looked down at the weeds growing in the shade outside the window.

“You feel it too, don’t you? Behind the bright, sunny places, in the shadows, the ugly consequences pile up.”

Glaring at the barrier outside the window, Patricia finished with this:

“I don’t think it’s a bad deal for you either. A peace-addled monkey from the wastelands? I’ll destroy this country for you.”

So don’t get in my way, she said, smiling.

“Hey! B-Brave! Patricia! Sorry to keep you waiting!”

Just as I was about to respond, Edward came running down the hallway. I wish he’d stop saying my name so awkwardly.

“Lady Saint! I was surprised when only the ones who went with you came back! Please don’t be by yourself!”

A few teachers from the principality followed behind Edward. 

Aren’t they worried about calling her the Saint in the capital?

“I was teaching those delinquents when they suddenly asked where the Lady Saint was, looking frantic. I got too carried away with my instructions. I’m sorry.”

Seeing Edward bow his head honestly, Patricia murmured, 

“You’ve really changed, huh.”

Her eyes no longer held the darkness from before.

“And you never change.”

“You just got bald and stupid! Like a boiled egg!”

The teachers from the principality couldn’t help but laugh at her words.

Edward, on the other hand, answered with a straight face that it was because he took good care of his skin. 

This guy is unbelievable.

“Well, I’m going to rest in my room. Don’t worry, I promise I won’t leave my room today.”

With a tired look, Patricia said that and left with the teachers from the principality.

“Is it okay to let her do as she pleases, Brave?”

“…Well, she can’t really do anything anyway.”

So I told Edward, but all I could do was watch her leave silently.