When the Villain Joined the Knights to Avoid Doom Flags, but Somehow the Heroines Started Approaching Him - Chapter 32: ???

Chapter 32: ???

Hey, hey, when do you think people truly feel alive?

When they’re eating something delicious?

When they’re with someone they love?

When they feel needed by someone?

Nope, wrong!

It’s when they feel pain! When they’re causing pain!

The moment when both sides of the scale tip between giving and receiving pain—that’s when you feel the most alive!

Think about it—your body sends out “pain” signals as a warning, trying to avoid “death.”

If feeling alive was all about happiness, you might not even notice a fatal wound until it’s too late.

And honestly, what even is happiness? Like, seriously?

Neither I nor my sister have ever experienced something so fluffy and abstract as “happiness.”

From the moment we were born, there was no one there for us. And when someone finally took us in, it came with nothing but pain.

But don’t get me wrong! I don’t think of that as being unhappy!

It’s through giving and receiving pain that I’ve found my purpose.

That purpose, that meaning, feels so good!

That’s why my sister and I have always embraced the pain, diving into it headfirst.

We grew up in the dark guild, a place where hurting others is the only way to climb the ranks. It’s just the way things are for us!

And you know what? I have my sister!

Even if my “turn” comes, I’m sure it’ll be fine, totally fine—

♦️♦️♦️

“So, you just waltzed back here like nothing happened, huh?”

The dimly lit room flickered with the soft crackle of torches.

A young man, leaning lazily on his desk with his chin propped on his hand, directed his remark at Ronye.

“Ugh… but I…”

Ronye shrank, her shoulders slumping apologetically.

Before the young man could say more, a girl with the same hair color as Ronye—Chloe—suddenly appeared beside him and smacked him on the head.

“Ow!”

“…Don’t be so mean to Ronye.”

“I wasn’t being mean—I just asked a question!”

“Uu… Big sis…”

Ronye, clearly looking for comfort, buried her face in her sister’s chest, hugging her tightly.

The whole scene now looked like a bullied girl being consoled, leaving the black-haired young man scratching his cheek awkwardly.

“…If Ronye couldn’t finish the job, then it can’t be helped.”

“True, but… the client’s getting really annoying. If we don’t give them something to smile about soon, they’ll throw a tantrum.”

“I’m not sucking up to that fat slob!”

“Yeah, well, that ‘fat slob’ is a money-making pig, so deal with it. I hate dealing with them too, but it’s worth the cash.”

With a long, exasperated sigh, the young man leaned back in his chair, visibly frustrated.

“What a twisted hobby. Keeping someone alive as a pet forever or displaying their corpse as a trophy if they’re dead… I don’t care about the client’s personality, but wow, they’re seriously messed up.”

“If I remember right, they’re some noble from another country, right?”

“Yeah. Apparently, they met the princess at a party and fell in love at first sight. Oh, and they’re already married with kids.”

“…The worst kind of person.”

“If they’re willing to make requests like this, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are more bodies from their ‘hobbies’ stashed under their bedroom floorboards.”

When the dark guild receives requests, it’s usually for one of three reasons: revenge, indulging someone’s warped tastes, or eliminating political obstacles.

In this case, the person who placed the bounty on the third princess was one of those nobles with a twisted hobby from another country.

The exact kind of client you’d least want as a business partner.

“Our guild operates pretty independently, so even if someone fails, with a reward as high as this one, new challengers will keep showing up. Still… what should I do about this?”

The young man leaned back, looking troubled as he stared at the ceiling.

“…What’s the problem?”

“Well, it’s like the boss might start keeping an eye on me. If this drags out too long, I could get chewed out for losing their trust. Apparently, the Knights are already investigating us and our associates, and it’s making the boss really irritated.”

“Yes-yes! I’ll go again! It sounds like fun!”

Ronye, who had been crying in Chloe’s arms just moments ago, now raised her hand cheerfully.

Seeing this, Chloe also lifted her hand slightly.

“…Then I’ll go too.”

“Huh? That’s unusual. You usually only take on essential tasks.”

“…I’d be worried if Ronye went alone. Protecting my sister is part of my job as her big sister—it’s necessary.”

“What a touching display of sibling love.”

Ronye felt a rush of excitement during battles.

Chloe, on the other hand, only did what was absolutely necessary but ensured she accomplished it flawlessly.

Though both sisters had their quirks, their abilities had earned them leadership roles in the guild at a young age.

The young man trusted their skills and had no objections. He simply nodded and said, “Got it.”

“The other side’s probably on high alert after the last attack. Feel free to use some of the other members as decoys. At the very least, they can act like search ants and sniff something out… Well, I’ll leave the specialized stuff to the experts in that area.”

“…Right, they might be hiding after what happened.”

“Once you figure out where they are, let me know.”

“Eh, Raul, you’re coming too?”

“Why do you sound so unhappy about it…?”

“Because if Raul comes, it’ll all be over too quickly.”

She pouted slightly, her “battle-junkie” mindset on full display, making Raul chuckle awkwardly.

But then—

“Ah, actually, maybe not.”

“…Why?”

“Because there’s a crazy strong big brother over there!”

Ronye’s words made Chloe furrow her brows slightly.

The image that came to her mind was of the boy who had frozen her little sister in ice.

“Heheh… I want to fight him again! It’s probably going to hurt so much… Just thinking about that thrilling rush, where it feels like life itself is on the line… oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh!!!”

Ronye was practically drooling in excitement at the thought.

Chloe, ever the dutiful sister, wiped her sibling’s drool while the young man watched, letting out another wry chuckle.

(Chloe must have her hands full with a sister like that.)

But, he thought, maybe it couldn’t be helped.

The young man knew a lot about Ronye and Chloe—how they were raised, and how they had survived.

The guild wasn’t some friendly place full of camaraderie. It was a harsh, cutthroat environment where people would readily betray each other for personal gain.

To have survived in such a cold and ruthless world, it wasn’t hard to imagine how their personalities had been shaped.

Still, perhaps because he’d known these two for so long, he couldn’t help but feel something akin to… affection, in spite of it all.

“Well, I’ll go with you this time. Of course, you can keep the reward for yourselves.”

“…If you don’t want the money, why are you coming?”

Chloe tilted her head curiously.

The young man smiled faintly, looking at the two of them before answering in a calm, steady voice.

“Because I’m older than you two.”