The Main Heroines are Trying to Kill Me

“The situation… is really dire.”

“…Is that so?”

As the boy walked through the frozen streets, Vener responded in a low voice with a blank expression.

“Of course, it makes sense. Everyone’s been isolated for months, feeling despair.”

“Hmm.”

“With no hope in sight, it’s no wonder things have come to this.”

Speaking in a desolate tone, Vener pointed to the signs scattered throughout the street.

“Still… there’s a faint glimmer of hope left. That’s why the Empire hasn’t completely given up.”

“The Hero, you mean?”

The capital of the Empire was covered in signs filled with phrases like “I’m sorry”, “Come back,” and “Please.”

Looking at the scene, Vener let out a cold sigh and muttered.

“It’s all futile, though…”

“Huh?”

“…Nothing.”

Vener forced a bitter smile and stopped walking.

“Anyway, you’ve seen the state of the shelters we’ve passed by.”

“…Yes.”

The boy nodded, glancing at the glowing energy emanating from his right hand and then hiding it behind his back.

“That’s the first face of the current Empire.”

“…”

“Now, let me show you the second face.”

Vener pointed behind him with an awkward smile.

“Here…”

The boy looked in the direction she indicated, squinting his eyes and taking a step back.

“The Starlight Mansion.”

“…”

They had arrived at the Starlight Mansion, frozen despite the ancient magic due to the Demon King’s ice.

“…It’s really noisy.”

“Of course.”

As the boy asked with a slightly furrowed brow, Vener answered and led him into the mansion’s yard.

“It seems it’s starting again.”

In front of them, a group of people with angry expressions were throwing stones at the mansion.

“What are they doing?”

“Who knows? Maybe they think the Hero is hiding inside, or they’re blaming his sister for exiling him, or they just want to riot…”

Vener muttered as she approached them.

“We know you’re in there! Come out!”

“Cowardly Hero! We’re victims too!”

“Are you just gonna let us die?”

“Because of you, Frey can’t come back to the mansion!”

“You idiot sister! You exile your brother!”

“It’s warm inside, isn’t it?”

“Let us in too!”

Vener watched them with a blank expression before drawing her sword and muttering.

“Seems like it’s all three.”

- Crackle…!

In the next moment, her sharp sword strike shattered the signs held by the rioters, and they scattered in all directions in a panic.

“It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”

As she put her sword back in its sheath, she whispered to the boy beside her.

“Most people have lost their minds due to the impending doom. Though there are a few exceptions…”

“Hmm.”

“At least those people are in the minority.”

Vener pointed to a corner of the yard, where an even larger crowd had gathered.

“And who are they?”

“They’re waiting in case the Hero comes back. They want to welcome him warmly.”

“Ah…”

“Half of them unknowingly owe their lives to the Hero, and the other half pity him after learning his story.”

“…”

“…Of course, some are just trying to survive. It’s hard to tell them apart.”

The boy looked around at the people holding signs with the same phrases as those in the newspaper, their expressions haggard. As his face darkened slightly, Vener took his hand and led him inside.

“And inside here… are people who were close to the Hero.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Would you like to meet them?”

“…Me?”

The boy tilted his head and asked.

“Why me?”

- Creak…

Just then, the mansion’s main gate swung open.

“Brother!!!”

Aria burst out, barefoot and with a pale face.

“Uh, excuse me?”

“Brother!! You’re my brother, aren’t you?!”

She grabbed the boy and shouted in a strained voice.

“…I’m not your brother.”

“Don’t lie! Don’t lie!! You’re my brother!!”

As the boy took a step back in confusion, Aria clung to his pants.

“I would never not recognize you!! You’re my brother, you are–”

“But I’m really not.”

“Brother, I’m sorry! Please…”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Let me go!!”

Aria clung to the boy’s leg, her hair disheveled, until the household staff dragged her back inside, her screams echoing.

“Please… let me… my brother is right here…”

One of the maids who was pulling her back muttered with a sorrowful expression.

“Lady Aria, please, the Young Master is no longer here.”

At those words, Aria stopped resisting and looked at the boy weakly.

“Is my brother… really gone?”

“…”

“Is he… really not my brother anymore?”

As her trembling eyes met the boy’s, the gate to the Starlight Mansion closed firmly.

“Since the head of the Starlight family went missing recently, the only ones living here are Ms. Aria and the servants.”

Vener continued to explain.

“Ms. Aria is consumed by guilt for making her brother a commoner, and the servants regret not staying by the hero’s side until the end.”

“…”

“And those over there are the servants who betrayed the Hero.”

The boy’s gaze fell on a group of battered maids sitting by the side of the mansion.

“They were expelled from everywhere, and ironically, the only place they could stay was here.”

Vener pulled the boy’s right arm gently and spoke.

“Now, it’s time to see the third face.”

“Um…”

“Yes?”

“…Nothing.”

The boy frowned slightly at Vener, then shook his head and started walking.

“Let’s just go quickly.”

“…”

“So, where to next?”

Vener’s breathing grew slightly heavier as she watched him.

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“”…””

The boy and Vener walked silently.

“…There are a lot of people on the streets.”

The boy finally broke the long silence between them.

“It wasn’t like this before.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, everyone, young and old, is out on the streets.”

Indeed, people of all ages and statuses were out, waving signs.

Please forgive us, hero

Please come back

As they quietly passed by, the boy let out a deep sigh, seeing children around his waist height, crying as they waved their signs.

“Why suddenly?”

“…They heard that snow is coming soon.”

“Snow?”

The boy tilted his head at Vener’s seemingly irrelevant answer.

“The Demon King said she would start his advance on the first snowfall.”

“Ah…”

“With the end so near, everyone is desperately clinging to anything they can.”

Vener stopped walking as she spoke.

“…Anyway, we’ve arrived. This is Sunrise Academy.”

Before them was the academy, surrounded by a massive barrier.

“The students have been isolated here for months. Thanks to the barrier, they don’t feel the cold, but they still suffer from a lack of supplies.”

Students camping around the perimeter of the barrier peeked out with gaunt faces as they sensed their presence.

“The academy’s situation is being broadcast live to the whole world.”

“…The whole world?”

“Yes, partly to prevent impulsive actions, partly to garner sympathy, but mainly in the desperate hope that the Hero will see it.”

Vener sighed as she looked at the students who were disappointed or teary-eyed, retreating back into their tents.

“The Hero, the Empire, and the academy have fallen so desperately. Young Mas- Sir.”

“Yes?”

“Sir, have you made your decision?”

Vener’s question caused the boy to furrow his brow in thought.

“Hmm… I’m not sure…”

“…There’s still something I haven’t shown you.”

Seeing his uncertain attitude, Vener urgently grabbed his arm and led him inside a tent.

“This is the task force. It’s where we manage the dire situation of the Empire.”

“…Whoa.”

As the boy stumbled, Vener gently steadied him, calling over a subordinate.

“Show this boy around.”

“…Pardon?”

“N-Nevermind, I’ll handle it myself.”

Looking flustered, Vener led the boy by his right arm.

“A-Any news from the fox beastkin tribe?”

“He definitely said in the interview he’d spend his life in a mountain village in the Eastern Continent…”

“He must be there somewhere. We must find him and apologize…”

Inside, people with bloodshot eyes turned to look at them with puzzled expressions.

“This is the task force dedicated to tracking the hero. They communicate with spies outside the Empire to trace the missing Hero’s steps.”

“…”

Vener pointed to them as if reporting to the boy, then gestured to the opposite side.

“And over there… is the logistics department.”

The boy saw people with haggard faces.

“Ma’am, we have no more food to distribute.”

“No fuel either.”

“What do we do now?”

Vener, looking flustered, pointed with a trembling hand.

“And… that’s the propaganda department.”

The boy saw people publishing newspapers with blank stares.

“We’ve been making various signs, hoping the Hero might see them.”

After showing the boy the bleak room, Vener clutched his sleeve.

“How do you feel now?”

She led him to her office, her voice cracking with desperation.

“Has your heart changed now?”

Vener knelt before the now-silent boy.

“…H-Hero?”

In a trembling voice, she addressed him.

“”…””

Silence filled her office.

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“…H-Hero.”

When there was no reply, Vener spoke cautiously.

“No, Young Master.”

She took his hands in hers.

“How… how did you return?”

“…”

“Didn’t your soul shatter… weren’t you gone?”

With the boy still silent, Vener hurriedly continued, bowing her head.

“I’m sorry for presuming…”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Young Master…”

The boy’s cold voice made her flinch and close her eyes tightly.

“When you passed by the shelter, you used stellar mana.”

“…”

“And Ms. Aria recognized you.”

Tears began to flow from her tightly shut eyes.

“Most importantly… I swore a knight’s oath to you…”

“…Hmm.”

“How could I, of all people, not recognize you…”

Vener, sobbing, let go of Frey’s hand and touched the floor.

“I’m sorry… Young Master… I was wrong…”

Tears like pearls fell as she began to bang her forehead on the floor.

“For striking you and speaking harshly during the Hero’s Inauguration Ceremony… I truly regret it…

“For failing to comfort you when you cried in the mansion and instead scorned you…

“For hating you despite being your sworn knight…

“For being born into a traitorous family…

“For failing to protect your mother…

Her voice filled the room.

“I was wrong about everything… Please… please save this world…”

Vener, waiting in vain for a response, finally spoke with a terrified expression.

“Even if it’s just the innocent people… please, save at least the children…”

“…”

“Please… please give this world a chance to atone to you…”

Vener repeated the desperate message she had sent out in the form of newspapers throughout the Empire, now addressing it directly to the boy who was unmistakably Frey.

“…Huh?”

She suddenly tilted her head and waved her hand in front of her.

“Young Master?”

She tried to grab onto Frey’s leg, but for some reason, she couldn’t even grasp his pants.

“…!?”

Vener hastily looked up, her face frozen in shock.

The boy who had been standing before her just moments ago had vanished without a trace.

“No, no!!”

She looked around in a daze, then burst out of the room.

“You, you all!! Do you know where the boy who was just here went!?”

She frantically questioned her subordinates, who had stopped what they were doing to stare at her.

“Excuse me? What are you talking about, Chairwoman?”

“Are you alright, Ma’am? Are you feeling well?”

Their reactions were peculiar.

“Just answer me!! Where did the boy who was just here go…!!!”

But in her panic to find Frey, she ignored the strange atmosphere and raised her voice again.

“No one has left this tent.”

“What?”

“And you came in alone just now.”

One of her subordinates sighed and answered her.

“We thought you were talking to someone over communication crystal because you kept speaking as if someone was there…”

“…”

“There was no boy. Have you been overworking yourself, Chairwoman?”

Her subordinate’s words struck a nerve.

“No, that can’t be… I saw him with my own eyes… I even touched him…”

“Chairwoman, please…”

“I saw the Hero again… I really did…”

Then, Vener’s mumbling abruptly stopped.

“Ah…”

“…”

The subordinate who had come out to stop her also froze, his face turning pale as he looked up at the sky.

“The first snow…”

“Chairwoman…”

Snow was falling from the sky, blanketing everything in white.

- Wooonnggg…! Woonggggg…!

The next moment, war horns blared across the Empire.

- Ziiing…!

And for some reason, the barrier that surrounded the academy started to turn red.

“Kyahhh!!”

“I don’t want to die…! I don’t want to die…!!!”

“Save me!!!”

Horrific screams echoed from all directions.

“What do we do now?”

Snapping back to her senses from the barrage of screams of despair, Vener responded to her subordinate’s trembling question.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“…Take care of the citizens.”

“What?”

She quietly drew the sword from her waist and started walking.

“I’ve always been dirty and wretched, but at least in the end… I will fulfill my duty as a knight.”

“Chairwoman!!”

“…If we ever meet again, please punish this unworthy knight.”

Vener muttered as she rushed into the raging snowstorm.

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“Tsk, still resisting until the end. It’s futile…”

“My lord.”

“Hmm?”

Half a day later, on the Empire’s coast.

“I have something to report.”

“…What is it?”

Aishi, who had been clenching and unclenching her right hand while holding her left arm, looked down at the subordinate who had entered her domain.

“The female knight who appeared a few hours ago, we’ve finally captured her.”

“…Really? That took a while.”

Lemerno, the commander of the Demon King’s army, who was prostrated before her, nervously explained.

“Th-that is… her combat strength was exceptional… And she fought with no regard for her own life…”

“Hmm…”

“It took all of our combat executives to subdue her and capture her as per your orders.”

With that explanation, Lemerno glanced nervously at Aishi, who was emitting a cold aura.

“We can resume our advance now… What are your orders?”

“Bring her to me. I have some questions for her.”

“Of course, I anticipated that. She’s already waiting outside. Hehe.”

At Aishi’s command, Lemerno bowed and wagged her tail.

“…Let her in.”

“Ugh…”

As she gestured to her subordinates, Vener was dragged in, bound by ropes.

“Long time no see… Assistant Professor.”

“Aishi…”

With her whole body wounded and bleeding, Vener gritted her teeth and glared at Aishi.

“I didn’t realize you were so strong. Maybe we should have recruited you into the Demon King’s Army?”

Aishi’s mischievous, taunting question was met with Vener’s dark, strained voice.

“…Kill me.”

“Oh my.”

Feigning shock, Aishi covered her mouth with one hand, then smiled and snapped her fingers.

“Sorry, but you still have a role to play.”

“…What?”

“Look at this.”

“…!”

At her command, something appeared in the air, causing Vener to look up reflexively.

“This can’t be…”

Her face contorted in despair as blood-streaked tears began to fall from her eyes.

“Why is the Young Master… here…?”

“Excuse me?”

“This can’t be. It’s impossible…”

The body of Frey pierced through the heart with an ice spear, floated lifelessly in front of her.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but Frey died fighting me long ago. Still he was a hero, it took me a long time to recover.”

“Ah…..”

Aishi’s eyes showed a glimmer of deceit, but Vener, in her panic, couldn’t see it.

“Then… what I saw… was truly an illusion…”

“Anyway, now that I’ve recovered, it’s time to march.”

Aishi declared coldly, standing from her throne as she looked down at Vener, who was weeping endlessly.

“I’m going to use this corpse as a banner for our march. It’s good for morale.”

She gestured, and Frey’s frozen body was lowered in front of Vener.

“So I need someone to guard this frozen body.”

“Young Master…..”

“Take care of it, will you? Assistant Professor?”

With that, Aishi turned to Lemerno and the demons, her voice frigid.

“Let’s begin the march.”