I Became the Mastermind Who Betrays the Heroines-Chapter 125

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 125 - Section (1)

"Come to think of it, so much has happened."

"Indeed."

"Three years already… It still feels as vivid as yesterday. I suppose that means those memories are precious to me."

"I remember them just as clearly."

For a while, we reminisced, sharing stories of our first meeting and the days that followed.

Our conversation continued until we had revisited even that bitterly cold winter.

By the time we finally fell silent, dawn was near.

We had spent the entire night talking, filling the darkness with only the sound of our voices.

With a quiet smile, I murmured,

"I always thought the Miss Neria from back then had her own charm. You spoke casually then—it made you feel a little closer."

"That was before I came to serve you."

The girl, too, wore a gentle expression.

The act of looking back after a long journey—was as warm as a cup of cocoa on a winter’s day.

We savored the sweetness and the slight bitterness of our past.

Reaching out, I gently ran my fingers through her silver hair.

Perhaps she was startled by the sudden touch.

Her pale cheeks quickly flushed with a youthful red.

And yet, she did not resist.

Accepting my hand quietly, she merely averted her gaze, her silver eyes flickering.

Her lips hesitated, then mumbled softly.

"I-I'm sorry. My face suddenly feels so hot…"

"You’re still as shy as ever."

"…It’s because you’re the only one who makes me this way."

"Even if you’re just flattering me, I’ll take it as a compliment."

I answered smoothly.

My fingers, which had been combing through her hair, naturally traced downward, brushing across her forehead and cheeks.

Her delicate skin absorbed the warmth of my touch.

Her face, already flushed, grew even hotter.

Her breaths grew faintly unsteady.

Like petals scattering in the wind, the sight before me was beautiful—

A moment that proved the depth of our connection.

My fingertips trailed down, and before I knew it, they reached the scar.

The burn that stretched across the right side of her face.

"……"

My gaze darkened with quiet regret.

A wound I had failed to prevent.

I gently cupped her cheek, fingers resting over the scar.

Even the wounds left by winter had become part of our bond.

Lowering my head, I pressed my forehead against hers.

Our warmth intertwined, sinking into each other.

"This scar… you still don’t want to erase it?"

I asked.

It would take nothing more than a simple spell to make it disappear.

I had offered countless times before.

And yet—

"I like it as it is."

She always shook her head.

As if even this scar was something precious to her.

"It’s the proof of the salvation you gave me… and a warmth that will never fade."

"You mean to say you’ll live on while carrying this scar?"

"No—because of this scar, I can live on."

A simple truth.

Life was not about hiding or erasing wounds.

It was about accepting them and moving forward.

She was choosing to embrace even the winter that had nearly destroyed her.

Her silver eyes reflected only me.

"Because right now, this scar reminds me that I’m alive."

"…Then I suppose there’s nothing I can do."

So stubborn, in the strangest of ways.

I let out a quiet chuckle.

Perhaps sensing my amusement, she hesitated—then cautiously placed her hand over mine.

As if to say she would give me everything.

As if offering me the scar that marked her past.

Yet, when I interlocked our fingers first,

Her cheeks turned redder still.

The purity of her reaction made me smile.

"You really are the same as always, Miss Neria."

"Ugh…"

She exhaled, trying to cool her burning face.

After a few deep breaths, she steadied herself and met my gaze once more.

Her expression, tinged faintly with lingering warmth, was filled with quiet emotion.

"In any case… this is what I wanted to say."

Though she wavered,

Her face no longer held any shadows.

"I am no longer bound by my past."

"……"

"You’ve been worrying about it all night, haven’t you? It must be because of what happened at the kingdom today."

"I won’t deny it."

"Meeting the Monarch again… It doesn’t trouble me."

"Still, it must have been a painful reminder."

"Master."

Her voice was firm.

Then, softly, her words bloomed into a gentle smile.

"To say it didn’t hurt would be a lie… but even a monster like me, you gave a new life."

And because of that—

She no longer had a reason to cling to her old name.

No reason to be haunted by loneliness or nightmares.

No reason to hate herself.

Even if darkness came again, she would choose to stand against it, rather than weep.

Because that was the duty of one who carried the light.

"The name you gave me became the reason I live."

"……"

The name I had given her.

Neria Lightney.

In the ancient tongue, it meant 'the one who lights the light.'

A name I had chosen in the hope that she would one day shine brightly, leaving the eternal darkness behind.

For a brief moment, I recalled that day.

—"Don’t you need a name?"

Behind the cold iron bars, she had looked so small.

And now, seeing the clarity in her gaze,

I felt something stir deep within me. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

A quiet realization—

That what I had done in this world had not been meaningless.

And in that realization,

I found comfort.

"Haha… When did you grow up so much?"

You think I was the one who saved you.

But in truth—

It was the other way around.

I had lost my little sister in my past life, sinking into ruin.

I had been thrown into this world, wandering aimlessly.

I had no reason to keep living.

I had taken reckless paths, courting death.

For me, life had been nothing but a meaningless winter.

And yet, you were the first reason I had to keep going.

The responsibility of taming.

The thought that I had to protect you—

It became my purpose.

That was the duty I had taken upon myself in this new life.

Without you, my winter would have never ended.

Perhaps I would have given up entirely.

In my foolish excuse of saving you,

I had unknowingly saved myself.

So when you thanked me—

I was the one who was truly grateful.

That’s why—

I gently pulled you into an embrace.

And whispered,

"From now on, let’s continue together."

"Everything I do is for you."

You simply nodded in silent agreement.

As dawn broke,

We held onto each other, unwilling to let go of the warmth between us.

In the quiet darkness of the room,

There were only the two of us.

***

The next day.

Once matters at the kingdom had been settled,

I boarded the carriage bound for the academy.

I had already been absent for two days—even during the break, I couldn’t stay away for too long.

"Then… I’ll leave everything here in your hands."

"Yes, Master."

The silver-haired girl saw me off.

Leaving the remaining affairs in her care,

I departed from the city, from the headquarters where so many memories remained.

The rolling wheels carried me toward another home.

If I had to put it into words—

It felt like returning home.

At first, everything about the academy had been unfamiliar and strange.

But now, I had grown used to its sights and sounds.

Lost in thought, I hardly noticed when the carriage arrived.

The first to greet me—

Was a fox.

"You’re back."

"How did you know I was returning today?"

"Your deputy sent word."

"I see."

"So, how did things go?"

"It’s been handled. Do you want the details?"

"That can wait."

"Then what’s so urgent?"

"You’ll understand if you follow me."

She took my hand without explanation.

Without protest, I let myself be led forward.

Through the academy streets, familiar faces soon appeared.

"Young Master! I was waiting for you!"

"Wait, you commoner! You’ll trip if you run like that!"

The protagonist, beaming as always.

And the ever-sharp noble girl, as if she had been waiting just to scold her.

But they weren’t the only ones.

"Mhm… We’re here too."

"Some irresponsible doctor skipped our check-up, after all."

The Little Prince pushed the wheelchair, and the rose seated in it, throwing a jab my way.

Even the imperial princesses had gathered, waiting for me.

With our group now grown to five,

I couldn’t help but wonder—

‘Is this urgent matter something we all need to discuss?’

These weren’t people who typically got along.

Especially the fox and the rose—they could hardly be in the same room without bickering.

For those two to be discussing something together…

It felt off.

‘Something’s strange.’

And then, there was this odd atmosphere in the air.

Not quite tense, but… strangely thick.

I tried to brush off the unease.

Maybe I was just overthinking.

After dealing with the filth at the kingdom, perhaps I was just mentally exhausted.

Shaking off my thoughts, I followed them to the dormitory.

But—

‘Bad feelings rarely prove wrong.’

Roughly thirty minutes later,

I found myself seated in the common room.

Surrounded.

The girls had subtly encircled me.

And the urgent topic of discussion?

"A ball?"

The upcoming academy ball.

An event marking the start of a new semester—where men and women attended as dance partners.

The urgent matter at hand was choosing a partner.

"So… who will you pick?"

A chilling glint flickered in their eyes.

The air grew suddenly heavy.

All I could do was laugh.

A laugh filled with quiet distress.

"Ha… Haha…"

Somehow,

I had walked right into a trap.

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]