I'm a Villainess, Can I Die?-Chapter 113

Aiden froze.

Her voice hadn’t wavered in tone, but somehow, it carried fear.

Her expression looked the same as always, yet it somehow seemed twisted with unease.

He had no words to answer that fear.

“It’ll be fine,” “You’ll be okay”? Would that really be enough? Could words like that actually soothe the fear she felt?

“...Shall we make a promise?”

Aiden’s fingers moved slowly. He set down the teaspoon with trembling fingertips, not even bothering to hide the shake in his hand.

“When I come back, will you listen to my story?”

Selina’s gaze drifted from his hand to his eyes.

“If you have something to say, you can say it now.”

She had just confessed she was scared, wearing that calm expression while admitting her fear.

Aiden shook his head with a faint smile.

Their eyes remained locked, like they could see nothing but each other.

“No. After I return, and after the war is over... then, no matter what I say—please promise me you’ll listen.”

Selina stared at him blankly for a moment, then gave a small nod.

Was there any comfort greater than a promise exchanged in place of a life?

“Okay. I’ll be waiting.”

Soon after, Jane knocked on the door with the cake.

And just like that, as if the strange mood had never happened, the three of them chatted as usual.

They talked about little things, just like they always did in peaceful times.

When dessert was over, Aiden said he’d rest a bit before discussing tomorrow’s plans with his mentor that evening.

“Rest well, Aiden. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You’ll be seeing me off?”

“Of course.”

Aiden’s lips curved up into a smile.

His soft, crescent-shaped eyes were full of gentle warmth.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

He didn’t turn to leave until Selina’s door was fully closed.

Then, he slowly walked away—down the hallway, down the stairs, all the way to his room.

The door closed behind him, and he sank to the floor on the spot.

He hadn’t meant to make a promise like that earlier. What he really wanted to say was simple.

I like you. That’s why I’ll make it back. So please, don’t be afraid.

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t hide your feelings. Sometimes, the urge to pull that small woman into his arms and whisper I love you surged so strongly...

And just now—just a moment ago—was one of those times.

But he couldn’t say it.

He’d made it sound casual, but the truth was, tomorrow’s mission could cost him his life.

This was the heart of the enemy’s lair. There was no telling what traps lay in wait.

His mentor might treat it lightly, but when did things ever go according to plan?

As long as there was any risk... he couldn’t confess.

It would’ve been selfish. A confession under those circumstances—just to ease his own burden—would only leave worry or unease behind for her.

Whether she accepted or refused, it would have been a problem either way.

He didn’t want that. He didn’t want to be a burden. Even if he closed his eyes for the last time thinking, I should’ve just said it, he would carry that regret alone.

He didn’t want her to remember him with guilt. Didn’t want to haunt her heart as a painful, difficult memory.

Only the good parts. The good memories. Even if he eventually faded from her thoughts entirely... he wanted her last image of him to be smiling.

Aiden bowed his head.

His heart was resolute, but the tears streaming down his face refused to stop. He could only press his hand against his eyes in silence.

“...I like you.”

A confession that would never reach her.

He sat like that for a long, long time.

“Come back safe. Please.”

Selina and Aaron stood outside, seeing Aiden and Sir Alogen off. It wasn’t an official departure, so only the two of them were there to send them off.

“We’ll be back soon,” Aiden said politely.

“No need to worry—it’ll be a quick trip,” Alogen added with a loud laugh.

Honestly, he’d get along so well with the Doctor, Selina thought, just before taking a step back.

The two men vanished like true mages. A burst of light flashed beneath their feet, and then they were gone.

“...They’ll be okay, right?”

Selina murmured, still staring at the empty air where they had stood. Aaron reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

“Of course. They’ll be fine.”

But somehow, the reassurance didn’t help. Not even a little.

She felt anxious.

Her fingers fidgeted until they brushed against the ring on her fourth finger. Only then did they finally stop.

Meanwhile, Aiden frowned the moment they arrived at the temple.

He hated teleporting without a portal. That blinding white light—he could never get used to it.

“You’ve still got a long way to go!”

Alogen clapped him hard on the back, making him grunt in pain.

Aiden shot him a glare, but Alogen just let out another hearty laugh, clearly pleased.

“Keep your voice down,” Aiden muttered.

“Ah, right. Of course.”

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Alogen nodded, sobering a little. They were here to investigate and gather evidence. There could be sentries nearby, so they had to be as quiet as possible.

They could fight their way out if needed, sure—but best not to cause trouble if they could avoid it.

The two quickly masked their presence.

The temple was utterly wrecked. Chunks of plaster lay scattered everywhere, and not a single pillar was left standing.

“They really did a number on this place.”

Alogen clicked his tongue at the broken statue of the goddess. Aiden agreed silently—it was thoroughly destroyed.

“Can you sense any magic?”

“Let’s see...”

Alogen closed his eyes.

Mages could sense magic, and the stronger the mage, the more sensitive they were to the presence of other magic.

Alogen, a high-ranking mage, could detect not only lingering magic but trace remnants as well.

“I feel something... {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} over there.”

His eyes narrowed seriously.

He pointed to an area where many columns had collapsed. The plaster there was discolored compared to the rest—yellowed with age.

Unbeknownst to them, it was also where Ian used to stay.

They approached cautiously, stepping carefully to avoid kicking debris. But the closer they got, the more their expressions twisted.

What is that smell...?

It reeked. Like rusted metal, or maybe rotting meat...

“...What the...”

They both whispered at once.

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What they found was horrific.

There were corpses. Some fresh, others rotting, crawling with maggots.

Aiden clapped a hand over his mouth, fighting the urge to gag.

“He’s not human.”

Alogen murmured.

For someone who usually chuckled so easily, his voice now brimmed with quiet rage.

And it made sense.

Most of the victims here had likely been mages. Mages who lived outside the Tower, sure—but still Tower kin. And they’d been slaughtered like this.

So cruelly. So disgustingly.

The two offered a silent prayer for the dead, then split up to search for evidence.

But then—they heard it.

A low, rumbling growl echoed from all around.

“...Looks like he left traps to detect intruders.”

Alogen slowly stroked his long beard. His tense posture betrayed a flicker of unease.

Aiden stepped beside him.

“Your first real fight, huh? Nervous?”

“Of course. I have to come back alive.”

“You’ve got a knack for combat magic, and you still act like this.”

Alogen gave him a sidelong glance.

Aiden had scored nearly perfect on the combat portion of his mage exams. With that pretty face, who would’ve thought he’d be a battle mage?

“Just don’t kill me by accident.”

“...Be careful.”

Aiden said, after a moment’s pause.

Alogen gulped. This kid might be scarier than the monsters.

“Say it quicker and with confidence.”

Their conversation ended there—because the things making that growling noise had begun to emerge.

“They’ve infiltrated...”

The temple had been rigged from the beginning to alert him of intruders. A sharp, piercing alarm signaled their presence.

“Mages...”

The High Priest tilted his head back and took a long breath.

The damp air matched the dreary weather, soaking into his lungs.

It’s over.

Sending people to the temple meant they’d realized the truth—realized he was the one behind it all.

Death is near. My identity’s been exposed. A cornered rat... that’s what I am now.

He had once dreamed of holding the world in his hands, and now, he was met with this hollow, bitter end.

A rough, crackling laugh escaped him. His shoulders shook as he laughed long and hard.

Then, slowly, he stood.

Blood-stained robes, dried brown and red, clung to his skin. His bloodshot eyes glowed like embers. The sight was grotesque.

“If I’m going to die, I’m not dying quietly. If this is the end, then I’ll make the end grand.”

He counted the monsters still asleep.

Twenty-two left.

So many lives had been devoured to birth them... and now only twenty-two remained. Poor things.

Closing his eyes, he mourned their coming deaths like a father grieving his children.

Then he opened them again.

“Go. Show them death. Take as many with you as you can. I’ll scatter bones across my grave.”

Four for the temple. Seventeen outside. And the last one...

His murmurs were curses, thick with malice. As the monsters stirred awake, he shuddered.

“Hahahaha... let’s all go to hell.

Together!”

His cry echoed through the dark alley.

The High Priest grinned—a crooked, chilling smile—and dragged his body toward an old, abandoned wardrobe.

“And you... I’ll drag you there with my own hands.”

He opened the wardrobe door and, without hesitation, shoved himself inside.

As his body slipped in, the empty space twisted into a swirling vortex.

“Selina.”

He whispered her name.

And then, nothing remained in the alley but an empty wardrobe.