Episode 11
When Flora arrived in front of the orphanage gate, bewildered, the sight that t her eyes was unbelievable.
"A m-monster?"
The corpse of a monster, horribly slain, lay in front of the orphanage.
"What in the world..."
"Oh my goodness, Flora!"
Before Flora could say anything, Mrs. Finny rushed over and scooped her up into a hug.
"You're safe, you're safe. Thank goodness. Really, thank goodness."
"Director. What's going on here?"
Standing in front of the monster's corpse was Athanas, holding a massive sword dripping with blood.
And surrounding him were the guards and townspeople.
If there was anything strange about the scene, it was that the townspeople held threatening-looking farming tools in their hands.
"I'm so glad you're safe."
Mrs. Finny didn't let Flora go, not even wiping her own tears.
Normally, seeing her cry so pitifully, Flora should have apologized first, but...
"I knew sothing was wrong from the start! Look at that nacing, gloomy aura! He must be the one leading the monsters around!"
At the troublemaker Jex's words, the people, unusually in agreent, shouted back.
"Unlike L-Lucifer, our village is under Hermannus's protection from the start! This isn't a place monsters should invade!"
"It, it was your fault! If you hadn't co in the first place, the monster wouldn't have appeared either!"
The situation was utterly bizarre.
Even to Flora, who had just arrived, Athanas seed to be the one who had slain that fearso-looking monster, yet for so reason, the people were blaming him.
As if they weren't afraid of the high noble Lucifer, they insulted him without hesitation, not looking like people who had just been helped.
Athanas just stood still, looking down at the monster.
As if all of this was familiar to him.
"Cowardly betrayer of humanity! Leave our village at once!"
At soone's shout, the townspeople collectively roared.
Mrs. Finny, noticing Flora's gaze turning that way, hurriedly tried to cover her ears, but Flora shook her head.
"Director, it's weird. Duke Lucifer seems to have gotten rid of the monster, so why is he being cursed at by the people?"
"...Because he is a Lucifer."
It was a nonsensical reason, but Mrs. Finny's words seed to be the correct answer. Even amidst such insults, Athanas did not raise his head.
How heavy must it be that he can't even lift his head proudly?
Why is he just silently listening to such foolish words?
Could he have lived like this his whole life?
Flora felt sothing boiling inside her.
Unable to suppress that emotion, she closed her eyes.
〈Etar Lucifer. No matter how young this child is, the fact that she is the Great Demon does not change.〉
〈The Great Demon must be killed.〉
〈We ca here with that mission. Have you forgotten?〉
Unlike Etar Lucifer, the other four heroes couldn't accept the Great Demon from the beginning and spouted such words in front of her.
〈I agree with everyone's opinion.〉
And the one who stopped it was that damn, unlucky Etar.
〈But we still don't know much about this child. So let's not judge hastily.〉
It was a useless ideal, a ddlesoness that hastened death.
Yet, because of that, Mors realized through him that humanity wasn't entirely ugly and withdrew her intention to kill them imdiately.
What terrible timing, really.
Of all the mories to resurface, why this one?
It was all because of the dream she had this morning.
Flora let out a soft, bitter laugh.
She had sung so loudly about not going with Athanas, but the human heart is truly like a reed.
"Please put down, Madam."
"Flora?"
Mrs. Finny hesitated as if she had anticipated sothing, but Flora was firm.
The mont Flora freed herself from Mrs. Finny's embrace, she pushed her way through the crowd.
Her heart began to pound roughly, thump-thump-thump.
Are you really going to do it?
Really? Is it okay?
He's the descendant of the nesis who killed you.
It's not that you're trusting him again, is it?
Her inner negative thoughts whispered, trying to stop Flora's footsteps.
Nevertheless, Flora gritted her teeth, pushed through everyone, and stepped out.
Athanas still showed no movent whatsoever.
He could punish them for the cri of disrespecting a noble, he could swing his sword like he did against the monster to shut their mouths, yet he did nothing.
Flora herself knew better than anyone what it felt like to bear the world's resentnt and bla, how could she easily turn away?
Maybe she'll regret it.
No, she'll definitely 100% regret it.
...Ah, I don't know either.
Flora didn't stop running, and without hesitation, she stretched out her arms, stood in front of Athanas, and shouted at the people.
"Stop bullying my Dad!"
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'Why did I do that?'
Lying in bed with the blanket pulled over her head, Flora was swallowing regret mixed with anger.
"Ah, really, why did I do that!"
Soon, unable to contain her anger, she started kicking the blanket, thump thump, when she sensed a presence outside.
"Can you hear her?"
"No, it sounds like she's saying sothing, but I can't hear it well."
"Listen more carefully!"
It seed the orphanage children had co, worried because Flora had been holed up in her room all day.
If it were the usual Flora, she'd have said 'Aigoo, you cute things' and opened the door for them!
But today was different.
Instead of opening the door, Flora pretended not to hear and lay back down again.
〈Stop bullying my Dad!〉
The situation after those words had ended vaguely.
Well, that's because the mont Flora stepped forward, Mrs. Finny, afraid she might get hurt, chased all the people away.
She activated the protective barrier, making it so no one from the town could enter the orphanage without permission.
People who were dissatisfied protested, but eventually left one by one, and after two days, it beca quiet outside the orphanage.
Separate from that, Flora's mind was noisy.
She thought she might regret it, but she didn't know she'd regret it this much.
The only thing that increased was her sighs.
Flora buried her face in the pillow again, then lifted her head as a thought suddenly struck her.
Right, thinking about it, I only said 'our Dad', I didn't say I would go with him.
What else would you call your Dad but Dad?
I was just stating a fact; I didn't say anything implying *that* aning at all, so there's no need to leave the orphanage.
Having reached a conclusion, Flora clenched her small fists tightly.
"That's right, I can't just follow him like that."
She needs to regain her original power and bring about the world's downfall.
She resolved to beco a splendid villainess this ti, unlike before, but going to a ducal house would disrupt that plan.
'First of all, I wouldn't be able to act as freely as I do now.'
Nobles are always busy.
They have to study, receive etiquette lessons, practice dancing, build connections with like-minded families, get engaged when they co of age, and later get married.
Can't you tell just by looking at Rosaria?
Even just coming to the orphanage, she had to bring her maids and escort knights, and she had to get her father's permission a week in advance to go out.
In other words, it ans it's hard to escape people's scrutiny.
No matter how much they're called betrayers of humanity, the Lucifers are a ducal house.
In other words, it's a place with a splendid, huge castle, and filled with nurous servants and knights, right?
'Just imagining it is tireso.'
Flora shook her head from side to side with a disgusted expression.
I absolutely must not follow him.
And she steeled her resolve again.
Of course, this resolution didn't last long.
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Three days later, Athanas Lucifer visited the orphanage again.
Mrs. Finny gave them space to have ti alone as father and daughter, leaving only Athanas and Flora in the director's office.
"I'm sorry. I was late visiting because I had to et with Duke Hermannus to handle the monster's aftermath."
"It's okay. It's fine."
Uncharacteristically, Athanas let his shoulders slump and couldn't say anything.
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