How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?-Chapter 431 - 151 : I’m waiting for you to come home

This world was filled with malice towards her. Continuing to cling stubbornly to life will only bring her further humiliation.

Perhaps, it would be better to end things here.

With that thought, the young moon elf girl slowly closed her eyes.

Would closing her eyes allow her to see her father, her mother, and all the friends and family lost to war?

The moon elf's expression gradually softened into peace. In her eyes, everything seems to grow still, returning to serenity.

Childhood memories surged forth. At this moment, she felt as if she had transformed back into that carefree little elven princess, happily nestled in her mother's arms, walking through butterfly-filled gardens accompanied by her father and guards, innocent and without a single worry.

Come to think of it, the other world might not have flowers and sweetness, but it would certainly have her family and friends.

As long as they were there, that was enough. What greater happiness could there be than being with them? Only where they could truly be called home.

She no longer had any attachments left in this world, only pain and despair. If that was the case, what reason did she have to remain?

With that thought, the moon elf girl's eyes closed completely.

As darkness filled her vision, she seemed to catch sight of the gardens and palace that existed only in her memories. The elegant elven temple rose from the ground, young moon elves joyfully playing among flowerbeds teeming with butterflies. She herself was now wearing the long-unseen moon princess dress woven from the Moonlight Silk of the Misty Moon Forest. Beside her, her father and mother sat with kind and gentle expressions, their eyes brimmed with love as they gazed upon her.

"This... isn't this the happiness you've always longed for?" A voice, hollow and impossible to identify, whispered beside her ear.

"Who... who are you??"

"Look at your current state. Even if you truly succeeded in restoring your nation, you could never return to a happiness like this again." The ethereal voice didn't answer Shikondell's question.

"Even if you restore your homeland in the end, your parents, your loved ones, your friends, they will never return."

"You will still be alone. Even after restoration, you'd only stand atop an empty ruin, spending your agonizingly long life in solitude."

"..." Shikondell remained silent. She looked down at her princess dress, the texture felt so real. Then she turned toward her parents nearby, their eyes filled with doting affection. This happiness feels so pure, so tangible, something she can see and touch.

"Yes... even if I return, I'd still be alone." Shikondell murmured.

"Exactly. Why cling to that ugly world then? No one remembers you there. There's no one worth reminding. Why not simply stay here, in this paradise, just as you are now?"

"This... isn't the real world. It's just an illusion, isn't it?" Shikondell asked, her eyes clouded with confusion.

"Whether something is real depends on how you define it. In truth, even what you call the 'real world' is merely visual information transmitted by your eyes to your brain. Consciousness and soul are the fundamental essence, truly the root of everything."

"If what reaches your brain through your eyes is considered real, then why isn't what reaches your brain directly any less real? There's no essential difference between them. If anything, the things that reach your mind directly are even more beautiful, thousands of times more beautiful than anything you can see with your own eyes."

"Isn't that right?"

Shikondell said nothing, merely shifting her gaze toward this land of birdsong and blossoms.

This place, her most familiar, most deeply missed home, was one she could only ever revisit in her dreams.

"Your dreams have already revealed your deepest desires. Now that those desires have come true, you can remain forever with the ones you love most, forever with your most treasured homeland. Why insist on pursuing cruel reality?"

"Look. Aren't these your most beloved parents? Aren't these your most cherished kin? Isn't this land the homeland you've yearned for day and night?"

"Yes... they are." Shikondell gazed deeply at this beautiful scene. She seemed to be swayed.

"Things that only appear in dreams are now within your grasp. Is there anything more wondrous than this?"

"Why resist? Why refuse?"

Shikondell instinctively nodded. Vaguely, dizzily, she felt as though she'd forgotten something important, but the image unfolding before her was simply too beautiful.

She wanted to stay with her parents, with her home, forever, even if it was all a lie.

And so, Shikondell took step after step towards her parents.

Yes, she thought. What did truth and falsehood matter? As long as she was happy, everything was real. Otherwise, who would desire a world that, no matter how real, only brought suffering?

"Exactly. Let's stop thinking about scars and pain. Only your own happiness, your own joy, that is the truest thing of all." The voice continued to guide her.

Shikondell's gaze grew vacant. She sank deeper into this false paradise.

"Dell." Suddenly, an unfamiliar, melodious female voice called out to her.

Dell?

Shikondell hesitated, tilting her head slightly.

This 'Dell', who were they calling?

Her name wasn't Dell. It was Shikondell. Therefore, this 'Dell' couldn't possibly be referring to her.

But why?

Why did she instinctively feel that this was calling out to her?

Dell. Dell. This name feels so familiar.

Shikondell instinctively clutched her aching head. Her intuition and instincts told her that ever since her exile, far from home, although painful and desperate memories made up the majority, not everything had been misery.

There was one person, someone who always called her 'Dell,' who shared a similar fate, someone she empathized with.

After leaving her homeland, in this foreign land, Shikondell had seen far too much of humanity's cruelty. It was then she realized, perhaps there was little such thing as unconditional kindness in this world. She'd never felt the slightest warmth from outsiders.

After all, even the golden elves, her own kin, had refused to aid them in their time of need. How could she expect compassion from outsiders filled with prejudice?

But that person was different.

They lived beneath the same roof. When her mind was on the verge of collapse, crushed by isolation and helplessness, he was the one who pulled her back from the edge.

Afterward, his unconditional kindness became the sole source of warmth and light in that dark, dark period of her life.

He saved her when she couldn't afford tuition and was nearly starving. He fiercely retaliated against the tribal students who bullied her. He constantly told her to be strong, to be confident, saying that if she gave up, then no one else could possibly save her.

When she made foolish mistakes, though he might outwardly show disdain, he would patiently teach her again and again, helping her improve.

When weak, helpless Shikondell faced problems she couldn't solve, he was always the first to step forward, never turning a blind eye.

His intention was to make her strong, strong enough that no one would dare bully her again.

To avoid making her feel indebted, he'd deliberately come up with all sorts of excuses to help her, just to make it seem justified.

It was the first kindness she'd ever received after losing her home, the warmest, most radiant kindness from a stranger and an outsider.

Shikondell will forever remember this kindness.

At first, she assumed it was because he was inherently strong that he had the strength to help her.

Later, she realized, there was no such thing as someone inherently strong. That person didn't pull her from the shore, he was struggling in the same raging waves, yet still pushed her toward safety.

Gradually, she began to rely on him, even developing an indescribable affection towards him.

So then, who was he?

Did such a person truly exist?

The fog clouding Shikondell's consciousness began to show signs of cracking.

She struggled to recall who he was, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't grasp it, only seeing a blurry, indistinct outline.

Why couldn't she remember anything?

"Dell." The mysterious female voice rang out once more. "I know you miss your family and homeland dearly, but please, don't become trapped in a past that's already dead."

"Look forward, Dell. You shouldn't stop here. You still have a future, a bright, limitless future awaiting you."

"If they truly were your parents, they'd want you to bravely face the future, to have a future of your own, not to drown in a false past." The gentle, melodious voice pierced through the gloom like a rainbow after rain.

"Your people are still waiting for you. They still depend on you." The tender voice continued guiding her.

"What good is it? To remain in that world and suffer?" The hollow, dark voice interrupted. "Here, you can do whatever you wish, possess whatever you desire."

"In that world, no one cares for you. No one remembers you."

"I remember you, Dell." The female voice spoke sincerely. "I've always taken care of you."

At those words, Shikondell's eyes widened slightly.

This voice felt unfamiliar, yet the emotions within it were deeply familiar.

"Dell... no, Shikondell." Vanessa discontinued calling her 'Dell'. "I know how much you miss your home, but please don't forget, I miss you too."

"So, just because you miss her, you want to drag her back with you to face that cold, heartless world? Hah, how laughable. You're drowning in your own troubles, yet you'd drag your friend into the fire too. Can't stand seeing others happy? Is that what you call 'friendship'? If you truly care for her, you'd let her stay in this personal paradise of happiness."

"I'm not asking Shikondell to return to me." Vanessa said calmly, then turned to Shikondell, speaking each word distinctly.

"Shikondell, if you truly only long for this false world, and have no attachment left to the other world, then I cannot interfere with your choice." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"I just want you to know, you're not alone. I've always been by your side."

"Even if you remain trapped in this world, please don't forget, I've always been waiting for you. Waiting for you to come home."

"Click!"

That final phrase, 'waiting for you to come home', shattered the chains binding Shikondell's consciousness.

"Dell, how many times have I told you? A man must be broad-minded! Stop acting like a crybaby. If you keep this up, everyone will bully you!"

"Dell, don't cry, don't cry. What are you crying for? I've said it thousands of times, what a man needs most is composure! There, there, stop crying. I'm here. Nothing will happen to you."

"Tch. With this measly skill you are bullying her? Listen up, this young master is the number one delinquent in the Camella. When it comes to being ruthless and cruel, you're all just amateurs playing with leftovers I've already mastered!"

She remembered. Everything, she remembered it all.

That human youth named Winnie Varelis, every moment they'd shared.

In truth, Shikondell had long sensed that Winnie wasn't as formidable as he claimed. He had his own limitations too.

Yet even so, when faced with her, someone in the exact same predicament, he still reached out without hesitation. Even if he was just putting on a brave face, forcing himself to act like a tough guy, he stood by her, taught her what it meant to be a man, so she wouldn't be bullied when facing the world outside.

Yes, how could she?

How could she have forgotten him?

Shikondell heard a 'crack', this beautiful, illusory scene shattered. The princess dress on her body reverted back to the tattered uniform of Carillian Academy.

She lifted her eyes again, sensing something, and looked toward the stunningly beautiful cherry-haired girl approaching her from the darkness.

"So... who are you?" Shikondell asked hesitantly. Although she already had a vague answer in mind, she still couldn't quite believe it.

After all, who else could it be? Someone who called her 'Dell' in that familiar tone, someone who said they'd been waiting for her to come home?

Vanessa didn't speak. She simply walked silently toward Shikondell, then wrapped her arms around her shoulders, pulled her into a tight embrace, gently nuzzling her forehead.

"Mmm." Instantly, Shikondell felt warmth flooding back into her body.

Only then did she realize she'd been submerged in the icy sea for far too long, to the point she'd forgotten what warm even felt like.

The previous scenes, though seemingly beautiful, had been utterly devoid of physical sensation, cold and lifeless. Only here was there warmth, softness.

Shikondell inhaled the sweet fragrance of white tea blossoms and lavender filling her nose. Leaning against that warm, soft, maternal warmth, her tear ducts suddenly became unbearably sensitive.

At this moment, she felt as if she'd returned to her late mother's arms, free to act like a little girl and cry as much as she wanted.

"Welcome home, Dell." Vanessa, taking advantage of her height, held Shikondell close, whispering gently into her ear.