My Wife is a Dead Villainess, and I'm Her Living Weapon-Chapter 20: Pity

No one moved a single inch. Like living statues, they all stood still. Razor sharp icicles surrounded everyone like a swarm of bees, only each floating weapon was only a foot long—all waiting to reap their lives.

And now, all hope rested on a single student: Trevor Rogers.

A vile betrayer. A weakling with a spine made out of fog. A criminal under judgment.

Many believed they would die in the next moment. Some screamed inwardly that Trevor should sacrifice himself for the good of the many. But only one gazed at Trevor with burning eyes and doubt.

Seeing Bianca's overbearingness Elian wondered. What answer did he even hope to receive?

Would he grow angry if Trevor said it was spur of the moment? Would it have been worse if it was something the bully planned long ago? Why did Elian even want to know?

It's not like I can go back to what I once was.

He gazed at his master who stood on air with a frigid expression.

Even if I could, I have no plans of doing so.

"I hated Elian so much... He never gave up. Even poor, even a Defect—he never broke. My own dad hates me for being Rank B. And Elian... Elian made that pain worse just by standing back up. I tortured him because I couldn't stand it. And when I saw a chance to get rid of him, I took it."

A strange emotion began to spur in Elian's heart. One he didn't even know he could possibly feel.

Pity.

Elian didn't even have much to his name. Nothing anyone would find worth taking. He was used to being pitied. Poor, Defect, alone—he had nothing but a vague hope that tomorrow would be better.

Yet Trevor envied him.

You were so miserable you saw your weakness in my struggle.

When Elian turned to Trevor, he saw no longer a man but a boy. And rather than anger, all he felt was pity. Killing him would have been kinder. To someone like Trevor Rogers, living was the hell he could not escape from.

How odd, I feel lighter.

Finally knowing the reason, Elian felt...peace. Funnily enough, the living weapon turned to his master only to find her gaze upon him. When their eyes met, it was as if only the two of them existed. even without words they both knew what the other thought.

Elian, are you all right?

I am Bianca, thank you.

Seeing no need for this trial to continue, Elian once again used Ned's phone to speak.

"[I see. You have succeeded. Elian Reeds is dead. I hope you are happy.]"

He brought his arms together and took a breath. He imagined every fiber of his body—not flesh, but wire. Every bone, every strand, compressed into metal thorns. He whispered a command. Then—detonation.

The hair like stands all streaked outward at insane speeds. Together, they destroyed each and everyone of Bianca's Icicle shards. The needles danced in the air terminating only their targets with inhuman efficiency. Not a single human was harmed.

"What?" "Ah!" "Woah!" "Thank goodness."

Afterward, they returned to him just as quick almost undetectable to the naked eye. Few even knew what happened, to the vast majority, it was as if the icicles detonated by their will.

Then, the living weapon faced Bianca as he bowed. Using the same borrowed phone to address her.

"[Thank you, my master.]"

Her face showed no trace of emotion, only a frigid countenance, "Are you satisfied?"

"[Yes.]"

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

"I see."

Elian turned to Tessa and pointed to the five still bound.

"[Take them and go. Never return to this place.]"

his words caused everyone present to breathe a sigh of relief. Tessa, and the other teachers who noticed what had happened, discretely signaled to each other. Then as if of one mind they all guided their students to run back to the city.

Only one did not. A short boy who wore glasses. The same one Elian took a phone from. Perhaps his only friend when he was human. Elian took this chance and approached him.

He handed Ned back his phone while typing.

"[Thank you.]"

But the student shoved the phone back to Elian. Biting his lip, Ned hesitated but ultimately couldn't stop himself.

"S-Sir Knight. Are you certain Elian is... Are you sure, Elian is no longer alive?"

The weapon nodded.

"[Yes. The Elian you know no longer exists.]"

At that moment tears flowed down his cheeks, but he brushed them off with his sleeves.

"I-I see. Shame. He was my best friend. I am going to miss him. His parents will be devastated. They would probably die from shock. What am I going to do?"

Elian flinched. He wanted to tell Ned he was still alive but didn't.

I already my decision.

"[Please help them. Tell them Elian is in a better place. And that he loved them very much.]"

Ned's eyes grew wide in shock. He almost choked on his words but stopped. Then he smiled while nodding.

"Yeah, I will tell them," The boy answered. Without an inch of fear, Ned then took the black knight's hand and placed a coin on his palm. "If you know where my friend is buried, please place this there. It's very important to him. Never saw him without it."

Elian's eyes furrowed as he looked at the keepsake in his hand.

"[I will. Keep safe.]"

"I'll get going now, Sir Reed. See you around."

Ned then took his phone and ran back to the other students.

Elian watched his friend go and said his farewells, "Thanks for being my friend Ned. I will miss you. Goodbye."

In that moment Elian felt something surge from the heavens. The air screamed in protest as a large object raced downward. Sensing its trajectory Elian moved.

Like a speeding bullet he ran towards the humans.

"Sir knight? What are you—uhf!"

He grabbed Ned and ran even faster. Within seconds Elian leapt into the center of the retreating group with a mighty crash. Everyone paled at his sudden arrival, but Elian didn't care about what they thought.

"System! Deploy everything into the strongest shield you possibly can! NOW!"

[Request accepted.]

With the system's assistance, Elian stretched out both his hands towards the sky and sent every gram of living metal he possessed. Funneling it all into a large dome, he sealed the space inside with as many layers as he could muster.

Those who got sealed in darkness all began to scream.

That is until they heard the earth-shattering impact.

BOOOOOMMMM!

The first attack shattered the sound barrier. Even from inside the dome, they all felt their insides rattle. Then the second. The third made the entire dome groan. People screamed in the dark. Not from fear of Elian—but of what hunted them from the sky.

The barrages lasted only a few seconds but felt like years. When they finally stopped, everyone waited. When no more impacts came, Elian finally lifted the dome and light returned. Seeing the aftermath of the destruction, everyone shuddered.

Even if they gave everything to defending, without the knight they would have all died.

"KYAA!!!"

Someone screamed. Everyone looked towards the origin. Only to find Trevor and his group all slowly freezing from the feet up. In horror the crowds watched their skin turn turned purple from the cold.

Desperate, the criminals thrashed to break free. But as the seconds passed, the less they could move. Up the knees, then the waists till the chest yet the wave of frost still didn't stop.

"COLD! WHAT IS THIS?!"

"WHY? WHY ME!!! SOMEONE HELP!"

"PLEASE SAVE ME! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"

"ARGGGHHH!! IT HURTS!!!"

"NOO!!!! MOMMMYYY!!"

Helplessly everyone was forced to witness the slow, painful and gruesome execution. When the cold finally reached their mouths even their screams stopped. Unable to scream, their eyes cried blood yet even those turned solid mere moments later.

When the execution completed, the five statues fractured with a loud crack. Then shattered into dust. A loud gale came and swept any trace of them away as if the world erased them.

In that moment a shadow flew overheard. A woman with white hair that lingered in the skies.

She said nothing, her face devoid of any emotion.

As if looking at insects her disdain bled into her every gesture.

And though she had an ethereal majesty and allure, those caught in her gaze felt no admiration, or awe. They felt only—terror.