My Wife is a Dead Villainess, and I'm Her Living Weapon-Chapter 21: Name

The air froze still as if time had stopped. As the moon's light shone behind her, her shadow seemed larger than life. Winds blew but her clothes did not even flutter. It was as if the rules of this world did not bind her. She stood above them.

Seeing her immense power, everyone couldn't even move. The wicked chill reminded them that they were all in her domain. She brought down meteors that ruptured the entire battlefield. Even after her knight protected them, he couldn't save everyone.

The Knight did not feel. It asked not to judge, but to know. Even the goddess called it her weapon—an object. A thing. Something that does not choose.

But the one who rose to the skies was different.

She had both will and emotion. And right now, everyone saw how she felt. There were over a hundred people in the knight's dome. Yet only five people slowly froze to death.

Considering how abruptly the ice shards had formed and disappeared earlier, the slow and agonizing execution was not slow due to a lack of power. It was of choice.

It was slow because she wanted everyone to see. She needed everyone to know.

I can kill you all as easily like stepping on a cockroach, whether through absolute chaos or quiet stillness. Even if you know, you can do nothing. Even if you scream, no one will help you. For I am present. And you will all follow my will.

It reminded both the students and teachers of one thing. The only thing that mattered in this world was absolute power. That granted one control over not only freedoms but even life. Everyone lowered their eyes and kneeled. Despite witnessing such a graphic execution, they all shivered in silence.

It was only then that she spoke.

"This matter ends today, speak of it no longer. Get out of my sight. My Weapon, let us go."

Turning around, Bianca said no more and abruptly vanished.

Despite being high up in the sky, her voice resonated inside their minds like an echo. "Speak of it no longer." In other words: I killed five of you because I wanted to. Now leave, or else I will kill even more. There was no room for complaints, nor questions. Just absolute obedience.

Like stepping on an ant, then moving on. Humans did not bother to ask other ants of what they thought or felt. That analogy drove home just how insignificant they all were in her presence.

Elian, having seen the display, said nothing and quickly chased after his master. Despite trying to defend them, he didn't even look back. None of them understood the thoughts behind the black knight's silence. His actions were all over the place, but they all sighed in relief after he left.

This long day had both given and taken so much. Yet at that moment they were all just glad to be alive.

***

As Elian ran through the battlefield he raced back to his next destination. It was the same direction his master faced before vanishing. With his past severed, the weapon had only one objective. And for that purpose, he raced back to the pits of hell.

"ITS AN A-RANKED BOSS MONSTER CORE! The only one I have and the pension I received for serving as a Breaker! I don't have any more!"

"It's red. Not pink. The dungeon's boss is still alive."

Elian's mind focused on the most crucial thing right now. Getting as much HP as possible for Bianca's core. And while there were plenty of options, like a machine he began to choose the one that would be the most efficient.

Mob cores could restore Bianca's HP—but it would take hundreds. In contrast, a single A-Ranked boss core gave her 2 points. Not unless I keep fighting dungeon breaks, it would be impossible to find that many monsters. Hive insect types would be the only exception.

As he ran, the boy suddenly sensed a familiar chill. The sensation already felt like home. Nostalgic, comforting, and secure.

"Elian."

But he did not answer. He only ran forward.

"Elian?"

Even the snakes on his back, didn't turn to face her. Despite the weapon's immense power, at the moment he was nothing but a sulking teenager.

"Elian, look at me this instant."

At the order the boy buried his heels into the dirt, breaking the ground as he skidded. He then faced the woman behind him and bowed.

"What do you need of me, Master?"

Although she tried to hide it, Bianca was taken aback by the cold and emotionless question. She bit her lip and clenched her fists, her sharp fingernails digging into her palms.

"Do you resent me for killing them?" she asked defensively.

"No, Master. I do not."

A curt reply. There was nothing wrong with it. It was the answer that she wanted to receive. But her eyes watered as if tears were about to spill forth. Whatever joy she felt at demonstrating her power turned into frustration and fear.

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Elian gazed at her unmoving. Bianca grew restless but remained silent.

Despite being together, it felt like they suddenly grew apart. As if a sudden chasm appeared between the two of them. And they both felt it. The warmth they both grew to appreciate vanished.

"Elian, I-I..."

The knight then bowed respectfully and cut her off.

"Master, please tell me as I fight my way towards the boss."

"... Okay."

Elian resumed his mad dash toward the boss. With his sensitivity to mana greatly amplified after gaining a job, he charged to the lowest corners of the dungeon. He encountered many Workers, even a few Soldiers—but none of them lived long enough to scream.

Naturally, not even corpses remained, only Raw material for Living Metal. Each monster that saw him offered its life and body to Bianca, Elian was just the machine that facilitated the exchange. It repeated so many times that eventually the Ant began to run at the sight of the black knight.

Soon, the number of Workers he encountered grew fewer, until the hive practically became a ghost town.

"They are terrified of you, Elian."

"Yes, Master. I smell of vinegar yet am still alive. I think I need to wash off the Alarm pheromones. Otherwise, they will just treat me like a predator and avoid me."

"Elian..."

"This is getting tough. Should I just dig down? What do you think, Master?"

More and more passages led to dead ends. It was as if the Ants quickly closed every road in Elian's path. With such a maze-like structure, navigating became a nightmare. But Bianca couldn't care less. Hours passed, and she no longer heard her own name.

And the air turned colder with each passing second. Yet Elian didn't question, nor did he comment. With single-minded focus, he worked to fulfill his objective. Until eventually Bianca's patience ran out.

"ELIAN!"

"Yes? What is it?"

"Just how long are you going to sulk like a child? It's been hours!"

"I don't know what you mean. What is it you are angry about, Master?"

Bianca glared at her companion. Despite the air being so cold, sweat would freeze, her entire body felt scorching hot.

"That! Why did you suddenly change how you address me?"

"I have always called you master. What else would you have me call you?"

Elian's answer made Bianca squirm. She looked suffocated. Her divine figure trembled.

"My name..."

The weapon stopped killing those around him and gazed at his master.

"Elian... why won't you call my name anymore? If it's about killing the..."

"It's not about that, Bianca. Like I said, they no longer matter. Elian Reed the human is no more."

"Then why?" Bianca said in a hurt voice.

But the boy opened up a system window and pushed it toward his master.

___

Name: Bianca Valestra (F)

HP: 6 / 50 | MP: 1,256 / 300,000

___

"..."

"Bianca. You know how badly I want to heal you. Yet for such a useless thing, you reduced your HP by 3, even wasting the boon we got from the Boss Core. You even cut my Living Metal reserves in half!"

Despite Elian's apparent disrespect, his master's lips curled into a smile. The surroundings warmed by several degrees, which caused the ice around Elian to thaw.

Elian furrowed his eyes as he continued, "Bianca, stop smiling. This is serious. You are even more impulsive than I am! You are way too..."

And so, a boy began to lecture the Witch of the Frozen Night, all while her body drowned in joy.