My Wife is a Dead Villainess, and I'm Her Living Weapon-Chapter 32: Truth

"How boorish! Honestly, why would you tear out every single mushroom? Were you born without manners? You didn't even spare a blade of grass!"

In a dark tunnel, a pair walked on. One of them was a black armored knight. He carried a lantern in one hand and escorted a dazzling ponytailed beauty on the other.

Although he was being admonished, Elian couldn't help but snicker. Seeing his normally stoic and emotionless companion ranting like a child was adorable. Especially when it was obvious how hard she was trying.

"Please forgive me, my lady. I do not have enough money to buy shoeshine. I plucked everything in order to sell them. A knight cannot have filthy shoes after all."

"A knight doesn't wear shoes you nitwit! They wear boots or sabatons! Why is my knight so poor? How in the world are you going to pay for my dowry? Fine, it cannot be helped, I permit you to sell one of my jewels for money."

At her comment, Elian grinned mischievously.

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"I do not think you have any jewels of worth, my lady. But I found these, and I think they would fetch a pretty penny."

"Just what are you—AHHHHH!"

Bianca screamed as she pointed at Elian. In his hands was a triangular piece of fabric, intricately patterned. A caricature of a penguin was on it. They were a pair of lady's undergarments. His master's shoulders slumped as she lowered her head in shame.

"Really? A penguin print? I expected something more befitting the Witch of the Frozen Night."

Elian then felt a sudden drop in temperature. The sharp drop caused the tunnel to suddenly crackle as the air froze.

"Give them back..."

Naturally there was only one person who could command the air to freeze on command. Bianca raised her head, and rather than angry she was on the verge of tears. Seeing her face, Elian nearly broke.

"Give them back," she said, voice trembling—not with rage, but with impending tears.

"BWAHAHAHA!" Elian bolted like a thief, the penguin-panties held aloft in victory, leaving a glowing trail of grass behind him. Bianca rushed after him as she roared.

"I will kill you! And then bury myself beside your stupid metal corpse! ELIAN YOU IDIOT!"

Though her words were harsh, both the weapon and the witch laughed as they ran. In this dungeon which became the red swarm's final tomb, only the two of them existed. Eventually, their laughter faded into silence. What remained was the ache beneath the joy—the things left unsaid.

***

Days passed. Neither of them rushed to leave the dungeon. Still stuck in the play they just enjoyed the peace that came at immense cost. When they eventually reached the exit. They came across a pink portal.

Pink. And I was the reason for the change.

Bianca furrowed her brows as she saw the sight. Elian felt a bit sad now that their brief two-person fairy tale has ended. He enjoyed just messing around. Spending time with Bianca was never unpleasant. Even just walking side by side in silence, it felt nice.

But the time for rest had ended. It was now time for life to continue. Elian was about to enter the portal, but he felt a cool sensation on his shoulder. His master placed her hand on his armor as if to stop him from going forward.

"Elian..."

She must be worried, I bite off more than I can chew

"Don't worry, Bianca. I'm not going to cause a ruckus. At least not yet."

The boy then faced his master and gazed into their eyes.

"Even without anyone telling me, I understood what I did. If the Red Swarm are mere challengers, then that means they would be more. I do not know what it all means, but suddenly losing humanity's strongest breakers would not be good."

The woman nodded in silence. He continued.

"But I vow to you. They will all die. Every single person who had a hand in your death. I will find them all and make them regret being born," he declared passionately.

I don't care how long it takes, I will massacre them all.

The sound of swords unsheathing and re-sheathing rang out. The source was Elian's armor, sword and cape. Seeing his emotions leak out, Elian took a moment to breathe and calmed the rippling of Living Metal.

"Sorry about that, guess I need to learn to control my emotions."

Bianca shook her head.

"Elian, this entire time, you haven't said anything about how I almost tried to kill your friends..."

"That's because it doesn't..."

"NO! It does matter! You haven't even asked why they killed me! Have you not once considered that— they might be in the right? That I was the one at fault? That they killed me for the greater good?"

The woman's voice trembled. She had both fists clenched so hard they turned pale. Bianca also looked down, as if ashamed to meet Elian's eyes.

Sigh, Bianca...who in their right mind would believe you are evil?

"They can shove their greater good down their throat—and choke on it. A world without you in it cannot be greater. They made a mistake. And I am going to not only reveal it to the world but execute them for it."

Raising her head, Bianca stared at Elian. Obviously, she was confused. But the boy never once doubted her. From the time, she saved him, to how she wanted to play the villain for his rebirth. This woman was pure, like the ice she commanded.

However, those that are pure usually invited trouble. Simply because their mere existence made everyone else impure. Elian who lived as a defect knew that best. Even the weakest people found solace because he was beneath them.

People are bastards. They would sacrifice anyone for their own sake. Bianca must have been used.

Contrary to his expectations, her gaze softened into a sad smile.

"Elian. I lied. They didn't betray me."

"What do you mean?" he asked, but her face was already trembling.

"They put together a raid to kill me. They called me an evil Villainess. The mother of monsters. My very existence caused dungeons to overflow. Every city I resided in succumbed to the frequent dungeon breaks. Thousands died. Eventually I left on my own."

Her voice grew sadder with every word. Eventually her tears began to flow.

"I tried living in the wilderness, in dungeons, but the same thing happened. In the end humanity believed I was too powerful to be left alone. So they sent my best friend to trick me into meeting. There they all placed a trap to end me."

Chink. Chink. Chink.

Even without words, Living Metal showed what its master thought about Bianca's story.

"I was too strong. And I ended killing all the breakers. A dungeon break followed. Humanity lost its most powerful defenders because of me. I tried to save as many as I could, but it was impossible to be everywhere at once. It was on that night that I received my title."

"..."

Bianca came closer, her eyes showed complicated emotions Elian couldn't understand.

"Elian, now that I'm dead, I'm free. Yes, I'm angry. But... I would've done the same. A part of me wants vengeance—but I know it's better this way."

Placing her hand against his cheek, the woman's eyes quivered.

"Still... you deserve the truth. My weapon—now that you know my tale... what will you do?"

Elian took a moment to look at his master.

Although she tried to sound emotionless, her body was trembling. He understood why. She lied to him once before. A second time when she tried to play victim. But for some reason, she suddenly came clean.

"I am Bianca Valestra, Witch of the Frozen Night, an enemy of Humanity. By choosing to follow me, you will be fighting not just humans—but the entire world. I no longer wish to lie to you, Elian. If you wish to walk away or choose another path, I will let you."

Yet the boy shook his head and laid his hand gently over hers.

"I am no longer human. I just committed what I think to be genocide. I am not afraid. For you—the one who saved me, gave me purpose, and my only desire—I will fight. I do not care how many come. I will kill them all."

Bianca said nothing. Then the tears came—quiet, unstoppable. As her body quivered, she struggled to speak through the flood choking her throat.

"Haha... is that so?" she whispered. "Then... take care of me from now on, Elian."

On that day, Elian saw genuine happiness radiate from his master. As if she had been freed of a burden as heavy as the world.