A Villainess pulled out the Sword instead of the Hero.

 

Thankfully, there was no shortage of either hands or feet.

 

The cold air on the tip of my nose, the feel of cold dirt against my skin, the dark woods in front of me.

 

Nothing seemed to be missing.

 

‘What’s the point of bringing me to the mountains?’

 

Now I was sure.

 

Morgana was tied up tightly somewhere on a mountain that would have been difficult to carry.

 

Judging by the sounds of footsteps nearby, it looked like they kept me here for a while.

 

At the sound of rustling, walking feet, Morgana quickly shook her head and closed her eyes, as if she’d been unconscious all along.

 

Then her ears caught their conversation.

 “Still not awake? The Duke of Fay said to bring her back alive.” “She’ll wake up on the carriage ride, stupid carriage. It’s going to take a while to get there, sneaking.” “I thought we were just going to get a gemstone.” “Oh, no. There’s a man in the royal family who’s very sensitive to magic these days, and the slightest touch will give it away. It’s better not to leave a trace and have to clean it up later.” 

The man clicked his tongue, his voice full of grumbling.

 “I’m only saying this because it’s taking so long. You should have just bought a place on the corner of a busy street.” “This didn’t happen because you stood out too much.” 

There was the sound of someone bruising.

 

Curious, Morgana opened her eyes ever so slightly and stole a glance at him.

 

He was definitely a big guy.

 

To exaggerate a bit, one of his forearms was thicker than Morgana’s waist.

 

He was tall and gaunt, and his face was gruff, the sort of thing you’d suspect if you stopped him on the busy streets of Britain.

 

‘So that’s why you brought me here.’

 

Morgana looked around at the secluded, trees, grass, and dirt.

 

Aside from wildlife and bugs, it was an unlikely place for humans. But it was also strangely familiar to Morgana.

 

‘When I lived in Britain, I must have gathered herbs here, as well.’ 

 

Morgana feigned fainting till she could collect her thoughts.

 

Judging from their conversation, the Duke of Fay had sent someone to capture her.

 

It’s a good thing he sent someone to bring her back alive.

 

Apparently, she’s been given a lethal dose of poison, but she’s certainly powerful.

 

Never thought I could survive such a direct feeding.

 

The group seemed to be planning to bring a carriage from here to Avalon and sneak them back.

 

Perhaps the carriage would arrive, and we would return to Avalon for nothing.

 

‘How do I escape?’

 

Morgana had no intention of going back to Avalon, even if it meant dying.

 

She would die anyway. Most likely, she’d be imprisoned and drained of her powers until there was a war.

 

But there were too many people around who looked like fellow kidnappers.

 

There was no way I could escape faster than a free man with my arms and legs tied.

 

‘Something to distract them…’

 

We’re in the mountains. A place of nameless roots and herbs.

 

For Morgana, who was born and raised in Britain, the country’s mountains were like the palm of her hand.

 

Especially for a girl who grew up in the slums and ate anything she could find.

 

Morgana’s eyes began to scan the surrounding grasses.

 

Familiar grasses. Each one could be nothing more than a meaningless weed, but in Morgana’s hands, they could become something special.

 

Morgana quickly gathered a few of the familiar grasses.

 

The herbal medicine in this recipe would knock you out for a few minutes, as if you hadn’t breathed.

 

Not breathing, like you’re dead.

 

‘You wanted me to bring me back alive, didn’t you?’

 

If I’m going to die, at least I’d try to keep myself alive.

 

As she adjusted the dose of poison to keep me alive, I could imagine their panic if I suddenly stopped breathing.

 

The Duke of Fay’s influence in Avalon, at least, was not insignificant, and it would be tiring to piss him off with a guild that was merely taking on commissions.

 

‘Play dead, and then run away while they go to fetch a doctor or something…’

 

From what she remembered, it didn’t take long to get down the shortcut to the main street.

 

Coming from Avalon, she wouldn’t be easily found in a place with so many Britons.

 

On Morgana’s thigh was a dagger she’d won at an auction.

 

The blade was dull, but not so dull that it couldn’t cut a rope like this.

 

Morgana thought,

‘Arthur was so worried about it, I’ve been carrying it with me, and it may come in handy.’

 

But the last bunch of ingredients grew a little farther away, and Morgana couldn’t reach it without moving.

 

Morgana shoveled the rest of the herbs into her mouth and carefully measured the distance.

 

It was rough, but not unreachable if she rolled.

 

All she had to do was get a full puff in her mouth before they caught her.

 

Morgana counted to himself.

 

‘One…, two…’

 

Then she heard a voice beside her.

 “Hey. You’re up, right?” 

Morgana flung herself off the ground before she could finish the sentence.

 

Behind her, she heard the man’s small curse.

 “Crazy. Hey, get her!” 

Quickly rolling on the ground, Morgana took a bite of grass.

 

As she chomped down on a long leaf, the men swarmed around her in alarm.

 “What the hell, woman. What are you eating?!” “Spit it out, spit it out!” 

But Morgana clamped her mouth shut and chewed the leaf all the way to the end.

 

‘Ugh, yuck!’

 

Morgana’s breath caught in her throat, almost too scared to think about it.

 

For a moment, there was silence in the mountains.

 

They shook Morgana’s shoulders in panic.

 “Hey, come on. Hey?” 

He lifted his hand in foreboding and put it under her nose.

 

She wasn’t breathing. No pulse when he put his fingers to the nape of her neck.

 

She’s dead. Dead.

 “What the hell did she eat?!” “I think it’s poison!” “Hurry up, quickly, is there anyone here who knows how to detoxify?” “Madame, she’s just gone to get the carriage!” “Bring him back quickly!” 

The men were at a loss for words. Then a shadow slipped through the gap.

 

One of the men, sensing the disturbance, jumps to his feet and stands guard.

 “Who is it!” 

The group, blades drawn, soon whirled around in surprise at the sight of the man.

 “Ke, Kellive, you, your Highness…” 

No one in Avalon didn’t know him. He was even more famous among the guilds who played under the surface.

 

Of the 32 dead royals, none did not call upon this man.

 

To live, to eliminate Kellive, to escape.

 

They came to him for a variety of purposes, but they never succeeded.

 

Kellive strode leisurely through the huddled masses, unmoved.

 “It is good to see the people of Avalon in a foreign land.” 

With each step he took, the horde shrank back, hesitated, and stepped back.

 “Uh, how…” “Some who should not be here are in Britain, and I see no reason why I should not be.” 

No one could speak to his question. His tight-lipped demeanor was far from friendly.

 

On the contrary, the lack of sunlight gave him a chill, along with the creepy feeling of the shade.

 

It sent a chill down their spines.

 

Without another word, Kellive approached Morgana.

 

Her limp body and flowing silver hair contrasted with the dirt. He leaned down and checked to see if she was breathing.

 

She was still. If anything, her breathing was louder than the one standing stiffly beside her.

 

Hah

. A short sigh escaped Kellive’s lips. Irritation flared, and his golden eyes narrowed.

 

Still, a lazy grin stretched across his lips.

 “You are guilty of so many crimes. Entering another country without permission. For daring to be ungracious in the presence of the king.” 

One of the men cried out in frustration at the list of offenses.

 “I, Your Majesty, am guilty of…!” “Unlike you, I have permission to do so.” 

Just as the frozen air was about to thaw in the jokingly mild atmosphere.

 

His murderously determined visage stared down at them coldly.

 “But the sin of erasing my future is unforgivable.” 

Why come all the way to another country to die?

 

If she had the power, she could have made up any excuse and given him a home in Avalon.

 

If she wanted to escape the Duke of Fay, she could have used her powers to make a deal with me.

 

I would not have refused, as he needed power himself.

 

Perhaps it was because she didn’t recognize my face.

 

‘Or maybe she knew, but pretended not to because she wanted to leave Avalon.’ 

 

I remembered Morgana’s face as she awkwardly avoided me in the cabin where we first met.