Fated to Be Loved by Villains

“Iliya.”

“...”

“Iliya!”

“...”

“If you don’t answer, I’m going to break the door and go in! Something really urgent is going on right now!”

…Huh?

That sounds like something I’d say to Teach… Hearing someone else telling me that feels a little weird…

Iliya, who was lying down on bed while staring at the ceiling with vacant-looking eyes, thought so blankly.

“Seriously, Iliya—! Forget it! I’m going in!”

Accompanied by such words, the door to Iliya’s room was crushed open.

“It’s been days! What have you been doing?! You even skipped all of today's class—!”

Trisha was about to finish her sentence before she was struck speechless by Iliya’s vacant-looking eyes.

Though, she didn’t really know which one actually left her dumbstruck more.

Was it Iliya’s herself, who was extremely drunk while sprawling only in her undies, or the pyramid of empty alcohol bottles piled up next to her bed?

“...”

The silence went on for a while before Trisha eventually held her forehead with both hands, groaning due to the headache she suddenly felt.

“...I knew I should’ve forced myself to stay with you.”

“...Mmm…?”

“I knew that something like this would happen the moment you decided to move to a single room after you were appointed as a hero. You’re quite weak-minded, after all…”

“...”

Actually, those words she hurled at her made Iliya feel extremely wronged. After all, she wasn’t usually like this.

In any case, Trisha did not need to see Iliya’s emotions with her eyes.

Because there was only one reason why Iliya, who was always so affable and smart in every single aspect, to act like this.

“...This is because of Mr. Dowd again, isn’t it?”

Seriously—!

I knew that love could really make someone blind! More than anyone! I could see it with my own eyes!

But that doesn’t excuse her to turn into such a loser like this—!

“So, what the heck is wrong with you? What’s going on?”

“...”

After hearing that, Iliya just silently tried to tilt the alcohol bottle towards her mouth again.

Though it only remained as an attempt because Trisha immediately snatched the bottle away from her.

“What… What are you…”

Iliya mumbled, trying to voice out a complaint, but her voice subsided quickly.

Then again, anyone would do the same if they were to see the glare in Trisha’s eyes, which gave off a fierce impression like that of a tiger’s.

“Tell me. Right now. Or I’ll get really mad at you.”

“...”

Once again, Iliya realized that when that one kind friend who was always full of smiles and listened to you well suddenly got angry, they’d practically turn into a demon from hell.

After hesitating for a bit, Iliya finally relented and said out in a stammer.

“...I…confessed…to Teach…”

Hearing that, Trisha’s mouth became wide open.

“S-So? What did he say?”

“...I don’t know.”

“...What?”

“He hasn’t given me an answer yet…”

Trisha narrowed her eyes.

What? She hasn’t been dumped yet, then? Why is she acting like this?

That was what Trisha was about to say, but she changed her mind and kept her mouth shut.

Because she saw Iliya’s emotion suddenly fluctuated from the corner of her eye.

Based on the movement, she had a rough guess what it was.

“...”

But, there’s no way, right…?

Though she thought so…

“Iliya.”

“Mhm?”

“You… Is the reason why you’re acting like this is because ‘you’re afraid that he’d dump you’?”

“...”

To that, Iliya clenched her mouth shut.

Trisha could see her emotion fluctuate again, this time, it was because she was startled.

She glared at her friend dumbfoundedly before holding her head in her hands.

“You idiot! I get it that your love blinded you, but how the hell did you get so scared and turned into a loser like this when you haven’t even gotten his answer?! You’re THE hero, THE hope of the human race! Even a dog passing by would laugh at you if it heard that you’re acting like this just because of a man!”

“That isn’t the entire reason, though…”

“It isn’t? Then what else?”

“...Also, Teach isn’t just any man, you know…?”

Instead of answering Trisha’s question, Iliya just timidly mumbled. Meanwhile, Trisha glared at her again, dumbfounded.

After a while, Trisha facepalmed while letting out a deep sigh.

“...Whatever, let’s talk about that later. Hurry up and get dressed. If you were to go out like that, the person who’s coming to see you now wouldn’t even laugh at you!”

“Who is it? Is it Her Imperial Majesty the Empress? If it’s her, I’ll deal with her somehow.”

“...What?”

“If she comes to me to say more nonsense I’ll just kick her out. Or if the nonsense is related to Teach, I’ll give her a piece of my mind.”

“...”

“...You know, the way she looks at Teach recently has been a little sus—”

“You’re the one who needs to stop talking nonsense here! Just hurry up and get dressed already!”

Before Iliya could disrespect the empress even more, Trisha threw Iliya’s pants and uniform top to her face with a scream.

While Iliya got up and picked up the clothes with a sullen expression, Trisha cleaned up the messy room at a terrifying speed.

Had the maid in charge of the senior students’ dormitory seen how fast she was, she’d probably try to pull all the stops to get her as her junior.

“By the way, who was it that wanted to see me so badly? You even made a great fuss about it…”

“You’ll find out later!”

“...I don’t think anyone would complain even if I looked quite shabby. I’m still a hero, you know…?”

“If they’re an ordinary person, sure, but they aren’t!”

While Iliya talked in an exhausted voice, Trisha said each of her words in half a scream.

The way the latter seemed so desperate made Iliya narrowed her eyes.

She also noticed that when Trisha said the person wasn’t ordinary, it felt as if she emphasized the word ‘person’ more than the word ‘ordinary’.

As if the issue here wasn’t whether the person was ordinary or not, rather whether they were a person or not.

“The one who came—!”

Fortunately, it didn’t take too long for Iliya to find out why Trisha was acting like that.

Because that person had entered the room before Trisha could even finish her words. And when Iliya saw them, she opened her mouth wide.

When that person, no, that ‘thing’ entered her room…

A terrifying and alien atmosphere fell upon the room.

This being… Seemingly to be very far apart from the regular ‘principles’ that made up the world…

Its build was several times bigger than ordinary humans as it made loud stomping sounds every time it took a step.

Although it was hidden under the robe that reminded Iliya of a monk, she noticed that its entire ‘body’ was made of smooth metal—

…No, that isn’t any ordinary steel…

There are…countless ‘functions’ hidden under it…

This being was like a giant of steel, walking on two legs.

If Dowd were to see it, the word ‘cyborg’ would be the first thing that came to his mind.

“...Nice to meet you, Hero.”

As soon as Iliya heard its voice, her hand, which was running through her hair, stopped. Under her clothes, she could feel goosebumps all over her body.

It wasn’t because she felt an amazing aura from its voice.

Rather, it was the opposite.

She couldn’t feel anything.

Vibe, emotion, nothing.

She couldn’t feel anything that she could relate to ‘human’ from its voice.

If Dowd were here, the words ‘machine sound’ would immediately pop up in his mind the moment he heard it talked.

“Nice to meet you, Hero. I am Magic Tower’s Marshal, Alpha-11.”

As it revealed that it was the Magic Tower’s Marshal, the ‘thing’ held out its mechanized prosthetic arm towards Iliya.

Its prosthetic arm was entirely made of smooth metal with no joints.

“I came here to see someone.”

“...”

Hearing that, Iliya suddenly felt some kind of fate.

Because usually, if someone were to come all of a sudden like this, there would only be one person that they were trying to look for.

“May I ask who you’re—”

“Dowd Campbell.”

“...”

And her guess was right.

●

Standing before a crowd was always something like a vocation to Lucia.

Leading big religious events, occasional social gatherings, simple daily masses or prayer meetings had always been her role. After all, she was THE saintess.

“...Wait, is that the saintess…?”

“No way. There’s no way such an exalted person would even come—”

That was what the two passersby said when they passed by Lucia, before suddenly staring at her.

“...Wait, is that actually her…?”

“Right…?”

“...”

Everyone would recognize her upon seeing her beauty and those two weren’t any different.

But still, there was a reason why they still harbored doubts toward her being the actual saintess…

“But, who’s the person she’s with then…? Also who’s the tiny woman next to him…?”

Of course, they were none other than Dowd and Yuria.

Currently, Lucia was walking in a section of the city with these two. To put it in other words, she was in the middle of a double date.

“...”

This situation alone, where they were roaming around with both her and Yuria clinging to Dowd’s arms, was enough to make Lucia’s mind go blank. But, there was another reason that made her couldn’t help but hang her head down…

“Is it okay for the saintess to go on a date…?”

“I-It shouldn’t be, right…? T-That means, she isn’t the saintes…”

That. That was the reason.

Of course, it had been long since she relinquished her duty as a saintess, but her reputation would still get ruined to oblivion if all these passersby, who were pouring nearby the moment they three were out on the street, found out what exactly they were doing right now.

I-I can’t…!

Lucia felt dizzy and her body felt like it was heating up.

If someone were to find out that I am the ‘real’ saintess…and rumors were to spread—!

“Don’t worry, people won’t be as interested in others as you thought they would. Like, people can’t even recognize those celebrities covering their faces a little when they go out…”

“...Mr. Dowd.”

“Hm?”

“I wouldn’t feel so scared if I wasn’t wearing ‘this’ right now…!”

Lucia said so shakily, tears welled up in her eyes.

She pointed at Yuria and her necks.

To be exact, at the thing that was wrapping around their necks…

The ‘Invisible Leashes’ that others couldn’t see.

According to Down, he told Professor Vulkan to put Ectoplasm in it to make it this way.

“...”

But that only made Lucia wonder, why the hell would he go out of his way to pour out such a precious ingredient to make these Invisible Leashes. It was as if walking her and Yuria with these leashes was a big deal or something.

“...Did you think I’d actually put Yuria on a leash and walk her as if she was a dog in font of others…?”

“...To some extent, yes.”

“Oh my God, how could you think like that…!”

“Think about the things you’ve done so far before you talk—!”

If anything, it’s even stranger for you to not do that!

Considering your reputation, that sounds extremely like something that you’d do!

Also, why are you acting as if you’ve been using common sense?!

When Lucia complained as such inwardly, Yuria, who was walking next to Dowd obediently while fidgeting, opened her mouth and said quietly.

“...I’m fine with this though.”

“...”

“...Does Unnie not like it…?”

“I-I don’t hate it that much…”

Lucia answered as her cheeks trembled.

She just couldn’t bring herself to say harsh words to her sister, who had been in a pretty bad state for a while.

That was why she glared at Dowd while pouting instead.

“B-But still! You need to know the limits! Even though we’re doing everything you’re asking us to do, you’re still making such an unreasonable—!”

“...I’m not the one making that kind of demand, you know?”

“...”

Lucia shut her mouth, stunned.

It was only after a while that she managed to speak again.

“...Sorry, what did you say?”

“I said it wasn’t me.”

“Then who…?”

At that moment, Yuria interjected.

“...It was me. I asked Mr Dowd to…”

“...”

“...I also asked him to do this with Unnie too…”

Lucia felt a shock as if a thunderbolt had hit her head.

The way Dowd shrugged before her eyes, as if saying, ‘See?’ snapped her awake, annoyed her greatly.

“...W-Why would you…!”

“Because there’s this sense of immorality...”

“...”

“Receiving this kind of treatment from Master, n-no, Mr. Dowd, f-feels quite good…”

“...”

“And I wanted Unnie to know how it feels too…”

Yuria mumbled her reply.

Though she said it with a red face, her expression was firm. There was also a kind of heat in her voice that she failed to hide.

“...”

This almost made Lucia pass out from the shock. Meanwhile, Dowd was looking at a window that appeared before his eyes with a satisfied look.

Regardless of the situation, it seemed that he had achieved his goal.

…It charged up quickly.

The White Devil’s Demonic Aura was filling up terrifyingly quickly.

Demonic Aura would be charged faster into the Seal if the more he had an ‘intimate contact’ with the target, this was one thing that he figured out.

That was why he met up with Yuria and asked her what it was that she wanted to do the most, and this was her answer.

Walking together with her sister, both on leashes.

“...”

While he genuinely thought that she might need some kind of moral education, this development was actually in his favor for now.

Suddenly, as he was thinking contentedly, a shadow cast before his eyes.

Of course, it wasn’t like the sky suddenly turning dark or anything. ‘A giant body’ just suddenly appeared before his eyes.

“...”

Dowd unknowingly looked up and when he did, his whole body stiffened.

Because something he had never expected to see in this kind of place was right there in front of him.

“...A cyborg?”

“I am sorry, but such a being cannot be identified. I think you are mistaking me for something else.”

Even its voice is a machine voice.

As Dowd thought so while blinking, the Cyborg suddenly stared at Lucia.

This shift of its gaze made Lucia come to her senses.

Then, it glanced at her neck and Dowd’s hand alternately.

As if it could see what was ‘connecting’ the two.

“Ectoplasm Leash. Such fascinating equipment. I cannot believe you used such a high-end ingredient to make such junk. There must have been a great goal behind your action.”

“...”

“May I ask what made you wear something like that, Saintess?”

At that question, Lucia’s face turned so red that she felt that it was about to explode.