I Became the Mastermind Who Betrays the Heroines

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 76 - The Only Ones for Each Other (1)

The fox didn’t trust humans.

In her younger days, she’d experienced a betrayal so thorough that it destroyed her life.

—I run a small business in the capital.

—Work brought me near your village, and while I’m here, I’d like us to become friends.

—I want to be a friend to all of you.

She couldn’t count how many times she regretted it.

If only she hadn’t trusted him, hadn’t leaned on him so easily, then maybe her village would never have turned into a sea of flames.

That ruthless memory left a scar as deep as any trauma.

On the day her world disappeared in fire,

Irene swore she would never trust humans again.

She wouldn’t let herself rely on anyone, only to be left betrayed and humiliated.

And as the years passed, this vow wrapped around her tightly.

‘I won’t be deceived.’

She wouldn’t trust.

Wouldn’t rely.

Wouldn’t want.

Even if someone seemed kind, humans would betray you as soon as you turned your back.

She must never rely on them.

She’d lived with these beliefs. She assumed she always would.

And she did, until…

—Won’t you let me tame you?

She met an unusual boy.

At first, she had no choice. To save her siblings, she needed his help, even if he was the type of human she loathed.

With the thought of “just this once,” she reached out her hand.

—I’ll take care of you.

—I’ll help you escape this hellish place.

Still, she kept her guard up.

She’d made a practical decision, not one based on trust in some flimsy hope.

In fact, she’d been openly hostile.

Yet.

—I simply need a friend.

But the boy never pulled away.

He just stayed beside her, quietly offering his hand.

Again and again, he’d helped her.

—There’s no need to worry.

—Your siblings are being well cared for here.

He’d taken in her siblings, who meant everything to her.

To children who had known nothing but iron cages, he’d given a warm home and a life where they no longer had to live in fear.

—I’ve come to rescue you.

—It’s alright now. You’ve held on so well.

When the dark magicians had captured her, the boy had run to her side, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

He held the broken fox close, soothing her for a long time.

Whispering gentle words.

—Miss Irene.

—If there’s anything I can do to make your life a little less miserable, I will gladly lend you my strength.

Each time, the fox felt herself grow more confused.

She didn’t want to admit it.

Her hatred toward humans was beginning to fade, little by little.

So she kept pushing the boy away.

‘This is wrong.’

Her once solid resolve was starting to crack.

A light had appeared in her dark world.

The peace she’d longed for was right in her hands.

When she heard his kind words, she felt as though the walls she’d built around her heart were on the verge of collapsing.

She never voiced it, but she felt afraid.

‘I must not depend on him.’

She couldn’t let her guard down.

She couldn’t believe in him.

But her heart wasn’t following her will, and she found herself leaning on him more and more.

So she tried even harder to be alone.

‘My problems… I need to solve them on my own.’

That was why she hadn’t asked for his help.

She couldn’t bring herself to ask.

A foolish stubbornness kept her from trusting a human.

She’d come close to falling apart, but the boy had watched over her all along.

At her most dangerous moment, he had been there to support her.

—You did well, Miss Irene.

—Just lean on me for a little while. I know you have a lot to say, but it’s alright to wait until later.

His gentle voice warmed her ears.

Just hearing it made her feel at ease.

Her fears dissolved, her legs went weak, her eyes burned, and her fists clenched instinctively.

Why did she feel so relieved?

‘I…’

The fox finally understood.

There was no denying it any longer.

A wave of emotion swelled, threatening to overflow at any moment.

She decided to accept it.

‘I… trust you.’

Without even realizing it, she had come to depend on him.

Though she’d spent her life doubting others, he was the one person she’d learned to believe in.

It may have taken too long to come to terms with it.

—Won’t you let me tame you?

I…

Have already been tamed by you.

So deeply that I could never escape.

Any struggle would only entangle her more in the threads of this sticky, inescapable feeling.

She feared she might one day be betrayed again.

“Please… wake up…!”

But she was already clinging to him.

Crying as she held his limp body.

“No… you can’t die like this.”

She pressed her lips to his.

Breathing warm air into his mouth.

Lowering her head over and over, pouring her breath into him as her lips met his.

Each desperate attempt spoke of her devotion.

“Hah… hah…”

Her breath came out in ragged gasps.

The boy, now peaceful, had resumed breathing once more.

With trembling hands, Irene grasped his sleeve.

Relief flooded her, but so did a deep resignation.

‘Ah.’

She had fallen into a terrible trap.

Though she feared the thought of betrayal with all her heart, she couldn’t let go of his trembling hand.

It was already too late to escape.

Now, all she could do was pray.

‘Please…’

May I, in all my frailty, never be abandoned by you.

With that faint murmur, the fox quietly leaned into him.

***

The boy had survived.

Though unconscious, thanks to Irene’s quick actions, his life had been spared.

His golden hair lay scattered across the deck.

“…”

He looked peaceful, almost as if he were simply sleeping.

Next to him lay Irene, utterly exhausted and struggling to catch her breath.

Her body was soaked through, her appearance in disarray.

“Hah…”

Her weary breath came out in short gasps.

They’d nearly both ended up as fish food.

The waves at dawn had been nothing short of deadly.

She’d managed to survive only because her strength had partially returned.

Irene swept her disheveled hair back.

“…I can’t rest yet.”

She muttered to herself as if casting a spell.

Almost like self-hypnosis, she mumbled under her breath and forced her trembling legs to stand.

Then, she carefully lifted the boy’s limp body.

Leaving him here was a risk she couldn’t take.

Though he’d survived the worst, he was still unconscious.

He’d fallen into the sea and needed warmth urgently, as well as a change of clothes.

‘This ship is huge… there must be a cabin somewhere.’

With that thought, she started walking.

Just as she was about to enter the ship’s interior—

“We meet again.”

A voice sounded from behind.

It was the Unnamed.

At some point, he had returned, leaning against the rail, cleaning his weapons.

His black suit was drenched in blood.

“...!”

The fox reacted belatedly, moving back.

She hid the boy’s body behind her, holding her sword in front of her like a staff.

Maybe it was her exhaustion, but her arms shook slightly.

Yet she held her stance firmly.

Her trembling blade aimed directly at the green-haired man.

“I don’t know why you’re so on edge.”

The Unnamed’s response was indifferent.

His expression was unshaken, without a hint of hostility.

It seemed he wasn’t interested in her, but Irene didn’t dare let her guard down.

She still remembered the conversation he’d had with the boy.

‘They didn’t seem friendly.’

It was clear that they were from opposing factions.

Their exchange had been downright chilling.

Considering that he’d supposedly cut off the Sovereign’s right hand, the Unnamed would certainly have a grudge against him.

And now, with the boy unconscious, this was the perfect chance.

‘Damn it… he won’t miss this opportunity.’

Determined, Irene prepared herself for a fight.

But.

The Unnamed did nothing.

He merely examined his equipment in silence, tidying his blood-stained clothes.

“Ahem.”

“…?”

Her dark prediction was utterly wrong.

Puzzled, she watched as the Unnamed finished his inspection and spoke.

His tone was purely business-like.

“No need to be on guard. I have no intention of attacking.”

“What…?”

Irene narrowed her eyes in confusion.

Refusing to fight, in this situation?

She watched him, hoping for some hint of his intentions, but the Unnamed remained unreadable, muttering only a few cryptic words.

“I follow orders. Nothing more.”

“What do you…?”

“The Sovereign has no desire for the death of the Star. Even if the opportunity is perfect, it’s pointless if it won’t please my lord.”

The Unnamed paused.

Then, he continued.

“...Besides, there’s another reason I can’t kill him.”

“Another reason?”

“I regret that I can’t say more. It’s not my place to share it lightly.”

“…”

“If you’re that curious, ask him yourself.”

The Unnamed unilaterally ended the conversation.

Apparently done, he stepped up to the railing.

With a polite nod, he spoke.

“I’ll be going now.”

“What?”

“Our deal has been fulfilled. There are no other forces left on board. I’ve also disposed of the bodies, so you can use the ship as you wish.”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“Wait, hold on—”

“When he wakes up, please relay my regards. Until then.”

With a flutter—

The Unnamed jumped over the railing without hesitation.

The young man disappeared, and shortly after, a green-winged bird emerged.

Its wings beat powerfully as it soared through the night sky.

The fox could only watch him disappear, dazed.

***

“…”

I opened my eyes with a hazy gaze.

The ceiling above was unfamiliar.

As fragmented memories surfaced, I quickly realized that I was inside the ship.

It was exactly like the cabins I’d seen in passing.

‘So it really was Irene.’

The last thing I remembered before I lost consciousness was the sight of her red hair swaying before me.

How much time had passed?

A throbbing headache reminded me that I’d overexerted my power, leaving me far from refreshed.

I took a deep breath.

‘First, I need to assess the situation.’

As I tried to sit up, brushing off the remnants of sleep, I felt something strange.

“Hm…?”

My body felt heavy.

It was as if something soft was pressing down on me.

Looking down in the direction of the weight, I was met with a completely unexpected sight.

A swaying, reddish-orange tail.

“…”

Black eyes stared back at me.

The girl, lying on top of me, gave a faint smile as our gazes met.

“…You’re awake.”

She whispered softly, her voice drifting to my ear.

It was Irene.

The fox, clad in only a thin white shirt, was lying comfortably in my arms.

The ears atop her head drooped, giving her an air of contentment.

“I was worried… you didn’t wake up for two days.”

Irene rested her cheek against my chest.

Stunned, I could only blink in confusion.

“…”

What was this?

What was going on?

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]