I Became The Villain's Trainer - Chapter 109

Chapter 109 

“I’m dead, aren’t I?”

Alexa asked in a trembling voice. She preferred to get it over with quickly, better to face the blow head-on. Dephensores burst into hearty laughter.

“How delightful of you to come brighten up such a dreary place. Child, you are not dead. This is merely the Midrealm, where I linger before returning to the human world.”

“I’m… not dead?”

“Of course not. You still have a role to fulfill.”

“A role…?”

Dephensores reached a hand out to Alexa. Sniffling, she asked cautiously, “Why should I trust you enough to take your hand?”

Dephensores let out a short laugh.

“Are all kids these days like you?”

Alexa scrunched her nose and sniffled again.

“Like me, how?”

“Saying whatever comes to mind, even in a situation like this. What would you do if I really meant you harm?”

“Even so, it’s better than getting caught off guard without a clue. I’ll stand up on my own.”

Alexa brushed off Dephensores’s hand and pushed herself up from the ground. It felt miserable that the only one she could rely on here was Dephensores, and unfair that she had to endure all this when she wasn’t even dead. Still sniffling, she said everything she needed to say, and Dephensores stared at her in mild disbelief.

“Where should I go?”

“Are all kids these days really like you?”

“This way, right?”

“The other way.”

“Oh.”

Alexa slowly followed behind Dephensores.

“Where are we going?”

“A place you’ve been to before.”

“I’ve been there…?”

“You don’t seem to remember, but you’ve definitely touched the essence of this world before.”

“The essence…” Alexa shook her head. “I don’t remember anything.”

“That’s to be expected, considering you’ve touched the world’s essence. If you reach your Karakter, you’ll find all the answers you need. And so will I.”

“What kind of answers am I supposed to find there?”

“Answers about the fate of this world you bear. You have a role here, as does everyone. I, too, have my role. Every element that forms this world has its own part to play.”

“Even you, Dephensores…?”

“I am one who builds and upholds the world together with Lunailliah. You’ve met her, haven’t you?”

“Yes. I have.”

Despite how troublesome it might’ve been, Dephensores answered Alexa patiently. For someone with such a cold exterior, he gave off a warm presence. She’d heard that Dephensores had been betrayed by the Red Clan and cast into the cycle of reincarnation.

‘And yet… he holds no resentment toward humans?’

Alexa tilted her head. Thersion was closed off, particularly hostile to humans because of the betrayal by the Red Clan and the human emperor. But Dephensores, despite experiencing such betrayal, appeared lighthearted and composed. He continued explaining.

“You, in particular, were drawn in by a world on the verge of collapse, so it could preserve itself. The world is one, and the one is also the world. Your Karakter contains this world.”

“I don’t understand a word of that.”

“It means you are essential to keeping this world intact.”

Alexa was merely a character pulled into a serialized novel. Alexa the extra had existed in the story, and she had simply taken over that body. And yet, she was carrying the world?

‘Then what happens to everything that happened before I arrived?’

The original Alexa had existed in the novel and was killed off early in the story. But now she was being told she had a vital role?

‘This makes no sense.’

Maybe, as Dephensores said, if she reached the place called Karakter, she might find answers. Alexa quickened her pace behind him. There was something familiar about Dephensores, not just in appearance, but even his aura reminded her of Ysildus. Perhaps that’s why she could let her guard down just a little and follow him.

“We’ve arrived.”

Dephensores came to a stop before a deep, dark pit.

“Is this really it?”

Alexa asked, incredulous. There didn’t seem to be any way down. How could this be Karakter? She looked around, hoping there was something else, but saw nothing but red sand brushing against her feet. Dephensores smiled gently, then gave her a shove.

“Wha—Whaaaaat! Kyaaaaaah!”

D**n that wolf god!! This is why you can’t trust anyone in this world!! Alexa screamed as she plummeted into the abyss.

* * *

“What about Alexa?”

Ysildus asked, his expression serene. It was hard to tell how many times he’d asked the same question already.

“She’ll stabilize soon.”

“Then why hasn’t she opened her eyes, Karrolf?”

It wasn’t just Ysildus; even Carlisle was pressing Karrolf for answers.

“Fortunately, Alexa seems to have some resistance to the poison, so her life isn’t in danger. But recovering from the toxin and regaining her strength will take time. If you’ll just wait a little…”

“So we’re supposed to just sit here and wait?”

Ysildus tilted his head slightly. His ice-blue eyes stood out beneath his disheveled silver hair, sweeping Karrolf up and down with a frozen stare. Eyes that perfectly mirrored Carlisle’s. Dealing with one Carlisle was already overwhelming, having two was unbearable for Karrolf.

“I’m preparing a tonic that can help boost her energy.”

“You usually treat wolves, don’t you? Can we really trust you with Alexa?”

“…There’s likely no one in all of Thersion who knows more about human medicine than I do, Your Grace.”

“When will Alexa regain consciousness?”

“That depends entirely on her, Young Lord.”

Just when Karrolf was caught between Ysildus and Carlisle, a saving grace appeared.

“That’s enough. Both of you, stop.”

It was Essellia. Karrolf turned to her as if he’d seen a god. Essellia gently stroked Alexa’s forehead. Though she still radiated heat, it no longer felt like she was on the brink of death, as she had when the poison first took hold.

“She’s just sleeping now.”

Essellia kissed Alexa’s forehead softly.

“Ysildus, you need rest too.”

“…I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. You went through the imprinting, and now Alexa’s in this state. There’s no way you’re okay.”

She frowned. Unsurprisingly, Ysildus’s face was paler than usual. Essellia rose from the bed and stood beside him, her hand pressing down on his shoulder with gentle insistence.

“I want you to get a check-up, Ysildus.”

“I’m fine.”

“Ysu.”

Essellia leaned in, her voice as sweet as honey.

“Wouldn’t it upset Alexa to know you were waiting for her like this? You want to worry her?”

“…Mother.”

“Get yourself checked. Make sure you’re not hurt. Your being alive is proof that Alexa is, too.”

Ysildus reluctantly agreed. Truthfully, as Essellia said, he was suffering internal injuries just as Alexa was.

“And change out of that dress while you’re at it.”

“Ah…”

He hadn’t even had a moment to change clothes while watching over Alexa. His dress rustled with every movement. Pushed along by Essellia, Ysildus finally rose. With his wrinkled dress, messy hair, and ruined makeup, he looked like a ghost.

“Alexa’s not going to like this…”

She deserved to see his best, and instead, he looked like this.

“I’ll go clean up, eat something, and get checked. I’ll come right back.”

He figured that if he wanted to stay by her side until she woke up, it would be better to recover first. Essellia nodded. Just as Ysildus was about to leave Alexa’s chamber, his eyes landed on a sign placed on the table. It was broken in half, an image that mirrored the current situation all too well. With a cold smile tugging at his lips, he asked slowly. 

“What happened to the girl who poisoned Alexa’s food?”

“She’s dead. Shame, really, we could’ve gotten more out of her. Still, we did uncover that both the Mage Tower and the Spire were involved.”

“…What a shame.”

Ysildus muttered.

“I should’ve been the one to end her myself.”

“You still have the Mage Tower and the Spire, don’t you?”

Carlisle advised calmly, as if to keep him from rushing ahead.

“Ah. That’s true. It was never just about that one girl. Whoever endangered Alexa didn’t act alone.”

Ysildus bared his hidden fangs. His sapphire-blue eyes turned sharp, filled with cold, crimson fury. How should he sever their throats so his rage could subside?

‘Alexa, as long as you don’t find out… it’s fine, right?’

Essellia sensed the shift in his gaze and sighed.

“…Alexa will wake soon. So go on, and don’t worry.”

“Yes. I believe she will. Alexa is stronger than she looks.”

Ysildus left the room, the broken sign in hand. But contrary to everyone’s hopes, Alexa did not return to them for a long, long time.