Rogue Villain-Chapter 375: Sisters

Tenrick followed Willow through an arched gateway of curved and twisted tree trunks. Even he, with his nonexistent magical senses, could tell it was a portal. And he had heard about it from Willow before they arrived. It was the portal that would take them to the center of Arboria, where all notable ceremonies and gatherings involving the majority of the elves were held.

However, hearing about it before did nothing to minimize the amazement Tenrick felt as soon as he laid eyes upon the towering expanse of flora of all kinds.

Trees seemed to make up the foundation and structure of the amphitheater. Vines and flowers adorned those trees with minimalist extravagance.

There was no way trees and plants would form a building such as this on their own. But it was too natural for someone to have built it.

’"Now entering, Willow. Candidate number 374."’

Tenrick glanced around, trying to find the source of the voice, but with no success. He turned to Willow.

"That isn’t the number of when you officially joined the succession battle, is it?"

Willow shook her head with a despondent sigh.

"No."

Without Ackster’s aid, she didn’t stand a chance.

"It’s my position in the race. There are three-hundred and seventy-three elves more likely to become the Spokesperson than me."

"Oh..."

Tenrick and Willow found their seats in the auditorium. Now, it was a waiting game.

Willow wasn’t in a position to stake her claim or make a speech on why she should get the position as Spokesperson of Eternity anytime soon. Besides, without hearing anything from Ackster or any of his companions, Willow wasn’t in a rush to make a fool of herself.

After all, to guarantee that she could inherit the position, she would have to go pretty far. There couldn’t be a doubt in anyone’s mind that she was the only viable candidate.

Willow was bored. She wasn’t like Tenrick, who found everything and everyone interesting.

However, after some time, it seemed like her boredom would come to an end.

A tall, blonde-haired elf took the stage in the center of the amphitheater that was large enough to house almost all the elves of Arboria. As blessed by nature as they were, elves had good enough eyesight and hearing to see and hear Rose without issue. But she still cast amplification magic on her voice so there wouldn’t be a mistake in who spoke.

"Greetings, honored guests, friends, and family. My name is Rose, and my position in the successful battle is now number four. I’m sure all of you are aware of why it isn’t higher."

Rose spun around and looked at the crowd before settling her gaze on the only elf clad in full metal armor in the entire amphitheater. The closest any other elf had was a leather chestplate.

"It is my disgrace of a sister that’s sullying my reputation and stature, is it not? In fact, it’s not just my reputation. Willow brings shame to all elves!"

Rose took her gaze off Willow as if she could no longer bear to look at the shiny metal.

"That brings me to how I’m going to show my worth as Spokesperson of Eternity. Everyone already knows my strength, grace, and benevolence. It’s time to let the ruthlessness I keep inside out to let you all witness what I do to people who wish to cause our race harm."

Rose turned back to Willow and pointed at her.

"With that said...Come up here, Willow. I’ll at least give you a chance to fight back."

Willow sighed and slapped her knees before standing up.

"I guess this is it, then. It doesn’t look like you’ll be allowed upstage, Tenrick. So, just stay here. I’ll handle this."

"Alright. Kick her ass, Willow!"

"She won’t see what’s coming."

Willow walked to the stage with calm steps. She had waited for this moment a long time. She had imagined what it would be like several hundred times. Yet, somehow, she had never imagined this exact situation unfolding. The details with Ackster aside, she didn’t think Rose would be this brazen.

But it didn’t matter.

Willow’s helmet hid her smile as she leaped up in front of Rose without a shred of fear marring her posture.

"Willow! You sure are brave. You fight for the Spokesperson position despite all that’s wrong with you, and now you stand in front of me, unashamed of yourself."

"Shut up and come at me, you vile whore."

Although that’s what Willow said, she didn’t hesitate to make the first move. She lunged forward and threw a punch at Rose’s face.

Rose narrowly stepped back and dodged Willow’s gauntleted fist.

"Coward! I wasn’t finished berating you!"

"I don’t. Care."

Willow’s raspy voice echoed with a menacing thrum due to the metal helmet that only had a slit for the eyes—eyes that burned with hate.

Willow chased Rose backward. However, Rose quickly found her footing and conjured a shield of magic leaves to halt Willow in her path as she equipped a bow from her Inventory.

An arrow of green light appeared on the bow as she tugged on the string. She loosened it toward Willow’s chest without hesitation.

But to Rose’s shock and dismay, Willow caught the arrow.

Willow glanced down at the arrow before looking up at Rose.

"Did you forget, sister? What happened last time we fought? Did you forget why I lost?"

Willow crushed the arrow, turning into sparkles of light that dissipated as she stomped closer to the retreating Rose.

"...N-no."

"I didn’t forget, sister. I didn’t forget for a second the moment Mother hit the back of my head with the butt of her spear when she saw me beating you to a pulp."

Willow didn’t even bother catching the next arrow. She just brushed it aside as she walked ever closer, her armor clunking in tandem with her steps.

"I didn’t forget when she tied me up and bound me to the hind leg of a Winter Stag."

"I...I."

"Rose."

"Do you remember? Do you remember what came next? Do you remember what you did when the Stag managed to break free from the rope?"

"N-no, I d-didn’t...—I don’t—"

"I can still feel the knife’s edge, sister, slicing through my skin."

"I didn’t do anything!"

"Every morning, it’s like it happens again. The blunt, rusty, cursed knife, carving its way across my mangled body."

"That wasn’t me! You were born cursed!"

"So what if I was?"

Without knowing, Rose had already come to the edge of the stage. One more step and she would fall off, forever ruining her chances of becoming the Spokesperson. Even now, she had made the mistake of forgetting her sister’s strength and losing a battle in which she was supposed to display her dominance.

However, the fury raging in Willow’s eyes that had smoldered for years wasn’t going to show Rose any mercy. Compared to being disgraced in death, being disgraced in life would at least let her live.

Rose decided to be cowardly and jump off before it was too late.

Unfortunately...

It was already too late for Rose.