This Three Year Old Is a Villainess-Chapter 288

When I revealed myself, the horses all halted at once.

They recoiled at sight of the knights from Fuslhur Castle I had detained.

Dalia’s pupils trembled.

“E-Erilot?”

“Hello, Dalia. I suppose I shouldn’t ask how you, who were supposed to be sleeping in the jurisdiction, ended up here?”

“Ah, well... it’s just that...”

Dalia trailed off, shifting her gaze between the man guiding her and the one on the black horse behind her.

‘How did she slip free?’

Likely thanks to Grimie’s remarkable magical devices and those Veil operatives.

The black horse stepped forward.

“Do not threaten our lady.”

“Spare me your nonsense.”

“...What?”

“Oh—sorry, that was my inner thought popping out. My apologies?”

The rider of the black horse snatched off his hood in anger.

“How dare you...!”

“You’re the ones daring, in fact.”

“What?!”

“Your hair looks familiar. I know you.”

“...”

Dalia’s escort must be from the Veil—assigned to protect the Precious One. They were of similar age to Balzac and Joshua, and bore that coldly beautiful silver hair.

“You’re Mashitabba?”

The black-horse rider chuckled.

“Your memory serves you well. Remember this: the only one who may call my true name is the Precious One behind me—!”

Kugugugugugu!!

The mountain itself trembled with the roar.

‘So that’s his power.’ I’d sensed it when he saved Girtav. Even while under sanction, he wielded unimaginable strength. Mashitabba had quelled him lightly then—he was a child at the time; now he’s grown.

‘Am I a fool? To fight someone like that?’

“Show yourselves!”

At my command, our soldiers sprang from concealment, brandishing a certain magical device: a video transmitter. In other words...

‘We’re broadcasting live, you lot!’

“This scene is being sent to the duke’s mansion’s demiplane. Grandfather, his retainers, and very important guests are all watching.”

Dalia’s Veil escorts muttered in surprise.

“The Crown Prince of Kansis continent....”

“Even Prince Salvatore and the palace courtiers....”

I grinned.

“Try attacking now, you fools!”

Veins bulged on Mashitabba’s hand. At that moment, Dalia cried,

“Stop, Erilot! Mashitabba, set me down. I want to dismount.”

The man guiding her horse stepped down, then gently lifted Dalia and placed her on the ground, cradling her as if she’d vanish if he let go.

Dalia hurried to me.

“We didn’t mean to attack you!”

“Despite bringing troops across the jurisdiction boundary, you claim no hostile intent...”

“Well, actually... Ah! We didn’t cross the mountains! We only went as far as the foothills, then planned to return...”

“Dalia.”

“Y-yes, I swear we didn’t plan to attack...!”

“That’s enough.”

“Huh?”

“Over there.”

I pointed with my chin to the sign behind them—a sign I’d affixed myself a half-hour before.

[From Here Onward: Daimond Jurisdiction →]

Dalia’s party gaped at the neatly hand-lettered sign.

Mashitabba scowled.

“You cannot unilaterally define borders.”

“Who said I did? Precisely! Down to the fifth decimal place! I pinned it beautifully here, did I not?”

“That’s impossible. Daimond jurisdiction lies beyond these mountains...!”

“Sure, that’s where troops are stationed. Who’d expect someone to slip out on a secret path in these treacherous mountains and station soldiers here instead?”

Dalia’s retinue was flustered. Understandably so—they couldn’t attack with the live broadcast, and they had indeed crossed the boundary.

‘Now you have no choice but to be led away.’

The man who’d dismounted Dalia pulled off his hood. ‘Silver hair, too... must be one twin.’ He said,

“We merely escorted the lady unfamiliar with manor geography back to where she should be.”

“But you carry swords—surely an inspection is required?”

Dalia bit her lip in helplessness. Surveying me, the black-horse rider, and the twins, she suddenly exclaimed,

“Argh!”

She leapt forward and snatched the parchment from the black-horse rider’s hand.

“I got it! It’s mine now! With this pledge in hand, my father will claim the succession...!”

Giddy, she unfolded the parchment and chattered gleefully.

“...Huh?”

I bowed my head, smiling at the absurdity.

When my suppressed laughter escaped, Dalia glared at me. I lifted my head to meet her eyes.

“You thought it was the pledge?”

“W-what...?”

“That it must be, since he looked the strongest and you caught him in the act?”

“Could it be... then...”

“Now, look up and show your face.”

The black-horse rider slowly lifted his head.

“...!”

“...!!”

I grinned and turned to our soldiers restraining him.

“Release him. ...Luca.”

He was once a boy-knight in the Igritz army, one of my two Kansis escorts. Now he leads Igritz’s special detachment—Luca. He smiled faintly as he rose.

“The Igritz and Isez knights have also captured other pursuers.”

“That cannot be! They are /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ ours...!”

The black-horse Mashitabba shouted. I folded my arms.

“So you claim the Veil’s finest assassins? I anticipated as much and planted ‘this’ everywhere you went.”

I pointed at the transmitter. Dalia and the Mashitabbas froze.

‘The branch families spirited the pledge away before you could arrive.’

Because I leaked your arrival plans!

I smiled warmly at Dalia.

“Do you understand, Dalia?”

“...”

“Sometimes cunning triumphs over brute strength.”

I tapped her head. Dalia clenched her skirt tightly. In a gentle voice, I added,

“You have much to learn. The pledge, your father, the succession... so many truths have slipped from your lips.”

“E-Erilot...”

“What? The Precious One was seized by that Erilot girl?!”

“Yes. The Veil’s watchers reported it.”

Ayla snapped irritably,

“Those were the assassins Kumal trained! And the Mashitabbas with them—how could this happen?!”

“Apparently Erilot Astra used a video transmitter....”

“A video transmitter?”

“She broadcast images to the duke’s mansion’s demiplane. They couldn’t attack Daimond’s troops in front of the duke and his guests....”

Ayla ground her teeth. ‘That wicked girl.’ Unable to match her in skill, she resorted to trickery?

The steward interjected anxiously,

“But something’s odd.”

“What is?”

“We sent someone to the duke’s mansion to manage the situation, but the demiplane never activated.”

“What?!”

“How on earth....”

“How on earth? It means they never broadcast!”

Ayla and the steward both pictured Erilot with her tongue stuck out. ‘Of course she couldn’t broadcast.’ A video transmitter of that caliber costs an astronomical sum. That miserly girl wouldn’t spend that much just once! Even if she’d prepared in advance, secretly matching the demiplane’s magical frequencies would require hundreds of mages and endless time—and rumors would leak.

‘Damn it!’

Ayla kicked the table fiercely. The steward swallowed dryly and said,

“Erilot Astra is heading for the duke’s mansion with Dalia and the Veil.”

“With so many people, they can’t all use the transfer talisman.”

“Then....”

“We must extract Dalia and the Veil first.”

Ayla clenched her fist with a murderous look.

“Inform my lady, and mobilize the troops at once!”

“Yes!”

I pressed my hand to my ear.

“What is it, my lady?”

Luca asked.

“Hm, seems someone’s discussing me vigorously.”

No doubt. With Precious Dalia captured, Grimie’s domain must be in uproar. I glanced back at Dalia, who sat bound in the transfer carriage.

‘Captivity isn’t the only concern.’

“Luca, maintain strict watch.”

“Understood.”

“They’ll be desperate to reclaim Dalia.”

They crossed into another jurisdiction with troops—an inspection was inevitable, even for kin.

‘Indeed, the inspection is the problem.’

If they discover any sign of enchantment on Dalia during questioning, they’ll seize her by any means.

Luca glanced around, then leaned close.

“The captain’s detachment and Igritz’s central forces will rendezvous near Decons jurisdiction, my lady.”

“Very well.”

The carriage interior was chaotic—screams, even kicking at the walls. Every minute resistance intensified. I opened the small window.

“Quiet.”

A middle-aged man cried,

“Let us bargain! Let us bargain!”

“...”

“You’re here at Erilot’s request to track the branch families’ pledge, correct?”

“...”

“I’ll help you secure the pledge. So please spare Lady Dalia...!”

“Ridiculous.”

“...Pardon?”

“The pledge will naturally come into my hands in time. Why bargain with you?”

The man ground his teeth, as if thinking: “If only not for that transmitter...!”

“Gold? Information? I’m not interested.”

“Then name your terms...!”

“What I want is for you to silently proceed to the duke’s mansion—”

At that moment—

Bang—!

I whirled around.

“What now?!”

“Monsters! A horde of powerful monsters unseen at close range approaches!”

“Damn it, Grimie’s forces again...!”

I slammed shut the window and took a spyglass from the soldiers, peering at the incoming horde.

‘Needlebeasts? A pack of needlebeasts?’

If so, the soldiers here could handle them—but wait.

‘Have needlebeasts ever emitted such immense mana?’

Their aura stung even at this distance.

‘Impossible....’

I watched their feet. Shadows flickered beneath them.

“Shadow beasts—!!”

Shadow creatures like Ombre—adult forms by the mana volume! They feed on negative emotions, making them the trickiest monsters for humans. And in such numbers...

The soldiers readied for battle. I shouted,

“Hold! Retreat!”

“What?”

“Even if you defeat them, casualties will be enormous! You’ll have no escorts left! No arguments—run!”

We sprinted off at once.

‘Only one transfer talisman—nowhere near enough to move everyone.’

We’d have to run until Captain Kali’s detachment joined us. How cowardly, sending monsters where we have a transmitter? Damn!

“Toward the village! Shadow beasts weaken in light...!”

“But the bridge’s destroyed!”

Probably sabotage by Grimie’s men. I scanned desperately. A mountain loomed—beyond it lay Decons jurisdiction.

‘But mountain trails slow us, and darkness there strengthens shadow beasts... wait, Decons jurisdiction?’

A face flashed in my mind:

“Why are you studying here? It’s time for boon training.”

“My boon is worthless—just a ring of light at my wrist...”

“...”

“How lucky you are to wield such power.”

‘Liantin—!!’

Liantin bears the transfer talisman—she can instantly convey us over the mountain, and her boon could repel these shadow creatures.

“Enter the mountain!”

We must hide until she arrives. I activated the talisman while moving and called Liantin:

[What now?]

“Help me, sister!”

[...What?]

“Shadow beasts are chasing us! Only you can save us!”

After a pause, Liantin swallowed.

[Give me your location.]

“There’s a valley—”

I relayed our position and hurried there, hiding as we waited for Liantin.

‘Cowards. Sending monsters because of a transmitter?’

After a while, I heard rustling.

‘Footsteps... Liantin?’

I looked up—and saw...

“Choosing to flee was a poor choice, Erilot.”

I froze. The floating transmitters around us—actually mere props styled like transmitters—exploded.

“Now surrender my daughter.”

Grimie Astra stood there, draped in black cloak, wearing a chilling smile.