This Three Year Old Is a Villainess-Chapter 293

Recognizing the Guardian, my pounding heart finally calmed a bit.

‘W-what a fright. I thought it was a ghost.’

Han Jihyeok still looked bewildered.

“What is it? What’s next to me...?”

He cast a doubtful glance around. With only one torch, the underground was very dark. He seemed unsettled by my remark that something was beside him, so he shook his shoulder.

[This one is terribly timid. Couldn’t even wander the castle at night.]

“...!”

It speaks—and very clearly, too! The first time I saw another’s Guardian was with Silin in that 5-on-5 battle. Silin’s Guardian spoke then, but not with such a clear voice.

‘What’s going on? Wait—can it talk, too?’

“Excuse me.”

“What?”

Han Jihyeok’s Guardian looked at me. He didn’t answer, so he probably didn’t realize someone was addressing him.

“You—over there. You, clinging beside Han Jihyeok.”

[...Me?]

“Yes.”

[You—you can see me?!]

Han Jihyeok’s Guardian dashed toward me, face as if about to faint.

“Please don’t rush me! It’s scary, like seeing a ghost!”

[My goodness, a human who sees me! It’s the first time—ever!]

He spun around excitedly, cheered “Yippee!”, passed through walls, clung to the chandelier—making such a fuss.

[I’m so happy! You don’t know how badly I wanted to talk! How long has it been? Centuries... no, at least a millennium...!]

No one would believe he’s Han Jihyeok’s Guardian with all that chatter. Well, he is Grimie’s Guardian, granted to Han Jihyeok.

‘He doesn’t seem to read my thoughts, though.’

Perhaps Sairon read my thoughts because he is my Guardian.

‘But why can I ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) suddenly see other Guardians?’

As I wondered, fingering the censer, Han Jihyeok’s Guardian popped in again.

[This is Verite.]

“Verite?”

[Yes—the artifact used by the Thirteen Apostles. Verite is a mage tool that draws out true power.]

So this relic awakened my true power.

[You use Verite, so you must be of the “Night” faction?]

“Night?”

[Yes—day and night. All life is born under day and night. What do you know?]

How would I know that? That’s ancient lore!

‘I need you to tell me!’

I shone with interest, staring at Han Jihyeok’s Guardian.

Just then, Han Jihyeok’s voice came from behind me.

“Why are you like this... are you insane...?”

I turned—he stood rigid.

“Jihyeok, are you not allowed to wander at night in your jurisdiction?”

“What! A man—!”

[Liar. You’ve been trembling ever since the servants started whispering about ghosts at night.]

“Trembling?”

“W-what nonsense! Who said that!”

He leapt in denial, but his legs quivered. Both our Guardians giggled.

We climbed back to my room, censer in hand. Han Jihyeok looked around unhappily.

“So you can talk with your Guardian?”

“Mm. When the censer’s unlit, I can’t see it. Only when lit.”

“Well, that’s a useful find. You can ask it questions.”

I nodded, then turned to Han Jihyeok’s Guardian.

“Excuse me.”

[Yes, yes—ask me anything. I’ll answer anything! But you must chat with me for three hours. Understood?]

“...Understood. First—how did you become Han Jihyeok’s Guardian?”

[Your uncle handed me over.]

“What do you mean, handed you over?”

[Ah—your uncle wrested me from my original master.]

“Wrested?”

[Yes. When a human is about to die, their bond to their Guardian weakens. At that moment, one can seize the Guardian. Strictly speaking it’s “negotiated relocation.”]

“Please explain more.”

[We Guardians aren’t free to bind to any human at will.]

“....”

[We wait in darkness until a suitable human appears. A hundred years is hardly a wait.]

“I see.”

[Who could refuse when asked to join? And Grimie is a human with enough magic to sustain many Guardians.]

“....”

[Though it’s not truly his own power—his magic tastes awful. I had to share it, but as a connoisseur...]

“Wait. Does Grimie also speak with his Guardian? You’d need to speak to negotiate.”

[Grimie lacks that ability. Inolax handles negotiations.]

“Inolax?”

[Sairon—pah. Even if Inolax slumbered centuries, his game is pitifully weak.]

[Know who I am! Born of the same root as the Lions! I would have been among the Thirteen Apostles!]

[The world changed in my slumber. How dare a puppet rebel against humans!]

‘That’s her.’

The woman who first attacked me in ancient times. The one who made me manipulate the world’s flow.

“What blessing does she bear? How can she speak with humans?”

[It’s not a blessing. Inolax was originally one of the Thirteen Apostles. He was granted the right by the gods—to communicate with living beings.]

“Right?”

[The Thirteen lost their rights in the Final War. Now, only Inolax can speak with humans.]

Since he can speak with Guardians, no wonder he wields such magic. He must also have taught the monster-fusion technique.

‘Then I can fight back now.’

First, I should test whether I can speak with other Guardians.

At that moment, there came a knock, and the voices of my three brothers.

“Erilot, there’s a letter from the palace. May we come in?”

“Sure, Joshua!”

I quickly opened the door. Balzac smirked.

“What’s with the welcome? You missed me that much?”

“Incredibly. I missed you terribly.”

“Ha!”

Balzac laughed and reached to pat my shoulder, but I squeezed between my brothers.

“Greetings, Guardians! It’s Erilot!”

They see me—everyone’s Guardian is visible!

[You can converse? Amazing.]

Joshua’s sweet-voiced Guardian smiled.

[Damn, I can even hear that brat’s voice. Is it because of him? He must be a conduit for us Guardians.]

Rough-voiced Balzac’s Guardian.

[...]

And Lysimond’s Guardian, silent and tight-lipped. I beamed and served tea.

[Adorable lady, though you serve tea, we cannot drink it. But we accept your kindness.]

[I want meat instead. I used to eat meat three times a day... though I don’t feel hunger in death.]

[...]

When Han Jihyeok’s Guardian joined in, it became a market square.

[It’s an honor to meet three of you! You served under the Thirteen Apostles—unlike a mere guard like me!]

Joshua’s Guardian, who had been kind to me, pretended not to see Han Jihyeok’s Guardian. Balzac’s and Lysimond’s Guardians likewise. Their eyes were fixed only on the tea and snacks.

[Sigh, this incense smells divine.]

[Wait—you can smell it? You sense fragrance?]

[...]

The three Guardians’ eyes lit up. They each grabbed cups and pastries.

[I can feel it! I taste it!]

[Ah, the aroma... the tea’s aroma!]

They trembled with emotion. Han Jihyeok’s Guardian grabbed at the water glass before him—but his hand passed through the glass.

[What’s this? I can’t grasp it.]

Joshua’s Guardian scoffed.

[It’s a matter of nobility. We, who served the Thirteen’s aides, are not the same as you.]

[I... see.]

‘Nobility of essence?’

Would the gods truly discriminate so? I slid a scone toward Han Jihyeok’s Guardian.

“Try again—you never know.”

[...Well... there’s no way... Wait! I can!]

He caught the scone and began to devour it with delight—while the rest of my brothers’ Guardians and mine remained frozen.

“Could it be...”

[My goodness, to taste tea thanks to this lovely lady...]

[Then meat! Give me meat!]

[...]

Seeing me stiffen, my brothers and Han Jihyeok looked questioningly.

“What’s wrong, Erilot?”

“Why this sudden change?”

Joshua and Balzac asked with concern. As Balzac asked what the Guardians had done to me, I clutched my shoulders and trembled.

“This is incredible....”

This is like winning the lottery—no, the powerball! Guardians starved for over a millennium. How desperate they must be for food. And some, like Han Jihyeok’s, wish to converse.

“All the world’s information... it will all be mine, right?”

I hugged the censer and cried out,

“Grimie is dead~!”

—And so on. My brothers stared at me in bemusement, though I was ecstatic.

“Should I tell you a bit?”

Balzac asked sadly, so I explained everything. The more I spoke, the brighter their faces became.

“Incredible. Truly astounding.”

Lysimond nodded. I grinned.

“I want to experiment further. Target powerful figures, ideally.”

“Experiment?”

“Yeah—humans affect Guardians. I wonder if Guardians affect humans. For example, our feelings—friendship, hostility—and if weakening them makes us ill.”

“Then there’s a perfect opportunity.”

Joshua produced an invitation.

“What’s that?”

“It’s Empress Ocellia’s invitation. She wishes to see you and Dalia together.”

My fist clenched. That invitation signaled the resumption of life in the capital.

As expected, Grimie was released without incident—under the Emperor’s protection, of course. But who is my grandfather? No matter the Emperor’s edict, he would not let matters end peacefully. I glanced at Dalia beside me in the carriage: her expression was dark. She stared gloomily at the servant Grimie had assigned.

“Shall we move residences...?”

I smiled inwardly.

‘Grandfather confiscated all the family’s assets.’

Though he surely has hidden reserves, he cannot flaunt them. Thus Grimie placed us in a second-tier district, a modest house. Dalia’s servant smiled awkwardly.

“Until the Duke’s anger subsides, that will be difficult, Miss.”

“What is this?”

Dalia muttered sourly.

‘When one possesses a new soul, they should first marvel at a grand residence....’

Indeed—when I first was possessed, I was astonished. The carriage entered the imperial palace. A guard approached.

“Show your identity badge.”

Han Jihyeok presented my lavish badge identifying him as a former Yuan-major. The guard brightened.

“Yuan-major!”

“Ah? You served in the Western Army?”

The guard had moved from Western Army to the imperial guard. I smiled kindly.

“It must have been difficult.”

“Y-Yuan-major... to see you again—I, I...”

His voice faltered in tears. In that moment, Dalia’s servant abruptly thrust her own badge forward. The guard’s expression froze.

“I’m sorry, but this person may not enter through the central gate.”

“What?!”

The servant protested vehemently, and Dalia looked utterly flustered. The guard, once Western Army, now imperial, was unyielding.

“Please disembark and use the northwest gate.”

“We are guests of the Empress!”

“No further orders from the Empress Palace have arrived; rules must be followed.”

Dalia glanced at me.

“Erilot...”

She begged silently for help. Yet I was pleased.

‘If I enter through the central gate first, I’ll meet the Empress alone.’

Perfect. I can use the blessing Han Jihyeok gained!