Chapter 18
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How to Survive as the Villain's Younger Sister
Episode 18
One hundred swings of the pickaxe to advance from Level 1 to Level 2.
Another hundred swings to advance from Level 2 to Level 3.
My body was utterly battered as a result.
All that remained were the beautifully shaped stones I'd found at Level 1 and the shattered ruby necklace from Level 2.
'I could have sworn I was born as the youngest daughter of a noble family....'
I was lamenting my circumstances when I heard it.
From somewhere came the rhythmic sound of digging—thunk, thunk, thunk.
The Pickaxe of Desire was excavating soil all on its own.
"Level 3 has an automation feature!"
I crawled toward the pickaxe.
Too exhausted to stand, I shuffled forward on my knees, moving painfully slow.
Clang!
The pickaxe, which had been digging deeper, struck something hard.
"Could it be?"
I peered cautiously into the pit the pickaxe had carved.
Nestled within the faded, lifeless soil gleamed a luminous silver stone.
"I found it!"
I slid down into the pit without hesitation.
Cupping my small hands like a trowel, I frantically extracted the silver stone.
The moment it touched my palm, I felt a surge of power so intense it tingled.
I knew instinctively.
"'Night Spirit Stone'!"
Unlike ordinary spirit stones, which were blue, this one shimmered silver.
And within it, beautiful lights like stars rippled like the Milky Way itself.
It overflowed with energy.
'Energy accumulated by draining the vitality of Parkision.'
You won't be draining our land anymore, you wretched spirit stones!
'But for now, that's enough work for today!'
I retrieved the Pickaxe of Desire.
Even with automated pickaxe functionality, it was impossible for me alone to excavate this vast expanse of land.
'I need to tell Alexis about the Night Spirit Stones beneath the Wasteland.'
She would handle the rest of the mining.
Then the Parkision Family's debts would be resolved!
And the farmland's fertility would be restored!
I carefully covered the spot where I'd extracted the Night Spirit Stone with my maple-leaf-shaped hands.
Then, grunting with effort, I crawled up out of the pit.
A large shadow fell over me.
'Did the servants notice I was missing and come looking for me?'
True enough.
Too much time had passed to excuse it as a nap.
The sun was already setting.
"It's been a while, Cyrilia."
But the owner of that shadow was not one of the maids.
"U-Uncle?"
Dreiny was grinning down at me with a smirk.
I gasped in surprise, my eyes widening into perfect circles.
"How did you—ow!"
Dreiny yanked me up from the pit I'd been crawling out of.
His rough grip made me wince.
"That hurts!"
"Could it hurt as much as this uncle's heart, not being able to see you? I was lingering near the mansion because I missed you so, and I happened to discover you here."
My Wasteland was located to the north, beyond the Duke's Mansion.
In other words, while it connected to the mansion's entrance, it was technically outside the grounds.
Which meant the risk of encountering Dreiny was considerable.
"While I was away, did Alexis deceive you and make you sign some strange documents?"
Was he referring to the renunciation of inheritance?
"N-No, let go! Put me down!"
I thrashed about desperately.
Dreiny gripped me tighter, annoyed by my resistance.
As I struggled, a fist-sized spirit stone jingled in my pocket.
"I can't leave you in the Duke's Mansion any longer! Come with your uncle."
"What?"
He was taking me away?
'Is he kidnapping me?'
I shook my head vigorously.
"No! I won't go!"
"Stay still. Many people have agreed to help. We'll deal with Alexis—wait, what is this?"
Dreiny felt something in my pocket and spoke.
'A Night Spirit Stone!'
His expression darkened ominously.
'I can't let him find out!'
If Dreiny learned of the spirit stone's existence, he wouldn't remain idle.
The Wasteland he and Jenin had abandoned also held many spirit stone deposits.
If he discovered that spirit stones lay beneath that Wasteland, it would be like giving Dreiny wings.
I quickly placed the Night Spirit Stone into my inventory.
"Huh? What?"
As the object that had been in his grasp vanished, Dreiny's expression twisted.
"What did you just do?"
"I haven't done anything. You're mistaken, Uncle."
"That can't be! You're hiding something, aren't you?"
I clenched my lips tightly and shook my head vigorously.
Dreiny's mouth twisted into a cold smile.
"I wonder how much punishment it takes to make a good child."
With those words, Dreiny pulled a sack over my head.
* * *
When had I lost consciousness?
Beyond my hazy awareness, I heard voices arguing.
"You rat bastard! How dare you crawl in here?"
"You kidnapped that girl first!"
"What would a lowborn wretch like you know? This is between an uncle and his niece!"
"Then why is she all tied up? Are you trying to kill her?"
"You little bastard!"
My eyes snapped open.
The angry adult man was Dreiny Volgo.
My uncle who had kidnapped me.
The boy's voice arguing with him was unfamiliar.
But one thing was clear.
'Dreiny didn't deny it when asked if he was going to kill me!'
He really is planning to kill me!
But why?
For now, I decided to feign unconsciousness and assess the situation.
"Hey, wake up and say something to your uncle or whatever."
"...."
"You're awake. Hurry up and confront your uncle about this."
The boy tapped me lightly with his bound fist.
"Wait, Cyrilia. You're already awake?"
Dreiny asked in surprise.
Nothing was going as planned.
I made a tearful expression and slowly pushed myself up.
With my limbs all bound, I could only wriggle like a caterpillar.
The place where I'd been kidnapped was a dark warehouse with a single opaque window.
"Damn it. Waking up this early? I gave her a drug with weakened potency."
Dreiny muttered irritably.
'A drug with weakened potency?'
It seemed he'd given me something to make me lose consciousness.
But I felt no aftereffects, and my mind was perfectly clear.
'In my past life, I had immunity to poison. Could that still be effective now?'
Then Dreiny approached, gripping a thick rope with both hands.
"I was going to send you peacefully while you slept, but it seems that's no longer possible."
"U-Uncle...?"
Had he abandoned his dream of becoming regent through me?
'But then why is he trying to kill me?'
Seized by terror, I shuffled backward, pushing with my hips.
But soon my back struck an icy wall.
"It's unfortunate, but it's necessary for the Parkision Family."
Dreiny Volgo spoke without a shred of shame.
"Can we just stand by and watch Alexis destroy the Family? When adults offer to take on the regency, you should be grateful—not have the audacity to try becoming Duke yourself?"
"P-Parkision was always my sister's!"
I protested, my voice trembling.
Dreiny Volgo's expression turned vicious.
"What does a little girl know!"
"Without me, Uncle wouldn't even have a chance at becoming regent!"
"Oh? So you did understand."
Dreiny Volgo laughed mockingly, as if surprised.
"I thought you were just a stupid, pretty doll who knew nothing. Then you must also understand why I'm killing you?"
A sinister realization suddenly struck me.
"Don't tell me you're planning to frame my sister for my death...?"
"Exactly. I'll use the charge of murdering you to bring Alexis down."
"N-No one will believe you!"
"Don't worry. I didn't plan this alone."
There was someone behind this?
It wasn't a solo operation.
But in this narrow warehouse where I was trapped, there were only three of us.
I saw no one else.
Meanwhile, Dreiny Volgo approached me with a thick rope in hand.
I quickly glanced behind him.
While Dreiny Volgo's attention was on me.
The boy who had been kidnapped with me was carefully crawling toward Dreiny Volgo from behind.
He was going to strike from the rear.
'I need to buy him more time.'
"I was going to make you Duke and take the regency for myself. But alas, it's come to this. I hope you won't resent me..."
"You despicable pig-faced murderer!"
His sorrowful expression twisted into something terrifying in an instant.
"W-What!"
"You have no ability, yet you covet the Dukedom! Uncle, you're so incompetent you'd squander even a Baron's estate!"
"Y-You brat! Dreiny Volgo has powerful backers, so whether it's the Dukedom or a Barony, there's nothing I can't devour! Don't worry—go on your way!"
Dreiny Volgo gnashed his teeth and reached toward me.
That was when it happened.
"Ugh, ahhh!"
Dreiny suddenly screamed and collapsed.
The boy had bitten his ankle with all his strength.
It was the Achilles tendon.
"Argh!"
The pain was so excruciating that Dreiny rolled about, unable to rise easily.
The boy seized the opportunity and rubbed the rope binding him against a protruding nail on the wall, severing it.
Then he freed my hands and feet as well.
"Let's get out of here."
The boy spoke.
Up close, he appeared less like a young child and more like an adolescent, his frame noticeably taller.
Though dressed in tattered mercenary garb, his lustrous golden hair and dignified crimson eyes commanded an air of nobility.
'This is no ordinary boy.'
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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