The S-Class Hunter Doesn't Want To Be A Villainous Princess - Chapter 4
‘How is there not even a single one?’
Renee was currently lying down in complete shock.
Under the excuse of proving her innocence, she had personally interviewed every servant in the estate—checking their affinity one by one.
Most of them hadn’t even responded properly to her summons.
She had to go find them herself just to see their faces.
‘How did this girl even live her life?’
And the result?
‘How is not even one of them in the positives?’
All that remained was despair.
'At the very least, shouldn’t someone have an affinity of zero?'
Shouldn’t there at least be someone at zero?
She was supposed to be the novel's main character.
So how could she have absolutely no likability at all?
‘Damn it.’
Why had she checked the servants’ affinity in the first place?
Because she needed an ally.
‘Unlike my previous life, I haven’t read the original of this world. I have no information.’
The most basic strategy for gathering information—
was to secure a reliable source first.
Surely at least one person would like her.
She had planned to start by using that person.
But there wasn't.
Not a single one.
She had hit a wall from the very beginning.
‘...Tsk. No popularity, but the room's ridiculously big.’
It was extravagant, too.
It seemed she had been raised with luxury.
But then again, the servants clearly looked down on her.
‘Don’t call us over such pointless things, my lady.’
‘Why don’t you mind your own business?’
‘Tch….’
Honestly, she had considered disciplining them—
but it felt wrong to bully ordinary people, so she let it go.
Renee opened the wardrobe and examined the clothes.
Even without her lack of knowledge about this world, they looked extremely expensive.
The jewelry box was overflowing as well.
'So she was just rich?'
“Well, at least this life should be easier to clear than the last.”
In truth, creating loyal subordinates would be easy.
She could use the magic of <The Ruthless Blood Leader>—
or the skills of <The Ruler of Temptation>.
‘But the status window is still being adjusted... If the skill get cut off midway, that'll be a headache.’
Killing everyone wasn’t always the answer.
Through countless regressions, Renee had learned firsthand how dangerous it was to rely blindly on her power.
She needed to be careful.
There were two simplest ways to prove her innocence:
1. Find Saint Leanne Karis and prove she wasn't dead.
2. If she was dead, find the real culprit.
First, she needed to confirm whether the Saint was actually dead.
After a moment of thought, Renee called out:
“Can you find the Saint? This seems like your specialty, Water lady.”
[<The Queen of Waves and Healing> tells you there is not enough information.]
“What kind of information do you need?”
[<The Queen of Waves and Healing> says it's be possible to track her down if you have one of her belongings.]
“I think I could get that for you.”
[<The Ruthless Blood Leader> asks if we can just frame the murder on someone else.]
[<The Ruler of Temptation> is happy to hear the suggestion because that's his forte.]
“That’s not an option. We don’t know what kind of powerful individuals exist here. If there are those who wield divine power—as expected of a Saint—you'll get exposed immediately, old man.”
[<The Ruler of Temptation> is stunned to hear that shocking nickname.]
Renee stood up and faced the mirror.
Silver hair.
Blue eyes.
A stunning beauty stared back at her.
She hadn’t realized it before, but this body—
was unbelievably beautiful.
In her previous life, Kim Yiyoung hadn’t been particularly pretty.
More like... strikingly handsome.
But this was on another level.
The kind of beauty that made eyes widen.
‘With a face like this, why cling to a man who doesn’t even like you?’
If it were her, she would've turned this into a reverse harem.
“…I guess I need to go outside. If no one here likes me, I’ll just find someone who does.”
[<The Queen of Waves and Healing> worries that it might be dangerous.]
“For who? Me?”
[<The Ruthless Blood Leader> laughs and says everyone who meets you will be in danger.]
[<The Ruler of Temptation> hears the <Ruthless Blood Leader>'s statement and rolls on the ground laughing.]
“Seriously… I just need one person.”
[<The Ruthless Blood Leader> suggests going to the place where she went missing.]
“...That’s a good idea.”
Maybe she’d find something there.
In the end, Renee obtained a report summarizing the case—with Ante’s help.
She wanted to refuse assistance from that arrogant brat—
but sometimes, you had to bend.
Ante insisted she take guards.
She refused.
‘Sorry, but those guys would just slow me down.’
‘…Guys?’
‘I can go alone. If you’re that worried, assign just one. You’ll need someone to keep an eye on me anyway.’
So she ended up bringing along one older knight.
At least she got a carriage out of it—not a bad outcome.
“So this is where she was last seen.”
According to the report, Saint Leanne Karis had disappeared ten days ago while providing healing services near the outskirts of the Markious territory.
There were no witnesses.
No evidence.
Which made the case even harder.
So she came to the site.
“...Hmm.”
At first glance, it looked like a normal slum.
In one corner stood tents where priests were staying.
Renee headed toward them.
“Is anyone here?”
She chose to speak first instead of using a skill.
She needed information.
‘This world still feels… off.’
Before long, someone in simple priest robes appeared.
“Who are you?”
“I am Renee Markious.”
“…The duke’s daughter?”
At the mention of her name, another priest came out, face immediately twisting in displeasure.
More followed.
All openly hostile.
“What brings you here? We heard you were imprisoned.”
“You must have heard a false rumor.”
Renee denied it casually.
The priest clearly didn’t believe her.
“This is not a place for someone as vile as you, my lady.”
“...Vile?”
Renee tilted her head, intrigued.
“So you’re all convinced I’m the culprit?”
'This won’t be easy.'
The priests’ expressions twisted further at her words.
“Of course! If not you, then who would have killed Her Holiness?!”
“Did you see it happen?”
“…We are mere priests. We are not trained to detect assassins.”
“So in other words—
You didn’t.
You speak well, but in the end, you failed, didn’t you?”
“Did you come here to mock us? This place is already in turmoil after losing Her Holiness. Please leave.”
“No. I came to find the real culprit. And clear my name while I'm at it.”
The priests began murmuring.
The phrase real culprit clearly shook them.
“Before coming here, I looked into imperial law. Even a duke’s daughter is severely punished for murdering a noble. So isn’t it strange that the imperial family hasn’t taken action against me?”
“That’s because of the Markious family’s influence—not your innocence.”
“Is it? Then how is that influence allows you to treat me like this?”
“….”
They fell silent.
Not bad.
“This is a case with no evidence. Declaring someone guilty like this isn’t right. Your doctrine should say something similar—shouldn’t it? Not to judge others so easily.”
She had no idea if it actually did—
but most religions had something like that.
“You might miss the real culprit.”
“Are you saying there is another culprit?”
“No. I’m saying I’m not the one.”
A brief silence fell.
Then laughter.
'Wow. This body really had zero credibility.'
Renee sighed.
“Do you truly believe anyone on this continent would trust your words, my lady?”
“No.”
“Then please leave. This is a sacred—”
“My father seems quite concerned with appearances.”
Renee smiled sweetly.
“If he has the power to suppress charges of murdering the Saint... removing a few priests from his territory should be nothing.”
“...Are you threatening us?”
“Let’s call it… stating facts.”
Their expressions darkened.
Renee spoked before things escalated further.
“I don’t want much. I intend to propoerly investigate this case. Answer my questions honestly, and cooperate with my search.”
The head priest hesitated.
The younger priests were already arguing—
some saying she deserved a chance, others calling her a devil.
Renee waited calmly.
“...We cannot allow that.”
“You can't, or you just won’t do it for free. What do you want?”
“How dare you speak so rudely to servants of God—!”
“You’re servants of God, not God. Why should I care?”
“….”
“So? What do you want?”
“…Since you insist, something does come to mind.”
“What is it?”
The priest coughed awkwardly.
“Well… with Her Holiness absent, we are short on manpower. And our funding is limited…”
“So you want money.”
“…!”
His face flushed.
As expected.
“Will this do?”
Renee took out a gemstone and handed it over.
Just one of many lying around in her inventory.
To her, it was nothing—
but to him…
He stared at it in shock.
Clearly valuable.
[<The Ruler of Temptation> urges you to hurry and collect your reward.]
'You crazy old man...'
“Is that enough?”
“…Yes. That should suffice.”
“Good. Then first—give me something that belonged to Saint Leanne Karis. Preferably something she used often.”
“That is easy. Take this scripture—it belonged to Her Holiness.”
'Ah. That explains the holy aura.'
“I’ll take it.”
“...Why do you need it?”
“To find someone.”
“…Pardon?”
“Nothing. I's also like to inspect the tent she stayed in.”
“The knights have already searched it.”
“That's fine.”
“…Then it’s that tent—the one at the very back.”
“Good. Let me know if you need anything else.”
Renee gestured to her escort knight.
Sir Martin followed, still looking surprised.
She dismissed everyone else and entered the tent with him.
It was simple.
Neat.
'She really lived like a Saint.'
People like that were the hardest.
They hid their flaws perfectly.
“My lady.”
“What?”
“Earlier… that agreement…”
“Is there a problem?”
“No… it’s just…”
He hesitated.
“I thought you disliked them. The priests.”
“…Them?”
“Yes. That’s why you never attended mass. And after what happened with the Archbishop… His Grace would be pleased to see this.”
“…What happened?”
“You… don’t remember?”
“No. Tell me.”
“…At the ceremony where Lady Leanne was declared the Saint… you threw champagne in the Archbishop’s face…”
“…That’s enough.”
She didn’t need to hear more.
What a life.
“You said back then… that you had a reason.”
“A reason?”
“…You said the Archbishop… had harassed you.”
“…Harassed?”
So that happened.
No wonder relations had soured.
Renee’s mood darkened instantly.
If that were true—
why had it ended there?
That kind of man deserved worse.
Much worse.
“Was that also... a misunderstanding?”
“Believe what you want.”
“...Pardon?”
“Everyone’s been doing that anyway. Thinking what they want. Covering things up how they want.”
It was obvious.
She had seen it too many times.
People never listened to those with bad reputations.
Not in this life—
not in the last—
not in any of her regressions.
So she stopped caring.
‘This body is mine now.'
And if there was one person who would believe her—
it was herself.
If Renee Markious said she was innocent—
then she was.
And if she ever found that Archbishop—
next time, it wouldn’t be champagne.
‘Even if she really was a villain—so what?’
Then she'd just live like one.
She was good at that.
[Quest Complete!]
<Sub Quest - Innocence> Cleared!
Clear Condition: Convince one person that you are innocent.
Believer: Renee Markious
Reward: Reputation +30
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