The S-Class Hunter Doesn't Want To Be A Villainous Princess - Chapter 26

[Trial of the Tower] - 2nd Floor

Romance begins now! Now that you've chosen your male lead candidate, it's time to start your romance with them.

But before that, take a moment to check your own feelings. Not sure how you feel?

Don't worry, we'll help you. We'll show you the favorability you have for the male lead candidates.

However, you can only check the favorability once for all the candidates. So choose carefully!

Clear Condition: Favorability exceeds 100 when checked

Clear Reward: Clearing the 2nd floor of the Tower

Failure: Failure to return to the original world

"What kind of quest is this?"

Now there are even failure conditions. It's trying to scare her. Renee muttered to herself.

This damn system. Is it lying when it says this tower is a bug?

It feels like they just want to keep her busy.

[System notification// You can now check the favorability. Would you like to view it? (Yes/No)]

Renee casually pressed 'Yes'. It's a piece of cake to have a favorability of 100. Just choose anyone right away...

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> is going to tear you apart!]

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> is blocking your favorability inquiry window!]

[The <Emperor of Temptation> requests you to think again before taking action.]

"Why? Do you think I can't exceed a mere favorability of 100? Do I come across as that emotionless? Huh?"

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> curses you to think about your last relationship.]

"What's wrong with my last relationship? I've never had one."

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> points out that's the problem.]

...Are they insulting her for not having any dating experience? Renee suddenly felt unjust and opened the chat window with the other Constellations.

"No, Sister Waves. Tell me. Do I come across as someone who can't even have a simple relationship or favorability?"

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> remains silent.]

"Why are you silent? Isn't everyone being too much?"

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> comforts you, saying that you were too busy fighting to have a relationship.]

"It's not that I couldn't, I just didn't. I didn't. That's it. Let's stop talking."

Renee closed all the chat windows with the Constellations and left the tower.

Everyone was just too much. Should she just check the favorability right away?

'...No.'

She recalled herself, who was confused about the feelings she felt when she was held by Cedin just a moment ago. Yes, let's be a little more cautious. Being cautious can't hurt.

What about Ishir? How coldly did she reject Ishir, who showed interest in her?

That couldn't be considered the behavior of someone who has favorability for another person.

Honestly, she had made a confident statement, but the more she confronted her own feelings, the more her confidence waned.

'100 favorability.'

It was a small number.

But even that, she didn't have the confidence to surpass.

Seeing Cedin's favorability exceed 500, she felt that she should at least reach half of that.

She should like him that much.

But she couldn't be sure.

'Let's go back to the Capital first... and then think about it.'

Making a hasty decision without facing each other and looking into her own heart would be foolish.

She took a deep breath.

Let's go back.

Go back and face each other directly. See how she truly feels. And if she's certain, then check the favorability.

***

The Capital, the Villa of the Duke of Marchius.

Renee left Cedin in the north and came down to the Capital alone.

She felt uneasy about leaving Cedin behind. Although Cedin had insisted on staying, it still bothered her.

'I have something to do here. If you go to the Capital first, I'll follow soon.'

'Is this 'something to do' really important?'

Looking at him not following, even though he made a face saying, 'I want to follow too. Take me with you.' 

Renee smiled faintly as she looked at Cedin, whose thoughts were written all over his face.

'It is indeed important. The priests haven't discovered anything yet.'

...That's right. She's hidden the tower with magic. Even if the Pope comes, he won't be able to find it. Renee swallowed a bitter laugh.

If the tower were to be known to the outside world, it would only bring trouble. It was best to keep it inaccessible until there was a special reason.

'Should I stay here a little longer?'

It felt like leaving a puppy by the riverside and going alone. Renee said something she didn't mean.

'No, it's alright.'

'I thought you would insist. You're quite considerate.'

Sigh.

Renee gently stroked Cedin's hair and tidied it up.

It had become a habit to do this without realizing it. Maybe it was because his hair was nice, or maybe it was fun to touch. It was even more enjoyable than petting her dog, Cerberus...

No. What is she doing right now? She discreetly withdrew her hand.

'If I insist, will Young Lady reject me?'

'...Huh?'

'You rejected me yesterday, didn't you?'

'Did you get hurt?'

Instead of answering, Cedin stared at Renee with eyes full of moisture. Yes, she understands even without words. He's been hurt a lot.

'But still, there's nothing I can do. I am the true disciple of my master. It's different from a fake lover.'

'Yeah.'

'So please, play with me instead of that brat.'

Is he crazy? Renee pushed Cedin, who was trying to get closer, and ran away immediately. He's making it hard to tell if he's a real dog or a fox.

'...If he weren't so good-looking, she wouldn't have been swayed like that. '

What kind of guy is so good-looking? Renee grumbled inwardly. It's annoying because he's much prettier than me. She looked at Cedin's jet-black hair, the green eyes hidden beneath it, and-

"What are you thinking that makes you laugh like that?"

Crash.

The sound of Renee's imagination being shattered was heard.

...That's right. She was in the middle of a conversation with him.

"Cyril. Should I teach you how to speak nicely again?"

"Hey. Do you think you would speak nicely? To the kid who caused such a big accident and disappeared? Do you know how hard it was for me to clean up after you disappeared?"

Cyril roared, venting all his anger. Seeing the dark shadows under his eyes, it seemed that he had been tormented by people.

"Was it really hard?"

"You call that an apology? After you disappeared, everyone asked me what that 'secret' was! Some people even stalked me to find out that secret!"

"Oh, I see. I'm sorry."

Renee retorted as if she wasn't sorry at all.

She really wasn't sorry. Compared to what Renee had gone through, Cyril's suffering now was nothing.

'I've seen you being mean to Renee in the original novel, you know.'

She leisurely took out a chocolate from the chocolate box.

Hmm. The Duke's money is good. In my past life, she couldn't even eat things like this. Not to mention chocolate, she couldn't even grow rice or wheat in that environment.

"Where did you go? You disappeared along with the Crown Prince and Sir Anshirad, causing a lot of talk."

"Talk? What talk?"

"...I don't know. I don't even want to say it myself."

"What's the matter?"

Cyril glared at Renee harshly and sighed.

"Never mind. Let's talk. Will you think about me even a little? Geez."

"Are you upset? Because I don't think about you?"

"Well...what?"

"I will think about you. Geez. I'll do it. Sheesh. I should have said that from the beginning."

Rene pulled Cyril's cheeks and smiled.

Such a cute child. At first, he was annoying because he was so stubborn, but now he was just cute.

"It hurts!"

"Oh, come on. Now that you're officially a mastery-level sword expert, you're complaining about something like this?"

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> is angry at the way his disciple is treated as a weakling.]

[The <Emperor of Temptation> says that it's not him who is weak, but you who are too strong.]

...Please be quiet, old men.

"Where did you learn that grandmother-like way of speaking?"

"Now, let's get back to the main point. Have you made any income during that time?"

"...Hmph."

Cyril handed a document to Renee. She quickly skimmed through it and sighed. She didn't expect much, but there really was nothing.

"Is this all? I guess everyone is desperate for secrets."

That's right.

This document was the 'truth' that Renee requested at the party before. The truth that would prove Renee's innocence and the truth about the people who tried to kill Lianne.

'Most of it is just gossip about Talia.'

Renee had already warned Cyril in advance.

It's probably not just Talia who sent assassins to Lianne.

She advised the people who were supposed to bring information to bring information about others, not just Talia.

'Talia is just a small part of the iceberg. Villains who are so obvious are nothing special.'

There were villains who needed to be careful of. The 'real' iceberg that existed beneath the surface. That's what Renee was looking for.

"It's not very helpful."

"Well, what did you expect?"

"Mastermind."

"Mastermind?"

"Yeah. The real mastermind who orchestrated all of this."

"How do you find someone like that?"

Cyril furrowed his brows as if he couldn't understand. Renee used her finger to smooth out the furrow.

"Don't frown. You'll get wrinkles."

She has nothing to see other than his face. Renee quietly swallowed her words. Cyril was already in a bad mood, so she shouldn't say that.

"Don't change the subject!"

"I didn't do anything, but if someone benefited from it, who would that person be?"

"...That person would be the mastermind?"

"That's right."

Renee infused magic into the paper and burned it. She had already memorized the contents, so it didn't matter.

"But is there really someone like that? Honestly, there may be many who wish for your downfall, but I don't think there's anyone who benefits from your downfall."

Cyril's words were not wrong. It's true that Renee's influence was insufficient to be the target of such a grand plan. But...

"What about Lianne? What do you think about her?"

What about Lianne?

"Lianne the Saintess is definitely popular, but what about that Saintess... Wait. Could it be...?"

"That's right. It's not Lianne, it's Ishir who stands beside Lianne."

Renee smiled proudly at Cyril, who was quickly catching on.

"But even if there are many who benefit from blaming the Crown Prince for the Saintess's death, only one comes to mind right now."

"That's right. It's-"

After the two of them locked eyes, they simultaneously blurted out.

"Princess Edin."

Renee rewarded Cyril for guessing correctly with a piece of chocolate and leaned back in her chair. Yes, even to anyone, Princess Edin seems suspicious.

"But even if the Princess is suspicious, how do we prove it?"

"Well, do you remember what you asked me last time about what I would do? Do you remember what I did?"

"...Hey, you can't be serious."

As Renee avoided eye contact and whistled, Cyril's complexion turned pale.

Before Renee could even open her mouth, he quickly raised his head.

"Cyril, shall we go visit the Palace?"

To see the troublemaker Ishir, and check her feelings.

And maybe even burn down the Palace.

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