She is the Daughter of the Villainess in a Ridiculous Novel - Chapter 75
“So the little rats come back to where they’ve been… I was wondering if that would really happen, and it’s true?”
“Who are you? Ugh!”
A voice suddenly came from nearby, grabbing Sigmund’s arm in an instant.
Shock flashed across his face.
‘When did they get this close?’
Having grown up in a crow’s den, he was confident in his ability to sense any presence. It should have been the case…
Sigmund tried to turn his head to see who had subdued him. The skinny figure wrapped in a black robe was indistinguishable as either male or female.
“Who am I? I’m a merchant whose business was ruined by someone else’s mess. I recently lured a fool, but someone completely ruined that, you know?”
“What does that mean, you idiot? Let go of me!”
“Hm, there’s no way two clueless kids could ruin my business, so who’s behind you? Did they tell you to step on my tail?”
“Ah, I don’t know anything about that!”
Idel glanced around, observing the surroundings as Sigmund bared his teeth and shouted.
‘There’s nothing helpful nearby.’
Not even a stone or a twig to throw and distract them.
Fortunately, judging by the movement of his hands and feet, they didn’t seem to be restraining him with a curse.
It appeared that whoever it was didn’t feel the need to tie up a noble girl.
‘Thanks for underestimating me.’
Even in a childish fight, Idel was a noble lady who had headbutted Sigmund during their first meeting.
‘Besides, I still have the ring necklace I received from Sylvia not long ago.’
Wasn’t it said to be a family heirloom that would protect her? It was just the right item for someone aiming for a body slam.
Idel lightly clenched her fist and quietly waited for an opportunity.
“Straining like this will only make it hard for you and me. And I’m not trying to do anything bad, right? As a merchant, I deserve compensation for my losses. No, do you know how much I lost because of that?”
“Ah, so! Why are you asking me that? Did I do it?”
“No? I don’t know. I might be wrong. But it could also be right. What’s wrong with trying?”
“This is completely extortion!”
Sigmund was throwing a fit just like when they first met. The ‘merchant,’ who had been sighing as if tired, suddenly shifted his gaze to Idel.
“From your clothes, it looks like you’ve had some education at home. Want to talk? Whether it’s about your backing or making excuses.”
“……”
“If you don’t want your precious friend to get hurt, let’s just talk easily, okay? Hmm? But you look a bit familiar. What is it?”
As the merchant tilted his head in confusion, Idel’s eyes widened.
‘Now’s my chance!’
Idel didn’t miss the moment the merchant hesitated, lost in thought. Without a hint of hesitation, she charged at Sigmund and the merchant, kicking off the ground.
“Uh?”
A startled voice came out in response to the unexpected attack, but Idel didn’t care.
She rushed at the merchant like a bull in a ring, driving her elbow into his forearm.
“Ahhh!”
The merchant screamed and flailed his arm wildly. Idel’s body swayed with the movement, but she summoned every ounce of strength she had and clung on tenaciously. Even in the midst of it all, she glared up at him with fierce eyes.
She wondered if she could see his face under the hood from below.
However, there was one thing Idel overlooked: while she could observe the merchant closely, he could also observe her just as well.
As the merchant, who was thrashing about to shake off the piranha-like Idel, suddenly forgot his pain, he exclaimed loudly.
“Ugh! Crazy, that hurts… Ah! You, no way?”
With a voice an octave higher, the merchant shoved Sigmund aside. Then, with his freed hand, he grabbed Idel’s clothes and suddenly leaned in closer.
‘Wait, does he know I’m Melisa’s daughter? That organization with the emblem… an elite group or something?’
As Idel pondered excuses for Melisa in case things went south, the merchant under the hood smirked.
“Wow, look who it is! This is the treasure I worked so hard to acquire!”
A treasure he worked hard to obtain?
‘…Me?’
Idel narrowed her eyes at the absurd comment. Noticing her confusion, Sigmund shouted angrily at the merchant.
“What are you thinking? He’s crazy! Didn’t you see how you looked earlier?”
Despite being bitten by Idel, the merchant managed to dodge a kick from Sigmund, clicking his tongue as he released his grip on Idel.
Seizing the opportunity, Sigmund pulled Idel back and gathered basic mana in his hands, glaring at the merchant.
He had surrounded himself with mana just in case, but he had no intention of attacking.
Rushing at someone you can’t possibly defeat is something only fools do.
‘Now that both of us are out of the merchant’s grasp, it’s better to retreat.’
The merchant scoffed at Sigmund’s awkward posture as he gathered his mana.
“What? You want to have a magic duel? Do you really think I’d engage in something like that with a kid?”
“Who said I wanted to?”
“Then?”
He rolled his eyes and glanced at Idel before turning his gaze back to the merchant.
“I’m just buying time.”
“Ahhh! Help! Aaaah! Is anyone there?”
Though he didn’t specify whom he meant, it was clearly a signal aimed at Count Bright. The merchant, covering his ears from the shrill scream typical of a child, stomped his feet in frustration.
“Ugh, really! I underestimated you because you’re a brat, and look where we are now!”
If he had known it would come to this, he would have sealed his mouth from the start.
‘But honestly, did I ever expect to run into her here?’
The merchant, trying to justify his situation, pulled back even further. He knew that since Idel had called for help, a capable person would be coming.
“Ugh, it’s over! I can’t even catch the culprit to claim damages, and now I’m hurt! This is just getting worse…”
“Seriously, you should have stopped acting like a lunatic. Snatching innocent people like that is just stupid.”
The merchant shuddered at Sigmund’s words.
“Ugh, that tone. You sound just like the one I hate the most! You’ve just reminded me of that face I wanted to forget. You’re responsible for this!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Look at your eyes; they’re similar! It’s annoying! Are you his son or something?”
His frantic rambling made him seem utterly insane.
“No way, he couldn’t possibly have a kid… But then again, that guy was like… back then…?”
As the merchant tilted his head, just like when he saw Idel, he made a small sound.
“Hmm…”
“What?”
“You’re a bit suspicious.”
Suspicious? Sigmund thought he was truly dealing with a madman when the merchant began to draw mana above his hand. It was clearly an attack aimed at them.
“It’s annoying that my bitten arm hurts, but since you’re suspicious, I have no choice.”
“What…”
“Come with me.”
That last statement was not a suggestion.
The merchant spoke as if it were a done deal, creating a massive hand of mana to target Sigmund.
Of course, Sigmund wouldn’t let the merchant’s dark magic reach him.
“I can’t let a lowly dark magician take a child away.”
Just then, Vivian Bright arrived, blocking Sigmund’s path.
“Count!”
“Sorry for the delay. I was checking for any accomplices around.”
While deflecting the dark magician’s spells, Vivian responded calmly, infusing her sword with mana. A pure and clear energy, reminiscent of her, enveloped the blade, sharpening its edge.
“Ugh… I’m not good at this kind of fighting. Today’s really not my day.”
“Yeah, it’s clear you’re not used to fighting against a knight. I hope you’ll surrender willingly.”
“That would be quite troublesome. Sigh, I guess I’ll have to pass this burden to someone else.”
The merchant grumbled, sounding both disappointed and exhausted, before suddenly canceling all his dark magic. At the abrupt cessation of magic, Vivian moved closer to the two children.
“After all, you’re not really planning to capture me aggressively because of the kids, are you?”
“……”
“Then let’s call it a day here. Even if you don’t want to, I’m leaving. Take care!”
As if he had no intention of listening to the other party’s words, the merchant waved goodbye abruptly. With that farewell, black smoke began to rise from beneath his hood.
