Chapter 25

The black snowflakes fluttered down gracefully.

Though their color was an odd contrast, their beauty was undeniable, making even the strangeness of their hue seem insignificant.

It was a paradoxical sight, born of contradictions.

The frost that fell carried shadows with it. Even the lively spring had vanished, as if swallowed by the depths of a winter's night.

Those who witnessed this peculiar blend of seasons found themselves captivated by the chilling beauty.

---

"Haa... haa..."

At the center of the arena stood a girl, panting heavily.

"Cough... ugh."

She coughed weakly, her body spent.

That girl was none other than Emilia.

Her steps wavered, fragile as she walked.

*Crunch.*

Her footsteps left prints in the soft snow beneath her.

With the surreal scene unfolding before her, Emilia murmured to herself, lost in a daze. Her breath came out as a misty vapor.

"...What... what happened?"

She tried to grasp what had transpired.

The last thing she remembered was her ice spears falling.

Then, in the next moment—

"Shatter."

The winter she had summoned was broken.

In an instant, the scene that had been so vivid disappeared as if it had never existed.

It shattered into countless fragments.

---

"Ah..."

It felt like she was in a dream.

If she closed her eyes and opened them again, would it all vanish, and would she wake up in her warm bed?

But that illusion didn’t last long.

A snowflake landed on her cheek.

The cold seeping into her skin was a stark reminder that this was reality.

Emilia lifted her head.

---

"...."

Through her blurred vision, she saw a figure—a golden snake.

The boy's slitted eyes curled into a sinister smile.

He looked utterly relaxed.

Unlike her, with her pathetic, worn-out state, he appeared immaculate.

It was only then that Emilia realized the truth.

She was weak.

Even after giving her all in that final spell, it wasn’t enough to touch even the tips of his feet.

The gap between them was overwhelming.

---

"Do you still wish to continue?"

His voice, soft and polite, made her breath catch in her throat.

The overwhelming sense of defeat coursed through her entire body.

Her legs trembled, on the verge of giving out.

But—

"...Yes."

She did not fall.

Her blue eyes still gleamed with a murderous glint.

It was a terrifying level of determination.

Emilia bit her lip, forcing herself to steady her breathing.

In her ears, she heard an echo of voices she’d heard before.

---

"Be strong, Emilia."

---

Her heart tightened.

---

"Otherwise, you won’t survive."

---

That lingering memory was enough to force her to stand.

She wasn’t expecting to turn the tables.

The earlier blow had made her realize the chasm between them.

It was so vast that even looking up at him felt like an insurmountable effort.

---

"But it’s not over yet."

---

Emilia had never learned how to give up.

In her life, defeat was synonymous with death. She didn’t know how to submit.

This was the path she’d learned to survive the harsh fate that awaited her.

It was no different now.

Emilia clenched her fists.

Gathering every last drop of mana she had left, she barely managed to form another ice spear.

A desperate, final attempt.

---

"I won’t lose... ever."

---

Her atmosphere turned fierce.

She aimed the sharp tip of her spear at Yuda, her voice shaking with venomous determination.

"I didn’t want to be rough, but I guess there’s no choice."

The snake hissed, as if relishing the situation.

Of course, he was enjoying himself.

He was trampling on an insect that had dared to challenge him.

---

‘It’s only fair.’

---

She didn’t feel bitter about it.

After all, wasn’t this what she’d intended to do?

If she had been willing to stab her opponent, she should have been prepared to be stabbed in return.

His slitted eyes curved into a sinister smile.

---

"I suppose I’ll have to end this... gentlemanly, if I can."

---

A sharp, eerie grin spread across Yuda’s face.

A terrifying killing intent radiated from him.

---

"This is the result of your choice, Lady Vanity."

---

The snake brought his hands together.

A black mist swirled around him.

Sensing the danger, Emilia tried to retreat, but Yuda’s actions were faster.

He clapped his hands lightly.

*Snap!*

A sharp sound echoed through the air.

The small villainess sent flying by the dark mastermind.

I clapped my hands again.

---

*Snap!*

---

*Snap!*

---

*Snap!*

---

Each time she reached the ground, I sent her flying back up.

Sometimes, I changed it up by shifting the gravity sideways, making her drift horizontally across the arena.

---

"....!!"

---

For a while, only the sound of Emilia’s faint screams echoed through the arena.

Who knows how much time passed?

I stopped clapping only when a system alert popped up.

---

*Ding!*

[Your unique

ability, "Liar," has been mostly depleted.]

[Remaining power: 4.7%]

---

"Guess it’s time to wrap this up."

---

*Snap!*

---

After one last clap, I stood still, waiting.

With both arms outstretched, I saw the girl rapidly descending toward me again.

Her blue hair trailed behind her like a comet’s tail.

---

"Oh my."

---

I caught the falling girl gently.

Using my power, I erased the momentum and held her limp body softly in my arms.

---

"Now, are you ready to surrender?"

---

"...."

---

Emilia was completely out of it.

I leaned in, whispering in her ear, threatening that if she didn’t give up, things would get much worse.

Her slender shoulders trembled, shaking slightly.

---

"Hmm."

---

I set the little villainess down on the ground.

The moment her feet touched the floor, her legs gave out, and she collapsed where she stood.

Her chin quivered like a leaf in the wind.

---

"Lady Vanity."

"..."

"Lady Vanity?"

"..."

---

There was no response.

Still smiling, I finally realized that something wasn’t right.

---

Did I take it too far?

I thought she was skilled enough to handle it, so I had played around a bit.

But her eerie silence was concerning.

---

‘Wait.’

---

A detail I’d almost forgotten surfaced in my mind.

---

‘Come to think of it... doesn’t Emilia have severe acrophobia?’

---

I vaguely remembered that detail from an extra booklet that had been released sometime after the game.

A cold sweat ran down my back.

---

"Oh no."

*Shit.*

---

In a panic, I checked on Emilia.

The villainess knelt there, her expression blank.

It was already too late.

---

"Lady Vanity! Are you... huh?"

---

Her pants were soaked.

Around where she sat, a small puddle had formed.

The black snowflakes on the ground around her melted quickly as the liquid spread.

White steam rose from the evaporating snow.

---

"Oh."

---

My brain froze.

The yellowish liquid...

There was no mistaking it—it was coming from her.

I tried to look away as if I hadn’t seen anything, but my eyes met Emilia’s blue ones.

---

"...."

"...."

---

Her pupils trembled as if they were about to shatter.

Tears began to well up.

Her shaking grew worse.

Finally—

---

"Hicc...! Ugh, huuuuuah...!!"

---

Emilia burst into tears.

---

Ah, crap.

I’ve really done it this time.