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The Villainous Noble Who Kept Rewinding After Death: The Story Somehow Changed When I Committed Suicide

Chapter 204: The Collapse of the Guild

“Luna-san, it’s time.”

“Hmm? Is it already that time?”

After finishing our discussion, I wanted to return to my room and leisurely read a book, but Milia called out to me as the sun set and the sky darkened.

“Are Lily and the others ready?”

“They’re already prepared.”

“Got it. Then let’s head over there first.”

As I was led by Milia out of the room, we moved to the room where Iris and the others were waiting. Inside, Iris was suited up, looking ready for battle, while Ronii had an atmosphere as if heading into a death zone, and Sharueina appeared completely dejected.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. How’s the preparation going?”

“Everything is fine. My magic power has fully recovered.”

“I’ve made up my mind as well. In the worst-case scenario, I’ll sacrifice my life for you, Lily-san.”

With a determined expression, Ronii spoke, perhaps out of a sense of responsibility as an adult or as a man, but he was still unaware.

“Thank you, Ronii-san. However, there’s no need for you to put your life on the line. I’m stronger than you think.”

“B-but…”

“Well, if it comes to that, you can do what you want. But, I hate to say it, you’ll quickly understand the meaning of attaching someone like Ronii, who isn’t much use in a fight, to Lily.”

Though my phrasing was rough, Ronii was a hamster beastman, not suited for combat despite being a beastman like Fiera.

Thus, I never thought he would be helpful in battle from the start, and I had made the decision to pair Iris with him, taking that into consideration.

I had witnessed her skills during the ranking battles and martial arts tournaments, and even when I was torturing Fūshiru, she had remained calm and observant.

Initially, there was some uncertainty about whether Iris could actually kill a person, but she didn’t flinch away during the torture; if it came down to it, she would undoubtedly be able to kill without hesitation.

“I’ll do my best to meet Luna-san’s expectations.”

“I’m counting on you. How’s Mīze’s side?”

“I’m ready as well. No issues with magic power or weapon replenishment.”

“Okay! Then let’s go.”

After confirming that everyone was ready, we stepped out of the inn with a light atmosphere, even though we were heading into combat, and split into two groups.

Meanwhile, Sharueina only watched us off with a gaze filled with guilt and despair, not speaking a word until the end.

—Side Iris—

After parting ways with Lewis, Iris lent Ronii the Mist Hermit that she had borrowed from him earlier. As she flowed magic into her bracelet, she wrapped herself in a cloak of presence concealment and headed toward the Adventurers’ Guild.

Walking boldly through the town would raise the chances of attracting unnecessary attention, so she wanted to avoid being noticed more than necessary.

“We’ve arrived. Are you okay?”

“Huff, huff… I’m fine.”

By the time they reached the Adventurers’ Guild, Ronii was out of breath, with hands on his knees, showing a pitiful appearance that was a stark contrast to his earlier enthusiasm.

“I apologize for showing such a pathetic side.”

“Don’t worry about it. Since you’ve caught your breath, let’s go inside.”

“Understood.”

“However, before that… ‘Water Prison’!”

Once Ronii calmed down, the two attempted to enter the Adventurers’ Guild, but before doing so, Iris created a prison-like barrier of water magic surrounding the entire guild.

“W-wow…”

“This should work. Let’s go.”

“Y-yes!”

Having seen Iris’s magic for the first time, Ronii couldn’t hide his astonishment at its scale, but Iris ignored his reaction and boldly stepped inside the guild.

“Good evening, everyone. It’s a wonderful night, isn’t it?”

“What’s that?”

“Something just came in.”

Iris entered the guild with words that felt out of place, ignoring the scrutinizing gazes directed at her, and began assessing the situation inside.

(Five staff members and eight adventurers. Plus six knights. Looks like there are more than yesterday.)

Inside the guild, five staff members were at the counter, halting their work to look at Iris, while out of the eight adventurers, three had snake tattoos on their arms and legs. The number of knights had increased, likely due to the clan’s attack yesterday.

“Hey girl, what’re you doing at this hour?”

“It’s dangerous to be out alone, ya know? You might get caught by some weird guys.”

Initially, the adventurers thought a crazy person had entered, but upon seeing Iris’s beautiful appearance, they soon grinned lewdly and approached her with smirks.

“You guys are members of the Poisoned Snake Claw, right?”

“Eh? You know about us?”

“Well, of course. Our clan is quite famous after all.”

“Heh. So, you came here at this hour because you want to join our clan?”

“Me too, you say?”

“Ah, the guys over there are saying they want to join our clan, and we were just discussing that.”

“How sad. They say that every time they take a request, someone messes it up, and they can’t complete it.”

“So, they said they wanted to join our clan to get some help.”

The men laughed cheerfully while the adventurers behind them trembled, indicating that they weren’t trying to join this clan voluntarily.

(I guess they’re pressuring adventurers who just arrived in town and sabotaging their requests from the shadows. Really…)

“Trash, aren’t they?”

“Eh?”

Iris murmured her thoughts in annoyance at their methods, and the leader-like man’s face twisted with anger upon hearing her words.

“What did you just say, girl?”

“I said they’re trash. I mean, there’s no way I would join a bunch like the Poisoned Snake Claw. After all, I already declined once.”

“You declined?”

“Hey, could it be…?”

One of the men realized what Iris meant and whispered it to the leader, who started laughing sadistically.

“Hahhahaha! So it was you guys! The foolish adventurers who turned down our clan’s invitation and even started a fight!”

“Heh. Not foolish, but yes, I did turn down your invitation.”

“Hihihihihih! That’s what makes you foolish! A mere adventurer starting a fight with our clan, did you have a death wish?”

“Hmph. You say something interesting, don’t you? You think we have a death wish? We’re ready to die, but it’s not like we want to commit suicide, you know? Also, wasn’t it a tough day for your clan yesterday?”

“Eh? What’d you say?”

“Since forty of your men and three shop employees died, right? How unfortunate. Losing that many companions in one night, huh?”

“W-why do you know that so well?”

“Hmm, I wonder how I know? What do you think?”

“You did it, didn’t you?! I’ll kill you!!!”

As Iris teased with a laugh, the man realized that the incident yesterday was caused by Iris or her friends, and his face turned bright red with anger as he lunged at her.

“Don’t touch me, please.”

“Gwahhh!!!”

However, just as the man was about to touch Iris, a sudden water blade struck through his palm from above, pinning him to the wooden floor.

“I find it very unpleasant to be touched by any man aside from that gentleman. Not even a single hair of mine I wish to let anyone touch. Especially not by a man like you, without an ounce of refinement.”

“You bastard! You guys! Kill this woman right now!!”

At the leader’s command, two men behind him drew their swords and charged at Iris.

In response, Iris stepped forward without fleeing, and magic unfolded, causing water blades to rise from below the men.

“Gah!”

“Cough!”

The blades pierced the men’s chests and abdomens, staining the water red with blood. When the magic was released, they fell lifelessly to the ground.

“What?!”

“I guess I’m underestimated. Do you think I could be killed by such lowly opponents?”

“Ugh!! I will… I will definitely kill you! Even if you kill me here, our leader will surely…”

“Shut up.”

As the man muttered curses, Iris, looking annoyed, pierced his mouth with a water blade to silence him.

“Unfortunately, your leader won’t be able to kill me. You see, he’s headed toward that gentleman.”

The man, with the blade piercing through his mouth, met his demise without Iris caring about him, as she turned her attention back to the guild.

“To all the adventurers over there.”

“Gah!? P-please don’t kill me!”

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. But…”

As Iris directed her gaze towards the guild staff and knights, the staff members flinched and trembled, while the knights drew their swords, readying themselves.

“Staff members, don’t you dare move from that spot. Though it seems you won’t be able to leave this place anyway. As for the knights…”

“Guhah!!”

“My leg!!”

“My arm! My arm!!!”

As the knights, on guard with drawn swords, faced her, Iris made water blades appear from above and below, piercing their legs and arms, forcing them to kneel on the ground.

“I’m not in charge of your punishment, so for now, stay right where you are. However, I’ll kill you if you try to interfere.”

Saying this, Iris walked through the knights and ascended the stairs, entering the guild master’s room that she had visited before.

“Good evening, Guild Master.”

“W-what are you?!”

Inside the room, there were wine bottles and glasses sitting on the table, and the smell of alcohol filled the air.

“Nice to meet you, Guild Master of Carirro. I’m Lily, a C Rank Adventurer.”

The Guild Master of Carirro was a man who looked to be in his forties; he wasn’t particularly tall, but due to the fat around his belly, his appearance resembled a vertically compressed orc.

“A C Rank Adventurer? What do you want?”

“It’s not that important, but I came here to take down your guild.”

“Huh?”

The man, who looked as if he had found a cute flower, couldn’t immediately grasp the meaning of her words, but he finally understood with Iris’s next sentence.

“I’ve heard that your guild is engaging in quite nasty dealings, huh? Recognizing crime organizations as clans, paying off knights to cover up crimes, and even selling the poor and rookie adventurers into slavery.”

“W-why do you know that?!”

“Oh, how easy it is for you to admit it. Then let me help you with something. Please remove your robe.”

As Iris said this, a familiar figure appeared in the space that moments before had only been occupied by her and the Guild Master.

“W-what?! Ronii! Why are you here?!”

“Living, I suppose? Hehe. It’s simple. I helped him, you see. From the dungeon connected behind that bookshelf.”

“W-what?!”

The Guild Master’s expression fell, sweating profusely as he slowly backed away in shock.

“B-but! If you kill me, the Poisoned Snake guys won’t just sit back! The knights will surely label you as the criminal across the empire!! Besides, I have powerful backing! So if you kill me…”

“Hmm. Hehehe…”

“W-what’s so funny?! I’m speaking the truth!”

Perhaps feeling that Iris thought his words were a lie due to her sudden laughter, the man shouted in a flustered manner.

“Indeed. I know that what you’re saying is correct.”

“Then! Please let me go…”

“B-U-T… that doesn’t give me a reason to let you go.”

“What?!”

“Now, let me tell you one by one. First, about the clan called the Poisoned Snake. That clan will be destroyed tonight.”

“Huh?”

“I heard that more than half of your comrades were killed yesterday, but tonight the remaining members will be taken care of by my dear one. That person is incredibly strong and shows absolutely no mercy to the enemy. It will be over very quickly, I’d say.”

“Y-you’re not suggesting you were the ones from yesterday…?”

“Secondly, about the knights. That too, means nothing. The proof is right here that I’m present and that no knight has shown up, hasn’t it? Tomorrow morning, knights from the House of Valentine are scheduled to arrive, and all of you will surely be captured.”

“R-right… Why is it that no one is coming to help…”

“Thirdly, the backing you’re speaking of refers to the Dragon Kin, correct?”

“?!”

“About those Dragon Kin, you see, that gentleman inflicted a wound on their hearts that cannot heal, so now they have become obedient pets. Ronii being alive here is proof of that.”

“…”

The man, taken aback by the series of shocking truths, could only open and close his mouth like a fish out of water.

“So, no one will come to assist you.”

“N-no… please, help me! I’ll do anything! Just don’t take my life!!”

Finally realizing the situation he was in, the man pitifully pressed his head to the ground, begging for his life, but Iris looked down at him coldly.

“There’s no need for someone like you in this land that will someday heal, where that gentleman will reside. Also, it’s rather too convenient to ask for help after committing numerous crimes and attempting to kill Ronii-san.”

“I-I’m sorry! I’ll apologize to Ronii and everyone! Please! Please!!!”

“Ronii-san, what will you do?”

Iris had no intention of forgiving the man, but she respectfully asked Ronii, who was one of the victims, what he wanted to do.

“I have no intention of forgiving you. You sold the very people you asked for help as slaves. It’s time for you to reap what you sowed. Lily-san, do it.”

“Understood.”

“W-wait!!”

The man desperately shouted, but Iris mercilessly covered his face with a water sphere, pushing him to the brink of death. When he lost consciousness, she released the magic.

“I won’t kill you. That gentleman said you might still be useful. However, you certainly won’t die easily. You’ll come to regret being alive, just as those who may have died because of you.”

As Iris flashed a grin, her face bore a slight resemblance to her beloved Lewis, which would surely make him happy if he knew.

“Well then, let’s restrain everyone and head to Luna-san’s side.”

“Y-yes!”

Ronii, surprised by this completely different atmosphere from the Iris who had helped him, followed her instructions, binding the Guild Master and all the staff and knights on the lower floor.

“Alright, shall we go… huh?!”

Just as Iris said this and attempted to exit the guild, she felt something break through her magic, and in the next moment, whatever it was crashed through the guild ceiling and fell to the ground.

“A woman?”

“Hmm? Oh, it’s Lily. Did you finish up over there?”

“L-Luna-san?”

As Iris struggled to comprehend the situation of a woman suddenly falling from the sky, she heard someone calling for her from above and looked up.

There stood her beloved, cloaked in a moon-like golden aura, her dark blue hair flowing beautifully like the night sky, with a slightly joyful smile on her face.

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If you’re interested, feel free to check out my other series “The Former Hero, Becoming the Demon Lord to Devote the World.”

I’d be delighted if you could take a read!

https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330663836544021

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