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The Villain's Ending is Only Death Chapter 100
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After being cooped up in my room for a few days, I learned from the butler that the processing of the prey I had entrusted to him was mostly complete.
I handed over some of the tanned furs to a male clothing designer.
It was to make a gift for Eclis.
However, he said it would take quite a long time to make the clothes.
Unable to do anything else, I decided to start with the items that could be made relatively quickly.
Receiving a high-end case from the butler, I immediately prepared to go out.
‘It was 67%, I think.’
I was eager to check Eclis’s increased affection, which I imagined had risen significantly in my absence.
However, just as I finished preparing and was about to step out of the room, the weather was far from good.
“Do you really have to go for a walk in this weather?”
Emily looked worried as she handed me an umbrella, gazing out the window.
Even though it was early morning, the sky was dark with clouds, like evening.
Whoosh—
The sound of the wind seeping through the window frame was eerie.
‘Maybe I should go next time…’
As I followed Emily’s gaze out the window, a slight hesitation crept in.
However, I hadn’t seen Eclis for nearly two weeks, using the excuse that the gift wasn’t ready since returning from the hunting competition.
If he had been bullied and his affection had dropped during that time…
‘No! I have to deliver it quickly before it starts raining!’
I hurriedly took the umbrella and rushed out of the room.
“I’ll be back soon.”
But just as I stepped into the forest path leading to the training ground, ‘whoosh—’ the rain began to pour.
Hastily opening the umbrella, I looked up at the gloomy sky with an uneasy face.
“Ah… What bad luck.”
But since I was already out, it would be awkward to turn back.
Instead, I quickened my pace.
I had already asked the butler to find out when the training breaks would be.
It was the only morning break, so it was better to hurry.
However, when I arrived at the training ground, it was completely empty.
“What… Where did everyone go?”
I moved around the empty field, looking around.
I remembered that the last time it rained and I met Eclis by chance during a walk, his training had ended early.
‘Did the rain bring the break forward?’
I slowly walked along the grass at the edge of the training ground.
I did this to avoid any knights who might still be there.
After walking about half a circle,
Swish, whoosh—!
A sudden sound of the wind being cut through the air reached my ears.
In one corner of the training ground, someone was striking a scarecrow repeatedly in the misty fog.
‘…Eclis?’
Recognizing who it was, my eyes widened.
Just like last time, he was alone, training in the rain.
Swish, whoosh—!
Each time he struck the wooden sword forcefully, ‘thud, swish—’ the straw flew out roughly.
Chunks of straw were scattered on the ground.
‘Still the same.’
I now realized that this wasn’t a sign of skillful swordsmanship.
To advance to the next level of training, he needed to imbue the wooden sword with ki and cleanly cut the scarecrow.
It wasn’t about using brute force to break the straw.
Although a considerable amount of time had passed since I last secretly watched his training, Eclis had made almost no progress.
No matter how talented he was, without a teacher to guide him, he couldn’t even reach the level of an ordinary knight.
Crack—!
Then a loud cracking sound echoed, and the wooden sword Eclis was wielding broke in two.
The broken pieces of the wooden sword flew forcefully and embedded themselves in the ground far away.
Eclis stopped moving, his shoulders heaving as he panted heavily.
Steam rose from his bare upper body.
He and the broken remnants of the wooden sword looked incredibly dangerous.
Anxiety welled up inside me.
‘Oh, I should wait until his training is over.’
I wanted to deliver the gift quickly and return, but I changed my mind.
I decided not to approach him rashly.
After a brief pause, Eclis finally picked up another wooden sword from a nearby box.
I widened my eyes. I could see a familiar emblem faintly engraved on the box.
It was the emblem of the weapon shop where I had bought over 600 wooden swords previously.
‘At least he’s using them well.’
Seeing him take out the wooden sword so familiarly, my anxiety eased a bit.
I wanted to check his affection, but the distance made it hard to see.
I had no choice but to wait for his training to end.
Eclis continued to slash at the scarecrow for a long time.
How long had I been hiding behind the trees, watching his training?
Crack—!
After breaking his third wooden sword, he finally threw the handle in frustration and lay down on the wet ground without a care.
Whoosh—.
Cold rain poured down on his bare body.
‘He’ll catch a cold if he keeps this up…’
Before stepping forward, I carefully scanned the area around him.
I didn’t want to have another close call like last time, when I almost broke my neck from being hit by a wooden sword he had thrown.
After confirming that there were no dangerous elements around him, I cautiously approached.
Perhaps the sound of my light footsteps was drowned out by the pouring rain.
Even as I got closer, Eclis didn’t move.
Plop. Finally, standing beside his head, I tilted the umbrella slightly forward.
“Hello.”
At the low voice, the man opened his eyes.
His long, wet eyelashes fluttered. The grayish-brown irises slowly widened, clearly visible.
“…Master?”
Eclis blinked a few more times, looking dazed.
He seemed to be trying to determine if my sudden appearance was real.
A faint smile escaped my lips.
“It’s been a while.”
[Affection: 69%]
At that moment, a notification appeared above his head.
Fortunately, it hadn’t dropped while I was away.
Seeing a slight increase in his affection, I felt greatly relieved. Meanwhile, Eclis slowly got up.
His gaze, which had been looking down, suddenly rose. I had to raise the umbrella higher to keep it over him.
“When… did you return?”
“Hmm. I’ve been back for quite a while.”
At my answer, Eclis’s eyes drooped slightly.
It seemed no one had informed him, even though I had forced him into the knights.
He looked up at me with a faintly emotional gaze.
“Why didn’t you even greet me upon your return?”
“Were you waiting for me?”
“Didn’t you say you would pamper me?”
When he had mocked me before, but now he repeated the words calmly, his audaciousness made me chuckle.
“Here.”
I extended the high-end case I was holding to him.
“It’s a gift. It took a while to make.”
Eclis’s eyes widened like a puppy’s.
He hesitated to take the case immediately.
“Why aren’t you taking it?”
“Because of the rain…”
He finally explained his hesitation when I urged him.
“I don’t want to take it with wet hands.”
“It’s fine.”
He was saying something quite considerate.
I smiled warmly.
“I came through the rain just to see you wear my gift. Are you going to refuse it?”
I shook the case and whispered in a slightly hurt tone.
His grayish-brown irises trembled.
Eclis remained silent for a moment before slowly taking the case.
Click. His wet hands finally opened the box.
“This is….”
Eclis’s eyes widened even more as he saw the contents.
“It’s made from mammoth ivory and white tiger fangs.”
I smiled contentedly and explained the gift.
The necklace I gave him was made from pieces of ivory and tiger fangs, with the highest quality onyx beads interspersed to avoid monotony.
The round black beads complemented the jagged fangs and ivory pieces perfectly.
This was a rare treasure that couldn’t be bought with money.
I learned later from the butler that Calisto and Bauter had placed second and third because of the rare animals they had captured.
The mammoth and white tiger were rare creatures that could only be seen at events like the hunting competition.
Naturally, the decorations made from them were also rare.
Especially a decoration made from both ivory and tiger fangs.
Eclis couldn’t take his eyes off the necklace in the case.
‘If I were a full-blown male lead, I’d have to do at least this much.’
I proudly lifted my head.
“Do you like it?”
“…Master.”
Eclis finally lifted his head.
“Isn’t this too much for me…?”
“In ancient Capria, only the most outstanding warriors were allowed to wear ivory necklaces.”
I cut off his expected words and said casually.
It was something I had read in a book, but Eclis would know better.
His homeland, Delman, was part of the Capria continent, now a vassal state of the Inca Empire.
“Isn’t it time to take off that choker?”
I gestured to the leather and yellow beads around his neck with a haughty tone.
“I told you. I would come back as the winner.”
“….”
“I am the queen of this hunting competition.”
“….”
“So, as you said, it’s only left to pamper my only warrior.”
Eclis lowered his head again and stared blankly at the necklace.
Unable to see his eyes, which were the only way to gauge his emotions, I grew anxious.
I couldn’t tell if his reaction was positive or negative.
‘Did I give him something too burdensome?’
Just as I was about to ask if he liked it,
Eclis finally lifted his head and looked at me.
My heart sank. His grayish-brown irises were swirling with a passion I had never seen before.
“Master.”
Eclis looked at me with eyes that gleamed like a beast’s and slowly lifted the necklace from the case.
Then he brought the necklace to his lips.
[Affection: 77%]
His affection skyrocketed as he kissed the necklace.
At the same time, a white rectangular window appeared before my eyes.
〈SYSTEM〉 You have achieved [70% or more] affection for one of your targets.
〈SYSTEM〉 From now on, affection values will no longer be provided.