The Villain's Ending is Only Death Chapter 71

"I used to practice archery a bit when I was young, so next time I should try practicing with a large monster as my target, like Lady Gongnyeong."

"By the way, Lady Gongnyeong! The outfit you're wearing today really suits you."

The conversation inevitably turned to her attire.

"Thank you."

I pretended not to notice the gazes that suddenly focused on me.

"Phew!"

Then, clear laughter erupted from various places.

'Sigh. They're not even worth a punch...'

Although I was annoyed, it wasn't really a matter that directly concerned me, so I could tolerate it.

This body had already caused enough trouble in the past; what more could be done now?

'If I make a big fuss and it gets to the Duke or Derrick's ears...'

It could become a matter of life and death.

Moreover, I felt a bit guilty towards the Duke, who had invited me to the tea party with such eager anticipation.

Therefore, I planned to stay just long enough to avoid any further trouble.

The blue-haired girl, perhaps worried by my lack of reaction to the laughter, spoke up again.

"Is Lady Gongnyeong planning to go monster hunting again today?"

"Oh, that's right! Isn't that the crossbow you used to kill the monster yesterday?!"

Lady Aries pointed at the crossbow on my back.

Even this, which might have been in line with the purpose of the gathering, felt rude to me.

"Yes."

I replied without much enthusiasm.

The smile I had been maintaining on my face had long since faded.

"Oh, how wonderful!"

Lady Dortea clapped her hands and said.

"Lady Gongnyeong, Lady Aries was very disappointed that she didn't get to see you yesterday. Since you've brought your crossbow, why don't you show us your archery skills?"

"Besides, you're wearing the perfect outfit for it, right?"

Kellin chimed in.

"Actually, I received a large teddy bear as a birthday gift recently. I brought it specially to show everyone at today's tea party. It would be perfect as a target."

"Oh, Lady Kellin! What if it gets holes in it?"

"It's much smaller than yesterday's monster, so maybe that won't happen."

"Hehehe, that's true. It might not happen."

The ladies fanned themselves and giggled again.

"Bring the prepared item over."

"Yes, Miss."

Without waiting for my permission, Kellin started setting up the stage.

'Ah, so you even prepared a target?'

I decided to watch and see how far she would go, leaning back in my chair with my arms crossed.

The gazes grew sharper as my attitude became increasingly arrogant.

After a while, a maid who had left her seat returned, carrying a teddy bear as big as herself, and waddled over.

She stood a bit away from Kellin and asked,

"Where should I place the target, Miss?"

"Lady Gongnyeong, what distance would be best for you? I think this distance is appropriate."

Kellin pointed at the maid, trying hard not to laugh.

"It's close enough to avoid the danger of hitting someone, like last year. Don't you agree, everyone?"

The women nodded in agreement with her question.

"Lady Kellin is right. This distance is appropriate. We wouldn't want a blind arrow to go astray and cause trouble."

"Please stand up and show us your skills, Lady Gongnyeong."

"Wow! I can't wait to see it!"

Lady Aries clapped her hands like a child.

I felt foolish for mistaking her bright eyes for curiosity just a moment ago.

'In a way, it is curiosity.'

It was as if she was looking at a chimpanzee in a zoo or a clown performing tricks.

She must have deliberately created this atmosphere to make it impossible for me to refuse, using her as a wind-up.

There was no need to look around; everyone must be watching me with the same mocking eyes as Aries.

So, I stared directly at the instigator who had orchestrated this scene with the nobles.

She smiled deeply at my expressionless face.

'Why don't you act up like last year?'

Her eyes seemed to say, a mix of contempt and excitement.

In the game, Penelope had two choices.

Either play along with their clown act or, like last year, go berserk and shoot everyone.

'If I were the real Penelope, these would be frustrating choices.'

It wouldn't be difficult to show off my crossbow skills as they wished.

But then, by tomorrow, "The Ridiculous Crossbow Show at the Tea Party" would be spreading like wildfire.

If I were to get angry and overturn everything, claiming they were mocking me...

'They would probably rally public opinion to gain sympathy and become the queen of the hunting festival.'

Kellin's goal was likely closer to this.

It would be even better if she could crush the detestable Lady Gongnyeong and completely ruin her in society.

Whichever choice I made, it wouldn't be bad for her.

So, I decided,

'I'll choose both.'

Seeing that I had no intention of moving from my crossed-arms position, Kellin tilted her head and called out to me.

"Lady Gongnyeong?"

I looked at her and suddenly burst into laughter.

"The teddy bear might be a bit difficult?"

"…What?"

She was taken aback by my response.

It seemed strange to her that the lady who was expected to scream and cause a scene was now silent.

"Why, why is that?"

"Unfortunately, its size is far too small to show off my skills."

I glanced at the teddy bear and lazily murmured.

"Goodness!"

Lady Dortea interjected dramatically.

"Then, how big should the target be to see Lady Gongnyeong's skills?"

"Would a target the size of the monster you hit yesterday be necessary?"

The blue-haired girl, emboldened by others' support, exaggeratedly shrugged.

"But what can we do, Lady Gongnyeong? It's unlikely we can find a craftsman to make such a large teddy bear..."

"Hehehe, that's too bad!"

Laughter erupted from various places.

"Hmm."

Screeeech.

I pulled my chair noisily and stood up, silencing the mockery.

I gracefully slung the crossbow over my shoulder.

"I think hitting a fly buzzing near your mouth would make for a pretty good rumor."

Click.

I aimed the crossbow at one of them as smoothly as water flowing.

"What do you all think?"

I looked around, lowering my eyes.

The women's laughter, which had been giggling just moments ago, slowly faded.

No one had expected me to aim the crossbow at Lady Kellin the moment I stood up.

There had been no warning at all.

Kellin and the other nobles, who had just realized the situation, widened their eyes.

One of the older noblewomen, who had been annoying me with her fan, shouted,

"L-Lady Ecart! W-What are you doing! How can you aim a bow at a person again!"

"Lady?"

I coldly cut her off.

Then, without deigning to look at her, I crushed her with a glance.

"Since when has the name Ecart been so casually used by an old woman whose face I don't even know?"

"Th-That's..."

The noblewoman's face turned bright red, clearly embarrassed by the implication that her family was so insignificant.

But she couldn't bring herself to resist me.

While she might have been respected for her age at the tea party, the empire was a strict class system.

An oppressive silence settled over the cozy forest where the tea party was held, out of place with the setting.

"…Lady Gongnyeong, please calm down."

Lady Kellin spoke with a surprisingly calm face.

"If you keep this up, I'll have to call the guards again. That would put you in a difficult position, wouldn't it?"

It was a provocation, meant to make me lose my cool.

The guards were stationed in the clearing next to the forest where the tea party was being held.

It was obvious that last year's Penelope, who had brandished a crossbow and screamed without knowing how to use it, would have caused a commotion.

The guards would have rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

It wasn't hard to guess that her sudden brandishing of the weapon was both a threat and a means of self-defense.

While learning archery, I realized that this body had no talent for martial arts.

If she had known how to shoot even a little, her fingers wouldn't have been so smooth, and her arm muscles wouldn't have been so nonexistent.

'Stupid girl.'

Why hadn't she realized that a little thought could easily break her spirit?

Despite her threat of calling the guards, my calm demeanor made the woman's face gradually fill with unease.

"This time, it won't be as easy as last year. So, please lower the crossbow you're aiming at me..."

"Then go call them."

I smirked and gestured with my chin.

The women's faces were filled with shock at my response.

'The lady who would have gone berserk long ago is now calmly telling someone to call the guards.'

The blue-haired girl looked at me with a new, unfamiliar expression.

"But..."

I tilted my head slightly, smiling innocently as if I knew nothing.

"Would it be faster to call the guards, or for me to shoot moving targets?"