I Became the Mastermind Who Betrays the Heroines

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 74 - Crimson Flame (5)

A gently rippling sea.

It was a remarkably calm night.

The storm that had raged violently was scattered by the flaming sword strike, leaving a pristine scene in view.

A cloudless night sky.

Under the starlit backdrop, we leaned on each other.

Holding the fox from behind, I spoke, supporting her now-slumped shoulders.

“You’re badly hurt.”

“...I’m fine.”

Exhausted, Irene let out a shaky breath.

Contrary to her words, her body bore wounds both large and small.

I gave a faint, bitter smile.

“Stay still for just a moment.”

I gathered a bit of lie at my fingertips, conjuring a faint illusion.

With a snap of my fingers, shadows spread, enveloping the girl in a brief darkness.

In an instant, the wounds on her body vanished.

The fox’s body healed in a flash.

Although I’d used some energy, seeing her restored skin brought a sense of satisfaction.

“That’s much better.”

I smiled softly and brushed her auburn hair.

“The pain should ease now.”

“…”

Irene looked over her body in a daze.

After a moment, she seemed to gather her thoughts, turning to face me.

Her clear eyes reflected only my image.

Her hesitant lips parted.

“…Thank you.”

Just two words.

Maybe she wasn’t very good at expressing herself.

There were things she wanted to say, but it seemed hard to put them into words.

I replied with a reassuring smile.

“No need for thanks. It’s enough for me that you’re safe, Miss Irene.”

“…”

“Miss Irene?”

I’d meant it playfully, but she responded with a bit of a heavy look.

The fox’s gaze held a trace of complicated emotions.

What was she thinking?

After a quiet moment, she asked in a low voice.

“The voice of my master… whispering in my ear earlier. Was that a hallucination you created…?”

“Oh my, you caught on?”

“At first, I didn’t realize. But when you appeared, I thought maybe it was.”

“It might have been a bit of an intrusion. He must have been important to you… I apologize.”

“Don’t apologize.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s not you who should be sorry. I brought this situation on myself, and you… you came to save me again. I don’t want to be shameless enough to expect an apology from you.”

“…”

“It’s… me who should be sorry, not you.”

“Looks like you’ve been under more stress than I thought.”

Her gaze dropped to the deck.

I felt a bitter taste in my mouth.

This wasn’t like her.

She wasn’t one to speak so weakly.

It seemed the struggle with the hound and the ordeal of awakening had left her worn out in many ways.

Gently, I brushed her cheek.

“It’s alright. I’m doing this because I want to.”

“But…”

“We’ll save this talk for later. For now, let’s focus on solving the problem right in front of us, shall we?”

“…Alright.”

Irene nodded, clinging to my sleeve, possibly out of a need for stability.

It seemed almost instinctual.

I wanted to tease her, but held back.

This night’s episode was finally coming to a close.

Whooosh—

A soft breeze blew.

As I scanned the quiet deck, I saw those surrounding us.

Most of them were low-ranking soldiers under the hound’s command.

“Hmm.”

None of them seemed particularly strong.

Even without me here, Irene, exhausted as she was, could have handled them.

Well, except for one person.

‘There he is.’

My gaze stopped at a certain spot.

A young man stood there.

He had flowing green hair and wore a neat suit, an impressive figure.

And he concealed a presence strong enough to envelop the entire ship.

At minimum, someone of a professor’s level.

“Hah.”

I let a subtle smile tug at my lips.

The young man had noticed me as well, his eyes fixed on me since moments before.

With a smirk, he spoke first.

“Didn’t expect to meet you in a place like this.”

His greeting was casual.

“It’s been nearly a year.”

“You are…?”

His green eyes widened as he finally recognized that the one standing in front of him was the real me.

After dropping the secret weapon he held, he knelt in surrender, folding his hands behind his back.

“My apologies for not recognizing you sooner. I greet you, Leader of the Stars.”

His attitude changed in an instant.

I looked at the flustered young man and spoke in a leisurely tone.

“It’s been a while, Unnamed.”

He was someone I knew.

***

In the original story, three major factions were introduced as enemies.

The Baobab Tree, the Businessman, and the King.

Among them, inspired by the concept of a “king,” stood a figure who ruled the underworld—a lord of evil.

In the dark circles, he was known as the Sovereign.

Once upon a time, he had been the very name of greed, devouring the empire’s nights.

Even now, obscured by Astro’s light, his influence still touched every corner of the continent.

When people in this dirty world speak of legends, they often point to him as the first of the villains.

‘And.’

By his side stood five swords.

Sometimes referred to as the Five Evils.

Unnamed, Faithless, Unreliable, Disloyal, and Unfaithful.

The man now kneeling before me was one of them.

‘The Unnamed One, whose presence is unknown.’

As the most favored sword, he was a formidable figure who served as the Sovereign’s right hand.

I looked down at him in silence.

Not a wrinkle on his suit.

I spoke, letting a subtle remark slip.

“Who would’ve thought I’d find you on a Businessman’s ship?”

“I’m surprised as well.”

Unnamed responded in a formal tone.

Though time had passed, his characteristic rigidness remained unchanged.

“I heard the King had allied with the Businessman, but I didn’t expect them to be moving this quickly.”

“The alliance was established in secrecy… Of course, you would already know.”

“Haha, I tend to pick up things easily.”

“I’ll make sure we’re more thorough going forward.”

I asked lightly.

“How is King doing?”

“My lord is well.”

“A pity.”

“Though, he does still grumble about it. Says it feels strange without his right arm, the one you took.”

“Good to hear. If possible, I’d love to take his other arm, too.”

“I will do everything I can to prevent that.”

“Heh, as if you could?”

We exchanged a few words.

To a passerby, it might seem friendly, but if you listened closely, each remark held a subtle edge.

“It’s good to see you again.”

“Likewise.”

“Please pass along my regards to your lord.”

“I will… if, that is, I make it out of here alive.”

“You’re good at assessing situations.”

Our conversation felt like a dance on a blade’s edge.

Unnamed cast a glance at Irene, who was leaning against me.

He seemed to be gauging our relationship.

“The kidnapping was carried out solely by the hound. My assignment was only to oversee the ship’s security.”

“I see.”

“I didn’t realize she was someone close to you. Had I known, I would have stopped him myself.”

“Not quite a companion, but someone dear to me.”

“Ah, a romantic partner then.”

“Hmm… let’s say something close to that?”

“Either way… I just wanted to make it clear that this was not something my lord ordered.”

Desperately defending his master, Unnamed.

I crossed my arms as I listened.

There wasn’t a single lie in what he’d said.

The kidnapping was indeed the hound’s scheme alone.

‘But.’

Even indifference deserves a price.

Though I considered eliminating him, the King still held certain uses for me.

That was the reason I’d spared him a year ago.

“Hmm… Alright, let’s do this.”

After a brief pause, I spoke calmly.

The timing was convenient.

I was in need of a useful pawn.

“I’ll need a bit of help from you.”

“Help… with what, exactly?”

“From now on, I plan to take control of this ship. Help me eliminate the remaining forces. I’d handle it myself, but circumstances make it a bit difficult right now.”

“You’re asking me to betray our alliance.”

“That’s one way to see it.”

The “difficult circumstances” were quite simple.

I was running out of power.

Ding!

[Current power remaining: 21.7%]

The screen showed a nearly depleted level.

While Irene fought above, I had gone below to the lowest deck, where the slaves were kept.

Between the cold iron bars, I’d seen the appalling conditions they endured.

There were many suffering people.

Some were dying children who hadn’t survived the hardship.

I couldn’t just walk away.

After healing one after another, I’d used up more energy than I’d planned.

For that reason, I needed someone to take control of the ship for me.

“Unnamed. For someone of your skill, this should be no trouble.”

“What compensation will I receive in exchange for following your orders?”

“Your life.”

“I accept.”

“Weren’t you in an alliance? You agreed rather quickly.”

“My lord himself would have done the same in this situation. The gains from keeping the alliance aren’t worth the losses from my death.”

“Efficient, as always.”

I smiled faintly.

Taking that as his cue, Unnamed gathered his hidden weapons and stood.

Without a hint of hesitation, he moved toward the ship’s interior.

“I will carry it out at once.”

His figure retreated quietly.

As I watched him go, he turned as if he’d suddenly remembered something.

“Ah… come to think of it.”

“Hm?”

“The hound mentioned something interesting.”

“What was that?”

“He said there’s an explosive spell embedded in the lowest deck. Apparently, it will activate shortly after his death. I suspect it’s meant to sink the ship.”

“I figured as much.”

“I could tell you already knew, but I thought it best to mention it.”

“Well… the ship isn’t going down, so no need to worry. I’ll handle it.”

“Then I’ll proceed without hesitation.”

Unnamed nodded and leapt forward.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

In an instant, he vanished from sight.

The murderous aura surrounding me dissipated as I finished organizing the situation.

Then, from the girl leaning in my arms, a voice sounded unexpectedly.

Her tone filled with shock.

“W-Wait… What did he say? Is the ship going to sink…?”

The fox looked up at me, her black eyes trembling.

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]