Frilian: Starting by inheriting the title of the Southern Hero

Chapter 32 It's Not Bad to Be a Villain

Lynn stared at Manter for a few seconds, but did not sheath his sword.

Is it a delaying tactic? Or is it genuine arrogance?

Cutting down the flower would certainly be easier, but it's unclear how deeply rooted it is in the village. Taking action rashly might provoke public outrage.

If you really want to do something like that, wait until you've rested enough and are about to leave.

Otherwise, I won't be able to get any rest tonight.

"OK."

Lynn flicked his wrist, sheathing his sword. "But let me make this clear: don't try anything funny. My sword is much faster than you can pray to the goddess."

"Of course not."

Mante bowed slightly, "May the goddess forgive your rudeness."

"Let's go."

Lynn called out to Laofen.

The girl shouldered the staff, puzzled but unsure what else to say.

……

"That thing can't be kept."

On the way back, Laofen said angrily,

"I should have smashed that broken flowerpot with my cane just now."

"What happens after you smash it?"

Lynn stopped and turned to the side. "Will those villagers thank you? No, we might not even get a good night's sleep tonight."

Laofen opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but upon closer reflection, she realized she wouldn't get any good feedback.

"So we're just going to ignore it?"

The girl lowered her staff somewhat dejectedly.

"Let's not be pushovers, let's go back to sleep."

Lynn stretched and said, "Tomorrow morning, I'll go talk to the fat boss. First, I need to find out if they'll still willingly accept this method of erasing memories after they know the truth."

……

The next morning.

The restaurant downstairs was filled with the aroma of wheat porridge.

The portly boss, wearing an apron, was humming an unknown tune as he wiped wine glasses behind the counter.

Lynn and Laoffen found a table by the window and sat down.

Laofen had a large bowl of oatmeal and three freshly baked loaves of bread in front of her, and she was working hard.

"Boss, two more cups of goat milk."

Lynn tapped the table.

"Here it comes!"

The portly boss immediately put down his cup, picked up two steaming cups of goat milk, and walked over. After placing them on the table, he asked, "How did you two sleep last night?"

"I'm alright. Come, have a seat."

Lynn pulled out the chair next to her and smiled, gesturing for her to enter.

The portly shopkeeper paused for a moment, then said, "Guest, I still have to attend to other guests..."

There are no other customers right now.

Lynn interrupted him, "Let's talk about that flower."

The fat boss's smile froze instantly. He looked around and, seeing that no one was around, he cautiously sat down on half of his bottom.

"Guests, did you all see it last night?"

The fat boss lowered his voice.

"I saw it."

Lynn picked up the goat's milk and took a sip. "What do you think of the way the priest erased memories?"

"Lord Mantel is a good man. Before I met him, I had no desire to live."

"That's what the fat boss said."

"Boss, how many people in this village go to pray like you?"

Lynn asked.

The portly boss held up three fingers. "One-third, I guess."

"one third."

Lynn repeated in a low voice, "Then do you know that the flower feeds on your life force?"

"Know."

The portly boss nodded. "Lord Mantel said this is the price. To live a few years less in exchange for a lifetime of comfort, it's a worthwhile trade."

"Could you tell me about your daughter?"

"Daughter? Where did I get a daughter?"

"You forgot?"

Lynn clenched her fists. "Are you all really doing this voluntarily?"

"I am able to live happily like this now, all thanks to Lord Manter, of course, it is all of my own free will."

"Sorry to bother you, boss. You can go back to your work now."

Lynn waved his hand.

"Since he said it was voluntary, then we have nothing more to say."

Laofen brushed the bread crumbs off her blue slit skirt. "How about we pack up and leave now?"

"Laofen, you pack your things first, I'm going out for a bit."

After finishing speaking, Lynn adjusted the two swords at his waist, turned and left.

"Mr. Lynn, you're just asking for trouble."

Laofen seemed to have guessed what Lynn was planning to do, and quickly caught up, lowering her voice to dissuade him, "You said we wouldn't be pushovers."

"Yeah, we shouldn't be pushovers, so we should be the bad guys."

Lynn quickened his pace.

Laopen was completely bewildered.

……

The church's wooden doors remained ajar.

Pastor Mantel was squatting beside the stone table, carefully watering the Ashoka flowers with a small watering can in his hand.

Noticing footsteps, he put down the watering can and gently stroked the petals with his fingertips. "It seems that last night's conversation did not teach you to respect the suffering of others."

Lynn drew his longsword. "Suffering doesn't need respect, suffering needs to be faced."

"With this one strike of your sword, you will kill those who are too grief-stricken to go on living."

Mantel stood up, his refined face filled with compassion. "You will become the most hated demon in this village."

"I don't mind bearing this sin."

Lynn's gaze was sharp as a knife. "In other words, I don't mind being the villain."

What made you suddenly so resolute?

"The hotel owner said he had forgotten he had a daughter."

Lynn said, "I think that wanting to forget painful memories is definitely not the same as wanting to forget the people he loved."

"You're not him."

Manter's tone suddenly turned cold. "What gives you the right to say such nonsense?"

"Yes, precisely because I am not him, I am able to do it."

Lynn ducked and thrust his sword out, his target indeed being the potted flower.

"stop!"

Mante spoke up to stop him.

With a single slash, the icy blue Forget-Me-Not flower was instantly shattered by the sword energy, turning into countless shimmering fragments.

"You ruined it...you madman!"

Mante slumped to the ground, staring at the muddy mess of wreckage, cursing under his breath.

Lynn sheathed her sword and looked at him coldly. "You clearly called me a demon, so why are you acting like a madman now? I think 'demon' sounds better."

After saying that, he left the church without stopping.

......

Back at the hotel, Lynn quickly tied up his luggage.

Laofen stood at the door, holding her staff, listening to the increasingly noisy commotion downstairs. She tilted her head and said, "Mr. Lynn, it seems like a lot of people have arrived."

"I expected this," Lynn said.

When Hora Orphen arrived downstairs, she saw that the entrance was packed with people.

The fat boss was at the front, carrying a wood-chopping axe in his hand.

Behind him stood dozens of villagers with somber expressions.

"Get out of our village!"

The one who spoke was that familiar middle-aged woman.

"We're getting ready to leave."

Lynn casually picked up his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and walked towards the door.

"Get out! Get out!"

"You are not welcome here!"

"demon!"

Even after they've gone quite a distance, the grumbling continues behind their backs.

"It feels really good to be the bad guy, after all, not all of your travel memories are happy."

Lynn ignored the insults behind him and took larger steps.

Laofen immediately strode after him, saying, "Since Mr. Lynn is the villain, then I, as his accomplice, must stay close."

As I crossed the low wooden fence at the village entrance, the noise behind me gradually faded away.

"young people."

An old voice came from not far away.

Lynn turned her head and saw the old woman with a full head of white hair and a hunched figure whom she had met yesterday walking over.

"What's up?"

Lynn asked with a smile.

The old woman clasped her hands in front of her and bowed deeply.

"Thank you."