The Abandoned Villainess Decides to Take It All Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Reverse Rampage.

A condition where an esper’s rampage rebounds entirely onto the controller.

A remarkably literal name.

“Kh—kugh…!”

The count writhed on the ground, retching violently.
He clawed at his throat as snake scales tore through his skin.

“Gaaah—!”

Even onlookers turned pale.

That was why beast-type abilities were infamous.
Their rampages were said to be agonizing beyond measure.

Anyone from Tenevrin would know that pain.

And yet he’d tried to force the princess into a rampage anyway.

Normally, the original owner of an ability could endure a rampage for a short while—it was their own power, after all.

But this—

“Kh—aaah!”

One of the count’s arms twisted grotesquely, flesh cracking and reforming into a massive snake’s tail.

The tail slammed down like a whip.

“Everyone—form shields!” Jeanne shouted.

They reacted instantly, just as Lillian had warned them.

Stone and earth barriers surged upward, barely blocking the strike.

The tail swung again—

And vanished midair, dissolving like snow under sunlight.

A languid, incredulous voice sounded behind Lillian.

“How far ahead did you see all this?”

“…Your Highness!”

Ebren stood behind her, one arm wrapped around her waist, holding her firmly in place.

He clicked his tongue as he surveyed the count—writhing, one limb erased.

“You told me to wait nearby.”

“That was a request,” Lillian said evenly. “Not an order.”

“So I was curious,” he continued, voice light.
“Did you expect him to end up like this too?”

“It was obvious.”

If someone wanted to ruin an esper, the fastest method was to induce a rampage.

At first, the man probably intended only to sabotage the repair.

But people like that were always thorough to the point of stupidity.

That was why Lillian had checked the princess’s hand earlier.

Your Highness, may I see your hand for a moment?

She’d been searching for a rampage-triggering mark.

A place a guardian could inscribe without suspicion.

The back of the hand.

Once she awakened, Lillian could sense such markings even when invisible.

Unlike imprinting, this wasn’t permanent.

It was a one-time command.

He’d planned to activate it here—

Destroy the evidence.
Expose the princess’s instability.
Secure his control.

Thankfully, Lillian had reversed the function beforehand.

“Ah—!”

Dizziness slammed into her head.

She pressed a hand to her temple—and when she pulled it away, blood smeared her fingers.

Her skin had split. It stung sharply.

“…Huh?”

Right.

Beast-type abilities regenerated.

The tail Ebren had erased was already growing back.

A shard of stone had struck her.

Well. As long as it wasn’t her eye. This was a temple—healing was close at hand.

But then—

All sound behind her vanished.

“…?”

A pressure flooded the space.

So heavy it froze her breath.

Like walking down a dark alley, knowing something unspeakable stood just behind you.

The source of that pressure passed slowly to her left.

Only then could she breathe again.

“…Your Highness?”

Ebren had snapped.

Now she understood—again—why the original story described him as terrifying despite his ethereal beauty.

A smiling demon, starving for blood.

With each step he took, the grass beneath his feet disintegrated into white ash.

The destruction spread outward in perfect circles.

Her instincts screamed.

At this rate, a catastrophe would occur.

Lillian rushed in front of him.

“Your Highness—control yourself!”

“Move.”

“Please—just a moment! You said you could restrain yourself!”

“Lillian Tillard.”

His gentle tone was colder than any shout.

“I’m in a very bad mood right now.”

“…!”

“I don’t think I’ll see what’s in front of me.”

“So step aside.”

Her mouth went dry.

Restraint—hadn’t he said he could do restraint?

He’d been calm moments ago. Why now?

Then—

A column of white light crashed down from the sky.

It struck the count’s half-regenerated arm.

“Aaaagh!”

“Hm,” Ebren murmured. “Mythical serpents regenerate endlessly.”

“Guh—!”

“I wonder if that applies to humans as well.”

His voice held no interest at all.

The count kept regenerating—reverse rampage forcing his body to continue.

Ebren could have knocked him unconscious at any time.

But he didn’t.

The princess and her attendants trembled.

The Shadows, once lively around Lillian, now stood rigid and silent.

A familiar sight.

One Lillian had simply forgotten.

She closed her eyes briefly.

She felt no pity for the count.

He deserved punishment.

Execution would have been understandable.

But punishing a crime—

and treating a human like a toy—

were not the same thing.

Mental contamination had to be reduced.

Not just Ebren’s.

The count’s, too—before he lashed out again.

Controllers usually reduced contamination through touch.

Focus.

Some could push their power outward instead.

Less efficient—but enough.

That strange infinity symbol hadn’t appeared for nothing.

Lillian clenched her teeth and forced the power inside her to the surface of her skin.

She clasped her hands together, as if praying.

Push it out.
Push it out—

Then—

Pink light bloomed.

Shimmering butterfly phantoms filled the air, drifting dreamlike above them.

As glowing particles brushed against skin, they vanished—leaving only clarity behind.

One butterfly fluttered down and landed on the count’s brow.

“Ugh… ah…”

His body slackened, collapsing limply to the ground.

Lillian turned and ran toward the man who still stood rigid.

She had awakened him.

He’d imprinted on her without asking.

The least she could do was keep him sane.

“Your Highness. Please—stop now.”

She seized his left hand tightly.

Ebren didn’t move.

Was touch not enough?

She squeezed, kneaded his hand desperately.

If the situation weren’t so dire, it might have looked like fervent devotion.

But he remained unmoving.

What else—

What else can I touch?