Voyage Of The Villainess

Dandras glanced at Malaya who was eating heartily at all the food he cooked for her. He couldn't help but be amused at the sigh. 'She looks like someone who has not eaten for years.' However, that man who desperately tried to reach after her before they teleported, flashed to his mind.

'Why is Miss Malaya running away from him?' Dandras thought. However, he didn't dare to voice it out and went to check his friend, Lamar. The healing potion that Malaya gave him was really effective. And it must be due to fatigue that Lamar lost his consciousness.

Dandras clenched his fist. 'This is all my fault, if I don't drag Dandras with me, none of these would happen.'

***

Meanwhile, Malaya, who was eating leisurely, burped with satisfaction. Thankfully none was there, so she could act more shamelessly. She finished all the food with great satisfaction, and the cooking was comparable to Dorris' cooking as well as Rein's. So it was indeed very satisfying to have it after a while.

'It is really delicious, but Kayden...' Malaya paused with her thoughts. Then she remembered Kayden's voice who called out for him before they teleported. She felt gloomier. 'I'm really such a bad person. Well, I'm technically a villainess before, but I definitely did not know that I could be a real jerk.'

She stood up and stretched both her hands. Looking clearer to the place she was in, well, they were in the cave when they arrived here. But when they got deeper into the cave, they reached a huge clearing. In the middle of the clearing, there was a one-story house made of stone.

On the inside, there were rooms. When one entered, they would see the living room with a fireplace and five chairs and a round table. The other three-room, well the other one was the kitchen. And the other one was a bedroom. Malaya helped to bring the unconscious Lamar to his bed. The other room, well she didn't have any clue to what it was, but it must be another bedroom since Dandras went in and out there to change his clothes.

"Miss Malaya." Malaya turned around and Dandras was approaching her. Observing him closely, he had tan skin and purple eyes, He had dark brown hair as well. His looks were quite good-looking and if Malaya remembered now, the other one was quite a looker and both of these two had similar looks. They must be siblings or close relatives. 

"Once again, thank you for saving me and my friend," Dandras said as he gave a short bow. 

"It's alright." Malaya casually sat back on her seat again. "As I said, I did that in order to have a delicious meal like this."

"Thank you for your praise with the meal I prepared," Dandras said with a smile.

"Well, now that I have gotten my payment, I want to leave now," Malaya said as she stood up. 'If I stay longer here, there is no telling when he will reach me again soon or the others.'

"You will leave now?" Dandras seemed surprised. 

"Yes, there is no reason for me to stay now. And your friend is alright now." Malaya said. 

"Miss Malaya, I know you have done so much to help us. But may I ask you for another favor? I," Dandras looked down, his expression was hesitant. Malaya waited patiently for his words. "The reason we are running is that we offend someone. And right now, they might be hunting us. We don't know how to fight and our magic is just mediocre."

"You wanted me to be your bodyguard? Or defeat the person you offended?" Malaya asked as she narrowed her gaze. 

"Getting into other people's problems is not really my style. I'm sorry but I can't help you further than this." Malaya said.

Dandras looked down. He expected this much. And Malaya was right, too. Besides, those people were truly strong. What if Malaya got into more danger?

"I'm sorry, I'm just desperate," Dandras said, still not looking up.

Malaya sighed inwardly. 'If Hyun Jae was here, she would definitely lend a helping hand to these people and we would be dragged, or else she would get into trouble.'

'However, I have my own problems to deal with now.' Malaya glanced at the food they prepared for her. "I can't help you, but there might be people that can help you." 

Dandras this time looked at Malaya with an expectant gaze. It was like the flame of hope was once again ignited in his eyes. 

"They are currently in the capital of Baslon."

"Kingdom of Baslon?" Dandras seemed horrified at hearing the kingdom. And every bit of his action didn't escape Malaya's observant gaze.

"I'm afraid, I can't go there." He rubbed his right arm with his left hand. He looked paler than before. "Thank you for trying to recommend us with someone, but I believe I can't go to the capital right now."

Malaya casually took a seat, she had seen so many people like this. And a budding feeling was forming inside her. 'Ah, I can't leave now, if I'm having this suspicion feeling right now.'

Malaya took a casual seat on the chair once again. "Please sit down, Sir Dandras," Malaya gestured to the seat opposite to her. "I'll decide to help you, if you tell me your whole story, from the people who are after your lives and why you don't want to go to the capital."

This time Dandras developed a little suspicion of her when she said those words. 'Why is she taking an interest now to the people who are after us? Is she an assassin sent to kill us and she needed it to confirm our identity?' Dandras shook the thoughts inside him. 'No, that can't be. She should have killed us when we are chased by the scorpions.' He sat down on the chair a bit hesitant.

'He's like an open book. His thoughts are clearly shown in his expression.' A grin escaped Malaya's mind. 'But it's good he's like this. I will be able to get to know why I'm suddenly feeling suspicious of him. But let me put his mind at ease further.'

"I came from the capital." Malaya started. "Something unfortunate happened. We are helping to fix the war between the beastmen and the kingdom, but things didn't go to plan when everyone started self-destructing themselves." Malaya observed how Dandras became more horrified hearing this. Their eyes met, and he immediately averted his gaze first.

'He really doesn't know how to hide his expression. But seeing him like this, does he perhaps know something about why those people become crazy?'

"That is all I have to say," Malaya said. "I don't have to deal with any people who are after you and your friend's life."

Dandras' eyes widened. "I never thought of Miss Malaya like that! You are our saviour after all."

"No," Malaya maintained her calm smile. "You definitely think of me like that. Seeing how you became wary of me and your eyes held fear."

"I'm sorry!" Dandras croaked. "I don't mean to be rude and think that you are an enemy!"

Malaya raised her hands. "Alright, alright. You can calm down now. So from what I said, it is obvious now why I ask such things." She clasped both her hands as she looked directly at Dandras' eyes. "I want to know if you have something to do with people suddenly going crazy."

'If I don't find the reason for that. I believe that we won't be able to leave this place. Since I already promised to Hyun Jae, that we will help to stop this war.' Malaya sighed inwardly. 'And to think that I will find people connected to this case while I ran away to cool my mind. Well, I guess, this is better than just blindly running away.'

Dandras gulped down as Malaya looked at him. Although she was smiling, her eyes held no expression. However, maybe she could really help us. And besides from what she said, she was not part of that group either. Rather it looked like she was investigating them.

"You are right, it is partly connected to us, why those people become crazy. But Lamar and I don't want any of this! We don't know that they will use our research for something like this! Please, while I tell you everything, don't blame us, and listen to me until the end." His eyes held desperation as he looked at Malaya.

"I will do that until the end. And that is when I will make my comments and decisions." Malaya said. "You can start now. Don't leave anything out."

Dandras was more frightened when Malaya's smile became more terrifying than before. It was like she was facing an interrogator right now. And one wrong word, would cause his life. He gulped. 'It's alright. Just like before, if she wanted you dead, she could easily do that. Now both my life and Lamar's are in her hands now. She is our only hope now..' Dandras finally calmed down himself and began to speak.