The Guidebook for Villainesses

Konny and Valentine stood on top of the magic circle and bowed their heads to Lara. Only after saying that they would return as soon as possible three more times did the two finally teleport with a flash of red light, returning to the abode’s basement back in Dandelion.

Lara stood still with her arms folded while watching them go. Then, she slowly opened her mouth.

“Valac.”

“Yes.”

“Disassemble the magic circle.”

Konny would cry. She would cry and get angry, and then cry and get angry again. It was clear to Lara’s eyes even though she did not see it. Even while resenting Lara, she would still want to come to her somehow and would pester those around her. Konny was that kind of child. She was sweet and thoughtful. With a childlike face, she always took care of Lara like her own sister.

Konny was the closest family Lara had save for Isadora, so she could not take Konny with her. Putting aside the danger, Lara could not help cutting their only method of reunion because she knew Konny would never agree with her decision.

After being kicked out of Hautean and the Tarragon Empire, along with the North and the East, there was now only one place for the demon worshippers to escape to—Gorgon. The western part of the continent, a place called the demonic beasts mountain range.

After destroying the magic circle, Valac returned to Lara’s side. She was ready to depart and was already on the horse. Hiding her long hair in a black cape, Lara said.

“Let’s go.”

The three demons bowed their heads at the same time.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

A red light exploded from the magic circle in the basement of Lara’s abode in Dandelion. After the light that had gently filled the basement maze disappeared, Konny and Valentine stood side by side on the magic circle.

“Whew, I can’t get used to this no matter how many times I use it. I have no problem using the receiver though. Is it because I’m scared?”

“You’re scared?”

“Of course, I’m scared! Magic is sending me from that side to this side. That is not natural! What if something goes wrong and I turn to dust or disappear forever?”

Of course, there was a possibility that it would happen as Konny said, but Valentine did not say it. There was something more important to attend to.

“Konny, come down here.”

“Why? We’re busy. We have to run to Madam Isadora.”

“Hurry up and come down. I have something to check.”

“And I have to hurry to go to milady.”

Konny grumbled but still came down from the magic circle and stepped aside to one side of the basement. Valentine then put his bag down on the magic circle and followed Konny outside of the magic circle.

“What are you doing?”

“Isn’t it weird?”

“What’s weird?”

“Why did milady only send us here?”

“That’s because…she loves me so much?”

“But it didn't make sense when she told us to bring Madam Isadora and Crown Prince Acerus to the west. She was the one who told you to go back because it was dangerous.”

Just before she was about to say something, Konny suddenly closed her lips tightly. Her eyes shook anxiously. Valentine immediately cast a spell without saying more.

“Oh.”

But the magic circle did not work. It was just a while ago that the two arrived. In a short time, the magic circle completely broke down and did not function. Konny said in a trembling voice, clenching Valentine’s shirt sleeves.

“Do, do it again.”

“Okay.”

Valentine cast the spell again and again. However, his bag on the magic circle did not disappear. The red light that appeared every time the magic circle was activated also disappeared.

“No way! This is Milady's doing, I’m sure! No wonder she kept trying to separate from us… You idiot Konny, how could you really listen to her!”

Konny screamed and flopped down. She cried and begged Valentine with a face saying that she knew this would happen.

“Valentine, you’re a genius. Can’t you fix this real quick? I have to go to Milady, please.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because they broke the one on the other side.”

What do I do now?

Valentine thought fast. It took a long time to restore the magic circle. Even if he made one as soon as possible, someone had to move and install it over there. Rather than doing that, it would have been better to go to where Lara was right now.

Valentine clenched his trembling hand. He was a timid and introverted man, but he knew well what decisions to make at times like this.

“Konny, you go to Madam Isadora.”

“What about you?”

“I will go to His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.”

Konny started running first. It was fortunate that she memorized the basement maze thoroughly. If she had lost her way there when she was in such a hurry, she might have cried because she was so angry.

Valentine ran after Konny. Each of them took a carriage and moved out in a different direction.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Isadora was confirming the interest she was supposed to receive from Nicholas after providing military funds for the Eastern Unification war.

“I’m going to be rich at this rate.”

She just provided money spent on bringing three countries together. Even after spending that much amount without even batting an eyelid, Isadora imagined her future of being a richer business person.

She imagined Lara in a bright red dress and a golden carriage, dominating the world with money. In that world of imagination, Isadora was looking at Lara, who blushed lovingly and said, ‘Thank you, mom.’ A satisfied smile flashed on Isadora’s face.

“Why are you smiling so scarily? Is there something that’s making you angry?”

Sebastian asked, his voice was mixed with a joking tone. Isadora realized that Sebastian deliberately talked to her to tease her. After handing over some documents to him, she said to him,

“The man the Emperor introduced to me wants to invest in our trading company. What should I say to refuse him?”

“Why do you want to refuse him?”

“Because he’s the Emperor’s man.”

“Just accept his investment. Then distribute the profits for as little as a dog’s nostrils to him.”

“You’re worse than I am.”

“You taught me that business is not for a kind person.”

Sebastian always had the answer to talk balk to her. Regardless of whether Isadora looked at him with a flustered face or not, he only took the documents from Isadora after saying everything he wanted to say.

“Come to think of it, didn’t you get any contact from Lady Lara? It’s been a while since she’s been to the border.”

“She’s so good at doing things on her own that even I don’t want to worry… I mean, it’s quite frustrating at this point.”

“Call her first.”

“Buy the most expensive horse in Dandelion for the wolves. And tell them to go to the border.”

“What? Why?”

“Pack some food and send it to Lara.”

‘It’s autumn after all.’

Isadora muttered. It’s the season when there were a lot of delicious foods so she had to buy some apples and all sorts of delicious foods and send them to her daughter. Sebastian smiled softly and said.

“How boastful.”

“Shut up.”

Then, Konny arrived. The door opened with a crashing sound. Isadora and Sebastian were surprised and looked at the door. Konny had frizzled hair and a face stained with tears. As soon as she came inside, she screamed at Isadora.

“Madam, milady is weird!”

“Konny? What’s going on?”

“Milady forced me to go to you and suddenly…suddenly she disappeared! Valentine even said that the magic circle that he made could no longer be used! Milady broke it over on her side!”

Isadora sprung on her feet.

“Konny, do you know where Lara went?”

“To the West… Sob, she said she was going to the West. She told me to bring Madam Isadora and the Crown Prince to that side… But without the magic circle, it will take us a month to go from here to there!”

Even though Lara was far from the West, she had three demons with her. Vassago and Paimon were demons with the power at the level of a demon lord. It would not be difficult for them to send Lara to the West as quickly as possible.

“What if she’s thinking about something weird? You know it too, right? She’s usually very smart but it turns out she’s full of loopholes!”

“Yes, of course, I know.”

“How can she bring demons to fight other demons? No matter how strong the Barbarians are, what can she do alone in a big war where the whole continent has to fight? And even Master Demian is not here now!”

Konny eventually burst into tears. Sebastian hurriedly approached and soothed her but the maid with a loud voice had no intentions to stop herself from crying. She kept saying gibberish words similar to ‘milady was a fool and an idiot.’ and, ‘I was wrong to let Lara get along with guys like Pineapple and Samba.’

Isadora was not angry. She neither shouted nor panicked. She stood still there for a moment and thought of her daughter.

Lara resembled Isadora. Her daughter was never a child who would bet on reckless gambling. And she did not treat her life as insignificant. If Lara jumped into reckless scenarios and posed danger, it would be something important that no one else could do, or because she had her own plan.

Lara was Isadora’s daughter. She believed in her daughter.

“Sebastian, gather all the wolves in the trading company. Along with the fastest horses and the fastest men in Dandelion.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Contact Hautean and tell them to have the knights on standby. To get to the Gorgon Mountain Range, it’s fastest to go from Hautean. If the King thinks it’s nonsense, make him listen to you even if you have to use Sonnet.”

“Yes.”

“And… Go and tell the Emperor. The war has started. I will give everything I have in this war.”

It was what Thousand Gold Isadora said. For saying that she would give everything she had was worth more than an alliance of a country.

“Don’t cry, Konny.”

Isadora said.

“Lara will win.”

Because she’s my daughter.