I Will Create a Good Ending for the Yandere Villainess-Chapter 161: Second Layer of the Forest of Disruption? [22]

The next day soon arrived. As they were packing up, Lillian couldn't help but feel a lingering gaze on her. After storing the tent in her ring, she turned around.

Marionette, who was removing whatever traces of their presence here, was staring at her rather... Keenly...

Lillian, who was crouched beside where the tent had previously been, asked, "Is there... Something wrong?" With a tilt of her head.

Marionette's eyes were focused on the small red mark she made on Lillian's neck. Eventually, she glanced away from it and into the girl's eyes.

She smiled before saying:

"You're looking much more beautiful today. That's all."

She hadn't told her about the hickey yet. And she had no intentions of doing so any time soon.

Lillian raised an eyebrow, then smiled smugly, appreciating the sudden compliment, "Well, thanks! You're looking as stunning, as always."

"Is that so? I'm grateful for the compliment." She said with a stoic voice.

Lillian, after pushing herself off the ground, asked:

"Have you stored the Spider's corpse yet?"

"The monster? Yes, I have." Marionette gave a brief nod. Her face then twitched a bit at Lillian's next words.

"How about the head, then? Did you also store that?" She asked with a knowing expression. "Or did you think that you destroyed it enough to the point it wasn't usable?"

"..."

Marionette folded her arms, tilting her head, feigning ignorance.

She then asked, her face going stoic.

"I have no idea what you could possibly be referring to."

Lillian rolled her eyes, "You definitely wanted me to see it. You left a trail of blood, after all."

Marionette's stoicness faltered instantly.

"I... Did?" She asked, her eyes widening slowly.

"Uhh, yeah?"

Marionette wrapped her fingers around her chin, falling into a deep thought and reflection. Well, that was until she noticed Lillian summoned a rather interesting-looking cloak.

"By the way, check out this cloak I got from the Spider!" She twirled around before stopping and flexing the collar at her, "Don't I look extra cool now?"

Marionette moved towards her. Once reaching her, she reached out towards the collar, straightening it out. After doing that, she patted Lillian's head.

Lillian stared at Marionette's face, as her hair was being ruffled. She was smiling at her—a sight much more common nowadays.

"You always look cool to me, Lillian..." Marionette softly stated.

Lillian blushed a bit. She brushed off the hand on her head and turned her face to the side, "Ah... Thanks..." She wasn't expecting that response from her.

Once they all finished packing up and got rid of their traces, they made their way through the forest. However, they first had to made a minor detour.

They had to first retrieve her odachi.

"You killed it without the Black Maw?" Marionette tilted her head, garnering a nod from the girl beside her.

"Heh! I have you to thank for that." Lillian stared up, squeezing her hand. As a way to not get lost from one another, they resorted to holding each other's hand.

"How so?" Marionette raised an eyebrow, "I recall I wasn't there with you."

"No, no. Not that." Lillian waved her hand dismissively, then paused and stared back, "Wait, are you being serious?"

Marionette furrowed her brows, her tone adopting confusion, "Yes. Did I do something to allow you to reign in victory?"

Lillian scratched the back of her head, "You trained me like hell, Marionette." She stated, holding back the information of her also taking in a drug.

Marionette narrowed her eyes, "Is... That so?" She tilted her head slightly up and rubbed her chin, "You really are talented, huh? Tell me, how different was it for you?"

"Uhm..." Lillian tilted her head, "Pardon? I don't understand you question."

Marionette nodded, "Apologies. Let me clarify. Compared to fighting a Rank D monster, how much different was it against a Rank C?"

"Uh... Difficult. That question seems quite self-explanatory, Mari. An increase in rank would surely mean a higher difficulty, right?"

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Marionette's stoic face twitched at her words, "We humans created our rankings of monsters based on the Jester's classification of them, which we found to be created from Hearth, the other world. However, we don't classify them in terms of combat power, but instead threat level to a city or kingdom."

She then blinked at Lillian.

"Do you know why?"

Lillian sighed at the quizzing look she was getting.

"That's because of the Corruption and Exposure."

Marionette nodded in satisfaction, "The Corruption has varying effects on monsters. But the most underlying effect is an increase in intelligence and allowing them to develop more supernatural abilities."

"So in other words..." Lillian paused, thinking about her answer, "Corruption equals increased intelligence and more uses in mana, and an increase in Mana Shells means more brawns and forms it has taken."

Marionette smiled, rubbing Lillian's head, "Good girl."

"E-eh!? What did you call me!?"

"What? I can't say it back? That seems awfully unfair..."

Soon enough, they were able to retrieve the odachi and were finally on their way out of the forest. Fortunately, they didn't have to go blind for the Beetle finally recovered from its awful injuries.

But... It didn't seem so glad that it had to be pulled to become a mount for the two women on its back. Especially, after it had just recovered.

It let out a low grunt. Only to be scolded by Lillian.

"Oh, don't be so annoyed. I wouldn't need to call you out here if you weren't so useful." She then went silent, her right eye twitching a bit, "I'm not even a bad boss! I even let you have lunch!"

Crunch...! Squelch!

The Beetle snorted as it chewed the flesh of a freshly killed Greyed Lizard. It was allowed lunch breaks, yes. But it had to hunt for its own food.

As Lillian watched as it ate, she noticed a pair of arms gently wrapped around her neck, then two soft mounds pressed into her back.

She turned to the side, watching as Marionette rested her chin on her right shoulder.

"You are quite harsh on your Shard, Lilly." Marionette commented.

Lillian shrugged, "Meh... I'm like this with everyone." She then smirked, "But not with a..."