Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 45 - 32: Operation Death of the Pervert 3. { A Hero’s disgusting achievements }
As Aurianna stepped into the room, her face turned as pale as a ghost. What lay before her was a chilling sight—dead bodies hanging from the ceiling like macabre decorations, swaying eerily. Blood and guts splattered all over the floor. It was like a horror play came to life, and she couldn’t help but feel horrified.
As she cautiously moved forward, her heart sank even further when she noticed the heads of children lined up on a shelf, their expressions frozen in terror. It was heart-wrenching to think that none of them seemed to have found peace in their final moments.
As she continued, her ears caught the faint sound of weeping, the pained cries of a child. Intrigued and filled with fear, she mustered her courage and walked towards a massive cage where the sound was coming from. However, before she could get a good look inside, a monstrous creature lunged at her, slashing the cage with its claws, which sent a jolt of electricity through its body, causing it to run back inside the cage away from the bars.
It was a close call, and she almost jumped out of her skin, but she managed to stay composed. After all, she had faced scarier monsters before, but this one was something else entirely.
This grotesque creature had a round face adorned with multiple eyes that seemed to be part of its very being. Its four long hands had razor-sharp claws protruded from its body, strangely reminiscent of human limbs. The creature’s eyes were hauntingly human as well. The whole creature was pitch-black, and its lower body was composed of a viscous, black slime that oozed ominously.
As the monster shrunk back, it cried out, revealing its vulnerability, "I want to go home."
In a nearby cage, another creature echoed a cry, "I want my mummy!"
The one that had initially spoken continued, "Please stop the pain," taking hesitant steps toward the front of the cage, locking its round, green eyes with Aurianna’s gaze.
As Aurianna walked deeper into the room and surveyed the scene, she couldn’t believe her eyes. More than thirty cages lined the room, each containing a tormented monster like the one she had encountered earlier. What she noticed the most was the similarity they all shared—their cries for their mothers or fathers, and their pleas, "PLEASE STOP THE PAIN!"
She clasped her hands together and closed her eyes, "I pray, to the god of peace, that you may find rest and an easy passage through the cycle of reincarnation, hurut."
When she finished her prayer, Aurianna knew she had to end their suffering. With a cold look in her eyes, she raised her hands and summoned numerous guns around her and they begun to shoot at the monsters. Surprisingly, there were no dying screams, only silent gratitude murmured by each creature, "Thank you."
[ You have killed thirty-four level 45 black playtime. You have received 132,600 exp.]
As she walked back from where she came, her heart heavy with what she had witnessed, but something caught her eye—a peculiar book sitting on a table stained with blood. The title, "Black Playtime" by Hero Jade Havensworth, gave her an eerie feeling, but her curiosity got the better of her. She opened the book hastily and skimmed through its pages. What she saw horrified her even more—gruesome images depicting the dismemberment of children and the use of chemicals to create these monsters.
’I don’t have time to read yet,’ Aurianna thought as she carefully placed it in her inventory.
Turning her attention to Eva, Aurianna shared her somber realization. "In my past life, I’ve encountered good humans and other races as well as some who were undeniably evil and destructive. But one thing that seems sadly common among them all is their cruelty towards slaves and each other. Humans would enslave other races, so other races would also enslave humans and other beings too. It’s like a vicious cycle of enslavement and brutality, where one act of mistreatment sparks more suffering in return." Despite her cold expression there was a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"During the conquest to defeat Vatium, I had seen the fate of human slaves who had suffered unimaginably in the hands of other races. Many of them had lost limbs and had lost all hope for a better life. It was heart-wrenching to witness their pain, and even when I tried to heal them, some chose to end their own lives, resorting to use knives meant for self-defense." Aurianna recalled as she remembered those slaves stabbing their throats with the knives. It was a sight that seared into her memory.
But while Aurianna grappled with the weight of those tragic moments, Kent, Cindy, and Derek seemed oblivious, basking in the adoration of others. They were so focused on the praises showered upon them that they completely ignored the plight of those suffering slaves.
Aurianna, determined to make a difference, urged the heroes to talk to the people who had committed suicide and find a way to help them. But she was met with indifference and a dismissive attitude. They casually scoffed, "If they want to die, let them die."
Undeterred, Aurianna did her best to revive those who had taken their own lives and urged them not to give up on living. But their spirits seemed broken and their eyes lacked any glimmer of hope or desire to carry on, and they pleaded with her not to bring them back, only to repeat their tragic choice and end their lives once more.
Eva chuckled lightly but could sense the complexity of Aurianna’s emotions. "Seems like you’ve seen both the good and the bad in humans. I almost thought you were only going to say all humans are bad." she observed.
Aurianna nodded thoughtfully, "It’s not fair for me to say all humans are bad, when there are good people out there. It’s just the terrible things some of them do that makes me lose my faith in humanity. Also, I especially harbor a strong hatred to the people of Sandeph. To me, they’re all the same, and as long as they remain in that place, they are all going to die. However, I may spare those who have shown kindness and support to me in the past."
"Aurianna, just a friendly word of caution," Eva said, wagging her finger playfully in Aurianna’s direction, trying to sound like a mother lecturing her child. "Putting too much trust in others might lead to some serious disappointment and misfortune. Be careful!"
Aurianna shrugged, giving a nonchalant reply, "Yeah, I know, I’ll just spare them, but if they refuse and defend Sandeph, they’ll be on my death list." Her tone was cold and resolute.
The bitterness in her voice only grew as she continued, her disdain for heroes spilling out, "This whole mess is all thanks to those first heroes. Now, everyone’s at each other’s throats, and humans, being at the center of it all, end up shouldering most of the blame, because most heroes were human. Heroes, those disgusting bastards, would always leave a trail of their disgusting achievements. And it’s quite foolish for humans to cling to those achievements like they were sacred. Heroes are nothing but over-ambitious bastards who care about fame, money, women, and power," Her emotions ran high, and she started scratching her arms in frustration until they bled, muttering angrily to herself, "Filthy, filthy, filthy. I can still feel those disgusting hands on my body."
Eva tried to soothe Aurianna, giving her a comforting hug as Aurianna’s arms automatically healed from the scratches. "Calm down, Aurianna," Eva said softly.
"You alright, Aurianna?" Eva asked, concerned for her well-being.
"Why does everyone want power?" Aurianna asked tightly holding Eva as tears streamed down her face. "Maybe if everyone wasn’t power crazy there would have been peace!"
Eva then asked a question, "Isn’t it natural for everyone to crave power?"
Aurianna looked at Eva her pupils trembling. She then took in a deep breath and admitted, "I don’t know anymore. Maybe in the past, I believed that everyone wanted peace, but after all that’s happened, it’s hard to think that power is all anyone craves." Memories of the crowds cheering for her execution flooded her mind, causing her to shudder and close her eyes, trying to push the horrific images away.
"Don’t you also want power?" Eva asked her.
"I do, I want power. I want power so no one would ever hurt me. So that no one would look at me like a fool. So that no one would look down on me. I want power so I can be myself. I want power to have revenge on all those bastards. If people can’t live in peace isn’t it better to drown with others into a world of war?" Aurianna asked as she wiped her tears. Eva patted her and the head and nodded understandingly, and suggested "Let’s leave, Aurianna," that seemed to drag them deeper into turmoil. Aurianna agreed, and as she was about to shut the door behind her, something caught her eye which was a mysterious black egg. Curiosity got the best of her, so she picked it up and decided to keep it in her inventory.
ෆ・┈・┈・ᕱ⑅ᕱ・┈・┈・ෆ
"Aurianna, where have you been?" Mavis asked, raising an eyebrow as Aurianna strolled into the living room.
Aurianna shot Mavis a look of disdain before flopping down on the couch. "Ugh, do I really have to be here?" she groaned.
Mavis tried to lighten the mood, giving Aurianna an encouraging smile. "Come on, princess, let’s turn that frown upside down. Gotta look the part, you know? Smile for class!"
Aurianna crossed her arms, clearly not in the mood for pleasantries. "I’m princess Aurianna Vanluad, and I choose not to waste my time on this boring class. I’d rather be playing with my toys," she snapped.
Mavis remained calm and composed. "Princess, I understand it might not be the most thrilling thing in the world, but this subject is compulsory. Your mother has entrusted me to teach you everything you need to be a lady, and that’s a responsibility I take seriously. So, get comfy, because we’re going to be spending some quality time together for a while," she said with a smile.
"Why would I even want to be a lady?" Aurianna questioned, glaring at Mavis with defiance.
Mavis chuckled, amused by Aurianna’s feisty personality. "Well, well, it looks like the princess has a feisty personality. You know, they always said the princess was all sweet and adorable, but it seems they got it wrong because you’ve gone from an angel to a viscous spoilt brat in just a few weeks," Mavis commented with a skeptical look. "Unless you’re not really the princess?"
Aurianna gave a mocking smile, not taking Mavis’s skepticism too seriously. "And what proves I’m not the princess old hag? Why can’t I, a princess of Sandeph, kill a lowly wretched maid for stealing my jewelry? Everyone knows how I adore shiny stuff." Aurianna said with pride.
Mavis raised an eyebrow at Aurianna’s bold proclamation, but then she brushed it off, eager to get back to business. "Well, let’s put jewelry theft on hold for now and get on with the class," she insisted, picking up an etiquette book from the nearby couch.
Aurianna remained defiant, sitting with her arms stubbornly crossed. "I refuse," she declared, not backing down.
Mavis felt a vein throbbing on her forehead as she looked at the unyielding princess. She put the etiquette book down on the couch and placed her hands on her hips, trying to maintain her composure. "You know, one thing I absolutely can’t stand are disrespectful children," she stated firmly.
"I don’t care," Aurianna replied nonchalantly, seemingly unfazed by Mavis’s words.
Mavis took a deep breath, trying to keep her patience intact. "Well, it’s my duty as your etiquette teacher to teach you some manners. And ill-mannered children, like you’re being right now, need to be disciplined," she scolded, hoping to get through to the young princess.
But Aurianna remained defiant and uncooperative. Mavis rubbed her forehead in frustration, trying to understand why the princess was resisting so vehemently. "All we’re supposed to do is learn and improve ourselves. I don’t understand why you’re so against learning etiquette," Mavis said with a sigh, feeling the pressure building up.
Aurianna’s eyes narrowed as she finally voiced her true reason for rebelling. "Well, I refuse to have etiquette classes with a disgusting pedophile!" she spat, causing Mavis’s eyes to widen in surprise.
Mavis tried to laugh off the accusation, though she couldn’t hide the unease in her voice. "Princess, you must be mistaken. I am certainly not a pedophile," she retorted defensively.
"Oh, I can recognize that disgusting look in your eyes. And what’s more, you smell like children!" Aurianna shot back.
Mavis was taken aback by Aurianna’s perceptiveness, feeling her own composure starting to crack. "Well, that’s because I run an orphanage, and I help find loving homes for the children," she explained, hoping to clear any misunderstandings.
But Aurianna was relentless. "I did my investigation, and all these kids here are being abused, what’s more..." she accused, her eyes burning with anger as she gripped her palms.
Mavis tried to downplay the accusation, warning Aurianna in a colder tone, "Princess, such matters don’t concern you at your age."
Inwardly, Mavis couldn’t help but be impressed by Aurianna’s intelligence and perceptiveness. The young princess had proven to be far more observant and insightful than she had expected. "How is a seven-year-old princess this sharp? Well, I shouldn’t be surprised; most of King Girsal’s daughters are monsters," Mavis thought to herself, feeling both intimidated and intrigued by Aurianna’s spirit.
"Princess, your mother won’t be pleased if you continue to refuse your classes. So, please, let’s put this behind us and have our class," Mavis implored, putting aside her own thoughts and focusing on her responsibility as Aurianna’s etiquette teacher.
"Make me," Aurianna replied in a defiant and provocative tone, "Well, I’m out of here, old hag," she added, jumping of the chair and turning to walk away, clearly not interested in sticking around for more of Mavis’s lecture.
Mavis was furious, and she didn’t hold back in expressing it. "You little brat! If it weren’t for your cute face and royal status, I swear I’d whip you into shape. Spoiled brats like you are headed for a rude awakening in the real world and end up with a miserable future!" she yelled after Aurianna, her frustration palpable, but she also hoped her words would finally knock some sense into the rebellious princess.
Aurianna paused, her steps slowing as Mavis’s words hit a nerve. She turned back towards Mavis, her expression a mix of anger and hurt. Without hesitation, Aurianna conjured a shotgun and held it firmly in her right hand, pointing it directly at Mavis. The air thickened with tension, and Aurianna’s eyes burned with hatred and disgust.
"I had planned to let Concubine Momo handle you, but just the sound of your voice makes me sick," Aurianna said coldly, her finger on the trigger.
Mavis was startled and tried to speak, but her words were cut off by the loud blast of the shotgun. Pain exploded through her left leg as she screamed, clutching the wound. The blast had left her leg a gruesome sight, with the bone exposed to her knee.
Despite the pain, Mavis started to laugh, leaving Aurianna perplexed. "Such a marvelous weapon, princess. Where did you get it from? If I could mass produce this, my status would soar, and I’d become a Duchess," Mavis said, strangely amused as she gazed at Aurianna’s shotgun.
Aurianna was taken aback by Mavis’s reaction. "You just don’t grasp the situation you’re in, do you?" she sneered, her disgust for Mavis growing even more.
’Hey, Eva, I thought you said she had a higher level than me?’ Aurianna asked Eva telepathically, seeking some reassurance or explanation for Mavis’s unexpected weakness.
"Well," Eva explained, trying to smooth things over as Aurianna glared at her. "Mavis might have a higher level, but she’s a [Thinker], which means her intelligence stat is is the highest compared to her attack or defense stats."
’She tricked me, that sneaky little woman.’ Aurianna thought as she noticed Eva nervously looking away.
Mavis, now attempting to defuse the situation, attempted to reason with Aurianna, "Princess, there’s no need for violence. Just hand over that weapon, and I’ll forget all this. The church can easily heal my leg, and I won’t hold a grudge against you." she stretched out her right arm to receive the weapon.
But Aurianna wasn’t going to let Mavis off the hook so easily. In a swift move, she used the shotgun to shoot off Mavis’s right arm. Despite the pain, Mavis managed to keep a cruel and crazy look in her eyes. "That was your last straw!" she growled.
Suddenly, Mavis called out, "Claw, and Gura!" In an instant, two teenagers with wings and feather ears appeared before her. One was a butler-dressed guy, and the other was a maid-dressed girl. They both had golden hair, stunning brown skin, and fit bodies. Aurianna couldn’t help but be intrigued by their unique appearance.
Mavis wasted no time in giving her orders. "Claw, heal me," she commanded, and the butler named Claw immediately bent down, covering Mavis’s injuries with a white light that miraculously regenerated her arm and legs. Aurianna was surprised when she saw this.
Unfazed, Mavis got up and dusted off her skirt casually. "Beat her up, don’t kill her," she commanded the two teenagers with a sadistic grin. "There are plenty of ways to discipline disrespectful children, even if they happen to be princesses."
Aurianna, however, was not about to be intimidated. She gave Mavis a cold smile and retorted, "Aren’t you a bit too arrogant to think of hurting a princess?"
Mavis smirked, not backing down either, "Darling, there’s a reason why discipline is necessary to put rebellious children on the right path. And if you’re going to be nothing but a brat, I’ll have to teach you a lesson you won’t forget. And telling an adult? Please the words of an influential adult and a mere child, which one holds more significance?"
Claw and Gura nodded in agreement with Mavis’ earlier command and charged towards Aurianna at an impressive speed aiming to grab her. But Aurianna quickly jumped up and executed her skill [ Ace Kick ] landing a solid blow on Claw’s back, making him cough up some blood.
Gura, feeling furious about her partner’s situation, drew some swords from her back and swung them through the air. Aurianna sensed the incoming wind blades and acted fast, summoning her hover gun just in time to block Gura’s slashes. The force of the wind blades was so intense that they even sliced through the walls, causing them to collapse.
As Aurianna observed the collars on Gura’s and Claw’s necks, she couldn’t help but smirk. She dashed towards them, summoning her [ Crystalline Rose ]. As Gura and Claw readied themselves to attack, Aurianna threw the Rose’s petals right at their collars, causing them to transform into glass and shatter. Gura and Claw stopped their movements, noticing the lightness on their necks causing them to instinctively caress it.
Mavis, standing in the back, was utterly shocked by the scene she had just witnessed. "This can’t be real! You can’t possibly be a level 50 human at your age!" she doubted, trembling as she stared at Aurianna. When she saw that Gura and Claw weren’t attacking anymore, she shouted, "What are you two doing? Get her!"
Claw and Gura turned around, removing the cloth from their eyes, and glared at Mavis with anger. Mavis couldn’t believe it and she stared at their necks to see that their collars were gone! Her smile immediately turned into an "O" of surprise.
But before anything else could happen, Aurianna stepped forward and told Claw and Gura, "Leave her. She’s mine."
Gura couldn’t help but question Aurianna’s motives, "Why would you help us, human?"
Aurianna looked at her, and grinned "Because, I don’t like her as well, I didn’t do it to save you. I did it, so you would stop bugging me."
"Please can I request the Rose too? I promise I
