How To Survive As a Villain on the Verge of Death

Some of them were stacked in layers between bowls due to lack of space. Each bowl was filled with a variety of food based on meat, fish, and cheese.

 

“I didn’t know which one you would like, so I brought them all.”

 

Nell lined up the plates in front of the cat, her face puffy with anticipation. Grilled sea bass with butter; light meatloaf… From salmon steak to oven-baked golden brown chicken. Numerous plates of food were lined up like a buffet.

 

“My… You really like cats.”

 

She said, looking blankly at the cute little bowls placed in front of the cat. Nell answered as if it were obvious.

 

“Of course, it’s cute.”

 

Chloe next to her also nodded loudly. Perhaps because the two took care of it with such sincerity, the cat completely changed in just two days. The black fur became shiny and the small beard became stiff. Well, if she had thought it was a real cat, she would have thought it was cute too…

 

The cat, Bayan, chewed up the meatloaf Nell brought with his small mouth and ate it. Every time he opened his mouth, she saw a little pink tongue… Yeah, it was a little cute. When she wondered why it looked like that on the subject of a divine beast, she had the absurd thought that it was an elaborate plan to deceive people and draw them into religion. She made a request to Bayan when Nell and Chloe were away.

 

“I have to tell you one thing. Other people here don’t know my abilities.”

 

Bayan tilted his head to one side as if puzzled.

 

“So don’t speak in front of anyone else unless I give you permission. Can you do that?”

 

[I get it.]

 

Fortunately, Bayan seemed to have noticed, and even now, he didn’t talk to her when Nell or Chloe were with her.

 

“Does the food fit your taste buds?”

 

[Yes. I don’t really need human food.]

 

“Then you don’t have to eat anything?”

 

Since he was a god, didn’t he need food? She didn’t think there was a feeding scene in the original either. However, contrary to his calm tone, Bayan pulled the plate containing meatloaf with his front paw.

 

[…If you have a lot of holy power, you can live without food, but now you have to eat little by little.]

 

“I see.”

 

No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like I was just going to eat it because it was delicious, but since there was no shortage of food, she decided to leave it alone. Nell also seemed to truly enjoy feeding Bayan. But nothing has changed since Bayan appeared, except that the maids were possessed by the cat. She carefully asked Bayan who was eating food.

 

“If it’s okay, would you like to spy on the temple?”

 

[A temple?]

 

“Huh. I wonder what the priests are talking about.”

 

A fire broke out in the small shrine, and the priest and priestess were taken away. What were people here talking about it? She was trying to ask them to secretly collect information in case something different could come out. After hearing her request, Bayan answered without hesitation.

 

[I heard what the priests were talking about. Most people are scared of you. I was praying that I would get married quickly and leave the temple.]

 

“…Not such everyday talk.”

 

Was that what you were saying when you came to the temple and behaved quietly? It was natural, since Eve’s reputation was so bad, but it was ridiculous.

 

“I want to hear what they say about the priest and priestess who were arrested this time. No one will suspect anything if you get close.”

 

She quickly added after that.

 

“If I get the information, I’ll give you whatever you want. You will get everything you need.”

 

The moment she said he would get ‘what you need’, something like a cat tower or a house made of cushions naturally came to mind. No, it’s not a real cat, so there’s no need for this.

 

[Hmm… I get it.]

 

Bayan surprisingly accepted obediently. It seemed he was frustrated teaching an incompetent student here. Maybe he thought it would be better to do her a favor and get some delicious food. Bayan also knew that his body was no different from an ordinary cat and was adapting to it. For example, he realized that he couldn’t get food or a place to sleep unless she and the maids gave him something, so whenever he needed something, he would ask for various things from her. But before Bayan could finish his plate, Chloe’s voice was heard from outside the door.

 

“Princess, His Highness the Grand Duke has arrived.”

 

“Okay. Ask him to come in.”

 

Bayan, who was engrossed in meatloaf, looked up at his face with curious eyes.

 

“The Grand Duke is my fiancé.”

 

She pointed to the amethyst necklace around her neck.

 

“He’s the one who gave me this necklace.”

 

Since when has this necklace been in the Grand Duke’s family? Since she didn’t have anything to do for the past two days, she went to the library and researched information about Divine Beasts. According to the history of the Empire, there were originally several types of Divine Beasts. While most Divine Beasts roam freely, there were very few Divine Beasts that were sealed in holy relics like Bayan. It was said that in the days when there were many divine beasts, there were many sacred relics related to sacred beasts. Perhaps one of the ancestors of the Grand Duke knew that this necklace was a sacred item related to the divine beast and purchased it? However, since the divine beast sealed in the holy relic was so rare and difficult to find, it must have been kept for generations and its purpose was forgotten. Until now, there has never been a case where a princess of the Albion Empire married a member of the grand dukedom. Eve was the first princess to become a Grand Duchess. So, there would have been very few people who recognized that this necklace was a sacred item.

 

After a while, Terence came inside. It was their first meeting in three days since returning to the imperial palace. Terence apologized as soon as he saw her.

 

“I’m sorry for not being able to visit you for a while.”

 

“No. Nothing happened here.”

 

Although he didn’t say anything, he seems to have been busy with the count’s work. Terence came inside and saw the cat next to her and asked.

 

“Are you raising a cat?”

 

“It’s not a cat, it’s a divine beast.”

 

She felt like there was no need to hide it from him, so she told the truth.

 

“Shinsu?”

 

Terence looked at the cat in disbelief. Bayan, who was hugging his plate and burying his face in the meatloaf, looked up. Black fur covering the entire body. Sparkling golden eyes. And even the piece of meatloaf stuck to his beard and the sauce on the corner of his mouth.

 

Terence’s brow furrowed.

 

“Is it this cat?”

 

“It’s not a cat, it’s a divine beast.”

 

She looked down at the cat and smiled.

 

“Tell him something.”

 

The cat raised its paw with an arrogant expression, wiped the corner of its mouth, and spoke to Terence.

 

[Nice to meet you, human. I am Bayan, a divine beast who made a contract with a saint.]

 

“Did you hear?”

 

Terence looked at her with his eyes wide open.

 

“…yes. I heard.”

 

“Look at that. Because he is a divine beast, he can talk to humans.”

 

However, even though Terence heard what Bayan said, he frowned in embarrassment, as if he could not believe it. Shock, confusion, and fear appeared in his purple eyes all at once. No, why was this reaction?

 

“You just heard the cat talking, right?”

 

Terence studied her face for a moment and then answered.

 

“Yes… I heard a cat meowing.”

 

“…what?”

 

What did he hear? Cat meowing? For a moment, a look of despair appeared on the cat Bayan’s face.

 

[Sorry. Other humans don’t seem to understand what I’m saying.]

 

“What? Why not?”

 

[That’s because I still don’t have enough holy power. What I’m saying now will sound like a cat’s voice to other humans.]

 

“…”

 

So now he was listening to the sound of a cat meowing and her insisting on, ‘My cat talks!’ 

Terence, who had been watching her continue talking to the cat, came closer to her. 

He said, looking at her with worried eyes.

 

“Princess, I know you’ve had a difficult few days. If you need my help, please let me know anytime.”

 

“I don’t need any help. I’m sane.”

 

She spoke honestly, but suddenly she was treated like a crazy person. She turned back to the cat and ordered.

 

“Well, it’s okay if they don’t understand in words, so prove it with your actions.”

 

She raised her hand and pointed to the jewelry box on the dresser. Inside the jewelry box with the lid open were several bracelets and necklaces.

 

“Bring that to me.”

 

The cat looked back at her as if he was puzzled.

 

[I am not a lowly servant, but a divine beast…]

 

“I’m not giving you meatloaf.”

 

The cat that was complaining paused for a moment at those words and then stood up.

 

“Bring me something red and ruby.”

 

Both of the cat’s ears were cocked to the side like a boomerang. Still, he steadily stepped off the dressing table chair and jumped up onto the dressing table where the jewelry box was. The cat returned with a ruby-encrusted bracelet in its mouth that was in a jewelry box. She took the bracelet and ordered again.

 

“This time, get up and try to catch the tail.”

 

After hearing her, the cat opened his mouth slightly in shock.

 

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Translator Note: