The morning light spilled over the city walls, reflecting on the flower shop.
Lili's left hand gripped a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
As she recalled her path of vengeance, her other hand tightened around the hem of her garment.
"The first things Lili learned were fake smiles and flattery."
For a child not yet ten, living by others' whims was incredibly difficult.
But Lili tirelessly repeated the lessons.
Whether beaten by adventurers or robbed by members of the Soma Familia, Lili always hid her anger and hatred behind a doll-like smile.
She carefully observed people's movements and habits, step by step.
Bit by bit, she gathered her own money.
Lili wasn't saving up for the Divine Wine.
Since sobering up, she had come to see the Divine Wine, unlike others in the familia, as an omen of misfortune and ugliness, feeling a deep, innate loathing for its temptation.
Lili intended to save a large sum of money and then trade it with Soma, the god, for her freedom.
"Relying on the meager earnings of an exploited supporter was nowhere near enough, so Lili started stealing."
Lili lowered her head, revealing the depths of her own baseness.
She spent a lot of time studying the movements of adventurers.
When the time was right, Lili stole a money pouch from one of them.
That was her first theft, and surprisingly, her heart remained calm.
During rest periods in the Dungeon, Lili would sneak away unnoticed, steal the adventurer's pouch, take a portion of the coins, and then return it to its original place.
With her sharp mind, everything went unnervingly smoothly.
"Maybe Lili was naturally talented at stealing... After that, these petty thefts spiraled out of control."
Lili was too weak to retaliate against the adventurers or Soma Familia who abused her.
So, she resorted to an extremely crude method.
Stealing.
Stealing relentlessly.
Even if she got caught and beaten afterward, Lili felt an immense sense of satisfaction.
If they took from her, she'd steal it back.
If they hit her, she'd get revenge by stealing.
There was no redemption here—only villains tearing each other apart.
"Later, perhaps by divine favor, Lili acquired Cinderella's magic..."
Lili remembered her magic and gave a self-deprecating smile.
A fairy tale that symbolized redemption and happiness—yet she had used it for theft.
With a brief chant, Lili could transform into someone else's appearance.
For Lili, this was the most practical magic of revenge.
Her targets were simple: those despicable adventurers or the shameless, vile members of the Soma Familia.
Lili would always cast the spell [Cinder Ella] first, take on another's appearance, then approach her target.
After making contact, she would steal their money or belongings, then flee the scene and break the spell.
No one knew about this magic.
After selling the stolen goods at the Gnome shop, no one could trace anything back to Lili.
Everything went remarkably smoothly.
Again and again, Lili steadily accumulated wealth.
Her vision grew darker, her heart filled with hatred and vengeance.
But alongside this, an even more overwhelming craving began to grow.
Not a desire for someone to save her, but a desperate longing for freedom to come sooner.
Lili could barely stand the crushing self-loathing inside her heart.
It was in this state, teetering on the edge of collapse, that Lili met the boy.
Lili had thought that stealing this man's dagger would end everything... Even though Bell-sama had nothing to do with Lili's revenge, she was so ugly and despicable...
Lili murmured her apology, tears welling uncontrollably in the corners of her eyes.
"But I deliberately exposed the dagger to Lili back then. If you hadn't stolen it, I'd have been in a bit of a bind—unsure how to handle the Soma Familia."
Bell explained the truth of his "bait" tactic. The Soma Familia was becoming increasingly chaotic over the [Divine Wine], and the young man viewed them as an unavoidable threat. Thanks to Lili, he'd found a breakthrough to resolve the issue.
Bell chuckled softly and added, "Such a precious Divine Dagger—no sane person would show it to others. Anyone with half a brain would see it was a trap. Lili's so clever; she must've been cornered into it."
"Bell-sama..."
Lili sniffled, clutching the corner of the youth's robe. Not only had he seen through her guilt, but he had also offered a response she couldn't refute. Even if she hadn't succeeded, the fact remained that Lili had intended to steal the dagger.
Bell didn't deny her greed or her baseness. Nor did he indiscriminately embrace Lili, covering everything with warmth and comfort. Bell stood on the side of reason, acknowledging that Lili's mind was on the brink of collapse, blind to the trap. She was like someone driven to the edge of a cliff, with nowhere left to retreat, choosing the path of stealing the dagger. It had nothing to do with pity or affection. What Bell acknowledged was the girl named Lili herself—one who had emerged from a life of misery.
"Bell-sama..."
Before revealing her past, Lili had braced herself to reject any tenderness or sympathy. She refused to accept protection; her own baseness must not taint the boy's purity. Even the comforting embrace she longed for, Lili intended to break free from. Yet unexpectedly, Bell accepted her entirely. The youth stood as an equal, as a friend, offering Lili a reason to seek redemption.
She could hold back no longer. Tears welled up in her narrowed eyes and spilled forth in great drops.
"Waaah... Even... even someone like Lili... can hope for happiness?"
Lili stood beside the youth, sobbing uncontrollably.
Bell made no move, merely standing still as he spoke softly:
"I'm just another deceitful villain like Lili, tricking you into a trap. I have no right to answer that question. You should ask them for the answer."
"Waaah...?"
Lili rubbed her eyes. Through her blurred vision, the figure of an old woman reflected in her tear-filled gaze.
"!"
"Your wound is mine. My wound is mine Echoing message of—Yaa?! Bell-sama?!"
Spotting the familiar figure, Lili immediately began chanting her transformation magic. But Bell swiftly grabbed her right hand without hesitation. Caught off guard by this sudden move, Lili's magic failed to activate.
"Hmm..."
Lili pouted, shooting a reproachful glance. The next moment, she exhaled deeply. Feeling the warmth in her palm, boundless courage surged within her.
"Grandpa, Grandma... Lili caused you so much trouble before. I'm sorry!"
Lili bowed her head, taking a deep bow.
"So you're the one who left money and flowers at the shop entrance..."
Grandma smiled gently, reaching out to stroke Lili's hair. "We were also very unfair to you. It was someone else's fault, yet we blamed you for it."
Grandpa took his partner's hand and added, "Lili, we only mentioned in passing that we liked these flowers. We never imagined you'd remember it all this time... It's such a relief you're safe and sound..."
"Thank you for your kindness all these years. Now that everything is over, Lili will come visit you often."
Feeling warmth she hadn't known in years, Lili offered the flowers she had prepared.
Did Lili, lost in darkness, deserve redemption? In that genuine smile, the answer no longer mattered.
"So glad you're safe. I was just thinking of reading you some storybooks."
The old lady's face held a kind smile.
"Lili's all grown up now. She's long past the age for fairy tales."
Lili quickly protested, worried the other might mention the foolish things she'd done in her youth.
"Is that so..." The old woman gazed at the girl before her, her eyes sparkling. "It seems you've found your [Prince], [Cinderella]."
Under the sunlight.
Lili blinked, revealing the brightest smile of her life.
"Yes!"
[Supporter] Liliruca Arde — Joined the Hestia Familia.
—-—-—
Ability Panel
Lv1
Strength: I75
Stamina: H125
Dexterity: G224
Agility: F320
Magic Power: F372
Magic: [Cinder Ella]
・Transformation Magic
・Transformation form changes based on the caster's imagination during incantation; fails if imagination is vague
・Imitating others is recommended
・Returns to normal after reciting the dispel chant
Skills: [Artel Assist]
• Grants bonuses when equipped weight exceeds a certain threshold
・Bonus magnitude scales proportionally with weight
...