I Reject the villain’s ending.

Episode 12.

I know you’re worried like you’re giving a sword to a kid by the water, but I was good with a bow.

Back in Korea, I was a promising senior national archer who was always labeled a genius by everyone around me.

I just had to take a break from training due to a finger injury and focus on rehabilitation.

‘Anyway, it’s been a while since I’ve held it. The grip isn’t great, but it’s refreshing.’

It was an entry-level bow, so the balance was a little off and the quality was poor. The elasticity of the draw was also weakened.

Still, it was good. It’s a bow held in a healthy, unbroken hand.

I looked down at my hand and snapped my fingers, thinking I could shoot it now.

As I nocked an arrow to the quiver, Eldrakis came from behind me, demanding to know how long it had been since I had apologized.

‘Saint, do you know how to draw a bowstring? Don’t waste your holy power by touching an arrow and wounding yourself-’

Piyung. In an instant, the arrow I’d nocked and spun around, grazed Eldrakis’s hair and slammed into the wall.

I smirked.

‘Did I ever tell you I couldn’t shoot a bow?’

‘Hmph!’

‘Let’s stop worrying about useless things and go do our own business.’

Eldrakis, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, froze in place as he spoke, then smirked at the stunned Diane, Iros, and Mei.

He pulled out another arrow and quickly nocked it. The target was the red center of the bull’s-eye fifty meters away.

With a popping sound, the arrow flew out with a burst of wind and landed firmly on the black dot in the red center.

‘……!’

‘……!’

All eyes were fixed on the arrow in the center of the bull’s-eye.

As if I had put a bow through the heads of the onlookers as well, they all looked back and forth between the target and me, squinting as if they had been hit in the head.

Finding the scene hilarious, I hooked another arrow to the string with a smooth motion and pulled the string.

Poof, I let go of the string and the arrow that left my hand hit the bullseye in the center of the target, splitting it in half and landing on top of it.

I looked at the first arrow that had split in two and the second arrow that had landed on top of it and smirked.

‘Why are you so surprised? I told you beforehand, I’m a good bowman.’

‘Wow, Saint, you’re good!’

‘When did you learn to use a bow? You’re so good with it.’

Mei exclaimed, and Iros asked in a mildly amused voice if he was even remotely surprised by my bow skills.

He squeezed my hand slightly and examined it carefully.

‘You didn’t even hurt your hand.’

‘I’ve been a good bowman since I was in my mum’s belly.’

‘No, she was a good shot, but I know you’re no better than a slug who hates to move, let alone exercise.’

‘…….’

Iros slapped me with a malicious look on his face, both praise and insult in the same sentence.

When he says it like that, there’s nothing to say. Because it’s true.

I looked up at Iros to retort, and he looked quite pleased to see me, smiling like a mother smiling at her prized child.

It’s like a mum seeing her daughter, who was a penniless girl, get a job after lazing around the house every day.

I guess I’m like her daughter or something like that.

It’s a little weird, but I can’t say anything when he likes it so much. He’s got a nice little twinkle in his eye and the corner of his mouth is up, so I let it go.

‘Before we leave for Elotta, I need you to find me a bow and arrows. They should be good and expensive.’

‘I’ll get you something light and sturdy.’

‘Yes. And if you don’t have enough money, take some of my jewelry or dress and sell it.’

‘What?’

Iros paused at my suggestion that I could sell my jewelry and dress. I froze for a moment, too, as if I were looking at something strange.

I felt like I had said something I shouldn’t have.

Iros’s gaze turned inorganic for a moment, a little wary and distant.

‘You’re all about your jewelry and dresses, aren’t you, and you’d still have them in a fire.’

‘Isn’t she?’

As the illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Elgraton, I was discriminated against and ignored, so I always dressed to impress.

So that no one would look down on me. I wanted to make a statement that I was noble.

‘And now you want me to sell my jewelry and dresses to buy a bow, is that what you’re saying?’

Iros’s eyes, the color of violets, frosted over with the coldness of a stranger he had never seen before.

His voice was even colder. It was heart-stoppingly still, profound, and heavy.

‘Who are you?’

A thud. I felt my heart drop.

‘You dare ask that question.

It was coming, I thought.

But I hadn’t expected Iros to be so honest.

His suspicious gaze was unfamiliar, his open hostility startling.

I felt like I would draw my sword and hold it to his throat at any moment.

Even Eldrakis, who was about to argue with me, stopped him.

‘Hey, hey, hey, what’s with the sudden rush?’

‘Guardian, have you gone mad?’

‘Iros, what’s with your sudden behavior?’

‘…….’

‘…….’

Amid everyone’s bewilderment, only Iros and I remained silent.

Iros drew a beautiful sword that resembled mine from its pure white scabbard and pointed the cold hilt at me.

Light glinted off the smooth blade as it moved, and it was a sight to behold.

‘Tell me. Who are you?’

Iros’s blunt, cold voice echoed in my ears as he demanded an answer.

‘Answer me. What are you?’

Iros is overly perceptive and sometimes annoying.

As I stiffened in surprise, a cool, sharp, glaring blade dug a little into my neck.

I felt a sting.

‘Tsk, Saint!’

Mei screamed, and something warm trickled down my throat. It was red and familiar, perhaps.

I looked at my face in the reflection of the sword, eyes downcast, and spoke.

‘This is the first time I’ve ever seen my blood and not someone else’s.’

I slowly lifted my eyes from looking down to look up at the beads of red blood running down the hilt of the sword, drop by drop.

My eyes were fixed on Iros’s pretty mauve eyes, still cold.

‘This is the first time a dog I own has ever bitten me. Is that new?’

‘…….’

I said, smiling arrogantly. Just like the original Sierra.

I realized this time, but when dealing with Iros, I’d rather be Ahn Hamoo’s Sierra than Kim So-won’s Kim So-won, who knows how to be polite and respectful to others.

It’s Iros who’s trying to slit my throat, not me, so there’s no point in being nice to him.

At least not at this moment.

A burst of pure, dazzling golden divine power burst forth from his bleeding throat.

The golden light was so brilliant that it was hard to open their eyes, and they hastily shielded their eyes to look at me.

‘If you dare to look at this divine power and not recognize me, then I’ll have to retrain you.’

‘……!’

‘Isn’t that right, my pinkie?’

He smiled arrogantly, looking up at me as if he was looking down at Iros, who was much taller than me.

Iros dropped his sword, his violet eyes widened, and he dropped to his knees and bowed his head.

‘Forgive my rudeness.’

‘Well. I wonder what I should do.’

Everyone stared at me, speechless at the sudden change in the situation, as if a storm had passed.

But to me, it was a very ordinary scene. Before the memories of my previous life came flooding back, it was always like this.

‘You must be punished, for you dared to put your sword to your master’s throat.’

‘Stand, Saint.’

Diane and Eldrakis panicked and tried to stop me, but it was I, not anyone else, who put the sword to the holy woman’s throat and tasted blood.

Even Iros, the Protector, cannot escape punishment.

Everyone was looking at me, unable to do anything but stare, and despite my innocent appearance, I was burning inside.

‘Why was I caught?

I can’t get rid of the feeling that I’ve been caught, even though I know I’m me.

If I didn’t have my memories of my previous life, I would have slapped Iros across the face, but my heart was pounding and my hands were sweating.

‘You know. I’ve been too nice lately.’

I’ve been apologizing inappropriately, using respect, and acting as I used to when I was Kim So-won.

Her personality and mindset had changed too much for her to continue to be Sierra as she had been in her previous life.

‘I’m not a different person,’ I thought to myself. Enough.’

If I just bury it and move on, I’m sure someone will doubt me again.

I glanced around and saw many paladins and laborers looking this way.

I must choose. Do I risk suspicion and bury Iros’s fault, or do I punish him with certainty, and hopefully avert suspicion, though I’m sure the holy woman will say she’s gone for a few days?

‘Iros suspected me and drew his sword without hesitation, even though he had always been with me.

If I am not who I say I am, I will always put my sword to my throat.

This time I was lucky enough to get a small cut, but there’s no guarantee I’ll be so lucky next time.

I swallowed hard, quieted my thoughts, and opened my eyes.

‘A dog that doesn’t recognize its master needs training. Go to the “room of mirrors”.’

‘……!’

‘There, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?’

A shiver ran down Iros’s spine at the mention of the Room of Mirrors. It was an unconscious, instinctive flinch.

I watched him, my lips lifting slightly into a dangerous grin.

‘Mei, you will tidy up this place, and I will see to the shield and wisdom in two days.’

I stamped my foot, imbuing my words with a subtle holy power that made them dare not refuse, and they bowed their heads in acknowledgment.

‘Yes, yes. Holy Mother.’

‘See you next time, sir.’

‘See you next time, take care.’

* * *

As Sierra gathered up Iros and left the training grounds, the three people who had been freed from the pressure of the Saint’s powerful holy power looked up.

Eldrakis fed up to the point of exhaustion, spoke with eyes like a monster.

‘Someone told me the saint had changed, or is it my eyes?’

‘It was only for a moment, but the pressure was such that I couldn’t move. This must be the one chosen by God.’

‘Alas, it’s our saint, and she’s gorgeous.’

‘……??’

There was a strange word at the end.

Eldrakis and Diane turned their heads to look at Mei, her cheeks flushed and her eyes dazed.

‘You look like a queen…….’

Mei muttered, causing Eldrakis and Diane to shake their heads and look away.

‘What the hell is a room of mirrors anyway?’

Mei cocked her head.