Villain Hiring: Help! Author Wants Me Dead-Chapter 130: A Fairy?

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Noah had gone off with Erza and Aurelia. Again.

It wasn't that I didn't like being left behind. Honestly, it was a relief.

But being paired with him…Dario, always made something flutter in my chest.

Dario had this strange kind of warmth. Loud, chaotic, annoying sometimes, yes—but warm. We used to play in the gardens when we were kids.

I was the quiet, shy girl who followed him around, and he was the boy who always had dirt on his clothes and some wild story in his head.

Even now, as he blinked beside me, teleporting up to a tree and then back down, panting like a dog, I couldn't help but smile a little.

"Did you see that? I nearly smacked my face into a branch," he said, laughing.

I shook my head, hiding my smile. "You always do that."

"Hey, I've gotten better," he said proudly, hands on his hips.

His dark red hair stuck out in all directions, and the way he grinned like a fool—like the whole world didn't weigh on his shoulders, I envied that.

Because my shoulders? They were crushed under the weight of being Felix Romero's only daughter.

My father… he never said anything cruel. Not out loud. But I always knew he wanted something big from me.

Something perfect.

Something loud.

But I was never loud.

Even now, surrounded by beasts, System notifications popping up in front of us, my fingers itched to do more.

To fight.

To speak.

But I stayed quiet.

Like always.

Until she came.

That day was burnt into my memory. I was crying—again—under the old willow tree behind the manor.

It happened around 6 months back when I had failed another test.

Failed to control even the tiniest spell my father's tutor gave me.

And then, a shimmer of light.

No, more like sparkles.

She floated down, glowing like stardust, dressed in…very little, actually.

A thin, shining dress that barely clung to her. Her wings were long and silver, and her voice sounded like a thousand bells ringing.

"You're too quiet," she had said, giggling as she touched my forehead. "Let's change that."

Just like that, I was chosen. Chosen by a goddess of fairies, dreams, and…commands. I didn't even know her name.

She never told me.

But she gave me a gift.

A divine gift.

My voice.

My words.

My orders…could control.

People.

Beasts.

Anyone with a soul weaker than mine.

It scared me.

Because for someone who had never even spoken up for herself… it felt like too much power.

"You okay?" Dario asked, pulling me back to the present.

We were moving carefully through the forest. Noah's orders were to sweep the area.

But I could feel it.

Something big was nearby.

Something wrong.

"Y-Yeah," I said softly. "I'm fine."

Dario looked at me and smiled. "Still shy, huh?"

I blushed and turned away. "Some things don't change."

He laughed. "That's alright. I always liked that about you."

I blinked.

"What?"

"I mean," he added quickly, "you're always calm. Like, super calm. Meanwhile, I'm over here crashing into trees and panicking every five seconds."

"You never panicked," I muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing!" I waved him off, walking faster. My heart was beating like crazy.

What was wrong with me?

He caught up, easy as ever. "I know we joke around a lot, but I'm really glad we got paired up. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

I nodded. "Years."

"I missed this," he admitted.

My lips parted, but no words came out.

How do you say I missed you too when your throat feels like it's made of chains?

"Don't look so scared," Dario grinned, stretching his arms behind his head. "We'll rack up some points in no time. Maybe even beat Noah."

"I'm not scared," I whispered back.

I sighed. He hadn't changed.

Same red hair, smug smile, and teleport-happy chaos that used to make my younger self giggle behind the garden bushes.

He was the guy who said I had the kindest eyes in the Romero House when I was ten.

The same idiot who never shut up.

But today wasn't playtime.

This was real.

A real trial.

And I hated it.

Because I knew what I was capable of.

And I knew the cost of other people knowing how heaven defying my powers were.

Still, I didn't say anything.

I just followed Dario through the woods, one step at a time, with my hands clenched tightly at my sides.

"You sure you're okay?" he asked suddenly, turning toward me.

I blinked. "Yeah?"

"You're walking like you're about to throw up."

Great. Subtle, Seraphina.

Real subtle.

"I'm fine," I said quickly. "Just focusing."

He nodded, then looked up at the trees.

"I like this forest," he said. "Reminds me of those hidden zones in old RPGs.

Like there's a secret boss or something waiting behind that big tree."

I stopped.

That wasn't a tree. That was a tail.

A long, green, scaled, coiled tail stretching behind the thickets.

I swallowed and reached for Dario.

"Dario," I whispered. "Don't move."

"Why?" he said a little too loud.

The ground rumbled.

From the branches above, the beast slithered down slowly.

A Tier 2 Snake.

It was massive. At least fifteen feet long. Emerald green scales with golden patterns, its tongue flickering as its yellow eyes locked onto us. Fangs bigger than my arm.

And it was fast—its muscles twitched like it was ready to pounce at the smallest sound.

Dario backed up, hands glowing faintly with a teleportation rune. "Okay, uh, that's above my paygrade."

I stared at the snake, my heart racing.

I was stronger than Dario.

I had more soul power.

But I wasn't made for solo battle either.

And he—he was support.

If I didn't act now, it'd kill us both.

I inhaled sharply.

No more hiding.

No more whispering.

I stepped forward.

And with all the strength I had in my chest, I yelled—

"Stay!"

The word boomed louder than thunder. A ripple shot out from me, invisible but strong, shaking the grass and leaves around us.

The snake halted mid-lunge.

Its eyes dimmed slightly, the rage in them replaced by confusion.

For a moment… it obeyed.

But only for a second.

"Shit," I muttered. "It's soul power's close to mine…"

The snake hissed and lunged.

I ducked, rolling aside just in time as it struck the spot where I'd been. Dirt flew. Trees cracked.

"Sera!" Dario shouted. "Don't get close!"

"I have to!" I screamed back. "Just stay behind me!"

He didn't argue. That was the thing about Dario—he trusted people. Blindly, sometimes.

Even me.

The snake lunged again. I jumped back and raised my voice once more.

"Back!"

It slowed. Jerked. Twitched its head back as if something invisible held its neck. But then it roared and surged forward.

The mental pressure hit me like a hammer. My knees buckled.

I bit my lip.

Again. Push again.

"Down!" I roared.

And this time, it slammed into the ground. Dust exploded from the force.

I ran forward, pulling out the small dagger they gave us for close combat.

Only one shot.

I leaped onto its back, pushed the dagger straight into the joint between its skull and spine, and screamed—

"Die!"

The word vibrated through the creature's entire body like lightning. It shivered violently, flailed once—and collapsed with a final hiss.

Dead.

Silence.

I dropped beside it, gasping, clutching my head. My temples throbbed. My thoughts were foggy.

That much mental exertion… I wasn't used to using my gift like that. Not in real battle.

But it worked.

It actually worked.

I turned to look at Dario, who was staring at me like he'd just witnessed someone walk out of a volcano.

"You…" he said slowly. "You… You can control people with your voice?"

"Only if their soul power is weaker than mine," I muttered, embarrassed.

He blinked.

And then—of course—grinned like an idiot.

"…That's kinda… kinky." The boy muttered, his expressions almost making me cross my legs.

I almost choked.

"What?!" I questioned, suddenly feeling all defensive about it.

He laughed and held up his hands. "I mean—you yell, and people just obey? Like—yes ma'am, step on me, kind of vibes. I'm just saying—"

"Shut up!" I snapped before I could stop myself.

The ripple left my mouth before I realized what I'd done.

And Dario?

His mouth clamped shut instantly.

Eyes wide.

Still smiling.

But completely muted.

I gasped. "Wait—no—I didn't mean—!"

He stared at me.

Then tilted his head, shrugged, and pointed at his closed lips with an exaggerated "Welp, guess I deserved that" expression.

I turned red.

Bright.

Burning.

Humiliation flooded through me.

Why did he always have to say the dumbest things?

I huffed, crossed my arms, and looked away, nose in the air.

"Hmph."

My voice was quiet, but I still said it with a little pride.

"…Serves you right."

Still red-faced, still flustered, but for once—

I didn't feel like hiding it.

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