Forced to Sell Myself to the Female Lead After Killing the Male Lead

Why...

Wh-Why were people from the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church... here?!!

The black-robed members of the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church quickly charged into the scattering crowd.

She watched the soldiers who tried to resist fall one after another beneath the slaughtering blades of the Holy Church. She watched familiar noblewomen have their hearts pierced without mercy. She watched childhood companions one after another fall into the hands of those cruel black-robed executioners...

Xingya's heart was gradually consumed by fear.

That fear was like ghostly claws rising from the abyss, tightly clutching her in their grasp, dragging her step by step into the endless swamp known as despair.

Although she usually acted rather arrogant, Xingya was still only a twelve-year-old child.

Having spent her life safely protected inside the Count's estate, isolated from the outside world, how could she possibly withstand the horrifying terror brought by the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church?

It could even be said that this was the first time she had ever seen blood.

Let alone watching living people have their lives mercilessly stolen right before her eyes...

As scene after cruel scene unfolded before her...

As she listened to the anguished screams of servants and former companions...

Tears poured uncontrollably down Xingya's cheeks like strings of broken pearls.

"Waaah!! Mom! Where are you?!!"

On the verge of collapsing beneath the overwhelming killing intent surrounding her, Xingya cried out desperately, calling over and over for her mother—Dailinna, the Countess.

However...

When the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church launched their assault, the chaos had already separated Dailinna from them.

Xingya, who had always depended on her mother,

could no longer find her when she needed her the most.

Fear, despair, and worry rapidly spread through her heart.

Unable to find her mother no matter how desperately she searched, Xingya could only turn pleading eyes toward the knight carrying her, along with the other guards from the Count's household.

"W-Where's my mother?! Hurry and take me to her! Take me to find Mother! Hurry!!"

"M-Miss?"

Hearing Xingya's unreasonable demand, the Count's knights could only reveal troubled expressions.

In a situation like this, whether they could even escape the clutches of the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church was uncertain.

Going back to search for someone was simply impossible.

"Miss, please calm down. We need to leave first—"

"I don't care!!! I want my mother!!"

"Miss!"

"I don't care!!!"

Xingya shouted at the top of her lungs.

"M-Miss, you..."

Faced with the child's crying, the guards' expressions became increasingly grim.

However—

At that very instant, the expressions of those guards, along with the Blizzard Knights member, changed dramatically.

With anxious looks, they all turned toward something behind them.

One of the household servants even rushed over and clamped a hand over Xingya's mouth.

"Miss! Keep your voice down!"

?!!

The guard's stern expression frightened Xingya so badly that she couldn't utter another word.

She could only cry silently while nodding in terror.

Seeing this,

the guards exchanged glances with the knight and nodded.

Then they carefully placed Xingya and Yumo beside a dense patch of bushes.

The Blizzard Knights knight crouched before the two little girls and spoke in an incomparably serious tone.

"Miss Xia'er, Miss Xingya! Leave through this path immediately!"

"Y-You're... not going to protect us anymore?! Wh-Why?"

Hearing those words, the uneasiness in Xingya's heart grew even stronger.

Faced with the pitiful look on the little girl's face, the knight could only shake his head helplessly while casting a solemn glance behind him.

"There's no time to explain! You have to leave now!"

"B-But..."

"No buts! Go!"

With the situation so urgent, the knight no longer cared about noble etiquette and roared directly at Xingya.

Startled by the shout, Xingya had no choice but to swallow all of her questions.

Then, crying the entire time, she ran together with the pink-haired girl through the bushes...

Meanwhile,

after watching the two young ladies leave,

the knight and the Count's guards all revealed resolute expressions.

Drawing their swords and weapons, they charged without hesitation toward the black-robed figures pursuing them.

...

...

"AAAH... AAAAAAH!!"

However,

against the powerful sixth-tier executors of the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church,

that fifth-tier knight and the fourth-tier household guards stood absolutely no chance.

The instant they clashed with the Holy Church members,

agonizing screams echoed throughout the forest.

?!!

Hearing those screams,

Xingya's entire body trembled.

Fearfully, she looked back.

There,

the knights and guards who had been protecting them only moments ago had already been overwhelmed by the black-robed attackers.

Covered in blood, they lay motionless on the ground.

Whether they were dead or alive was impossible to tell.

'H... How could this happen?!'

At that moment,

the terror inside Xingya grew even greater.

Looking at the black-robed figures radiating murderous intent,

only one thought remained in her mind.

Run!

Run while they haven't noticed us yet!

With that thought,

Xingya immediately turned around.

At the same time, noticing the indifferent expression on the pink-haired girl's face beside her, Xingya whispered anxiously through her tears,

"What are you doing?! Hurry and run!!"

Although the noble upbringing she had received had made Xingya instinctively dislike Yumo because she was considered a "slave," and although she often spoke harshly to her over what had happened in their childhood,

at heart,

she was still a kind child.

She simply couldn't bear to watch another little girl fall into the hands of those monsters.

Without hesitation,

Xingya grabbed the pink-haired girl's small hand and dragged the seemingly frightened girl deeper into the forest.

Watching Xingya hold her hand and lead her away,

the pink-haired girl raised an eyebrow slightly.

Of course,

Xingya never noticed.

Her orange-red eyes were fixed on what lay behind them, constantly checking whether anyone was chasing after them.

'Faster... We have to be faster!'

Deep inside the forest was her secret hideout!

As long as they reached it, they'd be safe!

Xingya thought desperately.

However,

how could two perfectly ordinary little girls possibly escape the pursuit of the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church?

After all,

among the people Romney had sent to eliminate every last survivor,

there were several sixth-tier executors.

Did having trees and bushes for cover matter?

Within the perception domain of such powerful experts,

they had nowhere to hide.

Just as Xingya turned back toward the secret hideout that was now only a short distance away—

a black-robed figure suddenly descended from the sky and landed directly in front of her.

Her breathing instantly stopped.

Her pupils contracted violently.

?!!

H-How...?!

"N-No!! Mom—"

In an instant,

an overwhelming despair erupted within the little girl's heart.

Instinctively, she wanted to call for her mother.

But the black-robed man immediately made his move.

He clamped a hand over Xingya's mouth and slammed her firmly onto the ground.

At the same time,

several more black-robed figures arrived one after another,

surrounding the pink-haired girl as well.

Thus,

Xingya's plan to hide in her secret base was completely shattered.

Looking at the hideous black-robed man pinning her down,

remembering the horrifying scenes she had witnessed earlier,

tears streamed uncontrollably from Xingya's eyes.

N-No...

Please...

Don't kill me!!

Xingya wanted to beg for mercy.

But with her mouth covered,

she couldn't utter a single word.

All she could do was cry desperately while looking pleadingly at the black-robed man.

Unfortunately,

the man showed not the slightest trace of pity.

Even when facing such an exquisitely adorable little girl,

his faintly crimson eyes held nothing except killing intent.

After examining Xingya with a strange gemstone,

a look of disdain appeared on his face.

"Heh. Her talent isn't impressive either. No need to keep her as a sacrifice. Goodbye, little brat."

?!!

Kill...

He was going to kill me?!

N-No...

Please don't!

I'm still so young!

I've never even fallen in love!

There are still so many things I want to do!

I...

I don't want to die!

Hearing those words overflowing with murderous intent,

Xingya completely sank into the mire of despair.

She struggled frantically in her heart, silently begging for mercy.

Using every ounce of strength she had, she desperately tried to break free from the black-robed man's grip.

But with strength that had only reached the second tier,

how could Xingya possibly succeed?

The only thing she could do...

was watch as the black-robed man slowly drew the blade from his waist.

Watch as the bloodstained edge grew larger and larger in her eyes.

'W-Waaah... Mom... save me... please save me...'

However,

just as Xingya was about to lose consciousness from overwhelming fear and suffocation,

a familiar, sweet, adorable girl's voice suddenly sounded beside her ear.

"Hey, don't you think going so far as to kill children is a bit too much?"

?!!

Th-That voice...

Xia'er?!