Check out my new translation!
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At this moment, due to the heavy blow to his head from the "stone" and the violent tearing of the tubes connected to his back, Scaramouche was left half paralyzed.
Even so, he stubbornly dragged himself toward the Electro Gnosis, inch by inch.
His gaze was locked onto the divine heart that should have been his, eyes burning with desperate longing—as if by claiming it, he could still launch a counterattack and turn the tide of defeat.
However, just as Scaramouche's fingers were about to brush the Gnosis, Shao Yun stepped forward, kicked it away, and then slammed his boot down hard on Scaramouche's outstretched hand, grinding it cruelly under his heel.
Scaramouche let out a muffled groan of pain, yet he clenched his teeth, lifting his head with great effort and forcing out a hoarse, resentful whisper from between his teeth.
"You… you only threw a stone. There's no way you could… defeat me!"
Shao Yun spoke with a puzzled expression. "You know, the Philistines probably looked at David the same way you're looking at me right now."
Scaramouche froze, muttering under his breath, "Philis… what?"
Shao Yun merely smiled faintly. "Go ask them yourself in the next world."
Realizing he was losing, Scaramouche's eyes darted about before he suddenly shouted, "Hmph! You've killed people too!"
Shao Yun tilted his head slightly, nodding with a calm, almost amused expression. "That's right, I've killed plenty. So what? You got a problem with that?"
Scaramouche, seizing the moment like a drowning man grabbing a floating branch, sneered triumphantly.
"Haha! Then you've got no right to kill me just because I've killed people! You've got no authority to judge me!"
Shao Yun stared down at him with a look of pure disdain, as though gazing at a fool. His voice was filled with mocking curiosity.
"Oh really? And who the hell decided that bad guys have to be killed by good guys?"
"Did you read that from some fairytale meant to comfort idiots who can't face reality?"
Then, pretending to have a sudden revelation, Shao Yun laughed derisively.
"Oh, right. Makes sense now. You really are just a delusional clown who can't tell truth from fantasy!"
After a brief pause, Shao Yun continued, his tone now turning philosophical.
"A bad man doesn't always die at the hands of a good one—sometimes he's killed by someone worse. Maybe because his existence gets in the way of an even greater evil. That's why kings and emperors keep treacherous ministers and ruthless enforcers around."
He then smirked coldly. "And when did I ever claim to be a good person? Sure, I've helped people—but that doesn't mean I don't kill. You tried to blow me up in Inazuma. This is revenge, plain and simple."
"When you tried to detonate Tatarasuna and take me with it, you should've known this was coming."
At Shao Yun's words, which seemed to place the blame entirely on himself, Scaramouche's body trembled. Shocked, he rasped, "W-Wait… what did you just say?"
Thinking Scaramouche was trying to deny it, Shao Yun revealed what he'd learned from Gorou, Sangonomiya Kokomi, and Yae Miko.
"You tried to kill me, but I survived. Did you think I didn't know? Yae Miko told me everything. She even promised to reward me handsomely if I killed you."
Clicking his tongue mockingly, Shao Yun continued, "Look at you. Even your own people despise you. They want you dead."
"You're truly pathetic. But hey, even if it were only for the reward she offered, I'd still kill you without hesitation!"
Scaramouche blinked in surprise, then burst into hysterical laughter that echoed through the ruined workshop.
"Hahaha! And you called me the clown! You're even more ridiculous! Aren't you at all curious why I wanted you dead back then?"
Shao Yun shrugged indifferently. "Because I led the Rebel Army to seize Kujou Encampment and blocked your escape route. So, naturally, you wanted me gone."
Scaramouche's grin faded, replaced by a strange mix of pity and mockery.
"Hah… so you really don't know, do you? Fine, I'll tell you. It was Yae Miko herself who struck a deal with me. She offered me the Gnosis—in exchange for your head!"
Hearing this, Shao Yun pressed his boot harder against Scaramouche's hand, though a cold smile still lingered on his lips.
"Oh? Trying to sow discord between us now? Too bad—Yae Miko already told me about your filthy tricks. Said you'd spout any lie just to buy yourself another breath."
Scaramouche's hand trembled under the pain, sweat dripping from his forehead as he hissed, "Don't… don't be so naïve…"
"You think the Electro Gnosis just fell into my hands by accident? Yae Miko wanted me to kill you—to stop you from killing Beelzebul! Use your damn brain!"
Shao Yun pursed his lips, his tone skeptical. "And you actually think I'd believe that?"
Sprawled on the ground, Scaramouche grew frantic, shouting with conviction, "Think about it! Back in Inazuma, aside from The Fair Lady, that idiotic woman, who else could have made such a deal for the Gnosis but me?"
"You really think someone like Yae Miko would just hand over the Gnosis to some insignificant Fatui underling? Impossible!"
A flicker of desperate hope flashed in his eyes. "How about this—take me to Inazuma. Let's confront Yae Miko together. Then you'll see who's telling the truth!"
Shao Yun was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly, speaking with unnerving calm. "Mm. Thanks for the information."
His detached tone left Scaramouche stunned. "Wait! What do you mean by that? You still don't believe me?!"
At that moment, Shao Yun's lips curled into a chilling grin.
"Believing your words and killing you," he said softly, "aren't mutually exclusive."
Before Scaramouche could react, Shao Yun lifted his right leg and drove his boot hard into Scaramouche's skull.
Thud!
The blow sent Scaramouche flying—his body flipping a full three hundred and sixty degrees before crashing back onto the floor.
He stared wide-eyed in disbelief as Shao Yun calmly bent down to pick up the Electro Gnosis he had kicked aside earlier.
Frozen for a heartbeat, Scaramouche suddenly snapped back to life, desperately crawling toward Shao Yun while screaming, "Wait! That's mine! My Gnosis! You can't—don't you dare!"
Shao Yun rolled the Gnosis between his fingers with casual indifference, then glanced down at Scaramouche, sprawled and trembling like a beaten dog.
With a smirk, he said mockingly, "You know, some things aren't yours just because you say they are. They're yours only if you can hold them."
He then twirled the Gnosis nonchalantly in his hand, as if to show Scaramouche that in his eyes, the divine heart was worth less than Lumine's shoe sole.
When Shao Yun casually tucked the Gnosis into his pack, Scaramouche broke down completely, laughing like a madman.
"Hahaha! Now I get it… now I finally understand why you wanted me dead… It's because of that pink-haired fox, isn't it?"
"That's it, right? Yae Miko must've promised you—kill me, and she'll spread her legs for you! Let you enjoy her all you want!"
The moment those words left Scaramouche's mouth, Shao Yun's expression darkened like thunderclouds.
His voice dropped, cold and dangerous. "What… did you just say? Say it again, I dare you."
Scaramouche grinned wildly, madness twisting his face. "Hahaha… think about it. That Yae Miko—so seductive, so tempting! What man could resist spending a night with her?"
"I bet you're no different. You must crave her moans and her sinful charm, don't you? Killing me for a night in her bed—what a perfect deal! Hahaha!"
But instead of exploding with rage like before, Shao Yun grew eerily calm—so calm it was terrifying.
He slowly ran his tongue over his lips, his voice dropping to a glacial whisper colder than Dragonspine's frost.
"You… insolent bastard. You've just made the biggest mistake of your life."
Yet Scaramouche ignored the warning, laughing louder and filthier.
"Ohh? Did I hit a nerve? Hahaha… come on, don't be shy! Everyone knows it. Just admit it already!"
"And when you finally get her in bed, make sure you really give it to her—make her scream those filthy, sweet little noises! Hahahaha…"