Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 99

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Magic Tower resembled a colossal research facility. The entrance fee alone was astronomical, so only Evan and I ventured inside. This was because paying the admission fee hardly marked the end of our expenses.
Each room conducted research on various subjects, and most were open for viewing. However, each room had its own separate entrance fee. Evan paid to enter a room marked “Photo Development.”
“The servants followed the instructions, but it didn’t work out well,” he said.
“It’s difficult without professional expertise. Once the development is complete, I’ll have it sent directly to the Count’s Manor,” the Mage replied.
The Mage chuckled as he spoke.
“From now on, don’t have your servants attempt this needlessly for free. Simply bring your money to the Magic Tower like a proper patron.”
Something was undoubtedly wrong with this world. From the Temple to the Magic Tower, everything reeked of capitalism.
“Come on, let’s go.”
Evan spoke immediately upon exiting the photo development room.
“This place is full of lunatics in every room. There’s no need to linger.”
“But… I’d like to see more.”
My injured ankle prevented me from fleeing far. Therefore, my only option was to somehow persuade Evan to accompany me inside.
“No. It’s dangerous. If you’re caught in an active magical experiment, there’s no telling what could happen.”
Evan spoke coldly.
“Magic is a force meant for objects. The only types without side effects when used on humans are ancient magic and black magic.”
“But…”
“But the people here are lunatics who cause chaos because they want to use magic on humans too.”
“But Evan, if we leave the Magic Tower, we’ll have to part ways.”
Evan’s expression, which seemed impenetrable, wavered slightly.
“We’ll be separated for two months.”
“…It’s always been that way.”
I didn’t miss the slight delay in Evan’s response. Despite his suspicious nature, he had always been kind to me. So whenever I pretended to be a loving wife and pleaded with him, he almost always gave in.
“That doesn’t mean you’re not disappointed about it, does it?”
“…”
“Besides, it’s just the two of us here. We didn’t bring anyone else because the entrance fee was so expensive. We barely have opportunities to build memories together, don’t we?”
Evan took a deep breath before speaking again.
“This place… this isn’t somewhere we should stay long. If we wander into the wrong room, it’ll be hard to keep our sanity.”
I gazed into his eyes and gently narrowed mine in a pleading expression. Then, grasping his sleeve, I smiled sweetly.
“I enjoyed being alone with you at the masquerade.”
“If we leave anyway, it’ll be hard to part with our sanity intact. Fine, let’s stay a bit longer.”
I moved slowly while still holding his collar. Why couldn’t I suddenly grab his hand and pull him along like I used to? Was it because we had both become aware that we were no longer children?
If that were the case, then Evan was the one who had drawn that line first. I simply pretended not to notice it, merely mimicking the intimate closeness we once shared in childhood.
“Be careful. Tell me anytime your ankle hurts. I’ll carry you.”
From that perspective, his kindness and gentleness carried an undeniably suspicious undertone. Clearly, he was hiding something I didn’t know about.
“Or should we just… Laria?”
Evan trailed off and was slightly startled when I stopped walking.
There was a reason I had suddenly stopped. A man I could never forget was emerging from one of the rooms ahead. Gray hair, yellow eyes, a prosthetic leg worn on his right side.
“So I went easy on him—five years imprisonment and one severed ankle. That way he can’t work as a mercenary or assassin anymore.”
When I encountered him in Abonitar, his intent to attack me was unmistakable, and the original narrative had confirmed it. Now that we had crossed paths again, I could be certain of more.
He didn’t notice us and simply vanished down the corridor.
At this rate, he wouldn’t be able to carry out assassinations anymore, and he wouldn’t be able to accomplish the various tasks Duke Orlando demands.
Yet the fact that he came to the Magic Tower, which charges such an exorbitant entrance fee, must mean something. Even Evan, who had money to spare, wouldn’t bring a servant here—there’s no way Medor, released just a year ago, could enter on his own initiative.
‘He’s still under Duke Orlando.’
And I was someone who had nearly been attacked by him once before.
‘Since the future has changed, I don’t know what he might do. For now, I need to stay vigilant.’
“Laria? What’s wrong?”
“Oh.”
I looked up at Evan and smiled.
“Let’s go check that out.”
Evan and I both saw the nameplate on the room Medor had entered and exited.
[Truth Serum Development Research]
“This is absurd. This is why mages are called madmen.”
Evan spoke with his arms crossed.
“Judging by the fact that it’s being applied to humans, they’ve definitely employed black magic for this.”
“Why black magic?”
“Black magic is what only those gloomy fellows researching impossible things would pursue.”
Thus, without knowing it, Evan insulted his own father, who was burning himself out today for black magic. Though to be fair, he was probably referring to people like Sven, the leader of the Dark Information Guild.
“When black magic is used, it creates fissures in the world. Because it’s an unnatural force, something always becomes distorted somewhere.”
I let Evan’s words go in one ear and out the other as I seriously bit my nails.
No matter how I thought about it, something felt deeply unsettling.
“This is…”
What would Medor do after viewing something like this? If I let this pass, I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.
“…Could we take a look? The entrance fee isn’t even that expensive.”
“If you wish, we could view it, but no matter what that mad mage tries to persuade you with, you absolutely cannot drink any of the drugs.”
Evan spoke firmly.
“He’ll definitely try to use us as test subjects.”
And his tone was so rigid that I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re laughing? Why are you laughing?”
“No, it’s just… You’re a year younger than me, yet you’re acting like you’re teaching me.”
“What’s one year?”
“I’ve eaten 300 more meals than you, so it obviously matters.”
“By that measure, you’re still far behind.”
Evan grumbled and then paid the entrance fee.
The moment he dropped a coin into the enchanted mailbox in front of the door, it swung open.
“Welcome.”
An elderly female mage with rainbow-colored hair smiled brightly at us.
“You’ve come to see my research. What would you like to know about?”
Even as she spoke, she continuously touched various experimental instruments, and all sorts of drugs were being manufactured in peculiar ways.
I asked immediately.
“What exactly is this truth serum?”
“Ah, it’s a drug that forces anyone who consumes it to speak only the truth.”
“Has it been fully developed?”
“If it had been, the world wouldn’t be functioning as smoothly as it is now, would it?”
The Mage chuckled mockingly.
“I’m afraid there are still too many side effects for practical use.”
“Since it’s meant for humans, Black Mages must be involved. It seems like something that should never be commercialized.”
Evan spoke coldly, but the Mage replied with a tone suggesting he didn’t care much.
“Just a tiny bit? We did receive help from Black Mages, you see. This is the Magic Tower, after all.”
I couldn’t fathom why Duke Orlando had any interest in such a drug…
“The effective duration is set at thirty minutes, but the target remains random, so it’s still insufficient for commercialization. The gaseous form still shows unstable effects.”
If the target was random, it seemed far more than just insufficient.
“The target is random?”
“Well… since it’s based on Black Magic, it manifests one hundred percent in front of someone whose wavelength matches Black Magic, but such people are virtually nonexistent.”
I didn’t know why Duke Orlando took interest in such a thing, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to know about it.
“Is… purchase possible?”
“Since Black Magic is involved, it’s difficult for it to leave this place. Especially if the Royal Court learns of external leakage, all hell would break loose. However, we do accept sponsorships. Please keep that in mind, valued customer.”
Purchase wasn’t possible, but sponsorships were accepted—I couldn’t make sense of it.
And “valued customer” no less…
As I fell silent in contemplation for a while, the Mage smiled wickedly and spoke coldly.
“Well then, if all your questions are answered, please leave now. It seems you have no intention of sponsoring us anyway, which is quite bothersome.”
There was a reason people didn’t visit the Magic Tower. It certainly wasn’t an appropriate place to build pleasant memories.
“Fine, we’re leaving.”
I was about to drag Evan away as he shook his head in disapproval.
With a soft pop, the lid of the beaker the Mage was holding burst open. In an instant, a thick cloud of pink smoke spread throughout the room.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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