Don’t Look for the Resurrected Villainess - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 111

“Ah, you said you were hired for money. I didn’t know the Magic Tower’s financial situation was that bad.”

“Your Highness.”

Hearing that quiet call, Heinrih was overcome by a strange feeling.

“I usually try not to care what Dekin does. But I can’t help knowing what he’s up to even when I don’t want to. Since he’s working so hard, shouldn’t you also show your excellence as his lord?”

The person who came in for questioning was Jeon, but somehow Heinrih felt like he was the one being interrogated, and that unpleasant feeling surged up.

“Seize power on your own. Lady Anelli is busy with things other than local affairs.”

Perhaps it was a sense of defeat.

At that moment, Heinrih recalled what Anelli had said to him on the first day she moved to the pavilion.

“Prisian Sister told me that it was Father’s decision to put me on the execution platform, and everyone was in anguish.”

At the entrance of the pavilion where she would be staying, she had stood there blankly for a long time.

“So everyone’s attempts to win my favor now are also an extension of that great decision.”

Frustratingly, Jeon wasn’t wrong. Heinrih didn’t want to know why Anelli felt comfortable with Jeon, but he could guess the reason nonetheless.

‘Rather than a man who asks her to return to such a terrible place, she needs a man who can follow her wherever she goes.’

While briefly lost in reminiscence, his hands clasped behind his back tensed up. He couldn’t have both the throne and Anelli simultaneously. Then could he give up the throne to have Anelli?

That was impossible. There were still subordinates who believed in him. As Jeon said, Heinrih was someone’s lord.

Heinrih squeezed his eyes shut and opened them.

“Are you outside?”

When he raised his voice, a maid’s respectful answer came from outside the door.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“There was a letter from Roam among the recent correspondence, wasn’t there? Bring it to me.”

“…Yes, understood.”

A faint bewilderment was evident in the maid’s voice. However, Heinrih continued without batting an eye.

“And prepare for an outing.”

Heinrih had a premonition. It was truly time to give up now.

So there would be no mistakes like in the past, and he would be the one to claim the throne in the end.

* * *

The Imperial Crypt wasn’t far from the Imperial Palace in terms of distance. However, due to the special nature of being a cemetery, the area was divided by iron bars.

Though it was the same land, the atmosphere inside and outside the iron bars was completely different. Was it just imagination that the air seemed eerie as soon as one entered?

I was about to stare at the entrance to the underground mausoleum stretching straight ahead when a trembling voice came from the right.

“You can speak honestly. You actually like places like this, don’t you?”

Jeon, whose face had turned pale, kept looking around. Seeing him startle at every rustle of tree branches in the wind, I thought he was still the same.

“I told you so. You didn’t have to come along. You said you were staying as a guest of the Imperial Palace anyway. How on earth did you get permission to accompany us?”

“When Lady Anelli said she was going to dispel the evil energy of this palace, I offered to detect evil magic as compensation for my unauthorized warp. Some pot-bellied fat man enthusiastically agreed.”

That must be Count Penderon. No doubt about it.

I clicked my tongue quietly and looked at Jeon with pity.

“Speaking of which, I’m the one who wants to ask. Why is this Knight here, and why is he accompanying us?”

To Jeon’s irritated question, an answer came from my left.

“The Temple can’t stay away when the Reviver is present, can it? Besides, blessing prayers – I have sufficient justification to interfere.”

Wouldn’t it be better to just leave both of them behind and go in now?

That thought crossed my mind briefly, but I decided to endure it. I still couldn’t use Dura’han within the palace.

By the way, Minte said she’d be waiting ahead, but where is she?

As I looked around puzzledly, an eerie voice came from somewhere.

“Have you arrived…? Reviver…”

“Agh, you scared me!”

Startled Jeon reflexively clung to my arm. Samuel stepped forward with a wary expression. At their sensitive reactions, the other person bowed and introduced herself.

“Greetings… I am Remia, the gravedigger who manages this place…”

The person was a middle-aged woman with dark circles and ashen skin. Her drawling voice was low and gloomy, as if it would sink underground at any moment.

“I received the message… Please come this way…”

“That’s a person, right?”

Frightened Jeon whispered to me. Whether she heard that voice, Remia slowly turned to look at Jeon.

“I am a person…”

“If you’re a person, you’re a person. What do you mean ‘I am a person’?”

Jeon muttered with a disgusted expression. Remia answered kindly without showing any offense.

“People who can endure this powerful negative energy are rare… Many get confused…”

“Certainly a rare talent. I’d like to recruit you as a manager for the Temple ossuary.”

“I’m contracted with the Royal Court… I cannot change jobs without His Majesty’s permission… But what are the working conditions at the Temple…?”

Watching Samuel seriously considering recruitment and Remia subtly checking contract conditions, even the brief scariness seemed to vanish like an illusion.

Jeon seemed to have relaxed as well, sighing and letting go of my arm.

The path to the underground mausoleum entrance wasn’t far. In front of a stone building with elaborate carvings on the outer walls, a black cat sat quietly waiting for me.

[Captain!]

“Oh my… Why is Mimi out here…? Come here…”

Minte, who had been meowing happily toward me, jumped away in horror.

“Mimi…?”

[Captain! Please stop that woman! She’s too formidable an opponent for this body!]

Minte’s urgent voice was translated into panting. Remia’s shoulders drooped gloomily.

“Mimi… You’re such a difficult woman…”

[Captain!]

If I watched any longer, Minte might hold a grudge against me. I quickly stepped forward and reached out my hand. Minte ran into my arms as if she’d been waiting.

Easily lifting Minte who jumped into my embrace, I said to Remia.

“This one is a cat I lost. I didn’t know she’d be here, but it seems you’ve taken good care of her. Now I’ll take her… yes.”

I was speaking smoothly when I met Remia’s wavering gaze. The shadows under her eyes, which had become particularly darker, felt eerily unsettling.

…I didn’t end up earning Remia’s resentment instead of Minte’s, did I?

Remia stared persistently at Minte until we disappeared from view. Minte, perhaps feeling that gaze, trembled and buried her head in my arms.

[If you had been a little later, I might have gone mad. That woman was incredible.]

“You must have had a hard time.”

[She tried to feed me mice, calling it a special meal!]

Ugh, that’s a bit…

[And such a terrible name.]

“Why? Mimi is a perfectly fitting nickname, isn’t it?”

Minte looked up at me silently. Meeting those yellow cat eyes with no warmth, I coughed and gently put her down.

“Of course I was joking, Minte.”

[I’ll guide you, Captain.]

Minte straightened up and took the lead. Having already explored the interior several times, Minte went down the stairs without hesitation.

Samuel, holding the lamp received from Remia, illuminated our footing. Though I had sensed it from the cold, damp air, seeing the surrounding scenery in the light made it more certain that this was an underground mausoleum.

“This is the Imperial Crypt…”

I had thought the interior might be decorated with gold, but it was surprisingly modest.

The structure wasn’t complex either – after going down the stairs to the end, what appeared was a single large hall. In the hall, stone coffins were placed at regular intervals on both sides from the center.

[The key is in this hall, but I couldn’t narrow down the range any further. I apologize.]

“This is as good as finding it.”

“What does the thing you’re looking for look like?”

Jeon asked curiously. I shrugged at him.

“I don’t know.”

“How do you find it if you don’t know?”

“I don’t know, but I can recognize it.”

Answering that way, I slowly looked around the hall. The light of divine power feels different from ordinary light.

Rather than illuminating the surroundings, it’s more like revealing its own presence. Though it’s light, it’s light with visible contours, so distinguishing it isn’t difficult.

Since the hall was wide, I decided to take a big lap around first. Scanning with my eyes, each stone coffin was made with intricate carvings.

Such level of carving must not have been by an ordinary skilled sculptor.

Inwardly admiring the level of craftsmanship as I walked, I eventually reached the end of the hall. At the end of the path crossing the center of the hall, a stone coffin was placed on a raised platform.

I could immediately tell whose sarcophagus it was. There was a nameplate hanging in front of the coffin.

“The First Emperor’s coffin.”

Without realizing it, I stared at the coffin as if entranced. Compared to the other sarcophagi, it wasn’t particularly more ornately decorated.

The level of carving was similar, and aside from the platform, it didn’t seem to have received any special attention.

Yet the reason it looked uniquely special wasn’t because of the First Emperor’s dignity…

“It’s glowing.”

“What?”

“Pardon?”

Samuel and Jeon, who had been looking around elsewhere, both turned toward me at the same time. Minte had already approached and was standing at my feet.

“It must be inside this sarcophagus.”

Light was streaming out from the gap where the lid and coffin met. As if urging me to hurry up and notice it.

* * *

“No matter how troubled the Palace may be, how could you possibly permit outsiders to enter the Imperial Crypt!”

As soon as Maxel recovered from his mental shock, he rushed to the Emperor’s Office. He was alarmed that the Emperor was taking Anelli’s words seriously.

That would be tantamount to reconsidering Maxel’s qualifications as Crown Prince.

“Considering all the disturbances that have occurred in the Imperial Palace, we must try even this method.”

At Heinrih’s words, Maxel’s expression twisted viciously. However, instead of responding to Heinrih, he looked toward the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, please dismiss those around us.”

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