Don’t Look for the Resurrected Villainess - Chapter 88

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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 88

 

The Emperor forcibly pushed away his fatigue and swallowed a groan. Before him, the Head Mage of the Imperial Palace, who had rushed over in panic since early morning, was bowing his head.

 

The Emperor, who had been staring at the Head Mage with a troubled gaze, asked in a low voice.

 

“Is that true?”

 

“Regrettably, it is.”

 

“Is there nothing wrong with the magic nullification barrier protecting the Imperial Palace?”

 

“The barrier is operating normally. It’s not external magic.”

 

The Imperial Palace was protected by a massive magic nullification barrier. It was the type of barrier that completely blocked any magic not approved by the Imperial Palace.

 

All mages belonging to the Imperial Palace and magical tools used within the Imperial Palace had their identities and origins registered, making real-time tracking possible by the Magic Department.

 

Yet this dawn, a magical reaction was suddenly detected from a specific location.

 

The Emperor, who had been staring down at the Head Mage, sank deep into his throne. Resting his chin on his hand, he asked his close associates standing beside him in a low voice.

 

“Count Ilon. You were also present when we emptied the Black Tower.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“Did we leave any magical tools inside?”

 

“There were no magic-related items whatsoever.”

 

“How long has it been since we sealed that tower?”

 

“It’s been well over 40 years.”

 

The Emperor, who had been lost in thought while rubbing his chin, frowned.

 

“A magical reaction from a tower that’s been sealed for 40 years…”

 

This was precisely why the Head Mage had sought out the Emperor so urgently.

 

Because an unidentifiable magical reaction had been detected from a tower that had been sealed for 40 years.

 

The place called the Black Tower was located in the innermost part of the Imperial Palace, in a corner where no one walked. Compared to other palaces, it had an ordinary exterior and no particular distinctive features inside.

 

When you think about it, it was strange that such a building existed in the Imperial Palace. That place had occupied a corner of the Imperial Palace for a very long time, and the Imperial House had been maintaining the unused tower cleanly.

 

The proposal to eliminate the Black Tower was one of the petitions that successive emperors had consistently received.

 

That opinion was finally accepted 40 years ago. However, rather than immediately demolishing it, they compromised by withdrawing the manpower and costs that had been invested in the tower.

 

The Emperor fell into thought, tapping the armrest.

 

“Is it dangerous magic?”

 

“According to the Magic Department’s assessment, its aura differs from any attack magic. It’s magic that cannot be identified from the outside. We need to check the interior for accurate analysis.”

 

The Head Mage continued with a resolute voice.

 

“For now, I will set up a barrier around the tower.”

 

“Prepare it.”

 

The Emperor nodded and gestured to his subordinates beside him.

 

“Count Ilon, tell Sir Dain to deploy knights around the Black Tower.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“Marquis Harrison, send letters to the Duke of Roam and Andrea Duke telling them to enter the palace promptly. Send someone to the Crown Prince as well.”

 

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

 

The Emperor, watching his subordinates move quickly, frowned and stood up. Walking slowly to the window, he pressed his lips together with concern.

 

“The Black Tower…”

 

* * *

 

“It’s dark.”

 

[Don’t worry, timid male. There are no enemies here.]

 

Nesi offered incomprehensible comfort at Jeon’s frightened appearance. However, Jeon’s shoulders shrank even more at Nesi’s growling.

 

“Seeing Nesi growling like this, there must be something down here!”

 

“How about we leave him behind and go down since he’s being noisy?”

 

Samuel, unable to listen any longer, frowned and asked me. Then Jeon snapped at Samuel with an indignant expression, and Samuel glared at Jeon with disdainful eyes…

 

Ignoring their usual bickering with familiarity, I held up the lamp and walked ahead. As Jeon said, it was dark, but it wasn’t an impassable path.

 

As I was striding down the gloomy stairs, black smoke suddenly gathered in the empty air. It was a ghost.

 

[How does that Knight know about the secret passage leading underground?]

 

The ghost seemed genuinely curious. I had heard the answer to that earlier. Samuel had dismissed it by saying he saw it in a dream, and judging by his expression, it seemed to be true.

 

“He said he saw it in a dream.”

 

[This monastery has been abandoned for a long time.]

 

“Perhaps the Creator showed it to him.”

 

[That person is not an agent of the Creator. I can feel neither the thread of fate nor the Hand of Rest.]

 

“Do such traces necessarily have to remain?”

 

[Of course. Especially those chosen by Birth are bound by threads of fate, so it cannot be unknown.]

 

Then the dreams Samuel claims to have are completely unrelated to divine revelation. As expected, they were just nonsense dreams.

 

“Ah, this must be it.”

 

The stairs were shorter than expected. The door at the end seemed firmly locked, but it couldn’t withstand Samuel’s kick and broke.

 

Bang!

 

The door fell over, revealing the interior. The basement was wider than expected. Inside, the ceiling was broken, letting in some light from outside.

 

“Huh?”

 

As soon as we entered the basement, Jeon approached the wall with curiosity. When he felt around the wall with his hands, bright lights came on in various places.

 

“Magic? It’s a type I’ve never seen before. Is it ancient magic? What’s the principle?”

 

Jeon’s eyes sparkled as he examined the illuminated sections closely. Samuel, who had discovered dusty books throughout the brightened basement, also showed interest and pulled out a book.

 

“These are records not only from the monastery’s early days but also of the temple culture of that time. Materials this old are hard to find even in the Grand Temple. How remarkable.”

 

If Samuel, who usually doesn’t show much emotional change, was this surprised, it must be quite rare records.

 

Looking somewhat dismayed at the two people caught up in unexpected scholarly enthusiasm, I decided to slowly look around the basement.

 

This place seemed to have been a small chapel. Except for the fine dust floating in the air, it was in relatively clean and intact condition.

 

Ah, except for the hole in the ceiling.

 

Looking around roughly, it felt like a small prayer room combined with an office. There didn’t seem to be anything special, so I should follow Samuel and search through some books…

 

“Huh?”

 

Something caught my eye as I was about to go to the bookshelf. Something was faintly glowing on the floor in the inner part of the basement.

 

Looking carefully, there was a dusty carpet, and light was emanating from the embroidered pattern on the carpet.

 

[That is a trace of divine power.]

 

“The same as the statue upstairs?”

 

[The statue was a bundle of threads of fate wound up. In contrast, the carpet is not Birth’s power. Therefore, we cannot approach it. But you are the goddess’s representative, so you should be able to use the power. Please guide us to mercy with it.]

 

The ghost urged me with an anxious tone.

 

“You don’t even know what kind of power that is.”

 

[Death desired the rest of all things and confronted Birth. I’m certain it’s the Hand of Rest.]

 

It was an utterly untrustworthy assurance. I decided to hear an expert’s opinion first.

 

“Jeon, can you take a look at this carpet?”

 

Jeon readily approached at my call.

 

“A carpet?”

 

“Yeah. This one.”

 

Jeon tilted his head curiously.

 

“It doesn’t seem to have any magical power imbued in it. The formula is… too old to identify properly.”

 

“But it’s glowing.”

 

“It’s glowing?”

 

Facing Jeon’s puzzled expression made me even more confused. What, only I can see it?

 

* * *

 

Maxel gazed at the Black Tower with somewhat bored eyes. The Black Tower had been sealed before he was even born. If not for today’s commotion, it would have been a place he might have lived without knowing whether it existed or not.

 

There are no records about the Black Tower anywhere in the Imperial Palace’s historical documents. Its origins are passed down only through oral tradition, but they’re all eerie and absurd stories.

 

That ultimately meant it was a place only occasionally mentioned by gossips when they were bored.

 

The fact that an unauthorized magical reaction occurred within the Imperial Palace, which was protected by a magic nullification barrier, should certainly be treated as important.

 

Since it was related to the Imperial Palace’s security. However, Maxel questioned whether this was something that required calling everyone together so loudly.

 

He had already been spending exhausting days since returning from Immon. He didn’t want to pay attention to every minor disturbance like this.

 

“It seems His Majesty’s concerns are quite deep since this is an unprecedented event.”

 

It seemed Maxel wasn’t the only one who found this situation excessive, as Andrea Duke muttered somewhat disapprovingly. However, the attitude of the Duke of Roam standing nearby was slightly different.

 

“According to the mages, they say no aura of attack magic can be felt from inside.”

 

“Yes, that’s what they said.”

 

“The magical reactions have calmed down for now.”

 

“That’s what they said.”

 

Maxel, who had been glancing at the Duke of Roam’s profile as he sat lost in thought with his lips pressed tight, casually asked a question.

 

“Duke of Roam, do you have any guesses?”

 

“No.”

 

The Duke of Roam, who seemed about to fall silent after that answer, suddenly added more words.

 

“By any chance, has Your Highness never heard anything from His Majesty?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“About the story of the Black Tower.”

 

Maxel frowned. The stories he knew about the Black Tower were nothing but ghost tales.

 

“Do you know some special story?”

 

“Though most have forgotten now, the Black Tower was once called the Gate of God.”

 

“Gate of God?”

 

“It was said to be the passage through which God would come when He directly manifested to bestow blessings upon the Empire, so for a long time, no one dared to tear it down and left it standing there.”

 

But nowadays, no one wants to remember such legends, the Duke of Roam concluded matter-of-factly.

 

Even to Maxel’s thinking, the Duke of Roam’s words seemed quite ridiculous. It didn’t seem likely that God would come to bestow blessings while passing through such an old tower.

 

In the first place, God conveys His will through the Temple. If the Temple Authorities learned of that Black Tower’s story, they would obviously send official letters of protest immediately.

 

Having thought that far, Maxel let out an exclamation at the sudden realization that struck him.

 

“Ah, so that’s why it was sealed off.”

 

To avoid causing friction with the Temple?

 

The Duke of Roam stopped his explanation and gazed up at the Black Tower. From a short distance away, as they watched, mages cast layers of barriers and knights took their respective positions.

 

The Knight Captain, who had returned after controlling the surrounding people, gave his report.

 

“All preparations are complete. Whenever you give the order, we will tear off the boards and open the door.”

 

“Begin the work…”

 

Just as Maxel was about to give the command, the Head Mage who had been waiting rushed over with a pale face.

 

“Your Highness! Magical reactions are being detected again!”

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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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