For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 125

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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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Chapter 125

The Alchemist’s suspicious laugh made Raina Hart ask Dinsper a question.

“Have you already completed the Elixir?”

The communication device itself belonged to Kevenriak Heteroven, but Dinsper believed it was his subordinate’s. The Alchemist answered Raina Hart with a self-important tone.

– No, I told you. Completion is tomorrow.
“You sound confident. This isn’t just a preliminary stage, is it? Why did you contact us?”
– Kekeke. Do you think I would fail? A legendary-grade Elixir is about to be created.
“…And?”
– Come and witness it. The moment my masterpiece is born. Oh, and bring plenty of money.

***

Orders to begin the rebellion were issued to the Rebel Forces scattered across the Betuzhenia Empire.
A total force of three hundred thousand soldiers. The military moved according to their planned operations and aimed to gather near Jenia.

“We depart.”

The rebellion had to proceed swiftly.
Soldiers positioned near the gathering point aimed to assemble within three days.
Those stationed farther away, unable to teleport, aimed to advance by subduing the lords who could provide military support to the Emperor.

Strange occurrences began on the very first day of the rebellion.
In the remote territory of a lord in the Betuzhenia Empire.

“We have no intention of fighting.”

The one who greeted three thousand rebel soldiers on the wide avenue connected to the lord’s castle was the lord himself. He was not mounted on a horse, nor was he wearing armor. Behind him stood what appeared to be his wife and children.
There was no one else. No knights or mercenaries were visible.

‘What is this?’

The rebel soldiers who witnessed this scene shared the same thought.
Setting aside whether the lord truly had no intention to fight, the fact that he was waiting here for them suggested that he somehow knew the rebels would come to attack this place.

“Is this a surrender?”

The commander on horseback asked.
Instead of answering, the lord lowered the paper he was holding to the ground. He appeared composed, but his hands trembled. He raised both palms and retreated backward.

“Bring it.”

The commander had a subordinate examine the paper’s contents, and his brow furrowed.
The document contained exactly what the Rebel Forces desired.

“You will not provide military support to the Emperor under any circumstances?”
“…Isn’t that your objective? It’s a magically binding oath. I’ve staked my heart and those of my wife and children upon it.”

The Rebel Forces’ Mage examined the paper. It was true.
The commander placed the oath into his garments and asked.

“How did you know we would come looking?”
“T-two Prophets told me that Tunterra’s soldiers would come seeking their lands. They also told me what you would demand of me.”

The lord’s voice trembled. Not from fear of the Rebel Forces, but from the Prophets who had visited days before.

“It’s simple.”
“All you need do is choose—whether to close your eyes now, or later after seeing your grandchildren and closing them peacefully in bed.”

He had thought them madmen dressed in tattered robes, yet they wielded a letter bearing the Emperor’s seal and threatened him with it.

“W-what must I do…?”

The lord asked, unable to tear his gaze from the Emperor’s seal.
Last year’s New Year’s banquet at the Imperial Palace. He had remained in Jenia, fearing any vacant seat might displease the court.
It was there he had witnessed it—the nobles executed by the Emperor’s hand, their bodies displayed upon the Castle Gate.

“Now we’re getting somewhere. Simply write down what we dictate here.”

The blackmailers sent by the mad Emperor—or rather, the Prophets—thrust an oath before the lord. A small daisy flower was sketched in its corner.

“Remember this well, my lord. Should circumstances unfold contrary to his intentions—”
“…Ah, I’m afraid I cannot speak of what comes after. Another vision has just revealed itself to me.”
“What? What did you see?”
“Violets…. And two Knights….”
“You’re in fine form these days. You heard as well, my lord? A new prophecy. Violets and two Knights.”

Leaving behind an incomprehensible final prophecy, the Prophets departed for elsewhere.

“What is it you want? There must be a reason you’re going to such lengths.”
“J-just… please pass through. Without spilling blood.”

The lord answered the captain’s question, his eyes bearing an inexplicably pitiful expression.
Trembling like an aspen leaf at the memory, the lord’s body shook. His two young children, witnessing his fear, could not contain their tears and wept bitterly. The lord’s wife embraced the children in silence, tears streaming down her face.

“….”

The captain found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
It was as though the Rebel Forces had become villains of the darkest sort.

That day, Tiernan received reports that two Prophets had appeared and vanished at every location the Rebel Forces arrived.

***

Raphael’s shadow was drawing near.
I had to warn the Emperor of the danger.

“Danger…!”

Yet—.
Vivian parted her lips in a whisper, then blinked and fell silent.

“….”

The place before me was far from ordinary.
Since he had entered my body, the surrounding landscape had frequently shifted without warning, but this moment felt distinctly peculiar.
What assaulted my senses most powerfully was a jumble of chemical odors—heavy, acrid, mingled with something sweet yet musty and stale.

“Kekeke.”

What followed was a distinctly characteristic laugh.
The man standing before the experimental bench attached to the wall was the source of that sound. He wore goggles and a coat befitting a researcher, yet something about him exuded an unmistakably reckless air.
The rectangular shelf above him was crammed with plush dolls. Their crudely drawn circular mouths seemed as though they might move at any moment.

“Lodger.”

Vivian turned her head to the side and opened her mouth upon seeing the black butterfly standing motionless. Her refined profile was striking—beneath her well-defined brows, luminous blue eyes turned toward her.

“…Have you fallen asleep?”

No subject needed to be stated. Vivian nodded quietly.
She glanced subtly at the shadow beneath his feet. It seemed Raphael was not hiding there.
She discreetly reached into her pocket and withdrew a notebook. On the final page of the densely filled notebook, today’s date and a brief memo were written.

「I’ve left the Duke’s Castle. I’m going to make an Elixir. This might be the last time I greet you through this notebook. Thank you for everything.」

Vivian gazed intently at the neat handwriting.

“Is this a cold? Did the lodger put this up? Hmm, it would be troublesome to put something like this on the landlord’s door, but I’ll let it slide. What kind of landlord am I? You chose a good place to lodge, didn’t you?”
“….”

The handwriting on the paper the lodger had arbitrarily posted on the front door resembled the Grand Mage’s handwriting.

“What about the Elixir?”

In response to Vivian’s question, Kevenriak gestured forward. The Alchemist had brought his face close to the beaker on the experimental bench.
Dinsper was absorbed in his work, having forgotten that the mad Emperor stood behind him. Pleased with the progress, self-praise like “I’m a genius!” flowed out along with laughter.

“It will be finished soon.”
“This is the final stage, isn’t it?”

It was a question asking if this was the last task before the Grand Mage’s soul departed from her body.
Once the Elixir was made, she would reclaim her body, or so she had said.

“Yes.”

At the Emperor’s smile, which she had never seen before, Vivian’s eyes widened.
As the thought occurred to her, the corners of her mouth kept rising.

“Soon—.”
“Soon?”

Vivian pressed her lips shut with her hand. Her eyes had become crescents, so she couldn’t hide the smile playing at their corners.
From now on, I couldn’t say anything. Remarks like “You’ll be lovers soon” or “You two are so well-matched” had to be swallowed down and locked away.

‘The helper is no longer needed.’

The instinct of a romance novel reader was speaking. Hmm. So now I’m the obstacle?
It was clear that both of them were suppressing their feelings out of consideration for me.
Vivian briefly imagined herself engaged in romance with the lodger.

‘Ugh.’

A shudder ran through me involuntarily.
The lodger was quite handsome, but seeing him as a romantic prospect was an entirely different matter.

“Are you getting a restaurant soon?”

At that, Kevenriak let out a soft laugh. He couldn’t help but laugh. Vivian’s question carried the implicit assumption that Raina Hart would return.

“Choose whichever place you like.”
“Wow, that’s wonderful. I was worried about how to make a living. I should be able to manage well, right? I studied economics until I was fifteen, after all.”
“You don’t intend to return to the Duke’s Castle?”

Vivian shook her head.

“I don’t plan to go back.”
“I could transfer the dukedom to you instead.”
“You want me to become a duke in my father’s place?”
“There’s no reason you couldn’t.”

That made no sense.
Just as Vivian was about to speak, noting that he seemed to be in such a good mood he was joking—

Boom!
An explosion erupted from the experimental table, followed by billowing smoke.

“…”

A terrible silence settled over us.

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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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