I Bought the Villains With Money - Chapter 55

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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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Episode 55.
At the same moment Julia was meeting with Karman, Gardian sought out the 3rd Prince’s Residence.
Gardian smiled as he regarded the two children staring up at him intently.
No matter how many times he saw them, they were sharp-witted and endearing.
Though the two had so much they wanted to ask him, they held back and waited for him to speak first.
The fact that they repeatedly showed such restraint—behavior uncommon for ordinary children—only deepened his interest.
“If you have questions, please ask them.”
“What will I learn going forward?”
“What is Cassion’s illness?”
Both children spoke at once.
Gardian recognized that the two children held different expectations of him.
He was considering whose question to answer first when the two children began to bicker.
“Learn? First we need to treat your body.”
“I know my own condition. Complete recovery is impossible right now. I have to learn while receiving treatment. How long do you expect me to live helplessly?”
“Your Highness isn’t helpless. Being born a prince is itself an ability.”
“Are you stupid? That’s inborn, not an ability.”
“Nowadays they say luck is a skill too. If you don’t like that, then meeting me must be an ability.”
“Hey!”
Cassion bristled. Diana’s argument was subtly illogical, yet Cassion couldn’t best her.
Gardian found the dynamic between the two children quite amusing.
It was funny for an adult to mediate children’s squabbling, but here he needed to step in.
The two children had asked him questions, after all.
“Let’s do both.”
Both Cassion and Diana’s eyes fixed on Gardian.
Their expressions brightened noticeably.
“Can it be treated?”
Dropping her composure, Diana leaned forward eagerly.
“But must we continue standing while we talk?”
Gardian glanced toward the Reception Room’s sofa.
“Oh, my apologies. Please sit here, Master.”
Cassion offered a seat. Once Gardian sat, both children settled themselves directly across from him, side by side.
‘They were fighting like they’d devour each other just moments ago, yet they sit together like this. And quite close at that.’
They resembled siblings, or perhaps the closest of friends.
Beneath their outward bickering, they clearly cherished each other deeply—it was touching to witness.
“If you have questions, ask them in order—Diana first.”
“What is the name of Cassion’s illness?”
“There is no established name for it. And it cannot properly be called an illness.”
Diana’s lips twitched and her brows knit.
Gardian could sense she was cursing silently.
‘Her expression says: don’t talk nonsense.’
But Gardian spoke truth.
“The Beckent Mana Vessel. It is a condition that requires no formal name, yet we call the phenomenon Cassion experiences by this term.”
Mages are born with a Mana Vessel within their bodies, and they fill it through means both internal and external.
The Beckent Mana Vessel means precisely that—the Mana Vessel, the container for Mana, is empty.
There existed Mages born with empty Mana Vessels from time to time. While not common, magical scholars could not altogether dismiss them, as such cases did occur.
The Beckent Mana Vessel itself produces no symptoms. The problem arises from the fundamental principle of all things—the natural inclination to fill what is empty.
The body instinctively tries to fill the empty Mana Vessel, and this causes health complications.
‘If the Mana Vessel itself were merely small, it would be no problem.’
But Cassion’s Mana Vessel was extraordinarily large.
“What is the treatment?”
He had expected Diana to demand a more detailed explanation, yet she grasped it quickly and asked instead about the cure.
The two children were not even particularly startled to learn that Cassion was a Mage.
‘They must have suspected as much when they sought me out, but they’re taking it too calmly. Disappointing.’
He had hoped for a more dramatic reaction.
He considered teasing them by saying there was no cure, but Gardian changed his mind.
He would explain as gently as possible.
There were tears gathering in Diana’s eyes as she asked about treatment. Seeing such a desperate expression, Gardian’s playful mood evaporated.
“One simply fills the empty Mana Vessel.”
“Please fill it. I’ll give you anything.”
Cassion interjected.
Cassion had picked up on the gist of a treatment during the last festival when he’d made contact with Gardian.
Receiving Mana supply from another person. Until his Mana Vessel filled to a certain degree.
“I would help if I could. But there’s no method an old man like me can offer.”
It seemed odd for someone who looked to be in his early thirties to call himself old. But anyone who knew would understand—he was older than Karman. Still, “old man” didn’t suit him any better.
“Why not? Why can’t you?”
Cassion’s expression was full of disappointment.
“Because Your Highness’s Mana Vessel is far too large. Even if I, an 8-Circle Mage, poured out all my Mana at once, I could barely fill half of it.”
“What?”
Both children’s eyes widened.
‘Satisfying. This was exactly the reaction I wanted.’
Cassion gauged Gardian’s expression. “Does that mean I’m a more powerful Mage than my teacher?”
Cassion was nervous—he’d asked out of genuine curiosity, but he was checking to see if he’d been impolite or hurt the man’s feelings.
Unlike Cassion’s concern, Gardian was unbothered. It was because the statement wasn’t true.
And Cassion’s question was one anyone who heard what he’d said would naturally wonder about.
“Being able to hold a great deal of Mana doesn’t make one a great Mage. Just as mere talent doesn’t make a great painter or writer.”
One had to learn to use Mana properly. How precisely and accurately a Mage could manifest magic was the true measure of their skill.
“Then what should we do?”
Now it was Diana’s turn to ask.
“I’ll help fill Your Highness’s Mana Vessel to the extent I’m able. I’ll also research a way to prevent the Vessel from unilaterally draining your stamina.”
He was saying he couldn’t provide a fundamental cure. Diana’s shoulders visibly fell.
“The symptoms should improve considerably, though.”
Gardian had entrusted Cassion to him precisely because he hoped for and anticipated more, but he didn’t hastily voice uncertain results.
He worried that if his thinking proved wrong, he might disappoint the two children.
Gardian had only met them twice, yet his heart had been drawn to these two children without a family.
‘Your Highness has his father, but it’s fair to say he doesn’t.’
Gardian clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking of Karman, who couldn’t see Cassion properly.
“Once a week, I’ll replenish your Mana. Even so, it will be little more than a single drop in Your Highness’s Vessel. But even a drop is better than nothing at all. And Your Highness, you must build your stamina first. You won’t be able to do anything until you exercise and develop your strength.”
Hope bloomed in Diana and Cassion.
Gardian smiled warmly as he watched the two children clasp hands tightly on the sofa.
***
The date for the Family Council was set. The retainers scattered across the realm had their schedules adjusted, the process dragging on, but finally the date was confirmed.
One week away.
“Diana, what are you thinking about?”
At the sound of someone calling to me as I sat vacant, twirling my pen, I lifted my head.
Rumdracks entered the study, tossing an apple high and catching it.
“I was thinking about what might be said at the Retainer Council.”
“What else would be said? It’s obvious. Appoint a Regent, who should it be, I think Count Colcos would be good, that sort of thing—isn’t it?”
Even though I knew he wasn’t answering out of ignorance, the way Rumdracks spelled it out one by one irritated me.
When I shot him a look, Rumdracks leaned in close and thrust his face forward.
“Are you crying because you’re worried?”
I’m troubled, but I haven’t cried. I haven’t even worried.
I was thinking about how to withdraw the Regent appointment demand without dealing serious harm to Irenbell House.
‘Count Colcos must have built up quite a following.’
Part of me wanted to cast out everyone who supported Count Colcos.
But I chose to understand the hearts of the retainers who had grown anxious during the prolonged absence of an Irenbell House Head.
‘If they supported Count Colcos out of greed, I’ll drive them out. But if it was a choice made in response to circumstances, I should give them a chance.’
If they still insist on supporting Count Colcos even after my persuasion, then so be it.
‘I need to prepare for when vacancies arise.’
When a vacancy opens in House business or territory management, you have to find someone new to fill it and allow an adaptation period—losses are inevitable.
‘It’s better to reshape what can be reshaped.’
“Oh my! Your tears are about to fall!”
Rumdracks made a fuss and pretended to catch my tears with his palm. I swatted his hand away.
“I’m not crying.”
Did he think I was some young thing who sat in a corner crying about her troubles?
When I widened my eyes, Rumdracks raised both hands high in surrender and backed away.
“My bad. You just looked so serious, I had to say something.”
His fuss came from concern for me. Knowing that, my heart softened.
“At the Retainer Council, I mean.”
I opened up to Rumdracks about the situation.
The fact that I could confide my information to a con artist like Rumdracks was because we’d made a second contract not long ago.
I drew up a contract stipulating that in exchange for delegating broad authority over Phoenix Bank operations to him, he would not carelessly divulge any personal matters concerning me.
Should he reveal anything without my permission, his tongue would stiffen.
‘A curse that paralyzes a con man’s tongue. Rather poetic, really.’
Rumdracks had gone pale with terror when I’d written that penalty into the contract.
Remembering the scene, a laugh bubbled up before I could stop it.
“Laugh and cry together, and you’ll grow hair in strange places.”
“Good heavens! You’re telling jokes even a five-year-old wouldn’t fall for.”
Rumdracks shrugged and bit into an apple. The crisp snap gave way to the sound of him chewing it contentedly.
“Is Count Colcos competent?”
Rumdracks pulled a chair over and sat across from me, his tone suggesting he was ready to offer counsel on whatever was troubling me.
“No. He borders on incompetence. But he carries the blood of the Irenbell House, and he’s received a proper education.”
Count Colcos would argue that without his incompetence, he’d have no excuse to claim he never had a chance.
“By ability alone, you’re above him. So why the anxiety?”
I Bought the Villains with Money (Serialized)
Author │ Lee In-hye
Publisher │ Kim Ju-hyung
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd. – Tiramisu
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyuk
Address │ 1101, 11F, Ace Techno Tower 8th Building, 33-gil Digital-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ http://blog.naver.com/jayplemedia1
© Lee In-hye 2021
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. under contract with the copyright holder,
and no part of its contents may be used in any form or by any means without permission from the publisher and author.
Violation of this will result in both criminal and civil liability.

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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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