I Cured the Mastermind and Failed to Run Away - Chapter 11

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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 11

Mila lowered her head completely.
“If a knight deployed first dies because a Grade 3 Purifier recklessly entered the Contaminated Area, who bears that loss? Who takes responsibility? The Failur Family?”
Mila gnawed at her lip.
“Purifiers are called assets of the Empire. You know well enough why high-ranked Purifiers receive such treatment.”
Still, no answer came.
Instead, Mila’s ears and neck flushed crimson with shame.
‘Being a Grade 3 Purifier, you’ve probably been treated exceptionally wherever you went—no wonder you can’t adapt to a situation like this!’
High-ranked Purifiers received extraordinary treatment wherever they went, as was inevitable.
‘But there’s no one who receives more exceptional treatment than Chedwin—the Emperor’s nephew, the Empire’s hero, and the youngest Sword Master!’
Such rebuke was only possible because it came from Chedwin.
Moreover, since everything he said was correct, those around him couldn’t even stop him.
“Procedures matter. When you dismiss them thinking one person doesn’t matter, the discipline of the whole crumbles.”
Tears gathered at the corners of Mila’s eyes. She seemed to be caught in a tangle of emotions.
But Chedwin paid no mind. Seeing Mila’s eyes glistening, he offered no comfort.
“You’ve done well. You may return home now, Lady Mila.”
Watching Mila, who had refused to break her pride even until the very end, Chedwin granted her leave.
As if she’d been waiting for this, Mila spun around sharply, shot Levelin a piercing glare, and disappeared.
‘What? Why are you glaring at me?’
It’s been Chedwin scolding you all this time, hasn’t it?
Levelin had half a mind to call her back for a second round, but showed her mercy instead.
“Ruby.”
Levelin, who had been enjoying the sight of Mila’s crumpled face as she fled, froze at Chedwin’s call.
‘Now it’s my turn!’
This was no time to laugh.
Levelin hesitated, turning her body toward Chedwin.
“That’s a nickname, as I told you.”
“You told me it was your name at first, so I thought you wanted me to use it.”
“…No. If people see you calling me by a nickname, they’ll misunderstand.”
“Then why tell me a nickname in the first place? If you’d explained properly from the start, it would’ve been easier for both of us. You were at the victory banquet anyway, so I knew who you were.”
Chedwin replied indifferently, extending his hand.
‘Surely he’s not planning to hit me in front of all these people just because I bent the truth a little?’
Good, I have a witness! If he hits me, I’m going straight to Father and then to His Majesty the Emperor.
Levelin thrust her head forward confidently.
But the large hand didn’t aim for her head—it reached for her disheveled Robe.
Grasping the fabric, he fitted it snugly over Levelin’s head and stooped to meet her gaze.
“I apologize for earlier.”
And an apology, no less.
“Pardon?”
“You said you were startled by the Demonic Beast and couldn’t speak well. I didn’t believe you.”
He’d been bothered by that this whole time?
“I thought you were making excuses. I didn’t realize you were genuinely afraid of Demonic Beasts from what happened in the past. I apologize.”
…Though I’m afraid, the part about not being able to speak was a real deflection, you know.
Levelin, flustered, forgot her answer and could only blink.
Seeing Chedwin apologize so sincerely felt strange.
Levelin averted his gaze, fidgeting with her fingers.
“I’m sorry too, Your Grace.”
“For what?”
“For deceiving you about my name before even thanking you for saving me.”
And she was planning to keep lying, that she wasn’t the person he’d met on the Balcony, for as long as she could!
“Is the nickname perhaps a lie as well?”
“No! That one’s real!”
Levelin shook her head urgently.
“Then you haven’t deceived me entirely, so let’s leave it at that. But Lady Levelin, lies erode trust, so be mindful from now on.”
Levelin, who was planning to continue lying, flinched.
‘Besides, we’re not going to see each other again anyway. What does it matter?’
Levelin smiled and held her tongue. Best not to answer—complications later were the last thing she needed.
Life demands perpetual caution!
“And don’t let what the Failur lady said earlier bother you.”
“What do you mean?”
“A high Purifier rank isn’t automatically better. I know that from direct experience.”
What is he even talking about? She’d been dismissed as a worthless Grade-10 Purifier for years now—it barely stung anymore.
“Including myself, the useful knights, the high-ranking Purifiers—we’re all just assets managed by the Empire.”
Heavy footsteps echoed from the direction where the other knights had been stationed. Chedwin gestured for them to wrap up their work.
“High-ranking Purifiers usually don’t get a moment’s rest. There are Contaminated Areas only they can handle. ……Though I suppose there might be rare exceptions—Purifiers who get to choose their assignments.”
Chedwin’s gaze flickered toward the direction Mila had disappeared, then returned.
“Personally, I think it’s better when one high-ranking Purifier suffers than several low-ranking ones do. So I make threats—demand that only high-grade Purifiers be assigned to the Contaminated Areas I’m responsible for.”
……Oh.
“Besides, Purifiers working in the field are always exposed to dangerous conditions—anxious, on edge. If you care about your own life, safety might be worth more than glittering heroics in the face of death.”
Chedwin continued explaining the dangers and realities that Purifiers faced in active duty.
Being consoled by this man was something she’d never imagined. It felt strange.
Had anyone besides family ever told her it was all right to be a Grade-10 Purifier?
Levelin fidgeted with her fingers before finally opening her mouth.
“Of course, I don’t think highly-ranked Purifiers are bad. I understand their sacrifice.”
If a Grade-10 Purifier said she understood the trials of an advanced-rank Purifier deployed to Contaminated Areas, everyone would laugh—but something told her this man wouldn’t.
“I simply don’t get along with Lady Mila. In reality, I’m always grateful for the knights risking their lives in the field, and for the Purifiers too. I would never diminish their hardship as insignificant. ……And of course, your efforts as well, Your Highness.”
Chedwin closed his mouth.
“Today too, Your Highness saved me, and though Lady Mila is insufferable, she purified this place. So did the Grade-5 and Grade-7 Purifiers who came with us. That deserves gratitude.”
‘Of course, the fact that I’ve become a Grade-5 Purifier and could rank even higher—that absolutely cannot get out.’
By Chedwin’s logic, the higher your rank, the greater the moral obligations you accumulated.
If it became known that Levelin was a high-ranking Purifier, and she missed the moment to treat her brother because she was assigned elsewhere?
‘I’m grateful, truly. But my rank stays hidden, no matter what.’
Levelin smiled and subtly stepped back from Chedwin.
“Thank you for your thoughtful words. I should head back now, Your Highness.”
Chedwin, arms crossed, regarded her without expression before nodding.
After a brief farewell, Levelin hurried away from the Workshop with the maid and knights in tow.
She’d worried he might press her again with strange questions, but surprisingly, he’d let her go easily.
‘Maybe Mila convinced him I’m just a useless Grade-10 Purifier?’
If his suspicions were truly gone, that was a relief.
‘Still, I need to steer clear of Chedwin from now on.’
As she made her way to the Carriage parked in the distance, Levelin exhaled deeply.
“Miss, what did all that mean earlier? That thing about Lady Failur deliberately touching a Demonic Beast during the Academy exam?”
“Could you just pretend you didn’t hear that?”
It was ages ago now, and she didn’t want to see her father or brother upset if they found out. She didn’t want old news to surface again and draw attention either.
The Academy graduation exam took place in whichever Contaminated Area had the weakest Miasma among those that had appeared during exam season.
The Knight Order would enter first to clear out the more dangerous Demonic Beasts, then the exam would begin. To prepare students for real encounters, lower-threat creatures were intentionally left behind.
Professors positioned themselves throughout to ensure safety, and students entered under supervision to carefully cleanse only portions of the pollution without agitating the Beasts. Full purification meant automatic failure.
Even in extreme conditions, Purifiers had to maintain control over their abilities. Purifying the entire Contaminated Area resulted in disqualification.
Levelin’s entry had been smooth enough, but when a professor stepped away, Mila touched a Demonic Beast that hadn’t fully died and fled, creating a disaster.
Normally that would have meant failure, but the Academy swept it under the rug and passed her anyway.
Understanding Levelin’s heart, the maid and knights exchanged glances and changed the subject.
“Miss, when you arrive at the Residence, you should check your condition first. Understood?”
“That’s right. We’ve been so worried. You’re truly fine, aren’t you? You’re not hiding any injuries or pain?”
“I’m really fine. Truly.”
Levelin waved her hand with a laugh.
“Oh, one more thing—today’s events stay secret from my brother. Got it?”
If Arent found out, how much would he fuss over her?
“I don’t want to worry him, so all of you keep this quiet.”
If word got out that she was swept up in a Contaminated Area, the moment she set one foot outside the Residence he’d come running with lectures.
But something was off.
“……Why isn’t anyone answering me?”
Neither the maid nor the knights responded.
Worse, they suddenly fixed their gazes downward and walked staring at the ground.
“Um, ahem, Miss.”
One of the knights spoke up carefully.
“We’ve been searching for you quite extensively, miss.”
“……Oh, thank you.”
“But we couldn’t find you anywhere, and no one claimed to have seen you either.”
His words grew longer. Unease crept in.
“A Contaminated Area appeared nearby as well…… I must confess, we were deeply alarmed.”
“I see. And then?”
“Since we couldn’t locate you, miss, we feared the worst.”
“I see.”
“So we concluded that…… well, we required your brother’s assistance.”
Levelin had come to a halt before the carriage.
“……So he already knows I’ve gone missing?”
The knight hesitated for a long moment before nodding.
“……Yes.”
“No!”
The moment she heard his confirmation, Levelin grabbed her head and cried out.
This can’t be happening!
“Your brother has been searching for you as well, miss.”
She could already envision the future—confined to the Mansion until the outside world had been verified safe.
‘Sophia! When on earth is Sophia going to take him away?!’
She should have cornered the fleeing Sophia and handed Arent over to her!
‘All that obsession and overprotection should go to the heroine, not me!’
Levelin thrashed against despair.
‘Wait, no!’
Let her think positively.
She stopped thrashing and searched desperately through her despair for any glimmer of hope.
‘He only knows I’ve vanished—he doesn’t know I was swept into the Contaminated Area, does he?’
Right. This was at least something to be grateful for.
If he learned I’d been swept into the Contaminated Area, he’d probably hover over me, insisting on feeding me himself and tucking me in at night!
Levelin gestured to the knight to open the carriage door, turning to address the maids and knights.
“Listen to me, all of you. Don’t you dare tell my brother that I was swept into the Contaminated Area. Not a word. Understood?”
Levelin issued the command as sternly and seriously as she could manage.
But no one answered.
Worse, everyone’s gaze had shifted—not to her, but past her shoulder.
Some of the maids even covered their mouths.
A rustling sound came from behind.
Levelin slowly turned around. And looked into the open carriage door.
‘I should just close and lock it again.’
Levelin tried to shut the door seriously, as if she’d seen nothing at all.
“Levelin.”
But Arent, who was sitting inside with his legs crossed, beckoned her with one finger.
“It would be better if you came in before I got out.”
She’d become the fool who spilled everything without even knowing her brother was inside.
“Where exactly did you go?”

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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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