I Just Wanted Revenge, But Everyone Loves Me - Chapter 17

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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 17
“You mean to change the plan…….”
“Originally, Nick should have confirmed Bangcadium through to the end.”
But he died halfway through,
“so I’ll need to find a new target.”
Before Nick died, he had mentioned a total of three people.
Of those, the one easiest to move on now was naturally just a four-year-old child.
Of course, it was a bold creature capable of blowing up buildings, but compared to the others, it would be far easier nonetheless.
“Have the child called Karin brought to me. Don’t kill her—bring her before me alive. Besides, if she’s an orphan with no connections, there’s no hassle in disposing of her later.”
“I’ll have additional personnel standing by at once.”
“There’s a woman who killed Nick nearby, so proceed with maximum caution. And I need to contact the Temple.”
“Yes, I’ll relay it immediately.”
The aide who received the order left the room at once.
Zervan, left alone, gripped the letter in his hand tightly.
He smiled, indifferent to the paper crinkling in his fist.
“Yes.”
There’s no fun in simply enduring like this.
There needs to be some thrashing about—that’s what makes it worth watching.
‘Before long, the Age of a Thousand Years will come to an end anyway.’
He need only wait.
For Bangcadium’s fall.
A slight setback in plans affected him not in the slightest.
‘Bringing the child here is something I can manage.’
It was arrogant delusion.
* * *
“Sigh!”
Sleep really was the best; waking after deep rest, I felt wonderfully refreshed.
‘It was so warm.’
Usually my sister held me when she slept, which was fine, but while I was here it had been quite cold. But not today.
It was warm and cozy—as if I’d wrapped myself head to toe in the feeling of spring itself.
Thanks to that, my condition was excellent.
‘And today is—’
The day I leave Izutail!
I couldn’t contain my excitement.
‘The plan is proceeding smoothly,’ they said.
The thing that needed handling in the middle had been finished by now.
Execution time was 2 a.m. today.
When the other guards and patrol units would be at their most lax.
You could call it the critical point, in a way.
‘If we’re even a little late, they’ll change shifts.’
Both the patrol units and the guards changed shifts early in the morning, which is why 2 a.m.—the quietest, most still hour—was chosen.
“You’re full of energy this morning.”
“!”
Just as I was stretching, I turned my head and saw the Duke sitting plainly on the floor.
“Good morning! Did you sleep well?”
“…….”
The Duke’s lips moved slightly at my greeting, then he turned his head away sharply.
To anyone else, it would have seemed rude enough, but I’d been watching the Duke for over a month now.
‘If he truly disliked or despised me,’
he wouldn’t be sitting here quietly—he’d have said so outright. The Duke never holds back.
Right now he was simply—
‘unfamiliar with it.’
At first, I couldn’t tell the difference.
Now it was clear.
“Go back to sleep. And don’t say you’re tired later.”
“No, I really don’t think I’ll be sleepy today!”
I slept so well!
Still touching the warm blanket, I ventured a question.
“Was it perhaps you who made things warm for me…….”
“No, so don’t ask pointless questions.”
“Understood.”
The answer was as curt as ever, yet my lips still twitched upward.
Who else could possibly cast such magic here?
I hugged the blanket to my chest and bowed my head.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
As expected, the Duke denied it.
But—
“Won’t using magic like that give you away?”
“It’s about controlling your power so it won’t be detected…….”
The Duke, who had answered carelessly to my question, suddenly frowned deeply.
“Oh.”
He’d been caught.
* * *
‘I need to be careful. Sys.’
Sys, the director who had been handling duties since early morning, tapped his desk rhythmically.
Though he hadn’t slept a wink all night tidying up loose ends, as dawn broke his exhaustion gave way to sharp focus.
‘Zervan will make his move. And then, probably not us—’
‘He’ll go after the child first.’
‘Objectively speaking, that’s the easiest target to strike.’
The child was young and had no talent for magic—all she could do was run about busily.
From Prime Minister Zervan’s position, targeting Karin was the only logical choice.
‘If he targets the child,’
he’ll expect us to move in response.
It was correct thinking.
Perhaps a few days ago.
But now the child was a proper comrade, allied with Bangcadium.
‘I’m grateful that you’re with Karin. I have other things to handle in the meantime, so there could be gaps. You’re ready, yes?’
‘Yes. I’ll have Bangcadium’s people standing by with horses, timed perfectly. Once we escape Izutail, we’ll head straight for Bangcadium.’
Magic could be used, but only after a certain distance. Use it carelessly and pursuers could track the magical traces.
‘So for now it should be fine.’
‘For now. But there might be stragglers left, so we need to be careful about that.’
There’s no harm in being careful about anything.
Sys agreed with that sentiment.
‘Nothing should go wrong.’
The preparations themselves were solid. Bangcadium’s people were impetuous and rushed forward openly, but Sys—a thorough planner—handled all the groundwork and cleanup.
Already, from escape routes to the horses they’d ride to the regions where magic could be deployed, everything was mapped out.
But such variables sometimes spoil even the best plans. One couldn’t be at ease until the end.
After erasing all traces of himself, Sys left his office at once.
‘One last sweep is in order.’
Now that Veronica had dealt with the spies, the rats hiding everywhere would soon stick their heads out.
Watching and catching them—that was Sys’s final role.
Everything, for Bangcadium.
* * *
Perhaps it was because today was the final confrontation.
Time both moved and stood still.
‘I’m bored.’
I couldn’t even take a walk today.
Sys had told me to stay with the Duke just in case.
‘But with Bangcadium here,’
there’s no way the Imperial Palace would sit idle.
Execution had been the original goal, but since that failed, they’d surely send someone to watch.
‘Maybe that thing in the middle that needed handling,’
could be related to the spies.
It was entirely plausible.
Bang—
Just then, the door opened and a guard came in with food.
After setting down a tray in front of each of us, the guard glanced at me and left.
As always, it was only dry bread, cold corn soup, and two boiled eggs,
‘but I can still eat my fill today!’
Back at the Count’s Estate, I was lucky to eat once every three days. And there was no water, so whenever it rained I’d open my mouth at the window to drink.
Compared to that past, this is a feast!
“You certainly eat with relish.”
The Duke, watching me eat happily, spoke up.

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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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