I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 107

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

All eyes turned toward me at that question. Rosette even sat up from where she had been lying down and chimed in.

“Right. I’ve been curious about that for a while too. What exactly is your manifested ability? This morning you knocked down that huge tree. The cut surface was so clean it was scary.”

“And what about at the prospective student gathering? When you aimed the tableware at Prince Hanod. I thought that was telekinesis, but seeing today, it seems like something else.”

Verain joined in as well. I rolled my bewildered eyes, unable to give a hasty answer.

What I showed at the salon wasn’t my own will, and knocking down the tree during the day was also something that happened by accident.

Back then, I was just thinking that I needed to block the path immediately…

Estelin muttered quietly.

“…Come to think of it, that’s right. Seleneae even lit fires for us yesterday and today, didn’t she? With flame abilities.”

“So that’s already protective abilities, telekinesis, flame abilities, and whatever cut that tree. Just how many is that?”

Silence fell over the cave. All four people were staring at me intently, waiting for an answer.

A listless voice came from beside me.

[When you can handle multiple elemental abilities, the things you can do become limitless.]

It was Amon.

He tilted his head as if annoyed.

[Stop making that stupid expression and answer their question. Tell them you freely manipulate fire and air.]

Coming to my senses at his words, I quickly opened my mouth.

“Uh, this campfire is indeed a fire ability. And what I did during the day and at the prospective student gathering…”

[Wind. If you hone air like a blade, cutting down a mere tree is nothing. Child’s play, you could say.]

“R-right, it’s wind. I sharpen the air to make it cutting…”

“Seleneae! Are you insane?!”

Rosette interrupted with an extremely excited voice.

“Then you’ve manifested three abilities total! One protective type and two elemental types!”

Estelin nodded beside her as if amazed.

“And all three of them are at a high level, aren’t they?”

Verain, who had been listening, agreed as well.

“That’s right. You seem to handle all of them freely according to your will. To maintain multiple abilities all at such a high level… That’s really amazing, isn’t it? I also handle two abilities, but one of them is just at a superficial level.”

“Wait. Lady Verain also handles two abilities?”

At Rosette’s question, Verain nodded awkwardly.

“It’s embarrassing to even call them two abilities. Creating duplicates was the first ability I manifested, and then I manifested the ability to hide my true appearance, but I can’t maintain it for even a minute.”

Estelin made an “ah” sound and replied.

“But that’s normal originally. People who can handle multiple abilities well simultaneously are rare.”

Verain agreed.

“That’s right. To handle all your abilities well requires very precise mana control, plus you need to have a lot of magical power.”

As soon as she finished speaking, all four people’s gazes turned toward me as if by appointment.

Janet, who had been quiet, muttered.

“S-Seleneae is really more amazing than I thought… Is there perhaps some secret…?”

Estelin, who had been pondering something beside her, answered.

“I think it’s probably because of that.”

I tilted my head.

“That?”

Estelin nodded and raised her index finger with a quite serious expression.

“You know, blood.”

“…Blood?”

With me frowning in front of them, Rosette spoke in an excited voice.

“I got it. You’re talking about the Tigris family blood flowing in her body, right?”

I froze with an absurd expression. But Rosette continued as if finding it interesting.

“Come to think of it, that’s right. It was strange from the beginning. That she had been unmanifested all this time!”

“Right. It really was strange. Not just any family, but for the young lady of the Tigris family to be unmanifested.”

“Now that I think about it, doesn’t Duke Tigris also handle multiple abilities? Lady Seleneae must have inherited that ability!”

I lost my words and blinked.

‘Inherited, my foot.’

These kids had no idea that I was unmanifested.

I was already feeling dizzy thinking about what would happen if I told them that the abilities they were praising were actually borrowed from the power of a holy relic.

Whether she knew my feelings or not, Estelin smiled brightly.

“I think Seleneae has an enormous amount of magical power. Have you had a proper assessment?”

“Uh… no.”

Verain casually suggested.

“Then when you have time, go to the temple and get a magical power assessment. Who knows? You might be judged to have more magical power than Duke Tigris.”

I hesitated and then nodded as if convinced. Of course, I had no intention of getting a magical power assessment.

That would be like revealing myself that there wasn’t a single drop of magical power in my body.

‘If it becomes known that my abilities are actually thanks to a holy relic…’

Those who harbored resentment against me would undoubtedly target the holy relic first.

The temple would also try to get the pendant back somehow.

‘Originally, when lottery winnings become known, even distant relatives come flocking.’

As I secretly became conscious of the pendant hidden under my clothes, Rosette raised her head.

“Speaking of which, that mention of the temple reminded me. Did everyone hear that the Central Temple construction was canceled?”

Several of our eyes widened. Mine did as well.

“The Central Temple construction was canceled?”

Rosette stared at me and nodded.

“You didn’t know? It was completely scrapped, because of Duke Tigris.”

“…My father?”

“Right. Several relief events that were being operated in the temple’s name were probably canceled too?”

This was completely the first time I was hearing this news.

I had been at the manor the entire time before departing for the Academy, but I hadn’t heard any of this.

‘Walter… he managed to hide something like this?’

As I frowned, Rosette continued as if surprised.

“You really don’t know anything? Your father directly requested the related matter from His Majesty the Emperor. At the regular Council of Nobles meeting, together with Duke Laurent.”

When Duke Laurent’s name came up, Estelin’s eyes widened too.

Rosette sighed and shook her head.

“Why do you both lack communication so much?”

I swallowed a sigh and answered.

“I’ve never heard of it at all. Why did he suddenly do such a thing? The temple and the aristocratic faction nobles must have caused an uproar…”

Rosette laughed as if amused.

“Just an uproar? Cardinal Paul wailed loudly in front of the Imperial Palace. He said canceling the Central Temple construction made no sense when even the national religion elevation was postponed.”

Verain interjected with a curious voice.

“I heard about that news, but what was the reason? Why Duke Tigris suddenly requested to reduce the temple’s authority. He’s normally not interested in such matters.”

“The reason is obvious.”

Rosette gestured toward me.

“Seleneae went through a terrible ordeal because of the temple before. It must be because of that.”

Verain, who had opened her mouth briefly, soon nodded as if understanding.

“That’s right. Come to think of it, there was such an incident, wasn’t there? Well, Duke Tigris is famous for loving his daughter…”

“…”

“I heard that the second holy relic the Duke recently recovered was also given to Lady Seleneae as a gift. Is that true?”

I hadn’t expected that news to spread this far already.

When I nodded, Verain smiled as if impressed.

“As expected, the rumors that circulated until two years ago must have all been false. The story about you two having a bad relationship.”

“Ah, there was just a brief misunderstanding back then.”

“Exactly! Family members can have temporary quarrels. But what could cause a father-daughter relationship to completely fall apart? Especially with someone like the Duke as a father.”

“I-is that so?”

“Of course! As a member of the ‘Red Swordsman Fan Club,’ I’m really happy to hear that you two have a good relationship!”

I stared blankly with my mouth agape as I listened to Verain’s words.

“R-Red… what?”

Estelin kindly explained.

“It’s called the Red Swordsman Fan Club, Duke Tigris’s fan club.”

My eyes widened so much they looked ready to pop out.

“Fan club?!”

Verain nodded and stepped forward with an embarrassed expression.

“It’s been around for a while. I’m an early member, but I couldn’t mention it anywhere because of Lady Anita. But now, well, it doesn’t really matter.”

As I remained frozen with a stone-like expression, Estelin laughed.

“Lately, the Duke has been appearing in public more often. Because of that, people line up in front of the Imperial Palace every regular meeting. You didn’t know.”

…How could I have known.

“Especially the ladies are going crazy, sometimes there are those who cross the line. They throw handkerchiefs right in front of the Duke’s carriage.”

“Why on earth would they throw handkerchiefs…?”

“Well, they say they like it when the Duke looks at them with disdain. If he even sighs, they feel like their hearts might stop or something.”

I remained frozen with a dazed expression, then let out a small sigh.

No wonder Father seemed to particularly dislike attending the Council of Nobles meetings lately.

Suddenly, I remembered something that happened a few weeks before departing for the Academy.

“…Selene. This week’s meeting is supposedly just reviewing past agenda items.”

“Oh, I see! But you can’t be absent.”

“…Right. That’s exactly what I was going to say. Absolutely cannot be absent. I should reorganize the meeting materials as soon as I finish eating.”

But I knew. I knew that Father’s eyes drooped ever so slightly as he said those words.

“Father. Is Duke Belmart still picking fights with you over every little thing these days?”

“No. That can’t be.”

“Then why are you like this? Your complexion seems a bit off too. Maybe you’re getting burnout from working too much lately…”

“Burn… what did you say?”

“Hmm, then how about this? I’ll get up early on meeting days and have breakfast together with you, to encourage you.”

Father’s eyes widened.

Soon his pupils sparkled with excitement, and the corners of his mouth melted into a soft smile.

Walter was desperately holding back laughter as usual.

“…That’s not a bad idea. But if it’s hard for you to wake up, you don’t have to…”

“Hard? It would be nice to have a cozy meal together, just the two of us. The food is delicious too. I’ve been oversleeping lately anyway, so this works out well.”

A smile spread across Father’s lips.

Even then, I had no idea that Father was being harassed by a fan club at every meeting.

Moreover, if I thought about it carefully, I was definitely partly responsible for this situation.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————