I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 122

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“What do you mean? A new Dearmant horde has appeared?!”

The expensive magical device fell from Sadina’s hand and rolled across the dais with a clatter.

“Be, because of that, the supervisor lost track of Anita Solb’s group…”

“What on earth!”

Sadina, who had been frozen with wide eyes, asked urgently.

“The magic mirrors, did you check the magic mirrors? We installed dozens of them in the forest!”

“That’s…”

The administrator stammered restlessly.

“They’re, they’re all malfunctioning. There are problems with the communication stones too, so currently it’s difficult to contact the other supervisors.”

Sadina’s mouth fell open wider and wider.

As the commotion grew, Duke Hallen, who had been conversing with Aleon on the other side of the dais, turned to look at her.

“What’s the matter, Sadina. Has there been a problem with the examination?”

Sadina snapped back to her senses. Then she rushed over to him in one bound.

“Ch, Chancellor. Do you remember when we went on that preliminary subjugation a few weeks ago?”

Duke Hallen raised one eyebrow, then nodded.

“I remember. That’s when you nearly blew up the entire tower they were building in the southwest.”

“Not that! We definitely dealt with all the remaining creatures then, didn’t we? We killed all the adults!”

Duke Hallen tilted his head with a puzzled look.

“We did. We subjugated all the adults with the magical device you developed.”

“Exactly!”

Sadina ruffled her hair with a confused expression.

“They say a new horde has suddenly appeared, but I have no idea how this could have happened!”

Duke Hallen’s eyes widened. His complexion darkened rapidly.

“…A new horde appeared? Are you saying another Dearmant horde has appeared in the examination hall right now?”

The administrator beside them hesitated before bowing his head.

“Yes. One group discovered a young creature and even succeeded in capturing it alive, but suddenly a new horde of adults appeared and counterattacked…”

“The students?!”

“They, they escaped. However, in the process they became separated from their supervisor… Currently it’s difficult to determine their location.”

Duke Hallen’s face filled with dismay. He stood up abruptly and put on his thick outer coat.

“Contact the main headquarters immediately. Tell them to deploy all remaining Royal Guard personnel to form search teams. If a new Dearmant horde has appeared, we cannot continue the examination.”

Sadina looked at him in shock.

“Wait. Are you saying to halt the examination?”

“Yes. You know better than anyone. Adult Dearmants are too much for prospective students to handle. If something goes wrong, we could have seriously injured students!”

Sadina was speechless, opening and closing her mouth. Then she frowned and let out a sigh.

“Of course I know that, that’s why we went through all that hell for the past few months…!”

“Sadina.”

“We worked so hard to make it as safe as possible, so where did this other horde suddenly come from!”

Duke Hallen muttered with a serious expression.

“…Let’s think about that later.”

He looked at Adjutant Ray who was waiting nearby.

“First, let’s locate the students. Deploy every reconnaissance magical device we have.”

“Understood.”

“Also. Announce to all towers that the examination has been suspended, and gather all professors with divine abilities at the Central Building.”

The adjutant bowed his head.

Aleon, who had been sitting throughout the commotion, stood up. Then he frowned and asked.

“What on earth is happening.”

Duke Hallen turned his head. After swallowing a brief sigh, he muttered.

“Well… there seems to be a bit of a problem with the examination.”

Aleon raised one eyebrow.

Another scream echoed through the forest.

I quickly pulled my head back into the grass.

Then I saw four pairs of eyes looking at me.

“How is it? What’s the situation now?”

Verain asked anxiously.

I put my index finger to my lips to signal for quiet, then whispered softly.

“It’s as expected.”

“As expected?”

“Yes, the Dearmants aren’t friendly toward Anita’s group at all. Rather, they’re hunting Anita’s group in a pack.”

Janet gasped. I continued speaking.

“Also, the information that there were only adult Dearmants in the horde seems to be wrong. Actually, there seem to be fewer young ones.”

Surprised, Rosette pulled back some of the vines that had been surrounding us in a dome shape.

As our blocked view opened up, everyone held their breath and looked outside.

At quite a distance, we could see lights flashing here and there. There were continuous screams along with sounds of something colliding.

“Are they, in combat?”

Rosette muttered. Janet shook her head.

“From what I can hear, it’s not combat… it sounds like they’re being one-sidedly beaten.”

“Being one-sidedly beaten? Anita’s group?”

“Yes.”

Janet frowned in concentration. We all held our breath. Soon Janet’s mouth opened again.

“Miss Naila can’t walk. Someone named Lark is supporting her, and Anita just deployed a barrier. Joseph and the Prince of Sorad are directly facing the Dearmants, but…”

“…”

“…it’s not enough. The Dearmants seem to be absorbing magical power.”

Estelin drew a short breath. The commotion outside continued.

Someone shouting something, screaming.

And probably a low, steady rumbling that seemed to come from the magical beasts.

Breaking through the awkward silence, Estelin spoke.

“…Shouldn’t we help them?”

Rosette’s eyes widened.

“What? Help with what?”

Estelin hesitated for a few seconds before looking at Rosette.

“The situation is dangerous.”

“…”

“It’s true that Miss Anita has been rude to us…”

She gazed outside the vines with complicated eyes.

“What if someone gets seriously hurt…?”

“Good heavens, Estelin!”

Rosette grabbed Estelin’s shoulder.

“If adult Dearmants have appeared, this examination will definitely be cancelled! Why would it be cancelled? We need to stay hidden here.”

“But…”

“Did you forget what Selene said earlier? Those things are really angry at humans right now!”

Estelin flinched. Rosette continued quickly.

“What do you think it meant that only the young ones would be left? Rishion has been killing all the adult Dearmants just for this examination! Leaving only the young ones that students could handle!”

“…”

“So wouldn’t the magical beasts be angry? Now that other adults have flocked here, touching those things is no different from asking to die together!”

Estelin bit her lips tightly. Then she answered quietly.

“But Rosette. That’s not a reason to turn away from people who need help.”

Rosette sighed shortly and held her forehead. She soon looked directly at Estelin and asked.

“You. So you’re afraid of them getting hurt, but it’s okay if Selene or I get hurt?”

Estelin closed her mouth. I swallowed hard.

“Stop. Both of you, stop…”

“That’s exactly why I think we should step forward even more.”

Estelin cut off my words abruptly. It was a stubborn expression I had never seen from her before. Rosette’s face hardened.

“If we combine our strength, maybe no one will get hurt… At least we could avoid a terrible situation, that’s what I think.”

Annoyance finally appeared on Rosette’s face, which had been wide-eyed. Just as she was about to say something.

“Sorry, but I’m against that too, Estelin.”

This time it was Verain.

“This might be a much more dangerous situation than we think. We’re talking about facing an ancient magical beast called Diermant.”

“…”

“If Rishion realizes the situation has gone wrong, they’ll handle it themselves. Maybe they’re already moving to protect the students.”

Estelin had no response. Verain looked into her eyes and whispered.

“But do we really need to step forward? The risk is considerable too.”

Rosette took a deep breath and supported her.

“That’s right, Estelin. Ancient magical beasts are monsters that even 1st-tier mercenary groups and Imperial Knights struggle with! Just facing them is an incredibly reckless act!”

Estelin didn’t answer. She just looked down with a complicated expression.

After a long silence, she slowly raised her gaze. And looked at me.

“Do you think so too, Seleneae? Am I, am I being strange?”

I blinked with a flustered expression.

‘…It’s not strange.’

Right, it wasn’t strange.

Estelin was the kind of person who would naturally think that way. But…

It was also true that her argument sounded reckless.

Stepping forward to save Anita’s group right now was certainly a dangerous and inefficient action.

But facing those brown eyes filled with good intentions, I couldn’t readily speak.

I hesitated and opened my mouth.

“Well, I…”

That’s when it happened.

“Leave her! Hanod, just abandon Naila and come—!”

“Aah, watch out! Lark! Come this way!!”

“Where’s Chepri?! Where is Chepri?!”

Outside became noisy again. But this time, the commotion was heard right in front of us.

Looking outside, I could see Anita and her group members running toward us. A sigh rose from within me.

‘Why are they running this way again of all times?’

However, I soon closed my mouth.

Because I spotted a giant Diermant chasing after them.

Wherever the magical beast’s feet touched, dark blue poison gas spewed out like smoke.

“That guy learned Joseph’s ability! I, I can’t breathe…!”

Lark and Joseph, who were not far away, collapsed with a thud.

Anita seemed to have stumbled as she rolled on the ground and sat down.

“Damn it!”

Hanod urgently ran out and blocked their path. And desperately stretched out his hand.

Tree branches and stones flew from the surroundings and struck the magical beast’s body.

But Diermant didn’t budge at all.

White foam began flowing from the mouths of the fallen group members.

The situation was getting increasingly serious.

“Th, this is really…”

The moment I muttered quietly and turned my head, my eyes widened. Estelin, who had been right next to me, was gone.

When I quickly looked outside, I could see Estelin’s back as she stood blocking the path in front of Anita and Hanod.

“Stop!”

Estelin’s voice echoed through the forest. The magical beast’s pure white eyes turned toward her.

“G, go away.”

Estelin’s voice trembled.

The magical beast that had been staring at her quietly took a step closer. Estelin squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.

“I, I said go away!!”

At the same time, the forest blazed brightly. Light as bright as midday burst from Estelin’s body and flashed brilliantly.

Rosette, Verain, and Janet froze with surprised faces.

The highest-level divine ability that only the chosen saint who saved the Empire and the world in the original story could possess.

It was Estelin’s area healing.

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