I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 134

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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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Aleon’s footsteps grew faster and faster. Only one thought filled his mind.

‘I must save her.’

The faster he moved, the clearer his daughter’s face became in his vision.

Selene’s lips were stiffly frozen with tension. It was the expression she always wore when nervous.

Aleon gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on his razor-sharp sword.

Dozens, no, easily over a hundred monsters came into his field of vision.

His body naturally tensed with strength.

‘How dare these lowly creatures.’

Did they know who that child was to brazenly place her in front of their group like that?

His thoughts seemed to freeze under the extreme tension.

Ancient monsters were quite clever.

During subjugation periods, he would occasionally encounter ones in the Cursed Land that displayed human-level cunning.

‘If such creatures have Selene.’

They undoubtedly intended to use the child as a hostage.

His body trembled with rage. Aleon tensed the muscles in his arms.

Hot energy rising from his heart traveled through his arm and into his sword.

He finely controlled the magical power churning within him, aiming the direction of his sword energy.

Targeting the head of the particularly massive creature right next to Selene.

‘I’ll strike that leader’s neck first.’

Then he could gather his repulsion ability to push the monster away in one blow and save Selene.

His eyes settled with complete calm. Meanwhile, he felt scorching power boiling within his body.

‘Now.’

Just as he was about to unleash his violently pulsating magical power.

“Don’t!”

Aleon hesitated. The strength instantly drained from his body.

Aleon met his daughter’s gaze with confused eyes as she had somehow gotten quite close.

“…Selene.”

“You mustn’t attack!”

Selene, who had been among the monsters, was awkwardly extending both arms while gazing at him with desperate eyes.

A short breath burst from his mouth.

With the feeling of his thoughts coming to a complete stop, he simply stared blankly at Selene.

“The, the Dearmant won’t attack me!”

He held his breath momentarily at her following words. Then he struggled to understand what that meant.

‘Monsters not attacking humans.’

It was an absurd notion.

“What…”

However, strength was already gradually draining from his body.

Even from his perspective, Selene’s words seemed to be true.

The monsters weren’t taking any particularly aggressive stance despite having the child so close.

As the distance closed, that strange atmosphere became more apparent.

The Dearmant were simply standing obediently in front of Selene, as if waiting for some instruction.

‘So she’s not being held hostage?’

Aleon unconsciously frowned. That’s when it happened.

“I, I didn’t think you would come…”

Then a trembling voice came from across the way.

Selene was looking at him with a strange expression mixing surprise, fear, sadness, and bewilderment.

Aleon barely managed to part his lips and respond.

“Selene, what on earth… what do you mean?”

Selene flinched and looked at Aleon. Then after hesitating for several seconds, she carefully asked.

“…Didn’t you come after meeting Anita Solb?”

His tightly closed mouth opened slightly.

Aleon unconsciously took a step closer to Selene.

“Selene. You…”

“…”

“Did you really run away?”

Eyes that kept avoiding his gaze. Lips that trembled occasionally, and a complexion that had grown pale for some reason.

Aleon held his breath at the ominous premonition.

Anita Solb had said Selene had run away.

It was natural, but he had never believed those words unconditionally.

She had disappeared, that was certain, but he hadn’t thought it was an escape.

However, seeing Selene’s expression as if she was deeply afraid of something, anxious emotions assaulted him.

‘If by any chance she really had run away.’

He needed to know what had frightened Selene so much.

Only then could he at least attempt to make things right.

He never wanted to experience losing his daughter, losing someone he loved, like before.

Selene gave no answer.

Aleon barely swallowed the sigh that had risen to his throat. It felt like hot lava was burning in his chest.

“Selene… What on earth is so…”

That’s when it happened.

“I didn’t run away.”

A small voice that seemed to be suppressing something leaked from between Selene’s lips.

The child slowly raised her head and met his eyes directly.

“You have something you want to hear from me, don’t you.”

Aleon’s pupils wavered. Selene continued in a serious tone.

“I can explain everything.”

“…Selene.”

“I can explain everything without leaving anything out.”

Selene, who had stopped speaking, opened her eyes clearly.

“Please give me a chance to speak in front of everyone. Duke Haren and everyone at the Academy need to know something. …Father.”

A short breath burst from Aleon’s mouth.

“I’m not asking you to explain the situation to me…”

He who was about to say something eventually closed his mouth. Then he slowly nodded.

“…Alright.”

Selene’s expression brightened. Aleon added while gripping his throbbing forehead.

“But right now the communication stones aren’t functioning properly. We’ll have to wait at least two hours for the 2nd Search Party with the Duke and Professor Sadina to arrive…”

Then, he felt a presence behind him. Aleon quickly turned his head.

Fortunately, it was a familiar face that appeared.

“…Huff, Your Grace! Please, please stop for a moment!”

It was Walter, who was panting heavily as if he had rushed to chase after him.

Walter gave a nod of greeting to Selene, who was frozen with a surprised expression, then stood as if blocking Aleon’s path.

He showed a communication stone from his waist while catching his breath.

“I received contact a little while ago. The 2nd Search Party with Duke Haren says they’ll use a movement formation to come this way. Arrival should be possible within minutes, but… there’s another problem.”

Aleon’s brow furrowed. Selene also widened her eyes.

“Duke Haren, judging the incident to be serious… requested support from the Central Control Tower of the Empire several hours ago.”

Silence fell between them. Walter continued while running his hand through his hair as if troubled.

“As a result, the Emperor personally granted Imperial Guards along with a movement formation…”

“…”

“Since it’s a matter concerning ancient monsters, he said he wants to observe the situation directly and requested a magical boundary connection with the Jurisdiction Forest of this area.”

It took several seconds to understand those words.

The heads of Aleon and Selene, who had been frozen stiff, slowly turned.

A tall tree in the nearby area.

Through the thick branches, a magic mirror surrounded by iron protective equipment was visible.

The magic mirror now had a vivid red light that hadn’t been there just moments before.

“So….”

Walter let out his final words as if the situation was complicated.

“As soon as Duke Haren’s party arrives, it seems the entire Empire will witness the situation here.”

Deep into the night, in the early dawn hours.

Under a strangely dark sky despite two moons being visible.

Bright lights were lit in the grand meeting room of the Imperial Palace.

“The, the magic mirror has been connected.”

When Imperial Mage Reckard spoke, the Emperor raised his head.

Across from him, around an oval table, dozens of imperial nobles were seated.

All of them had been hastily summoned from their deep sleep.

“Have we made contact with Duke Haren?”

The Emperor asked in a serious voice. The mage bowed his head deeply.

“Yes, we finished communication just moments ago. He said he will soon arrive at the area where the magical beasts appeared.”

At the word ‘magical beasts,’ the Emperor’s eyes darkened even further.

In the Erbia Empire, ordinary monsters were not called ‘magical beasts.’

That term was only applied to ancient monsters or powerful creatures from legends.

The nobles looked at the Emperor’s expression with bewildered faces.

‘Suddenly summoning everyone to the Imperial Palace at this hour, we wondered what was happening.’

Multiple groups of Dearmant had appeared in Duke Haren’s domain. It was quite a serious matter.

Count Kelio, the eldest among the nobles, spoke up.

“Your Majesty, dispatching the Imperial Guard was a very wise choice. To think magical beasts would threaten Rision, which will establish the Empire’s future.”

“Y-yes! We cannot allow those wicked monsters to harm Erbia’s budding talents.”

The Emperor nodded without reply.

He looked around at the faces of those present and soon spotted one person.

He spoke to Duke Laurent, Calypso Laurence.

“Calypso. You look pale. Is Lady Laurent also currently there taking the Rision entrance exam?”

Duke Laurent, who had been frozen with a flustered expression, bowed his head slightly.

“…I am honored, but yes, that is correct.”

His usually calm face was filled with deep worry. The Emperor spoke consolingly.

“Don’t worry too much. With Haren’s personal guard and my Imperial Guard, subduing monsters shouldn’t be difficult. Also, for reasons unknown, I heard Duke Aleon Tigris is there as well.”

Duke Laurent bowed his head deeply. However, he couldn’t shake off his growing anxiety.

‘…In this situation, I don’t even know where Estelin is.’

At least it was fortunate that the area where monsters appeared was the forest surrounding the Academy.

Since exams were usually held in the towers, the probability of Estelin encountering monsters was slim.

‘However, until the magic mirror connects, I can only burn with worry….’

The image of Eria sleeping peacefully, unaware of the world, flashed through his mind.

He had given countless instructions to the servants, worried the child might wake up from the commotion.

If Eria woke up, she would surely cause a fuss, demanding to go to her sister.

It was at the moment he was swallowing a rising sigh.

With a whooming sound, bright light rose above the oval table.

What was emitting the light was the transmission magic mirror that Mage Reckard had brought.

“Ooh—!! It seems we can see the situation in the Academy jurisdiction!”

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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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