I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 136

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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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“That, that wench is spouting what nonsense right now!!”

Cardinal Paul Henberg pointed at the magic mirror with a pale face.

Like the Imperial Palace, people had gathered in the temple’s great hall as well.

They were the two cardinals of the religious order and the high-ranking priests.

Cardinal Michael, who sat across from Paul, muttered.

“The Dearmants are saying they’re sacred beasts.”

“Exactly! What in the world is this—!!”

Paul Henberg shouted angrily with wide eyes. The other priests kept their mouths shut and watched the two cardinals’ reactions.

Meanwhile, Seleneae’s voice continued to flow from the magic mirror.

-Therefore, I hope Duke Haren, the lord of this territory, will arrange a place for official verification. Since there’s also Rishion’s entrance exam, it would be good if this could proceed as quickly as possible.

“Official verification! The moment we open a verification council for re-examination, the temple will become a laughingstock, how can she spout such nonsense!!!”

Veins bulged at Paul’s temples.

He roughly pointed at the magic mirror as if Lady Tigris were right there in front of him.

Michael said calmly.

“Calm down and listen.”

Paul closed his mouth and clenched his fists tightly. Seleneae’s voice continued from the magic mirror.

-If my claim turns out to be wrong, I said I would return all my assets to the temple. If official documentation is needed, I’m willing to comply with anything.

While Paul let out a sigh on one side, the other priests’ eyes were busy rolling.

Who was Seleneae Tigris? Wasn’t she the sole heir of the Tigris family?

The wealth possessed by the Tigris family was needless to say, enormous.

Moreover, Tigris’s well-trained elite soldiers were resources that couldn’t be bought even with countless gold.

‘But the Lady says she’ll give up the family inheritance and return all assets to the temple…’

If that happened, not only Tigris’s wealth and army, but even the Main Street of the District that the Lady owned separately would become the temple’s.

The High Priests swallowed their saliva.

‘…What was the value of the District’s Main Street these days?’

Main Street stretched long along the Medeus River that crossed in front of the Imperial Palace.

The hundreds of shops lined along the wide street were nothing less than the axis and gold mine of the Empire’s economy.

In the evenings, bright lanterns illuminated the riverside, and during festival seasons, fireworks burst in the sky.

How spectacular was the scene of those fireworks reflecting on the river water.

There probably wasn’t a more prosperous place than Main Street anywhere in the Empire, no, anywhere on the continent.

‘Moreover, thanks to the Tears of God, a water trade route to Duke Layard’s territory has opened.’

And that Duke Layard’s territory was none other than the region directly bordering the Tasen Kingdom.

Considering that the Tasen Kingdom has been actively engaging in commercial exchanges with the Erbia Empire recently…

The trade route through the river would soon connect to the Tasen Kingdom.

This meant that Main Street might become a central trade route, beyond just being a commercial district within the District.

‘Then the value will more than double within a few years.’

No, what’s double?

It could become three times, four times, no, even five times more!

The High Priests looked at each other and exchanged glances.

No matter how they calculated the gains and losses, the Lady’s proposal didn’t sound bad.

Then Cardinal Michael spoke up.

“I understand His Majesty is also watching this situation right now.”

Paul Henberg raised his gaze.

“We won’t be able to avoid the official verification the Lady has proposed. We must prepare for re-examination.”

“Listen here, Michael. Are you saying we should meekly comply with that arrogant wench’s words?”

Paul openly expressed his hostility toward Seleneae.

Whether it was the incident of the Lady taking the sacred relic, or the Central Temple construction being canceled due to Aleon Tigris.

For several years now, there had been many entangled affairs between the Tigris family and the temple.

However, unlike Paul, Michael showed no sign of agitation.

“Yes. I’m saying we must meekly comply with the Lady’s demands.”

“What in the world are you…!”

“Don’t you know, Your Eminence? That the Lady’s claim is currently being watched not only by us, but by everyone in the District.”

Paul’s brow furrowed completely. Michael was right.

The situation in Duke Haren’s territory was currently being broadcast through the control tower in the center of the District.

This meant that anyone with a magic mirror capable of receiving information could watch this situation.

The usually veiled landscape of the Academy Jurisdiction. The numerous ancient magical creatures that suddenly appeared there.

Even Duke Haren, who usually stayed secluded, had appeared, and even Sadina, who had massacred a noble family decades ago, was showing herself.

Probably even minor nobles who weren’t summoned to the Imperial Palace were watching the situation through magic mirrors in their mansions.

To others, this would certainly be an extremely interesting and entertaining spectacle.

Paul barely swallowed the sigh rising from within.

‘The religious order is again, again, becoming a laughingstock in that wench’s grasp.’

Just as he clenched his trembling fist.

Michael’s calm voice was heard.

“Of course, we can’t completely rule out the possibility that the religious order made a mistake.”

The priests’ gazes focused on him. Michael stroked the table with his index finger as if pondering something.

“It’s been quite a long time since the temple classified Dearmants as magical beasts. In the past, the technology for magical power verification was less advanced than now, so there might have been errors.”

Paul interjected with a face full of dissatisfaction.

“Listen here, Michael! That’s going too far! Those words sound like openly insulting the previous Pope and priests!”

“That’s not it. I’m saying that if there were mistakes, it’s right to correct them even now. Isn’t that the first virtue a priest should possess?”

Paul ground his teeth and glared at Michael’s face. However, Michael kept his gaze fixed only on the magic mirror.

Duke Haren’s voice came from within the magic mirror.

-…Fine. Regarding this matter, I’ll contact the District as soon as day breaks.

“In the end…!!”

Paul let out a sigh full of anger and grabbed his forehead.

“Because of that stupid wench, things have gotten this big again! What grudge does Lady Tigris have to constantly block the religious order’s path—!!”

As the priests held their breath, Michael stood up from his seat.

“I’ll be going in now. There seems to be much to prepare regarding the official verification ahead.”

Paul didn’t answer.

Michael bowed his head lightly, then turned around and opened the door of the great hall to leave.

One High Priest cautiously stepped forward.

“Your, Your Eminence. Please don’t be too disheartened. If the Lady’s assets are returned to the temple, wouldn’t that be good for us?”

Another High Priest quickly chimed in.

“That’s right. Just the wealth of the Tigris family alone is how much? And on top of that, even Main Street becomes our religious order’s…”

Everyone nodded with excited faces.

‘After all, there’s no way Dearmants are really sacred beasts.’

The temple’s restricted library was overflowing with evidence that Dearmants were magical beasts. So surely the Lady must be mistaken about something.

“Don’t worry, Your Eminence! Temporarily the temple may be suspected of making false proclamations, but our honor will be restored quickly.”

“That’s right! When this opportunity confirms that Dearmants are magical beasts, it’s obvious how flustered Duke Tigris, who was a thorn in our side, will be…”

“…Vermin-like creatures.”

The priests closed their mouths.

Paul Henberg held his forehead with one hand while tilting his head sideways to glare at them.

Cold contempt was vivid in his bloodshot eyes.

“Do you know?”

“Wh, what…”

“That you are truly stupid.”

Several High Priests closed their mouths with flustered faces. Paul continued speaking.

“If things were that simple, what would I have to be so furious about!”

He clicked his tongue in disgust and rose from his seat.

Then he followed Michael and opened the door of the great hall to leave.

The High Priests stiffly froze and looked at each other.

“The monsters have been confirmed to be docile, so the connection has been severed.”

Duke Haren’s adjutant Ray approached and spoke. Sadina nodded despite being flustered.

Then she raised her gaze to look at the magic mirror hanging on the tall tree.

The red light that had been inside the magic mirror was gone.

It meant it was no longer recording the situation here.

‘What we installed to conduct the test safely ended up being broadcast to the entire Empire.’

And the reason was because of the appearance of the Dearmant horde.

She turned her head with a bewildered expression.

Selene was still standing in the opposite camp where monsters were swarming.

Due to the strange atmosphere she was giving off, no one dared to tell Selene to come over to this side.

“Are you crazy—?! Let go of this!”

Suddenly a sharp voice came from behind. Everyone including Sadina turned their gaze in surprise.

From the forest beyond, near the towers, three shadowy figures could be faintly seen approaching.

“Let go of this! Right now!!”

Sadina’s eyebrow raised as she confirmed the face of the person screaming.

The owner of the voice was Anita Solb.

However, Sadina’s gaze soon moved to the other two girls holding Anita Solb’s arms.

“Kione’s daughter?”

“That child… isn’t she the one who used telekinesis.”

Sadina and Duke Haren muttered simultaneously.

While they tilted their heads in confusion, the two girls who had gotten closer pushed Anita forward.

Anita collapsed to the ground with a thud, and Sadina unconsciously looked back at Aleon and Selene.

Aleon had an utterly unreadable expression, and Selene’s eyes were wide with surprise.

“Are you crazy?! What is this all of a sudden…!”

Anita, who had been sitting on the ground screaming, suddenly froze.

Her eyes were directed precisely at Selene, who was standing directly across from her.

“What… what…”

Anita suddenly stammered as if her tongue had gone numb. Her complexion had long since turned pale.

Estelin, the very person who had brought her, opened her mouth.

“Miss Anita.”

“…”

Anita raised her gaze with a completely flustered expression.

“You have something to return to Selene, don’t you.”

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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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