I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 145

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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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I couldn’t remember exactly what I had said or how much I had told them.

First of all, my exhausted body had no strength left, and my mind was hazy.

However, one thing was certain – I had explained to the two of them for a very long time.

About everything that had happened to me, except for the fact that I was a being who had possessed this body.

They both seemed quite shocked at first.

But they calmly listened to my story until the end.

And then Estelin asked.

“So right now, those souls aren’t responding?”

“That’s right.”

Rosette looked at the sacred object I had placed on the table with a complicated expression.

Then she stared intently at the two gems embedded in the pendant and asked.

“So according to what you’re saying, there’s one more of those jewels or whatever? You need to find that for the third soul to appear.”

“Yeah. I’ve heard Adam call it ‘sister’ before. I don’t know where it is yet though…”

Estelin interjected with a calm voice.

“Then there’s one thing that’s certain for now. These sacred objects weren’t from the Frater cult.”

Rosette nodded her head.

“Right. They must be connected to that god called Fluma or whatever, who Frater supposedly eliminated.”

And then she added as if amazed.

“The Frater cult is impressive too. To have hidden something so incredible all this time. But more than that…”

She stared directly at me.

“Why exactly do Fluma’s sacred objects respond to you? What connection do you have with Fluma?”

“Connection?”

Rosette nodded.

“The souls sealed in the sacred objects said they had been waiting for you. Also, that only you could borrow their abilities.”

“That’s right. They did say that.”

“Then there must be something special about you. Something related to Fluma.”

I closed my mouth. Rosette was right.

But…

“A connection between Fluma and me?”

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure it out.

In the first place, I had only heard the name Fluma for the first time after encountering the Dearmants this time.

Also… I’m not even from this world to begin with.

No. Maybe that’s exactly why?

After pondering, I muttered quietly.

“I don’t know. I don’t think there’s any particular connection…”

“Think carefully. There must be something. Maybe one of your ancestors served Fluma, or something like that?”

I shook my head.

“…I’ve never heard anything like that.”

Rosette frowned and made a “hmm” sound. Estelin spoke.

“Finding the connection can be done slowly, but the immediate problem is that.”

“What?”

“It was Seleneae who revealed that the Dearmant was Sungsu this time. Despite the temple trying so hard to hide it.”

Her light brown eyes shone calmly.

“Although Fluma wasn’t mentioned directly, we’ve reached a situation where that existence might be revealed to the world.”

Rosette nodded.

“You’re right. The Frater cult won’t just sit still.”

Silence settled around us. As I blinked wordlessly, Rosette looked at me.

“Seleneae. Let’s first find a way to communicate with the sacred objects again. Having no abilities to use in the current situation is too dangerous.”

I widened my eyes for a moment and froze. Then I nodded somewhat bewildered.

‘The feeling is… different.’

Yes. Something was different.

Definitely different from when I was wracking my brain alone.

I stared intently at Rosette and Estelin, who continued their serious conversation about me for a while longer.

To the prospective students of Rision Academy.

We hereby announce the resumption of entrance examinations that were postponed due to the recent Dearmant incident as follows.

Date: Three days from now

Location: Underground of the Tower of Wisdom

Assignment: To be announced separately later

Format: Maintaining the existing 6-person team format

Changes to existing team members are not permitted, and teams with insufficient members will proceed with current students added to fill the quota.

No inquiries regarding this matter will be entertained.

-Professor Sadina

A large notice was posted in the dormitory where the prospective students were staying.

Students gathered around the notice board, chattering among themselves.

“What? The exam is still being conducted in teams this time too.”

“Let’s see, the location is…”

Among them were Anita Solb and her team members as well.

However, the atmosphere was cold, unlike before.

“…Team changes are difficult.”

Lark muttered to himself. Naila kept glancing at Anita with an uncomfortable expression.

Chepri, Hanod, and Joseph had indifferent faces.

“Seeing that it’s being held underground in the Tower of Wisdom, it looks like we might get a more manageable assignment this time.”

Hanod nodded at Chepri’s words.

Anita looked at the notice silently, then turned her gaze toward Seleneae Tigris and her team members who were standing at a distance.

“Look at this. They’re adding current students to teams with insufficient members?”

Rosette Grimaldi was shouting in an excited voice.

Then the other team members each looked at the notice board.

“That’s a relief! I was worried we might be at a disadvantage with one fewer team member. Will the assignment be difficult this time too?”

“Whatever it is, could it be harder than retrieving cores from Dearmants?”

Unlike Anita’s team, Seleneae’s team had a harmonious atmosphere.

Anita clenched her fists tightly under her clothes.

She had already heard about the exam assignment from her second brother who worked at the Academy last night.

‘I’m strong, and we have Hanod too, so we can do well. We’ll have the advantage, for sure.’

Since the passing line was determined by scores, if they did well, they might be able to completely eliminate that empty shell.

She glared at Seleneae with eyes burning with competitive spirit.

‘Just wait and see. This time for sure…’

She wanted to show that she could win without any underhanded schemes like stealing sacred objects or exposing weaknesses.

And she wanted to prove it to everyone.

To the students gathered here, to Hanod, and to the family members who had looked down on her.

“I’d like you to look into what kind of positions Anita’s brothers hold in the Imperial Palace.”

At my words, a brief silence followed from beyond the communication stone.

But soon a calm voice was heard.

[As far as I know, the first prince of House Solb is in the knight order, and the third prince is in the palace administration. I think I’ll need to contact Oscar for detailed information.]

“I see. By any chance, has no heir to inherit the Solb marquessate been decided yet?”

[Yes. The young marquess has not been determined. However, according to recently gathered information, there seems to be a different problem rather than that.]

“A different problem?”

Walter answered seriously.

[I don’t know the detailed circumstances of this either. However, it’s said that the current marquis is buried under a mountain of debt for some reason.]

“A mountain of debt? You mean he has financial obligations?”

[Yes. Perhaps because of this, there are widespread rumors among the servants that the marquis is trying by any means to arrange a marriage between his youngest daughter, Anita Solb, and Prince Sorad.]

I frowned. Then I muttered quietly.

“…If the royal marriage is arranged, wealth will flow between the royal family and House of Solb. Is he trying to pay off his debts with that?”

[Exactly.]

A short, hollow laugh escaped me.

“No wonder she seemed so obsessed with Hanod.”

[Perhaps there was pressure from within the family because of such matters.]

I nodded.

I hadn’t thought that internal family problems might be behind Anita’s reluctance to leave Hanod’s side.

‘Since they were childhood friends, I just thought it was ordinary unrequited love.’

After pondering, I spoke quietly into the communication stone.

“I understand for now. Oscar will look into the affairs within the Imperial Palace, so that’s settled. How are things progressing with the temple?”

[There’s no particular movement. Currently, we’ve withdrawn all the spies we had placed in the temple.]

After the incident between me and the temple, Duke Tigris had planted spies in the temple.

However, not long after, as the temple’s authority waned, most of the businesses the order had undertaken were scaled back.

As a result, their workforce decreased, and naturally most of the spies we had planted were also dismissed.

Perhaps sensing my thoughts, Walter quickly added.

[We plan to look for other connections that can monitor the temple’s activities soon. Please wait just a little longer until then.]

“Take your time, it’s fine.”

I could hear Walter chuckling softly. I deliberately maintained silence for a few seconds before adding.

[Um, Duke… no, how is Father doing?]

The other end of the communication stone went quiet for a moment. Walter remained silent for a while before answering.

[Yes. He’s eating well and sleeping well too.]

I noticed that Walter’s voice was brighter than necessary, but I pretended not to know.

“…Yes. I’ll rush over as soon as the entrance exam is finished. Let’s discuss the remaining matters then.”

[Understood. Please always take care of yourself as well, Miss.]

The communication ended.

I placed the communication stone on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed with a calm expression.

“I looked into it just in case. It really wasn’t just a simple story of being blinded by love.”

I thought Anita might be hiding something more.

‘It was strange from the beginning.’

No matter how blinded by jealousy or competitive spirit, Anita’s actions had been excessively extreme.

“…What a mess this all is.”

I frowned and fidgeted with the sacred relic hanging around my neck. Suddenly, worry washed over me.

I still couldn’t communicate with Adam and Amon.

With the exam approaching tomorrow, not having any abilities I could use was a huge burden.

Moreover…

‘Rosette was definitely right.’

As she said, I was currently in quite a dangerous situation.

This incident of revealing Dearmant’s identity was different from what I had been doing against the temple so far.

It was even more so because it involved a massive secret that could potentially bring down the Fratrer Church – the existence of an ancient being called Fluma.

I carefully took out the pendant hanging around my neck. Then I quietly stared at the two gems embedded within it.

‘This has never happened before. Why on earth…’

Then I paused, sensing something strange.

“…No.”

Come to think of it, this wasn’t the first time this had happened.

When I went to Plau to find Rubel.

‘Lending my eyes to the child is very taxing for me too. It requires stamina that’s different from ordinary abilities.’

After borrowing Adam’s eyes, I couldn’t communicate with him for a while.

Also, when I was running away from the assassin sent by Meg Cline, hadn’t Adam’s abilities been depleted and communication cut off?

I stood up from my spot in a daze.

“Could it be…”

Then I hurriedly opened the door and went outside. I headed straight to Estelin’s door.

And I began knocking on the door without hesitation.

“Estelin, Estelin? Are you inside?”

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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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