I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 146

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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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Manifesters needed mana to manifest their abilities.

If abilities were trains, then mana was like the fuel that went into those trains.

Most mana had similar properties, but a few chosen manifesters were born with mana of particularly special qualities.

And the Empire defined this as ‘divine power.’

There were quite a few manifesters who manifested abilities using divine power.

Representatives included temple priests and people like Estelin.

The divine power they possessed was very pure and clean, unlike ordinary mana.

It basically had healing effects and could be freely injected into others.

It was different from mana, which caused side effects like pain, hallucinations, or brainwashing if carelessly injected.

This was precisely why Estelin could share her divine power with people who had collapsed from mana depletion.

“So, you’re asking if I can infuse my mana… no, divine power into the relic as well?”

Estelin asked with a bewildered expression. I nodded.

“Yes, just like when you do it to people!”

Estelin made a “Hmm…” sound while looking at the relic placed on the table. Then she cautiously replied.

“Since it’s Selene’s request, of course I can try. But I’ve never tried infusing divine power into objects before…”

“It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work well. We’re just trying it for now.”

As I answered that way, the door opened with a short knock. It was Rosette who had been in the next room.

“What’s this? What’s going on?”

Rosette approached the table. Then she saw the relic I had taken out and her eyes widened.

“What is it? Is there another problem…”

“Rose. I think I found a way.”

When I spoke in an excited voice, Rosette looked at me.

“A way?”

“Yeah. A way to communicate with the relic again.”

Rosette’s pupils grew large. I quickly looked between Estelin and her as I continued.

“According to Adam, the sealed soul, I’m the only one who can use the relic’s power.”

“Right. That’s what he said.”

“That means the relic is connected to me somehow, doesn’t it? Even though the communication isn’t very stable.”

Rosette narrowed her eyes.

“Well, probably so?”

I nodded and took a deep breath. Then I began my story.

“Actually, there was a time before when communication with the relic was completely cut off. Just like now. It seems that relics, like ordinary manifesters, have their power depleted when overused.”

“You’re saying relics also experience mana depletion?”

“Yeah. When I borrowed Adam’s eyes before, and when I almost died to the assassin at the Estate. Both times communication was cut off due to mana depletion.”

I swallowed and whispered softly.

“But that night when I lost the relic in the forest, I saw ancient memories, remember?”

“…”

“The feeling was incredibly similar to when I borrowed Adam’s eyes before.”

Rosette looked at me with slightly widened eyes. I continued speaking.

“I wasn’t directly holding the relic at that time, but if there’s some connection between the relic and me.”

“…”

“Maybe seeing those ancient memories was me using the relic’s mana. That’s why Adam and Amon disappeared.”

Estelin slightly opened her mouth in surprise.

“There’s more. As far as I know, Adam and Amon had restrictions too.”

“Restrictions?”

“Right. Those two have been intentionally hiding ancient matters from me all this time.”

Adam and Amon had never once mentioned Fluma’s existence.

I had only heard them refer to someone as ‘The Man’ or ‘noble soul’ a few times.

Moreover, when I asked who that was, they would change the subject and never tell me.

Rosette frowned and nodded.

“…Right. Now that I think about it, that’s strange. Fluma’s relic has no reason to hide Fluma’s existence.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. If they had told me about Fluma’s existence, the Dearmant incident would have been resolved much more easily.”

Estelin muttered.

“Then perhaps…”

“That’s right. They didn’t choose not to mention Fluma’s existence—they were in a situation where they couldn’t.”

If that weren’t the case, they would have revealed their identity to me long ago.

That they weren’t followers of Frater, but those who served Fluma.

To begin with, Frater was nothing less than an enemy to those two. Wasn’t he the one who killed their master?

Yet they let me misunderstand them as ‘disciples of Frater.’

“There must have been restrictions preventing them from mentioning ancient matters or Fluma’s existence.”

Everyone wore serious expressions. Then Rosette quietly replied.

“But that day you glimpsed ancient memories.”

Estelin flinched and muttered.

“Then…”

“Right. That day I heard the name ‘Fluma’ while glimpsing the ancient past, and I think that broke the restrictions.”

“In that process, the relic’s mana was tremendously consumed…”

“Adam and Amon would have experienced mana depletion. Just like they had several times before.”

Rosette nodded.

“Right. Then it’s not completely strange that those two aren’t showing themselves.”

Then she said calmly.

“Then indeed, we might be able to call them back by having Estelin infuse divine power into the relic.”

Estelin looked down at the relic as if she understood. Then she muttered in a tense voice.

“Then let me try it right away.”

She picked up the relic. And slowly placed one hand over the relic.

“…!”

Soon, white, fluffy light began gathering beneath Estelin’s palm.

Rosette and I swallowed as we watched the scene.

The divine power Estelin emitted remained bright for quite a while.

The jewel embedded in the relic reflected that light and sparkled brilliantly.

But even after several seconds passed, and even after a long time, there was no particular change in the relic.

As the waiting time grew longer, the divine power emanating from Estelin’s hand gradually faded.

The strength also drained from my tightly clenched fist.

A sigh escaped.

“…It doesn’t seem to be working. I had hoped…”

And it was when I raised my gaze with a regretful expression.

“…Estelin?”

Something was strange about Estelin sitting across from me.

The same was true for Rosette beside her.

They weren’t looking at the relic. They were just looking at me with blank eyes and half-open mouths.

I widened my eyes, then asked bewilderedly.

“What? Why are you both like that? Is there something on my face?”

No answer came back.

Then, the divine power emanating from Estelin’s hand completely stopped.

The relic hanging from her fingertips slipped down and fell onto the table with a thud.

As I tilted my head, Rosette spoke in a crawling voice.

“…Selene.”

“Yeah?”

“What you mentioned, could it be…”

Rosette raised one arm like a robot. And pointed somewhere with her creaking index finger.

“…Could that be it?”

“What?”

My frozen eyes gradually grew wider.

I urgently turned my head. Immediately, something at the back of the room came into view.

“…Adam?!”

What appeared at the back of the room was unmistakably Adam.

Behind him, I could also see Amon, his face pale white as he stared at his own palm.

I shot up from my seat.

“Even Amon! As expected, both of them…!”

But Adam and Amon didn’t respond.

They were simply staring at their palms with wide eyes, turning them this way and that.

As I watched them in a daze, Amon’s voice could be heard.

“I can’t believe it.”

Adam also let out a hollow laugh.

“We’re now manifesting…”

I looked back at Rosette and Estelin.

‘…Manifesting, surely not.’

And I asked.

“Don’t tell me, you two can see them too?”

Rosette nodded her head.

Estelin opened and closed her mouth, whispering softly.

“I can… see them.”

Then the next moment, with a thud, she collapsed to the floor.

“I’m fine, Selene. I’m really okay…”

Estelin, lying down with a pale face, gave an embarrassed smile.

I let out a deep sigh.

“No, I asked you to just put in a little bit. Who told you to drain your divine power completely…”

“This girl Estelin is hopeless, hopeless! It’s not just Selene who should be scolded. You’re a problem too!”

Rosette clutched her forehead as if dying of frustration.

Across the bed, Amon, who was standing with a somewhat excited expression, tilted his head sideways.

“Still, thanks to this woman, we get to fully manifest. I don’t know how long it’ll last, but it’s been so long.”

“Amon. The child’s friend has fallen ill, hasn’t she? In this situation, it would be better to keep your mouth shut quietly.”

But even Adam, who said this, had his lips loosely relaxed in a similar state.

I shook my head and sighed. Estelin said awkwardly.

“If I just lie down for a bit, I’ll be fine. I recover from this kind of thing quickly. Haha…”

“Really?! How nice for you to have overflowing divine power! It’s also convenient to die young from using it so recklessly!”

Rosette, who shouted as if incredulous, plopped down in a chair.

Then she suddenly glared at the opposite side.

“You two are the same. Once you’ve received enough, you should know when to stop. How much were you planning to drain? Were you trying to watch the kid die?”

I was somewhat impressed inwardly.

But sure enough, Amon frowned deeply and glared at Rosette sideways.

“How insolent. Anyone would think we begged for magical power.”

Rosette pursed her lips.

“…Hmph. If it weren’t for Estelin, you’d be nothing but ghosts trapped in relics.”

Amon’s eyes widened. Estelin looked back at Rosette with a pale face.

Amon stammered in disbelief.

“That, that, that human…”

Then Rosette suddenly raised her head and looked directly at him.

“Since we’re on the topic. You said you’ve been waiting for Selene all this time. What were you doing that day when you couldn’t properly protect one child?”

Amon closed his mouth with a stunned expression. Rosette also glared at Adam beside him with sharp eyes.

“When Anita tried to steal the relic, you should have stopped her somehow. With all those amazing abilities you supposedly have, were you sleeping that day? Isn’t this dereliction of duty?”

Now even Adam’s eyes grew round.

Amon pointed at Rosette incredulously and stammered to me.

“Right, right now your friend dares to speak to me…”

But I didn’t restrain Rosette. I simply quietly averted my gaze.

And muttered softly.

“Well done, Rosette.”

Adam and Amon’s mouths fell open.

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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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