I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 153

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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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Selene’s group moved with unbelievable systematic precision.

Janet quickly figured out where the artifact’s core was located.

“Ah, it’s at the very top of the artifact’s head. There should be a golden orb there!”

“Then it would be best to attack from above! If we can’t finish it in one strike, there will be a counterattack, so everyone be careful!”

She was supposed to be timid and weak-hearted in everything. Yet Estelin’s voice was only loud and clear.

From the opposite side, Verain, who had been drawing the artifact’s attention, shouted in understanding.

“Good. But I don’t think I can maintain the clone for long… We need to do it now!”

At the same time, the artifact moved its massive body. A spine-chilling sound echoed through the examination hall.

Anita stood frozen, watching the scene in a daze. The other group members were the same.

“If I could just get close enough, I could try attacking from above, but approaching is difficult!”

Martina sighed. Rosette hesitantly stepped forward.

“I, I think I might be able to create a path up to a certain distance…!”

“Then try it, it’s a gamble anyway!”

Rosette looked flustered for a moment, but quickly nodded.

“Got it!”

Soon thick vines and branches began breaking through the examination hall floor.

The vines intertwined and tangled with each other, growing thicker. And they stretched forward as if creating a path toward the artifact.

Of course, the supreme-level artifact didn’t allow the vegetation Rosette created to approach it.

Crash—!

When a blinding light beam flew from the artifact, the stems that had been stretching forward relentlessly were severed.

“I can’t do any more than this!”

“Th, then what do we do?”

Then Estelin spoke in a half-doubting voice.

“From that end, what if Selene lifts Martina up high?!”

“Lifts her up?”

“Yes! Selene can also control wind, right?!”

Rosette’s eyes widened. Selene froze for a moment but immediately nodded.

“Right. I think it could work! I’ll try it.”

What happened next occurred in an instant.

As soon as Selene finished speaking, Martina leaped without hesitation.

And she climbed up onto the stems Rosette had created and began running toward the artifact.

The artifact, sensing an enemy, made a clicking sound as it turned its head section.

The sight of a dragon-shaped figure made of scrap metal moving only its head was rather grotesque.

But Martina wasn’t afraid at all.

Her running speed grew faster and faster. A blue barrier rippled around Martina’s body. It was Selene’s ability.

“Be careful, Martina!”

On the opposite side of Martina, a bright light source gathered at the center of the artifact’s head.

The light source that quickly grew in size was soon fired with a tremendous explosion.

“Martina! Watch out…!”

But Martina’s body, which had leaped into the air, avoided the light beam in a graceful curve.

It was a very long jump.

If it had been anyone else, they would have crashed to the ground long ago,

but Martina remained airborne, rapidly approaching the artifact.

This was because upward-flowing air was circulating around her with very strong intensity.

“Selene! My goodness!!”

It was the moment Estelin looked at Selene with a surprised face and shouted.

Grooooooong—

The artifact, having failed to shoot down its target, gathered magical power again.

And it tried to aim at its target, but,

Click—

The head section with the sensor hesitated and then stopped in place.

And like a broken machine, it spun around uselessly in place.

The target that had been right in front of it just moments ago, Martina, had vanished without a trace.

Click- Clickclick-

Just as the artifact made strange sounds and froze.

Crash—!!!

Suddenly, a tremendous roar filled the examination hall.

Black, murky smoke rose from the artifact. Then, from beyond the obscured view, came the sound of something crackling and breaking.

“Did, did we get it?”

“Don’t say that, Janet! Don’t you know that kind of talk is a bad omen?”

Janet’s surprised voice and Verain’s scolding sound echoed softly through the examination hall. At that moment,

Ding—

A notification sound rang from the ceiling.

Everyone looked up. New text was updated and blinking on the ceiling.

3rd Division Group 2 (Seleneae Tigris) – 3700 points

The original 2700 points, with an additional 1000 points added.

“…Martina?”

Rosette’s mouth hung open. Something burst out from the smoke.

It was Martina, covered in soot but smiling brightly.

“Janet was right! The core was exactly at the top of the head!”

In her hand was a half-disassembled golden orb.

The orb soon completely disassembled and scattered into the air.

The notification sound rang once more.

Beep—

【00:00】

The numbers on the ceiling indicating the time limit had stopped.

The exam was over.

The prospective students who had finished their exam gathered in the open field on the first floor of the tower. It was to wait until the other groups finished their exams.

Hanod stood alone, a little apart from the others.

Then, someone secretly approached him.

“…This way.”

Hanod naturally, but quietly, got up.

The other person was an administrator wearing a uniform with the Academy’s emblem.

He walked quickly around the corner of the tower. Hanod secretly followed behind.

After passing through a narrow path surrounded by bushes, stone stairs leading underground appeared beneath a low tower that seemed unused.

The administrator glanced back at Hanod and disappeared down the stairs.

Hanod confirmed once more that no one was around before following.

The stairs were long.

The deeper he went, the more humid the air became, and a musty smell stung his nose.

Hanod casually brushed away the spider webs that caught on his skin and quickened his pace.

After a long while. The moment he finally set foot on the basement floor.

“Your Highness!”

Someone who had been sitting inside suddenly stood up. Hanod calmly turned his head.

Someone was standing in the middle of the dark basement.

The man dressed as an administrator who had guided Hanod here bowed respectfully and stood against the wall.

“Please speak comfortably.”

Hanod slowly looked around his surroundings.

Several candles flickered on the walls, and in front of him he could see an old table and two chairs.

He slowly walked inside. Then he sat down in one of the two chairs that were placed there.

The person across from him quickly followed suit and took a seat. As soon as he did, Hanod asked.

“What happened with Marquis Solb?”

At the main topic that began without formal greetings, his counterpart briefly held his breath. However, he soon answered with a grave voice.

“Since the last report, we confirmed he made contact with Joseph two more times. I don’t know if he was Joseph’s spy from the beginning, or if he recently turned traitor.”

Hanod maintained an expressionless face. However, he couldn’t help but clench his fists.

“…It’s been 16 years since I’ve had Marquis Solb by my side.”

When he was three years old, Duke Bin Solb entered Sorad Palace as a royal tutor.

And he began teaching him and his older brother exclusively.

He had known Anita, who was the marquis’s granddaughter, since he was five years old.

Though their status and nationality were different, Hanod accepted Anita as a close friend.

That’s how much he trusted Duke Bin Solb.

“When my brother passed away, I saw with my own two eyes how Marquis Solb tore his clothes and clawed at his chest while wailing.”

“Your Highness…”

Roen across from him let out a sorrowful groan.

He was a member of Sorad’s secret intelligence organization, the Cheonhwa unit.

“What did His Majesty say?”

However, at the following question, Roen regained his composure.

“He commanded Your Highness to preserve yourself in Rishion. He said that although Joseph’s forces have grown considerably recently, you can still handle it…”

“Roen. Uncle would not hesitate to point his sword at His Majesty if necessary.”

“…”

“His Majesty has already lost most of his hands and feet. How many people don’t know that it’s uncle’s doing?”

“…Your Highness.”

“From the moment Father passed away, we should consider that any means to check uncle completely disappeared. We even lost my brother recently. But if I’m also in Erbia in this situation…”

Hanod held his forehead as his words trailed off. Roen spoke with a resolute voice.

“Your Highness. His Majesty wants to abdicate the kingdom to you, not to Joseph.”

Hanod raised his head.

“He said he regrets not dealing with Joseph beforehand. If he had known Joseph was so cruel, he would have passed the throne to the First Prince early on.”

Shadows flickered on the table. Hanod, who had been frowning, let out what sounded like a sigh.

“…But isn’t it already too late?”

That was the reality he currently faced.

The power of his uncle Joseph, the Second Prince, had already grown too large.

His father, who was the First Prince and heir to the throne, had lost his life at Joseph’s hands.

There was no evidence, but no one was unaware that it was uncle Joseph’s doing.

In the midst of all this, he had recently lost even his brother, who was the First Prince’s son.

Joseph must have had a hand in that as well.

As if reading Hanod’s mind, Roen opened his mouth.

“Your Highness. Who doesn’t know that everything is Joseph’s doing? That’s why Your Highness must preserve yourself even more!”

Roen rose from his seat with flickering eyes. Then he knelt on one knee on the floor in a disciplined posture.

“Although Joseph’s power grows day by day, he won’t be able to extend his reach to Erbia.”

“…Roen.”

“Moreover, isn’t this place, Rishion, a closed-off place even within the Erbia Empire? It’s a prestigious institution, so there’s sufficient justification for Your Highness to be here. There’s no place as safe as this right now!”

Hanod let out a groan. His heart felt heavy.

“Then what about Anita Solb?”

At those words, Roen flinched and raised his head.

“Duke Bin Solb is a traitor. Then his granddaughter Anita Solb must be no different. In this situation, what will we do about Anita Solb?”

Roen’s eyes trembled. However, he soon answered with a calm voice.

“If you give me time for that…”

Hanod clutched his throbbing head.

‘I need information about Duke Bin Solb, and furthermore, the entire Solb Ducal House.’

Only then could he confirm whether Anita knew about this situation, and whether she too was a traitor.

‘How on earth should I…’

It was the moment when his throat tensed with a rising sigh.

“Do you need information about the Solb Ducal House?”

A calm voice rang out from right behind him.

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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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