I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 169

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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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[Do I just need to find out what the curse is?]

Adam, who had hurriedly come out of the drawing room, asked in a bright voice.

I looked around and then asked in a lowered voice.

“Can you do something like that?”

[Of course. I can do it easily.]

“How?”

Adam’s lips curved into an arc as they twisted upward.

[Through these eyes.]

I looked up at Adam with a blank expression.

“Eyes?”

[Yes, you seem to have forgotten. My eyes are very special, aren’t they.]

My mouth slowly fell open. Only then did I remember the fact that Adam had once lent me his eyes.

“Come to think of it, back then, in Plau…!”

[Haha, it seems you finally remember everything.]

When I was looking for Rubel in the Cursed Land.

I had borrowed Adam’s eyes to figure out where Rubel was.

‘Did I borrow them for about 10 seconds?’

After that, Adam’s magical power was completely depleted, so I couldn’t borrow Adam’s power for several days.

That’s why I had never borrowed Adam’s eyes since then.

I had judged that being unable to use his power in exchange for borrowing his eyes for just a few seconds was more harmful than beneficial.

But…

“I didn’t know Adam’s eyes could see through curses too. I thought they could only share vision.”

[For me, seeing the essence of a curse is as easy as blinking an eye. However…]

Adam, who had been speaking, smiled awkwardly and trailed off.

[Right now, since I’m bound…]

I nodded as if I understood.

“It seems like it takes a lot of power to see the essence of a curse?”

[Yes. After I tell you about the curse, I probably won’t be able to show myself for a long time.]

Adam, who smiled awkwardly, grumbled with a very disappointed expression.

[At some point, I’ve been feeling particularly lacking in power. Do you have any idea why that might be?]

I pondered and then remembered something and raised my head.

“Like taking the entrance exam, and I’ve conducted mana handling training several times in Rishion.”

[You did, didn’t you?]

“Maybe it’s because I used Adam and Amon’s power each time?”

Adam’s eyes widened and he muttered quietly.

[Yes, come to think of it, that could be it. If that’s the case, then it’s a relief.]

“A relief?”

Adam hesitated for a long time about whether to say something or not. Then he carefully opened his mouth.

[Actually, ever since you met Kerus, something seems to have changed about you.]

“Changed? Me?”

[Didn’t you feel it at all?]

I closed my mouth and stared at Adam. No matter how much I thought about it, nothing had particularly changed.

“Well. I don’t think anything has changed in particular…”

Then I paused.

“Come to think of it, I don’t have nightmares anymore!”

Adam tilted his head.

[Nightmares?]

“Yes! I used to have terrible dreams all the time. At least twice a week for sure…”

I added, leaving Adam who seemed to be thinking deeply for a moment.

“But I don’t have them lately, since I met Kerus. Come to think of it, that’s strange, why…?”

When I frowned, Adam blinked and watched me like that.

I eventually shook my head vigorously.

“Anyway. This isn’t what’s important right now.”

And I looked straight at Adam.

“In any case, it means Adam can see the essence of the curse if he has enough magical power, right?”

[Yes. If I have the power, it’s definitely possible.]

I took off the pendant I was wearing around my neck with a determined expression and gripped it tightly in one hand.

“I understand. Then…”

And then I walked back into the drawing room where Michael, Estelin, and Rosette were.

“So, this pendant has gems from two relics embedded in it, and Lady can see the souls contained within them. You can even have conversations with them.”

Michael accepted the secret about the relics more calmly than expected. I asked composedly.

“Don’t you have any more questions? Even though you came here prepared to betray the temple, I’m surprised you’re so nonchalant about it.”

“The legend that the Fratres sealed his disciples in three relics to live forever is famous.”

Michael answered with even a faint smile. And he muttered as if it were interesting.

“But I never knew you could communicate with the souls contained within.”

Michael, who had been lost in deep thought for a moment, spoke.

“I have a method that comes to mind.”

“What method?”

“If we can grasp the essence of the curse, it shouldn’t matter who does the purification. As long as they have sufficient divine power.”

“Then it seems like having Your Eminence or Estelin take charge would be the best method.”

Michael shook his head.

“I think Lady should take charge of that task directly.”

I tilted my head.

“Me?”

“Lady, you once submitted Pinchels, which are Sacred Sprites, to the thanksgiving festival. Thanks to that, everyone who came to watch the charity event that year received God’s blessing.”

“…”

“That’s not all. Recently, you even revealed that the Diermants of Rishion are not magical beasts.”

Michael’s green eyes sparkled.

“Since I was a member of the temple, I know. Cardinal Paul and the Church Order mostly consider Lady a thorn in their side.”

“…As expected, right?”

I had already anticipated long ago that the temple would dislike me.

But having that fact confirmed from Cardinal Michael’s mouth didn’t make me feel entirely comfortable.

“I can’t guarantee it, but the temple is a group that will do anything to eliminate political enemies. Just look at how they disguised Diermants as magical beasts. Even I was filled with grief while examining the ancient documents.”

Michael’s expression became complicated.

He raised his gaze and looked directly at me, Rosette, and Estelin in turn.

“You said you can store sacred power in the relic you possess.”

“…Yes.”

“I will share my sacred power with you. Enough so that it won’t be insufficient to grasp the essence of the curse.”

“…”

“Lady, please use that sacred power to purify the Emperor directly. In front of everyone.”

My pupils gradually grew larger.

“Then I will go straight to His Holiness the Pope and officially propose that Lady be given the title of Saint.”

I, who had been blinking, asked in a flustered voice.

“I understand what you intend by saying this. If I become a Saint, at least Cardinal Paul and the Church Order won’t be able to attack me recklessly.”

“…”

“But I’m ultimately purifying the Emperor through the relic, borrowing Your Eminence’s divine power, aren’t I? That’s not my inherent power. If it’s discovered, things might get even worse…”

“That’s not the case. No matter whose it was originally, the power that comes through the relic is definitely Lady’s.”

“What?”

Michael reached his hand toward the relic on the table.

Blue light seeped from his hands and flowed into the relic.

“I have just channeled my divine power into the relic.”

The relic that absorbed Michael’s divine power glowed softly, then began emitting an intense white light.

“Look. The power now flowing back out through the relic is no longer mine.”

Rosette, who had been watching, murmured.

“Really… the color is mysteriously different.”

“That’s right. When you first showed me the relic, Lady, I felt something strange and tried injecting a bit of sacred power. And I realized.”

Michael picked up the relic and held it out toward me.

I accepted the relic with a confused expression.

“My talk about proposing to grant you the title of saint is somewhat sincere. By my standards, you are indeed a saint, Lady.”

“…What?”

“You can resonate with relics and see and hear the souls contained within them. And one more thing.”

“…”

“Any power that passes through a relic becomes your own power, one that responds only to you, Lady. As you can see.”

Michael pointed to the pendant that was still emitting white light.

He looked at me with eyes full of conviction somewhere. Then he spoke again.

“Please purify His Majesty the Emperor. Currently, that’s the best way to keep the temple in check while simultaneously protecting you safely, Lady.”

This was exactly why I ended up purifying the Emperor.

Though there were some variables, of course.

“Come to think of it, Adam, you’re manifested? Do you have divine power left?”

At Rosette’s question, Adam, who had been manifested, flinched and looked at her.

Rosette frowned.

“If this much was going to remain, you should have taken a little less. Estelin collapsed from exhaustion.”

Estelin quickly smiled and waved her hand.

“Don’t say that, Rose. I’m fine.”

Then she continued as if embarrassed.

“Rather, I was glad I could fill the relic with my sacred power. I suggested it because I thought I’d be better at it than Cardinal Michael since I’d done it once before, and I was actually grateful that everyone readily agreed.”

Rosette let out a small sigh.

“Estelin, I told you. That’s a disease.”

Estelin shook her head.

“But Rose. Cardinal Michael has… essentially made an enemy of the entire Order.”

“…”

“I don’t know what situation he’ll face when this is revealed. He needs to conserve his sacred power even a little. As for me, well, I’m just staying in the manor anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”

Rosette closed her mouth with a displeased expression.

Estelin asked playfully.

“What’s wrong, Rose? You really liked Cardinal Michael.”

“…No matter how much I like him, it’s not more than you. Is liking someone simply because they’re handsome the same as friendship?”

Estelin burst into soft laughter.

“That’s not all, Rose. I did this because it’s Selene’s matter. Because it’s our matter too.”

Estelin’s voice became quite serious.

“Father was the sword of the Imperial House. He truly served His Majesty the Previous Emperor. Until that person suddenly passed away.”

“…”

“But less than ten years after that incident, His Majesty the Emperor is in danger again. What’s suspected as the mastermind… is the temple.”

“…”

“Given the situation, I couldn’t help but recall what happened to the Former Imperial House.”

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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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