I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 186

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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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Inside the room after sending Jane away.

Estelin’s voice flowed from the communication stone.

-We revealed the statue two days ago. As expected, the Central Temple sent a warning letter.

“A warning letter?”

-Yes. They said we erected an idol in the temple… They’ll impose disciplinary action if we don’t remove it within the designated time.

A short laugh escaped.

“So it came to that after all.”

I couldn’t help but wonder how everything was going exactly as expected.

“Tell them to impose their discipline. It was what we wanted anyway.”

I could hear Estelin chuckling softly.

-That’s right. His Eminence Michael seemed eager to be excommunicated as soon as possible.

Before revealing Fluma’s statue, we had already anticipated this reaction from the Order.

The Order would obviously fly into a rage and command us to remove Fluma’s statue,

and if we didn’t comply…

‘What else could they do but excommunicate Michael, the priest in charge?’

They probably expected Michael to prostrate himself and beg to be spared from excommunication.

But Michael was actually desperately hoping for the Order to excommunicate him.

And had been for quite some time.

“But there’s something strange. Cardinal Paul has been scarce lately too.”

When I spoke after pondering, Estelin replied.

-I was thinking the same thing. Until a year ago, he was dying to pick fights with us over every little thing, wasn’t he?

As Estelin said, the Frater Order used to find fault with everything I did.

If even the slightest thing happened at Imperial Palace events I attended, they’d make a fuss claiming it was because the saint was cursed,

and quite secretly, they sent assassins several times too.

Of course, they all met their deaths at the hands of Rubel or Father.

“The Temple of Res opening ceremony went too smoothly.”

The same was true for the temple that opened in the North District this time.

I thought the Order would use various excuses to delay the opening by at least several weeks, if not months.

-Shouldn’t we just wait and see for now? Anyway, since a warning letter came, we should watch what happens if we don’t remove the statue.

I nodded and replied.

“Right. Once Michael gets excommunicated, we can use that opportunity to greatly expand Fluma’s influence.”

Not only within the Frater Order, but among the Empire’s citizens, there were many who deeply trusted Michael.

They didn’t worship and donate money because they believed in the Fratres.

It was because they believed in Cardinal Michael’s kindness and benevolent influence.

“Once I’m officially excommunicated from the Order, some of the believers will definitely develop hostility toward the Order.”

As I recalled Michael’s past words, Estelin spoke.

-Oh, we’ve finished preparing all the materials about Fluma too. Whenever Selene wants, we can proceed with the public announcement right away.

“…Thank you, Estelin.”

-Don’t mention it.

We discussed a few more things before ending the communication.

I placed the darkened magical device on the table and quietly gazed out the window.

Everything was proceeding smoothly.

When I turned my head, I saw the firmly closed door.

Since I had asked Jane to completely clear the surroundings, probably only I remained on the second floor.

I slowly lowered my gaze to look at the bracelet on my wrist.

“…A treasure of House Pail.”

House Pail was a very prestigious family even within the Kingdom of Sorad.

Since Princess Anetresha had gotten involved in the rebellion this time, they would soon face annihilation.

I quietly stared at the bracelet, then slowly concentrated my mind.

Thanks to Michael, I could now handle divine power much more freely.

Soon I felt something hot flowing up my arm and circling around my fingertips.

Perhaps because I released my power, the pendant I wore inside my clothes immediately became warm.

[…Hey there, child?]

Adam appeared first.

[How could you keep us locked up for so long unless you were determined to kill us?]

Soon Amon also appeared with a sulky expression.

I could now completely control the sealing and release of divine power.

When I sealed my divine power, Amon and Adam couldn’t appear at will either.

I greeted them with a light nod and smiled slightly at Amon.

“You wouldn’t say that if you knew what I found.”

Adam and Amon’s eyes widened.

Soon their gazes slowly turned to the bracelet hanging on my arm.

Adam frowned and approached closer.

[This couldn’t be…]

“Do you sense something?”

Adam looked up with a confused expression.

[I’m not sure. The feeling is strange though. Amasius, what do you think?]

Amon glanced down at the bracelet once, then turned his gaze to me.

[Are you asking if this object is a sacred relic of Amicus?]

“That’s right. I searched through all the records, even unofficial ones, and there’s nothing else that looks like a sacred relic besides this bracelet.”

Amon quietly examined the bracelet.

[Strange, as Adam said.]

“What does that mean?”

[Literally that it doesn’t seem like an ordinary object. But that doesn’t mean I can sense Amicus’s aura either.]

I slowly nodded.

“Then I have no choice but to check it myself.”

Adam and Amon nodded silently.

I slowly released the divine power that had been circling around my left fingertips.

Soon white and blue light extended out and completely enveloped the bracelet on the table.

“…”

Silence continued.

Adam and Amon also concentrated intently, not taking their eyes off the bracelet.

However, nothing happened.

My eyes narrowed.

“Why is nothing…”

That’s when it happened.

Rumble rumble rumble-

Suddenly, tremendous vibrations began echoing throughout the room.

The table and the chair I was sitting on shook violently.

My eyes went wide.

I could hear servants shouting and moving busily downstairs.

I looked down at the sacred relic with a flustered expression.

The divine power that had been surrounding the bracelet had somehow been completely absorbed and was gone.

I hurriedly looked at Adam and Amon.

“It, it absorbed the divine power. So it really was a sacred relic after all…”

At that moment, the vibrations stopped abruptly.

I quickly raised my head.

A silence so profound it was almost deathly had settled over the room.

I slowly turned my gaze and looked around.

The room where Adam and Amon had disappeared.

Sunset light slanted through the window on the opposite side.

Each speck of dust floating in the air, catching the light, was clearly visible.

“What on earth is this….”

And those dust particles weren’t moving at all, just floating motionlessly in the air.

More precisely, it would be fair to say they were frozen in place.

My mouth slowly fell open.

It was literal.

Everything in this space except me had stopped. Not even the slightest movement.

‘Has time stopped?’

But my surprised blinking was brief,

“So it’s you.”

A voice that seemed both strange and familiar came from behind me.

I turned around in my chair, still clutching the bracelet tightly.

Where the door had definitely been was now completely replaced by a white space.

In the center, a woman with short purple hair was quietly staring at me.

I slowly murmured.

“…Amicus.”

At the same time, the world flashed, and the scene changed.

A grassland blazing with fire.

The tall tree, torn in two and completely ruined.

The river bed, dried up and cracked like snake scales.

Hot, acrid smoke came rushing in.

Something caught my eye in the distance.

A man with a familiar face lying on the ground, bleeding.

Blood continued to seep from the deep wounds carved into the man’s chest.

“…Adam?”

As I hesitantly approached him,

“You have been chosen. Adam.”

Someone crossed past me and approached him first.

Cold silver hair gleamed icily in the space covered with black smoke.

“If you take my hand, I will at least spare you from annihilation.”

I knew instinctively.

That man’s name was Frater.

I was in ancient times, specifically in the timeline when Frater was killing Phluma.

Adam struggled to part his lips.

“Frater, come to your senses. You were the one The Man cherished most….”

“I didn’t spare your life to hear such words.”

Frater coldly cut off his words.

“I will recreate this world. I intend to clearly define the boundary between gods and humans, and filter out all useless things.”

Adam’s eyes widened.

He grabbed Frater’s hem as if pleading.

“…Frater, you mustn’t do this. Beg for forgiveness even now. I’ll go with you, so please….”

“Forgiveness?”

Adam closed his mouth. Blood leaked from between his lips.

“Adam. You still cannot see through to the essence.”

Frater bent one knee to meet the fallen Adam’s gaze.

“What do you think is the reason you’re dying right now?”

Adam couldn’t answer and just met Frater’s blazing eyes directly.

“Before coming here, I asked the humans. I would share my abilities with them, so could they bring down Phluma, their creator?”

Adam’s eyes trembled with a start. Frater looked down at him and continued speaking calmly.

“They were all delighted.”

“….”

“If only they could receive abilities, they said they could kill that mere creator with their own hands anytime.”

Transparent tears welled up in Adam’s eyes.

“What exactly were you expecting, Adam.”

Soon, thousands and tens of thousands of troops appeared behind Frater.

All were holding torches and weapons in their hands.

“Look. These are all those who betrayed you and Phluma and turned to me.”

“….”

“This pathetically hopeless era is now coming to an end.”

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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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