I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 21

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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 quickened my steps with an anxious heart.

The pendant in my hand swayed, and the strange vibration I had felt from the prison grew stronger and stronger.

If I wasn’t mistaken, this pendant was definitely strange somehow.

‘I heard a voice.’

I had pretended to be calm in front of Duke Bastin, but my palms were already damp with nervous sweat.

Perhaps from overexertion, I felt a tingling pain in my legs. But that wasn’t what was important right now.

I hurriedly entered my room and locked the door. Then I quickly placed the pendant I had brought on the table.

‘I didn’t hear it wrong.’

Back at the prison, when I was examining Father Mayer trapped inside the cell, I definitely heard a voice.

A voice that Count Bastin couldn’t hear, one that only I could hear.

Moreover, when I grabbed the pendant, didn’t I feel some unidentifiable vibration as well?

…And most importantly, the pattern.

‘Definitely, definitely a pattern I’ve seen somewhere before.’

I stared intently at the pendant that still had filth stuck to it here and there, then carefully picked it up.

Then I began rubbing it with a cloth for cleaning mirrors that was placed in the corner of the room.

As I did so, the edges of the hidden pattern slowly became visible.

“This is…”

Just as I opened my mouth in a daze, having remembered something.

Groooan-

Startled by the sudden strong vibration, I dropped the pendant from my hand.

Then with a clang, the pendant crashed to the floor. Faint rays of light were seeping out around it.

Grooooooan-

The vibration grew more and more intense. I could feel the resonance throughout the entire room.

Just as I was frantically backing toward the bed, the vibration suddenly stopped, and the chaotic surroundings became quiet in an instant.

And…

[Child.]

I opened my eyes wide and stared at the pendant as if I couldn’t believe it.

[…Child, finally…]

Like a radio with poor reception crackling, a strange voice kept cutting in and out.

[…Very, long time…]

I cautiously took a step forward. Then, after hesitating, I slowly picked up the pendant.

As soon as my hand touched it, a clear resonance from the pendant traveled through my body.

The moment I squeezed my eyes shut at that strange sensation, a voice much clearer than before reached me.

[…Finally, we meet!]

I slowly opened my eyes. Then I stared blankly with my mouth agape at the scene unfolding before me.

In the middle of the room where no one had been, stood a stranger in mystical attire.

With long emerald hair flowing, wearing a crown with the same pattern as the pendant,

…floating in mid-air.

“Wh-wh-wh-what!!”

After shouting loudly, I quickly covered my mouth.

It would be terrible if Anna or other servants came.

I had no idea how to explain this situation.

“W-who are you!”

When I asked with a face full of wariness, my voice trembled involuntarily.

“How are you floating in the air…! N-no, more than that, where did you even come from…!”

The strange figure before me tilted his head. Soon his lips curved into an elegant line as they parted.

[Where did I come from, you ask. Weren’t you the one who brought me here?]

My face stiffened with shock, but only briefly.

In the complicated situation, as I frantically tried to piece things together in my head, I slowly muttered.

“…The pendant?”

Then the strange figure before me smiled gracefully and approached me.

[Yes, you finally found me.]

“W-who exactly are you?”

[Me?]

He answered.

[My name is Adam.]

I stared at him blankly, then slowly frowned. And with a voice still full of wariness, I asked back.

“No, I mean, what exactly are you…!”

He closed his mouth slightly as if pondering. Light wrinkles appeared on his face that was beautiful as if sculpted by a god.

Eventually, he raised his head and met my eyes as he spoke.

[It’s difficult to explain. Should I say I’m an angel for now?]

I looked at him with an incredulous expression.

[Or you could think of me as a pitiful soul who has been waiting for you for a long time.]

“You’ve been waiting for me?”

[Yes, I’ve been waiting for you and no one else. You can’t imagine how happy I was when I first discovered you.]

Suddenly, a shadow fell across his face as he spoke.

[But you couldn’t hear my voice, so I had to wait alone for a long time. It was a terrible time. That man really did handle me as he pleased.]

I flinched as I recalled the pendant swaying around Father Mayer’s neck on the day of the lesson.

“…That day, so you were watching too?”

I was referring to the day Father Mayer had used his brainwashing ability on me. He slowly nodded.

[Yes, that day too, and before that as well, I was always watching over you. But even knowing everything, there was nothing I could do. It was truly regrettable.]

I looked into his eyes with an incredulous face.

The pupils visible beneath his long, downcast eyelashes were so beautiful they didn’t seem to belong to this world.

‘…This is ridiculous. He’s really an angel, not a fraud?’

[I am indeed an angel.]

The man smiled kindly again. I closed my mouth, then asked as if I couldn’t believe it.

“…Don’t tell me you just read my thoughts?”

[By finding me, you have bound me to yourself. Reading thoughts, and sometimes even more than that, I can do anything.]

After finishing his words, he suddenly approached me and placed his hand over mine.

Then, like when I received treatment from Martin, I felt a warm energy, and a bright light rose above my palm.

[Now I can protect you like this.]

I opened my mouth at the strange energy I felt at my fingertips. The floating light moved freely according to my thoughts.

“This is…”

[Yes, from now on you can borrow my power anytime.]

I blinked my surprised eyes, then pressed my lips together and turned my gaze to him.

“What’s the price?”

His eyes widened.

[Hm?]

“What’s the price, I’m asking. There must be something you want in exchange for lending me your abilities.”

He looked at me silently, then shook his head.

[…I can’t tell you that.]

I stared at him with an incredulous face.

“You won’t even tell me the price but want me to borrow your abilities?”

[But I have no choice. I really can’t tell you yet.]

I stared at him intently with eyes full of wariness.

“Then what exactly can you tell me? I don’t know who you are, but right now… do you know how confused I am?”

When I spoke rapidly in this absurd situation, he drooped his eyebrows as if troubled.

Then he soon put on a composed expression.

[…Fine, what are you curious about? If it’s something I can tell you, I’ll gladly share it.]

That’s right.

I calmly raised my first finger.

“First, did you have conversations like this with Mayer too?”

[Child, you are the only one in this world who can call Adam forth.]

“Why?”

[….]

“Fine, next question.”

I quickly folded my second finger.

“How were you inside the pendant?”

[This pendant is not a simple necklace. It’s a sacred relic passed down from ancient times.]

My eyes widened at his answer.

“I thought so! I knew I’d seen that pattern somewhere before!”

It was a pattern I had seen in books when researching temples in the library.

Now all the clues were falling into place.

A pendant engraved with the temple’s pattern, and Mayer who wore it around his neck.

‘The pendant was a sacred relic that the Prater Temple possessed. For some reason, Mayer was wearing it.’

And one more thing.

The reason the priests who came to the feudal castle kept demanding access to the prison.

‘Even if they didn’t care about Mayer, they wanted to retrieve the sacred relic.’

I let out a hollow laugh and glanced at the man before me.

‘No wonder, with something this incredible hidden inside.’

Moreover, if it was because of the sacred relic, it made sense that Mayer had manifested his abilities without any medium that day.

Having organized my thoughts, I finally folded my third finger.

“What kind of abilities can I borrow from you?”

Then he answered as if pleased.

[I can protect you with my power. I can block both what is visible and what is invisible. And….]

“….”

[If you wish, I can sometimes show you the world through my eyes.]

My eyes grew wide.

Fluttering his emerald hair, the man spoke in a beautiful voice.

[Of course, my eyes are everywhere.]

A few days later. The drawing room of the Tigris Ducal Palace.

“I regret having to visit you under such circumstances, Lady Selene.”

I stared at the man sitting across from me, wearing a benevolent smile.

“I hear that you, Lady, have appeased Duke Tigris’s anger toward our clergy?”

The man who introduced himself as the high priest was named Calista. I answered calmly.

“That’s correct. This would certainly be an awkward situation for both parties.”

Calista burst into laughter.

“You are right, Lady. The temple has been greatly troubled by this matter as well.”

“….”

“We were worried that His Grace might not permit our visit this time either, but I find myself greatly indebted to you, Lady.”

Calista glanced at Father sitting beside me.

As always, Father was glaring at the clergy with his eyes flashing dangerously.

After a brief silence, Father’s lips parted.

“You are greatly indebted indeed.”

“….”

“If it weren’t for my daughter, your heads would have been rolling in the streets long ago.”

Calista’s face hardened instantly.

“…Your words are excessive, Duke.”

“Are you saying that you bastards who came five times demanding to take away the man who nearly killed my daughter are not excessive?”

“That’s…!”

“Yes, you’re right.”

Father slightly raised one corner of his mouth and muttered indifferently.

“I’m originally someone who’s excessive in everything. So you’d better be careful.”

Aleon’s eyes gleamed coldly.

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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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