I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 22

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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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“Father, please calm down.”

Calista looked at the Lady before him with deliberately surprised eyes.

As she placed her hand over the Duke’s and spoke, Duke Tigris’s eyes, which had been gleaming with murderous intent, gradually subsided.

“I’ll have a slow conversation with him.”

Soon the Lady turned her gaze to look directly at him. Calista thought with a smirk tugging at his lips.

‘At least there’s someone reasonable to talk to.’

It seemed impossible to have any conversation with Duke Tigris, who was like a mad dog.

To be consumed by petty anger and dare to threaten and disrespect the Grand Cathedral.

‘Once I return with the sacred relic…’

He could become the cardinal responsible for the central temple that would soon be built on the Estate.

That person had certainly promised him so.

Then it would only be a matter of time before he gained enough power to have private audiences with the Emperor.

The position of cardinal managing the central temple was one that need not envy even the prestige of the Four Dukes who supported the nation.

‘When that day comes, I’ll definitely break that insufferable Duke Tigris’s arrogance.’

Calista secretly thought this while gritting his teeth. Then the Lady spoke.

“As you can see, I’ve only recently managed to open my eyes. All because of what Father Mayer from the Grand Cathedral did.”

“I’m aware. The Order also regrets that…”

“That’s not what I’m curious about.”

Calista raised one eyebrow as he watched the Lady interrupt him with a smiling face.

“What I’m curious about is whether the Temple can confidently assert that it had no connection whatsoever to Father Mayer’s actions.”

Calista unconsciously closed his mouth. He didn’t like this ignorant young girl throwing such bold questions at him.

And regarding whether the Temple was connected to Mayer’s actions, he knew nothing about it either.

The content he had received from ‘that person’ was merely to retrieve the sacred relic.

But he cleared his throat and answered.

“Of course! The Temple has no connection to Priest Mayer’s actions. Why would the Temple instruct him to do such things to the young Lady?”

“…”

“Everything was Father Mayer’s independent decision and action. However, since he belongs to our Grand Cathedral, even if we punish him, it must go through our own trial…”

“Are you that certain?”

The Lady smiled again and interrupted him. Calista frowned and closed his mouth for a moment.

“…Yes. I am that certain.”

When he answered, barely suppressing his anger, the Lady slowly nodded.

“Good. Then I’ll grant your request.”

Calista’s eyes widened.

“Re-request, you mean…?”

“I’ll allow you to meet Father Mayer in the prison.”

The priests’ faces brightened. Calista nodded with an excited expression, unable to hide his smile.

“Th-that’s most gracious of you! If you permit this, I’ll never forget today’s…!”

He smiled broadly and quickly extended one hand, but the Lady ignored him as if it were nothing.

Then she stood up from her seat with an expressionless face.

Someone who had been standing by the door approached her.

Calista’s expression hardened as he recognized the man’s face.

‘Tigris’s commander.’

Bastien Mueller, with a sword as tall as himself at his waist, was glaring at him with threatening eyes.

But then it happened.

“Sir Bastien. Could I trouble you to guide us?”

When the Lady spoke, Bastien Mueller completely wiped the cold expression from his face and smiled leisurely.

“Of course, Miss.”

Calista’s face hardened in shock. To use Count Bastin, the most fearsome of Tigris’s retainers, like a mere servant.

Seleneae Tigris seemed to have quite cunning aspects despite her innocent face.

Sure enough, he could hear other priests murmuring behind him.

Calista gave them a warning with deliberately sharp eyes, then quickly followed the Lady and Count Bastin as they left the drawing room.

His eyes were rippling with greed.

‘Once I retrieve the sacred relic, becoming cardinal is just a matter of time.’

A sinister smile spread across his lips.

The underground prison.

Calista unconsciously raised his sleeve to cover his lower face.

The terrible stench filling the prison stung his nose.

Moreover, the underground prison was so complex and narrow that it was hard to recognize the way they had come.

“Is it still far?”

When he asked in a disgusted voice, Bastien Mueller, who was walking ahead, glanced back.

“We’re almost there.”

Calista looked at his mountain-like back with anxious eyes.

Afraid he might lose him if he made a mistake, Calista earnestly followed Bastien’s trail.

Then the Lady spoke.

“This is the place.”

Looking where she gestured, sure enough, a single iron cage standing alone came into view.

Calista hurriedly walked toward it.

But soon he discovered Father Mayer trapped inside the prison and froze in place as if nailed down.

“Wh-what in the world is this…!”

Father Mayer’s condition was horrific at first glance.

His half-open eyes had no life in them at all, making it hard to tell if he was dead or alive, and his entire body except his face was completely battered.

As Calista unconsciously stepped backward, something wet splashed from a pool of blood on the floor with a splashing sound.

“Ugh…!!”

Calista shrank back in horror. Then he immediately widened his eyes and steeled himself.

‘Th-this isn’t the time for this. Where is the sacred relic?’

It should have been hanging around Father Mayer’s neck, but the sacred relic was nowhere to be seen.

‘Where, where could it have gone!’

Calista looked around anxiously. But the sacred relic was nowhere in sight.

It was then, as he was internally stamping his feet in frustration.

“Is this perhaps what the High Priest is looking for?”

A cheerful voice, unsuited to the gloomy prison, came from right beside him.

Calista turned his head in a daze.

Then he saw the Lady smiling while dangling Fratrer’s sacred relic from her finger.

“Th-that is!”

Calista’s eyes widened.

He unconsciously staggered toward the Lady.

But he hesitated and stepped back when Count Bastin instantly blocked his way.

Selene said with a bright smile.

“You seemed so desperate to enter the prison.”

“…”

“I thought you felt compassion for Father Mayer…”

Selene continued, tilting her head.

“But now I see you have no interest in him at all?”

As she grinned and shook the sacred relic again, Calista’s face contorted.

“It-it’s not like that! That pendant belongs to our Temple…!”

“It’s mine.”

Calista’s expression, who had closed his mouth in shock for a moment, gradually stiffened.

He shouted in a furious voice.

“What! Do you even know what that object is, Lady?! That is!!”

“I know. From what I investigated, it’s a sacred relic that the Prater Temple was keeping.”

“Someone who knows that…!!”

“But now it’s mine.”

Selene smiled brightly again. Calista, clenching his trembling hands, opened his mouth.

“…Please return it. No, you absolutely must. That is a priceless object of utmost importance to the temple!”

“Oh my, is that so?”

“Yes! My Lady, you still don’t understand what…”

“But I was also a ‘priceless’ and ‘extremely important’ person.”

Selene drooped her eyebrows and then slowly hung the pendant around her neck.

And she pointed her index finger at Father Mayer inside the iron cage.

“But I, such an important person, wandered between life and death for three months because of this man.”

“…!”

“And. It is Tigris who punishes those who harm Tigris.”

The Lady was smiling, but her eyes were ice cold.

“However we punish this man, however we dispose of his belongings. All those rights belong to Tigris.”

“Ha!!”

Calista laughed as if he’d lost his mind while staring at Selene.

His teeth ground together involuntarily.

It seemed the Lady had realized the relic’s power.

‘That tremendous power to remove the restrictions placed on abilities!’

Originally, it was the current cardinals who kept the pendant.

Because the sacred relic was a secret object not known to the public.

And for good reason – the sacred relic could completely nullify the restrictions that came with higher-level abilities just by possessing it.

So even the most powerful abilities could be used dozens and dozens of times.

‘…I don’t know why Father Mayer had that one-of-a-kind temple artifact, but.’

Calista absolutely had to retrieve the sacred relic and return with it.

‘I need to bring that back to gain that person’s recognition!’

As he stamped his feet inwardly in frustration, he soon raised his anxious eyes.

Right now, it seemed like no matter what he said, the Lady wouldn’t grant his request.

But then, a thought flashed through his mind.

‘I might not be able to retrieve the sacred relic. But what if I could obtain appropriate compensation instead?’

Calista swallowed his saliva and opened his mouth.

“I understand My Lady’s position well.”

His eyes gleamed coldly.

“But from The Order’s standpoint, we cannot simply give up the sacred relic, can we?”

At Calista’s words, Selene’s eyes widened. He didn’t miss the opportunity and added:

“…Unless you provide appropriate compensation, that is.”

Having finished speaking, Calista smiled wickedly.

Duke Aleon Tigris didn’t just possess tremendous military power. He was also counted among the wealthiest individuals in the Empire.

If he negotiated properly, he might be able to secure the entire cost of building the central temple from here.

‘And if that happens, surely that person will understand too.’

The corners of his mouth crept up as he indulged in happy fantasies.

Looking at the Lady, she too seemed lost in serious contemplation, thinking about something.

Finally, the Lady opened her mouth.

“Very well. I shall provide compensation.”

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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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