I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 73

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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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“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Tigris. I am Michael.”

 

“I greet Your Eminence the Cardinal.”

 

I bowed politely and looked at the priest before me.

 

Michael Bern.

 

He was a figure competing with Cardinal Paul for the position of second-in-command at the Temple.

 

‘He’s famous for his young and handsome appearance.’

 

Michael’s silver hair was slightly disheveled, as if he had run all the way here.

 

As if they had been waiting, I could hear the young ladies whispering behind me.

 

“My goodness, Cardinal Michael has come!”

 

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen him since last year’s prayer festival. Doesn’t his beauty seem to shine even brighter?”

 

I lowered my head and let out a small laugh as I focused on their conversation.

 

Despite his status as a priest, there were countless young ladies harboring impossible crushes on him.

 

There was even one among my acquaintances. An ardent Michael devotee whose enthusiasm bordered on desperation.

 

‘What? Who’s handsome?’

 

‘I’m talking about the singer who recently debuted at the Art House in Liang Alley. Eria only listens to his songs these days.’

 

‘Estelin, your standards are lower than I thought. The word “handsome” should only be used for the “Forbidden Lily of the Valley.”‘

 

‘Forbidden Lily of the Valley…? What’s that?’

 

‘Estelin! You really don’t know? I’m talking about Cardinal Michael! Don’t you know our silver kitten?’

 

Rosette didn’t believe in the Prater Faith, but she said Michael’s handsome face was more sacred than anything else in this world.

 

She not only knew Michael’s schedule inside and out, but also knew everything about his hobbies, talents, and physical characteristics.

 

Watching Rosette gush about him at all hours was sometimes even a little frightening.

 

I quietly looked up at Michael before me and thought.

 

‘Now I understand why Rosette acted that way.’

 

Michael’s face as he tidied his disheveled silver hair was incredibly…

 

‘Yes, he’s handsome.’

 

I hadn’t been particularly interested in men, romance, or love since my previous life.

 

Not only did I not have time for such things, but I was unexpectedly picky.

 

Even when I saw reasonably handsome men, I could only give dry assessments like ‘He’s just okay.’

 

But here it was different.

 

‘This is what’s good about the world inside a novel.’

 

Why were there so many people who looked like they could save a nation with their faces alone?

 

Father, Rubel, and now Michael too… even Ansun is quite cute.

 

‘Come to think of it, Prince Dean of Carton was incredibly handsome too.’

 

I was staring blankly at Michael’s green eyes, then quickly shook my head.

 

Now wasn’t the time to leisurely admire this man’s face. I managed my expression and opened my mouth with a bright smile.

 

“I heard it’s chaotic outside. I hope I haven’t unnecessarily troubled Your Eminence.”

 

Michael was a celebrity.

 

Anyone who worshipped the Prater Faith naturally knew his face, and even atheists knew him.

 

…Thanks to his handsome appearance.

 

So if someone had recognized him while passing through the crowded Estate, it might have caused troublesome situations.

 

‘Michael arrived quite quickly. Did he use that ability of his after all?’

 

I had a good idea of how he managed to reach this place safely while avoiding people’s eyes.

 

Michael Bern’s ability was rather unique. It was to hide his appearance and traces.

 

When he used his ability, people couldn’t recognize that he was Michael even when he was right in front of them.

 

They would unconsciously perceive him as someone else.

 

‘His ability is perfect for a celebrity too.’

 

As I was looking at him with interested eyes, Michael smiled. Then he gestured toward the platform behind me where the crate was placed.

 

“I heard that the young lady brought Sacred Sprites as exhibition items.”

 

“Yes, I did.”

 

Michael nodded and spoke as if asking for permission.

 

“However, as you know, Sacred Sprites can be dangerous for ordinary people to handle. So I’d like to assess the situation…”

 

I readily nodded and approached the crate. The other people surrounded us in a circle, watching the situation unfold.

 

Michael followed behind with a face mixed with surprise and curiosity.

 

Finally arriving in front of the box, I carefully pushed the lid to open the crate.

 

Then, as if they had been frustrated from being confined for quite a long time, the Pinchels flew out through the gap as if they had been waiting.

 

I calmly extended my hand toward the Pinchels.

 

Upon discovering my hand, the Pinchels didn’t scatter but immediately gathered around me.

 

A clear and beautiful chiming sound, like rolling glass marbles, echoed throughout the hall.

 

People began murmuring again, and Michael was staring blankly at the Pinchels.

 

I spoke.

 

“Your Eminence. If there’s no problem with exhibiting the Pinchels, I’d like to allow all the visitors to experience the Pinchels’ blessing.”

 

Michael didn’t respond. He just kept repeating the action of trying to say something and then closing his mouth.

 

I continued gently, as if to reassure him.

 

“These little ones are well-behaved. They follow me very well.”

 

Only then did Michael look at me with eyes full of shock.

 

“…May I ask how that’s possible?”

 

I knew this question would come.

 

I blinked a few times and slowly nodded.

 

Then I calmly opened my mouth.

 

Channeling ten-year-old Sebin Lee who used to read books to younger children at the orphanage.

 

“…A few months ago. I went north following my father who had departed to subjugate monsters in the Cursed Land.”

 

“You went directly to the Cursed Land, my lady?”

 

“Yes. I went accompanied by a knight.”

 

It wasn’t a lie. I really had gone to the Cursed Land with Casian.

 

Of course, what we found wasn’t a Pinchel but a man-eating Wyvern.

 

Anyway.

 

“There I encountered a Pinchel with a broken wing, and I felt so sorry for it that I treated it.”

 

“…A Pinchel’s wing was broken?”

 

Michael furrowed his brow as if hearing this story for the first time in his life.

 

I understood his reaction to some extent.

 

Actually, I had never seen a Pinchel with a broken wing either. But I answered shamelessly.

 

“Yes! It kept making pained sounds, so I brought it to the inn and treated it. After a few days, its condition seemed to improve a bit, so I released it back into the forest…”

 

I stopped mid-sentence and glanced around.

 

Everyone gathered in the hall was looking at my mouth with fascinated eyes.

 

“…It seemed to think of me as its lifesaver, and instead brought its friends to bless me.”

 

This was my own adaptation of ‘Heungbu and Nolbu’ – the so-called ‘Grateful Pinchel.’

 

“It brought friends after you treated its broken wing!”

 

“Indeed… having such a kind heart, you were chosen by the Sacred Sprites.”

 

The spectators looked somewhat convinced. Michael also seemed to believe my words.

 

I secretly let out a sigh of relief.

 

‘I can’t exactly say that Rubel has the ability to tame monsters.’

 

And it was true that I had treated injured Pinchels.

 

A few days ago. That is, on the day Rubel brought the Pinchels to show me, the Pinchels’ condition was really not good.

 

Even if he had used his monster-taming ability, the sudden change in environment seemed to have caused great stress to the Pinchels.

 

Pinchels were rare creatures that lived huddled together only within a very limited range where divine power flowed, even within the Cursed Land.

 

‘Huh? This one’s wing looks a bit strange.’

 

At that moment, I spotted one Pinchel among the sharply agitated ones flying around frantically that couldn’t use much strength.

 

Looking closer, I saw a thin, long thorn of unknown origin stuck in that Pinchel’s wing.

 

I carefully removed the thorn from the Pinchel’s wing.

 

And worried something might go wrong, I even asked Martin to treat it, then spent exactly one night together with the listless, drooping Pinchel.

 

‘And when I woke up the next day, it followed me around so well it was amazing.’

 

Even Rubel was surprised.

 

Rubel said the only ability he had cast on the Pinchels was just to prevent them from attacking me.

 

But the Pinchels liked me as if I were one of their own kind, or even more than that.

 

For several days, the Pinchels flew around following behind me and gave me blessings constantly.

 

Because of that, I had to see hallucinations of bundles of fifty-thousand-won bills falling from the sky every three seconds.

 

But though they were called hallucinations, the scenes the Pinchels showed me didn’t feel repulsive at all.

 

Rather, it felt like my head was clearing and energy was bubbling up.

 

Finding that feeling fascinating and pleasant, I tentatively asked the Pinchels if they could bless Father too…

 

‘…So this is what a blessing is like.’

 

The Pinchels really did bless Father. After that, Walter, Ansun, and even Anna received blessings.

 

It seemed the Pinchels would do anything I asked them to do.

 

I watched the ecstatic people of the manor and thought.

 

‘I hit the jackpot!’

 

With this, sweeping up all the tickets at the charity event would be no trouble at all.

 

Originally, I had planned to compete just by displaying the Pinchels’ existence, but if things were turning out this way, there was nothing bad about it.

 

“So ever since you treated that Pinchel like that…”

 

I suddenly snapped to attention at Michael’s voice.

 

“Are you saying the Pinchels follow you like a mother and freely bestow blessings on whoever you want them to?”

 

Michael’s voice was half-believing even as he spoke. When I nodded proudly, he muttered.

 

“To think such a thing was possible…”

 

After pondering for a moment, Michael spoke up.

 

“Very well. I too have examined the Pinchels’ condition as a High Priest…”

 

“…”

 

“As you said, Lady, I don’t sense any particular hostility. There shouldn’t be any danger.”

 

Michael looked at me and smiled slightly. Then he said.

 

“An event where blessings descend upon all visitors. It will be an unprecedentedly meaningful occasion.”

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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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