I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 75

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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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“This is impossible.”

 

Meg Cline muttered lowly and bit her lips hard.

 

‘Why is everyone!’

 

As her clenched fists trembled violently, her long nails dug into the tender flesh of her palms, turning them white.

 

It was armor made of Ethyl stone, no less.

 

There had never been such noble and expensive defensive equipment in the Empire’s history. No, there surely wouldn’t be any in the future either.

 

Something that magnificent was her exhibit.

 

…And yet.

 

‘What are those insignificant flying insects!’

 

Meg Cline looked at Selene, who was not far away, with eyes full of hatred.

 

She was having a conversation with Estelin.

 

Estelin too had apparently received a blessing from the Sacred Sprites or whatever, as the area around her eyes was tinged red.

 

And Selene was…

 

“Estelin, are you alright?”

 

Disgustingly, she was comforting such an Estelin, putting on all sorts of good acts.

 

“…Annoying. This is so annoying.”

 

Meg Cline turned around sharply and muttered anxiously. From biting her nails, light blood was seeping from her fingertips.

 

But Meg was so absorbed in other thoughts that she paid no attention to the flowing blood.

 

‘What was that comment earlier?’

 

Selene had definitely said to her, “Worry about your own future.”

 

And also, “Don’t you still know what money you used to buy that?”

 

‘What the hell does that mean!’

 

What money did I use to buy the golem’s magic stone?

 

Of course, I bought it with money borrowed from Chairman Nicolas.

 

But so what? What’s the problem with that?

 

Is it because it would be embarrassing if it was revealed that a great noble like myself borrowed money from the chairman?

 

No, more than that, how does she know about that fact?

 

Her head felt like it was about to explode from complexity.

 

The fact that her exhibit was being ignored was already hard to believe, but those incomprehensible words made her feel even more disturbed.

 

Meg exhaled a trembling breath and looked at the glass box placed on her platform.

 

‘…Just around twenty tickets.’

 

Even those tickets were put in by her grandfather’s retainers who had been reading the room.

 

The atmosphere had been good until the beginning, but everything was because of Seleneae Tigris.

 

At first, hadn’t everyone been amazed by the tremendous armor she had prepared?

 

As expected of Meg Cline, as expected of this Empire’s only princess.

 

…They had said victory was a sure thing.

 

“My goodness, to think I would experience a blessing that only His Holiness the Pope could receive!”

 

“This is truly a lifelong source of pride! How regrettable that I couldn’t bring my younger sibling from the estate!”

 

“Didn’t you hear earlier? The Cardinal said this charity event is a sacred event where God’s blessing descends upon all visitors!”

 

Meg bit her lips tightly again at the surging anger.

 

The spectators had admired her armor for a few seconds, but that was it.

 

Nine out of ten quickly turned their bodies toward Selene.

 

They each rattled off all sorts of stale greetings and flattery before requesting blessings from the Sacred Sprites.

 

Selene played along well with such nobles’ tune.

 

She would listen to their honeyed words with a bright smile, then pretend to be unable to refuse and accept all the tickets the nobles gave her.

 

Her glass box already contained tickets piled high. Much more than her own.

 

‘At this rate…’

 

Meg stamped her feet anxiously while looking at her armor with worried eyes.

 

Right. At this rate, her defeat was as good as predetermined.

 

‘I absolutely must win…!’

 

She had to somehow draw the atmosphere back to herself. But no suitable method came to mind.

 

The spectators’ attention was already entirely focused on the Sacred Sprites.

 

Of course, even from Meg’s perspective, the Sacred Sprites were mysterious in themselves.

 

They flew around with their sparkling wings and made pleasant sounds.

 

‘…Above all, that thing called blessing.’

 

Even though she had never experienced it, it seemed tremendously impressive.

 

“What should I do. How should I handle this?”

 

Meg muttered to herself. No matter how much she racked her brain, no method came to mind.

 

Even the Cardinal she had trusted was of no help whatsoever.

 

He had made the ridiculous decision to recognize those creepy monsters as exhibits.

 

What if the Sacred Sprites attacked humans!

 

‘…Wait.’

 

Meg’s expression hardened as she paused.

 

‘If they attack humans?’

 

Her face gradually brightened.

 

Right. If the Sacred Sprites attacked humans in this hall, what would happen then?

 

Meg had definitely seen it.

 

Before the Cardinal arrived, when the High Priest reached out to Selene without permission, the Sacred Sprite that had bared its sharp teeth.

 

Meg slowly turned her head.

 

At the end of her gaze, she could see Selene still absorbed in conversation with Estelin and several Pinchels flying around them.

 

Just then, one Pinchel that had been wandering around slowly flew toward her.

 

Meg’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the Sacred Sprite.

 

“Kyaaaaaaah—!!”

 

I turned my head in shock at the ear-splitting scream.

 

Where my gaze reached, there was Meg Cline sitting collapsed on the floor, bleeding from her arm.

 

With a wound on her wrist torn by something sharp.

 

“Meg!”

 

Rian, who had been right next to Meg, rushed to her. I was so shocked that I froze in place.

 

“Blood! We need to call a physician…!”

 

Rian shouted while looking around.

 

I, who had been about to turn my head to look for a physician at those words, froze stiffly.

 

Because I could see one Pinchel fallen on the floor next to the collapsed Meg.

 

Just as I slowly frowned and was about to hurriedly approach the Pinchel.

 

“Ugh! The Sacred Sprite, the Sacred Sprite attacked me!!”

 

People’s attention focused on the pitiful voice that flowed from Meg’s mouth.

 

My eyes also gradually widened.

 

“It, it bit and tore at me!”

 

Meg’s fingertip pointed exactly at the Pinchel fallen on the floor.

 

“It’s only because I shook it off with quick reflexes, but if I had stayed still, my wrist would have been severed!”

 

I looked at Meg, who was shouting venomously, with bewildered eyes.

 

At the sudden commotion, the Pinchels that had been freely roaming around the hall flocked around me.

 

One of them discovered its fallen companion and immediately became aggressive, baring its teeth toward Meg.

 

“Kyaaaah! It’s trying to attack me again!”

 

Meg screamed.

 

“Selene! What is this about! You said they wouldn’t attack anyone without your command! You said they were safe!”

 

“…Meg. What are you…”

 

“Don’t tell me! You ordered it to attack me, didn’t you? No matter how much you hate me, still, wasn’t it enough that you dragged me behind the pillar and cornered me earlier? Ugh…”

 

Meg trailed off as if in pain and clutched her wrist.

 

Blood drops fell drip by drip to the floor along her hand.

 

Just then, a healing priest burst into the hall.

 

“Over here!”

 

At Rian’s shout, the healing priest hurried over to Meg.

 

“Ahhh! It hurts, it feels like my wrist is going to break!”

 

Meg wailed. The priest calmed her while carefully examining her wrist.

 

Watching this scene, I glanced around at the distinctly changed atmosphere compared to moments before.

 

The nobles’ gazes were trembling unsteadily.

 

“Wh-what is this sudden commotion? A Sacred Sprite attacked a person?”

 

When someone asked, a noble who had witnessed the situation from the front glanced at me nervously before speaking.

 

“The Sacred Sprite, at the T-Tigris Lady’s command, attacked Lady Klein…”

 

“What did you say?”

 

The spectators began murmuring. I broke out in a cold sweat and took a step closer to Meg.

 

“…Lady Meg, I’m sorry you were hurt, but there’s no way a Pinchel would attack you first…”

 

“Lady Seleneae! Do you hate me that much? Did you want to monopolize attention this badly?”

 

Meg cut off my words and cried out with a pained expression. A tear rolled down her cheek.

 

“When you took me behind the pillar earlier and insulted my entire family… it felt like my heart was being torn apart, but I endured it…”

 

“What did you say?”

 

“Sob… Please, I’m begging you. Stop tormenting me now!”

 

My mouth fell open involuntarily.

 

Meg’s appearance as she wailed with a contorted brow looked utterly pitiful.

 

Her Oscar-worthy acting drew cold stares from the surrounding crowd one by one.

 

“She insulted Lady Meg’s family? How could she do that to House Belmart and House Klein?”

 

“That can’t be… Though I did see Lady Klein and Lady Tigris coming out from behind the pillar earlier.”

 

“…I saw it too.”

 

My lips went slightly dry.

 

I quickly gripped my skirt tightly with trembling hands. But I couldn’t shake off the feeling of being intimidated.

 

‘Why am I like this? Get it together.’

 

Telling myself this, I slowly raised my head.

 

‘I had forgotten what an incredible lunatic she is.’

 

My gaze turned to the Pinchel that had fallen to the floor. The Pinchel was trembling its wings, seemingly in pain.

 

I carefully walked over and gently cradled the fallen Pinchel in my palm.

 

“Kyaah! It’s scary! Get that thing away from me!”

 

Meg made another scene, squeezing her eyes shut. I muttered quietly.

 

“…The Sacred Sprite is injured.”

 

“What did you say?!”

 

“Its wing is completely torn. You said you just pushed it away when it lunged at you. But how does a wing get torn?”

 

Meg’s face twisted with anger as she shot up from her seat. This caused the priest who had been healing her wrist to tumble backward.

 

Meg shouted sharply.

 

“How rude! I’m the one who was attacked!”

 

“Don’t lie.”

 

“What exactly is a lie?!”

 

“It wasn’t me who dragged you behind the pillar and insulted your family—it was you! Calling me trash from Erbia.”

 

Meg froze. The murmuring noise around us also came to an abrupt halt.

 

Meg glanced around nervously, then brazenly shouted.

 

“Wh-when did I ever do that…! Are you now shamelessly slandering me too? Lady Seleneae, do you think anyone will believe you just because you insist?”

 

I quietly looked at her and brought my hand to my ear. Then I pulled something out from behind my ear, hidden by my hair.

 

I said coldly.

 

“Well, we’ll know once we listen to it.”

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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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