I’m a Villain, but I Want to Live a Long Life - Chapter 94

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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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“What do you mean…? No one’s coming to our group.”

Rosette had a serious expression. I let out a deep sigh and muttered quietly.

“Well, I caused a bit of an incident…”

Rosette exchanged glances with Estelin. She soon glanced around and whispered low.

“So what kind of incident did you cause exactly? You need to tell us precisely.”

I fidgeted with my lips before speaking very quietly.

“Actually, earlier… I almost killed the Sorad prince.”

“What, what?! Hup—!!”

Rosette, who had screamed, covered her own mouth. With shock still not faded from her face, she glanced around and pressed me.

“What kind of nonsensical talk is that?!”

I made a tearful face and watched Rosette’s reaction.

“Well… somehow I ended up telling the young ladies here that I had manifested a protection-type ability…”

“Why would you!”

“Oh, well, Hanod threw a knife at me. He said he wanted to confirm if what I said was true.”

“This crazy—!”

Rosette jumped up from her seat, hit her knee on the table, and swallowed a groan.

Estelin was biting her lips tightly with a serious expression.

Rosette, clutching her knee, frowned and sighed.

“I heard rumors he was crazy, but that’s completely insane! Throwing a knife at someone?”

“…It was for steak though.”

I muttered in a crawling voice and continued.

“Anyway, because of that, Amon—no, I kind of lost my mind and caused an incident…”

“Wait. Then you mean when you said you almost killed him… you attacked the prince with that second ability you recently manifested? That’s not it, right?”

I looked at Rosette silently. Silence continued.

Realizing that silence was an affirmation, Rosette held her forehead.

“It’s already surprising that you manifested two abilities in such a short time, but you attacked the prince of all people with them?! Should I call this gutsy or thoughtless?!”

Having nothing else to say, I lowered my gaze when suddenly a sunken voice rang in my ears.

“So what did that crazy bastard… I mean, what did the prince do to Selene?”

I opened my eyes wide and raised my head. Estelin had a serious expression as if the world had collapsed.

“Did he perhaps tell you to kneel? Did he threaten to report you for insulting royalty? He didn’t intimidate you saying he wouldn’t let it slide, did he?”

I shook my head in confusion.

“N-no? If I had heard such things, I wouldn’t have stayed still.”

Estelin stroked her chest in relief. Then she looked at me and asked.

“Then what on earth happened…?”

I sighed and said.

“It would have been fortunate if that had happened… I was so angry in the moment that I acted recklessly. Others probably think I was throwing another tantrum.”

“…”

“As evidence, no one has approached me until now.”

Silence fell over the table once again. I muttered in an ant-like voice.

“It’s supposed to be a gathering for building friendships, but no one talks to me…”

“…”

“What should I really do?”

Rosette sighed beside me.

“What can you do? You spectacularly ruined your first impression. The reputation we barely managed to restore is back in the mud.”

Even though I already knew it, hearing it again made my heart sting.

“There’s no choice. It’s already done. Surely at least one person will come to be a group member, right?”

Estelin shook her head.

“That will probably be difficult.”

Rosette and I looked at Estelin with round eyes.

“Prince Hanod aside, if you had a conflict with Lady Anita, especially so.”

“Why Lady Anita?”

“Well, Lady Anita has connections with Duke Haren.”

Duke Haren?

My mouth gradually opened as I pondered the somehow familiar name.

“By Duke Haren, you mean… Duke Luke Halen, the current chancellor of Rishion Academy? One of the Four Dukes?”

Estelin nodded.

“That’s right. I heard that Duke Haren has a friendship with Duke Bin Solb, Lady Anita’s grandfather.”

“Wait. Duke Bin Solb… the one who was Hanod’s dedicated royal tutor until recently?”

My mouth fell open.

Duke Haren was a character who never properly appeared even in the original work. And coming to this world, I could understand the reason.

Though he was one of the Four Dukes, he was someone who rarely left his residence. So in reality, there was almost no information known about him to the public.

‘I only heard that he’s the chancellor of Rishion Academy and stays holed up in the Academy Jurisdiction.’

To think he was friends with Duke Bin Solb, Anita’s grandfather.

Rosette muttered irritably beside me.

“No wonder, now I understand why Anita acted so brazenly.”

“Huh?”

“It’s ridiculous. Even after getting caught badmouthing you, she didn’t bat an eye. She’s just a marquis family’s daughter and you’re the heir of Tigris.”

“…R-right?”

“She must have had something to rely on to act that way. Even I would have that much guts if I had the Academy chancellor backing me.”

Estelin and I silently met eyes. Rosette was making perfectly valid points.

She glared at Anita in the distance with annoyance and muttered.

“Look at her now. Even the best actors on Main Street probably can’t enjoy that level of popularity. Really.”

Where Rosette gestured, Anita was surrounded by prospective students.

“Lady Solb. You haven’t heard anything special about this entrance exam assignment, have you?”

“Any news about which type of abilities would be advantageous?”

“Have you actually met the chancellor? There are rumors that he has tremendous presence…”

Anita smiled awkwardly as she received the barrage of questions.

She put down the glass she was holding with a slightly tired expression and calmly opened her mouth.

“I haven’t heard anything particular about the entrance exam. That kind of information shouldn’t leak out in the first place, right?”

Several young lords and ladies blushed and nodded. Anita continued in her characteristic lecturing tone.

“As for Duke Haren… I haven’t seen him often, but he has been particularly fond of me since childhood. Perhaps because he has no children, he treats me like his own granddaughter.”

“R-really?! Then he must know that you’re taking the entrance exam this year!”

“Well, you could say that. When I was young, he always encouraged me, saying I could follow in my brothers’ footsteps and take first place at the Academy.”

Envious sighs erupted from around. Some quick-witted young lords and ladies quietly exchanged glances with each other.

Eventually, one brave young lord stepped forward in front of Anita with a nervous expression.

“Um, Lady Anita. I’m Joseph, the second son of Count Mercury’s family. I’ve manifested a rare expansion attribute ability in our family.”

Anita slightly raised her head and stared intently at the young lord before her.

“Expansion attribute… what kind?”

“I handle poison.”

“Poison?”

Anita’s brown eyes sparkled.

“Yes. It’s not a great ability yet, but I can confidently say no one will be harmed. So I was wondering…”

The young lord cleared his throat nervously before speaking.

“How about forming a group with me? If you’re still looking for group members.”

Anita’s eyes narrowed slightly. She seemed to think for a moment, then nodded.

“Good. Having an expansion attribute ability in the group would be helpful.”

Joseph’s face brightened.

“Th-thank you so much! I’ll work hard not to be a burden.”

Then other young ladies and lords who had been swallowing nervously stepped forward one after another.

“A-Anita. How about me? Though modest, I also handle elemental-type abilities!”

“What about me?! If you let me join your group, I’ll really work hard.”

But Anita shook her head as if tired.

“I’m sorry everyone. I’d like to finalize the group members today too, but I’m a bit lacking in energy.”

Anita glanced in my direction.

“As you know, there was an incident today.”

“Ah….”

The young ladies and gentlemen glanced at me with disappointed faces. Some even sent openly resentful looks.

Anita said weakly.

“With all these various incidents, my head is spinning…. I should go back early and rest today.”

“Ah, if Lady Anita says so, then it can’t be helped….”

Then Anita smiled graciously as if doing a favor and said.

“Those who want to form a group with me, please send letters to my manor? I’ll read them one by one and give you replies.”

Only then did the prospective students’ faces brighten.

“Of, of course. As many as you want!”

“Um, Lady Anita! I’m Perle, daughter of Debbie Countess. I’ll send a letter, so please make sure to read it?”

“I, I’m Tom, son of Neuk Count. Please read my letter too…!”

I looked at the commotion over there and stuck out my tongue.

“She’s totally exploding with popularity, isn’t she?”

“Who would want to join our group acting like that? The moment they join, they’d be marked by Anita Solb who has the Academy headmaster as her backing.”

Rosette gulped down the tea in front of her. But then, Estelin said brightly.

“If it really doesn’t work out, let’s try it with just the three of us!”

Rosette and I turned our heads.

“Just three? The capacity is six people, but is it possible to take the exam with just three?”

“You never know. Both Selene and Rosette are amazing people, aren’t you? I’m confident I’ll work hard too.”

I stared blankly with my mouth open at Estelin who was smiling as brightly as sunshine.

Her kind and sweet light brown eyes sparkled as if they belonged to a hope evangelist.

“…Looking at her face somehow makes me feel like even impossible things might become possible.”

Rosette muttered, so I nodded.

“Right…. Stop bewitching us, Estelin. The current situation is serious.”

Estelin shook her head cheerfully.

“No. I was worried at first too, but thinking about it again, there are actually good points, right?”

Estelin’s cheeks turned rosy.

“With three people, we’ll have better unity, and we won’t fight over conflicting opinions. We’re already friends!”

“Well, that’s true. We might actually be able to take the exam more comfortably.”

“Exactly. I heard that the entrance exam two years ago required a week-long camp in the forest, and there were so many disputes between group members. But we don’t have to worry!”

Rosette, who had been nodding thoughtfully, casually asked.

“Then should we pack some cake before we depart?”

“Oh! That sounds great! How about bringing card games too in case we get bored?”

“Good idea!”

…Do these girls think they’re going camping?

I shook my head back and forth facing the two cheerfully smiling girls.

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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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