It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 118

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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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500 Years as Just an Extra,

 

The Original Story Still Won’t Begin

 

Episode 118

 

“It’s been a while. Nothing unusual happened, right?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

Melbarik was dressed in a light gray shirt and dark navy pants with just a robe draped over them. The monocle on his left eye remained the same as always.

 

“I see you have someone accompanying you today?”

 

Melbarik asked, glancing at the person standing beside Ailesia. It was a man wearing a dull gray robe with the hood pulled up and even a mask, giving off an indescribable sense of intimidation.

 

“When I said I was going out, he assigned me a guard. Termion made such a fuss about how I shouldn’t go alone.”

 

Upon hearing her answer, both Melbarik and the man flinched simultaneously.

 

Melbarik in particular slightly furrowed his brow and smiled awkwardly, showing a reaction of displeasure.

 

“The Grand Duke seems to care for Lady Milenov much more than I thought. You came alone last time, didn’t you?”

 

This bastard dares to make snide remarks? Does he think I’ll take his side if he does that?

 

Ailesia, who immediately understood Melbarik’s implication, shrugged her shoulders and smiled brightly.

 

“That time I snuck out without telling anyone.”

 

“He looks rather ordinary to be guarding you.”

 

…Can’t we just let this slide nicely? He’s being like this till the end.

 

While she could understand Melbarik’s mood, picking a fight with an innocent person wasn’t very pleasant behavior to watch.

 

In the first place, he’d never even met Termion face to face, so what was he being so wary of?

 

“Enough, let’s go inside. A guard doesn’t matter either way.”

 

“Well, I suppose that’s true.”

 

Fortunately, Termion remained silent without any particular reaction. With only his eyes slightly visible under the hood, he wasn’t even looking in Melbarik’s direction.

 

“And the person who came with me is one of the top five skilled fighters in the Tigel Knight Order. Don’t judge carelessly based on appearances alone.”

 

“…Oh my, I apologize. It’s because I’m a mage.”

 

Had Ailesia’s voice sounded deliberately sharp? Melbarik glanced around nervously and offered what could barely be called an apology.

 

For someone making excuses about not knowing, his expression looked rather uncomfortable. He was probably doubting his own eyes.

 

[See? Good thing you wore the necklace, right?]

 

The man who heard Ailesia’s message, Termion, nodded slightly.

 

‘…It was worth following along.’

 

He had been feeling uncomfortable because of Melbarik’s words, but his mood improved when Ailesia took his side.

 

Moreover, unlike the endlessly kind Melbarik, Ailesia seemed to be subtly on edge. It was a stark difference compared to the jokes she usually threw at him.

 

Nevertheless, Melbarik’s attitude remained unchanged.

 

“How have you been spending your time?”

 

“The usual. Teaching Elly, helping with family house matters.”

 

“You help with family house affairs as a tutor? Aren’t they working you too hard?”

 

“It’s a hobby and pastime.”

 

“There are many interesting things at the Magic Tower as well.”

 

To Termion’s ears, these were nothing but irritating words. Melbarik was subtly disparaging Retis while trying to persuade Ailesia.

 

At least he felt considerably relieved that Ailesia was showing an indifferent reaction.

 

“What would you like for tea?”

 

“Not today. More importantly, what about the research results?”

 

“Oh my.”

 

Had he made another mistake without realizing it? Melbarik smiled bitterly and quietly took his seat.

 

“Is your guard naturally the taciturn type?”

 

Termion had been standing behind Ailesia without saying a single word until then. It was the same even after she sat on the sofa.

 

“He’s literally a guard. He’s someone who’s extremely faithful to his duties.”

 

“…You seem to know him well?”

 

“He’s from the Tigel Knight Order, so we’re acquainted. But anyway, are you going to keep showing interest in other people while you have me sitting in front of you?”

 

“Haha, you got me there.”

 

Melbarik’s smile softened gently. Her reaction of shooting back with a prim voice seemed almost like jealousy, and he couldn’t hide his rising smile.

 

“Let’s start by talking about these pajamas.”

 

Melbarik took out Queen Urnella’s negligee, put on those familiar gloves, and grasped one of the decorations.

 

“At first I thought it simply drained life force, but it also contained Mental Manipulation Magic.”

 

“Mental manipulation?”

 

“You could call it Enchantment Magic. Anyone who wears this outfit for an extended period gradually becomes obsessed with their own beauty.”

 

“You mean they put more effort into managing their appearance than usual?”

 

“That’s right. So anyone who wears this outfit inevitably becomes prettier. Moreover, what’s the first physical change that occurs when life force is absorbed?”

 

“…They would lose weight.”

 

“Correct.”

 

In the end, it meant that the effects of maintaining beauty and health were all just illusions.

 

Since weight would automatically decrease, the short-term diet effect would be certain, but the more one became obsessed with beauty, the more sensitive their personality would gradually become.

 

“The most frightening part is that once someone has worn this outfit, it’s impossible for them to voluntarily stay away from it. Just like being addicted to drugs.”

 

Melbarik opened the pouch that was beside the negligee, took out a necklace, and continued speaking.

 

“This necklace is the same. If you never use it at all, that’s one thing, but once you use it even once, you’ll never be able to quit.”

 

“Between the negligee and the necklace, which has stronger addictive properties?”

 

“The necklace is far superior. If an ordinary person experiences the realm of an Aura user, they won’t be able to give it up easily. It’s a structure where obsession with power makes mental dependency even stronger.”

 

If what Melbarik said was true, she could understand why Sigmund had readily opened his mouth and cooperated before.

 

He too must have continued his missions in a half-brainwashed state, under the control of Dark Magic while thinking it was wrong in his head.

 

After the crystal embedded in his body was removed, he was freed from the influence of Demonic Energy, so he would have been able to overcome the temptation.

 

“Both this outfit and necklace erode the wearer’s Mana Core with Demonic Energy. Once the Mana Core is eroded beyond a certain level, from that point on, Demonic Energy replaces natural mana.”

 

“Then what happens if Demonic Energy is forcibly extracted from the body?”

 

“The body and mind receive a great shock. It’s like cutting off a part of the flesh while alive.”

 

“I roughly understand.”

 

It became clear why the poachers had fainted when their Demonic Energy was forcibly removed, and why Sigmund had said their bodies would be ruined.

 

Furthermore, her own speculation that the process of removing Demonic Energy would involve danger had turned out to be exactly right.

 

“The problem is… as you probably guessed, this thing called Demonic Energy has completely different properties from magical power or Aura. Cases where Demonic Energy occurs naturally are extremely rare, so it’s impossible to supply it through the ordinary method of cultivating mana for substitution.”

 

“It has to be artificially injected from outside?”

 

“Yes. Demonic Energy that has eroded the Mana Core disappears on its own after a certain amount of time.”

 

And in that process, the Mana Core gets damaged. From the moment Demonic Energy is injected into the body, it’s like harboring poison that could explode at any time.

 

“I investigated the literature more thoroughly, and Demonic Energy is ultimately mana with altered properties. If I had to express it, I could describe it as corrupted mana, or decayed mana.”

 

“Then what about methods to artificially create demonic energy?”

 

“It said you could offer the negative emotions, lives, and souls of living beings as sacrifices. I don’t know the exact method myself.”

 

Though Melbarik spoke with a slightly disappointed voice, Ailesia actually thought it was fortunate.

 

If the Magic Tower’s records had contained the complete method for creating demonic energy, one of the past Magic Tower Masters might have committed some insane act.

 

A mage’s curiosity transcends imagination, so once their eyes are turned, they wouldn’t care about morality or common sense.

 

And anyone who becomes a Magic Tower Master would be at least Upper Mage level. If they used dark magic skillfully, they could even reach the legendary realm of Arch Mage, so they definitely would have caused trouble and more.

 

“In any case, the fact that someone is openly using dark magic means innocent lives are being sacrificed somewhere. We must stop it.”

 

“…May I ask one rude question?”

 

Ailesia glanced around cautiously, unlike herself. She had thought of a question that would give Melbarik every right to throw her out of the Magic Tower immediately.

 

However, Melbarik seemed to already guess Ailesia’s thoughts and waved his hand dismissively with a light laugh.

 

“No matter how obsessed I am with magical research, I haven’t lost my mind to that extent. Besides, that question isn’t much different from the one I asked you last time, so it’s not rude at all.”

 

“I’m relieved you say that. Honestly, it was uncomfortable to even voice it. But I couldn’t not ask.”

 

“I understand your feelings. It’s normal for any mage to have curiosity about such things.”

 

Melbarik gathered up the clothes and necklace that had been spread out and held them forward. The voice that followed contained calm yet weighty conviction.

 

“Lady Milenov. I am a human being before I am a Magic Tower Master or a mage. I will definitely maintain that line under any circumstances.”

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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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