It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 126

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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 126

 

I felt slightly annoyed, but considering all the help he’d given me so far, I decided to let it slide this once.

 

After all, Melbarik had gotten involved with dark magic because I had asked for his help in the first place.

 

Besides, despite talking like that, Melbarik hadn’t demanded any separate compensation. Since he was stepping in to help with matters he didn’t need to get involved in, it was reasonable for him to enjoy that much of a side benefit.

 

“If you need any information besides dark magic research, please feel free to ask. I can’t guarantee everything will be possible, though.”

 

“That probably won’t happen often. Surely Retis isn’t inferior to the Magic Tower?”

 

“That comment stings my pride a little.”

 

Along with his response, a message flew to my ears instead of spoken words.

 

[There’s no telling what schemes the First Imperial Consort might pull with dark magic again. Please be careful.]

 

[…What else could be left?]

 

[Pure demonic energy isn’t much different from natural mana. In a way, it’s similar to the divine power used by the priests of the religious order.]

 

It seemed Melbarik had uncovered yet another new fact from those secret documents supposedly passed down in the Magic Tower.

 

Hearing information different from what she’d known before, Ailesia focused on his message with a slightly tense expression.

 

[Divine power can only be sensed by priests who use the same divine power. Pure demonic energy would likely be the same. Perhaps there might be no way to detect it at all unless dark magic is actually activated.]

 

[So you’re saying a dark mage who has reached a certain level can completely hide their demonic energy?]

 

[It’s more a matter of the quality of demonic energy rather than the level of dark magic mastery. Just as everything in the world has a flip side, demonic energy also corresponds to the flip side of mana, broadly speaking. Naturally occurring demonic energy is no different from divine power.]

 

[How does that kind of demonic energy come about? You said it was a very rare case, right?]

 

[If I knew that, I would have brought some kind of solution with me.]

 

He wasn’t wrong. Just from the content of his messages, I could feel his desire to help more somehow.

 

“Thank you. I’ll be careful.”

 

“Hehe.”

 

Melbarik chuckled lightly and waved his hand like before. It seemed he was dispelling the soundproof magic since he’d finished saying everything he needed to.

 

“That’s sufficient.”

 

Sufficient for what? Looking at Melbarik’s expression, he seemed to think it didn’t matter either way.

 

I was about to finish drinking my remaining tea when I felt a soft touch on my left hand that I’d lowered under the table.

 

“Teacher.”

 

“Hm?”

 

When I looked down, I saw Elenora holding my hand and rubbing her face while giving me a sulky look.

 

“Did our little one enjoy the dessert?”

 

“I did enjoy it, but…”

 

For someone who enjoyed it, she clearly looked upset. Hilda and Rebecca were also just blinking, completely clueless about what was going on.

 

Even when Ailesia sat her on her lap to comfort her, Elenora still had her lips pushed out in a pout.

 

“Were you bored because Teacher didn’t play with you?”

 

“That’s not it… Teacher, are you dating the Magic Tower Master uncle?”

 

“What?”

 

“Cough…!”

 

Unlike Ailesia who just widened her eyes, Melbarik, who had been drinking tea, quickly covered his mouth with his hand.

 

“You and the Magic Tower Master uncle kept talking just between yourselves the whole time.”

 

“I only talked business with that guy? And you don’t go on dates in front of people you know.”

 

“Huh…? Then you haven’t been on a date with Uncle yet either? Since Elly was watching from the side?”

 

“That’s… right?”

 

…Well, actually there were many things you don’t know about.

 

We had conversations on the terrace during the New Year banquet, rode Shaila together and wandered around the Gardbale Mountains for two whole days, and even went undercover on Parzan Street.

 

‘Honestly, what kind of dates were those.’

 

…Though to say that definitively, there had been quite a few rather convincing scenes.

 

We held hands, linked arms, and touched faces. There were moments when the atmosphere flowed in mysteriously subtle ways.

 

I made excuses to myself every time, talking about fan meetings and such, but hadn’t I already crossed that line? Looking back, it seemed like I had filled it with nothing but selfish desires, making me feel slightly guilty.

 

“Grand Duchess. I apologize for interrupting your conversation.”

 

Melbarik, who had wiped his mouth and hands with a handkerchief, spoke with an awkward expression.

 

“The Lady and I, no, the Grand Duchess’s Teacher and I are just ordinary friends.”

 

“Friends?”

 

“Yes. We exchange academic discussions about magic and share trivial conversations. Sometimes we help each other when needed.”

 

“Hmm…”

 

It was a flawlessly clean explanation, but Elenora narrowed her eyes in a way unbefitting a child and muttered.

 

“But they said there’s no such thing as friendship between men and women…”

 

“Haha, who said such nonsense?”

 

“My mother did.”

 

“…Grand Duchess Consort’s insight is truly exceptional. That must be why the Grand Duchess is so wise.”

 

Look at that sharp turn. Is this the dignity of a Magic Tower Master?

 

* * *

 

“How are the children’s conditions?”

 

“Aside from being a bit more frail than their peers, there are no health problems. The medical report is attached at the very end.”

 

Termion examined the last page of the report as Baron Gavin had said. After skimming through the contents, he let out a sigh of relief.

 

“Nine years old this year… You said they were twins?”

 

“Yes. They seemed quite perceptive and were well-behaved throughout.”

 

“That’s rather a sad story.”

 

Like Elenora, I don’t understand why the world is so harsh to children.

 

Even if he had been in Sigmund’s position, there wouldn’t have been any other choice.

 

To protect Elenora, he could even sell his soul to the devil.

 

‘Fortunately, it wasn’t a devil but a kind witch who came.’

 

Suddenly recalling his first meeting with Ailesia, he quickly shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to get lost in such thoughts.

 

“How did the investigation into Dusk Talon go?”

 

“To put it simply, we’re facing difficulties.”

 

Baron Gavin frowned deeply, unlike his usual self. Unlike his usual warm smile, his expression openly showed irritation.

 

“It’s concealed much more thoroughly than we expected. Even the rumors about the epidemic that supposedly struck the Montid Barony four years ago vary from person to person.”

 

“Was there no useful information at all?”

 

“From what I’ve heard, it sounds remarkably similar to an ordinary epidemic. The transmission route and symptoms are alike. They suffer from high fever and muscle pain, then spots begin appearing on their bodies, and finally they die from respiratory failure accompanied by coughing up blood.”

 

If that was true, the symptoms themselves couldn’t be considered unusual. Even without being an epidemic, these were symptoms that could easily appear in patients who had become weak over a long period and developed complications.

 

“Just in case, I obtained testimonies again from Noid and his younger sister, but they showed completely different symptoms. Noid’s younger sister apparently suffered from a disease that paralyzed the muscles in her arms and legs.”

 

“Didn’t you say it wasn’t a disease?”

 

“Strictly speaking, it was poisoning symptoms. However, the symptoms Noid’s younger sister experienced are very similar to the aftereffects suffered by Sigmund’s children.”

 

“There should be a few more survivors of the epidemic.”

 

“Yes. They also have something in common – they regularly attended the Liriana Order’s temple. They went to worship every week and participated in volunteer work whenever they had time.”

 

“…The evidence seems a bit lacking to establish a causal relationship.”

 

The idea that they overcame dark magic through faith alone was an absurd hypothesis.

 

Unless they could use divine power like priests themselves, worldly matters aren’t solved by prayer alone.

 

“Still, it seems worth investigating once.”

 

“I’ll delegate all investigations regarding Dusk Talon to the Chief Steward. If necessary, you may mobilize all of the Tigel Knight Order except for the minimum personnel.”

 

“There hasn’t been such a need yet, but I’ll keep it in mind.”

 

After Baron Gavin finished his report and left the office, Termion stretched out on the sofa and stared at the ceiling.

 

‘I thought it wouldn’t be easy, but.’

 

Dusk Talon was truly an organization shrouded in mystery in every aspect. Their scale, strongholds, objectives – nothing had been revealed.

 

Even Sigmund had only carried out assigned missions, sometimes wondering why he had to do such things.

 

‘If only they were purely criminal.’

 

The statement Kubera had sent surprisingly included events that charitable organizations might hold.

 

They sponsored orphanages and dispatched people to remote villages to repair various facilities or provide medical volunteer services – content that was utterly incomprehensible by common sense.

 

‘Should I look into the organizations sponsored by the Kaif Duchy.’

 

While his mind was complicated with various thoughts, Termion heard a knock at his door.

 

“Yes, please come in.”

 

“Termion, are you busy?”

 

The moment he heard the familiar voice, Termion sprang up from the sofa.

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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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