It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 33

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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 033

“To think I’d be blindsided like this…”

To Termion, who was gritting his teeth, Ailesia calmly voiced her opinion.

“If I were them, I’d use diversionary tactics.”

Unlike the past few days when they camped outdoors, tonight they would stay at a proper lodging in the city. They would be considering the possibility that Ailesia and Elenora might not return to the manor.

Ailesia, who yesterday thought her abilities were being doubted, completely changed her perspective after sleeping on it.

‘I openly showed evidence of using spatial transfer magic, yet they don’t believe it? No, that’s not it. They’re confident they can subdue me even with that.’

She had already openly revealed her abilities, and Kubera had even given official assurance. For the enemy to come out without hesitation in such a situation meant they had a hidden card up their sleeve.

And Ailesia already had a guess about what power made that possible.

‘That power the intruder leader tried to use last time. The taboo that the First Imperial Consort touched in the original story.’

That energy she felt along with the acrid burning smell. It was definitely the energy of dark magic described as ‘demonic energy’ in the original work.

“Ail, there’s something in this world called dark magic.”

“I think I’ve seen it in some book. It’s an incredibly dangerous power, right?”

“It’s still magic in the end. However, dark magic operates on different principles from regular magic.”

“In what way?”

“You offer sacrifices and twist providence in exchange. It makes possible things that would normally be considered impossible. It just creates such ‘concepts.'”

“…Like bringing the dead back to life?”

“That’s the most common example. Dark magic doesn’t need a ‘how.’ There are only results.”

Of course, the ‘some book’ Ailesia mentioned referred to the original novel.

In the original work, it was also a vicious method that always crushed plausibility. As Master Rubia said, it made everything possible with the explanation of ‘it just is.’

‘There are two main ways to counter dark magic, she said.’

First, responding with noble power that can resolve the negative energy of the offered sacrifice—namely, divine power. However, this method can only be used by chosen priests, so it has many restrictions.

Second, you can nullify the phenomenon itself with overwhelming magical power. Dark magic is still magic, after all.

The biggest problem with this method was that unlike regular magic, the cost-effectiveness was extremely poor. To use an analogy, it was like needing to pull out several ox-slaughtering knives to kill a chicken.

‘But there’s someone here with endless magical power, isn’t there?’

That would be me, Ailesia. The world’s strongest, super powerful witch.

Curses or whatever—I can just crush them with brute force. It’s a simple and crude method, so I’d need to consider the aftermath on the surroundings.

‘If things get really bad, I can just bring out Master’s legacy.’

Unless mythical artifacts or hordes of demons appeared, she couldn’t imagine losing.

“I’ve known for some time that we’ve been under surveillance. It wasn’t intrusive enough to bother with, so I left it alone.”

“Is that so?”

Not just the manor, but here too, there were watching eyes. It seemed Termion had already grasped the entire situation.

“I’m quite experienced with these kinds of things.”

His expression as he answered seemed rather bitter, making Ailesia feel a slight pang in her heart.

Upon arriving in the city, Termion immediately secured lodging and completed the gate usage application. As he expected, a reply came back saying it would be available around 10 AM tomorrow.

“I’ll come find you at night, so rest up.”

“Woof!”

Ailesia temporarily sent Whitey and Blanky back to the forest. If two wolves of that size suddenly appeared, never mind explanations—the entire city would be in chaos.

“You can relax until dinner. There’s apparently a bathhouse in the basement too.”

“What about the other knights?”

“They’ll form groups and take turns resting. We can’t all leave our posts.”

“Then I’ll excuse myself first.”

No matter how much she cleaned her body with magic, soaking in hot water naturally felt different. Ailesia was a bit excited at the thought of enjoying a sauna after so long.

“Waaah!”

“Amazing, isn’t it?”

“It’s my first time in a place like this! And my first time bathing with Teacher too!”

Come to think of it, she had no memory of bathing with Elenora. Even when they were in the forest, she had filled a tub with water to wash Elenora, but she herself always used magic instead.

‘Actually, it was because it was bothersome.’

Taking off clothes, drawing and heating water, washing, drying off, then putting clothes back on. How troublesome when it could all be done with a snap of the fingers?

Since this wasn’t a world with well-established infrastructure like the modern era, there were many things in daily life that were surprisingly arduous. After living for about 500 years, becoming somewhat lazy was inevitable.

“Long live magic.”

“Huh?”

Meanwhile, Elenora tilting her head was absolutely adorable. Having washed in hot water, her cheeks were flushed pink and utterly lovable.

“Uncle!”

“Did you wash up nicely?”

“Yes! Squeaky clean!”

After changing clothes and coming downstairs alone, she found Termion, who had bathed first, spreading his arms toward Elenora. The child ran to her uncle and immediately hung onto his neck.

“Good job.”

“Hehe.”

The sight of Termion smiling with his niece on his lap was refreshingly pleasant. As she watched fondly for a moment, he gestured to her.

“Come sit. You must be tired.”

“Tired? Me, of what?”

“Bathing a child isn’t easy work.”

“Oh, what’s so difficult about that?”

This deserves an industry award. Ailesia grinned as if it were nothing.

“By the way, about what we discussed yesterday.”

“Is something bothering you?”

“…No.”

Termion hesitated slightly, seeming to weigh his words. Now that he was about to speak, the niece in his arms seemed to concern him.

[Don’t worry about Elly. Tonight she’ll be in the safest place in the world.]

Hearing Ailesia’s message, Termion finally nodded.

Yesterday, she had deliberately not discussed detailed plans. There might be traitors even among the knights currently traveling with them.

‘Termion noticed signs of tracking much earlier than I did.’

Only two people knew the entire travel route from the Imperial Capital to the Grand Duke’s Castle: Termion and Kubera.

Since Elenora was traveling with them, maintaining thorough security was essential. The knights were only given daily travel plans separately each morning before departure.

‘After riding for a whole week, some route prediction would be possible.’

It wasn’t a situation to rashly conclude there was an informant. Tracking could have been attached from the first day, and with dark magic, surveillance from a distance would be possible.

“Uncle.”

“Yes?”

“Did you secretly go on a date with Teacher yesterday?”

“What? No way!”

Elenora, who always stayed quiet when adults talked, suddenly dropped a bombshell. Thanks to that, Termion’s face instantly turned bright red.

“Then what did you talk about with Teacher yesterday?”

“…There was, you know, stuff.”

Unable to mention anything about attacks, he vaguely mumbled his answer. However, Elenora pressed Termion with surprisingly sharp eyes for a child.

“You left Elly out and played with Teacher just the two of you! Right?”

“I said no.”

“Oh my, Termion. Then everything you said yesterday was all lies?”

“…Excuse me.”

Ailesia made a slightly hurt, sulky expression. Seeing that, Termion could only grind his teeth and swallow his frustration.

“You said lying makes you a bad adult!”

For the first time in his life, Termion was tormented by the terrifying urge to smack his niece. Surely Elenora’s parents in heaven would consider this much justified self-defense.

“…Ailesia.”

“What?”

Termion, who had completely given up on even responding to Elenora, struggled to change his conversation partner.

“Both Elly and you must have reasons for acting like this.”

“I wonder? It’s probably not puberty hitting.”

“…What do you.”

“Little One. Have you suddenly been feeling like the world is pointless lately, or that the people around you seem trivial?”

“No? Elly likes Uncle and Teacher!”

“See, that’s not it.”

At this point, it felt like his own puberty might come back. Termion held his forehead without giving any response.

On a night when the street lights had mostly gone out and everyone was asleep. Thick purple smoke flowed in through a quietly opened window.

Not long after confirming that the room was filled with smoke, a man carefully pulled back the curtains and stepped inside. He had his nose and mouth covered with a chemically treated mask prepared in advance.

‘Just as I was told.’

On the bed visible through the thick smoke, an adult woman and a little girl lay sleeping without the slightest movement.

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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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