The Male Lead Is the Villain, and I'm the Only One Who Knows - Chapter 19

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Male Lead Is the Hidden Mastermind, and Only I Know It – Episode 19
“That’s clearly a trick. I sense an unusual aura—you’ll submit to a search.”
“Tsk. A waste of time.”
I eased the door open and peered inside to find Carahan with a fierce glint in his eye, while Iban gazed at him with obvious annoyance.
“Wow, our brother won again!”
“An inevitable outcome. After all, Your Highness is the strongest on the continent itself!”
Around them, Ate was cheering wildly, and Banel nodded with satisfaction.
I wondered what was happening. Surely not—
“Arm… arm wrestling?”
“Linea, you’re late. We got bored waiting and ended up doing this.”
As I murmured in confusion, Iban immediately rose when he spotted me. Carahan, still seated across the table with his arm resting on it, turned to regard Iban with puzzlement.
“Your Highness emits an aura unlike that of any human. I really must insist on verification.”
“Linea, don’t pay attention to him. He’s like this every time we meet.”
At Carahan’s words, Iban waved his hand dismissively as if accustomed to this.
Don’t pay attention? He’s seeing right through everything—how could I possibly ignore it?
‘No wonder he’s the male lead—his instincts are sharp.’
He might not know about the demonic nature, but he’d certainly picked up on something suspicious. I’d need to be careful about my words and actions around Carahan.
“We only did the arm wrestling because Barat kept nagging about it. He said he needed physical contact to sense things, or something.”
Ate shook his head in disbelief, saying he’d never seen anyone dare treat the prince so casually.
“By the way, you two—did you know each other already?”
“Carahan and His Highness were classmates at Mado Academy. They’ve been inseparable since childhood.”
“Who said inseparable?”
“Not friends.”
In response to Banel’s helpful clarification, both Iban and Carahan simultaneously denied the relationship.
They’re definitely best friends, no matter how you look at it.
Taking advantage of the noise, I caught Shana’s attention and gestured toward Ate.
“Shana, could you examine Ate for me?”
“Ah, so the patient is His Highness? Leave it to me.”
“What? You dragged me here for this? I don’t trust those Temple people! Just look at her—she’s obviously a fake saint!”
Ate let out a loud scoff at the sight of Shana in her pristine priestess robes. Not satisfied with that, he even pointed mockingly while flaunting his ornate demeanor. Shana, who had been quietly observing him, broke into a radiant smile and strode toward him.
“Your Highness, fear not. I’ll prove to you that I’m the ‘real thing’ with my own hands.”
“W-what! Hey, let go! You damn fake, how dare you touch—”
“Well then, I’ll be taking you to the treatment room!”
Shana swept the struggling Ate up into her arms and whisked him out of the reception room before anyone could blink. By the time I opened my eyes again, both Shana and Ate had vanished.
“I hear the saint has three younger brothers beneath her.”
Ah, so that was it! As Carahan’s voice echoed in the sudden silence, everyone finally understood the situation.
As I looked away from the door through which Shana had disappeared, I noticed Carahan had somehow drawn close to my side.
‘His gaze is piercing. Does he have something to say?’
He seemed to have deliberately ignored me until now, which suggested he didn’t particularly care for me. What was this about?
‘Actually, the atmosphere seems a bit softer than before…?’
When I met his eyes with a confused expression, Carahan slowly bent at the waist to match my eye level.
A light kiss brushed across the back of my hand.
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Carahan Barat.”
“So you’ve figured out who I am now?”
“Yes.”
Carahan smiled loosely, wearing the same shameless confidence as Iban.
Having endured so much from Iban, I’d grown accustomed to this sort of thing—so much so that it barely fazed me anymore. Truly, I’d lost all capacity to be surprised.
“I hear you cured the saint’s illness. As one who guards her back, I offer my gratitude.”
Now I understood why his demeanor had suddenly softened—it was because I’d relieved Shana’s suffering.
In the original story, when it became clear that Shana’s condition wouldn’t improve on its own, the Temple had quietly begun searching for a new saint candidate.
‘For Carahan, who had made a contract with Shana to exploit her standing as a saint, this would have been terrible news.’
Of course, after Shana properly awakened later on, they barely averted the crisis. But until then, he must have been deeply troubled—having taken the risk of making an enemy of the Temple to save her.
‘Yet ironically, it was that very crisis that allowed feelings to blossom between them.’
Though for some reason, this time around there seemed to be no progress between the two at all.
“Even so, I’m quite skilled at Creation-type Magic. If you ever need magical medicine, do reach out.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
I smiled gently, and Carahan nodded quietly with an impassive expression. Just then, a priest entered the reception room and delivered a message.
“The saint has instructed me to inform you that the treatment of His Highness may take considerable time.”
He added that once the treatment was complete, the Temple would ensure Ate was safely returned to the Imperial Palace.
The priest bowed respectfully and withdrew with brisk steps.
It seems Ate’s treatment will be possible. I’m glad we’re not too late.
“There’s no reason to stay any longer. Let’s go back.”
Iban prepared to leave without hesitation. We’d accomplished what we came for, so there was no reason to linger.
As I turned to follow him out, Carahan produced something from his robes and held it out to me.
It was a glass vial etched with elegant patterns, and inside it contained a transparent, sky-blue liquid of indeterminate origin.
“What is this?”
“Holy Water, madam. The finest grade used in major rituals—its defining characteristic is exceptional purity.”
If it was really such premium Holy Water, it had to be an extraordinarily precious thing. But why give it to me…?
Unable to divine his intentions, I simply blinked in confusion, and Carahan’s gaze drifted sideways.
More precisely, toward Iban.
…Really, how utterly transparent.
“I thought you might have need of it.”
I’d been wondering about this for a while now—did Carahan actually know Iban’s true nature? His intentions were far too obvious.
“…No, that’s not it.”
“Since my own matter has been resolved, consider it payment for your assistance. They say that Holy Water of sufficiently high purity purges impurity merely by being possessed.”
“Purges impurity…?”
It would hardly be an exaggeration to say Iban was a man composed entirely of impurity, which was deeply unfortunate….
“Thank you, Lord Carahan.”
I found myself accepting the Holy Water he offered. Holy Water typically works against evil, so it amounted to a charm of protection, then?
Though I doubted I’d have any use for it, seeing as I’d already contracted with Iban.
…Probably.
‘If I refused, he’d only grow suspicious of me too.’
I couldn’t very well avoid those sharp golden eyes boring down on me so intently. After tucking the Holy Water inside my dress sleeve, I offered him another smile to express my gratitude.
Just as I turned to leave, Carahan leaned close to me. Then, in a voice only I could hear, he whispered something.
“Should you ever need assistance, come to Carahan at any time.”
“…!”
Did this man think I was some pitiful captive fallen into the clutches of a brutal demon?
‘Not that it’s entirely wrong.’
In any case, this was the first time anyone had truly understood my heart, and I was still pondering how to respond when Iban approached and seized my hand.
“Where are you going.”
His gaze—deep, forest-green, unfathomable—turned toward Carahan.
“If Linea disappears, I’ll make sure you regret it first.”
“It was merely a commonplace invitation, nothing more.”
Carahan offered a faint smile, insisting he’d meant no harm. Whether he did or not, Iban simply kept hold of my hand and swept us both out of the reception room.
“Linea, don’t go meet with him.”
His voice reached me thick with dissatisfaction. Judging by how tightly he gripped my hand, he genuinely seemed to think I might go.
As I searched for a way to pacify the now-irritable demon, I drew the Holy Water from my pocket and gave it a subtle shake.
“There was never any reason for me to go in the first place. Besides, how could I possibly throw this away?”
“…Keep it with you. You should be able to deal with lower-tier demons with that.”
Iban spoke with visible displeasure, instructing me to safeguard the Holy Water Carahan had given me.
‘That’s unexpected. He’s actually concerned for my safety.’
More than that, those two men don’t seem like mere Academy classmates… Since Banel appeared to know something about it, I’d ask him later.
Caw—
As I stepped into the carriage that would escort me back to the Imperial Palace under Iban’s accompaniment, a raven flew down from somewhere and alighted on Banel’s arm.
“─”
After receiving the Mana-composed message from the bird, Banel turned to Iban and relayed the situation.
“Your Majesty, the prisoners have just arrived in the Imperial Capital.”
“The timing is convenient for them to cause trouble. Let’s hurry.”
Wait—prisoners? Could they be…?
“Are these prisoners from the Tarant Kingdom?”
“That’s right. There was an incident on the way, which is why it took a bit longer.”
Iban confirmed my question simply. Good heavens—the second male lead from the war-captive arc was finally making his entrance…!
His name was Cahir Athar—a man from the Tarant Kingdom, a desert nation in the south where the scorching sun burned the earth relentlessly year-round, and one who concealed tremendous power.
In the original work, the Emperor, being fond of Shana (who had a connection with Iban), had granted Cahir to her as a prize of war to serve as her attendant.
‘The kind of tragic character who meets his end by Iban’s hand not long after his introduction.’
But this time, I absolutely could not let him die.
‘Because Cahir is the only Black Mage in this world.’
To realize the forbidden Dimensional Magic, Cahir’s assistance was absolutely necessary.
Of course, Iban had promised to help me, but who knows what the future holds—I needed other contingencies as well. Hmm, hmm.
For that to happen, I needed to be the one to receive Cahir, now reduced to the status of a prize of war….
“Linea, is there something you want to say?”
Iban, catching the fervent gleam in my eyes, nodded for me to speak.
Certainly, if I asked him, it wouldn’t be difficult to obtain Cahir Athar.
But why did I feel it? This ominous premonition creeping over me.
“No, it’s nothing, really…….”
To meet Cahir Athar safely, it might be better if Iban didn’t know of his existence.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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