The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 29

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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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Chapter 29

 

I could feel Demian, who was standing a few steps behind me, becoming flustered at my words.

 

“…Archmage?”

 

By now, his face must surely be filled with great confusion.

 

The Archmage is a great mage over 800 years old. He was the being who protected the Western Continent from demonic energy using only his own power.

 

For someone called the Archmage, this marten was far too cute and small.

 

When I glanced back, Demian was making exactly the dazed expression I had expected.

 

His mouth was half open.

 

‘To think Demian would make such an expression.’

 

I barely managed to hold back my laughter.

 

Ahem, I cleared my throat and spoke politely.

 

“I’m sorry for visiting so suddenly. I have something important to tell you.”

 

Actually, I had met the Archmage before my regression.

 

Only once, though.

 

When I was eighteen, I had come to plant the Empire’s flag in the western continent that had been devoured by demonic energy, under the Emperor’s orders.

 

That day, I happened to meet a marten in the forest, and feeling sorry for an animal left alone in the devastated west, I had given it a piece of fruit.

 

But who would have known that marten’s true identity was the Archmage who had returned one last time to withdraw his magic power.

 

‘If the Archmage hadn’t overlooked my intrusion back then, I would have been torn apart on the spot.’

 

That’s how I knew.

 

That this Archmage had a weakness for food.

 

That he imposed a strange rule on himself that kindness received must be repaid.

 

Rustle.

 

The sound of leaves swaying in the forest breeze could be heard.

 

How much time had passed in that silence?

 

“Squeak.”

 

The marten made a small cry.

 

Then dazzling light poured out all around.

 

I reflexively covered my face with both arms and squeezed my eyes shut.

 

When the brilliant light seeping through my closed eyelids finally faded.

 

“Hello.”

 

Before my eyes stood a man with a mysterious atmosphere, his dazzling platinum hair flowing down.

 

When he was a marten, he was so small I had to crouch down to look at him properly, but now he was so tall I couldn’t see his face properly even when craning my neck back.

 

Sunlight filtering through the multicolored leaves flickered above his head like a halo.

 

Vacant purple eyes, half-hidden by his eyelids, gazed down at me quietly.

 

“An unexpected face with an unexpected attitude, I’ll give you that….”

 

His gaze turned toward my shoulder.

 

“A princess and a grand duke’s son, what an interesting combination.”

 

Demian, who had belatedly come to his senses, quickly approached and stood in front of me protectively.

 

“…I am Damian Carter.”

 

“Yeah, I know.”

 

Soon the Archmage turned his head away with apparent disinterest and sat leaning against a nearby rock.

 

“There was a delicious smell so I accepted some food…. This is troublesome.”

 

He cupped one cheek and let out a deep sigh.

 

His expression showed annoyance.

 

“You looked suspicious so I played along a bit, but if I had known you approached me knowing my identity, I wouldn’t have given you an opening.”

 

So he knew I had approached him on purpose.

 

“After receiving kindness, there are constraints that follow.”

 

Golden magic power flickered and disappeared from his snow-white fingertips. His platinum hair flowed smoothly down his pale cheeks.

 

“I don’t particularly like… calculated intruders.”

 

Despite his vacant expression, the man’s voice carried an inexplicable sense of intimidation.

 

The air instantly became heavy and breathing became difficult.

 

It was similar to the feeling when Carlos had directed killing intent at me on the first day I set foot in the Duke’s Mansion.

 

‘Are all mages like this?’

 

Just as I was about to take out the purification stone before he became more aggressive.

 

“Still.”

 

Whoosh.

 

The pressure weighing down on my shoulders instantly disappeared.

 

“I’ll listen to what you have to say. The jerky was delicious too.”

 

The cold atmosphere from just moments ago vanished as the man smiled with a completely relaxed expression.

 

“Meeting guests is enjoyable, after all.”

 

Saying this, the man lightly waved his hand.

 

The next moment, we were sitting on a sofa in the middle of a room covered with soft golden carpet in the blink of an eye.

 

Outside the window, we could see vast grasslands, a distant horizon, and a rainbow hanging in the blue sky from this high vantage point. Clouds were beneath our feet, and the view outside the window was breathtaking.

 

The top floor of the Mage Tower.

 

I was gaping at what had happened in an instant when I suddenly looked down at the warmth I felt in my hands.

 

‘Huh?’

 

At some point, Demian had been gripping my hand tightly. As if he really intended to protect me.

 

I felt a strange mix of unfamiliarity and awkwardness, and wiggled my hand.

 

“Um… Grand Duke.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“My hand.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Only then did Demian seem to realize he had been unconsciously holding my hand, and he jerked away in surprise.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“…It’s nothing.”

 

How sulky.

 

Meanwhile, the Archmage was quietly observing us, dressed in formal attire with a sash over his pure white robes.

 

Earlier, I hadn’t been able to see him properly because he had the sun behind him and I was overwhelmed by his intimidating presence.

 

But seeing him indoors, he possessed an almost unnaturally beautiful appearance.

 

Except for looking a bit dim-witted, he could have passed for a sculpture.

 

No, he was more beautiful than any sculpture. Human hands could never create something like that.

 

His skin was as white and flawless as his platinum hair, giving off an inhuman feeling, and his purple eyes framed by long lashes seemed to change like the universe itself.

 

‘Well, if he’s lived for hundreds of years, he’s probably not human anymore anyway.’

 

Inside the continent, due to the influence of demonic energy, the stronger one’s magical power, the weaker their body becomes until they eventually die, but in terms of pure magical power itself, the purer and stronger the power, the more ageless one becomes.

 

And the mage before me was practically the embodiment of magical power itself.

 

“We don’t have much time.”

 

At that moment, I snapped to attention at the voice I suddenly heard.

 

The Archmage was resting his chin on his hand, staring directly at me.

 

“I’m making time because I have constraints that require me to repay kindness. So if you have business, you’d better speak quickly.”

 

Though his tone seemed harmless, I knew it was a kind of warning. It meant I wouldn’t like what happened if I dawdled unnecessarily.

 

After hesitating briefly, I first asked Demian for his understanding.

 

“Grand Duke, I’ll step away for a moment.”

 

“I suppose it’s a conversation I shouldn’t hear?”

 

It’s not that, but.

 

It is something I can’t tell him about yet.

 

Thinking my silence was confirmation, Demian let out a deep breath and shrugged.

 

Watching us, the Archmage chuckled with a dim expression.

 

“Mm, a secret you must hide from your companion?”

 

“It’s not that, but I’d like to talk quietly.”

 

“Sure, well. That’s not difficult.”

 

When he lightly waved his finger, an opaque barrier instantly formed between Demian and us.

 

“Now speak.”

 

Facing his generous expression, I swallowed nervously.

 

The reason he could be so relaxed was because he possessed enough power to kill a mere young princess instantly with a flick of his hand.

 

To him, titles like princess or noble weren’t particularly important to begin with.

 

‘Even before my regression, certainly…’

 

I quickly came to my senses while recalling old memories.

 

Now wasn’t the time to reminisce about the past.

 

I took out a box from inside my clothes. When I opened the box with trembling hands, a high-purity red magic stone sparkled.

 

The Archmage tilted his head to the side.

 

“Wow, you brought something interesting.”

 

“I thought you might need it.”

 

Because this has the power to save not just the Empire, but the entire continent from demonic energy.

 

And I thought that if anyone could use this purification stone to find a fundamental solution, it would be this man who possessed the purest magical power.

 

‘Most importantly, it should interest him.’

 

Mages are creatures who can’t resist interesting phenomena. Especially an Archmage.

 

As expected, interest flickered in his face for the first time, breaking his constant indifference.

 

Even that was such a slight change that you’d miss it if you weren’t looking carefully.

 

‘Good.’

 

Now I just need to negotiate well.

 

Around that time, the Archmage looked up and asked me in a languid tone.

 

“But this, is it perhaps a trade?”

 

“No.”

 

I shook my head as if the idea was absurd.

 

And quickly added.

 

“I’ll provide as many of these purification stones as you want, Archmage. Could you research them as quickly as possible and produce them in large quantities?”

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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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