The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 33
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 33.
Whether Kirien understood the siblings’ feelings or not, he blinked his beautiful eyes and gazed at them both, his gaze steady and clear.
He had just realized that one could injure someone’s face without using an Aura.
“The seniors said talented individuals can enroll at any time. Is it possible my abilities aren’t strong enough?”
“What? Of course not. In all the world, you’re the only person born possessing an Aura.”
It was indeed an absurd claim.
Unlike Magic, which depended more on affinity with the mana flowing through nature, an Aura was a strength built up within through training alone.
Even if one had brilliant swordsmen as parents, they couldn’t pass down an Aura.
“But why do you look…….”
Her crimson eyes glistened with moisture.
Artiella waved her hands frantically.
“Well, you are a Duke, aren’t you?”
“After experiencing this myself, I think I can manage both.”
“No, that’s not the issue. The moment you become a Holy Knight, your status in the secular world becomes meaningless.”
This was why few high-ranking nobles became Holy Knights, and even fewer maintained their noble titles while joining. Common believers must be shown deference, whether they are retainers or rival nobles. You can endure it with faith within the Temple, but the moment you return to aristocratic society, you cannot.
No other noble respects a peer who bows respectfully to commoners. It means living under constant ridicule and pointed fingers.
“That presents no problem for me. I was originally a commoner.”
That was right, wasn’t it?
But Kirien had many enemies. This would be perfect ammunition for the families of noble ladies he’d rejected, should they seek subtle revenge.
“Is that not acceptable?”
Another facial attack.
Artiella’s weakness for his face was something Kirien clearly understood.
“It’s advantageous in many ways…….”
After a Holy Trial, he didn’t need to use the purification chamber to cleanse his sight. That was truly, absolutely, incredibly, supremely, extraordinarily important.
“Then may I enroll?”
She surrendered.
Artiella admitted it frankly to herself—that if Kirien asked anything of her with eyes like that, she would comply.
She nodded.
“But why do you want to become a Holy Knight? The Holy Maiden promised to protect you, so you could simply stay in Edelion.”
“It’s because……that way……I can be with you always.”
Kirien’s voice sometimes became very small. So quiet that ordinary ears couldn’t hear it.
But Artiella instinctively wrapped her Aura around her ears and caught his whispered words.
“Th-th-that!”
Artiella had short-circuited.
‘He wants to be attached to my side constantly?’
Was this a novel form of confession? But why would such a beautiful, capable, talented man want her?
‘Well, I am dependable, at least.’
Wielding the Bardo looked quite elegant, even to her own eyes. And after all, wasn’t he her lifesaver?
Though not all problems had been solved yet.
“Is that not acceptable?”
“Of course it is!”
Artiella almost lost her composure without realizing it.
“Hmm.”
But something was strange. Why was it so quiet? If her brother wasn’t teasing her for melting so easily at Kirien’s face, then this couldn’t be him.
Artiella turned her head toward Bleo. He was spinning around with his hair disheveled.
“Sigh—no, wait. If the Duke is staying here, do I have to keep living in Edelion too? I’m already homesick. Actually, it seems His Majesty has given up, so can I leave tomorrow?”
Good grief.
Homesickness, even though he’d barely been here a few days.
“Anyway, I don’t have to keep doing Holy Knight trials anymore, right? The Duke said he’d become a real Holy Knight, but I never said I would, so?”
He truly disliked physical exertion.
A sickly man was utterly useless.
“In any case, let’s go to the Holy Maiden at once! We’ll write the enrollment forms and take the exam and enroll immediately!”
That proved unnecessary.
Yusiel had found their quarters, accompanied by Percell, the Emperor’s knight.
* * *
Piter sat in his office, receiving Percell’s report.
“He refused to organize a subjugation unit?”
“Yes, sir. He said there is no evidence of Demon Beasts appearing, so he cannot spare any Holy Knights.”
Percell bowed his head deeply.
He too was flustered by the current situation—not the Temple’s attitude, but Piter’s actions.
Ordinarily, when Piter sent dispatches to the Temple, whether in cooperation or protest, he would review them multiple times and carefully select his phrasing before sending. He had no wish to displease the Holy Knight Commander or the Holy Maiden.
But this time was different.
He had sent it in the imperative mood, and scrawled carelessly at that.
“Ha! Does this mean you don’t trust my eyes again?”
Piter struck the desk roughly with his fist. Unluckily, a quill pen lay directly beneath it. The sharply honed nib pierced his hand, and thick black ink trickled from the wound.
“Your Majesty! Are you all right?”
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
Piter withdrew a handkerchief from his robes and wiped the wound perfunctorily.
“So you’re saying you’ll pretend not to know until the matter grows larger?”
“That’s not it. The Holy Maiden says she’ll go herself and investigate the traces of the demon beast. If it’s the work of Dark Magic, there will certainly be remnants.”
“Yusiel alone?”
“From the way she spoke, she intends to bring the Holy Knight Commander as an escort.”
Piter’s expression softened somewhat.
“When did she say she’d come?”
“She said there’s an important council meeting at the Temple tomorrow. She’ll come once it’s concluded.”
“So the full priesthood assembly is already being convened.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Piter rested his chin on his interlaced fingers. The corners of his mouth curved upward as well.
“It’ll be meaningless.”
Percell heard Piter’s murmur. His tone was distinctly cynical once again.
“Very well. I wish to be alone now. You may go.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The moment Percell closed the door behind him, wind that rushed in from outside snuffed out all the candles that had illuminated the office at once.
Then, from the thick darkness, suspicious whispers came.
“Our aims align, don’t they?”
“Darkness cannot overcome light.”
“Besides, it’s not I who’ll be pierced and killed by the Holy Sword. I’m merely the offering.”
“The safety of this land is assured. I must be sealed within the Holy Sword each time, after all.”
“Why else? I seek a way to return to that primordial place.”
Piter’s chest rose suddenly, sharply.
“How well you lie.”
He was the sovereign of an empire. He was no fool to be swept away by honeyed words and act against his own nation’s interests.
“Be gone.”
“Keke, if that were true, you should have driven me out from the start.”
When you’ve already been bewitched.
Within the shadow cast by moonlight, an unusually dark shadow gripped Piter’s shadow.
Was he bound? Every part of him save his mouth lay motionless, as if pressed down by scissors.
“You’re not falling for it.”
“At this rate, you really will lose me.”
Piter moved his fingers desperately, drawing Sacred Symbols bit by bit, much as Artiella often did.
“I once asked the master of the Holy Sword himself. Between you and Kirien, which vessel pleased him more?”
Piter clenched his teeth.
Artiella wished to live her whole life as a Holy Knight. Since that was the reason she rejected him, Kirien must feel the same.
But that belief was not as solid as he needed it to be.
The finger drawing the Sacred Symbol halted abruptly.
* * *
The next morning, Artiella went out to greet colleagues she was meeting after a long time.
“Ugh, what on earth is this?”
Magic couldn’t transport people directly into the heart of Edelion where it didn’t function. So she had the priests sent to empty ground near the Main Gate.
“Welcome.”
“Ah, what sins have I committed in my long life to suffer such indignity, ugh.”
The priests, who had no skill in channeling mana, all suffered from nausea.
Though they looked desperate for rest, Artiella bundled them into the carriage without mercy.
“Stop complaining and let’s be on our way.”
“How dare you treat us like baggage.”
“This is excessive!”
“Have you forgotten who we are? We will not cooperate if you treat us this way!”
The elderly priests, who had been thoroughly indignant, smiled the moment they arrived in Edelion.
“May I offer my apologies on behalf of the Commander?”
Kirien’s facial attacks showed no mercy—neither age nor gender mattered to him.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————