The Villain Who Will Kill Me Is Too Handsome, It's Troublesome - Chapter 66

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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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Chapter 66.
“I went there on His Majesty’s orders.”
Percell didn’t seem to be lying. His eyes were focused, his aura untainted by evil.
Then Kirien casually drew out a mirror, held it up to Percell’s face, and nodded. A Holy Knight well-trained indeed.
“And what was this place?”
“Are you familiar with the sealed Magic Tower?”
“Yes, well enough. The Tower Master was caught conducting secret Black Magic research there, wasn’t he?”
She’d heard it was her mother’s and Bertia’s achievement—this had happened just before the twins were born, if she recalled correctly.
They’d rooted out the black mage and destroyed him, and the Tower had been sealed.
After that, the mages had relocated their base to the Academy, and the land, forsaken even by its overflowing Mana, had been left to rot.
“It does seem the sort of place befitting the Source of Evil.”
So barren was it that even black mages would hardly set foot there, she’d heard.
Purification wouldn’t take hold. Only the belief remained that when the Sacred Tree bore fruit, that land would once again overflow with Mana and life.
“But how did His Majesty discover this place?”
She’d tried hard not to sound sarcastic, but her eyebrows twisted upward despite her effort.
“When you ordered the Count to send the Fox Fur, and right after you jumped from the balcony—at those times, his spirit sank into a pitch-black pond, he said. As if he were being dragged down.”
“Moments when he was under the Source of Evil’s control, then.”
“Yes. And when he looked up from the bottom of that black pond, he could see his surroundings.”
Percell relayed the scene as Peter had described it in detail.
Grass dried to brittleness, drained of all life. A sky washed in ash-grey. A land where not even small creatures endured—even insects withered and fell.
And a tall tower?
“Wait—the Magic Tower was already destroyed, wasn’t it?”
The tower, which had stood for centuries, hadn’t lasted ten years after its caretakers vanished, or so the records claimed.
“Yes, which is why I went to verify. The traces of the black mage overlapped with what I found.”
That was why Percell hadn’t been at the Imperial Palace during the commotion. This pursuit had been the Royal Family’s responsibility.
“Was the tower there?”
“No.”
“Perhaps he saw a phantom.”
“It wasn’t that. We couldn’t reach the site where the Magic Tower once stood at all.”
She’d never heard news of the Temple raising a separate barrier there. It was suspicious.
Which was precisely why she couldn’t simply believe it.
There was no guarantee Peter was speaking in his right mind—and even that could be a trap he’d calculated and laid.
“Please, I beg you! Won’t you investigate that place?”
Then Percell knelt before Artiela.
“Couldn’t you save my liege’s soul from that place?”
So Peter hadn’t wasted his entire life. A knight who believed in and followed his master to the very end—there was something to be said for that.
His weakness was that he was too single-minded, eyes fixed only forward.
“You didn’t stop by the Imperial Palace on the way here?”
Artiela took Percell’s arm and helped him to his feet.
“It’s temporary, but I’ve stripped away the evil.”
“Truly?”
“Yes. It may take time for him to regain his senses. So go quickly and stay by his side. The 1st Princess will have her hands full managing on her own.”
“Thank you!”
Life flooded back into Percell’s face as he bowed repeatedly. Even his step as he turned to mount his horse grew lighter.
“If anything goes wrong, contact Edelion anytime.”
“Understood. But the Magic Tower—”
“I’ll discuss it with the Holy Woman.”
She had no intention of rushing there immediately.
Going to a hiding place didn’t mean she could resolve anything at once, and there was a risk of falling into a trap. She needed to prepare carefully.
After Percell had left, Kirien approached her side.
“Do you believe that knight’s account?”
“I don’t think Percell was lying. But—”
“But?”
“The Source of Evil was acting strange today.”
Artiela waved away the dust Percell’s words had kicked up, her brow furrowing.
“In what way?”
“There was barely any resistance.”
Yes, this had nagged at her all along.
When they first met, she’d been overwhelmed by the Source of Evil. Afterward, her right hand had been constrained. Her Holy Power had grown, but not enough to subdue an evil entity so easily.
“And, well—”
She glanced at Kirien’s face.
“Until now, he’s always appeared to me in Kirien’s form.”
“Ah….”
Kirien seemed to recall something.
“He asked which shell I preferred.”
If he wanted to launch a Mental Attack, Kirien’s face would be the most effective vessel. Yet the most wicked being under heaven was going to pass up an opportunity to strike at his enemy?
“Could it be because I was there?”
“Perhaps. But it’s almost as if…”
“As if?”
“He deliberately chose something sickening to do.”
Remembering how the Emperor had once revealed his wickedness to her, Artiela’s brow furrowed. She’d seen the very depths of him—things she’d never wanted to know.
Well, now that she’d accepted the Source of Evil, her judgment of him had already hit bottom anyway.
“Was he trying to leave her with guilt?”
“Or was he trying to provoke me into killing the Emperor?”
“That’s possible too. If the Emperor died without an heir, chaos would engulf the empire. Trust between Edelion and the empire would shatter as well.”
Now she was thoroughly confused.
The more she struggled, the more she played into his palm.
* * *
The two of them returned to Edelion and encountered Bleo at the entrance.
“I’ve been training at the Imperial Palace and barely managed to eat one piece of cookie the Princess gave me, and you two are out on dates!”
His mouth was still working just fine, which meant he hadn’t brought back any ominous news.
Artiela stuffed a Fried Meatball she’d bought on the way back directly into Bleo’s mouth with precision.
While he chewed and swallowed, Kirien quietly pulled out a Mirror to check on Bleo. After confirming his own condition as well, he tucked it away—a habit well-formed by now.
“What about His Majesty? Has he regained consciousness yet?”
“Not yet. Our Saint has treated all the external wounds, and the physician says there’s nothing physically wrong with him. We’ve tried giving him medicine, even shaking his body, but he just won’t wake.”
He’d taken in an darkness and malice beyond what any human could bear, so of course his recovery would take time.
Still, since he’d been fundamentally sound of mind before, he should be all right.
Artiela shook off the lingering guilt and entered Edelion proper. The two men followed close behind.
“How are the nobles reacting?”
They couldn’t hide it anymore, so they’d made it public, but she was still worried.
There must have been people who blamed her father or Bleo, saying this had all happened because she’d drawn the Holy Sword.
Even knowing it was a chicken-and-egg problem, some people found it easier to sleep if they had someone to blame.
“They’re not taking the Source of Evil very seriously at all.”
“Huh? Aren’t they panicking in fear and chaos, pooling their heads together to prepare for what comes next and find hope?”
“Not at all. They seem to believe the Temple will handle everything.”
Why was that?
Artiela stopped walking and blinked.
“After all, the Source of Evil is the Temple’s enemy, right?”
Bleo made a face. Artiela’s brow drew tight as well.
“I’ve heard that somewhere before…”
At the Imperial Palace, from the 2nd Princess.
She’d said it as though discussing someone else’s problem.
“They think they have nothing to lose. They’ve got their hoarded wealth and their power, so they’ll just look for ways to make money in the chaos and disaster that comes.”
“But surely the nobles have had history lessons and know how catastrophic a calamity like this is?”
“That’s the problem. They think the Saint and the Holy Sword’s wielder are immortal heroes. Someone’s risking their life to fight, but they don’t even realize they should be grateful.”
Bleo huffed indignantly and strode ahead. Watching him from behind, something in Artiela’s heart melted.
Family really was the best.
Artiela wrapped her arms around Bleo’s neck from behind.
“Now you’re trying to assassinate me with your bare hands.”
Bleo pretended to be annoyed but carried his sister on his back as he walked toward the Royal Family’s private quarters.
Tomorrow, the two of them would leave for the Holy Knight Order’s barracks, and this was Bleo’s final stop.
“Say, Ati.”
“What?”
Bleo’s voice grew quiet. Unlike him, the playfulness faded from it.
“Your brother has finally received a proposal.”
“Really? Congratulations—you’ve finally become popular.”
“The suitor is the 1st Princess. Aren’t you surprised?”
Kirien had mentioned it—that the 1st Princess seemed quite interested in Bleo.
She seemed wise and composed, so privately, she’d already picked him as a match for her brother.
“Well, if the Count’s Family ties itself to the Royal Family by marriage, your position will certainly be solidified.”
“Would the 2nd Princess be acceptable to you, sister?”
This is a shock. Where did that come from?
“And it was the 2nd Princess who stole my Sacred Stone today.”
I’m against this marriage.

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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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