Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 205

Chapter 205. Secretly Noble (2)

"So, Genin is suspicious."

Two days before the 'Bishop Selection'.

Summoned to a meeting, Zahard was so taken aback by Yulian's shocking words that he couldn't help but ask again.

"Didn't he side with you due to his connection with Kolparan?"

Zahard had just joined the 'Dawn Society' and was working at the bottom rung.

To be specific, he had temporarily aligned himself with the 'Dawn Society' under Yulian's orders, but he had not fully committed to it.

"Yes."

"If that's the case, then the High Pontiff? Genin would be of help when you plan to kill him."

Zahard ran his hand once over his cane-sword, looking at Yulian with doubtful eyes.

"The Monastery of Genmel, currently used as the gathering place for the 'Dawn Society', belongs to Genin Mardielle."

"I'm aware. I also know it was built under the premise of helping the poor as a noble gesture."

As if that wasn't born of a ridiculous sense of superiority.

By now, Zahard knew the phrase claiming it was for the 'poor' was just a lie.

Nobles often have strong egos that lead to unnecessary projections of themselves.

'... Hmm.'

Even the slit-eyed man in front of him could be said to have a strong ego, but at least Yulian's ego didn't harm others.

It just got on their nerves.

'Perhaps that's causing harm in its own way.'

Kuheum.

Zahard corrected his thoughts and returned to the topic.

"If such a person as Genin becomes an enemy, it would indeed be quite troublesome."

Considering he's a noble who knows all the schedules and geography of the monastery.

"That's why we can't trust him."

"Hmm?"

Puzzled by Yulian's speech once more, Zahard tilted his head again.

"If I were the High Pontiff, I would keep someone like the Archbishop and Genin right by my side."

"Why is that?"

"If they revolt, it could be fatal."

It's a somewhat convincing argument.

From what he heard, the 'Archbishop' was directly assisting in the murder of the 'High Pontiff', reducing her chances of betrayal.

If perchance, the 'High Pontiff' was vaguely aware of this, he would attempt to secure Genin on his side somehow.

"Then why did Kolparan leave Genin alone when bringing him in?"

Thus, suspicions were heightened. If Kolparan had been truly sure that Genin would betray him for the bishop, he should have informed him beforehand.

At Zahard's question, Yulian smiled.

"Because even we can see Genin's actions."

"You can see Genin's actions?"

"Yes."

Yulian, crossing his legs once, gently stroked the scabbard.

"If Genin, who is observing us, takes some action, then we can consider it an order from the High Pontiff."

If he's not a fool, someone in the position of the 'High Pontiff' would be constantly aware of power challenges.

The simplest way to understand such intentions of the 'High Pontiff' is that.

"So that's why you want to keep him close. If the High Pontiff starts moving, Genin will be the first to act."

Zahard nodded in understanding.

"That's also why I'm bringing you into the Dawn Society and assigning you tasks."

"To keep an eye on Genin?"

"More precisely, to have you protect me when Genin moves."

"Whose body do you want me to protect? Yours?"

"Yes."

Though Yulian nodded, Zahard found it all so absurd that he couldn't help but laugh.

"Haha, that's quite an absurd joke."

"It's not a joke, Sir Zahard. I may look like this, but I'm a coward at heart."

This coming from Yulian.

The executioner whom the gallows fear claims to be a coward.

Unable to resist the laughable humor in it, Zahard chuckled inwardly.

***

The day before the 'Bishop Selection'.

― When I'm invited to Genin's estate to discuss with him, please follow me, Sir Zahard."

After already consulting.

This was the 'rehearsal' Yulian had talked about.

"Let's start moving then."

Zahard quietly and discreetly followed his lead in accordance with Yulian's orders.

Though.

"... A mere member uses informal speech. Do you understand I hold a 'Monsignor' rank you cannot overstep?"

Felkhor had followed along as well.

Whether displeased by the informal speech, Felkhor spoke curtly, but Zahard did not respond.

"Now you're just outright ignoring me."

Although Felkhor wanted to say more, he prioritized following Yulian's command.

As promised, they arrived at Genin's estate and quietly vaulted over the wall under the shadow of the dark night.

"Careful not to trip."

Felkhor attempted to lead the way for the blind Zahard, but Zahard scoffed.

"Do you think I have only lived like this for a day or two?"

"Damn it, even when I offer help, you just complain."

After making a curt remark, Felkhor began walking behind Zahard.

Blending into the dark night, the two silently approached Genin's estate and began to notice something strange.

"It's unusually quiet, isn't it?"

Felkhor first voiced his opinion, and Zahard nodded in agreement.

Nobles usually have a lot of servants accompanying them late into the night.

Unless in exceptional cases, that's the norm, and Genin fits into the usual category.

"Could he have sent all the servants away?"

"No, I don't think that's the case."

"Why?"

Zahard concentrated and began to extend his special ability broadly.

Aura sonar.

As the fluctuations of the subtly spread aura caught something, Zahard instantly identified the entities.

"They're cultists."

Not regular servants but cultists from the Dawn Society. It seemed Genin had stationed them here to strike at Yulian.

"They're cultists? Prepared by Genin?"

"They must be."

"... He was planning a full-scale betrayal!"

If he had used regular soldiers or unrelated mercenaries to the Dawn Society, there could have been future repercussions.

Genin, contemplating up to that point, had deliberately summoned only 'cultists' here.

As expected.

The two moved slightly further, and cultists surrounding the estate appeared in sight.

"Could we resolve this through dialogue?"

Zahard looked at Felkhor and asked. Since he's ranked at 'Monsignor', wouldn't he be able to handle this?

"Didn't you constantly boast about being a Monsignor with pride?"

"... Well, anyway, those guys are here on orders from a 'Bishop', so talking to them will be useless."

"Tsk tsk, being a Monsignor isn't much, it seems."

Although Zahard's sardonic comment was thrown his way, Felkhor only groaned without a retort.

"Then, there's no choice."

Schrrring──.

Zahard laid his hand on the staff and drew out the sword from it.

"In the end, we can only deal with this as planned beforehand."

Clouds started obscuring the moon in the sky. Simultaneously, a large shadow began forming on the ground, and taking advantage of that moment, Zahard launched himself at the cultists.

"... Hmm?"

The cultist who reacted to the hostile approach from behind.

However, that was their last moment, and the cultist struck by Zahard's sword fell like a straw.

"A man who can't even see attacks so excellently."

"What's happening!"

"Who are you bastards!"

"Comrade of the traitor Yulian! Kill them all!"

Felkhor, who initially intended to just observe from a step back. However, as the cultists spotted him, they shouted and charged.

"How did they know?"

After knocking down the charging cultists, Felkhor expressed his bewilderment, and Zahard chuckled as he explained.

"As the moon up in the sky gets covered by clouds, the moon down on the ground draws attention."

Felkhor initially had a question regarding Zahard's statement, but upon hearing the cultists' shout, realization dawned upon him.

"Over there! Kill that bald head!"

"Did you think you'd hide with that kind of head without being noticed?"

***

― Kwaaahhh!

― Gyaaahhhh!

Despite the concert of screams echoing from outside the estate, Genin had no choice but to focus on what was unfolding before him.

Yulian, holding a teacup filled with deadly poison, remained unaffected.

Sip by sip.

Even though he was savoring the 'deadly poison,' Yulian's complexion didn't flinch.

― Wha, what is happening!

The cries from outside grew more intense.

Like being a small sailboat on a vast sea witnessing a fierce storm. Intense fear gripped Genin.

"These are quite good."

Even so, Yulian remained at ease. Almost as if declaring that the area around Genin's estate was within his grasp, Yulian appraised the 'poisonous tea.'

"Indeed, as you mentioned, Sir Genin, it is good tea. Real recognize real."

Still having not emptied his cup, Yulian brought the tea up to his nose to savor its aroma.

Genin's fear reached its peak at this scene.

"Wha–, whaaah!"

Yulian's actions ignited the fuse known as 'fear', and Genin rose from his seat with an unseemly scream.

"Aaagh!?"

However, Genin couldn't rise. As if pinned to his chair, he couldn't budge.

The carpet in the sitting room, which he routinely stepped on, seemed to pull at his feet.

"He, help...!?"

As Genin lowered his head to confirm the anomaly, he saw something terribly pitch black.

An entity resembling a 'monster', straight out of a fairy tale, with multiple eyes embedded screamed silently as it gripped his legs.

"Didn't you say, Sir, that one should never rise before tea time was over?"

"Sir Yulian...!"

Though he called Yulian's name in a near-pleading voice, Yulian merely continued to sip his tea.

A short chuckle echoed in the ear.

"Poison tends to yield to a stronger poison. Do you think there exists a poison in this world stronger than demonic energy?"

Even Genin knew.

What truly makes demons terrifying is the presence of demonic energy, a residual thought from the Demon God.

This 'demonic energy', capable of warping human nature and corrupting minds, is the deadliest poison. Hence, demons are unaffected by ordinary toxins.

"That, that means then..."

Anyone with even a modicum of imaginative capacity could draw a conclusion from the information Yulian imparted.

"There's a demon in you..."

"Having been served by you, Sir Genin, it's only noble tradition that I reciprocate."

With an unsettling smile, Yulian rose from his seat holding the tea kettle.

Unable to turn his gaze away from the impending disaster, Genin could only watch the situation unfold.

"Allow me to pour you a cup as well, Sir Genin."

As Yulian tilted the tea kettle, something began spilling into Genin's teacup.

Not the tea he had earlier tasted, but a pitch-black shadow with multiple eyes.

The very 'demon' identical to the one gripping his ankle.

Clacky's Corner:

Yulian be like: he just stood there, menacingly.

Also, the moon on the ground refers to Felkhor's bald head.

I wonder if Zahard really is blind.