Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 218

Chapter 218. Weakening (2)

Ornn Cryphart.

Though the previous head of the Cryphart family and his son, the current head Oben, couldn't exactly be described as having a close father-son bond, their relationship wasn't particularly strained either, much like the other noble families.

Their relationship began to sour after he married the sorceress 'Milena' from the barbarian's homeland, the 'Northern Continent'.

"There's not an Imperial who doesn't know this."

'Imperial Mage', one of the 'Three Colors' called 'Blue', Hemmel, expressed discomfort and turned his gaze toward the majestic man seated.

Ornn Cryphart.

The former head of the knightly 'Cryphart family' had come to see himself, the current 'Imperial Mage'.

He knew the reason, at least roughly. Nonetheless, Hemmel inquired to probe Ornn's intentions.

"Why have you come here, Sir Ornn?"

Knights and mages were not on good terms.

That's what people traditionally believe for entertainment.

In reality, some knights and mages do indeed not get along.

However, at the 'upper echelons', everyone was in sync. Mages as significant as the 'Three Colors' especially understand this.

Ultimately, knights seek honor.

Mages seek research.

For this, establishing themselves as 'cooperative rivals' rather than tearing each other down was beneficial.

"I have come because I have a favor to ask."

Ornn looked at Hemmel with a stern demeanor. Although not as old as the 'Pure White' Flugel, Ornn was well past retirement age.

Yet, his imposing presence was incomparable to ordinary nobles.

"A favor? We do have some connection, so I'll listen, but note that I may refuse depending on what it is."

Hemmel maintained a respectful attitude toward Ornn.

If he fell out of favor with the Council of Nobles, it would be problematic for a 'mage'. The Magic Tower is under imperial oversight, yet it's not entirely funded by the 'Imperial familly'.

"Is this related to Yulian?"

Hemmel adjusted his garment and began to earnestly listen to Ornn's story from his seat.

Upon hearing the question, Ornn's expression contorted.

His elderly face, full of displeasure, seemed to exhibit a strong will to 'tear to shreds' anyone who dared mention it further.

'Of course.'

He had a vague idea.

'The Sword Saint's death has stirred up quite a commotion in the capital. It wasn't hard to predict Ornn's visit to the Magic Tower was related to that.'

"With your magic, it wouldn't be difficult to make Yulian's death appear accidental."

"Indeed, that's true."

Hemmel nodded in agreement with Ornn's words.

"What do you desire?"

To dispatch Yulian would involve a significant risk.

Yet, if the return were significant enough to outweigh the 'risk,' a mage would not refuse.

Knowing this, Ornn asked straightforwardly about the 'reward.'

There was a strong will to offer anything desired.

"Then, I want Flugel's head."

"Flugel......?"

The Pure White Flugel.

The most senior and elder sage among imperial mages.

Currently devoted to training disciples to reach the next hierarchy, Hemmel had never taken a liking to that eccentric old sage.

Despite this, the achievements Flugel had accumulated were unreachable by ordinary mages.

Thus, the title of 'Best Mage of the Empire' was perpetually his, and the long-lived 'Flugel' had no intention of retiring.

"Khm......."

Ornn exhaled a short sigh.

'An impossible task, I know.'

Hemmel disliked 'Flugel', but he acknowledged his skills.

A mage who lived for over a hundred years.

A sage among sages.

Toppling such an unyielding old tree by human hands, not the passage of time, was impossible.

'It's just as impossible to eliminate Yulian.'

Hemmel had placed 'Flugel' in Yulian's trajectory.

His skill, unheard of even at a young age.

He was even called the next 'Sword Saint' due to his skills.

'He mentioned Flugel because it's an impossible task.'

In other words, he politely declined instead of asking for a 'reward.'

"Hold on."

Ornn, looking troubled, fiddled with the ring on his ornn hand with the other.

'A magic tool, it seems.'

It was an artifact containing transmission magic.

"Is it possible?"

When suddenly asked if it was possible, the ring started to emit a faint glow.

― With the Sword Saint gone, there's no need to lurk in the shadows anymore. Killing Flugel falls outside the constraints, so it seems possible.

It was a female voice.

A voice Hemmel had heard once before.

"That voice, it can't be......."

It was only natural for Hemmel to question in surprise.

If his hypothesis were correct, the voice belonged to the remnant of the 'North', someone Ornn detested.

Ornn gave a twisted smile.

"Yes, it's the witch."

***

I stood in place, examining my fist.

Slightly stained with blood. I gazed at the owner of that blood.

Oben Cryphart.

He had taken a punch and was knocked backward.

"Ugh, ugh......."

Oben, sprawled on the ground with blood pooled in his mouth, slowly shifted his gaze.

Towards his guardian knight, the old knight Eharc, rather than towards me.

Why didn't you stop him?

Such a query seemed to be etched on Oben's face.

"Didn't you previously mention that you wouldn't mind if Yulian hit you?"

Eharc responded with a sharp criticism toward Oben.

Hearing such words made me feel a sense of exhilaration.

Wow, so I can hit him more?

'Calm down, you fool!'

Listening to Eharc made my fists tremble. If I weren't restrained, I'd have pummeled him into a pulp.

"Y-yes, I did say such a thing. Of course, I did."

Oben, having wiped the blood from his lips, dusted off his clothes and stood up.

I looked at my clenched fist.

It had been a punch strong enough to make an average person lose consciousness. Despite that, Oben was fine. It meant he trained just as expected of the head of the 'Cryphart family'.

"Feeling better now, Yulian?"

"Will you wait until I truly feel better?"

"Ah, no...... That's not it. I might die."

Oben hesitated with his words. For some reason, he exhibited a hint of Herand's demeanor at such moments.

"You also stated previously that you wouldn't mind dying, master Oben."

"Eharc, whose side are you on, really?"

"I'm always on Master Oben's side. I merely respect the past Oben's words."

"Damn it! There you go with your nonsense again."

Eharc had such a longstanding rapport with Oben that he interacted with him like a friend, rather than as a subordinate.

Even so,

'The bloodlust is intense.'

Despite his relaxed demeanor, the bloodlust directed my way from Eharc was impressive.

Though he hadn't stopped the punch, his discomfort with my behavior was evident.

'...... Hmm.'

I'd likely lose if we fought.

Especially since I don't have any mana at the moment.

"So, about the question I asked earlier."

The one about dining.

"I want to hear more about Milena."

"Sure, I can tell you. What do you want to know?"

"I heard that Milena came from the North."

Ah.

Oben gave a short nod.

Though a bit regretful he didn't refer to Milena as 'mother,' it seemed like he still longed for that.

"Yes, I met her while serving in 'North Pole' as a member of the 'Cryphart family'."

Oben continued, his eyes becoming wistful again.

Oh, that look.

I personally didn't mind, but 'Yulian' was getting restless.

"We set off on an expedition to dismantle a barbarian outpost and faced a blizzard."

A blizzard?

Ah, I have a rough idea of whose doing it was.

"Caught in the storm, I fell to the valley below."

Lucky to be alive, aren't you?

"The blood kept flowing, and I was shivering from the cold. The bleeding showed no sign of stopping, and my body temperature kept dropping."

I see.

"That was when she appeared."

"Milena, you mean."

"Yes, she approached me like spring in that eerie winter."

Back to that wistful face.

Still, the suspicion of Milena being a 'sorceress' only grew stronger.

The mere fact that she could navigate through that blizzard proved something.

'This feels different.'

I'd heard plenty about her being the 'Queen of Thorns', but hearing such vivid testimony was something else.

"That's how I fell in love with her. While serving at North Pole, I would always seek her out to court her......."

"I understand, I understand."

"Hmm? Aren't you going to continue listening?"

What more is there to hear?

"What a shame. I was going to tell you about the 'ring that nullifies the cold' that she gave me."

A ring that shields from the cold.

It's probably just a magic-made artifact──.

"A ring that nullifies cold?"

I felt puzzled.

The 'ring that nullifies cold' wasn't any ordinary 'magic tool'.

"Yes, a miraculous ring. Wearing it made me impervious to even the harshest cold."

As he spoke, Oben drew out a tiny box from his coat.

"Milena gave it to me as a gift. As it's not suited for this weather, I've kept it safe inside a box."

Clack──!

When Oben opened the box, there lay the artifact.

'...... Snow Rabbit's Ring.'

The relic I had sought to acquire when I visited 'North Watch'.

The ring worn by Kaldrach de Adratan was a counterfeit created by the winter witch, 'Abisha', from Blizzard Forest.

'This ring is not just an imitation.'

It is purely, a holy relic imbued with the genuine power of 'miracle'.