Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 240

Chapter 240. White and Five Colors (3)

Even if it was 'illusion magic', it couldn't hide the sense of touch. When I managed to break Flugel's magic, his face twisted.

As I smiled at the deeply wrinkled face of Flugel, his expression crumpled even more.

"Are you enjoying yourself?"

Am I?

Not bad, actually.

I had always thought that if I used such a trick, I could break Flugel's 'illusion magic'.

However, it was just a thought, and a game was merely a game.

But given this opportunity, and with the fantasy becoming reality, it didn't feel so bad.

"Yes, wouldn't it be more enjoyable for you to enjoy this situation as well, Sir Flugel?"

"Foolish talk."

Flugel spoke in an irritated tone as he raised his staff once again.

"What of that demon?"

Hostility began to emerge on Flugel's face.

"We are nurturing it."

"In secret?"

"Now that Yulian is aware, it's become an open secret."

I said while quietly smiling.

"Still, just in case, could you keep it hidden? We are on the same side, aren't we?"

I spoke with a sly tone, but Flugel's response wasn't favorable.

"Yes, I'll hide it so no one will ever know, buried in the ground."

Boom──!

When he struck the ground with his staff, a tremor began to be felt from the Magic Tower.

'...... Is it starting now?'

Having played the game 'Kill the Demon King' countless times, I knew that Flugel's strengths truly began from this point.

'Triple Casting.'

In this world, exceptional mages could cast two spells simultaneously. However, mages who reached the pinnacle could cast not just two but three spells at once.

Flugel had reached that realm of magic.

Of course, the 'triple cast' was not something that could be used ordinarily.

There were specific conditions necessary for the 'triple cast,' and without meeting those conditions, even the renowned Flugel couldn't perform it.

One of those conditions was.

'This Magic Tower.'

Around the time he began to build this massive Magic Tower from the ground up, Flugel had embedded certain spells in the building.

A giant mana reservoir that reacts to his own blood. Thanks to planting that function within the Magic Tower, within this place, Flugel could become an omnipotent mage.

"I wanted to look the other way due to my connection with the Sword Saint, but I can't just stand by now that the line has been crossed!"

"No matter how morally you try to deceive, hiding the Demon God's horn can't be condoned, Sir Flugel."

Without a word, Flugel began to focus all his nerves on his staff.

Slowly, the outlines of the Magic Tower's barriers began to reveal themselves. The laboratory started to shake gently, and through the window, dark clouds could be seen gathering.

'...... Could I die here?'

That thought crossed my mind. In this place, Flugel was a mage capable of wielding natural disasters. Hence, although I began to sense the danger to my life.

'I had already made some preparations.'

I acknowledged Flugel. He was strong. A mage so powerful that if not prepared, there would be no way to handle it.

That is why I had sent Maier with Flugel.

White versus Five Colors.

By happenstance, the small connection that began in the slums had become a key to aid me.

"...... What is this."

As the mana gathering at the end of the staff began to disperse, a flustered Flugel muttered as if lamenting.

"You should have realized, Sir Flugel, that although you took Maier as your disciple for inspiration, the disciple was also inspired by you."

When a hint of bewilderment appeared on the face of the renowned mage, a smile formed on my face. It seemed to be reflecting the character that had started to worsen.

"I have already requested Maier to dismantle the mana storage barrier installed in the Magic Tower."

"Maier......?"

With a swift movement, Flugel shifted his gaze to Maier. She merely met his eyes without any sign of guilt.

"This damned girl...."

Flugel's voice started to distort with anger.

Although he admitted having taken Maier under his wing for his own advancement, she was nonetheless his disciple. And for her to take actions detrimental to her master, it was understandable for him to be livid.

"Was that why you were disappearing during lessons, this damn girl!!"

However, the reason he became angry differed from my expectations.

Yelling about how she hadn't attended lessons properly, Flugel swung his staff as he advanced toward Maier.

"Ahhhh!"

Maier, seeing the oncoming figure with a staff being swung, hurriedly fled in terror.

***

Of course, the one who requested Maier's cooperation to break Flugel's 'barrier' wasn't Yulian but the 'Black Knight'.

When entering the Magic Tower, he had made a small request to Maier.

― There's a barrier installed by Flugel when the Magic Tower was built. Help us to dismantle it.

Though she inquired why, a proper answer didn't return; only the cold reminder that she needn't know as it was out of necessity.

To Maier, who showed a curt response, the Black Knight's somewhat human-like words were heard.

― I've imposed a hard task on you. I apologize for that.

The Black Knight was both a benefactor who aided her and someone who assisted in her vengeance.

Though it wasn't particularly displeasing for Maier to aid such an individual...

"Ugh...... damn girl."

But, striking the back of her master Flugel's head was a source of guilt for her too.

She disliked mages.

Even though she knew she had a talent for magic, she wasn't fond of mages.

Nevertheless, Maier thought Flugel was quite an honorable mage.

"You cleverly learned the method of setting and dismantling the barrier. I didn't recall teaching that."

Although he had an eccentric personality, he was skilled at teaching and, above all, was someone who didn't deviate from morality for personal gain.

Knock──!

Flugel tapped Maier's head once more with his staff.

"It still makes me angry! You damned girl! Didn't I tell you not to ditch lessons?"

"How could I not run when you hit me like this every day!?"

"Don't you see it's all for your own good?!"

"Yeah right, it's all for yourself!"

Putting her curt replies behind him, Flugel stroked his beard. His gaze fell on Yulian.

"You mentioned you're searching for the remains of Demon God Barbatos...... well, specifically the whereabouts of the horn?"

"Yes."

To Flugel's question, Yulian nodded.

"The reason I was hiding it till the end is known to you. But now that you know it's related to the imperial family, I see little point in keeping it concealed."

Though his attitude was irritable, Flugel seemed relatively calm when speaking with Yulian.

He rose from his seat. There appeared to be less intention of engaging further in battle.

"Wait here for a bit. I have something I need to bring."

"Are you escaping?"

"Damn kid, you'd say whatever comes to mind."

Though Flugel tried to leave his spot, Yulian didn't show any inclination to stop him.

It seemed he was convinced that the old man wouldn't run away.

"...... Damn."

Once Flugel disappeared, Maier murmured a monologue-like curse.

She still didn't feel right about dismantling Flugel's barrier.

Though it had resulted positively and Flugel didn't hold her accountable, it didn't make her feel good.

"I've imposed a hard task on you. I apologize for that."

Understanding Maier's feelings, Yulian tried to console her.

His tone was familiar—one she had heard somewhere before, catching her attention.

'No way.'

The suspicion she held for some time, in hopes of resolving it, Maier turned her gaze to Yulian.

A man whose emotions couldn't be clearly discerned due to his perpetually smiling face.

She hadn't thought he'd hold the same noble beliefs as the 'Black Knight', yet she could only understand his actions thus far through 'Yulian'.

"Why did you come to find my damned master? The Demon God's horn? Even if something like that being in the capital doesn't necessarily mean something major will happen, right?"

"You're rather ignorant about demons."

At the sarcastic voice, Maier sharply glared at Yulian.

"Who's ignorant about demons? Aren't they monsters born from the residual thoughts of the Demon God?"

"Correct. The largest element that emanates such residual thoughts is precisely, the 'horn'."

That, she knew.

"The horn is essentially a bomb on the verge of ignition. If such a bomb is buried beneath the capital, who wouldn't take caution?"

"...... So, according to you, that bomb lies somewhere in the capital and it's the royal family who planted it?"

Listing the facts she deduced from the conversation between Flugel and Yulian, he nodded.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I do not know the reason either."

"If it were me, I wouldn't do something that crazy."

Neither would I.

Listening to Yulian, Maier began to open up in hopes of resolving her internal queries.

"So you're here to find my damned master to prevent that?"

"Whether to prevent it or not, I'm not sure. I'm only interested in understanding the situation."

"Even if not certain, the Black Knight would surely wish to prevent it. He wouldn't overlook such a bomb being in the capital, would he?"

Heh.

Yulian let out a brief laugh.

"He isn't such a noble-minded friend either; if beliefs align, he might even turn a blind eye."

"Hmm."

Maier subtly raised the end of her words.

"Just like you?"

Noticing the alignment of thoughts between Yulian and the Black Knight, Maier inquired, and Yulian slowly shifted his gaze to her.

Clacky's Corner:

60 chapters left.