How To Live As An Academy Extra Villain

✦ Chapter 120 – Ellie (5) ✦

「Translator – Creator」

𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝

“Allow me to introduce myself properly this time, young man. I am Ergo Zale. I am tasked with the humble duty of supporting the imperial family.”

“Edwin Reed. It’s an honor to meet the renowned Sir Zale.”

The middle-aged man extended his hand for a handshake. Covered in thick hair, it looked more like a bear’s paw. As we shook hands, he gripped my hand firmly and shook it vigorously.

“Just Ergo will do. Aren’t we now on the same side?”

“…Same side, my foot… we’ve barely met and you’re already causing a ruckus…”

Kisha frowned at Ergo’s actions, her disapproval clear. Hearing her grumbling, Ergo attempted to placate her.

“Now, Kisha, does the length of time we’ve known each other matter that much? What’s important is that this young man corrected our mistake. You know very well that what happened that day was our…”

“I know! I know! ” Kisha snapped, running her fingers through her hair. With a sigh, she turned to me and offered her hand. It was delicate and smooth, a stark contrast to Ergo’s.

“…I apologize for my outburst earlier. It wasn’t directed at you. He’s just being his usual… obnoxious self…”

“Obnoxious? But I—”

“Quiet, you. ”

Kisha cleared her throat and continued.

“Ahem… I am Circe Aladag. I’m currently serving as a court mage. Just call me Kisha. Or… you can call me sister, if you like.”

“Sister? My dear, I’m not sure that’s appropriate, given your…”

“…………”

Ergo trailed off. Even he couldn’t miss the sudden chill in the air.

When I first met them, I’d assumed that Ergo was just a merchant’s bodyguard. I had been suspicious of Kisha’s abilities, but I hadn’t put much thought into their true identities. Now, however, knowing what I did, it was obvious who they were.

These were no ordinary travelers. This was Ergo Zale, captain of the Imperial Guard and one of the three strongest swordmasters in the Empire. And this was Circe Aladag, the youngest mage to ever achieve the title of Archmage.

They were also two of the top ten strongest people in the Empire. They had even made appearances in Eugene’s stories, usually stepping in to lend a hand, offering guidance and training to Eugene and his companions.

Eugene’s stories frequently featured such figures. I had often wondered why, with so many capable individuals around, they didn’t just band together to solve all the problems.

But that was a question without a simple answer. In a world tangled with countless human connections and conflicts, it was impossible for everyone to unite in perfect harmony.

“Edwin Reed. It’s an honor to meet the renowned archmage.”

“Oh, stop it… You’re making me blush.”

“Enough of that. You’re embarrassing me…” Kisha waved her hand dismissively. However, I noticed a fleeting look of disappointment cross her face. Perhaps she had hoped I’d call her ‘sister’? I remembered hearing that women are often more sensitive about their age than men.

Despite feeling like I made a misstep, Kisha continued as if nothing happened.

“Ahem. Anyway… thank you, Edwin. Because of you, Her Highness survived. I sincerely express my gratitude…”

“I merely saved a friend. It seems you and Ellie… Alkmene have quite a close relationship.”

“Of course. The old man and I were there even when Her Highness received that fateful prophecy. I was the one who taught her the basics of magic.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I particularly focused on transformation magic. There’s no way a student could easily see through it.”

Kisha shrugged her shoulders proudly. Her words stirred a sudden question in my mind.

“…So, does Lady Evangeline know… ? About Alkmene, I mean.”

“Headmistress Evangeline? Of course she knows. It’s not like she’s clueless! I’m pretty sure every professor at the academy knows. We made a few… concessions, but it wasn’t against the academy’s rules. In a way, Alkmene was giving up her privilege by hiding her identity.”

It dawned on me why the headmistress sighed heavily when granting my leave of absence.

And it explained something else, too. Even when there had been rumors about Ellie and me spending so much time together, the headmistress had actually been pleased. Back then, I had assumed it was because she had not heard the specifics of the rumors.

But now… well, of course she was happy. I had been treating Ellie as a commoner, oblivious to her true identity. Looking back, it was almost comical.

“But are you really not going to tell us?”

“What do you mean?”

“How exactly you cured Her Highness. No matter how much I think about it, I can’t understand. It’s something no one else could do…”

“… I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that.”

“I’m so curious… Maybe I should just… put you under a suggestion spell… ”

Kisha muttered to herself, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous curiosity. Mages’ insatiable curiosity often gets the better of them. With her level of expertise, if she decided to dig into the matter, I’d have no way to stop her.

“But… His Majesty himself has already let it go…”

“…Is that so? That’s a pity… but I suppose it’s unavoidable…”

Kisha pouted, but she seemed to accept my refusal. I could practically feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. I quickly changed the subject.

“Actually… there’s something I’d like to ask you both.”

“What is it? Ask anything you wish. We’ve already been instructed to accommodate you as much as possible.”

I wanted to know more about the attack on the princess. Now that I knew Ellie and Alkmene were one and the same, I realized that the rumors I’d heard at the auction house had to be true.

But there was something strange about this whole situation. Alkmene had barely been mentioned in Eugene’s stories. And yet, if something this serious had happened to her, surely it would have warranted at least a passing mention.

Besides, basilisk venom was a deadly poison, curable only by elixir. If my memories hadn’t returned, there would have been nothing I could have done to save her.

And it just didn’t make sense for something as significant as a princess’s death to go unnoticed, let alone unrecorded. Furthermore, I distinctly remembered seeing Alkmene’s name mentioned in the later chapters of Eugene’s story. She was still alive then, years after these events supposedly took place.

So, the events unfolding now were never meant to transpire. Something had undoubtedly altered the course of events.

“Could you tell me everything you know about the attack on Princess Alkmene? Please. Everything.”

“…I had a feeling you would ask that… Hmm…”

Ergo exchanged an uneasy glance with Kisha. After a moment, Kisha stepped forward and sighed.

“Alright, we’ll tell you. His Majesty has given us permission. But I need you to consent to a Seal of Silence. It’s not because I don’t trust you; you understand, given the gravity of the situation…”

“I understand.”

“Thank you. Now then…”

I nodded, and Kisha began to chant. A tingling sensation spread through my arm as a small mark, a circle formed by two serpents biting each other’s tails, appeared on my skin.

“…It’s not a pleasant story, young man. Where should we begin?” Ergo said, his voice grim. “First, we need to talk about the perpetrators…”

Once the seal was complete, Ergo began to explain. An enemy used forbidden dark magic to wither the Guardian Tree and break the palace wards, infiltrating the palace.

They were able to infiltrate the palace, but the Emperor, due to an unexpected trip, was not present. Ergo and Kisha, tasked with protecting the Emperor, had accompanied him on this journey. The assassins, finding their primary target absent, had gone after Alkmene instead.

Fortunately, her maids and guards had apprehended the assassins, but Alkemene, in the struggle, had sustained a minor injury on her hand. However, no amount of healing magic or potions seemed to work. Alkmene’s condition worsened with each passing day.

Ergo, bound by duty to protect the imperial family, had dispatched a search party led by the vice-captain of the Imperial Guard. After days of relentless pursuit, they finally caught up with the remnants of the assassins at the edge of the Eastern Ruins.

But just as they were interrogating one of the captured cultists, the search party was ambushed and wiped out. 

“Fortunately, we were able to link our senses with the captured cultist during the interrogation. Thanks to that, we uncovered the identity of the poison and the method of the attack. But that’s where it ended.”

Ergo’s explanation concluded with the account of a mage fainting as they witnessed the deputy captain’s head being severed through their linked senses. His expression was anything but reassuring.

“But we couldn’t fathom the identity of the enemy. The vice-captain’s skills were formidable, unmatched, and yet… someone managed to…”

“…I offer my condolences, ” I said. “But was there anything… unusual about the attackers? Anything that stood out?”

“Yes, actually. The survivor mentioned a distinctive detail about their appearance. He said their leader… wore a bronze mask and a crown of thorns.”

Ergo wore a troubled expression. But the moment I heard the description, I immediately recognized the identity of the enemy.

A bronze mask… a crown of thorns… and I was willing to bet that he was also wearing a tattered white robe.

There was only one person I knew of who fit that description—the Cult’s High Priest —  one of the main antagonists in Eugene’s story.

However, the High Priest wasn’t supposed to act until much later. What drove him to step forward now?

…Unless…

“Hmm… You seem like you might know something. Does anything come to mind?”

“…No, nothing definitive.”

“Hmm…”

Kisha looked at me with a curious and slightly suspicious expression.

“…Hey. Could it be…”

—Creak!

Just as Kisha was about to press me further, the door to the private chamber swung open, and the imperial family emerged.

Alkmene seemed to have calmed down somewhat, though she still looked a bit annoyed. Her mother, Clythinae, placed a comforting hand on her daughter’s shoulder.

Varion looked like he had aged ten years during the conversation. We stood up and showed our respect as they approached. He waved it off and directed his gaze towards me.

“…Edwin of Reed, come here. There’s something important we need to discuss.”

— End of Chapter —

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