Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Villain's Squad #2
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According to Vallan, the Saintess's mental defenses were so outstanding that Agarez, trapped inside her, couldn't break free at all.
For Professor Vallan, who had lost her power and fallen into ruin like this, it was impossible to shake Saintess Priga's mind.
“Ars Nova, the great spell of ideological brainwashing and personality alteration, is a magic that parasitizes the host and devours their mind. But if the host resists this strongly, a very major incident is necessary.”
“A major incident?”
“Events that would shatter the host's mind. Incidents severe enough to uproot their personality or ideology—”
Several events that came to mind aligned with Vallan's explanation. Events capable of shaking the mentality of the Saintess, whose mental strength even Professor Vallan admired.
“Would something like the barrier collapsing and the shadow army invading Acro be enough?”
“Indeed, excellent. Nothing could be better. It's a perfect score, a hundred out of a hundred from Solomon's bloodkin. However, collapsing the barrier is currently impossible.”
“I see.”
I nodded appropriately while pondering in my head.
The reason Saintess Priga became the Episode 2 boss was because, driven to desperation mentally, she couldn't suppress the rampage of Ars Nova's Agarez dormant within her.
That's how she turned into the mad monster known as the 'Daughter of the Moon.'
「Calm Situation Assessment!
You gain experience points via the talent 《Composed Thinking》.
All job experience +5」
As the puzzle pieces clicked into place, it felt like a messy, cluttered room being neatly tidied up. But the fundamental problem remained unsolved.
Saintess Priga.
I needed to absorb the great spell Agarez slumbering inside her to grow stronger.
Only by growing that strong could I reach the archmage realm, and impregnate Aira, the 7th Circle archmage.
Time was running out for me now, as my mind was gradually染ing red.
“Is there no good way to draw Agarez from the Saintess's depths to the surface layer?”
“If Theo-nim steps in personally, it might somehow work. I, too, regained my mental stability after intense contact with Theo-nim—”
“Hmm.”
“How's the progress with your magic?”
“I'm between 4th and 5th Circle right now.”
“It's a phase where progress slows. His Majesty Solomon struggled quite a bit during that time too, he said.”
No wonder. My mage level was 9. Despite exploring dungeons recently and gaining tons of magical experience from using various spells, reaching level 10 seemed distant no matter how much EXP I accumulated.
So this is the wall where leveling up gets stuck.
Even Demon King Solomon went through it, so my anxiety eased a bit. Well, the path to archmage wouldn't be easy.
“Still, this speed of growth is unprecedented. At this rate, you'll smoothly become a 7th Circle archmage in about ten years.”
Me becoming a 7th Circle archmage like Aira. It was incredibly positive and hopeful, but the timeline was too late. Ten years? I might die before then.
“Is there no way to accelerate magical growth?”
At my question, Professor Vallan rose from the sofa and rummaged through the bookshelf. She pulled out a few books and flipped through the pages.
“As many research tomes say, mana surges in moments of urgency and brushes with death. The crossroads of life and death, the tension of choices…”
“You're saying extreme experiences lead to faster growth?”
“Y-Yes, exactly. I want to give you an A+.”
Certainly.
When I rapidly improved in the dungeon, there was always tension and the threat of death within me. Fighting the rampaging Professor Vallan had me on the edge of life and death too.
But lately, that element had been sorely lacking.
As my magic skills improved, nearby dungeons started feeling trivially easy. It was like fighting in low-level dungeons unfit for my level. No wonder EXP wasn't coming.
So, do I have to seek out crises like some masochist? Deliberately hunting for near-death spots?
Still, it seemed a surefire way to accelerate magical growth.
* * *
Exiting Professor Vallan's lab, the sun was already setting. I picked up Marmar, then Vallan.
Having gone around tending to my subordinates like this, my next stop was the infirmary, where my other subordinate, Lady Calira the health teacher, was.
Rustle.
She was apparently preparing to leave for the day, tidying her red hair.
“Oh my, what brings you here at this hour?”
“Just stopping by to say hello.”
Calira chuckled softly at my words.
“Too bad. I thought you might be asking me out for dinner.”
“Dinner?”
When I asked, slightly flustered, Calira said it like a joke.
“Well, with the beautiful Lady Lioness and the flower-like Queen by your side. No way I'd catch your eye.”
She said it self-deprecatingly, but Lady Calira was plenty attractive herself.
Especially that fox-like cunning in handling and understanding men. It wouldn't be odd if several tails sprouted from between her hips.
Though those tails would be more like scorpion ones with venom stingers. Lady Calira was an assassin who injected poison into people, after all.
Pretending to look around, I said,
“How's work?”
“Oh, the usual sick folks every day. Flu's going around lately, so lots of heroes coming for shots. Want a nutrient injection, Theo-nim?”
Click, click.
Calira pulled a syringe from the drawer. But the needle was longer than my finger, making me flinch. It looked extremely nymph-phobic.
“No, I'm good. By the way, have you talked to Miriam lately?”
Calira was my spy connecting lines to the hunter party. Because Priestess Miriam was approaching her with ulterior motives.
Recalling Miriam who had cried out her innocence at the trial recently, I wondered if Lady Calira had any noteworthy news.
Swish.
Lady Calira sat in her chair and crossed her legs. Just that alone made her look like a magazine cover.
“Miriam? She's been complaining a lot lately. Said a party member caused big trouble. Something about a duel trial too. It's been noisy around with that story.”
As expected from someone who lurked as an underworld assassin—her info network was fast.
I asked again.
“Did she say anything like who would fight in the duel trial?”
“No such talk. Probably the hunter himself, as the culprit, will step up. But I don't get it. Why not cut ties with a teammate like that?”
The Queen's assault was the protagonist hunter's solo act.
Yet Miriam and the others in his party were defending him upfront, even considering shared punishment if needed.
For Calira, who saw the world in black-and-white gains and losses, Miriam's attitude must seem incomprehensible.
Of course, I knew why they formed such a tight-knit party—from reading the original story. But instead of explaining the details, I glossed over it vaguely.
“Everyone has their circumstances. Well, I'll be off then. Get some good rest now that it's quitting time.”
“Yes, see you next time, Theo-nim. Let's have dinner sometime. You can bring that cute imp too.”
“Sure. We'll set a date soon.”
Creak, click.
Closing the door behind me, the sun had fully set. The darkening sky made fatigue creep in on me too. Managing subordinates isn't easy.
But it's far more efficient and productive than doing everything alone by assigning tasks and overseeing them.
Guess this is part of what I have to endure.
I truly felt how sitting in a high position isn't simple. If I claim the throne someday, what kind of king would I be?
The first Half-Nymph Great King?
━Everyone bowing their heads...!
Honestly, it'd be hilarious.
* * *
Back in my dorm room, I washed up and lay on the bed. Lying on the soft bed in the dark room made me not want to do anything.
I just wished I could rest fully for a day like this.
Just one day of rest would be great.
But as I said earlier, I had no leeway. I needed to boost my magic or conquer women as soon as possible.
“Why am I wasting time here?”
I got up and looked out the window. The Gold Brooch dorm had a great view, showcasing Acro's beautiful nightscape.
Colorful streetlights. Straight roads. People coming and going.
I don't know their names or faces, but they each have names, circumstances, and live diligently day by day.
They could never imagine the world they live in is structured like a novel's tale.
Right.
This world was originally a novel. Made of letters, spaces, and pages—an imaginary world in my head.
Fiction.
I've thought this before.
Maybe I got hit hard on the head or had a sudden brain illness, lost consciousness, and this was a long dream.
“Ridiculous.”
Even I laughed at my own words.
If this world was fake, it was too real and vivid. If a dream, I'd have woken up ages ago.
Leisure breeds idle thoughts.
Maybe my body is trained now to not rest easy. So I did some light stretching and left the room.
Better to eat dinner first and think about what to do with the remaining time.
After a casual meal at the dorm cafeteria and heading back upstairs, I saw someone pacing in front of my room.
Silver hair, red eyes. The refined yet youthful Lady Mirna Draco.
“Lady Mirna—”
When I called her name, the Draco lady looked at me.
“Theo. Just had dinner?”
Her voice was unusually cheerful and bright. Seeing a side of Mirna I'd never witnessed before, I realized it was her younger sister, Narmi.
“It was you, Lady Narmi. Sorry, I thought you were Lady Mirna.”
“It's fine. Everyone mixes us up.”
“So, what brings you here?”
Narmi visiting my room was unusual, so I couldn't help but feel curious. Of course, I had my suspicions.
But pretending ignorance and asking “What's the matter?” prompted Narmi to glance around and say, “Better to talk inside. Can't have anyone overhearing.”
She looked like someone on a secretive mission. Her serious expression made me tense up a bit as I opened the door.
Narmi Draco then scurried into my room.
She scanned the surroundings this way and that.
“What are you doing?”
“Just checking if there's any eavesdropping magic or spells!”
Eavesdropping?
It made me tense unnecessarily. But her next words eased me.
“But looks like nothing. Safe room!”
Of course. I always manage my room carefully.
Ever since learning Aira uses spiders like CCTV, I made sure not even one could enter.
“Here, have some water first. Drink this and calm down a bit.”
Seeing Narmi oddly anxious, I opened the magic fridge and handed her a glass of water. She gulped it down and parted her wet lips toward me.
“Theo, how much can you believe what I say?”