Playing the Perfect Fox-Eyed Villain Chapter 45

Episode 45. A warning for me (1)

“Lord, Master, what on earth is going on?”

Early morning.

The employees who arrived at work could not hide their bewilderment when they saw the state of the mansion.

Some of the servants looked back and forth between the appearance of the mansion and me, and then began to whisper.

“When you first got here, the mansion wasn’t in chaos?”

“That’s right. The bloodstains were no joke either…….”

“Did you spend a night in a mansion like this?”

“Besides, the head of the house who arrived first said there were more than 10 intruders……, did you deal with them alone?”

The servants looked at me with astonishment. They looked at me as if I was looking at a monster, but I paid no attention.

In fact, wouldn't I have been afraid of the invaders?

Even now, when I think about yesterday, my hands and feet start to tremble.

The reason I was able to remain as calm as possible was simply because of the physical body of 'Yurien' and the mindset that I had to portray him perfectly.

That's why he acts so indifferently to topics that would shock an ordinary person, such as bloodstains or a corpse.

What happened today will definitely be talked about in the capital even if you try to cover it up.

All I could do now was to show off my image as the 'smiling executioner' even more.

“Then, Master, how should we handle this?”

“If it’s something useless, then don’t bother asking me…….”

At the servant's words, I turned my head and looked at the object she was holding.

A broken orchid pot named 'Angelica'.

When I saw his messy appearance, my nose got itchy for no reason.

“Please bury it in the yard…….”

***

As expected, the rumor that I had repelled the intruders from the mansion spread like wildfire.

“You mean that ‘laughing squad’? He killed all the intruders who broke into his mansion?”

“Breaking into Yurian’s mansion, are you crazy?”

The rumor spread quickly, especially among the nobles who loved gossip.

In an attempt to lighten the atmosphere of the aristocratic society, which was rife with intrigue and conspiracy, or to gain an upper hand in conversations with others, rumors began to grow and expand little by little.

***

“Sir Yurian, your work has caused quite a stir in the royal court. I heard that you have destroyed an order of knights……?”

The rumors that had been puffing up like bubbles had grown to an enormous size. At first, they had grown based on truth, but soon they had become rumors and far-fetched rumors.

“The destruction of the Knights Templar… Even I couldn’t accomplish something like that in a single day, could I? Sir Odwin.”

“Well, I guess so?”

“Yes. I was simply dealing with some scoundrels who had invaded my mansion.”

Odwin chuckled slightly at my natural tone of voice.

“That thing too… doesn’t seem like something that can be dismissed as ‘simple’?”

“Is that so? Because it’s just like everyday life for me.”

“There’s no way something like that could become routine…….”

I also agreed with her monologue. A life where those who harbor resentment attack in the middle of the night.

Isn't this a life of complete failure?

I wanted to respond to Captain Odwin's words in this way, but I barely held myself back.

Instead, he just shrugs his shoulders with confidence.

“Since something like that happened, how about we stop working and take a break for the time being? The Bayer Academy’s practical instructor case will be passed on to another member…….”

“No, it’s okay.”

Odwin tilted his head slightly at my refusal.

“I’m not so weak that I would stop working over something like this.”

I really want to take a break from work and move on, but it doesn't seem like Yurian would take a break from work for something like this.

'I might also have to hand over the academy work to another agent and then be drafted on Victory Day.'

In any case, my desire to not encounter 'Black Star' still remains.

“Well, it’s your body, so you should know better. Okay, I’ll contact the Academy.”

After hearing Odwin's confirmation, I gave her a brief greeting and left the director's office.

This roughly concludes the report on the 'Yurien Raid Incident' that has been revealed on the surface.

All that remains is the finishing touches on 'Replica'.

‘… … After all, it’s something I can’t just leave alone.’

The 'Replica Horn' that Joshua saved and the 'Monsignors' who tried to attack me have a very deep connection to the Dawn Society.

In that sense, I must hold the executives of the Yeomyeonghoe responsible for turning a blind eye to this situation.

'fu*k! I don't want to do anything!'

However, ‘this world’ was whispering to ‘Yurien’, telling him not to stand by and watch this situation unfold.

***

“Bishop Eleanor, it’s been a while.”

“Oh my! Aren’t you Bishop Aiden? What brings you to the Genmel Monastery?”

Smile.

Eleanor seemed to respond with a smile, but there was a thorn in her smile.

Bishops entered the Order of the Dawn for their own benefit, so bishops of the same rank were competitors.

“Could there be another reason for stopping by Genmel Monastery? To see the Archbishop, Lord Tenelon.”

Shh.

Aiden had a friendly smile, but Eleanor had long since noticed the sinister nature embedded in that smile.

'Aiden de Donatien.'

A man who is a direct descendant of the Donatien family, one of the four great families of the empire representing magic, and is mentioned as the next head of the family.

He is also an extreme purist, as he emphasizes competence above all else in order to create the Philosopher's Stone, the 'Elixir', which is the family's secret wish.

“Is that so? But what should I do about this? I think I made the appointment with the Arch Bishop first.”

“Haha, then there’s nothing I can do. I have no choice but to wait in the audience room.”

Eleanor and Aiden, who still had a good-natured smile on their faces, headed to the audience room where the Arch Bishop was staying.

'for a moment.'

Eleanor turned her head slightly and looked at Aiden's face.

The reason she came to the Genmel Monastery was to talk about the 'replicas', replicas of horns that were floating around the slums and islands.

It is inferior to the horns that Tenelon makes himself, and is full of impurities, but it is still an item that can be 'demonized'.

'There's no way a replica like that could be made without the original.'

The person who is making the 'replica' is most likely a Bishop belonging to the Dawn Society who has access to the 'horn'.

And although it is only a prediction, Aiden in front of us is one of those 'candidates'.

'The horn made by Arch Bishop is similar in nature to Aiden's 'Elixir'.'

If so, Aiden is conducting human experiments on ordinary people who have no connection to his group in order to perfect the true 'Elixir'.

'Hmm… … No, let's not be sure. There's no evidence yet. If what he's doing is true, we can just relay it to the Arch Bishop and it's over.'

Even if you do that.

Will Tenellon, the current Arch Bishop of the Dawn Society, lament the 'Replica Horn' incident and seek to punish the parties involved?

Maybe he ordered another bishop to create a 'replica horn'.

For the fall of the empire.

To deal with the hated blacksmith 'Haydn Reich' as soon as possible.

'If Tenelon was involved, there's no point in bringing it up here.'

While thinking endlessly, Eleanor arrived at the audience room and looked at Tenelon and made up her mind.

“How are you, Arch Bishop?”

“Yes, Bishop Eleanor. I heard you have something to tell me.”

“No, I think I misunderstood the information. I’m sorry…….”

KWAAANG──!

As Eleanor was speaking, the door to the audience room opened roughly and a man came in.

A restrained yet most noble posture and a dignified gait.

At the same time, it was the impressive man, Yurian, whose cross-eyed expression was impossible to see.

“Bishop Yurian! Ah, the other bishops are already in the audience room……!”

One of the sect members guarding the door tried to stop Yurian in a panic, but he quickly drew his sword from its scabbard and aimed it at the sect member.

“Hee, heeeek……!”

As Yurian drew his sword, the audience room was filled with tense tension.

Taking out a weapon in the room where the Arch Bishop resides is a crime worthy of punishment as blasphemy.

However, no one rushed towards Yurian, perhaps because of the overwhelming spirit he felt.

“……Bishop Yurian, what is your intention?”

A murderous atmosphere.

Tenelon opened his mouth in a voice laced with displeasure.

Yulian stared at him for a few seconds, his mask still on.

After a while, Yurian put away his sword and searched through his pockets, then threw something on the floor.

Dalgrak──!

It was the 'horn' he got from William who attacked him.

“Dear Arch Bishop. Are you aware that there is an inferior replica of the horn that only you can forge in circulation in the Isles?”

Hey? That's my line.

The question that Eleanor should have originally posed came out of Yurian's mouth.

***

As the eyes of the congregation focused on my words, I felt that there was no turning back.

'I did it.'

Even though it was aimed at a regular member of the church, drawing a weapon in the audience room was an act that went against the authority of the Arch Bishop.

Thanks to that, the audience room was filled with such a tense atmosphere that it wouldn't have been strange if a battle broke out at any moment.

But isn't that milk that's already been spilled?

This is a necessary procedure for me, who cannot stand by and watch the current situation.

“An inferior copy of the horn…….”

Tenelon, who heard what I said, did not act hastily but just looked at me for a long time.

“Hmm.”

As Tenelon groaned briefly in thought, another bishop suddenly joined the conversation.

“Bishop Yurian.”

Aiden de Donatien is a middle-aged man with a gentlemanly air.

“Before we can reveal the truth or falsehood of that statement, I think we can question your unworthy actions as a bishop.”

When I met Aiden's eyes, he smiled slightly.

Aiden spoke naturally, as if trying to show his composure and confidence, but he couldn't hide the color of 'fear' peeking over his head.

“I know that you are favored by the Arch Bishop, but to suddenly enter the audience room and draw your sword… isn’t that the behavior of a scoundrel?”

Aiden continued to speak, despite the purple haze blooming above his head.

It seems he is confident that I will not dare to swing my sword in the audience room.

“Haha, that’s funny.”

Aiden looked slightly embarrassed at my continued laughter.

“What’s so funny?”

“Isn’t that funny? Bishop Aiden, who caused unrest in the Dawn Order with his fake horn, is saying something like that.”

I glanced at the dropped horn, then turned my head back to Aiden. He rolled his eyes and coughed.

“What, what does that mean? I don’t know…….”

“It is good to fulfill a family’s long-cherished wish.”

I smiled faintly and continued speaking.

“Desire is a great driving force that activates this religious order called the ‘Dawn Society.’”

“……Ahem.”

“But! If that desire causes us to surface…….”

I deliberately dragged the conversation on and studied Aiden's face. He had a distinct look of 'fear' over his head, but he just shrugged his shoulders as if nothing had happened.

“Bishop Yurian, I don’t understand. What does the Donatien family’s long-cherished wish have to do with the fake horn you mentioned?”

Are you pretending not to know even though you already know?

Aiden's consistent ignorance made my head start to heat up.

'If you mass-produce 'replica horns' like that, you'll be caught by the Black Star or the royal family!'

I don't care if you die while doing it, but if the truth about the Dawn Society is revealed in the process…

'Isn't it obvious to the world that I also belong to the Dawn Society?'

Even if I were a complete 'smiling executioner' right now, there would be no way for me to survive if I turned the empire into an enemy.

Tolerate such a situation? Absolutely not.

“I know that the Philosopher’s Stone, the universal medicine, the elixir. It is the Donatien family’s long-cherished wish to create these items that are only known in myths. And the Demon Horn that the Arch Bishop creates is…….”

“Thank you for understanding my family’s long-held wish.”

“Sir Aiden, right now I…….”

“I still don’t understand. Why are you like that…….”

⇒ The unique trait “Open Eyes” has been activated.

“Aren’t I talking?”