Playing the Perfect Fox-Eyed Villain Chapter 174

Episode 174. Tail Catching (2)

“Euuuuuuuuuuu……!”

Zahat, who escaped from prison, began to stretch.

“The outside air is really special. I haven’t been in prison for long, but the outside air tastes this good.”

Snap, snap.

Zahat, who had been turning his body this way and that and making cracking sounds in his joints, soon turned his gaze to me.

“By the way, where did you say you were going? Was it Bayer Academy?”

"yes."

“Hmm, I guess there’s someone there who knows the clue to the ‘six fingers’?”

“Yes.”

Not exactly, but I guess I should just say yes for now. It's a hassle to explain everything.

What is urgent for me now is the whereabouts of 'Dants Christo'.

Of course, the guy who hired 'Six Fingers' will be under their escort.

'If you use the protection of the Christo family, the family could really be ruined.'

Thanks to this, it seems like it won't be difficult to just target one guy and take him down.

If it was to completely uproot the 'Christo Family', then not only the family members belonging to it, but even the knights would have to be dealt with.

Moreover, the individual versus family structure does not seem very appealing to me right now.

There are other things to worry about, including the Christo family, which is not a great family but is comparable to it?

It's a place that's going to collapse sooner or later anyway, so there's no need for me to do anything about it.

'Is the problem Claude?'

He is dangerous.

Although he is only one person, he seems to have acquired skills that far surpass those of a knight, as well as the trait of being the “Demon King’s Vessel,” which was not seen in the original work.

'I don't know why it happened, though.'

By any chance… …is it that guy who hears the ‘voice’?

Anyway, you'll find out when you sort it out.

As I was moving to Bayer Academy and gathering my thoughts, I heard Zahat's faint voice from somewhere.

“Academy……, I miss it.”

“……Are you talking about your academy days?”

I was going to say, 'When on earth is that?' but I thought I'd be heartbroken, so I should stop.

This guy, he's so annoying that it's hard to appease him.

“No, I’m talking about the time when I was saving up money to enter the academy.”

'hmm?'

Suddenly, a question mark appeared above my head.

“Sir Zahat, weren’t you a noble? It wouldn’t have been difficult for you to enter the Academy.”

“Hmm? Yurian, I never told you?”

of course!

We never shared personal stories in the first place. There was no such content in the original either.

I only know the 'setting' about 'Zahart'.

Actually, I knew so many 'settings' that I thought that was enough.

“I was a son-in-law.”

I was a little taken aback when unexpected words came out of his mouth.

Even though he looked like that, he seemed like a very assertive gentleman and my son-in-law was a good one.

This is really new.

“……Didn’t your in-laws object?”

I know this isn't a 'Yurien' type of question.

There's no way 'Yurien', who consistently shows an indifferent attitude towards others, would give this kind of attention.

Still, I was so curious.

What on earth was the story?

“The master said that if I knock him down, he will allow me to do so.”

“……So you won?”

Zahat's gaze turned to me and he soon smiled.

“Then does that mean I lost?”

***

Before leaving for Bayer Academy, I stopped by Odwin to report.

She didn't really give any second thoughts to what I did though.

Should I say this?

“I met Sir Claude Fevrans.”

It was just a whim.

I wonder if I could get any information from Odwin.

Or maybe we can find out why he was included in 'Six Fingers'?

I brought up the story out of curiosity.

“……Ugh.”

But when Claude's name was mentioned, Odwin's expression became crumpled.

He put down the pen he had been nervously writing on the paperwork with and opened his mouth quietly as if he was suppressing something.

“Did you know that, unlike now, the leaders of the ‘Closed Eyes’ were nobles with their own abilities?”

"yes."

As you know.

Because the former chief, 'that gentleman', had an accident, the chief with 'closed eyes' was away from the 'field' and was only responsible for paperwork, so it is impossible not to know.

'It's like covering your eyes and pretending not to see.'

In any case, although the structure of the 'closed eyes' may have changed due to that 'incident', it is still carrying out its role as the representative of the royal family well.

There is an executioner named 'Yurien Cryphat Prasson' who boasts a powerful presence.

“But because of that gentleman, Claude Fevrans, a powerless, fallen nobleman who only works as a secretary’s window has taken his place.”

'Just like me.'

Odwin muttered his last words and shrugged his shoulders.

“You are a special case, but it is a position that a person would not be able to avoid exploding. Former Captain Claude has been in charge of everything you do, Sir Yurian.”

What that means is that before I came, Claude was the 'blood-stained sword of the imperial family'.

Commoners and nobles, old and young.

The merciless imperial execution squad that kills everyone regardless of age.

As the system of collective punishment continued to kill innocent children of nobles, he began to question the ideology of the empire.

'Am I on the right path?'

Even though it is an imperial order.

From newborn babies who have just begun to open their eyes.

Even the elderly who collapsed from loneliness after being abandoned by their children.

Is it really necessary to deal with them while shedding blood?

I couldn't answer that question.

In the end, he killed the knights and 'Closed Eyes' members who went with him on the mission and ran away.

“So… what is that guy doing now?”

Perhaps, he is the one who has made the current 'closed eyes' system ambiguous.

That's why Odwin seems curious about Claude's whereabouts.

“He belongs to the Six Fingers. He is their leader.”

"……wow."

Odwin, who wiggled his hips slightly, let out an exclamation.

I was so surprised that my eyes shook back and forth.

“No matter how much of a traitor he is, I never imagined he would belong to a criminal organization.”

That's right, that's right.

Originally, it was a case where you became a colleague of 'Geomseong' after going through several episodes.

After that, he is killed by someone who has become proficient in 'Magi', but he is a character who makes sure to get his share.

The guy who cut off Claude's neck is that guy.

It's me. To be exact, 'Yurien'.

Anyway, if things continue this way, it will go according to the scenario.

Since he's the leader of 'Six Fingers', I can't help but deal with him.

'I'm going to kill that guy… … .'

I thought the scenario wouldn't change much.

What's the use of that now?

Now that it's come to this, let's just tear it all down, okay?

***

– 'I won't contact you for the time being. And remember, no matter what happens, you have nothing to do with me.'

After receiving Dantes' advice, Aitel took those words to heart and decided to remain quiet at the Academy for the time being.

But it was inevitable that impatience would arise.

'Damn it… How long do I have to keep doing this?'

He also knows that 'Yeongmyeonghoe' is not an ordinary organization.

A crazy group that worships 'Mashin Barbatos', utilizes demonic magic, and at the same time, does not hesitate to carry out 'human experiments'.

That is why Aitel thought that his intention was there.

'A gathering place for those who are particularly twisted among the already twisted nobles.'

Although he has not lived very long as a nobleman, he knows.

Nobility can be 'off'.

The more severe the 'distortion', the higher the social status of the guy.

The fact that they can strongly express their will means that they are guys who can handle the attention of those around them.

So, Aitel decided to reach out to the 'Dawn Society'.

'For a more noble life!'

The Aitel family is a mediocre family with no special qualities or accomplishments.

At best, it is a family that has earned the appearance of being 'noble' by making a few small achievements over the course of history.

All he can do is serve as the 'Principal of Bayer Academy' and, as a 'noble', become a punching bag for fellow 'nobles'.

'But, I expected things to change once I joined the Dawn Society… … .'

It missed. No, not only did it miss, it didn't even reach the tip of the toe that it 'expected' to reach.

‘So, if only you had sent Annarui to Myeongwol Gwan instead of the exchange meeting like I said… …!’

Aitel clicked his tongue inwardly at Dantes' absurd judgment, put his boiling heart aside, got up from his seat, and looked outside through the window.

Headmaster of Bayer Academy.

Although it is a position in name only, it is a position that carries a certain amount of power and can be viewed from above.

“Anyway, the empire is in this state because those stupid guys are using their brains for no reason.”

Aitel clicked his tongue once and began to savor the view outside the window.

I don't know about anything else, but the view from this height is something I never get tired of, no matter how many times I see it.

'Obviously, places like Baekuijeom or Matap would be more thrilling than this scenery.'

The higher your dreams, the better.

Aitel looked down the window again, mulling over the famous quote someone might have said.

'……hmm?'

But was it a twist of fate?

It was literally a coincidence that there was a person who looked like 'Yurian' in the place where I turned my gaze without thinking.

But Aitel instinctively noticed.

'Things went wrong.'

I vaguely know that 'Closed Eyes' recently started investigating 'Six Fingers'.

At the same time, Dantes had also asked him.

– 'Don't get involved with the closed eyes. Their recent behavior is strange.'

If you think about the hot topics in the system these days, the reason why 'Closed Eyes' came here is.

'… … to find information about the six fingers!'

The only contact point is you, so come here right away!

Aitel was amazed at his extraordinary brain.

At the same time, he quickly left the principal's office and figured out a way to get out of the academy without being caught by 'Yurien'.

“I’m going to leave for a moment on business. If anyone comes, just pretend you don’t know them.”

“Huh? Oh, yes!”

After speaking to the secretary, Aitel quickly headed toward the back door of the main building.

Aitel, who was going downstairs, pushed the third brick from the middle floor with his hand.

Slurp──!

As the bricks went in, a gap appeared between the bricks, accompanied by the sound of a mechanical device rolling.

Aitel put his body in there. Once again, he pressed the brick and the gap closed.

'Huh huh… … .'

The place where Aitel entered was a secret passage known only to a very small number of Academy officials.

'Outsiders would never know about this place.'

Confident that he would never be caught, Aitel leisurely walked down the hallway.

Because I hadn't properly taken care of it, the dampness attacked my whole body, but I could bear this level of discomfort.

‘Was it around here… …?’

When Aitel reached the end of the passage, he pushed the brick stuck in the corner outward as before.

Knock knock──!

Aitel chuckled at the light streaming in through the gap along with the scenery of the outer passage.

'If anyone knows about this passage, it's probably only a pervert who knows the building's blueprints by heart.'

With that thought, Aitel exited the passage.

That's what came into Aitel's sight.

“Hmm… It was true that they said that if I waited here, he would appear.”

It was the middle-aged man whose face I was seeing for the first time, along with 'Yurien', whom I had wanted to avoid so badly.

'Ah, no, how… …!?'

For a moment, Aitel's heart seemed to stop.

Why is that cross-eyed man here?

Aitel felt his body stiffen in the peculiar gloomy atmosphere, so he straightened his posture as if nothing had happened.

“What brings you here, Sir Yurian?”

“Sir Aitel, I’m sorry, but I have something urgent to tell you. Would you cooperate?”

“Ugh, ugh……!”

Although the tone of voice was soft and calm, as if he was conducting business, Aitel felt a cold sweat run down his back as he listened to the words.

‘… … Did you come here knowingly?’

If that's the case, then given his personality, he would have done things forcefully!

'There is still hope.'

Acting shameless with an iron plate on your face.

He instinctively realized that this would help the situation.

“No, I’m busy right now. If you have something to say, put it off until later.”

As Aitel spoke, he touched his clothes and walked away.

Thud──!

Zahat, who was beside Aitel, grabs his arm.

“What are you doing, not letting go of this!?”

“It would be better if you followed along when I spoke.”

"……what?"

Aitel, feeling rude to a man he had never heard of, raised his voice.

“You little shit, do you know who I am? It seems like you don’t see anything…… Ugh, euaaaaaaah!”

Boom boom boom──!

When Zahat broke Aitel's arm, he felt such excruciating pain that he fell to the floor.

“Wow, Sir Aithel. You’ve only exchanged a few words and you’ve already grasped the essence of Lord Zahat.”

When Yurian's mocking voice was heard behind Aitel's back, who was pressed against the ground, Zahat let out a hollow laugh.

“By the way, I am impressed by your enthusiastic cooperation in the investigation, Sir Aitel.”

Yurian's voice is gentle, yet sharp like a knife.

“Surely, even if he were involved in a controversial incident in the current system, hehe. Would I kill him?”