Playing the Perfect Fox-Eyed Villain Chapter 14

Episode 14. Behind the scenes (2)

The next day after completing the mission to escort the Gongmyeongseok and returning to the Imperial Capital.

I went straight to work at the palace.

Although I would have liked to just lie down and rest all day, I was employed by an agency exclusively for the royal family.

No matter how much Yurian lived as he pleased, he was faithful to his duties at 'Closed Eyes', so he decided that it was right for him to come to work here.

Actually, that was natural.

I passed through the first gate of the palace, Gyeongcheonmun (敬天問), and headed towards the closed-eye building.

As soon as I arrived at the office, I arranged the flower pots I had brought in the room.

“This is much better than before.”

The office was once decorated with Yurian's indescribable aesthetic sense.

After I cleared away all the decorations and placed a potted orchid, the place started to smell a little more human.

Orchids are really nice.

There is no special corner to manage, and it gives peace of mind to those who see it.

In the old days, I couldn't understand such a noble hobby.

But as time passed and I came to my senses, I realized that I had taken up this hobby.

Really, no one knows what happens to people.

After looking around the calm office, I walked towards the window where the sunlight was shining brightly.

The sight of the palace, which was so artistic that it was selected as one of the seven most beautiful sights in the empire, was visible, but at the same time, the resonance stones placed here and there and the red-colored spells installed on the outskirts were visible.

It is a vicious barrier that turns any intruder, including demons, into ashes.

'How to complete the Moonlight Sword.'

While looking at this, I thought about how I could complete Yurian's patented 'Moonlight Sword'.

Although it certainly performed well against the two-legged demons, it wasn't enough.

Above all, only some parts of the sword, not the entire sword, were showing the aura.

'That's why the sword couldn't hold out.'

My gaze turned to the scabbard on the table.

A sword used during escort missions.

It was in such a miserable condition that it would break after just a few uses.

Of course, I couldn't use this sword, so I brought a new sword from the mansion.

'Even though we've defeated the two-legged demon, we'll inevitably face stronger enemies in the future. So, completing the Moonlight Sword is the top priority.'

The good news is that I vaguely understood the method through this practice.

Knock knock─!

As I was looking at the flower pot I had brought with a happy face, someone knocked on the door.

When I told him to come in, Lazrot, the apprentice of 'Closed Eyes', appeared.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty, Yulian!”

Still a scared voice and a thoughtful expression.

It's sad to see him cower so much that it makes people feel sorry for him.

No, I feel like I did something wrong.

“As you requested, I have brought the jewels from the palace treasury!”

“Well done.”

I smiled faintly at Lazrot's words.

After that, he gestured and instructed them to place it on the table.

He grumbled and placed the box containing the jewels on the table.

Jewels that shine softly as if asking for my worth to be recognized.

I reached into the case and began examining the jewels one by one.

“But, Sir Yurian… what are you planning to do with all these jewels?”

I glanced at the curious Lazrot, and the boy's eyes were shaking back and forth without a clue.

If you were that scared, why did you ask?

“To find a jewel that matches the waves of my mana.”

I told Lazrot the reason.

Because it was something that didn't necessarily need to be kept a secret.

“Oh, you mean the Mana Wave?”

“Yes. The mana flowing within each person has different properties. Even as an apprentice, I’m sure you know that much, right?”

Lazrot nodded.

Then he searched through his pockets, took out a notebook and pen, and began writing down what I said.

“That’s why each wizard has a different specialty in magic, and each knight has a different ability and color in their aura.”

Lazrot nodded and wrote it down again.

It felt like a lecture even though I was just explaining the game settings.

He took out a jewel while receiving admiring gazes.

It was a ruby as bright red as a flame.

“All substances in this world have the ability to accept mana. Of these, these gems have the highest mana conductivity and capacity.”

As I breathed mana into it, the ruby's color began to stand out even more.

“Oh, I see.”

“However, if it has a nature that is opposite to your own mana, this is what happens.”

Dismissal.

The ruby that was infused with mana began to crack.

“Ah, ah!”

A sigh escaped Bone Lazrot's lips as he saw the crack.

A feeling of surprise and regret was evident at the same time.

“That’s why magicians call the nature of mana elements and divide it into five colors. So that you can understand the nature of mana more clearly and definitely.”

As I was explaining, I found a jewel inside the box that had a blue glow like moonlight.

Moonstone.

I picked it up and breathed mana into it as well.

The blue glow of the moonstone began to stand out.

But it didn't crack like Ruby.

Perhaps this is the gem that most closely resembles Yurian's mana.

“Just as wizards use gems to cast spells, knights can also use gems. They engrave ‘mana blood’ on their swords to make it easier to use auras.”

“Then, will I be able to use Aura too!?”

“That might be possible.”

At my words, Lazrot's face brightened.

“If only I had that much mana.”

But soon his face darkened.

Yurian's body possessed such abundant mana that he could be called a magician.

It was clear that this method was something that other knights would not have even thought of, as it was only possible to use this method.

The reason why the current <Moonlight Sword> is lacking compared to the original is probably because the mana of 'Yurien' is not perfectly transferred to the sword.

In that case, if we create a path called 'Manablood' there, it will be much easier to convey than before.

I put the moonstone back in the box.

This is something borrowed from the palace.

So I had to send it back.

“Then please return all these jewels to the treasury.”

“Understood, Sir Yurian.”

While giving those instructions, he thought about how to secure new moonstones.

“But Sir Yulian……”

Lazrot remained in his seat, looking at me with a troubled expression.

“This ruby… is broken. What should I do?”

"ah."

It was a ruby that cracked during the first experiment earlier.

Since it is a royal property, it would naturally become a problem if it were returned like this.

It's not like I have the ability to fix a broken gem.

“Take that instead.”

"yes?"

There's nothing we can do. We have no choice but to give you a replacement item.

I pointed to the crafts tucked away in the corner.

That was the bizarre aesthetic of the artwork Yulian used to decorate his office.

“Do you think my staff will tolerate this……?”

Lazrot looked unconvinced, but these items were truly luxury items.

Yulian was born with an ego that was obsessed with showing off and used most of her salary to buy luxury goods.

Surely there are things that are worth more than jewels.

If you still don't believe me, let me add one more thing.

“Then please sell my name.”

“You, what’s the name of the glass glasses?”

"yes."

***

Yurian Kraiphart Frasson.

I never really got a sense of how significant this name's position in 'Closed Eyes' was.

It was thanks to a conversation with none other than the captain, Odwin, that I came to realize his position.

A position where you have to leave for a moment to get the moonstone.

When I relayed that to Odwin, the response I got was quite remarkable.

– “When did you say that and disappear……?”

What kind of life have you been living, Yulian?

And what kind of life has Odwin, who speaks so eloquently, lived?

Anyway, completing the 'Moonlight Sword' is the top priority for survival rather than pity.

I left the 'Closed Eyes' headquarters and headed to the Imperial Capital.

But before that, there was a place to stop.

– 'Please stop by the Imperial Secretary's Office before you go. I don't know why, but he said he wanted to hear the mission report in person.'

The Imperial Secretariat said they wanted to hear directly about the circumstances surrounding this mission.

There is one part that I can guess as to the reason for this.

If we were to talk about the general 'Closed Eyes' members, this would be impossible, but 'Yurien' is an exceptional being even in this royal agency.

To put it nicely, it's a companion, and to put it badly, it's a dog that's easy to use.

So, they want to check the condition with their own eyes.

Crack, crack──.

The imperial corridors were so well cleaned that you could see faces reflected on the floor.

“This is Yulian of ‘Closed Eyes’. I have come to see Sir Seddon Orbian of the Secretary’s Office.”

A position such as that of a secretary to the imperial family had more power than an average noble, to the point that they had their own building assigned to them.

When I told the secretary's office staff the name of the Imperial Secretary who had summoned me, 'Seden Orbian', she smiled and said.

“Sedun-nim is currently away from his seat due to a passenger. He said it won’t be long, so if Sir Yurian is coming, he asked us to wait in the waiting room for a moment.”

"All right."

As we headed to the waiting room guided by the staff, the first thing that caught our eye was the splendid interior of the room.

It could be said that it was a classic splendor that was quite different from Yurian's aesthetic sense.

“……That is?”

In the midst of all this, a scabbard placed in the corner catches my eye.

In contrast to the sophisticated atmosphere, the rough-looking scabbard gave off a strong sense of superficiality due to the contrast.

“I think it was probably something the passenger’s companion was carrying.”

The passenger who arrived before me.

I guess that guy had a companion.

By the way, a sword?

I tilted my head and slowly approached the scabbard that was ruining the atmosphere in the waiting room.

“It feels familiar.”

My first impression was that this black color felt so familiar to me.

As I lifted the scabbard, the strange sense of foreboding that had been stirring up memories grew even stronger.

“A strong body contains a strong mind.”

As I read the words written on the edge of the scabbard, I was able to understand the identity of the 'sense of foreboding' that had been bothering me since earlier.

“Let go of that sword right now, you pervert.”

A poisonous voice suddenly came from behind.

It was a voice overflowing with hostility, so much so that it was immediately apparent that it was not the voice of a secretary.

It was a predictable situation as to who the owner of this scabbard was.

I could tell who the owner of the voice was without having to look back.

As I turned my head to confirm my guess, my anticipation turned into certainty.

Long hair with elegant golden curls flowing down her back. And eyes reminiscent of emeralds.

Although there was a look of discomfort in her eyes, it was impossible to tarnish her appearance.

“It’s been a while, Linne Rondbell.”

Linne Rondbell.

She is the daughter of the Rondbell family, one of the most prestigious knight families in the Adratan Empire, and, like Yurian, is one of the disciples of the swordsman Hayden Reich.

And, in the DLC trailer, he is the main character who dies at the hands of 'Urian Cryphat Frasson'.