Playing the Perfect Fox-Eyed Villain Chapter 91

Episode 91. Black Sword (2)

Trait: "Sombra" has detected a demon.

Black Star, I could sense the scent of a demon from Haydn Reich.

Did you kill a demon recently?

No way.

I pushed aside the doubts rising in my chest and turned my gaze to Haydn.

“Master.”

The first one to speak was not me, but Linne.

Her eyes were shaking violently, though she tried to keep her composure.

“Why are you doing that, Linne?”

“Why…….”

Linne took a deep breath as if she was about to ask something, and then she seemed to have made up her mind and opened her mouth.

“Really…, have you fled to the Holy Land?”

Linne's honest question intrigued me as well. I've been through many stories, but there was no line where the swordsman went to the Holy Kingdom.

“Wasn’t it what you told me, Master, to serve with pride as an imperial inspector and as a subject?”

"right."

“Then why…….”

Haydn looked at Linnaeus, whose words were trailing off.

It seemed as if he wanted to say something with his trembling hands, but she just waited for Haydn to speak.

“I guess the Master is no longer the noble person we knew.”

I felt sorry for her, so I spoke first.

The sense of betrayal must be huge.

After his father died, it was none other than Geomseong who filled the void with the title of 'Master'.

“……Don’t say it like that.”

“Then, do not doubt the Master’s choice. Even though he cruelly abandoned those who followed him and went into exile in the Holy Land without saying a word to you, his disciple, should you not understand him?”

As he continued to speak, Linne's face became more and more distorted.

It's probably not because you're offended by what I said.

Because of the excruciating pain that tore my heart apart.

Because of the betrayal of someone he trusted.

I also felt like I was talking too long.

If it were 'Yurien', it wouldn't have happened like this.

He must have been holding a sword and making a fuss.

But this is an area where self-objectification is possible.

Because the existence of ‘Geumseong’ had a great meaning to me as well.

"……sorry."

At that moment, the mouth of the swordsman who had been silent for a long time finally opened.

“Linne, I have nothing to say to you. I already knew that my choice would hurt you. But you didn’t tell me anything.”

Linnaeus said nothing to Haydn's apology. No, he couldn't say anything.

Her hands on her knees were trembling, and her once bright eyes were red.

“So, I have a suggestion for you. In fact, that’s why I recommended you to His Majesty Yulis.”

I was listening to the story in silence.

It will most likely be a ridiculous story, so prepare yourself mentally.

“How about leaving the Empire and seeking asylum in the Holy Nation?”

Is this guy crazy?

***

I thought someone was making fun of me.

A mischievous prank played on one's self as a disciple of the Sword Master.

It was none other than Geomseong and his proposal that woke her up from such thoughts.

– 'How about leaving the Empire and seeking asylum in the Holy Nation?'

When Linne heard those words, she was deeply moved by the fact that the Sword Master had really fled to the Holy Kingdom.

The emotions I am talking about are 'bewilderment' and 'anxiety'.

'Oh, that's true. Master… … .'

It was a truly absurd suggestion.

The reason he didn't immediately draw his sword and cut off his neck was because the person who said that was someone who held a lot of weight in his heart.

A swordsman more noble than anyone else.

The one who showed me a new path.

She was troubled, as she could not simply dismiss the suggestion of someone she respected as a joke.

“I, I…….”

Her instincts tell her to say no. But.

'Master, you're not the kind of person to make such a suggestion to me for no reason. There must be a reason.'

Linné lifted his head slightly and looked into Haydn's eyes.

As always, a kind smile on her face and eyes full of concern for herself.

If you refuse.

'You must be very disappointed.'

With those thoughts in mind, Linne couldn't easily open her mouth.

“I am a member of the ‘Closed Eyes’ group, and yet you dare to say something like ‘exile’, Master?”

Then, Yurian suddenly interrupted the conversation between Linnaeus and Haydn.

As usual, he hides his true feelings with a smiling face, but those who have seen him for a long time can sense a little anger and displeasure inside him.

“I knew you’d be that angry. I don’t mean to say that to you, but what do you think?”

“Are you asking me, the royal hunting dog, to seek asylum in the Holy Land? Hehe. I will politely decline.”

“You didn’t want my neck? If it were right next to you, there would be more opportunities.”

That's something Linne already knows. That Yurian is obsessed with the name of his master, 'Geomseong'.

It was also evidence that he recognized 'Blackness' more than anyone else and wanted to be recognized by him.

That's why Linne was a little nervous about the possibility that Yurian might accept that offer.

But as if mocking her, Yurian laughed briefly with an unlucky expression, saying, “Huh-huh.”

“Tigers die for their skins, but people die for their names. That’s because they have value.”

“I know. I told you so myself.”

“But who would want a name that has fallen to the ground? It would only make your ‘hands’ dirty.”

He is a truly consistent man.

A self-centered mindset that ignores the downfall of others in order to protect one's own honor.

Linne thought about this and looked at her teacher. She wondered what kind of expression he was making.

“Well, I knew you’d answer like that.”

Haydn nodded with an expression of obviousness, then turned his gaze to Linne with a polite, kind smile.

“I would also like to decline.”

Although he had anticipated Yulian's rejection, Haydn's face showed regret, as if he had not even considered Linnaeus' rejection.

“I am a citizen of the Empire, just like my father.”

It was a difficult answer to say, but Yurian's firm attitude helped her calm down.

Although his words did not resonate with me, his loyalty to the empire he currently belongs to was admirable.

Besides, once I let it out, I felt a relief in my chest, as if I had been trapped in some stuffy place and was coming out.

"okay."

The look of regret on Haydn's face soon disappeared.

“To those of you who came here to escort the prince, this was a proposal you didn’t even know your place in.”

Haydn took a self-deprecating stance, then a kind smile appeared on his face again and he ran his hand over his chin.

At a moment when silence almost flowed.

“There is one thing I would like to ask, Master.”

The topic of this story was picked by Yurian.

“As much as you want.”

Yurian rebukes Haydn, who is shouting confidently with his arms spread wide.

“Are you aware that your body has become like that?”

'What on earth are you talking about?'

Linne looked puzzled at Yurian's words. It was a question that made no sense at all.

"hmm."

But his teacher Haydn seemed interested as if he had been waiting for these words.

“I don’t know what you want to say, Yurian.”

“You know? That body on the verge of death.”

Charak──!

Yulian placed his hand on her waist, just like when they first met.

“Isn’t demonization in progress?”

Linne was startled by Yurian's shocking words.

I tried to ask what that meant, but it was hard to believe and I couldn't open my mouth.

“Master?”

'lie.'

Linne continued to deny it, saying no, that it wouldn't be true.

“You managed to notice it.”

Haydn agreed with Yurian's words.

“Wow, that’s ridiculous…….”

Linne's face turned pale at the teacher's stern recognition.

The tone of voice between the two of them made it seem like they were having an ordinary, everyday conversation, as if it was nothing special, but in reality, the content was completely different.

If demonization progresses, the person loses his or her self and becomes a 'demon'. This means that he or she loses his or her dignity as a human being and becomes a monster that attacks people.

“Could it be that you chose this foolish exile just to prevent that demonization?”

After hearing Yurian's emotionless words, Linne began to understand her master's exile a little.

There may be a method in the Holy Land that the Empire doesn't have, and the Master may have known that and gone into exile.

"well."

I was discouraged by Haydn's uncertain answer.

“There’s no reason for me to tell you.”

“Are you trying to hide something?”

“Isn’t it common sense? Yurian, just like you, I think I need to hide something too.”

Linne also nodded at her teacher's words.

She also knows full well that this sinister, cross-eyed glass-eyed woman has a lot to hide.

I tried to dig into it, but it was a situation where I couldn't clearly see the outlines or anything like that, as if it were shrouded in a veil.

But was Haydn, the teacher, different?

It seemed as if he could see right through that hazy something in Yurian.

“Is that so? Haha.”

An ordinary person would have broken out in a cold sweat at the sharp words of the swordsman, but Yurian was not like that at all.

Linne shook her head as Yulian answered calmly, still smiling unluckily.

“He may seem to have a quick temper, but he still has the same cool-headed personality when it comes to things that need to be done. Yurian.”

Oddly enough, Yulian looked slightly displeased at the words, “Your personality is still the same.”

“You have changed a lot, Master.”

“You know, people. They can’t help but change.”

“I’m sure you know, Master. There is no technology in the Holy Nation to prevent demonization.”

Yulian slowly got up from her seat.

“Then, why is demonization in progress? Why did they defect to the Holy Nation… I don’t know for sure, but I can guess at least one thing.”

Although he didn't reach for the scabbard on his waist, the spirit flowing out of his body was as sharp as if he had pulled the sword out.

“The Master planted the magic in his body on his own will, not against his will, and it was the Holy Nation that carried it out.”

Srrrrung──!

As soon as he finished speaking, Yurian pulled out the sword from its scabbard.

“You’re drawing your sword again. Are you okay? This time, it won’t end with a formality.”

“Not only has he betrayed the Empire, he has also become a demon.”

A beautiful sword made of jewels. When I heard that this weapon was made in the 'Twilight Flame', I expected it to break before long.

It was still proving itself as a jewel sword.

“There is no reason for me not to do it.”

“Isn’t this just to satisfy your personal desires?”

“Hehe, I do have a bit of selfish motive, but what do you think?”

“The belly button is bigger than the stomach.”

Haydn, who was laughing in vain at the absurd attitude, turned his gaze to Linnaeus.

It was as if she was telling me to stop this crazy guy, but she shook her head from side to side.

“Master, why don’t you deny what Sir Yurian said?”

“What are you talking about?”

“With your own hands……you say you planted magic in your body……”

"ha."

Haydn sighed.

“Since when have you started to believe Yurian’s words so much? Didn’t you hate Yurian and deny all of his actions?”

"that……."

The master spoke the most fundamental reason why he disliked Yurian, but Linne, who had been silent for a moment, soon raised his head.

“I know one thing: you shouldn’t lie in a situation like this.”

I know.

He was called the devil with a human face and was pointed at as the 'laughing executioner'.

Lately, he has never lied to himself, especially not in this situation.

And even though he hid himself thoroughly with his 'squinty eyes' and a smile that was difficult to read even with his intentions, he would have confessed everything to Haydn Reich.

“That’s too bad.”

Haydn, muttering to himself, as if whispering.

At the same time, a terrifying magical energy began to spread from his body.

“Ugh…….”

A magical energy so strong that it is difficult to move even the tip of one's finger, let alone move a single step.

At this level, it is similar to or even superior to the magic of the triangle demon.

'Not only demonization… … .'

To use that power to its fullest potential.

As Yurian said, it gave strength to the idea that Black Sword had voluntarily undergone demonization.

'Why on earth?'

How did such a noble teacher end up like this?

Gulp.

The moment she pondered that question, Linne felt red blood flowing down the bridge of her nose.

A phenomenon that occurs when one is exposed to strong magic without protecting one's body with mana.

Soon I was struck by a headache and chills.

'Mind… … .'

His eyes slowly began to lose focus. However, the magic that had been weighing on him began to lighten.

“Sir Yurian?”

This was because Yurian, who had stepped forward, blocked the magical energy emanating from Haydn's body.

How can you handle the sudden release of magic so naturally?

Linnaeus was amazed at his abilities.

It was the same with Haydn.

“Even without the aura, you can deal with magic so easily. As expected, you too…….”

Before he could continue speaking, a lightning-like blow struck Haydn.

Haydn responds by pulling out his sword.

As metal clashed with metal, a creepy sound rang out.

As if he had predicted their future.

That's how the second greeting began.