I Became the Master of the Villain - Chapter 25

The Count, who was panicking in a cold sweat, said,

“I do not know……. It’s been so long that I can’t remember.”

Kian glanced at the Count.

I don’t think you’re lying…….

I didn’t expect him to remember the name of a slave dealer in the first place.

It was at that moment when Kian decided to use another method.

Suddenly, the Count swung a dagger and rushed at Kian.

He judged that he could try and do something if he attacked when Kian wasn’t alert.

A sharp dagger attacked Kian’s neck.

Instead of avoiding the attack, Kian stretched out his right hand.

Suddenly, the Count’s body floated in the air.

“Ahhhhhhhh!

The Count dropped the dagger from his hand; his body was placed in front of Kian.

Kian put his hand on the Count’s head. His face turned blue as he shouted:

“Let go! Guards! What the hell are they doing!?”

The Count struggled.

But that stopped.

When Kian used his hand, the Count became paralyzed.

However, his consciousness was alert. He clearly experienced the unpleasant and painful sensation of something searching through his head.

“Arghhh!”

The Count opened his eyes and screamed.

Listening to a tearful scream, Kian continued to search his memory.

The silence of the night was ripped apart by a desperate scream.

How long had it been?

Finally, Kian found the memory he was searching for, and Kian let go of the Count.

He had fainted, his body dropped weakly.

Even if he appeared dead, he was still alive.

I’ve been searching his memory all night so that he might have some mental aftereffects.

Even so, I felt no sympathy.

Because I knew that the Count was a vicious and brutal sort of human.

How many slaves were murdered due to the Count’s cruelty?

They deserved the feelings of compassion, not him.

Kian manipulated the Count’s memory to prevent him from remembering what happened tonight.

The purpose was achieved after finding out the appearance and name of the slaver.

And I found out something unexpected.

In his memory, a woman was holding a newborn child. It was me.

-Master! Let me go with the master! Please….!

-Don’t be so loud. Come here!

-Argh!

Why did she call me master?

Was she someone who knew me well?

The questions never ended.

Although he wanted to learn more, Kian returned to the Duke’s residence instead of continuing his investigation.

Olivia will be worried if you leave for too long.

He had no intention of letting her know about this.

I’ll take care of it quietly.

Don’t let her get hurt.

In the dim room, Kian looked at his reflection in the mirror.

A young man with neat features was revealed.

He looked no different from before.

But Kian knew.

This enormous power that came into his hands changed something within.

***

Wearing a black veil, I put white flowers on the knights’ tombstone.

Kian, who was next to me, also placed flowers.

I bowed my head and paid silent tribute to the knight who sacrificed themselves for me.

I will never forget those names.

A sound of the memorial bell-ringing was heard from the bell tower of the cemetery.

The sound had a sad and lonely tone.

I returned to the mansion, leaving behind the cemetery where the knights were buried.

After taking off my mourning clothes and changing into a calm-colored dress, I headed to the knight’s quarters.

Sir Hans’ room was on the second floor.

When I opened the door, a fellow knight was guarding his bedside.

When he saw me, he greeted me with a slight bow.

“Lady, you’re here.”

“How’s Lord Hans doing?”

The knight replied in a melancholy voice.

“He isn’t waking up.”

Five days have passed since the day of the assassination attempt.

I looked down at Sir Hans, who was asleep with an even breath.

His expression was calm, such a contrast to my insides which were burning black.

“Let’s wait patiently. I’m sure there will be good news.”

“Yes, I don’t think he’s going to end up like this.”

I smiled at the knight’s answer.

I’m not the only one waiting for him to wake up.

The fact was a little comforting.

Kian and I left the knight’s quarters and returned to the main building of the mansion.

We got onto a waiting carriage.

The destination was the Imperial Palace, and the purpose of the visit was to measure Kian’s mana.

I glanced at Kian sitting across from me.

He was looking out the window with a thoughtful face.

Even after the day of awakening as a wizard, he continued to serve me as his master.

He didn’t say anything to free him.

Because of his personality, there’s no way he’s going to bring it up to me first.….

‘So I’ll have to say it.’

I was going to tell you as soon as I recovered my stamina, so it’s really time to talk.

As soon as we get back from the mana measurement, I’ll free him.

After showing his pass to the guard, we passed through the main gate of the palace.

After a long drive through the vast palace, the carriage stopped in front of the magical powers monitoring station.

I showed Aaron’s letter to the reception desk. The receptionist said with a friendly smile:

“Follow the guide over here. I’ll show you to the measuring room.”

I followed the guide to the second floor and found a straight hallway.

When the end was reached, a hall with a giant crystal ball appeared in the center.

There were already people waiting here.

There were mothers holding babies in their arms, and there were magicians who came to measure themselves again.

The guide left us with a polite smile:

“I hope you get good results.”

The Empire evaluates the sorcerer’s talent and mana by measuring mana.

It has a maximum of 1st to 9th grades, and a minimum of 3rd grades is required if you want to become a court wizard.

It is impossible to even apply even below that.

“As a result of the re-measurement, there was no change. Level 4, it’s the same.”

“Oh…no!”

That’s why there are people who scream after receiving the measurement results.

In some cases, your level of mana changes as you grow, but most of them remain unchanged.

In other words, the world of magic is a place where natural born talent accounts for 99 percent—pure luck.

It’s unfair.

“I’ve been training so hard for six years…… I can’t believe it.….”

Whether he was familiar with the sight of his efforts not being rewarded, the court wizard looked businesslike.

“Next person, please come.”

At the court wizard’s call, Kian, who was sitting in the waiting room, stood up.

“Master, I’ll be right back.”

I waved my hand, saying to do well.

Kian, who nodded, walked to a large crystal ball in the center of the hall.

That bead, which is three meters in diameter, is a mana measuring instrument.

Around the sphere is a band reminiscent of the rings of the planets.

It looks like magic is engraved on it.

“The measurement method is simple. When you touch this bead, the measurement starts. When the measurement is complete, the nucleus will have a number between 1 and 9.”

Following the guidance of the court wizard, Kian brought his hand to the crystal ball.

The core embedded in the center of the bead shone.

At the same time, the band surrounding the crystal ball began to rotate like a ring on a planet.

I looked at the crystal ball with anticipated eyes.

The core of the beads repeatedly shined with dreamy colors.

How many minutes has it been?

Inside the nucleus of the crystal ball, a number of ancient characters emerged.

Finally, the results of the measurement came out.

“Oh…!”

I could hear gasps everywhere.

Soon after, a murmur spread like a ripple.

The number that came up inside the nucleus was the highest rating.

For me, who knew Kian’s strength, it was roughly expected.

But everyone except me was looking at Kian with excitement and astonishment.

“The highest grade…… that’s ridiculous!”

“Who the hell is that?”

“I don’t think you’re an Academy student.”

“Even last year’s Academy senior didn’t get the highest grade……!”

It was a natural reaction that people were surprised.

Since there were only three highest-rated wizards in the Empire.

The highest-rated wizard was such a rare thing.

Even the court wizard, who had been a businessman the whole time, was now wide-eyed.

As if he had forgotten his words, he opened his mouth belatedly after a few seconds of blinking.

“Let me tell you the results of the measurements.”

The court wizard took a deep breath and continued.

“Magician Kian, the highest grade.”

Once more confirmed by the mouth of the court wizard, the hall became noisy again.

However, Kian, the person involved, was not surprised to hear the results.

It seems that he was expecting the result.

After finishing the measurement, Kian approached me. I said with a bright smile.

“Congratulations, Kian. That’s a good result.”

In fact, Kian’s mana is above the highest level.

It’s just that it’s impossible to quantify above the highest grade.

In a sense, it was fortunate that it could not be measured. If it turns out to be too strong, the Emperor would be on guard.

Kian replied with a smile.

“I’m glad my master is happy.”

Of course, it was something to be pleased about. Now Kian will be treated as the greatest wizard, not as a slave.

Now that he received the first grade in mana level, many people will treat Kian well and try to gain his favor.

Not only the Empire but other kingdoms.

The force of one of the top wizards is overwhelmingly stronger than hundreds and thousands of soldiers.

So everyone will cater to Kian to live well.

The eyes mixed with envy and jealousy were stinging, so I quickly left the mana measuring room with Kian.

We rode our wagon, waiting outside the monitoring station, and left the palace behind.

It was not that far from the palace to the Duke’s residence, so we arrived at the mansion quickly.

When I got to the front door of the mansion, I asked Kian,

“Will you come to my room later? I have something important to say.”

“Yes, my lord.”

As usual, Kian replied with a gentle nod.

Because of this, I had no idea what he was thinking.

***

When I opened the second compartment of the mahogany drawer in my room, a pile of documents came out.

It was Kian’s slave trade certificate.

My plan to take good care of Kian until he wakes up as a sorcerer has now been completed.

So now you have to let him go.

I took out a certificate of sale.

The pictures hidden underneath caught my eye.

These were the pictures taken secretly by a gossip reporter when I went to a picnic with Kian.

I took out the pictures one by one and looked at them carefully.

“…….”

I felt melancholy for some reason for the breakup that came sooner than expected.

To think I’d feel empty without him.….

I laughed without realizing it.

I was hoping that Kian would wake up as soon as possible, but I was wondering what kind of stupid idea entered my head.

I looked at the deed of sale for a long time and put it in my arms.

Just in time, I heard a knock.

“Master, it is me, Kian.”

***