I Became Close to the Villain - Chapter 16

“It’s alright, however, since I’m fine.”

“… I’m glad you returned safely, Vianne.”

Liliel wrapped her arms around me firmly. I embraced her as well. I can’t ensure my own or Liliel’s safety any longer.

‘It can’t be that way. I need to do something.’

I slept again in the morning before going out in the afternoon. Liliel attempted to stop me, but I just shook my head.

The first place I headed to was Marquess Lahrat’s mansion.

“Are you fine, Baroness Astahilt? I was worried.”

The marquess looked at me with a face full of concern. I gave her a quick grin to comfort her, and then brought up the topic right away.

“I am going to testify to the imperial knights.”

“There were many people from the imperial knights who were curious about the whole ordeal. It is a good idea.”

“…I have a lot of questions too. We’ll be exchanging information. Will the knights give me information if I say your name?”

In order for me to obtain information that they did not inform the public, a guarantee from a trusted person was needed. And the public trust of Marquess Lahrat, the former commander of the knights, was almost as high as the imperial family.

“You came to me to find a guarantor. Of course I’ll do it for you.”

Shannon was more than happy to fulfill my request.

Relationships come in handy at moments like these.

“Thank you very much.”

We headed straight for the imperial knights.

All eyes were on us as soon as we stepped into the area. It was not because of me, but because of Marquess Shannon Lahrat. She was said to be a legendary figure within the order.

We made our way inside the main building. Someone arrived and saluted less than ten minutes after we finished all of the visiting procedure.

“C- Commander! No, Marquess!”

Shannon frowned a little. Her expression suddenly became strict, and she pointed things out.

“Which knight greets in that manner? Do it once more.”

“Please accept my apologies! My name is Venus Abriche, the commander of imperial knights, Marquess Lahrat! Endless honor to the empire!

The knight quickly took a breath and greeted her properly. Only then did Shannon receive the greetings quietly.

“Endless glory to the empire.”

She’s so cool. I figured it would only be a matter of time before I became a huge fan of Shannon’s. And I was right.

Hang on. Didn’t he mention that he’s the current commander?

That’s right. I was a little surprised.

Maybe it was the Shannon effect, if not, the current commander wouldn’t even come out. It was a wonderful thing for me since it would make it easier for me to communicate.

“This is Baroness Astahilt.”

I was in such a hurry to meet him that I nearly forgot.

Venus, the commander of the imperial knights, who was full of vigour, also exclaimed to me, “Endless glory to the empire!”

It was a greeting that I’ve never heard before. It seemed to be a greeting exclusively for knights.

Moving on, Venus and us sat down face to face in the drawing room.

“Because it’s a secluded alley and not a crowded neighbourhood, there are only a few witnesses. We’re also having a hard time investigating.”

Venus informed me of the investigation’s progress. I took a sip of my tea and nodded.

“All the mages who attacked me are dead, so I can’t make a statement.”

“Yes, that’s right. Therefore, I would like to ask for testimony regarding their death. We believe that the Baroness did not take care of all the mages. There were also traces of the high level of magic left on the scene, and there were two signs of the mages.”

If that’s the case, he must’ve done a lot of research.

“Your guess is correct. I only shot the first two mages.”

“A gunshot wound to the chest and head, right?”

“Yes.”

Venus scribbled my words down on a piece of paper.

“Thanks for the testimony. Then about the rest of the mage…”

“I couldn’t identify them, but there were seven in total.”

“Seven… all right.”

“A high ranking mage with white robe appeared and crushed them with a single motion.”

“Then, the white robe crushed the other seven… right?”

He said nonchalantly, but his face stiffened noticeably.

‘Why?’

When he glanced at Shannon, he had a solemn expression on his face. Venus inquired once again.

“D-did you say white robe?”

“Yes.”

Venus opened his mouth and exclaimed.

“White robe!”

“Why?”

“He’s the new master of the mage’s island, baroness!”

What?

“Really?”

Ugh, the previous master also did the same. Why do those masters keep sticking to me and making a fuss!

“Mages on the island don’t wear white robes! It’s an outer garment that can only be worn by their master!”

There was no specific setting in the novel. How did it become that way?

“Venus, calm down first.”

Shannon stopped Venus, who was completely erratic. He apologized profusely and then calmed down.

“In the early days of his ruling, he didn’t leave the island for a long time, which is unusual.  Besides, it seemed like he protected you from the mages under his command…”

“It’s not that he protected me, it’s more likely that he did it to take me for himself.”

“No way.”

Venus firmly denied my speculation.

“What’s wrong?”

“If that was the purpose, you must have been harmed. He is much stronger than you might think. There’s no way he couldn’t have achieved his goal.”

“He fled thanks to the knights discovering me in time. That’s what I assumed. Am I wrong?”

“I’m sorry, but the mages are not afraid of a few imperial knights.”

I got scared for no reason when the commander said this.

“Even though I might have accidentally hurt him?”

I blatantly lied to get information out of him, but the reaction was not very different.

“We know that three bullets were fired from the scene.”

“That’s right.”

“It wouldn’t be a major setback for the mage either. Because there is no way the master of the magic island cannot use healing magic.”

Venus certainly had a lot of knowledge about the mages. I could hear more information than the description I read in the novel.

This time, the current master seems to be stronger than Idris, the villain in the novel.