I Became Close to the Villain - Chapter 21

“…… I’ll think about it.”

The nice Idris didn’t laugh at me. Instead, he took a step back.

He must have a lot of thoughts because I pushed him this far.

But then,

Idris’ expression changed dramatically. He turned his head toward the wall.

“What’s the matter?”

“Who touched my mana?”

“Has anyone touched it? In what sense?”

“Literally. They touched my mana and checked it. I think they’ve noticed my mana.”

“Ugh. Maybe, that, something like a magic measurement item?”

“It’s similar, but it’s not such a simple item. And the number of people……two.”

“Two? Did the knights notice it?”

“…… One of them is Liliel.”

“Liliel?”

Marquess Lahrat, she’s here……?

So, is the person next to her the Marquess?

A terrifying ominous feeling swept over me.

“The other one, for a person who is not a mage, they feel too familiar with magic.”

“Like me?”

“No. It’s not the concept of possessing mana…”

Idris made a face that seems like he realized something.

“They’ve been exposed to a lot of magic.”

“It’s the Marquess.”

“Seems like Shannon Lahrat.”

We said at the same time.

I judged quickly.

“Oh no. We should move, Idris. I think Liliel failed. It’s game over if she notices.”

“If I just disappear for a moment…”

Ah, this person is still hesitating. He should’ve let me win in this urgent situation.

“Then, only your mana and me will be left.  You don’t want to turn me into a traitor, do you?”

“I’ll make the mana disappear as if it was an illusion.”

“What are you talking about?… Do you think Marquess Lahrat is an idiot? She was the one who fought against the former archmage.”

I raised my eyebrows because of the guy who looked at me without a single expression on his face.

“I’m going to live in the empire again after my treatment. You don’t want me to stay with you for a long time anyway.”

“It’s not a good place to live.”

“Then, at least I have to make people think that I’m a harmless and good victim before I can go back, right? Help me, Idris.”

“… In fact, I was planning to send you abroad if our connection was discovered.”

“I’m going to be caught by the marquess and investigated by the knights.”

“Yes, Lahrat is too fast.”

Idris said sullenly. Seeing it eased my mind a little, so I reached out one hand. 

“Well, you are not wrong.”

And with the other hand, I stroked his head.

Before his expression turned into embarrassment, I spoke quietly.

“Let’s go, come on. If you don’t want to fight with the marquess, we’d better hurry up.”

“…Just for a while, Vianne. Don’t think about living on that island.”

“Hey, I don’t go there because I like it.”

I smiled and reassured him. He sighed, grabbed my hand, and raised me up.

Then he hugged me. I practiced the expression of a kidnapped person for a moment and added.

“The mana is mine.”

“You haven’t recovered yet.” 

“I’ll seriously be ill.”

“Vianne.”

“I want to act. Please cooperate, villain.”

Giving a villain the villain’s role is really weird but oh well.

“…….”

Idris did as I said.  Again, like last night, my head was dizzy, and he held me with one hand.

He made a white sword in his other hand and held it. The elongated sword was so smooth and luscious that I wanted to touch it.

“Magic sword?”

I whispered to him.

“Yes.”

It may not be the official name, but he seemed to be the type to say that I was right when I got close to the correct answer.

By the way, he even took out a sword, and he’s acting steadily considering that he’s dissatisfied with my plan.

“Baroness!”

Shannon rushed in just in time. She held a black and unusual sword in her hand.

“Mage! Put the baroness down now.”

Shannon commanded with dignity. And she aimed at Idris with the terrifying sword.

Idris spoke in a surprisingly cold voice.

“You have an old sword.”

“If you don’t let go of the baroness, I’ll cut you with this sword.”

“Did you cut Oscar with that sword?”

“……You.”

Shannon lowered her angry voice, and Idris laughed.

It seemed to be a story that they knew but I didn’t know. Did the two already have contact or do they know indirectly?

Idris, aren’t you too immersed in acting? There’s no need to offend the marquess.

“I heard that you harmed a man named Haro instead of Oscar.”

“Shut up!”

Did he really want to offend her? 

He’s working really hard.

Instead of Idris, it’s me who felt bad for her.

‘Marquess, I’m sorry. I’m very sorry to deceive you. I want to apologize for my friend’s words. But this guy is someone who is sincere in everything he does.’

I told him to shut up, and he really did do it.

Because the magic was activated, Idris and I disappeared together, so I couldn’t speak any more.

Idris has a bad temper too sometimes…

“Baroness…!”

The marquess cry slowly disappeared, and we moved in space.

***

When I opened my eyes, I saw a canyon in front of me.

A stone bridge was placed between the magnificent canyon. Beyond the bridge, I could see a wall showing off its overwhelming momentum.

The weather is bad. In the distant sky, clouds were swirling with visible speed. It was a sign of heavy showers or storms.

I breathed in. The air I felt was a little different from where I lived. This place is surrounded by huge green mountain ranges.

It was the entrance of the mage’s island.

But Idris, who had a magic sword in his hand, suddenly blocked something with it.

It was magic. A very sharp and dangerous magic.

I looked at it and lost my mind.