I Became Close to the Villain - Chapter 26

TL/N: I’ll try to post more to make up for last month

“Is this really the empire’s language?”

I complained after struggling with texts for a long time.

“Mage’s island does not have a separate language. It’s the empire’s language.”

“It’s the national language, so why can’t I understand it?”

“I understand.”

“You’re smart, then read this.”

“Why are you talking to me like a child…  …  .”

“Oh my. I’m sorry. Earlier, Michael kept calling you a child, so I followed him. But it’s true that you’re younger than me. I’m 21 years old.”

“I said my official age was twenty, but I didn’t say how old I really am.”

Huh? I took my eyes off the papers and looked at him.

He stopped and looked at me.

“No, what are you talking about? Do you all have two ages? I heard that a mage named Sinahan also had a suspicious age.”

“That’s something I don’t know as well.”

It was then I could hear Idris’ voice.

I turned my head. The pale-faced Idris spoke softly.

“I was late, I’m sorry.”

“You’re busy, It’s fine.”

I pulled Idris’ sleeve and make him sit on my right.

Eustave looked at him sullenly and put the papers aside.

“You came faster than I expected. I thought you were surrounded by faction leaders by now.”

“If you don’t want it to be like the 14th faction… shut up.”

Idris said harshly.  

“Did you really say that?”

Eustave was astonished.

“Even though you don’t care, how can you leave just like that?”

“I thought it was quiet compared to before.”

“It is, however. Nevermind…  …  Do whatever you want…  …  .”

Eustave seemed to have given up.”

“So what did you just say?”

Idris was more interested in something else.

“What do you mean?”

“Your real age.”

Judging by the question, Idris seemed to hear it for the first time.

“It’s nothing. I came to mage’s sland when I was so young, I said it because I didn’t know my exact date of birth.”

Eustave said as if he didn’t expect him to be so interested.

“You don’t even know the year you were born?”

I asked and he nodded.

“The former archmage, who brought me to mage’s island, estimated that I was three years old at the time. That’s what I’ve been saying so far.”

“I see…Tell me if you think you’re 22 years old. I’ll use honorifics.”

“No need…  …  .”

He refused.

What? Why are you looking at me with the same gaze when you look at Idris?

“Vianne. Are you sick today?”

Meanwhile, Idris asked.

“There is nothing wrong with being a little tired.”

He tapped my hand to check the magic circle, then asked Eustave.

“Why didn’t you report that Michael made a fuss during the day?”

“If I had reported it right away, wouldn’t you have jumped out in the middle of the meeting?”

‘When did he contact him? Ah, when I was taking a nap?’

“In the future, report immediately.”

“I will think about it if you give disciplinary action to Michael.”

“The punishment has already been imposed. If you go to Michael now, you will find out.”

“In the future, I will faithfully report.”

Eustave seemed to have a grudge on him. His determination to give Michael a punishment was interesting. Idris, who seemed to have expected it, was even funnier.

“Did you fight Michael? According to Michael, he asked me if I would ever beat him in broad daylight.”

“That’s true. Because I forced him to take the punishment.”

“I guess Michael’s pledge of loyalty is useless.”

“Michael is a mage who didn’t get the effects of a pledge. It’s a rare quality. So stay away from Michael as much as possible. First of all, I have allowed you to go out for a while at my discretion, but it won’t last long.”

“Does he have those qualities? He’s a really weird person.”

I agree.

Idris slightly lowered his gaze and blinked slowly. I looked at him and suddenly felt strange.

“You look a bit sick?”

His complexion was pale. What is this kid doing this in the first place?

“Keep your head down.”

He lowered his head as I said.

I wrapped my hands around his face and take a closer look. It’s definitely not normal.

“What is it?”

Eustav asked a question.

Instead of answering Eustave, I questioned Idris.

“Are you sleepy?”

My diagnosis was lack of sleep.

“A little.”

“When was the last time you slept?”

“…  …  Three days ago.”

That means he hasn’t slept since I reunited with him two days ago.

That’s why I’ve never seen him sleep.

“I knew it!”

I slapped his shoulder. Idris was beaten without moving.

“Is there a bed in this room?  Go and sleep.”

“No.”

“Why!”

“I just came to see you, it’s a waste to go to bed right away.”

He didn’t change his expression and he uttered. Oh my, this person…

“Then I’ll stay by your side until I fall asleep. Okay?”

When I came up with an alternative, Idris laughed softly.

“Okay, wait a minute. You haven’t even eaten dinner yet.”

At that moment, my heart somehow felt ticklish. Without realizing it, I avoided his gaze slightly.

“…  Let’s eat dinner, digest and go to bed right away. Got it?”

“Okay.”

I almost missed the point of the conversation, but I looked at him with stern eyes.

However, Idris kept smiling helplessly.

I sighed and turned my head. Then I met his wide gray eyes.

“I just can’t understand this situation. Since the master is here, I’ll get going.”

Just as Eustave declared, he got up.

‘Why is he like that?’

I had my doubts for a while, but he said goodbye to me.

But then, Idris laid a magic circle in front of his feet.

“What else!”

Eustave shouted and avoided it. It seemed that he didn’t even want to touch his magic.

“Process the paperwork. Here.”

“Why do I have to be here?”

“Because I am not in a good condition.”

“… Being a daily escort, it’s not over yet? I think I’ll be weaker than the sleepy master anyway.”

“If you stay here, I’ll do half of the paperwork.”

“As an escort, I should do it dutifully until the end to feel a sense of accomplishment.”

He changed his posture and sat down.

“It’s five o’clock now, so by seven o’clock, finish your paperwork, eat and sleep.”

Then, he set the deadline. Subsequently, the tower of documents was divided into two and pushed toward Idris.

“Idris, you don’t have to, I think I’ll be okay…  …  .”

Eustave was surprised with my words.

“…Maybe not. Yes, well. Work hard, my mage friend.”

Eustave frowned.

‘He must really hate paperwork.’

Surprisingly, he was a simple human being. I think I’ve found a way to deal with him.

Idris grabbed a pen and picked up the documents. He quickly began to write something.

 I didn’t know he’s left-handed. I’m actually left-handed too.

“You haven’t written anything in front of me ten years ago?”

“I don’t think that was anything special. Why?”

“I saw you writing with your left hand for the first time today.”

Idris looked at his hand as if he had realized now. They were huge yet thin white hands.

“I’m left-handed too.

“Really?”

“Want to see?”

 I picked up a piece of paper. I pulled the pen out of Idris’ hand and grabbed it.

While thinking about what to write, I just spelled Idris’s name.

“Your handwriting is beautiful.”

Idris praised me in a low voice. I glanced at the letters he was writing on the document and laughed.

“Are you doing art?”

He always had good handwriting. The letter that first informed me of his survival also had beautiful handwriting. 

“Okay. Now do your job.”

I returned the pen.

He started looking at the papers again.

Even though we did something else for a while, Idris processed the documents fast.

Time passed slowly.

I watched the mages who looked competent and watched the room slowly filled with orange light from the sunset.

Then my eyes slowly closed, and I felt like I fell asleep.

***

Thud.

“……?”

What could hit his shoulder?

Idris turned his head and saw Vianne who had fallen asleep.

He smiled briefly. He was going to move her to bed, but Vianne was tossing and turning. He thought she’d wake up if he carried her.

“She already slept more than an hour during the day.”

Eustave said quietly.

“She must be tired in many ways.”

Idris did not move his left shoulder, and used his pen with his right hand.

“Didn’t you say you’re left-handed?”

“I didn’t know why I could write with my right hand.”

“You have practiced before, have you?”

Idris remained silent as Eustave looked at him strangely.

“Yesterday, Vianne asked me the correlation between hair color and our magic. At that time, I also wondered if master is an exception.”