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Surviving as a Villain at the Academy Chapter 94

94 – The Master of the Torch (5)

“What’s the matter? You called me out for nothing.”

Ruslan looked at Frah.

“I have something to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you give the torch to the Saintess? You could’ve kept it. You don’t have to answer, but… I still hope you will.”

Ruslan stared at Frah with resolute eyes.

“That’s why you called me out. Sigh. Fine. I expected you to ask.”

Frah sighed.

“It’s simple. You are the master of the torch.”

“…What?”

“Why, don’t ask why. The torch’s power was awakened by you in the first place. Do you know what state the torch was in before the Saintess handed it to you?”

“I don’t know.”

“The Saintess couldn’t even emit such a great light when she touched it. The reason the Saintess handed the torch to you without hesitation was because of that.”

“But you… you created a blue flame like the Holy Valencia that appears in history. Doesn’t that mean you are more suited to be the master of the torch?”

“Many coincidences overlapped.”

“There’s no way there could be coincidences in such matters.”

“No, it really was a coincidence.”

Frah spoke to Ruslan with a certain conviction.

“If you had been the one holding the candlestick at that moment, you would have surely been able to ignite such a flame. It was because of the circumstances that the candlestick gave me that power. I can tell. Maybe even if I were to hold the candlestick now, I wouldn’t be able to evoke the same phenomenon.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. Did you ever think I appeared to be such a righteous person in your eyes?”

Frah said with a suppressed laugh, as if he were hearing the funniest sound in the world.

“If there had been no one to hold the candlestick at that time, Saint Therese would have turned the kingdom into ruins. That’s why the candlestick gave me its power.”

“But what about when you captured Behemos? You said that all I did was push the sword that I had inserted, but Saint Therese mentioned something. She said you were also chosen by the candlestick. So it must mean that you held the candlestick at that time too.”

“But that doesn’t mean the blue flames rose up then. It was just a faint radiance compared to you.”

“….”

“Hey, Ruslan. Don’t you think something strange?”

“What’s strange?”

“The fact that the candlestick gives its power to the ‘righteous one.’ Then what is the criterion of that righteousness?”

“…I would like to know that too.”

“I’ve thought about it vaguely. It seems like the criterion of that righteousness is probably not the criterion of the candlestick itself.”

“The criterion of the candlestick…?”

“The fact that it gives its power to someone who is righteous in the first place implies that the candlestick itself has its own existence, doesn’t it? That’s what I believe, and I consider this incident a near certainty. It was a power I couldn’t manifest, the power I displayed then.”

Ruslan pressed lightly on his temple as if his head hurt.

“Wait. So, what you’re saying is… if someone who embraces the justice that aligns with the candlestick’s criterion can use that power?”

“I don’t really know the details. It’s just a rough thought. Anyway, since it’s certain that the candlestick has its own existence, it means that it is entirely up to the candlestick’s discretion to lend its power. It’s not like I used the candlestick’s power because I was exceptionally righteous.”

“…”

“In short, at that moment, I was the only force that could fight excluding you. Saint Therese lost the qualification as the owner of the candlestick and instead bought the hostility of the candlestick. So, perhaps the candlestick lent me its power to eliminate the target it opposes.”

“In the end, isn’t it all just speculation?”

“Then, is it speculation or conviction?”

“Just now, you said it was almost certain that the candlestick had its own existence.”

“I said ‘almost,’ almost. That’s also speculation. But honestly, doesn’t it seem plausible?”

“But if we think that way, isn’t it possible to acknowledge you as the rightful owner of the candlestick as well? The candlestick with its own existence lent its power to you, and you rectified the situation with your power.”

“…That may be so, but let me ask you one thing.”

“What?”

“Do you think I am suitable to be the owner of the candlestick?”

“Why are you asking for my opinion? The decision lies with the candlestick.”

“It may be the right thing to say, but I think you’re suitable to be the owner of the candlestick.”

“What?”

“Look. Let’s say I became the owner of the candlestick. That means I would have ownership of the candlestick, right?”

“True.”

“What did I just say? I mentioned the possibility of the candlestick having a personality, right?”

“Yes.”

“So, if there comes a time when I can’t borrow the power of the candlestick during a fight, and I have to fight against actions that go against the justice the candlestick pursues?”

“……Uh.”

“Do you have a general idea of what I will say?”

Yes. If Prach’s words hold true, being chosen as the owner of the candlestick doesn’t guarantee that I can always harness its power.

“But Ruzlan, ever since you first wielded the candlestick, you have always used it well. Unlike me, who has tried it a few times. That means, at least to some extent, your pursuit of justice aligns with what the candlestick pursues.”

With those plausible words, Ruzlan unconsciously nodded.

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“So, I don’t think of myself as the owner of the candlestick. Above all… I don’t want to be tied to the kingdom for no reason.”

“Oh.”

“I am the successor of Rancel, unlike you. If I become the owner of the candlestick, there is a greater possibility of me assuming important positions in the kingdom. But how many people in power would accept that if the successor of Rancel takes over positions in the kingdom? It’s a position that doesn’t suit me from the start. I have too many things to consider.”

“…..That’s true.”

“Anyway, for those reasons, I have no intention of becoming the owner of the candlestick.”

Upon Prach’s words, Ruzlan displayed a resolute expression. How should one describe that expression, filled with determination?

He silently nodded his head.

“Alright. Don’t change your mind later.”

“Okay. But if you were going to say something like that anyway, shouldn’t the first thing be to properly harness the power of the candlestick?”

“I was planning on doing that even without you saying it.”

“Well, give it your all then. There’s nothing more for me to see, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, I’m going.”

Watching Prach walk away with a nonchalant air, Ruzlan made up his mind.

To become the owner of the candlestick.

* * *

I felt a dryness in my throat after talking so much nonsense. The words I just said to Ruzlan were just plausible words. After all, I was confident in my ability to handle the candlestick.

I simply lied to Ruzlan, taking away his weapon by making him believe he couldn’t use the power of the candlestick. I didn’t really need the candlestick to begin with.

If there was no option to become the pawn’s sword, there would be no need to use a candlestick since there was that option.

Above all, there was some truth to what I said. The moment I ascend to an important position in the Empire, the nobles of the kingdom will seize upon unnecessary rumors.

They are already oppressed by Lancel’s authority. But if I were to take an important position in the Empire, what would I appear to them as?

I would appear as a noble with newfound power. It means an opponent who is perfect for making unnecessary remarks. They might see me as a vanguard of the Empire, or they might suspect rebellion… There will be people spewing such nonsense.

There will not be just one or two madmen who will attempt to take Rancel down during this opportunity. Even if it means not becoming the owner of the candlestick, I cannot give them any excuse.

After all, the candlestick is a weapon for Luslan. Even if the narrative deviates from the original, the fact that Luslan becomes stronger due to the candlestick does not change.

I had thought about opposing the twisted narrative head-on, but that didn’t mean I would do everything alone. I should delegate the appropriate tasks.

If I were to devour everything on my own, what would other people do when I am gone? My goal was not to live in a place where no one exists, but to not be an empty shell in this world.

Anyway, it is only a matter of time for Luslan to regain the candlestick. He is already a diligent person, so he will soon emit brilliant light from the candlestick again.

There are not only one or two lunatics who are determined to bring Lancel down during this opportunity. Even if it means not giving those people any unnecessary pretext, I should not become the owner of the candlestick again.

For starters, the candlestick is a weapon for Luslan. Even if the narrative deviates from the original, the fact that Luslan becomes stronger due to the candlestick does not change.

I had thought about opposing the twisted narrative head-on, but that didn’t mean I would do everything alone. I should delegate the appropriate tasks.

If I were to devour everything on my own, what would other people do when I am gone? My goal was not to live in a place where no one exists, but to not be an empty shell in this world.

Anyway, it is only a matter of time for Luslan to regain the candlestick. He is already a diligent person, so he will soon emit brilliant light from the candlestick again.

I don’t need to worry about anything related to him… It is now the land of the revenants.

It’s about time for the Holy Maiden to investigate the land of the revenants, so I should join her there. Of course, I should keep an eye on Michael’s whereabouts as well.

I hope he doesn’t cause any trouble… I can only hope that Asti will help me.

Ah. By the way, Asti must be hungry by now.

* * *

Sure enough, Asti grumbled as soon as she saw me. It’s only natural considering she starved for over a month. I can consider myself lucky that she didn’t attack me, just complaining about being hungry.

“I’m hungry.”

“…I knew it.”

“I’m going to devour a lot this time, is that okay?”

“Yeah. Just hope you don’t get anemia.”

“I won’t go that far, so don’t worry. Can’t I control that much?”

“Got it. Just kidding.”

“Hmph.”

Asti seemed quite uncomfortable. It must be because of Michael. His presence and the land called the Empire have a negative impact on her.

I should stop playing around. As always, I received Asti into my arms in a familiar position.

With a tinge of bitter pain in my throat, my strength gradually faded. It seems like I really ate a lot… It was no joke, my stomach was really hungry.

Surviving as a Villain at the Academy

Surviving as a Villain at the Academy

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Score 8.8
Status: Ongoing Type: Released: 2023 Native Language: Korean
I fell for a novel I wrote about ten years ago. The problem is that this novel is a dead-end academic drama, and the subject of possession was the attempted r*pist of the main heroine. The most f*cked up thing is… I have to fulfill my role as a villain in order for the world to not be torn apart. pestilence.

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