Please Leave The Sickly Villainess Alone

“More importantly… I heard you almost died at the hands of a descendant of the Magic Kingdom recently?”

“That’s right. Oh, by the way…”

Come to think of it, I had something to ask him, who seemed to know a lot about the Magic Kingdom.

“Tower Master, could you tell me about the Magic Kingdom and the Creya tribe?”

The Tower Master grinned and invited me to sit down, instantly preparing dozens of desserts on a long table.

“Don’t be shy, eat up. When you’re young, you need to eat well to grow tall and healthy. Let’s talk while eating.”

Though it seemed like a feast made entirely of sugar and flour… If it tastes good, who cares!

“That’s right. Eating well helps you grow taller.”

I smiled brightly and earnestly picked up my fork.

The Tower Master also seemed to like these sweet desserts, as he started eating on par with me.

“Keke- To continue about those Magic Kingdom bastards, the one who attacked you that day was a descendant of the Honsen tribe, one of the eleven tribes of the Magic Kingdom.”

“The Honsen tribe…”

“700 years ago, the world was truly chaotic with black magic running rampant. Originally, black magic was a powerful force born from evil hearts, so wars never ceased day after day.”

I munched on cake while drinking the beverage Jen handed me.

As if telling an old folklore tale to his granddaughter, the Tower Master pushed various tarts towards me and said:

“The one who sorted out the chaotic political situation of the continent divided into 60 parts at that time was none other than the last king of the Greluphien Kingdom and the first Emperor of the Greffin Empire. With the help of Claire, a human loved by God, Rayes, a descendant of elves, and Kablos, who betrayed their own country, he sealed black magic, destroyed the Magic Kingdom, and brought peace back to the world.”

It was hard to believe that just 700 years ago, blood never dried on this land.

“What disappeared from the world in exchange for sealing black magic was none other than sacred power. It’s the power most similar to your healing magic, my lady. Only those with sacred power could receive the love of transcendent beings and hear their will through mediums, but now there’s not a single such person.”

“By medium, do you mean… stone slabs?”

“Oh, how do you know that? Yes, the things found in ancient ruins.”

I recalled what happened at the clock tower.

Only those with sacred power receive stone slabs…

Why did something that was literally non-existent happen?

“It may be an old man’s worries, but… the fact that a descendant of the Honsen tribe has appeared in the world this time might be a sign that the era of darkness is coming again.”

“Again with such terrible words…”

Jen muttered with a disgusted expression.

It seemed he had said this many times before in front of Jen.

“Kablos was the strongest of the eleven tribes of the Magic Kingdom. Because such fellows betrayed, the war could end more quickly.”

“By then, the Magic Kingdom already had no hope, and Kablos received orders from the royal family of the Magic Kingdom to surrender and maintain their lineage? As I’ve said many times, that’s too unlikely a story.”

Despite Jen’s words, the Tower Master just shrugged.

“Aren’t they actually the only tribe that has maintained the lineage of the Magic Kingdom? Of course, if you brought up such talk outside, you’d be arrested for insulting the nobility.”

The Tower Master seemed to think I wouldn’t disclose his words anywhere.

“Listen well. This incident is by no means a coincidence. You are undoubtedly a great threat to the forces trying to revive the Magic Kingdom.”

The Tower Master said, pointing at me.

I swallowed what I was eating and looked at him with a tense expression.

“Why am I telling you this? As you know, Larisha’s special ability is reading the emotions of those around her. She said that every time she comes into contact with Senia, the atmosphere of House Kablos is changing day by day. She said they’re showing signs of plotting rebellion.”

The Tower Master frowned, creating deep furrows between his brows.

The solemn atmosphere soon ended as he returned to his original mischievous smile.

“Well, do you have any questions?”

“Umm… You said black magic was sealed, but how did Creya use it?”

“Even sacred power, though said to have disappeared, remains under a different name. Yes, like the power you have. 700 years is enough time for a seal thought to be eternal to crumble.”

Somehow, the more I learned, the more hopeless it seemed.

“Well, did this boring old tale answer some of your curiosity? Kekeke-“

“Yes… it’s enough.”

We continued chatting even after having refreshments.

Although it was my first time meeting this old man, he treated me very familiarly, so the initial wariness I felt towards him also disappeared.

“More importantly, you still can’t use Alexer?!”

At the sudden shout, I opened my eyes wide.

“Th-That, yes…”

“My goodness, how can this be when you read my primer?”

“That wasn’t written by you, but by your familiar, Master.”

“It’s considered co-authored since it was written using the knowledge in my head!”

“But only your name was listed as the author…”

“What are you saying! Princess and Neuw. Both names were properly there!”

Could it be. It wasn’t ‘Princess Neuw’ but ‘Princess and Neuw’?

“Th-Then which one is Princess…”

“Why are you even asking that! Of course it’s my familiar!”

Oh, my…

I took a deep breath so the Tower Master wouldn’t receive a big shock at his advanced age and said:

“Well, don’t be surprised, but everyone thinks the Tower Master’s name is Princess Neuw.”

At my words, the Tower Master’s eyes widened for a moment and he made an expression of disbelief.

“I… Neuw Creperion, am being called by the name Princess?!”

[I told you, Neuw. You forgot to put a comma at the end.]

At that moment, a bird flew around us.

It was a paradise flycatcher. The bird seemed to be the Tower Master’s familiar as it naturally perched on his shoulder.

“I didn’t know that was the author’s name!”

And so the Tower Master tasted frustration for a while.

“I-It’s okay! At least you know now.”

Just me.

Every time the Tower Master’s achievements and fame appeared in the newspapers…

[Tower Master Princess Neuw! Develops New Communication Magical Tool!]

[Princess Neuw, Longest Ruling Tower Master!]

It was featured in big headlines like that.

Moreover Jen, why didn’t you correct this and just let people misunderstand?

Thinking it was a bit too much, I turned to the side and saw Jen nodding and muttering:

“So it wasn’t Princess.”

“You only realized this now too?!”

“Yes, I’ve only called him Master since I was awakened as a mage and dragged here.”

Jen said, shrugging his shoulders.

“This can’t be!!”

The Tower Master beside him staggered and cried out.

The Tower Master tasted frustration for a while longer before finally recovering.

“Now, I’ll make you able to use Alexer in one day.”

It was like something a top instructor would say.

Special training personally given by the Tower Master would be every mage’s dream.

However, reality was harsher than the dream.

-Feel like gathering energy in your hand!

-No, more like creating a ball from a deeper place!

-Tilt your palm juuust a little to the left and feel like gathering power!

What on earth is that feeling…

Just as I was about to try one last time before declaring defeat.

A beam of light appeared from my hand and then flew off with a ‘whoosh’.

Boom-!

“Holy…”

I muttered.

One side of the wall of the Tower Master’s laboratory had been completely blown away.

At the same time, hundreds of books and reports that looked like they would be priceless also disappeared completely.

“I-I’m so sorry!”

Please don’t tell me to pay for it! Honestly, I’m only guilty of following orders!

As I was inwardly crying out like that, the Tower Master said as if it was no big deal:

“Seems you’re not completely stupid. To succeed in less than an hour.”

Then he snapped his fingers and everything that had been blown away by my Alexer was restored to its original state.

As I was staring with wide eyes, Jen said beside me:

“The Tower Master’s room has magic cast on it to allow regeneration.”

“Starting from the day you blew up the laboratory for exactly the 100th time while experimenting.”

The Tower Master, who had been trying to estimate the number of zeros in the astronomical amount of money spent on that, soon gave up as if his head was throbbing and patted my shoulder.

“Well done.”

I looked down at my palm with a dazed expression.

That thing he had been talking about as casually as calling a neighbor’s dog’s name, Alexer was none other than the secret technique of healing magic.

“More importantly, I heard the Magic Tower’s dropout went to the Rayes’s mansion?”

Just what doesn’t this person know?

Even Jen, who had secretly introduced the president to me, looked at the Tower Master together with me with a surprised expression.

The Magic Tower was, in fact, our competitor.

Of course, it couldn’t compare to the Magic Tower which develops dozens of magical tools a day, but even attempting to develop magical tools in the private sector was an enormous challenge.

“A large magic ore mine was discovered in Rayes… Strangely, they’re not selling to the Magic Tower. I can only assume they’re planning to develop their own magical tools.”

At the Tower Master’s words, who seemed to see through everything, Jen and I could only keep our mouths shut.

“But they must have been stuck from the magic ore refining process. Well, it would be difficult to expect successful development with the help of a dropout’s hands.”

However, I couldn’t let this comment slide.

The president, though certainly pointed at as a dropout, is more passionately immersed in research than anyone to achieve his dream of sitting on a money cushion.

His efforts were not something that could be lightly mentioned.

“I believe in the president. And he’s not a dropout. He’s just still growing. Just like a person can’t be perfect from the start.”

At my words, the Tower Master stroked his beard, saying ‘Ho-oh’.

The Magic Tower, stagnant to the point of rotting. And the old man in front of me was its leader.

He laughed heartily as if I was audacious and said:

“It’s just as you said, Jen. An interesting child.”

The Tower Master nodded and walked to the window.

“Yes, the Magic Tower is not like it used to be. Because they realized it’s much more profitable to share among those already there than to nurture new talent.”

“Knowledge is no different from inheritance. They may enjoy wealth and glory in this generation by monopolizing it, but the next generation will regress by decades.”

Since the conversation had come to this, I wanted to convey the president’s intentions at least.

“Of course, I’m not in a position to say anything, but we need to stand at a new starting point again now. The reason I’m helping the president is no different from that. Tower Master, you had a master too, and became the strong mage you are now by receiving teachings, right?”

“…”

Jen turned to look at me.

I had to say what I wanted to say, even if it might make me disliked by the Tower Master.

However, the old man unexpectedly didn’t show anger at my words.

“Yes, I had a master too. The existence of my master that has become blurred over more than 100 years of life…”

He blinked his aged blue eyes for a moment as if reminiscing about the past.

“I’ve heard that whims have not been good since ancient times, but hehe…”

He suddenly said something incomprehensible.

“Shall I teach you how to refine magic ore?”

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

What are you going to teach? How to refine magic ore?

If so, our plan with the president would truly be on a smooth road.

I nodded my head vigorously in a daze.

“But there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”

What, what are you trying to say?

My heart that had been filled with expectation deflated, but I had to receive the transmission even if I had to pay a considerable price.

“What do you want?”

“Become my disciple and become the Magic Tower’s healing mage.”

“What?!”

“Of course, not right now. When Duke Kablos’s daughter is appointed as the imperial palace healing mage. If it becomes known that I’ve taken you as my disciple now, I might be disliked by the imperial family…”

He was clearly enjoying my reaction.

The moment he had a whim in his long years also seemed to be pleasing him.

I looked at Jen.

Outside, he was praised as one of the Tower Master’s three top disciples, but in reality, he was the Tower Master’s research slave.

“Why are you hesitating so much? Be my disciple for just 1-2 years. Then I’ll tell you.”

At the Tower Master’s additional words, I became a little tempted.

Anyway, I’m going to leave for another country when I turn eighteen, which is considered an adult by this world’s standards.

‘Then I just need to play the role of a disciple until I run away. But…’

The real problem is that if I train in magic, I might die earlier due to my vastly increased magic power.

“I can’t tell you the reason, but I have a body that shouldn’t use magic often. Regretfully, I have to decline…”

“It’s fine even if you just clock in. What I need is a mage with recognition comparable to the imperial palace healing mage rather than a disciple… But if that’s your decision, it can’t be helped.”

What?

“My disciples are all boring fellows, so I just needed a friend to occasionally eat cake with me who was bored.”

Cake?

“Anyway, what more is there to teach someone who’s already learned the secret technique of healing magic? You just need to come occasionally and be my conversation partner… What a shame.”

I quickly grabbed the hem of the Tower Master’s robe as he was turning around and said:

“Then I’ll do it!”

I thought it was medicine, but it turned out to be a windfall.