CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: CORRUPTED [1]

On the way back, Kael couldn’t help but look back repeatedly.

Every 10 seconds.

Causing Evelyn, who was walking beside him, to feel curious and confused.

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing, I’m just worried that that bitch Sarah might suddenly attack us from behind. So I have to be careful."

That was entirely possible.

After all, at the moment, that bitch was in an unstable mental state.

To put it bluntly, she was crazy.

And who knew what a crazy person could do?

"Is that so? Then keep working."

The villainess had no intention of stopping him.

Honestly, she found this scene quite amusing.

...

A while later, when the house was in sight, Kael stopped his ridiculous actions.

Then, he spoke up, getting straight to the point:

"Now that it’s come to this, can you tell me about the plan, Evelyn?"

"The plan?" She decided to tease him a bit.

How could he not recognize it?

He was the king of dating games, after all.

"You promised to tell me the plan last night. But a lot of things happened at that time so I only got the chance to ask now."

"Oh, you’re talking about that?"

Evelyn pretended to have just recalled those memories.

"Please. We’re accomplices now, we’re on the same boat after all..."

Seeing Kael’s pleading and expectant eyes, the villainess couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Alright. But I’ll only say it once, so listen carefully."

"Okay!"

"Let’s see, where should I start?"

She rubbed her chin.

Snap.

Then, she snapped her fingers. The decision had been made.

"First, you have to know my goal. And it’s to blame Sarah for using the Artifact. And then the empire will take her away for using it, giving her a life worse than death."

"Is that so?"

He replied, not too surprised.

Kael had already guessed this from the moment Evelyn said she wanted [Absolute Imperative].

"...You’re not too surprised, are you?"

"Then how do you want me to react?"

"..." She fell silent, displeased with his way of speaking.

"...Sorry."

Like a docile puppy, Kael acted very apologetic.

The villainess continued:

"But just taking that Artifact and placing it in Sarah’s room doesn’t prove that she used it."

"..."

"That’s why I let her attack me last night, leaving her magical traces on this Artifact."

"Magic traces?" He was clearly shocked.

"Yes. You may not know because this knowledge is not widely known, but to use an Artifact, the user needs to infuse magic into it. And the Artifact will record the magic traces of the last person who used it."

"But what does that have to do with it?"

"Technically, it’s the same whether the Artifact is infused with magic or attacked by magic. That’s why I chose to be hit by that attack last night."

"..."

Kael was speechless, his mouth gaping, surprised by the information he had just heard.

This was definitely new knowledge to him!

Of course, how could Kael know that knowledge?

In the Tower, there was no way to infuse magic power into an Artifact in order to use it.

So, leaving a magic trace was even more unlikely.

’If that’s the case, then the remaining possibility is that this is a characteristic of the 21st floor.’

In the Tower, each floor is a different world, a different land. So, it’s completely normal for a place to have an unusual characteristic.

Suddenly, he frowned.

"Wait, if that’s the case..."

Then, his eyes opened wide, sparkling like a galaxy filled with stars.

A genius idea just popped up in his mind.

Thinking of this, the corners of Kael’s lips twitched a few times.

Realizing this extremely small change, the villainess tilted her head and asked:

"What’s the matter?"

A few question marks appeared on her expressionless face.

"Hey Evelyn, can you lend me that Artifact? I just thought of an idea, and the result will still be the same as in your plan."

"Tell me."

"How do you feel about the students at the academy? That they knew you were being bullied, but just stood there and watched without helping?"

"Explain?"

"Sometimes, those who just stand by are even worse than those who do the bullying."

"..."

"I’m not talking about the commoners, because they have nothing but talent. The group I’m talking about are the descendants of the nobles."

"Go on."

Evelyn continued walking, but her ears were still listening to his every word.

"Obviously, they could have helped you if they had joined forces, but they chose not to."

"You mean they deserve to be punished too?"

Kael smiled with satisfaction.

"That’s right. But since they didn’t do anything too serious, I think their punishment should be reduced quite a bit."

"...And you want to use this Artifact to call for an attack on the academy?"

Damn, the villainess was truly a genius.

"You’re smart."

Evelyn curled her lips, her sharp, seductive blood-red eyes quickly glancing over his face.

"I was the one who praised you for being smart before, but it seems our roles have changed this time, huh?"

"Maybe? I don’t know..."

Kael enjoyed her gaze.

"The idea is great, really. However, I refuse."

"...I know why."

"Oh, then tell me." She raised her eyebrows slightly.

"You are worried that my magical traces will be left on that Artifact. But don’t worry."

He knelt down on one knee, looking straight into her eyes.

Sincere, clean, pure, and an unnamed emotion was slowly emerging.

Kael held the villainess’s hand.

Acting as if he was begging for something.

"Please believe me, Evelyn. Have I ever let you down?"

"..."

The villainess stared at him with abyss eyes, not uttering a word.

One of her hands gently caressed Kael’s auricle.

Making it red like a ripe tomato, and hot too.

"Mmm..."

It felt comfortable.

"I guess not."

"In that case..."

"Alright, I’ll give it to you when we get home."

Eventually, Evelyn had to compromise.

"But, what if you fail, or betray me?"

"Then kill me. You have the guts, and power to do so."

A decisive answer, without hesitation.

"Remember your words."

"I always remember our conversations." He smiled genuinely.

...

"By the way, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, my lady."

"That’s a pretty cruel idea, and you definitely wouldn’t have thought of it before. If that’s the case, then why are you thinking of it now?"

He frowned slightly.

Why?

That was an interesting question.

To be honest, Kael didn’t know either.

But, there was one thing he was sure of.

"You’ll be happy if I do that, right, Evelyn?"

"I won’t deny it."

His smile widened.

"Then that’s the reason."

Damn it.

This was bad.

Kael was starting to get corrupted.

Or, maybe he had been corrupted from the very start.