TVMF 32

Chapter: 32

“Hmm.”

All the wizards in the Magic Tower… the search range just got way too wide.

But if they could operate the system, wouldn’t that make them fairly high-level even within the tower?

‘Then maybe the Master of the Magic Tower also knows quite a bit about the Administrator.’

By the way, doesn’t “preserving humanity” overlap quite a lot with “preventing the world’s destruction”?

Thinking like that, I became curious about this figure called the Master of the Magic Tower.

“How long has the Master of the Magic Tower been in the human world?”

“Well… I haven’t exactly kept track of that.”

The man paused for a moment, as if calculating something, then said:

“This year makes it 739 years.”

“Wow.”

739 years—longer than the history of the Empire itself.

Having lived less than 40 years combined in my previous life, I couldn’t even imagine what that span of time must have been like.

“To have all your kind leave one by one over such a long time, and yet remain alone to protect the world…”

“……”

“The Master of the Magic Tower must be incredibly lonely.”

Then the man made a strange expression.

He looked flustered, as if he hadn’t even imagined that possibility, and then saddened, as if he suddenly empathized with the Master’s loneliness.

There was a brief silence.

“It’s already time for the next schedule.”

And then he quietly stood up.

“Please enjoy your time in the Magic Tower’s library, young lady.”

After he disappeared, I quickly forgot about him.

I didn’t even remember his face, though I was pretty sure he had been good-looking.

Meanwhile, Symbols and Signs had a lot of illustrations, so I was able to quickly find the ouroboros.

[Ouroboros.
The serpent biting its own tail symbolizes that birth and death, beginning and end, are one.
It represents change and knowledge and is also used as a symbol in alchemy.]

“Hmm…”

As a member of an alchemist family, this somehow irritated me.

‘Why do childish villains who dream of destroying the world use alchemy symbols!’

I almost felt like sprinkling salt on them at home.

Anyway, today’s research was fairly fruitful.

I put the two books back on the book cart and headed home.

Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Magic Tower.

Elios, who had aged his appearance and made his features ordinary, returned to his original form.

A boy’s height with striking platinum hair.

“……”

Elios was in a state of confusion.

‘Just now… I…’

It seemed that, for some reason, he had felt happy that the girl had come near the tower.

In truth, the clever girl would have solved the situation on her own.

She could have just asked the librarian, and there was even a ladder not far away.

Yet, despite that, Elios had instantly changed his appearance and moved to her side.

He, considered omnipotent by human standards, had done all this just to hand her a book slightly out of reach.

And he even spoke to her.

‘I need to restrain myself.’

Elios fiddled with his bangs as he thought.

He had to protect and assist her until the day of fate, but he must not get too excited.

Caring for someone was his freedom, but in the end, everyone leaves before him.

‘The Master of the Magic Tower must be incredibly lonely.’

Her clear voice echoed faintly.

He shook his head, trying to dismiss the thought.

When I returned from the library, it was evening.

After dinner and going to bed, in my dream I was living a peaceful daily life.

Instead of the ruined male lead who might poison or stab me at any moment, I spent my childhood with my somewhat annoying and clumsy friend Adrian.

Acknowledged by the royal family, and correcting Erden with scolding to shape him into a somewhat useful adult.

And finally, when Lexia appeared, things escalated.

In The Sacrifice of Thorn Painting, Lexia was under the guardianship of Marquis Utel, a commoner who had come from Utel’s estate, Goldmine.

Her distinguishing features were extraordinary beauty and a personality straight from heaven.

True to a novel’s heroine, she captivated all the noble young men in the Empire with her inexplicable charm.

Even in my dream, it was the same.

Annoying Adrian, mostly pathetic Erden.

Everyone ended up liking Lexia. But what was the problem?

‘Okay, everything’s going according to plan.’

Perhaps love is fate. Those destined to like Lexia would do so; it’s not my concern.

I merely hoped Lexia would take over the task of reforming these naturally chaotic individuals, and I prepared to leave for the seaside villa I had always dreamed of.

But…

“Sorry, Rosha.”

Her usually soft brown hair was stained with blood.

From her angelic face, red blood dripped, and her violet eyes, which once held a delicate shade of violet, glimmered with sorrowful madness.

All over Nathaniel’s body was my blood.

“I didn’t want to do this. I’ve always liked you. But…”

Tears streamed down Nathaniel’s violet eyes.

Clear water mixed with the droplets of blood on her face, flowing down in a crimson stream.

“I love Lady Lexia…”

No! This guy! What does loving Lexia have to do with trying to kill me?

“But around her are charming men like Velas, the viscount, or your brother, Rosha.”

But with my throat cut, I couldn’t respond; even if I wanted to, the air was escaping. I was utterly unable to answer.

It hurt.

The pain on the brink of death was beyond imagination.

“But I have nothing to offer. I’m pathetic, foolish, and just miserable…”

“……”

At this point, I wanted to bang my chest out of frustration.

What are you pathetic about? What!

If you were truly pathetic, could you have become the male lead of a reverse harem novel?

Of course, this is something I can say as a reader of The Sacrifice of Thorn Painting, but objectively, Nathaniel had plenty to boast about.

First of all, his status: Prime Minister.

A position called “one above all, one beneath none.”

Direct line of the Stuart family, intellect far surpassing ordinary people.

Fame and wealth naturally attached.

Appearance no less than Adrian or Erden.

In fact, as a fairy-type, Nathaniel’s delicate and pure appearance was superior to the other two.

Yet he firmly believed he was worthless, which was maddening.

‘Why are you doing this, Nathaniel?’

Now, let’s hear how his being worthless is connected to my having to die.

Fortunately, I wasn’t an extra who dies with one stab; I remained conscious long enough to hear Nathaniel ramble.

It hurt unbearably, but cruelly, my mind was still clear.

I could hear his nonsense perfectly.

“Being compared is painfully heartbreaking, I know that well…”

“……”

“How do you think Lexia feels being compared to you?”

Huh?

Compared… to me?

Lexia and me?

“You’re beautiful, always confident, and from Utel’s noble lineage.”

“……”

“Someone like that being too close, Lexia would find it hard even to breathe.”

What are you talking about?

“I’m worthless, so unlike the other men, I can’t bring joy to Lady Lexia.”

“……”

“So I thought I should at least help ease her suffering.”

An absurd reason, but in Nathaniel’s mind, it seemed thoroughly justified; he gleefully cried cathartic tears.

“I’m sorry. Truly, I’m sorry, Rosha.”

No, saying sorry isn’t enough.

Amazing. Willing to kill for love—what incredible devotion.

But I don’t want to be the victim sacrificed for that love. Please!

The intense pain that wracked my body reached its peak, then gradually faded.

The distant sensation of stopping breath as death neared was unpleasant.

“Gasp!”

I woke from the nightmare, drenched in cold sweat, gasping.

“Damn it…!”

A dream so vivid it was absurd.

A premonition of inevitability that chilled my skin.

I didn’t need the system to explain it to know this wasn’t just a dream; it was a vision of what happens if I failed the quest.

I thought I could finally live peacefully after being freed from endings like the death of the Scarlet Rose or the eight-petal flower.

But only a few days had passed.

“This time Nathaniel goes dark and tries to kill me?”

I thought I might finally escape the cruel villainess life, but now I die because I’m too comparable to the heroine?

Lashing my pillow in frustration, a bright golden light exploded before my eyes, and the system window appeared.

[SYSTEM: Main Quest has arrived.]

[QUEST: Reduce the male lead ‘Nathaniel’s’ darkening rate to below 50 by Harvest Festival.]

[Quest Failure Penalty: ‘Violet-Tinted Dull Blade’]

“Haha.”

A hollow laugh escaped me.

A dull blade, huh.

I tested it earlier—it wasn’t dull at all.

[ADMIN: Rohesia, please stay strong.]

Perhaps because I looked so down at dawn, the system fairy appeared to cheer me on.

[The dream is only an example of failure.]

“Yes… yes…”

[Since you succeeded in the previous main quest, Rohesia, you will accomplish this brilliantly. I will also assist with all my power.]

“……”

Thinking of the voice I had faced in the system lounge somehow lifted my mood slightly.

Yes, no matter how much I resist, the solution is only to act myself.

While preparing my morning, I received a message to go to my father’s lab.

“Father? What is it?”

Entering the lab, he pointed to a box on the large desk.

“Open it, Rosha.”

It was slightly wider than the Belanian ore box I had received at the Velas mansion a few days ago, but flatter.

“A gun…?”

Inside was a revolver, just the right size for my small hand.