The Villainess Captured The Grand Duke - Chapter 186

Chapter 186

Silcaro was utterly infuriated. The plan he had spent years preparing had turned to dust because of Annabelle’s careless words. How long had he longed for this moment since the instant he saw that book? Although he hadn’t expected the northern alliance to break, the situation wasn’t the worst it could be. At least that’s a relief. It doesn’t seem like she’s spilled the beans about the black stone.

He recalled Scheuer, who had been shouting right next to Raygrain in the hallway. 

“Annabelle, that black stone was given to you by His Highness Silcaro, wasn’t it?” 

Seeing Annabelle immediately deny it suggested he might have jumped to conclusions. 

She’s quite perceptive…

Silcaro entered his office located in the palace. Standing in front of the densely packed bookshelves that lined the walls, he reached for a familiar book. Though it looked like a regular book on the outside, it was essentially just a leather case. Upon opening it, he found it filled with dark red stones.

The first person to see that book was none other than Silcaro himself. It contained detailed methods for killing monsters without using a blade. He had come across the book just as rumors circulated that Raygrain had lost his emotions and could no longer go on hunts.

Silcaro secretly ventured to the northern regions, known for frequent monster appearances, to verify whether the book’s contents were true. By a stroke of luck, he encountered monsters there.

I almost died.

He recalled the first monster he had seen. No matter how many times he imagined defeating it, reality was different. It took him several near-death experiences before he could finally take down a single monster. He still remembered the thrill he felt when that monster fell.

Everything in that book was true. On his way back, having cut off a monster’s foot as a trophy, Silcaro became convinced that a world without powers might be possible in his generation. 

With that hope in mind, during the year Raygrain didn’t go on hunts, Silcaro snuck off to the north whenever he could.

He had heard plenty about the fate of the Blenga family, who held powers. It was said that once their emotions were entirely spent and they could no longer wield their blades, they would meet their end alongside the monsters. Raygrain seemed to have arrived at that point a bit earlier than the previous Grand Duke. He was probably working hard to produce an heir to pass on his powers. The Blenga family currently has no successor.

If Raygrain disappears like this, the Blenga’s power will vanish too! A plan naturally followed. Before an heir could be made, all emotions needed to be exhausted as quickly as possible. If I could control the monsters…!

Historically, there had never been a case where the Blenga’s emotions had completely returned. If it had temporarily halted the hunts, it meant they had reached their limit. But how?

Afterward, Silcaro devoted himself to taming the monsters. His life became consumed with thoughts of monsters as he moved back and forth between the palace during the day and the north at dawn. Just as he was losing his mind, that book provided an answer.

The last page of the book, made from the hide of a monster, was blank. He had thought it was simply a page that the author hadn’t finished writing. What kind of madman would think to write a book like this? But as Silcaro became accustomed to defeating monsters, words began to appear on the previously empty page.

To the one stained with desire. Within it was a detailed description of how to create black stones. It stated that if monsters consumed the black stones, they instinctively sought out humans for murder. It was almost as if it was urging them to fulfill their desires, as if it were telling him to realize his dreams.

In the Walker Empire, black magic was officially classified as heresy, but that didn’t matter. After all, history is written by the victors. The Blenga family was destined to vanish into the shadows of history. The Walker Empire would ultimately emerge as the final victor.

Silcaro then created a black stone mining site in the north, ensuring that all the monsters there could come and feast. He intended for those who consumed the stones to fulfill all his desires. He believed that the Blenga family, having lost their emotions, would self-destruct.

With a snap, he roughly closed the leather case containing the black stones. 

Who would have thought emotions would return?

Scheuer’s arrival in the north had caused everything to unravel. It seemed she had caught on to something, having directly mentioned the black stones. But what could he do? Emotions are consumed. If one continues to wield their blade, they will eventually dull.

If monsters began to swarm the north, would even Raygrain be able to do anything? He figured he could take down a couple that crossed into the central region this time. With the alliance broken, there was no need to watch any longer.

***

“I could even take down a cow.”

Leilda shot a sharp glance at Scheuer before turning to Raygrain. It was a very simple diagnosis regarding paralysis poison.

As soon as he finished speaking, High Priest Sevi jumped up from his seat, pointing at Scheuer and shouting.

“See! I told you, right? She’s fine! You can tell just by looking at her, why don’t you believe me?”

“Sure, I wouldn’t believe it either. Asking me was a brilliant move, Grand Duke.”

“How ridiculous. The old man just looks at things half-heartedly and says everything’s fine. I know.”

“What do you know? Are you talking about the vice minister who was killed by a magic stone?”

As the two continued to bicker fiercely, Koa calmly bowed his head in between them.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t kill each other.”

With a voice full of desperation, Leilda clicked his tongue and held up a pouch of black magic stones.

“If it weren’t for this, I would have hung that annoying guy at the peak of the Northern Mountain.”

“It’s the same for both of us. Do you think I came here because I wanted to? ”

High Priest Sevi raised his chin haughtily and crossed his legs. It was quite remarkable how beautiful he looked in contrast to the chaotic scene of Leilda’s cluttered lab.

Scheuer, grateful for High Priest Sevi’s willingness to help, smiled brightly and said,

“I can’t thank you enough for being willing to help us before we catch it! ”

At her words, High Priest Sevi’s frown seemed to ease a bit as the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

“If the demonic creatures come down, I need at least a place to rest.”

“Look at that. Even the devil would cry.”

While Leilda grumbled, he didn’t seem to mind High Priest Sevi’s cooperation and straightened up. He poured a pile of black magic stones onto the table and said,

“You probably heard, but the number of demonic creatures has increased these past few days.”

With a serious tone, Raygrain’s gaze shifted to the table. The amount of black magic stones was noticeably larger than before. Considering the number of broken pieces from the research, the added quantity was significant.

Leilda waved his hand as if exasperated and continued,

“All of these were collected after capturing those creatures. At this rate, they’ll really spread across the continent.”

“We only need to secure the North. First, let’s identify the location of the mine.”

Following Raygrain’s firm tone, High Priest Sevi shook his head. He seemed pleased to be in the safest area.

“If we figure out the mining locations, can we just relax? ”

No. It seemed he was simply happy to be able to enjoy himself. When Raygrain nodded, High Priest Sevi eagerly rolled up his sleeves, saying, 

“So what do I do? ”

Leilda looked at him with disdain and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the black stones floated on the table. With another snap of his fingers, a pouch filled with flowers flew toward Scheuer.

Before Scheuer could reach out to embrace, a large hand snatched the bag first. Raygrain calmly handed over the bag. She received it with a bright smile, wrapping her arms around it.

As she used her powers to bloom flowers, they floated up and began to circle around the black magic stones. High Priest Sevi stared at the scene with a twisted expression.

“Not bad for an old man.”

“Use your divine power, you bastard.”

At Leilda’s immediate retraction, Sevi shrugged his shoulders. Soon, a bright light radiated from him. Scheuer couldn’t open her eyes due to the divine energy filling the room. Leilda shouted in an angry voice,

“You crazy fool! You’re showing off your divine power in a place like this! ”

In an instant, a loud bang echoed in her ears, as if something had exploded. When she finally opened her eyes, petals were scattered messily across the desk. Meanwhile, the clumped black magic stones were spinning in the air like a round sphere. Red lines extended from the black magic stone, filling the space densely. Scheuer was astonished, unable to close her mouth.

“Could it be…?” ”

“This is all of it.”

Everyone’s gaze focused on Leilda’s calm voice. He continued, looking at the sphere of clumped black magic stones.

“All the red lines indicate where the black magic stones are located.”

“Those who commit to nothing are distracted by everything”