Living As the Villainess Queen

Aldrit felt the weight of anticipation heavy upon him as he sat in the meeting room. He sensed that the outcome of this gathering would shape the destiny of their tribe. Presenting the spell to the kings held the promise of recognition for its value, potentially leading to a reevaluation of the wandering tribe and its magical potential. However, he couldn’t shake the nagging uncertainty of whether this newfound treasure would truly benefit their tribe or spell disaster.

Perhaps our tribe’s true crossroads are just beginning now, Aldrit reflected silently, grateful to Eugene and Kasser for affording him the opportunity to make an impression on the kings. The user registration process was straightforward, alleviating any concerns on that front. Moreover, since the introducers were the Death King and Queen Anika, the kings would not treat Aldrit carelessly despite his status as a wanderer.

Following Eugene’s instructions, a servant presented a silver tray adorned with leather-bound notes before the six kings. Their reactions varied as they laid eyes upon the documents—some glanced casually, others examined them with keen interest, while a few eagerly inspected the covers or swiftly flipped through the pages.

“You’ve undoubtedly heard of the ancient mystical power of magic,” Eugene began, capturing the attention of all present. “But simply explaining its essence falls short in truly grasping its nature. That’s why we’ve prepared something to demonstrate its essence, believing it to be profoundly beneficial. To complete this demonstration, the chieftain of the wandering tribe will elucidate the remaining process.”

Eugene then directed her gaze towards Aldrit, who stood from his seat. “These notes necessitate user registration. The process is straightforward. Please, open the cover,” he instructed, as the kings simultaneously flipped open the leather covers before them.

“Upon turning the first page, you’ll encounter a pattern of circles and lines—that’s the sigil,” Aldrit explained, gesturing towards the notes. “This magic is activated using the user’s energy. Ordinarily, it would require blood, but kings can substitute it with their Praz. Simply place your hand over the sigil and infuse your Praz into it.”

The kings regarded the notes with uncertainty, the unfamiliarity of it all evident on their faces. Kasser took the initiative, testing the magic with his Praz beforehand. Satisfied with its compatibility, he wasted no time completing the registration process. As he pressed his hand onto the sigil, a faint blue light emanated from beneath his palm before dissipating. Encouraged by his success, the other kings followed suit, one by one.

Once all the kings had finished their registration, Eugene addressed them. “It doesn’t matter who writes. When you write in the notes, the writing will appear in other people’s notes as well. With these notes, even people far away can communicate.”

Kasser, once again leading by example, picked up the pen and wrote a line in the note: “Please end your sentences with your name to avoid confusion. Kasser.” As the characters appeared in everyone’s notes, their eyes widened in amazement. Riner, Nicholas, and the others took turns adding their thoughts, marveling at the newfound magic.

―Fascinating. Surprising. Nicholas.

―Depending on how it’s used, magic could be very useful. But it could also be a dangerous force.

―It’s quite a feat just to gather all six kings. This will be truly helpful. Richard.

―Fire King. I said to write your name at the end. Kasser.

―Riner.

After witnessing the practicality of magic firsthand, the kings’ perspective shifted from vague notions to concrete possibilities tied to reality. They began contemplating how to leverage this technology in the future. However, recognizing that now wasn’t the time to delve deeper into mastering magic, the kings reluctantly bid farewell, cherishing the magic notes with anticipation for the future. The kings of Delano Kingdom and Flake Kingdom, whose paths diverged the least, departed first, their minds buzzing with thoughts of the possibilities ahead.

After bidding farewell to the king of Slang Kingdom, Dana escorted him out. “I heard the news about your grandson arriving late. Congratulations, Your Majesty,” Eugene remarked warmly. 

Richard’s smile widened at her words. “The congratulations should come from me,” he responded. “My son and his wife are thriving, thanks to Anika Jin. I won’t forget her kindness.” 

Eugene waved off his gratitude. “You’ve said more than enough.”

Later that evening, Riner’s departure was met with a hint of regret in Krak’s eyes as he cast a lingering glance at Eugene before entering his cage for the final time. Suppressing a laugh, Eugene noted Krak’s occasional absence would be felt. She found both the villainous Abu and the vastly different Krak charming the more she encountered them.

“Anika Jin,” Riner called out, beckoning Eugene over. After a moment of silence, he sighed deeply, stealing glances at Kasser, whose expression noticeably cooled. Another sigh followed, prompting Kasser’s gaze to grow colder. 

“Be well,” Riner finally uttered, leaving behind a short yet meaningful farewell. Kasser’s countenance softened, as if a decade of pent-up discomfort had dissipated. Eugene couldn’t shake the feeling that she might encounter Riner more frequently after the war, but she kept the thought to herself, not wanting to burden her husband before the impending conflict.

As they concluded Riner’s departure and prepared to return inside, the Dark King, Pered, approached them. Eugene assumed he, too, was bidding farewell, but Pered surprised her with unexpected words.

“I have something to share with both of you,” he began, leading them to a quieter spot. Seated, Pered deliberated on how to broach the topic. Though Eugene had encountered Pered only a few times, she had always sensed a stoic barrier behind his taciturn demeanor. Now, however, he appeared more human, his countenance lighter.

“It’s a personal matter, somewhat related to the story told by the Fourth King. I believe it shouldn’t remain buried within me alone, though it’s not something to share with the other kings,” Pered explained. Acknowledging the personal nature of the matter, Kasser offered to listen. With a nod, Pered continued, his expression softening further.

“When I was a prince, I encountered a family from a wandering tribe. They were living in hiding, and I stumbled upon them while scouring the mountains to capture Hwansus. At first, I was unaware of their wanderer status. The first person I met was the daughter of the wandering tribe, and she lacked the distinctive tattoos. Later, I learned her name was Corin. Corin’s father was a wanderer, but his mother was not.”