The Villainous Lady Doesn't Speak Chapter 163

Portents of a Triumvirate 3

Ben Draco and Petra Muirulainen, back at the Ministry of Magic for the first time in three years, were hard at work under a barrage of curious stares. However, the tasks assigned to them were all monotonous, nothing that utilized their talents.

Still, neither of them uttered a single complaint. They went about their daily work stoically, but this seemed to irritate Director Nicholas Bergson and Deputy Director Thorn Greed, who went out of their way to create pointless, menial tasks and force them upon the pair.

Then, one day, they were summoned to the director’s office. Appearing before the director with expressionless faces, Bergson addressed them in a somewhat pleased tone.

“Ah, you’ve come.”

You’re the one who summoned us, both thought, but they kept it to themselves. They waited silently for Bergson’s words, but the director showed his displeasure at their lack of reaction. He pursed his lips in a sullen frown, but the two of them were not so easily moved. Bergson crossed his arms haughtily, a deep furrow in his brow.

“You have a job. The Kennys Border Margrave has requested the dispatch of mages. You are to remain in the margrave’s territory until they tell you to return.”

The request was concise but utterly meaningless. Even Ben’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“What is the objective? Our response and equipment will vary depending on whether it’s monster extermination, healing knights, or acting as a combat force.”

“Your job is to follow their instructions. I know nothing else. They’ve asked for a swift dispatch, so you are to leave immediately.”

This was getting them nowhere. Ben and Petra were inwardly exasperated. Even for harassment, this was too childish. It made one want to look to the heavens and ask why such a man was the Director of the Ministry of Magic, but there was no point in saying that now.

Ben and Petra exchanged a look and shook their heads slightly. They turned their gazes back before Bergson could notice, but their minds were one. It was clear that questioning Bergson now would only lead to a pointless argument. There was a more reliable way to get information. They bowed silently and left the director’s office. The menial tasks they were handling could be left unattended without issue. It would be easier on their mental health to just pack their things and leave the Ministry.

They quickly packed and left their assigned room. As they were about to close the door, a shadow fell over them. Ben and Petra stopped, their faces twisting in distaste at the sight of the person who appeared. Petra’s change in expression was particularly noticeable.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the former Deputy Director and the red-headed mage.”

The young mage who spoke with a mocking expression was Thorn Greed. Everything he wore was of the highest quality. He seemed particularly fond of a red jeweled ring, which he never took off, no matter what he was wearing. With the jewel glittering on his left hand, Thorn Greed gave an exaggeratedly theatrical bow to Petra. “Ah, my apologies.”

“I find foreign names so difficult to pronounce. Do not take offense. Though, I must say, the complex pronunciations of foreign lands do sound rather… archaic.”

He was clearly mocking Petra for being a foreigner. He was slightly more careful with his words than the mages who openly disdained her as a "barbarian," but in reality, there was little difference. Petra found it ridiculous to react every time and simply gave him a cold look. She tried to walk past him, but Ben put an arm out in front of her, stopping her. Before Petra could give him a questioning look, Ben turned to Thorn Greed with an unusually cheerful expression and greeted him.

“Come to think of it, it has been a while since we’ve seen you, Thorn Greed-dono.”

“—Yes, it has.”

Thorn Greed frowned for a moment. He hadn’t expected Ben to greet him so politely. Ben, seemingly unconcerned by his reaction, said, “I was worried about you.”

“What?” Thorn Greed asked back, his expression clearly showing he didn’t understand why he would be the subject of concern. Ben, his cheerful smile still in place, stared straight at the man before him. But his eyes were not smiling at all.

“Yes, during the monster attack three years ago. I was not present, but I heard you visited my home. Only my butler was there, and he has a great dislike for having his rooms disturbed. He said he felt terrible for pulling your arm with too much force—how has your left arm been?”

“Did it heal quickly?” Ben asked smoothly, his face a mask of concern. Thorn Greed, who had looked puzzled for a moment, turned pale a second later. He instinctively took a step back.

During the monster attack three years ago, Thorn Greed had prepared false evidence to frame Ben Draco for treason. In the end, that evidence had somehow turned into mere scraps of paper, but he remembered the burly butler at the mansion. That man, despite his station as a butler, had grabbed the left arm of Thorn, the third son of the Greed County. The grip had been so strong it felt like it was caught in a vise, and he had been unable to move a muscle. Fear had preceded anger, and a bruise had remained on his left arm for some time.

“—Ah,” Thorn Greed let out a hoarse sound. Ben’s smile deepened, and he said with feigned realization, “Oh, dear.”

“I forgot the director told us to hurry. Well then, if you’ll excuse us.”

With a bow so polite it seemed rude, Ben prompted Petra, and they left. Thorn Greed stood there, stunned, for a while, but finally came to his senses after the two had disappeared from view.

“—Hmph!”

Once the remembered fear subsided, all that remained was a burning rage from the pit of his stomach. Glaring in the direction the two had disappeared with a devilish expression, Thorn Greed stomped towards the Deputy Director’s office.

“—I wish those bastards would just drop dead.”

He slammed his tightly clenched fist against the wall of his room. Pacing around the room, his irritation unabated, he suddenly stopped as if he had realized something.

“That’s right, the place they’re going is—the Border Margravate.”

As if he’d had a brilliant idea, Thorn Greed hastily penned a letter. He had overheard what was happening in the Border Margravate. In the borderlands, far from the capital and filled with an unsettling atmosphere, a mage or two could easily lose their lives. It seemed like a very good plan.

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After leaving the Ministry of Magic, the two decided to return to their mansion in the capital to gather reliable information. Normally, a carriage or horses would have been prepared for the journey to the Kennys Border Margravate, but there was nothing. If they asked Bergson, he would just tell them to arrange it themselves, so they intended to travel on their own.

“If it was just me, I’d definitely have bolted,” Petra said.

“You think so?” Ben tilted his head. Petra nodded.

“Yeah, I’m sure of it. If you weren’t here, I wouldn’t have stayed at the Ministry either.”

“Is that so? Maybe I should have quit the Ministry too.”

Ben muttered, half-serious, but Petra just gave him an exasperated look. It was clear she was telling him not to be ridiculous, and Ben gave a wry smile.

“I’m serious, though.”

“Hopes and reality are two different things. Are you planning on throwing the twins into this den of vipers?”

“You’re really cold to me, Muirulainen.”

Ben sighed. Petra didn’t answer, instead pulling a magic stone from her pocket. As she channeled her mana into it and chanted a short incantation, the stone began to glow. A moment later, a girl’s voice echoed from it.

'How may I help you?'

“Hey, been a while, little missy. I’ve been sending letters, though.”

'Yes, I am glad to hear you are well. I was concerned about your situation, hearing that you had returned to the Ministry of Magic.'

The voice that came through was that of Liliana Alexandra Clark. Ben listened silently to the conversation between Petra and Liliana, and Petra stoically explained their current situation of being relegated to a menial post. However, since she didn’t sound particularly tragic, it didn’t come across as that serious. Perhaps because of that, a hint of a wry smile could be heard in Liliana’s reply.

'My, it seems you are in a difficult situation.'

“Not really. Though I do think it would be more meaningful to go home and do research.”

Liliana chuckled softly at Petra’s typical remark. It was then that Petra finally got to the point.

“So, today Ben and I were told to go to the Kennys Border Margravate. But we don’t know why they’re calling for mages. Do you know anything?”

'The Kennys Border Margravate—you say?'

Tension immediately crept into Liliana’s voice. Ben frowned, sensing this was not good news. Petra glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, her expression slightly tense.

'I have not heard it officially, but I have just heard that a lord from the neighboring country has launched an attack.'

“What did you say?”

No one could blame Petra for blurting out the question. No such news had reached the capital at all. Liliana, on the other hand, was calm.

'Even by fast horse, the news would not have reached the capital yet. It seems the attack only just began this morning.'

Of course, a message sent from the Border Margravate would not arrive in time. Not just Margrave Kennys, but all border lords raise smoke signals in the event of an invasion. These signals are not visible from the capital, but there are always guards stationed in territories just close enough to see them. When a signal is raised, a fast horse is dispatched from that territory to the capital. Even so, it should have been impossible to get information about an attack that had just happened this morning by this afternoon.

Petra’s face tightened.

“—Little missy, where are you right now?”

'Oh? I am at home, of course.'

Petra and Ben looked as if they had swallowed a pole. The “home” Liliana spoke of must be her mansion on the outskirts of the capital. It was very close to the capital, only a few hours away by a leisurely carriage ride. And yet, Liliana possessed information that should not have reached the capital yet. Both of them were at a loss for words. They had always thought she was a peculiar young lady, but now they felt something unfathomable about her. But Liliana, as if unconcerned by their state, continued.

'It is strange that it is a lord along the border, and not the neighboring country itself. They probably do not wish for it to escalate, but I have heard that the weapons they possess are beyond what a single lord should have. Furthermore—it seems they have also hired mages. The request for two mages was likely sent by hawk, or perhaps a mage made contact.'

In other words, the situation was that dire.

The two, who had been stunned by Liliana’s words, gradually composed themselves, their expressions turning serious.

The neighboring country likely intended to chip away at the Kingdom of Slibegrad’s national power with this skirmish. And if they could seize even a part of the Kennys Border Margravate, they would consider it a stroke of luck. Even if they were repelled, they could claim it was an act of a border lord on their own accord, and the Empire would not have to take responsibility. The matter would be settled with the head of a single lord.

That was why Margrave Kennys had to deal with it with his own order of knights. The only problem was the fact that there were mages in the enemy army.

Ben muttered, “The mage in the Border Margravate specializes in healing, if I remember correctly.”

Liliana, who seemed to have caught his voice, spoke up.

'Oh my, is Ben Draco-sama there as well?'

“Yeah, I’m here. Sorry for the late greeting. It’s been a while.”

'It has been a long time. I am glad to see you are well.'

Ben gave a wry smile at Liliana’s calm tone. But his expression quickly turned serious again, and he continued in a voice just loud enough for Petra and Liliana to hear.

“The mage in the Border Margravate is a healing specialist. They probably called us because they wanted mages who could fight alongside the knights. In that sense, it was fortunate that Bergson chose me and Muirulainen.”

“He probably just thinks it would be great if we died on the battlefield,” Petra added.

From the perspective of the Kennys Border Margravate, having Ben and Petra would be like having an army of a hundred. There were no mages in the current Ministry of Magic as skilled as the two of them. Not Director Bergson, and not even Deputy Director Thorn Greed could hold a candle to their abilities as mages.

However, it was highly unlikely that Bergson had properly evaluated their abilities. Even before the monster attack three years ago that had led to them distancing themselves from the Ministry, Bergson had assigned unreasonable jobs to Petra in particular. He had made her handle jobs that would normally require several people all by herself. Many of them were jobs that could have been fatal for anyone other than Petra. It was highly likely that this time, too, he had assigned the job with the hope that Petra would be injured. And it was also convenient for getting rid of Ben.

“Understood,” Petra nodded gravely. In any case, it was fortunate for the Kennys Border Margravate that Bergson had not delayed their dispatch for no reason. He was probably just trying to avoid it becoming an issue of his own responsibility later, but the reason didn’t matter now.

“Let’s bring a mountain of offensive magic tools and curse circles.”

“We haven’t been able to experiment for a while, so this will be a good chance to go all out.”

The two, who were obsessed with magic and curses, spoke of their ambitions, which had strayed from the original purpose, their eyes shining. Liliana, who had only been listening to their voices, was silent for a while, but just before cutting the connection, she spoke to them with a hint of a wry smile.

'Please try to keep it in moderation.'

They were being told to hold back by a girl much younger than them, but when it came to magic and curses, Ben and Petra were two of a kind. That is to say, they shared the bad habit of losing sight of their surroundings when they became engrossed. And unfortunately, neither of them was aware of this fact. That was why Petra nodded cheerfully and replied with vigor.

“Of course. We’re going for work, so we know our limits.”

'—I wish you the best of luck.'

Liliana said with a wry smile, and the connection was cut. Petra and Ben returned to their mansion in the capital, stuffed magic tools, curse circles, and magic circles into a bag, and joined hands. If a lord from a neighboring country was attacking, they had to hurry. They decided to take turns using teleportation magic to get to the Kennys Border Margravate.

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ToC

Chapter 164