I Became the Master of the Villain

The count, drenched in cold sweat, spoke as he thought.

“I don’t know… It’s been too long, I can’t remember.”
Kian stared silently at the count.
It didn’t seem like he was lying…

He hadn’t expected him to remember the name of a mere slave dealer in the first place.
Just as Kian made up his mind to use another method—
Suddenly, the count lunged at him, swinging his dagger.

He thought that if he struck at the right moment, he might just manage something.
The sharp dagger shot toward Kian’s throat.
Kian didn’t avoid the attack. Instead, he reached out with his right hand.

Suddenly, the count’s body floated into the air.
“Uwaagh!”
As the dagger slipped from the count’s hand, his body was instantly dragged forward, right up to Kian.

Kian placed a hand on the count’s head.
The count, his face pale, shouted,
“L-Let go of me! Guards! What the hell are the guards doing?!”

The count thrashed and shouted furiously.
But only briefly.
As Kian moved his hand, the count’s body went completely still, as if paralyzed.

However, his consciousness remained wide awake. Which meant he had to experience the unpleasant, painful sensation of having his memories rummaged through.
“Guaaaah!”
The count screamed, his eyes wide in terror.
As the agonizing scream tore through the stillness of the night, Kian continued digging through his memories.

How much time had passed?
At last, Kian found the memory he wanted and released the count.
The count’s body collapsed limply, as if unconscious.

Though he looked dead, his life wasn’t in danger.
He might suffer some mental aftereffects from having his mind searched all night, though.
Even so, Kian felt no sympathy.

He knew full well that the count was the scum of humanity.
How many slaves had died from the count’s cruelty?
Compassion should be reserved not for the count—but for them.

Kian altered the count’s memory so he would not remember what happened tonight.
He had obtained the slave dealer’s name and appearance—his goal was achieved.
And he had discovered something unexpected.

In the count’s memory, there was a woman holding a newborn baby—himself.
—“Young master! Please, let me go with you! Please…!”
—“Stop whining and come here!”

—“Aaagh!”
Why had she called him “young master”?
Was she someone who knew him well?

The questions were endless.
He wanted to know more about her, but instead of continuing his investigation, Kian returned to the duke’s estate.
If he was gone too long, Olivia would worry.

He had no intention of telling her about this.
He would handle it quietly.
So that she wouldn’t be harmed.

In the faintly lit room, Kian looked at his reflection in the mirror.
A young man with neat, handsome features stared back.
On the outside, nothing seemed different from before.

But Kian knew.
This immense power now in his hands had changed something fundamental within him.
***

I wore a black veil and placed white flowers at the knights’ graves.
Kian, who stood beside me, offered flowers as well.
I bowed my head in silent prayer for the fallen knights.

Promising myself I would never forget their names.
From the bell tower in the cemetery came the sound of a mournful chime.
It rang with a sorrowful, lonely tone.

Leaving behind the memorial park where the knights were buried, we returned to the mansion.
After removing my mourning clothes and changing into a calm-colored dress, I headed to the knights’ quarters.
Sir Hans’s room was on the second floor of the quarters.

When I opened the door, a fellow knight was sitting at his bedside, perhaps there to visit.
Noticing me, the knight bowed slightly and said,
“My lady, you’re here.”

“How is Sir Hans?”
The knight replied in a low, gloomy voice.
“He shows no signs of waking.”

It had been five days since the night of the assassin’s attack.
I looked down at Sir Hans, who was sleeping soundly, breathing evenly.
Unaware of the turmoil burning within me, his expression remained peaceful.

“Let’s be patient and wait. I’m sure there’ll be good news.”
“Yes. I don’t think this guy’s the type to go out like this.”
I smiled at the knight’s words.

I wasn’t the only one who believed he would wake.
That fact gave me a bit of comfort.
Kian and I left the knights’ quarters and returned to the main mansion.

We boarded the carriage that was waiting.
Destination: the imperial palace. Purpose: to measure Kian’s mana.
I glanced at Kian, seated across from me.

He was staring out the window with a pensive expression.
Even after awakening as a mage, he still addressed me as “Master.”
He never once asked to be freed.

Knowing his personality, he would never bring it up first…
Then I’ll have to be the one to say it.
I had planned to tell him once I’d recovered my strength. Now, it was finally time.

Once we returned from the mana test—I would free him.
After showing our credentials to the guards, we passed through the imperial palace gates.
After traveling a long distance through the vast palace, the carriage stopped in front of the mana measurement center.

I showed Aaron’s letter at reception. The clerk greeted us with a friendly smile and said,
“Please follow the guide here. They’ll escort you to the testing chamber.”
We followed the guide up to the second floor and came to a long corridor.

At the end of the corridor was a large hall with a massive crystal orb in the center.
Several people were already waiting.
Some were mothers holding infants; others were mages there for re-evaluation.

The guide offered a formal smile and said,
“Wishing you the best of results.”
By “best,” he meant a high mana grade.

In the Empire, mages are graded based on their mana and aptitude.
Grades range from Level 1 (highest) to Level 9 (lowest). To become a court mage, you must be at least Level 3.
Anything lower and you can’t even apply.

“Re-evaluation complete. No change. Still Level 4.”
“No… no way!”
And so, some people screamed in despair upon hearing their results.

While one’s grade might change as they grow, it usually doesn’t.
In other words, the mage world is 99% talent.
Unfair as it is.

“I worked myself to death for six years… How can this be…”
The court mage, used to this, showed no emotion.
“Next.”

When the court mage called out, Kian rose from his seat.
“Master, I’ll be back soon.”
I waved, telling him to do well.

Kian nodded and walked toward the large orb in the center of the hall.
That orb, three meters in diameter, was the mana measuring device.
Around it was a ring reminiscent of a planet’s orbit.

It seemed to be engraved with magical runes.
“The method is simple. Place your hand on the orb. When it’s done, a number from 1 to 9 will appear in the core.”
Following the instructions, Kian placed his hand on the crystal orb.

The core at the center lit up.
At the same time, the ring surrounding the orb began to spin.
I watched the crystal with hopeful eyes.

The core glowed with dreamy hues, pulsing with light.
Several minutes passed.
Then a number appeared in ancient script inside the orb’s core.

At last, the result was in.
“Gasp…!”
Sounds of people holding their breath rang out from all directions.

Whispers followed, rippling like waves.
The number in the core indicated the highest possible grade.
Knowing Kian’s strength, I had somewhat expected this result.

But everyone else looked at him with a mix of awe and disbelief.
“Top grade? That’s insane!”
“Who is that guy?”

“Doesn’t look like an academy student…”
“Even last year’s top graduate didn’t get that…!”
Their shock was understandable.

There were only three mages in the entire Empire who had received a top grade.
Top-grade mages were that rare.
Even the previously stoic court mage’s eyes went wide.

He blinked several times in silence, then finally spoke.
“I’ll now announce the results.”
Taking a deep breath, the court mage continued.

“Mage /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Kian—Top Grade.”
The moment the court mage confirmed it aloud, the hall erupted again.
But Kian himself didn’t seem all that surprised.

It looked like he had anticipated the result as well.
Finishing the test, Kian walked back toward me. I beamed and said,
“Congratulations, Kian. That’s a great result.”

Truthfully, Kian’s mana exceeded even the top grade.
It was only categorized as such because it couldn’t be measured beyond that.
In a way, it was a relief the measurement stopped there. If he seemed too powerful, it might provoke the emperor.

Kian smiled and replied,
“I’m glad you’re pleased, Master.”
Of course I was happy. Now Kian would be treated not as a slave, but as a top mage.

With a Level 1 result, offers would start flooding in.
Not just from the Empire, but from other kingdoms as well.
A single top-tier mage is more powerful than hundreds or thousands of soldiers.

So everyone would be desperate to recruit him.
Feeling the sting of envious and jealous stares, I quickly left the hall with Kian.
We boarded the carriage waiting outside the testing center and left the imperial palace.

Since the palace wasn’t far from the duke’s estate, we arrived quickly.
At the mansion entrance, I turned to Kian.
“Can you come to my room later? There’s something important I need to tell you.”

“Yes, Master.”
As always, Kian nodded gently.
And so, I didn’t notice what he was really thinking at all.

***
I opened the second drawer of my mahogany cabinet and pulled out a stack of documents.
They were Kian’s slave contract papers.

My plan had been to care for him until he awakened as a mage—and that plan was now complete.
So now, it was time to set him free.
I took out the contract.

And saw the photos hidden beneath it.
They were candid shots taken by a gossip journalist during a picnic with Kian.
I took out each photo and looked at them slowly.

“…”
The farewell, which came sooner than expected, felt oddly sad.
I even thought I’d feel empty without him…

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.
I had so desperately hoped for his awakening, and now look at me.
I stared at the contract for a long time, then tucked it into my pocket.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“Master, it’s Kian.”