Me, the Weakest Member of the Hero’s Party? I’m the Villain Though? - Chapter 86
“The last time you came, you carved a stigmata on my father before you left. I’ve thought all this time that was why my father’s health got worse.”
At first, I didn’t know what stigmata meant, so I couldn’t answer at all. But a moment later, I finally realized.
“Don’t tell me that stigmata is referring to this?”
I slowly undid the buttons of my shirt. Derek, who was studying my chest closely, nodded.
“What does that have to do with the Grand Duke being sick?”
To figure out what this stigmata meant, I needed to know why the past Lysian had given the Grand Duke a stigmata.
“A while ago, my father’s condition started getting worse, so we called for Mildred. She was the only witch who’d lived in Serendal for over a hundred years and helped people. But she said the symptoms were showing because of the stigmata.”
The lich had cursed the Grand Duke first, then approached him while pretending to be a witch. It was a pretty elaborate scheme.
“We didn’t doubt the stigmata given by the Black Flame Dragon, so we believed there must be a reason. We never imagined it was a curse.”
I felt like I finally understood the situation. Just as Derek suspected, it wasn’t a coincidence that the lich had settled in the Grand Duchy of Serendal.
The lich impersonating Mildred was probably already acquainted with the Black Flame Dragon. It likely knew the Black Flame Dragon had been obtaining magic stones in this place and passing them to the Devotees of Darkness.
And once it had used up all the magic stones it got back then, it probably tried to secure more.
“If there’s anything you want us to do, tell me. My father is waiting for your word.”
Since they were using magic stones to create monsters, the first thing to do was cut off the supply.
“There’s nothing specific I want you to do. No matter what happens, don’t hand magic stones over to the lich or the Devotees of Darkness.”
“Got it. I’ll tell my father exactly that.”
Derek nodded firmly, his eyes sparkling like someone who still had more to say.
But I didn’t have anything else to add. If anything, I was tired from having too much to think about, and I was also annoyed at the thought of him prying further.
“I need to get some sleep. Could you give me some space alone?”
Only then did Derek seem to realize how late it was, and he hurriedly stood up.
“I’ve been rude coming at such a late hour. I really wanted to show that I knew what was going on, but we didn’t have time for the two of us to talk.”
“Yeah. If you have anything else to pass along, I’ll send Larry, my trusted aide.”
Since Derek seemed reluctant to leave, I walked him all the way to the door to hurry him out.
“Then have a good night. Let me know if anything’s uncomfortable.”
“Yeah, sleep well.”
I was worried he might insist on staying longer, but thankfully, Derek left cleanly.
I watched his back disappear down the dark corridor and quietly went to close the door.
But then, Kyle suddenly popped out from behind the open doorway, and my heart nearly stopped.
“What the—!”
“What kind of secret talk were you two whispering about at this hour?”
“And why are you lurking in front of someone else’s room?”
My heart was pounding wildly, like I’d seen a ghost.
Meanwhile, the one who’d startled me, Kyle, calmly pushed the door I was holding open even wider and casually stepped inside.
“No, my room’s next door. I heard someone lingering outside the door, so I came out and saw Derek going into your room.”
“Don’t tell me… you were eavesdropping?”
How much had he heard? Had my identity finally been exposed? A chill ran through me.
“As if I’d do something like that. I was just waiting to ask what you talked about once Derek came out.”
I couldn’t tell whether Kyle was telling the truth or not, so I couldn’t relax.
I was already frantically organizing my thoughts on what I should do if Kyle had realized I was the Black Flame Dragon.
“But did you have that conversation with your bodies?”
“…What did you say?”
