[Full] The Villainess Just Wants to Live Quietly! (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 15
Several days had passed.
Tanasia had read every book on magitechnological weapons during that time.
Since the world of itself revolved around elemental magic—such as fire, water, and wind—the weapons here differed from those used in the modern era.
The weapons used here employed magic-infused mana crystals as conduits to unleash flames or harness the power of the earth to trigger earthquakes, utilizing supernatural forces.
There were also blessed individuals like Noxia and Leiana, born with exceptional innate abilities, but such cases were extremely rare.
Thus, the purpose of magitechnological weapons was to temporarily grant the necessary power during wars or disasters.
Naturally, the required abilities varied depending on the situation.
For instance, Noxia, who manipulated water, could aid agriculture during droughts, alleviating the suffering of the empire’s citizens and contributing to national prosperity.
Similarly, Leiana, who controlled wind, could occasionally predict weather patterns or detect dangerous storms by reading wind direction in advance.
Moreover, each person had a limited capacity for mana, so even those with identical abilities varied greatly in skill.
Between the two, Noxia not only possessed vastly superior mana compared to Leiana, but water also had broader everyday applications than wind, leading to differing treatment from the nobility.
Given these circumstances, a nation’s strength inevitably depended heavily on how many people possessed special abilities and how many magitechnological weapons it held.
This was precisely why bloodlines with exceptional abilities became nobility and why people revered those who inherited such powers.
‘The problem is that the Arwen Empire currently lacks an ability strong enough to lead it to victory in war….’
Askan hadn’t been born with an innate ability like Noxia or Leiana, but after undergoing human weapon experiments, he gained the power to freely control an unquenchable flame.
Askan’s ability was the strongest possible in warfare.
In the novel , nothing within the Arwen Empire could stop the army he led.
Of course, if Askan remained by my side, that future would never come to pass—but my goal was to create the world’s most powerful weapon, so I had no choice but to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
‘Mana crystals, huh….’
In short, weapons in this world served as conduits for casting magic. However, mana crystals were far too expensive to distribute to ordinary soldiers.
Magitechnological weapons were incredibly powerful, but precisely because they couldn’t be widely used, they remained a niche field.
‘Given these drawbacks, it makes sense that the Kalua Empire pursued human weaponry.’
The human weapon experiments Askan underwent involved implanting mana into an ordinary person’s body to grant them special abilities.
In a way, this concept resembled magitechnology—the only difference being whether the subject was an object or a human.
‘Should I gather a huge quantity of mana crystals and build something like a nuclear bomb?’
Fortunately, the Brelrop family was wealthy, so I thought I could likely collect a considerable number of mana crystals.
Developing a weapon powerful enough to engulf an entire area in flames upon detonation at a target location wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Even if never actually used, merely possessing such a weapon would greatly reduce the likelihood of war breaking out.
‘Or… perhaps a common weapon usable even by ordinary soldiers?’
If such a weapon could be created, the Arwen Empire’s national power would skyrocket—but for now, it was nearly impossible.
Mana crystals were so scarce that their price was whatever the seller demanded; without solving this issue, realization remained out of reach.
‘If only there were something capable of replacing mana crystals….’
Every magitechnological weapon up to now required mana crystals. But couldn’t mana be utilized without them?
Thoughts continued to chain together. Though no revolutionary solution immediately came to mind, I couldn’t simply stop pondering.
Just then—
“Ahem, ahem.”
I snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Turning toward the sound, I saw Matella standing there.
“Oh, when did you arrive?”
“A moment ago. What were you so deep in thought about?”
I quickly covered the weapon schematics I’d been doodling absentmindedly. It wasn’t yet something I wanted anyone to see.
“Just thinking about various things.”
“What could possibly be troubling you so much that you didn’t notice me entering?”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s really nothing important.”
“By the way, I’ve brought the item you requested last time.”
“Really?”
Excited, I sprang up from my seat.
Matella, knowing how eagerly I’d been waiting, immediately opened the box she’d carried and showed me its contents.
It was a bracelet crafted from a mana crystal.
At first glance, it resembled an ordinary jeweled bracelet, but upon closer inspection, its mysterious shimmer revealed it was anything but ordinary.
“What ability does this bracelet grant?”
When I asked with an eager voice, Matella replied with a pleased expression.
“You should ask its creator directly.”
“The person who made it?”
“Yes. I’ve brought the magitechnology instructor who will now teach you.”
“Oh! Where are they?”
I hurriedly looked around, but aside from Matella, no one else was in the room.
Seeing my puzzled expression, Matella belatedly realized the situation and sighed in exasperation.
“Ugh, really!”
Matella strode over and flung the door open. There stood an elderly man with a wild, unkempt beard, looking like a vagrant off the street.
His clothes were filthy enough to reek, and soot stained his face—he looked nothing like an ordinary scholar.
‘…Who is this?’
As far as I knew, had no character like him.
As I stared at him, Matella, standing beside me, explained.
“As you can see, he’s a bit eccentric, but he’s extremely renowned in the field of magitechnology. Lord Brelrop went to great lengths to bring him here.”
“I see.”
“His name is Barnen Ad Teinando…”
“Huh?”
Hearing the name Barnen, I couldn’t help but be startled—it was the very author of the magitechnology books I’d read.
I’d earnestly asked Ollande and Matella to find me a capable teacher, but I never imagined they’d bring Barnen himself.
The thought of him personally instructing me filled me with such joy I nearly jumped up and down.
“Hello, I’m Tanasia…”
“I know. The daughter of Marquis Brelrop. If not for a debt I owed your father, I wouldn’t have been dragged to such a place.”
Barnen glared at me with clear displeasure. It was obvious he had no desire to teach me.
“I heard vaguely from Matella that you’re some sort of prodigy, but you’re just a noble lady studying this as a hobby before marriage. I have no intention of indulging a noble lady’s pastime…”
“Uncle! You already agreed to teach her—how can you say such things!”
Matella cut him off sharply.
For some reason, Matella and Barnen seemed already acquainted. His words could easily be interpreted as extremely rude, so she’d clearly reached her limit.
But to me, it didn’t matter at all. Barnen’s reasons for being here were completely irrelevant.
What mattered was that I could finally ask him all my questions directly.
“Wait a moment—I’ve had so many things I wanted to ask you ever since I hoped to meet you in person.”
I hurriedly fetched the book Barnen had authored, filled with notes on passages I couldn’t understand.
I immediately handed it to him and began asking questions one by one.
“This part here—I don’t understand why you explained it this way.”
“…What?”
It wasn’t me who was flustered—it was Barnen.
He alternated his stunned gaze between me and the densely annotated pages of the book.
“This is a profound aspect of magitechnology—of course it’s hard to grasp easily… But you’re curious about this? Why? Aren’t you a noble lady?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“…!”
At my words, Barnen looked at me speechlessly.
The fact that I was Tanasia of House Brelrop and my desire to study magitechnology were entirely separate matters.
Yet Barnen seemed utterly fascinated by me. After all, an ordinary noble lady wouldn’t risk her life studying magitechnology like I did.
“Hah.”
Barnen, who had initially chuckled dismissively, grew serious as he examined the sections I’d marked.
He glanced at Matella beside him and spoke in a noticeably lower voice than before.
“So that ‘prodigy’ remark wasn’t an exaggeration, was it?”
“Of course not! Why would I lie about something like that?”
“Well, I assumed you’d exaggerated to lure me here.”
Somehow, Barnen’s eyes now held genuine seriousness. He gestured toward the desk and continued softly.
“Come here. I’ll explain it to you.”
“Yes.”
I replied brightly and followed him to the desk.
Just then—
Knock, knock. Jerin tapped on the door and spoke in a cautious voice.
“Miss, Lady Crisha has arrived.”
“Leiana? Why so suddenly?”
“It seems today is your usual monthly gathering. What should I do?”
I knew from the original story that Tanasia and Leiana were friends, but I hadn’t realized they held regular monthly meetings.
With my recent focus on studying magitechnology and the sudden addition of lessons, I’d completely overlooked this detail.
Seeing Barnen waiting patiently at the desk, I had no choice but to quickly reply to Jerin.
“Please tell Leiana to wait in my room for just a moment. Ask her to kindly understand that I’ll come as soon as the lesson ends.”
“Oh, yes. Understood, miss.”
After hearing Jerin’s reply, I hurried back to Barnen.
The thought of finally learning magitechnology from someone after studying alone all this time made my heart flutter strangely.
To think I’d feel this excited about studying in my entire life…
For the first time, the reality of having become a genius truly sank in.
Leiana hadn’t wanted to come to the Brelrop estate from the start.
Until recently, she’d genuinely enjoyed spending time with Tanasia, believing them to be friends—but ever since the imperial ball, her feelings had been deeply wounded.
However, it wasn’t yet time to reveal her true intentions if she wanted to deliver a proper betrayal.
For now, it seemed more advantageous to stay close and pretend friendship, just as Tanasia had done.
That’s why she’d attended today’s regular gathering without skipping it…
‘But she’s making me wait?’
After hearing Jerin’s explanation, Leiana couldn’t hide her disbelief.
Tanasia, who had always greeted her warmly until now, had changed overnight—too abruptly. Even with a sudden lesson schedule, a little consideration would have allowed her to give prior notice.
Noticing Leiana’s hardened expression, Jerin spoke cautiously.
“I’m sorry. The lesson schedule came up suddenly…”
“Sigh, never mind. I understand—just bring me some tea.”
“Yes, miss.”
Jerin quickly left the room upon hearing this. She’d personally witnessed just how harsh Leiana’s temperament could be.
Leiana’s already sour mood sank even deeper.
Tanasia’s behavior felt like a subtle act of disdain toward her.
‘Hah, so now that she knows I’m the daughter of a hostess, she’s openly treating me this way?’
Though it was Leiana’s own insecurity, even the slightest hint of being looked down upon made her emotions flare uncontrollably.
Just as she was letting out an irritated huff without even realizing it—
Knock, knock. A familiar boy’s voice followed the sound of knocking.
“Miss, it’s me.”
At first, she assumed Jerin had returned with tea, but upon hearing the voice, she instantly recognized who it was.
‘That voice…!’
It was Askan—the same boy who’d so insolently locked her away during the imperial ball.
No matter that Tanasia had ordered him to do it, Leiana had no intention of forgiving him.
Bang!
Leiana swiftly strode over and flung the door open without a word.
Askan, who hadn’t expected to find Leiana instead of Tanasia in the room, stared at her with momentary surprise.
Leiana grinned and waved at him.
“Hello again. We meet once more?”
Even upon second glance, Askan’s face was exactly to Leiana’s taste.
He was stunningly handsome—truly the definition of a pretty boy. Ruining such a face with tears was far too satisfying.
“There’s a servant in my household whom Tanasia crippled.”
In the original story, Tanasia would beat anyone who displeased her even slightly. The same applied at the Crisha estate where Leiana lived.
Their personalities were so similar that neither had ever objected to the other mistreating their respective servants or maids.
“How should I cripple you?”
As Leiana looked at him, clearly delighted at finding someone to vent her frustration on, Askan’s naturally expressionless face grew icy cold.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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Isn’t he is being cute, just let him be …ufff….