I Became the Master of the Villain

As soon as I answered for him to come in, the door opened immediately.

A moment later, I was sitting across from Kian at the table.
The maid set down steaming black tea and refreshments, then withdrew.
Once the maid left the room, Kian was the first to speak.

“Didn’t you say there was something you wanted to tell me?”
“Ah, yeah…”
If I dragged this out, it would only get harder to say.

Resolving myself, I pulled the slave trade certificate out from inside my clothes.
Kian’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of the document.
“It’s the certificate I received when I bought you.”

“Master? Why are you…”
So today is the last time I’ll hear him call me that.
The moment that thought passed through my mind, I opened my mouth heavily.

“As of this moment, I’m going to set you free.”
The springlike warmth in Kian’s eyes faded, like a barren field drained of life.
He had lived as a slave for twenty years, so I naturally thought he would be happy to be freed…

I was confused because I didn’t understand why he was reacting like this, but I couldn’t take back what I had already said.
“You’re free now, Kian.”
To burn the slave certificate, I walked over to the fireplace, where embers still glowed.

Just as I was about to throw the certificate into the flames, Kian gently grabbed my wrist.
He stopped my action and, with a face clouded over, said,
“Why…”
As if he were about to shed tears at any moment, his sky-blue eyes welled with moisture.

With a choked voice, he said,
“Why are you trying to abandon me?”
His pitiful expression and pleading tone shook my heart for a moment.

But I quickly pulled myself together and spoke.
“Abandon you? I’m just trying to set you free.”
“So you’re saying… I’m no longer needed by you.”

“That’s not—”
I couldn’t finish speaking.
Kian had stepped closer without me realizing, bowing his head deeply.

His face was so close our lips were nearly touching.
The distance between us was far too small. I could even hear his breathing.
My heart pounded wildly without my consent. Even though I knew I needed to put space between us, I couldn’t push him away.

While I hesitated, he buried his face against my shoulder and whispered softly.
“Since I belong to you, it’s fine to order me to do anything, but…”
The certificate flew up into the air on its own and landed in Kian’s hand.

The expression that had just a moment ago been quietly sorrowful suddenly shifted, and he growled in a low, beastlike voice.
“Just don’t tell me to leave. That’s the one command I can’t obey.”
It was a face of Kian I had never seen before.

He seemed angry. Or maybe resentful…
I was a little taken aback, but quickly composed my expression and spoke.
“Kian. It’s not because I no longer need you.”

Even though I explained, Kian’s eyes still looked unconvinced. He asked,
“Then why are you trying to set me free? Is it because you’ve grown to dislike me…”
His response was so unexpected that for a moment, I couldn’t find the words to reply.

It was such an outrageous misunderstanding.
I thought carefully about how I could make him understand my feelings.
“It’s not that I dislike you or don’t need you anymore. I just… want you to find a place that suits your abilities.”

“I don’t need something like that. It’s enough for me to be by your side.”
His firm response left me unable to say anything more.
…The truth is, I didn’t want Kian to leave my side either.

I wanted him to keep staying with me.
But now he had awakened his powers, and he was going to live a life completely different from before.
His world was going to grow much broader.

He could show his abilities to others and be acknowledged for them.
Asking him to stay by my side would just be selfish of me.
That’s why I had tried to set him free.

Because I believed that freeing him was the right thing for him.
And that belief hadn’t changed, even now.
I tried once more to persuade Kian.

“I’m not telling you to leave me. I just want you to stay, not as a slave, but as a free man. You no longer have any reason to live as a slave.”
Kian was silent for a moment.
Then he looked at me carefully and said,

“Why… are you going this far?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t understand why you’re trying so {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} hard to set me free.”

“What are you—”
“I’m a mage now. So if you use my abilities, I could be of help to you.”
I slowly shook my head.

Use him? How could I possibly…
I had already used Kian once.
I stopped his blackening and changed his fate of dying young.

And in the process, I almost lost him.
I didn’t want that to happen again.
“Kian, I don’t want to use you.”

“If it’s you, I’d be fine with being used however you wish.”
“I hate that. So don’t say things like that.”
I spoke firmly. This time, I wasn’t going to back down either.

Kian gave me a look as if he couldn’t understand.
“You’re a strange person.”
Maybe I did look that way to him.

I bought him for 100 billion gallons, and now I wanted to set him free.
He still looked at me like I made no sense.
“But…”

He lowered his gaze for a moment, then looked at me with calmer eyes.
“If that’s what you want, then I’ll do it. But please answer me one thing.”
I nodded.

“Ask me anything.”
“Is it really true that you don’t dislike me?”
That was a question I didn’t even need to think about.

“Of course.”
At my reply, a bit of expression returned to his face. He looked somewhat relieved.
Right after, flames rose in Kian’s hand.

The flickering fire devoured the pile of documents.
The slave contract in his hand turned to ashes.
I watched as the flames reduced the paper to nothing.

Kian had destroyed the slave certificate with his own hands.
The moment I realized that, Kian looked at me slowly.
His gaze was as gentle as usual, which reassured me.

Smiling slightly, I said,
“Now you can’t call me ‘master’ anymore.”
As always, Kian replied in a gentle tone.

“What should I call you, then?”
“Whatever’s comfortable. Miss, young lady… or maybe by my name?”
At that suggestion, Kian’s eyes widened a little. Then he smiled softly and asked,

“Is that… really okay?”
“Yeah. Try calling me now.”
Kian took one step closer.

He reached out and brushed my hair as he said,
“Olivia.”
Hearing my name from his lips for the first time was unfamiliar, yet strangely pleasant.

And in that moment, it felt real.
That Kian was no longer my slave.
And that he had become a different person than the one in the original story.

By awakening his powers, many possibilities had opened up for him.
He could become a scholar, or take on a high official post under the empire.
If it meant he could be happy, I was willing to respect whatever path he chose.

That evening.
While we were eating together, I casually asked Kian,
“Have you thought about what you want to do next?”

I was curious whether he had any thoughts about how he wanted to live as a mage.
At my question, Kian paused with his utensils in hand.
“Well…”

He tilted his head slightly and said,
“I just want to stay by your side like I am now… but you don’t want that.”
“Ah, that’s—”

That conversation was already over. How sneaky…
As I grumbled a little, Kian gave me a mischievous smile.
Maybe he was just teasing me, because he soon gave a proper answer to my question.

“If I’m going to stand by your side, I should at least have a position that I’m not ashamed of.”
“Oh, I don’t think you need to worry about that.”
There are only three top-class mages on the entire continent.

That’s how rare his talent is.
Not just the Empire—every country on the continent will be desperate to recruit him.
Somehow, I had a feeling things were about to get busy.

And that prediction came true faster than expected.
***
Uninvited guests came to the mansion the very next day.

A man wearing the uniform of the Imperial Magic Division was sitting on the sofa in the drawing room.
He looked to be in his late thirties, with a bold impression and the sharp eyes of a soldier.
Aron Tobias—the man who had sent the letter telling me to bring Kian to the mana testing center.

He was the head of the Imperial Magic Division, the group considered the strongest armed force in the Empire.
“It’s been a while, Lady Olivia. I’m glad to see you in good health.”
“I’m glad to see you’re doing well too, Sir Aron.”

“Haha, well, good health is the greatest asset for a soldier like me.”
The staff quickly served refreshments. I offered him freshly brewed tea and said,
“You came because you have business with Kian?”

Aron glanced at Kian, who was sitting beside me, and gave a slight nod before speaking.
“Just as you said, my lady. I’ve come, though uninvited, because I have something I wish to propose to young Kian.”
He leaned slightly toward Kian and said,

“I heard you received the highest rank in the mana test.”
“That’s correct.”
“The Imperial Magic Division needs someone with talent like yours.”

If he joined the division, a top-class mage would immediately be given the rank of brigadier general.
It was a special treatment unlike normal mages, who started from the lowest rank.
And that wasn’t all. He would also receive a noble title, a mansion, land, and an enormous annual salary.

After explaining everything, Aron asked Kian,
“Would you be willing to use your talent for the good of the Empire?”
Kian didn’t answer right away.

When he remained silent, Aron laughed heartily and added,
“Of course, I’m not forcing you! You don’t have to answer right now. I just want you to consider the offer.”
As if not wanting to pressure him further, Aron backed off a step. Then Kian said,

“I’ll think about it.”
Even though it was an offer normal mages couldn’t even dream of, Kian remained indifferent.
Well, with Kian’s power, he could probably build his own kingdom.

He didn’t need to bow his head to anyone.
‘Even among top-class mages, Kian is on another level.’
But unaware of that fact, Aron looked at Kian like he had one last thing to say.

“Kian. Do you know the fastest way to rise in the Empire?”
He didn’t wait for an answer before adding,
“Achieving military merit in war. That’ll get you to the rank of duke in one leap.”

After a short silence, Kian asked,
“Why are you telling me this?”
“If you have ambition, join the Imperial Magic Division.”

Leaving those words behind, Aron rose from his seat.
I silently watched Aron’s back as he exited the drawing room.
‘You think you can just take Kian with that?’

I let out a small scoff.
As soon as he left, Albert the butler came in and bowed.
“Young lady, His Highness the Prince of the Kingdom of Kalita is waiting.”

I thought I’d have a moment to catch my breath, but there was no such luxury.
The scouting war over Kian had only just begun.