Chapter 438

Chapter 438

“This is ridiculous—.”
Illuan’s eyes flashed with embarrassment. He didn’t seem to understand what had just happened.
The dome of flame, a combination of three enchantments, had been dissipated. The polymorph enchantment that kept Erzebet in her form had also been dispelled.
“—It’s done.”
Asel said to himself.
Despite his cheerful expression, his slender body looked as if it might collapse at any moment. Illuan, who glanced back and forth between him and the audience, gritted his teeth.
“The damn kid is a—!”
He seemed to realize the gravity of the situation in hindsight. Some of Akalusia’s adopted children in the audience he recognized. As the minutes ticked by, their eyes wavered with fear and suspicion.
“What, what’s going on, aren’t you Illuan, the guy who died in the accident?”
“Wait, where’s Young Ae?”
“You can’t be—.”
They were obviously the sons of a prestigious family. Gazoo Adrian was as stiff as a wax figure.
I mean, I would be too, if I found out that my husband, whom I thought was sealed, had been pretending to be my daughter and running amok. Especially if he was stealing her clothes.
Looking back at Arcel, Iluan growled.
“You, you, you ruined everything.”
“Haaaa—Cooluck! Kuluk!”
Instead of answering, Asel coughed up blood. He didn’t need to be told he was at his limit. Illuan threw up his arms.
“Your luck is over. I will burn you without leaving a single marrow!”
Flames swirled in his pale grasp. Seven sizzling magic circles appeared in thin air. Almost simultaneously, searing rays burst forth from his hands and the magic circles.
Adrian’s eyes widened in horror.
“Asel!”
She stretched out her arms. A translucent force field enveloped Asel. Her casting speed was far from that of a normal mage, but unfortunately, Illuan’s beam was more destructive than she’d expected.
Boom!
A beam of light, which melted the shields in one fell swoop, rushed toward Asel.
“Oh, no!”
Their faces turned pensive. I was the only one who didn’t panic. Asel mumbled something and snapped his fingers. A ripple of mana erupted from his body, centering on the creature.
Chaaaahhh! The eight beams of light that met the ripples were converted to mana and dispersed.
“What.”
Illuan’s eyes widened. He couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
As an exhausted Asel slumped to the ground, the audience jumped to their feet in unison.
“Oh, reverse magic!”
“What?!”
It was an unbelievable sight. Asel’s fern-like hands were pulsing with mana of the exact opposite type to the spell Illuan had cast. The ripples that had disintegrated the beam were composed of that very same mana.
“I can’t believe the dome just disappeared—!”
Adrian shuddered. If her memory was not mistaken, it was only yesterday at dawn that Asel had learned reverse magic. Illuan, whose magic had been blocked repeatedly, roared.
“Then how about this!”
Illuan abandoned his magic and threw his fist at Asel. It wasn’t very strong, but it looked like it could have crushed Asel’s small head like a hongshi. But the people wouldn’t let him.
“What are you doing, Illuan!”
“Stop being ugly!”
Adrian and the others chanted in unison. Dozens of spells cascaded over Illuan in a chain. Chains of ice wrapped around Illuan’s neck. Bundles of bluish electricity bound him like a prison. A steel shark burst from the ground, biting into Illuan’s leg, transforming it into heavy shackles.
“Eek!”
Illuan dropped to one knee and faltered. His shackled fist dropped, unable to reach Asel. Shifting his gaze along the icy chain, Illuan could see the great circle of magic, and his wife standing before it.
Having completely subdued her husband, Adrian spoke up.
“Iluan…why would you?”
“——Adrian.”
Illuan twisted his lips. He was a man of simple appearance, but his eyes were glowing with life. Gone was the warmth and intelligence, and all that remained was a sharp intellect, like a scalpel turned into a butcher knife.
Adrian continued.
“Why are you here, and what did you do in the basement?”
“Adrian, I.”
“Why are you in Eri’s form? How, how could you do this to me—!”
Adrian’s voice was shaking. A chill was creeping up her shoulders. No matter what happened, there was no turning back now.
“I am—.”
Iluan trailed off.
Adrian sucked in a deep breath and bellowed.
“Tell me!”
“——!”
A booming voice echoed through the arena. For a moment, Illuan’s eyes widened. It wasn’t just a shout, but some sort of hypnotic magic.
Illuan, looking as if his soul had been absorbed, finally spoke up.
“——Acalucia needs to be great again.”
“Excuse me?”
“The House is thriving, but it’s not enough. The pigs of Gracia are getting older, and there are threatening new nobles rising from the fringes. At this rate, Acalusia will lose its dominant position.”
Everyone in the room’s eyes widened.
Iluan flinched as if he’d been electrocuted.
“I was lucky enough to be released from the seal, so I thought I’d take Eri’s place—because she’s too much like you to have a personality. I think she tries, but she’s not the type to lord it over anyone.”
“Explain to me what it is–everything.”
“The partner who freed me from the seal insisted that I become a Householder immediately, but I couldn’t do any harm to you and Eri, so I’ve been building up my power underground, waiting for the day you descended from your position as Householder, raising an army of immortals, and weeding out any weeds that might hinder the House’s progress. ”
“Get rid of the weeds—?”
Adrian paused. It didn’t take him long to realize what she meant.
Her purple eyes, reminiscent of Erzebet’s, widened.
“Seo, you didn’t kill that Adeshan kid, did you?”
“Yes.”
“Why on earth would you do that—!”
“He was too clever. Enough to recognize my plan.”
It was the moment when the secret of death was revealed. I hadn’t lost my footing after all.
Even if Adeshan had regressed once, there was nothing she could do if Iluan, the sorcerer of the day, decided to kill her. After killing Adeshan, Iluan drowned her in a swamp and stole her body.
But why?
After a brief pause, Iluan was kind enough to explain why.
“I kept the body unharmed, though, because Eri was very fond of the child, and when I was able to go, I would let her stay with Adeshan, whom I had brought back to life in a room I had set aside for her.”
“——you’re crazy.”
Adrian bit his lower lip. I couldn’t agree more.
I had to do my best not to run out and rip the bastard into a million pieces. It wasn’t easy to bear, even though I already knew the end.
The hilt of the holy sword was trembling slightly, as if trying to calm me down.
“That’s okay, it’s not my turn yet.”
I stroked the hilt of the knife gently. If I’d had any intention of killing them, I would have sliced them all to pieces as soon as I found the crypt. The two Akalusians listened to Illuan’s revelation in utter fascination. Sometimes it’s necessary to maximize the shock by showing the whole story without omissions.
“Hey.”
Instead of meddling in domestic matters, I approached Asel.
He was breathing heavily, drooping like a marionette with a broken thread. I poked my index finger into his cheek, and a voice slipped through his parched lips.
“Lo—an?”
“Well done, Asel. You fought well. You realized your countermagic much sooner than I expected.”
It was an unbelievable achievement. It was the least the archmage could do. A tear rolled down Asel’s cheek.
“Thank you–thank you so much–but I can’t move–oh, I think I’m going to die–blah.”
“Don’t worry, it’s a simple mana drain, you’re not going to die with all the work you have to do.”
I lifted a panting Asel onto my shoulder. He was too light, probably from not eating enough. She’s almost a girl, but she needs to put on some weight.
I was on my way back to the car with that thought in mind.
“That’s right. Ronan!”
“Ma’am, you’re in for a surprise.”
Suddenly, Asel squealed. If he hadn’t been a patient, he would have smacked his head.
“What’s wrong?”
“Hey, we can’t stay like this—there’s one more culprit. Uh, where did he go?! I’m sure they were together just now—!”
Asel gasped. He knew who he was talking about. The black sheep of this whole thing, the most guilty party. I glanced around and arched an eyebrow.
“Nope, nothing. I wonder if they’ve moved on to the next goal? After all, things have gone so wrong.”
“Da, what’s next?”
“Not here, dear Erzebeth. Killing your husband twice and losing your only daughter would make you a complete wreck. By the way, that’s one hell of a way to get rid of a creep—I don’t think Sister Adrian would recognize it.”
I was genuinely impressed. I didn’t even notice when it was gone.
It’s only because of Blackmac’s skillful handiwork that Acalusia has remained intact after years of thumping in the basement and two daughters.
Surprised by her nonchalant tone, Asel blurted out.
“Well, then we’re in trouble! We have to go save her!”
“It’s okay, man. I wouldn’t be here if you were in trouble. You’ve done more than your fair share, so just go back to sleep.”
“Ugh!”
I flicked Asel lightly on the nose. Its tiny head snapped back helplessly.
True to his word, he was not worried. Shadow’s prediction that Eri would be easy to kill would be wrong.
Because she was bothered by the spores of a star mushroom on the couch that kept her awake.
Suddenly, a chorus of screams erupted from the other side of the arena.
“Huh.”
“Jesus, Illuan!”
“What the hell—!”
I shifted my gaze, wanting to see something. I saw Illuan, free, and the two of them cowering, the various enchantments that had bound them all dissipating into smoke. Even Adrian’s icy chains, the only thing that remained, were melting on their way out from under his feet.
“As usual, Adrian. I’ve said too much without realizing it.”
The light in his eyes returned as if the hypnosis had been broken.
Iluan said.
“But I shouldn’t forget that countermagic was always my specialty.”
“You’re going to get ugly here!”
Adrian shouted. Illuan ignored her and waved his hand in the air. A ripple of mana spread out, and even the ice chains turned to smoke and vanished.
Adrian staggered at the shock of the mana backwash.
“Ugh!”
“Well, I guess I’ll just have to start from scratch. Do you remember what magic I tried and failed to create?”
“Now, wait. Stop!”
Adrian’s embarrassment flashed across his face as he stood up from the railing. The urgency in her expression was worse than when her husband’s identity was revealed.
“Don’t worry. I love my family, and nothing will happen to you and Eri.”
Illuan laughed. Suddenly, an indescribable roar rang out overhead. He had never heard such a sound before, like the roar of an ancient beast.
Suddenly, I looked up, noticing that the rain had stopped.
“Huh.”
And he laughed in vain. The dark clouds were gone, replaced by a blindingly blue sky, and in the center of it all, a massive boulder wrapped in flames was descending. Its scorching surface was disintegrating even now.
“Come to me—star.”
A cracked smile tugged at the corners of Iluan’s mouth. Apparently, what he was studying was magic that could pull stars from space and make them fall. The atmosphere around the meteorite seemed distorted by the heat.
I see why it failed, fuck.
“Illuan, stop!”
Adrian pleaded, but in vain. They froze like frogs facing a snake around a corner, all hope lost. It looked like they had less than a minute to go before the crash.
“Haa—fucking real.”
With a sigh, I tugged on the hilt of my sword.
“Okay. I’ve had enough.”
****
“——?”
The rain suddenly stopped, but the intruder didn’t care.
I pulled the doorknob slightly and the door opened. The hinges were silent, as if they had been marinated in oil. Deep in the darkened room, I saw a luxurious bed.
“Ko-o—.”
Upstairs, Erzebet de Acalucía, the young lady of Acalucía and the next head of the household, slept soundly. She was a light sleeper by nature, but today she would not be awakened by an elephant entering the room. The tea she had drunk last night had contained such herbs.
“——.”
The intruder pulled out a syringe. A golden liquid glistened inside the slender piston. It was a potion that would extend her sleeplessness to infinity.
The intruder was approaching the bed when he gently pressed the pump to check the syringe’s behavior.
“The bodily fluids of the poika toad. It’s a rare extreme poison used for euthanasia.”
“……!!”
“Are you going to inject me with that?”
Suddenly, Erzebet opened her eyes. The intruder was frozen in place, unable to react. The lights in the room came on. Erzebet sat up and faced the intruder.
“You have spores from the star mushroom on your hands, too. Why?”
“——YoungAe.”
“Huh? Liz. I’m asking you.”
A tear rolled down Erzebet’s cheek.
The intruder, Maid Liz, slowly dropped her syringed hand.