C79 - 80
Chapter 79: Luna Rainriver (2)
“When I was about three years old, my grandfather said something like this to me.”
Asking for the reason, she suddenly began an old story.
“As you were born into the Rainriver lineage, you must live for the advancement of the Garam Magic Society. That’s your purpose, your duty, Luna. You cannot refuse it. I still vividly remember these words, even though I was only three years old.”
It wouldn’t be unreasonable.
It must have been a bone-chilling statement even for her young brain, leaving an indelible mark.
There’s no room for defense.
It’s only natural that, as a noble family member, one prioritizes the family’s ideology over individual interests.
I’m no exception.
“I received early education from that point on. My grandfather didn’t restrict my learning when it came to magical texts provided by the society or research materials from the Imperial Society, rather than the Kingdom.”
“You didn’t even have mana at that age, did you?”
It was like making a toddler run before they could walk.
“That’s why it was early education. Whether it helped me or not, my grandfather insisted I learn everything. By the time I turned ten and mana began to manifest significantly, I underwent a proper elemental examination. Senior, do you happen to know what my magical attribute is?”
“I don’t.”
That’s a lie.
I might not have heard about her attribute in this life, but I knew it very well.
“Fire, water, wind, light, darkness. I have a composite attribute evenly distributed among the five elements at 20% each. It’s a balanced composite attribute that doesn’t lean toward any single element.”
As I mentioned before, it’s rare but not particularly desirable.
While it allows for a wide range of magic, it’s difficult to advance to higher grades due to clear limits on numerical values.
It’s an ambiguous attribute that can only decline to a mediocre level.
I asked without revealing my knowledge.
“What did your grandfather say about that?”
“He was pleased.”
It was somewhat unexpected.
“Pleased?”
“Yes. He seemed pleased to a degree I hadn’t seen before.”
There was a faint trace of bitterness in her words.
“He said, ‘If you pursue it, you’ll become an unparalleled existence in this world. Once you, the possessor of a superior multi-element attribute that no one else has mastered, reach the peak of magic, you’ll be able to fulfill the wishes of our Rainriver family. His words remain unchanged even now.”
Theoretically, it’s not impossible.
If we liken the five different attributes within her to “vessels” existing within her, and if each of those vessels is significantly larger than the single vessel others possess, then it might be possible.
That is, if her 20% darkness attribute is higher than my over 90% darkness attribute, and the other attributes are also superior, what’s the problem?
She would undoubtedly reach the pinnacle of magic if her abilities far exceeded those of others.
Of course, it’s theoretically possible, but practically impossible.
Given the limitations of the human body, there are clearly limits to raising the vessels.
No matter how much magic is poured into an unstable vessel, it will eventually overflow without containing it, and this isn’t something that can be solved within the limits of human effort.
President Regens and Luna herself would probably know that.
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“I don’t know. Based on what I know, I thought there must be limits, but it seems my grandfather didn’t think so.”
I almost chuckled inwardly.
There are things you can and cannot do, even if you’re obstinate.
Unless he lost his mind, does that old chairman really think it’s possible?
It’s impossible without fundamentally modifying the human body…
Wait a moment.
Lost in the practical possibilities, I momentarily forgot which group this girl belonged to.
The Garam Kingdom’s Magic Society.
Considering the insane things they did in their past lives, using their granddaughter as an experimental subject is not unreasonable at all…
“Could you lend me your hand for a moment, Senior?”
“My hand?”
Without thinking, I extended one hand.
Luna grabbed my hand gently, and for a moment, a faint light of mana manifested from her hand.
“You have a Darkness attribute of 93% with a magical grade of 5 stars. Not only Darkness but you can proficiently wield magic from other attributes as well.”
“What did you just do?”
“I manifested my mana to confirm your physical grade, Senior.”
“Is that possible?”
“It’s a result of experiments. Since that day, my body has become a subject of research for the society and has been subjected to various experiments. I gained new abilities each time.”
The expectation fit perfectly.
“The ‘Scan ability’ I just showed you is one of them. I scanned your body from the moment I embraced you last time, and I relayed all that information to Grandfather.”
Fortunately, it seems she didn’t fully detect my mana.
Though it seems similar to a regular attribute check, it’s something that can’t be ignored.
As time passes and her mana grows, the range of mana she can detect will inevitably expand.
But that’s not the issue now.
New abilities from experiments?
Nothing special.
Even if she reaches the 6th rank, scanning the physical grade of someone lower is nothing.
I’m certain the experiment has given this girl more than just enhanced physical abilities.
There’s something ominous lurking within her.
“The more experiments I undergo, the less I can adapt to my body. I seem to gain something, but it’s injected into me forcibly without my consent.”
“Is there something wrong with your body?”
Luna answered with a faint smile.
“I can’t exactly say everything’s fine. In fact, it’s quite bad. I didn’t show it to Grandfather, but I probably won’t live long. Maybe around three years? It could be longer or shorter.”
“On what basis?”
“I know my body best. My body can’t handle the influx of mana from the experiments and is gradually deteriorating. I think I can hold out for about that long, considering the time it takes to break down.”
——————
——————
A chill ran down my spine, and cold sweat dripped from my back.
This is like a prophecy from the gods.
Her prediction was accurate.
Exactly three years later, the granddaughter of the head of the Rainriver family collapsed one day.
“Is it okay to tell Senior about this?” she asked.
“It’s nothing special. I just told you because it’s useless to me. It’s the duty of the Rainriver family? What does it matter to me, who doesn’t have much time left? It’s better to tell Senior and gain trust.”
Despite presenting her reasons, it sounded like a cry of despair to me.
Yet she maintained a chilling calmness.
“Why do I want to gain Senior’s trust? I’m not sure myself. I’ve been drawn to you since I first saw you. Could it be a sense of camaraderie? I felt like you were very similar to me.”
“Similar?”
“Yes. Senior, do you happen to like your household?”
That was a statement I couldn’t even lie about.
“No.”
“Then, it seems I’m similar to you. I also dislike my household very much. The only difference is that you’re making efforts to get out of it, right?”
“…That’s one way to put it.”
“Then I’m different. I can’t even entertain such thoughts.”
Similar yet different.
Listening to those words, I suddenly felt a tightness in my chest.
So what now?
What am I supposed to do about it?
I’m not a savior.
I’m too busy taking care of myself and those around me to care for the life of a poor girl who foresees her own death.
This means that I am not a divine being who will take care of the life of a poor girl who is predicting death.
Just listening to this conversation is the best mercy and redemption I can offer.
I said with a dry expression,
“It’s good to live life on your own terms. But you’ve got the wrong direction. At least, I’m not as good a person as you think I am to be drawn to.”
“But you’re not a bad person either, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have saved me like that.”
“I did what needed to be done. There were no other feelings involved.”
That, too, wasn’t for her sake but for mine.
I got up subtly from my seat.
“Where are you going?”
“The restroom. I won’t take long, so wait here.”
Of course, that was a lie.
When I returned, she probably wouldn’t be there anymore.
“Take your time, Senior.”
As if taking my words literally to wait,
She sat there, hands neatly folded, like a statue.
* * *
While Cyan was momentarily absent, Luna pondered.
Had she burdened him with unnecessary words?
Initially, she hadn’t felt this way, but as the conversation unfolded, she found herself divulging all her secrets.
She knew.
She was deeply attached to Cyan.
However, the reason eluded her.
She had explained it as a sense of camaraderie, but her feelings toward Cyan went beyond that.
She wanted to rely on him, to lean on him, and this desire had subtly emerged since their first meeting.
But was he just another person?
Cyan drew a clear line, denying any deeper connection, leaving Luna feeling disappointed.
“…”
In front of her, a group of strangers clad in blue robes appeared, encircling her as if to prevent her from going elsewhere.
There was no need for explanation; Luna knew they were sent by the society to retrieve her.
“Luna, it’s time to return.”
“Can’t I stay a bit longer? An hour should be enough, not two.”
“The Society Head is extremely angry due to your unauthorized absence. Returning promptly is in your best interest.”
Unmoved by her defiance, Luna sighed as rose from her seat.
Sensing something amiss, she looked around and remarked,
“But where do you belong? You look different from the usual surveillance team.”
Luna had lived under constant surveillance since birth.
Despite the society periodically rotating surveillance personnel, numbering in the hundreds, Luna usually remembered faces she had encountered before.
Yet, these five individuals surrounding her were unfamiliar.
“…”
Despite her inquiry, they remained silent. Luna’s curiosity quickly turned to suspicion, and in response, the man in front reached out toward her face.
“Sweet Sleep.”
A white powder emanated from his hand, entering Luna’s nostrils and mouth.
Shortly after, Luna fell into a deep slumber, cradled by the mages who, unnoticed by anyone, swiftly departed the scene.
——————
Chapter 80: Luna Rainriver (3)
Exactly 3 minutes.
It could have been faster or slower.
When I returned from the restroom, the only thing that greeted me was a hollow warmth.
She must have left.
I was aware from the moment she precisely described her physical condition.
It was the unpleasant odor of the underlings of the Garam Society.
Well, I hadn’t entertained the thought that she had received permission to go out.
Unauthorized absence was remarkable enough, but if Luna, that delicate girl, had crossed borders alone to come here, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.
If Luna’s words were true, then there was no need to confront the lackeys of the society who were keeping an eye on me.
They probably just wanted to take their granddaughter back home as soon as possible.
[Seems like our master isn’t in a good mood, huh? Sporting a face as rare as a bug chewing dung?]
Kaeram was mocking me to the fullest.
Honestly, I can’t deny it.
“It’s not exactly pleasant.”
To be more honest, it’s downright filthy.
If making me boil with indignation was her main purpose, I’d like to give her my compliments.
My feelings boiled as much as they could possibly get.
Feeling sympathy for her remaining life?
Don’t be delusional.
In the first place, human lives aren’t that sturdy.
They’re barely tougher than flies.
If I, who has witnessed countless deaths and driven many to their demise, felt sympathy for something like that, I would confidently say that I’ve lived my life poorly.
Let me make it clear: I’m not a savior.
Then why do I feel so dirty?
I don’t know.
Honestly, I don’t know how I feel right now.
What’s certain is that this disgust I’m feeling stems from a kind of discomfort, like the unease of not doing something you could do, a kind of filthy feeling.
It’s pointless to dwell on it further.
I turned away with a brief gust of air.
[Just leaving?]
“Of course. There’s no reason for me to stick around if they’re here to take back their runaway granddaughter. Getting involved will just give me a headache.”
[Hmm. Really…?]
She, who would usually provoke me with the same old words, showed a somewhat different reaction today.
It seemed like she was acknowledging something, yet at the same time, she appeared to have something to say.
That made me even more suspicious.
“What do you want to say?”
I asked bluntly.
[Well, nothing. Just about those people who came to pick up the kid. Did you happen to hear anything they were gossiping about among themselves?]
“What, gossip? They probably just said they should hurry up and take him away before they get into more trouble.”
The longer they wait, the more their lives would be at risk.
[Didn’t hear anything?]
Her ominous laughter made me turn back again.
[Did they telepathize? They were openly chatting as if the kid shouldn’t hear. Did you catch any of it?]
I couldn’t laugh at a familiar scenario.
“Telepathize?”
It’s not a simple magic.
It requires considerable computational power to convey thoughts through magic.
Even though it’s widely used by the members of the Mist, it wasn’t the case now.
Why?
Was there something she shouldn’t have heard?
They could have just said, “Let’s take her back before we get into more trouble.”
They could have even cursed, “We’re suffering because of you.”
Even though I have sharp hearing, I couldn’t have heard their thoughts through telepathy.
The fact that Kaeram said this to me…
It means she heard something interesting, but certainly not for me.
“……”
Suddenly, my gaze turned towards the chair where she had been sitting.
I could faintly feel it—the lingering traces of mana scattered by someone, still not completely dissipated.
I quickly placed my hand over it.
“Sweet Sleep…”
As I saw the faint white powder on my hand, I became certain.
It was the remnants of a 5th-grade mental sleep magic.
They had put Luna to sleep.
But was it necessary?
Did they really need to take her away, sound asleep, from a yard where there was no sign of resistance?
Unnecessary actions always invite suspicion.
My gaze turned back to Kaeram.
“What did they say?”
Kaeram leaned in as if she had expected it and whispered into my ear.
[I’ll tell you everything they said. Open your ears and listen carefully~]
A moment later, her ominous whisper echoed in my ear like a dark aria.
As her whisper continued, my expression gradually decayed, unbeknownst to me.
* * *
The outskirts of Luwen, somewhere along the border between the Ushif Empire and the Garam Kingdom.
Not a noble’s luxurious carriage, but a modest cart suitable for the upper class, traversed the untamed wilderness where the grass seemed to stretch endlessly.
At the forefront, two men steered the cart, while three others, each from different directions, guarded the cart as if setting up a camp.
The commonality among them was the blue robes they all wore, hiding a sense of urgency in their stern faces.
Eventually, the leader at the front raised his hand, signaling a halt.
What appeared before them was a border post of the Garam Kingdom.
——————
——————
They quickly pulled the cart back a bit to avoid catching anyone’s attention.
– Hush, hush.
They all began to remove their robes and change into shabby merchant clothes, a disguise to conceal their identities.
They even carried forged merchant registration documents of different nationalities.
Trudging along, they heard an unfamiliar sound, causing everyone to turn their heads hastily.
“…..!”
A presence emanating a somber magic stared at them, draped in a gray robe, also seemingly concealing their identity.
The leader of the cart slowly approached him.
As others watched, tense with anticipation, they dared not to approach.
“She’s inside?”
Judging by the voice, it seemed to be a woman.
“She is inside. She’s been put to sleep with a sleep spell, but it seems the magic is not as effective as we thought. It should last for over a day, at least.”
“Can I verify it?”
“Of course.”
The man in the gray robe escorted the woman to the front of the cart.
She climbed aboard, crossing over piles of clutter to find something hidden deep inside.
There, she found a frail girl, bound and gagged, tucked away.
As the girl’s identity was confirmed, the woman smiled faintly.
“You managed to bring her here.”
“In truth, it was like finding a needle in a haystack.”
“Indeed. Who would have thought the brat, destined to rot within the society’s walls, would escape on her own? And to think, to the academy of all places…”
The woman took out a letter from her pocket and showed it.
“By now, the real observers sent by the society should have arrived. Leave before news spreads to the border post.”
“Yes, understood!”
The man bowed, receiving the letter.
As the woman turned away, she glanced back at the girl once more, speaking as if she was asleep but listening.
“Don’t resent too much. Rather than a lifetime of suffering for a futile experiment, isn’t it better to act meaningfully once and die? This is actually for your own good.”
Though the words sounded convincing, there was no hint of such sentiment in her expression or tone.
Just a means to an end had arrived.
The girl inside the carriage was nothing more than a presence devoid of any emotion to them.
The woman turned around abruptly.
“Well, then, I’ll just be on my way…!”
– Whoosh!
The sound of a sword piercing flesh accompanied the sudden distortion of the woman’s face.
“Ugh…!”
Even as her gaze briefly fell on the droplets of blood trickling onto the ground, she slowly raised her head to see someone’s jet-black robe fluttering in the wind.
“……!”
Between the deeply buried sword and the faint crimson aura seeping out, before anyone could fully comprehend, the wielder of the sword mercilessly withdrew his arm with swift motion.
– Thud.
A cascade of blood gushed forth like a waterfall.
The woman groaned and slumped forward, then immediately ceased to breathe.
Those watching were all stunned.
“Li… Lightning…!”
– Swish.
The man who had received the letter shouted the spell in haste.
But the incantation was never completed.
Instead, it was interrupted by agonizing screams.
“Argh…!”
The scream didn’t last long either.
As one hand, in the midst of manifesting mana, was ruthlessly severed, and before the scream could fully erupt from his mouth, a cruel sword flew towards him, slicing his throat in an instant, sending his head flying towards the carriage.
– Thud.
They say when people are too shocked, their senses freeze, rendering them unable to move.
That’s exactly the state they were in now.
Their eyes, however, were fixated sharply on the unfamiliar figure before them.
A petite figure reminiscent of a boy.
But beneath the simple black mask, the lively eyes sent shivers down the spines of those who beheld them.
Two thoughts crossed the minds of the men facing him.
‘Why did this happen?’
Or
‘We need to run.’
The latter would be deemed a slightly quicker judgment of the situation.
If they had realized that the purpose of that masked figure was the carriage, they might have had time to quickly incinerate the carriage with magic and flee.
Of course, that doesn’t mean risking one’s life.
It just means extending the time to live by a few tens of seconds; either way, losing a limb would be the same fate.
But only one of the remaining four had such thoughts.
The rest harbored doubts about the situation while simultaneously considering the need to deal with the figure before them.
However, those thoughts did not translate into action.
Just as they were trying to relax their tense nerves to gather mana,
– Swish.
That sound marked only the beginning.
– Swish, swish, swish.
The relentless sound of brutal slaughter echoed incessantly.
When their ears recognized that sound, they did not entertain any thoughts of survival.
If it’s not just the sound of a body part being severed but rather a sound that slowly crushes the human flesh, even to the last handful of soul, then the one who perceives that sound will cease to exist as a human in a moment…
It was said to be akin to the dance of death performed by a reaper.
– Whiiiing.
In the harsh wilderness wind, a stench mingled with the scent of blood wafted through the air.
——————