Chapter 55: Poison Must Be Subdued with Poison (2)
Evil Spirits.
Among the many races under MAGA, they were the most underestimated.
They boasted an ancient tradition, with records of servitude existing even before the age when the existence of Beasts was uncertain. Yet now, having fallen behind in the competition with Beasts, they had beco a forgotten force rarely ntioned anymore.
They were the origin of dark magic, most notably curses. In the past, one could only use curse magic through a contract with them.
Even back in those days, when their purpose was clear, they were shunned for being a hostile existence.
As humanity beca proficient in magic, even that purpose vanished, and their current status was no different from that of an obsolete relic. They had fallen so low that few would even consider them for research purposes.
For these reasons, they had beco a race whose very na was unfamiliar to the current citizens of the Ribenia Empire.
…But I knew.
The hidden way to make use of Evil Spirits.
“…As you said, in matters regarding Evil Spirits, Mallet holds the highest authority within Duel.”
Neither riel nor Rubia could hide their puzzlent, clearly not expecting this topic to co up.
“Why suddenly bring up that inferior race? What does that have to do with the Academic Conference…?”
“If one is well-versed in Evil Spirits, then naturally, they’re also well-versed in curses.”
“So, what are you trying to say…?”
“The incurable curse. You know what that is, don’t you?”
Before getting to the main point, I decided to bring up a story from my past.
I pried open the door to those tightly sealed mories.
Just as Rubia had once faced my past with , now it was my turn to confront my own.
Because unless I faced it head-on, I could never overco it.
“Talent beyond asure breeds arrogance—and as everyone knows, the result of that arrogance is ruin.”
“……”
“The permanent loss of my Mana Heart. Faced with the judgnt of irreversible damage, my body and mind both fell apart. I thought only misery awaited at the end.”
“Eugene…”
If I hadn’t possessed Eugene Carter, would he have been able to rise again as he did now?
If he could have, what drove him to make that choice?
As I pondered that, I continued speaking.
“I’ve got nothing left to lose. And because I have nothing to lose, I have nothing to fear. And when fear is gone… I can try anything.”
“And by that, you an?”
“For instance… ah, yes.”
Finally, I arrived at the point.
“I could even make an Evil Spirit serve .”
At Eugene’s final words, riel was left montarily speechless.
‘…Did I just mishear that?’
No. He had clearly said he could make an Evil Spirit serve him.
As she replayed his words in her mind, the absurdity of it made her sigh.
“…Do you even understand what that ans?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then why would you do sothing like that? You’d have to be insane…!”
“Do I look insane to you?”
“That’s…”
“Then let ask you. Does modern dicine or purification magic have any ans of curing an incurable curse?”
“……”
“There isn’t a single lifeform more knowledgeable about curses than Evil Spirits. I rely intend to make use of that wisdom.”
It might have sounded sowhat reasonable on the surface, but to riel, it was still complete madness.
“…That’s far too reckless. There’s only one Evil Spirit in all of Mallet that could handle a level-one curse…”
“So, there is one?”
Kwaaaang!
“Clina White isn’t a being that an individual can subjugate! Not even Lord Aleph could control her, so she’s been sealed away for over thirty years!”
“Well, we’ll see about that.”
“Rubia! Say sothing! Maybe he’ll listen to you!”
Despite riel’s desperate attempt to stop him, both of them remained utterly calm.
In fact, Rubia even touched her lips thoughtfully and nodded.
“…No, riel. Perhaps it really is possible. If we combine Eugene’s abilities with ours, then surely…”
“Sigh…”
Feeling lightheaded, riel pressed her fingers hard against her temples and sighed.
Even if it was soone she held affection for, she hadn’t thought her rationality would crumble this much.
‘…Well, fine.’
If she opposed it firmly to the end, she could at least prevent a disaster.
But still, why did it leave such a bitter taste in her mouth?
As she looked at the two, their confident expressions gave her a sense of unease.
Then suddenly, Eugene’s earlier words flashed through her mind.
“I’ve got an excellent research subject we could use for the Duel Academic Conference. What do you think?”
Even now, it still sounded utterly insane.
He was basically suggesting that the main topic of Mallet’s presentation be an Evil Spirit contract.
‘Does he think it’ll be easy just because they’re a declining race?’
Soone who knew nothing about Evil Spirits might think that way.
But absolutely not.
Even contracting with low-ranked Evil Spirits was an extrely difficult task.
Like Beasts, Evil Spirits were one of humanity’s natural enemies.
Their instinctive aversion to humans was ingrained in their very nature—how could anyone possibly ta that so easily?
There wasn’t a single recorded instance of an individual successfully subjugating a high-ranked Evil Spirit, and if soone managed to ta Clina White, one of the highest-ranking of all…
‘…If he succeeds, it’ll be the achievent of the century.’
Since Mallet held the highest authority in this field, it wouldn’t even damage their credibility. And if a human managed to ta one of the apex malignant entities, it would be both symbolically and academically monuntal.
Most proposals from the Academic Conference had little practical value, but this one—this one had the potential to be perfect in both theory and utility.
If the process leading to the result were recorded well, it could even form the basis for an entire new thodology.
‘Well, you can’t make mad progress without being a little mad yourself. Besides…’
Thinking rationally, that man’s proposal wasn’t even disadvantageous to Mallet.
Even if Clina White went berserk, it wouldn’t be a major issue.
Subduing and sealing Evil Spirits was Mallet’s specialty—and the data they’d gather during the process would beco invaluable research material.
‘…That cunning bastard.’
He’d acted as if he knew nothing, but clearly, he’d done thorough research beforehand.
From the very beginning, he’d approached them knowing full well they couldn’t easily refuse.
Using Rubia’s treatnt as justification, he’d said that as long as she regained consciousness, that alone would be enough for him.
The urge to wipe that calm, composed expression off his face flickered through her mind, but riel shook her head inwardly.
Now wasn’t the ti for personal feelings.
What mattered most was that Mallet gain a renewed reputation through this Academic Conference.
For my master, for every disciple in this place… and above all, for my future—now was the ti to cooperate, if only for a while.
She looked back and forth between the two of us, then nodded with determined eyes.
And just as she was about to rise again and head toward the Master of the Magic Tower—
“Lady riel!”
Two youthful voices suddenly echoed through the room.
Two young boys burst in without so much as a knock, imdiately pouring out their story before we could even react.
The deadline for submitting the presentation proposal was almost up—how could she still not attend the eting? Saying she’d visit later wasn’t enough! The Tower Master was furious! She had to co right away to calm him down! And so on.
riel sighed, saying it was good timing since she was planning to go there anyway, and hurried off with the two boys.
Rubia and I followed a few steps behind.
All the way there, Rubia kept glancing at with a worried look.
I asked her quietly enough that the ones ahead couldn’t hear.
“Are you all right?”
“…Ah, ?”
“You don’t look well.”
“Ah…”
“You’ve only just woken up—not even a full day has passed. If it’s too much, then—”
“I’m fine. More importantly… Eugene, are you really all right?”
I took a mont to infer what she ant, then pretended not to know and asked back,
“What do you an by that?”
Rubia hesitated for a long while, then shook her head.
“…No, nothing.”
Even after that, she seed as if she wanted to say sothing, her lips moving faintly, but she closed her mouth and kept silent.
“……”
Eugene, Rubia, riel, Gustav—there was clearly sothing among these four.
Judging by how she chose silence at the last mont, it must have been sothing she decided not to bring up anymore.
‘…Well, I’ll find out soon enough.’
We stopped in front of the room right below the top floor of the Magic Tower—the office of the Tower Master.
riel turned to and Rubia with a firm reminder.
“Please, once we’re inside, don’t act rashly. Just stay still. I’ll explain everything in detail myself. Understood?”
She looked at both of us, but it was clearly ant for .
“…Eugene.”
“Yeah.”
I t Rubia’s gaze and nodded.
“Then, let’s go in.”
The mont riel opened the door—
“Wow~ this place is really extravagant!”
“E-excuse us!”
Rubia and I stepped in at the sa ti with a thud.
“W-wait…!”
Ignoring the three who tried to stop us, I strode forward boldly until I reached the horseshoe-shaped table at the center.
The man seated in the middle glared at the two of us with a face full of irritation.
A deeply furrowed brow, twitching lips, and docunts scattered everywhere.
The mont I saw that middle-aged man’s unpleasant, mustached face, a jolt of electricity ran through my mind.
In that brief instant, countless scenes flashed through my head like a panorama.
My mories—events that had undoubtedly happened in the past.
“Isn’t this strange? You want to monopolize the technology, but still receive funding. You refuse to share the research, yet demand manpower and resources. You call it a ‘Technology Exchange Conference,’ but in truth, you just want to extort Karbenna.”
“Watch your tongue! Do you have any idea what kind of place this is?!”
“What kind of place? It’s just a common debate table. What, are you that ashad to admit your faults?”
.
.
.
“That damned Carter brat! How dare he insult ?!”
“I’ll go teach him a lesson myself! How dare he be rude to the future Tower Master!”
“No. You wouldn’t be able to handle him.”
“W-what did you say?!”
“There’s no need for us to dirty our own hands.”
“What do you an, Agent riel?”
“Send him to the Forest of Delusion, Lord Gustav. If we want to punish that arrogant boy, sothing like that should suffice, don’t you think?”
.
.
.
“Permanent expulsion?”
“Yes. Despite our repeated warnings, he went there of his own accord and complicated the situation further.”
“So say it was due to a misdirection in guidance, that it wasn’t his fault.”
“No. The boy admitted it himself—he went there by choice.”
“Hmmm…”
“Now that the Technology Exchange Conference is over, there’s no reason to keep such a troublemaker around.”
“…You seem to hold quite a grudge against that boy, Gustav.”
“This is not personal, Lord Aleph. I rely offer counsel in accordance with reason.”
“Counsel, is it…”
“……”
“…Well, I see no reason to reject your earnest request. So be it.”
“Thank you, Lord Aleph.”
After the scenes ended, a dull pain followed—similar to the aftereffects of using the Episode Gazer.
I quietly steadied my breath so that no one would notice.
‘…I suspected as much, but to think he’d stoop that low.’
With soone like this sitting as Tower Master, it was no wonder the Magic Tower’s reputation had been declining.
Gustav scratched his mustache and glared at coldly.
“You barge in here unannounced and now stay silent… What’s your ga, Eugene Carter?”
eting his eyes without a single blink, I answered in a calm, icy tone.
“I ca to help you, Master Gustav.”
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