47 – Dictatorship
“Cough… Cough….”
“I’m sorry. I’m not sure what the illness is.”
“Is there really… really no way?”
“I’m sorry. It’s impossible for me. It would likely be the same even if we brought in some healer from the empire.”
Ever since she returned from the academy that evening, Eriel suddenly took to her bed. The coughing was incessant, and her body emanated an intense heat.
“My daughter…”
“Eriel…”
“Cough… Why does this always happen to Eriel…”
When the resident healer of Frost Castle shook his head, declaring it impossible, Eriel’s room once again fell into a silence that lingered.
With an unknown illness that was neither a severe cold nor identifiable in origin, Eriel lay afflicted. The Frost family crumbled at the sight of their precious daughter, who had just returned alive, now suffering again.
“Cough… Cough… Venis.”
“Yes. I’m here, Miss Eriel.”
“Why… Why is this happening to me? My head is spinning…”
“Just… Just rest, Miss Eriel. You’ll definitely get better.”
I grasp her frail hand reaching out to me, transmitting warmth to Eriel. Her hand had become as cold as a block of ice.
‘Talent Perception.’
[Name: Eriel Frost / Age: 20 / Female / Status: Magical Corruption.]
[Unique Ability (Child of Mana): You possess a divine amount of mana. Your mana is infinite like the ocean, and powerful like flowing streams. All mana-related actions receive divine adjustments!]
[Unique Ability (Mana Eye): An eye that can see mana. You can see the trajectory of mana and use it more smoothly!]
[Unique Ability (Traits of a Great Sorcerer): You are born with the traits of a great sorcerer that will be remembered in history. Your understanding of mana is higher than anyone else’s, and you can use it as naturally as water!]
[Magical Erosion (???): You have been eroded by excessive dark magic. If the residual magic in the body is not removed, death will occur in 15 days, 9 hours, and 24 seconds. (75%)]
[The erosion of magic is accelerating. It worsens at an increasingly rapid pace.]
[You can absorb magic. Would you like to absorb? (Note: Absorbing the magic left in another’s body without harm will impose physical overload on the user.)]
For some reason, the magic remaining in Ariel’s body erodes her more rapidly.
Why… Why is this happening?
‘…I really absorbed as much magic as possible whenever we were together.’
Despite spending almost all the time together absorbing magic, only 25% has been absorbed so far.
Just how much magic was left in Ariel’s body, its limit still seems to have no end.
Now, Ariel and I have barely two weeks left. With the erosion accelerating, even that can’t be guaranteed.
“Everyone but Venice… *cough* leave, please. I want… to rest a bit.”
“…I’ll entrust her to you. Please take good care of my daughter.”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
“Thank you… Butler.”
At Ariel’s faint voice, the family members leave the room one by one with somber expressions. Soon, only Ariel and I remain in the room.
The only sounds disturbing the silence are her ragged breathing and the continuous coughs.
“Venice….”
“Yes, Miss Ariel.”
“Am I… going to die?”
Ariel seemed to have a rough idea of what was happening inside her body.
As she said, without any intervention, the beautiful flower that bloomed in the cold winter would wither away.
“No. Miss Ariel will not die.”
“But….”
“I won’t let that happen. So… please rest easy.”
“….Ha. I appreciate the sentiment, at least.”
It seemed that even that response from Ariel was made with the last of her strength, as she soon fell asleep.
“It’s not just words. No matter what, I’ll… try to save you.”
[You can absorb magic. Do you want to absorb it? (Note: Absorbing residual magic from someone else’s body without harm will cause physical overload to the user.)]
‘I’ll absorb it.’
Through our intertwined hands, the magic within Ariel’s body started flowing into me at a rapid pace. At the same time, something hot and unpleasant began to accumulate somewhere inside my body.
[Physical overload is being applied to the user.]
[Physical overload is being applied to the user.]
[Physical overload is being applied to the user.]
Quiet. I know that very well.
[Remaining magic: 72%.]
[Remaining magic: 70%.]
[Due to the erosion of Magi, remaining lifespan is decreasing. (Remaining lifespan: 70 years, 101 days, 8 hours.)]
As if urging me to stop right away, I clear away the flickering status window and absorb Ariel’s Magi.
As Ariel’s remaining Magi diminishes, my lifespan shortens rapidly.
“…..Cough.”
Unable to endure the foreign sensation in my throat, I spit it out. I try to cover my mouth with my hand, but my blood-energized hand stares back at me.
“The effect is killing me. To think my condition is improving so quickly.”
As Magi decreases, Ariel’s complexion returns visibly fast enough to be seen with the naked eye. At the same time, I feel my body deteriorating.
Still, it doesn’t matter. I’ve already decided to save Ariel.
“I absorb.”
From Noble mtl dot com
[User experiences physical overload.]
[User experiences physical overload.]
[User experiences physical overload.]
[Remaining Magi: 65%.]
[Remaining Magi: 64%.]
…Since I don’t know how much time is left with only these two remaining, I might as well absorb them quickly right now.
Beyond the firmly closed door, only the sound of a peacefully sleeping person’s breath and the strained coughs of pain quietly resonated. The sun set, and the moon rose, yet it continued.
***
“Mr. Venice. From now on, I will take care of Miss Ariel.”
“Ha ha… cough. Thank you. Then I’ll be off…”
“Yes. Go in and rest!”
It was late at night. A maid arrived to take care of Ariel in my place, and I left the room with a smile and a greeting.
It must have been Lord Frost who thoughtfully sent the maid.
As I headed to my room, I recalled the status window I had seen earlier.
[Remaining Mana: 49%.]
[Mana has dropped below half. Condition is improving!]
Indeed, it was also the time when I was alone with Ariel. Since Ariel was asleep, I didn’t need to be cautious of others and absorbed a lot of mana, didn’t I?
At this rate… in about 2 or 3 days, I might be able to absorb all the remaining mana inside Ariel’s body.
‘Thank goodness. I can absorb it faster than I thought.’
[Due to mana erosion, remaining lifespan decreases. (Remaining lifespan: 38 years, 73 days, 3 hours.)]
Eventually, my lifespan was halved because I absorbed mana without harming Ariel. But it doesn’t matter.
This was all my decision. My choice.
As usual, I stood by the window frame, dressed in a black robe and a crow mask.
“There are things to be done.”
Even if Ariel falls, the dark wizards won’t show mercy. They would rather take advantage of it and become more rampant.
I alone am enough for those scoundrels. No, without anyone watching, I can even be more unrestrained.
“Let’s go. This is my duty.”
In the dead of night, when everyone is asleep, a crow, silent in its flight, unfurls its wings, casting no shadow.
***
Riding in a carriage with Eriel, I remember all the traces of black magic I faintly sense amidst the rapidly passing scenery.
Perhaps because my proficiency and level in black magic have increased, I could detect them even from a great distance.
Thus, I arrived at a very small village right next to the Frost territory.
Sure enough, as soon as I entered the village, the remnants of black magic were clearly visible, as if guiding me.
“….The scent of blood.”
Then, alongside the dense black magic, the piercing smell of blood permeates the small village.
…Damn. Is it already too late?
Noticing that the wellspring of black magic and the blood scent is strongest near a distant well, I quickly rush towards it.
A small well in the center of the small village. No villagers in sight, only a stronger scent of blood and black magic.
The source of the smell is… below this well.
‘Concealment.’
It might already be too late, but I quickly hide myself and descend the ladder installed inside the well.
“aaah….! Anyone, please… save me…!”
“Hey, keep it down. You’re disturbing my meal…!”
Reaching the bottom of the dried-up well, what is revealed is a small cave. Inside, a black mage approaches a bound villager.
Glancing back, I see several villagers trapped in cages, unconscious. But their chests rise and fall, indicating they’re still alive.
‘Dark Spear.’
Blood-! Splatter, splatter.
“Cough…c-curse…!”
Immediately releasing the concealment, I thrust the Dark Sphere into the back of the dark sorcerer. Even bleeding to the point of death like a common human facing a repulsive bug, they stand defiantly, glaring at me.
“You…you bastard-!”
“Please, keep it down. Insects like you.”
‘Shadow Lance.’
Whoosh-!
Numerous black spears emerge from the shadow of the dark sorcerer, piercing through the entirety of their form.
This time, it seems to have pierced even the heart, and without making a sound, the wretched creature meets its demise.
“You…what are you? A traitor-!”
“Daring to be the same sorcerer…!”
It appears there’s not just one dark sorcerer. Multiple dark sorcerers emerge from the darkness of the cave.
Witnessing their fallen comrades, all succumbed to the same dark magic, their futile attempts are truly amusing.
“Die-“
Dark Spheres assail me. For ordinary folks, or even sorcerers of some caliber, it’s an attack that must be avoided.
Dark magic can only be countered with the same dark magic.
Crack-!
“Huh…what? Why is dark magic…cough!”
Even the dark sorcerer who pathetically watched their own magic shatter couldn’t evade the black spear that emerged from the shadows.
“You…at this level, you should be a priest…no, even a high priest, but why…! Cough..”
“Please be quiet. I’m not some insect like you all.”
Priest, head priest. I reversed black magic and crushed all the crawling bugs.
[You can absorb vitality. Will you absorb it?]
(If absorbed: Increase in total amount of black magic. Increase in lifespan. Increase in black magic proficiency.)
(If not absorbed: Nothing happens.)
At some point, after killing those damn black magicians, a status window asking if I wanted to absorb vitality appeared.
Total amount of black magic, lifespan, proficiency… It’s truly absurd.
…Because of this, those insect bastards kill people and absorb their vitality. Damn bastards.
“Get lost.”
If I absorb vitality, I wouldn’t be any different from those vultures.
I dismiss the status window and approach the resident who is sitting dumbfounded, looking at me.
“P-please… just spare my life… *sob*… I have a family to feed… please…”
“……..”
“….Huh?”
Without a word, I untie the rope binding his limbs and break the lock on the iron bars, opening the firmly shut door.
“Please help me. We need to send the people up the well.”
“Y-yes! Thank you… Thank you so much…!”
The resident sheds tears and carries unconscious residents on his shoulders, bringing them up the well one by one.
After repeating this several times, we were able to rescue all the residents. They weren’t in the best condition, but fortunately, there were no casualties.
“Contact Frost Fortress and inform them that a black magician has appeared. They will send reinforcements as the next step. That’s all for now.”
“Yes… Yes? Even just a name…”
Once I confirmed that everyone was safe, I left the village without hesitation.
‘The next village is… this way, I think.’
“…Cough.”
Wiping the blood hastily, I continued without a pause towards the next village. The sun was still far from rising, and the creatures still lurked in the shadows.
that MC Just a fool and a fool. Does he consider himself a saint, for example?
Mc is probably just fighting for his ideal