Chapter 72

I trembled.

"You've grown! Are you going to expose your true identity everywhere?"

"What, what should I do? Just watch Master of the Tower die?"

"Surely he wouldn't die, would he?"

"I don't know... How can you be sure...?"

"Ha, damn it."

Thud, Oscar sat down, running his hand through his hair.

"Come here."

I nodded obediently and stood in front of him.

Oscar brushed my bangs aside and examined my face.

"How long has it been?"

"About six months."

"It's not very noticeable. That's a relief."

"Yes. Besides, I need to grow up quickly to be seven, so it's fine."

He smiled and stroked my hair. Then, silver strands fell to the floor and disappeared.

My view, which had been slightly obscured by my bangs, cleared up as before.

"Wow... Thank you for cutting my hair..."

"Even if your body doesn't show, your hair is the most noticeable. If you grow it long, get it cut regularly. Don't use your power to cut it because it's troublesome. Carry scissors and cut it with them. Got it?"

"Yes, I will."

Oscar and I stared at each other silently.

I had many questions.

But I couldn't ask.

Because of what Oscar said just now, I realized something.

"This is a 'geas.'"

It means he knows my true identity and can't talk about it.

By mentioning 'geas,' he has already given me a hint.

Perhaps, due to that reflex, he just saw the edge of hell.

'I have to deduce the rest myself.'

Thinking this, I rolled up my sleeve and wiped the blood from Oscar's mouth that hadn't dried yet.

"What a pointless thing to do."

Oscar grumbled, grabbed my wrist, and used magic to clean the blood from his white undershirt.

"But why did you come?"

"Ah."

Oscar tilted his head back with a tired expression and sighed.

"The Emperor summoned me personally today. He said not to bring you to the Tower."

"Oh, I see..."

It wasn't particularly surprising.

Oscar probably thought that even the Emperor couldn't command him, the Master of the Tower, as he pleased...

'The Emperor's dream is to put the title of Conqueror before his name before he dies?'

For that, it would be more beneficial to control my father rather than maintain a harmonious relationship with the Tower for future generations.

'I knew he would choose my father over the Tower.'

So, it was as expected.

"But I already said I won't go to the Tower, right?"

"Hey, were you serious? You don't care if your father goes to war?"

Oscar's eyebrows twitched.

"Well, I don't care what your father does."

I looked at Oscar, who was grumbling.

He was worried about me.

Hiding my true identity even though he knew it all.

Trying to stop the Emperor from controlling my father by bringing me to the Tower.

"It's okay. Don't worry. I have my own plans."

"What plans?"

"..."

I didn't answer and just stared at Oscar. Oscar looked into my eyes for a while.

Then he smiled.

"Alright, whatever. You're not a fool, so you must have some plan. I believe you."

"Thank you."

"No, but, you're really funny. You seem to remember everything, but why me...?"

Oscar stopped talking.

"...Dad. Look, over there. A butterfly is flying."

"..."

It seemed he was trying to avoid breaking the geas by suddenly talking about butterflies.

"Damn it!"

Oscar ran his hand through his hair irritably and stood up.

"I don't want to spit blood again. I'm leaving."

"Master!"

Oscar turned around.

I pouted and said,

"I want to say something... But I'm afraid I might say something wrong and make Master spit blood again..."

"..."

"Instead, I'll think a lot on my own..."

I showed him my bracelet.

"Thank you very much. It's not childish at all and it's really beautiful."

Oscar smiled.

"Alright."

I waved my hand and watched him until his back disappeared.

* * *

Geas.

A word I remember from the original story.

Seeing Oscar spitting blood when he tried to say something he shouldn't...

It seems that just mentioning 'geas' itself is a violation.

'Really, what is it?'

I recalled Oscar from the original story.

Specifically, when Cheshire visited Oscar.

'When he was desperately trying to find a way to cure Theo.'

‘He laughed at the young boy’s determination to find a way to cure Theo Antresi.

"What can I do? No one can cure that disease. Only Primera can. And the Emperor won't cut his lifespan to save your brother."

"I know you've been researching forbidden magic for a long time."

"What, you crazy kid?"

Forbidden (不用) magic.

Magic that invades the realm of the gods, which ordinary mages are not allowed to use.

Only the Emperor, the god-like Primera in this world, is allowed to use it.

"You're insane. What do you need? Resurrection? Regression? Creation?"

"..."

"It's all useless. Even if you bring him back to life after he dies, his congenital disease will remain. Even if you turn back time, he will suffer the same pain again."

"..."

"And do you think you can just use forbidden magic? Then everyone would be gods?"

"..."

"It requires an enormous price, and if I use it, a geas will be placed on me. If I break it, I'll be dead. Why should I do such a thing?"

Oscar clicked his tongue and threw an old, worn-out ancient book in front of Cheshire.

"It's a book left by my ancestors who studied forbidden magic, as you said. There's a line about that disease, so look for it or not."

I frowned and pressed my head.

From the content of the original story, I can deduce three things:

1. Forbidden magic includes resurrection, regression, and creation.

2. Using forbidden magic requires an enormous price.

3. A geas is placed on the person who uses forbidden magic (if broken, they will die).

'And now Oscar has a geas. He must have used forbidden magic.'

Oscar knows my true identity.

So, did he perhaps see the end of the original story?

'Regression?'

While I was seriously pondering—

"Shouldn't we stop that?"

"Leave it, just... He's a commoner..."

"What if he dies?"

"What does that have to do with us?"

I heard a dangerous conversation and lifted my head.

[Combat Arts - Fisticuffs]

The Fisticuffs Club, which shares the outdoor practical training ground with us today.

I saw children engaged in 1-on-1 sparring, and among them, I found Bruce and Gem.

"Ha-ha!"

"Ugh...!"

Bruce was enthusiastically punching the air. A constant pressure wave burst from his gauntlet.

Gem, who couldn't use magic yet, was defenseless and only getting hit.

"Hey!!!"

I shouted and stood in front of Gem. Bruce flinched.

"Are you crazy?"

For a moment, I saw a look on Bruce's face that seemed to match my thoughts.

So,

'a look that says, "You again?"'

Swoosh!

A blue mana burst from Bruce's gauntlet like a fist.

"Dangerous, Lilith!"

At the same time, Gem pushed me away and took the hit instead. She rolled and flew about 2 meters.

"Gem! Are you okay?"

"Ah! I'm fine. Are you? Are you hurt?"

Despite her bruised face, Gem was more worried about me. Blood dripped from her nose.

"Ah."

Fuming, I ran to Bruce.

"Hey! What's your problem?"

"Uh, sorry. I was trying to hit him, but you suddenly got in the way."

Liar. Bruce clearly attacked after our eyes met.

He probably wanted to take the opportunity to hit me, who he found annoying.

"Are you trying to kill your friend?"

"Huh? Friend? Him?"

Bruce laughed.

"I'm not friends with him."

"Ah, right. Let me rephrase. Are you trying to kill someone?"

"Huh?"

Bruce laughed again.

"He's not even human."

"What?"

"How can a commoner be human?"

"..."

I was speechless at Bruce's confident statement.

As if to add another word to my stunned silence, Bruce approached me.

"Hey, I've been holding back until now, but I'm going to say it."

Bruce pointed to the children around us. They were all watching us.

"There are a lot of kids who hate you. You didn't know, did you?"

"..."

"Since you came, the white badge kids have been disobedient. They don't follow orders and rebel when told to do something."

"You hired commoner kids as servants? If not, the white badge kids don't have to listen to you."

"No, you're wrong."

Bruce shook his head.

"Commoners aren't human. They're like cattle, horses, or pigs raised at home. Just talking animals."

"What?"

Wow, this kid really had a fantastically bad upbringing.

"No. Commoners are human. You shouldn't think of them as cattle, horses, or pigs just because they have a low class and can't use magic."

I continued, looking at the children watching us.

"You too. Wake up. They look just like you and can talk. You shouldn't insult, hit, or treat them like slaves! Is that hard to understand?"

The children avoided my eyes and mumbled. They couldn't openly contradict me, but they all looked full of complaints.

Nobles. And mages.

These children, from the moment they were born, were taught about class.

My sudden words would only confuse them.

'Really, it's hopeless...'

If it's like the original story, it would take at least ten more years for the revolution.

Unless I immediately kill the Emperor and abolish the class system, there's nothing I can do right now.

Ironically, the only thing I can do is use the power of that class to threaten.

"Alright, you have to listen to me. Don't pick on the white badge kids. Don't hit them like this under the pretense of sparring. If I catch you again, I'll burn all your hair off! Got it?"

"..."

Bruce didn't answer, lowered his eyes, and clenched his teeth.

Then,

"Commoners are human... What an interesting statement."

Someone approached me and Bruce.

A large shadow loomed over us, and I looked up to see a man in a white uniform.

'Who is this?'

Lustrous blonde hair and blue eyes.

His lips curled up in a mocking smile.