Chapter 98

While drinking the tea that Petal had made, I, Eliza, Grandpa Moran, and Petal sat at the table. We shared information, clarified what had happened in the past, the current situation, and what we needed to do next.

"In other words, it all depends on Kururi, doesn't it?"

"There's no other way to think about it. As the legend goes, and as Harp said, it seems that only someone with Heran's blood can accomplish this."

"Indeed, it must be Lady Kururi. I am moved."

Somehow... I thought it would be a discussion about working together, but it feels like the burden is all on me? I feel so alone!

"Well, we'll be off. Petal, Eliza, shall we play a board game?"

"Absolutely! I won't lose!"

"There's no choice. I'll show you the difference in class."

...The burden is all on me!?

"Alright, let's stop joking. Regarding Kururi's training, I'll support you, but it will take at least a month."

"Petal will help too! I won't let my years of research be underestimated! I'll finish it in three weeks."

"Hehehe, you've forgotten about me. The reason our family has produced so many excellent talents over the generations is because of this secret. Yes, two weeks, let's finish it in two weeks."

...Everyone!!

"Two weeks!? Hmm, that's impressive. If it's two weeks, this land can hold out until the end. ...Then, perhaps we should play a board game."

"Absolutely, I won't lose!"

"I'll show you the difference in class."

...Forget it, I'll train alone.

"Magic Book, Volume 5"

Leaving the room and sitting under a tree outside, I looked at the book again. Knowing it was a book with a long history, I felt its weight. It wasn't just physical weight, but the weight of the feelings of many people.

I had already read the beginning.

The content of this Magic Book, Volume 5, explained why it was kept so securely. Volumes 1 to 4 were originally intended to help mages with the property of a vortex develop their talents. However, the process Heran created was not limited to that; it was also a universally useful magic.

Therefore, over a long history, it was read by many who did not have the vortex property. That's why these four volumes were widely available and could be easily found by people like Grandpa Moran when they were young.

The problem was Volume 5. This volume contained content necessary only for those who had completed the process and possessed the vortex property. It was all to overcome the curse.

However, over a long history, this book, needed by only a very limited number of people, was forgotten as people forgot about the curse. It would have never returned to the forefront of history without people like Harp, Petal, and Grandpa Moran. But, it seemed that this book was now clearly asserting its presence, as if it were fate.

For those who have completed the first four volumes, the vortex activity has already begun.

There was such a sentence as I read on. It was something I had experienced many times recently. Consuming magic stones filled with a large amount of magic power and absorbing others' magic power, followed by awakening. It seemed that everything had started long ago.

Then, I read through the rest of the content.

At one point, when my concentration wavered, I noticed how unusually quiet it was. There was no sound coming from Petal's house.

...Maybe they took this time to let me read at my own pace. The board game was just a pretext, and they were actually giving me time—

Alright, Petal must have won!

...I can't hear anything. They must have given me some alone time...

Thanks to the time they gave me, I got a rough idea of the book's content.

There are many details, but broadly speaking, there are four stages to complete the magic.

1. Absorbing others' magic power while the vortex is open.

2. Absorbing a vast amount of pure magic power.

3. Expelling everything.

4. Absorbing magic power with the property of death.

That's about it.

I have already experienced stages 1 and 2. The subsequent awakening was exactly as described in the book. Wounds and illnesses healed, and I began to wield vast amounts of magic power. I had experienced it all.

What remains are stages 3 and 4.

Expelling everything. The vortex has been gradually opening since I started studying the magic book. Stage 3 involves expelling all the magic power I have been absorbing. Just thinking about it makes me shudder. How much have I accumulated without realizing it? It's terrifying.

Speaking of terrifying, the last item, stage 4, is also scary. Absorbing magic power with the property of death.

Does it mean I have to die? In school, I learned that some criminal groups use magic with the property of death to trap others. However, performing such magic is a serious crime, and there are no publicly known spells with the property of death. It will be difficult to find someone who can use it.

I interrupted the three who were focused on the board game and started telling them what I had learned, including everything that had happened so far and our current position.

I explained about expelling all the magic power and absorbing magic power with the property of death.

Thankfully, Eliza was worried.

"To think you were investigating such important matters while I was... seriously playing a board game..."

You were really playing seriously!?

"By not asking to join the board game and using the time to investigate the curse, you've really grown, young man."

Of course.

"Even the board game was meaningful, but the Harp-like young man also had a meaningful time."

Are they putting me in the same category? The same treatment!?

"However, this is interesting."

"Indeed. Living a long life isn't so bad. I never thought my years of research would come in handy like this."

The two old men seemed oddly enthusiastic and confident.

I didn't quite understand how to proceed with stages 3 and 4, but these people seemed to know even the details.