CH 12

"You'll do it?"

The duke looks at me dumbfounded, as if he doesn't know what I'm talking about.

The surrounding servants also looked stunned.

Well, if a young man who appeared out of nowhere and had no idea where he was coming from suddenly said something like that, they would probably react that way.

I'm serious, though.

"Is there a cure? You said earlier that there was no other way but to kill the magician."

"It's not exactly a cure, nor is it an antidote. It's based on magic theory... so to speak, and it involves combat."

Yes, I can see that you are saying that you don't really understand anything more.

I guess he feels strongly because she's his precious daughter and I can't be allowed to help her unless I makes it clear what I'm going to do.

I have to give a convincing explanation.

"It's something you learn in the middle school of magic school, but it makes use of the magic resistance amplification effect. Since curse magic belongs to the dark system, I will use lightning magic, which has the highest magic resistence, to cancel out and extinguish the curse imprint on Lady Sion's body."

"So you're saying that you're going to channel lightning into Sion?"

"That's what it means. Of course, it will be done with just enough power to not affect the human body, so there will be no after-effects on Sion after she wakes up. However, you should be aware that this is a very risky procedure."

"I'm sure you're right..."

It was the magic doctor who nodded.

You seem to be well aware of the dangers of letting lightning flow through a human body.

"I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks that if you lose control of the lightning for even a moment, your daughter will die instantly."

"Ah!"

"Moreover, even if you are in control, there is still a chance that the colliding curses will cause something to go wrong. To be honest, I think it's a gamble. Either your lightning magic will win, or the dark magic of the curse will win."

Hearing this, the Duke was troubled.

I can understand why you are troubled. This is a dangerous gamble. It's the ultimate gamble, whether your daughter will die right now or continue to live.

But for me, I can't help but feel irritated with the Duke for worrying about this.

It's the duke's fault that he's so stubborn at this particular point in his life - or rather, his fault as a father.

"Oh, Father..."

Suddenly, in a hushed voice, Lady Sion called out for the Duke, and I opened my eyes absentmindedly.

Her voice was scratchy. I'm sure that her body is still in pain.

The duke hurriedly looked into Sion's face and called out to her with concern.

"Sion.. I..."

"It's okay. Father..., I'm not afraid. Even if I don't make it, I'm ready. And I believe in... you."

"..."

I think she knows exactly what that means.

She has already accepted the fact that she will be treated by me. She is ready for it, and more importantly, she believes in me.

Nevertheless, the Duke, her parent, is not so sure about it.

Maybe I should encourage him to take the risk. But what if he fails? Rather than that, shouldn't I make a move while I have a day to spare? I can see that you are having such a conflict.

...... I think I should be rude here. I'm not going to disregard your determination.

"My Lord. Forgive me if I make one rude remark."

"...... Forgive me. Say it and Let's see."

"Then..."

I throw myself at him from behind the Duke's back, who is still in the midst of a difficult conflict.

I should never say this to a person in the position of a duke. But if I didn't say it here, I would be making the wrong decision. That's why I have no hesitation.

"I'm sure that you are unfit to be a father now that you've seen and heard your daughter's resolve up close and still can't seem to come to a decision."

"What the...!"

I looked firmly at the Duke, whose face was dyed with anger, and he grabbed me by the chest.

"If you are a father, please believe in your daughter's resolve! If you don't do it here, Lady Sion will surely die. You know that, don't you?"

"I..."

"I'm the only one who has the possibility of destroying her curse right here and now. You can bet on that possibility."

"...... And if you fail?

"If I fail, then you can decide what to do. I will accept any punishment."

"..."

After a brief staring contest, it was the Duke who averted his gaze.

He released his grip on the chest and nodded once.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I guess I was a little hot-headed."

"I'm sorry for my rude attitude. I'll be punishing you for this later. First..."

"Oh. Take care of Sion, my dear daughter."

It was decided.

Then there is only one thing to do. I'm going to do this until the curse imprint that's eating away at her disappears.

I summoned my grimoire from the skies, levitated it in the air, and approached the lying Sion.

I stroked her head and said to reassure her.

"Don't worry, Lady Sion. I'll make sure you survive."

"Yes, yes please."

She smiled slightly and then lowered her eyelids again.

It is better to be relaxed now, because from now on, her body will be in pain for a long time.

She said yes, and pulled down the front of her garment to expose her collarbone. The mark of the curse was not a bruise as it had been the other day, but a solid shape.

At first glance, you wouldn't be able to tell much, but from my point of view, it was obvious.

The index fingers of both of my hands were coated with purple lightning - sandwiched between the left and right sides of the imprint, the lightning flowed.

"Arrgghhhhh...!"

Lady Sion, screaming in anguish, put all her strength into the hand that the Duke was holding, and was able to endure. A servant who was watching the scene was about to approach me to stop me, but was stopped by another servant.

It must be painful. Even though there is nothing physically wrong with the human body, it's just an effect. It would feel painful enough, and this was as strong as the lightning used in torture.

In fact, it's a great thing that she's not flailing, even though she's weak.

"Please do your best, Lady Sion."

I give her a heartfelt pep talk without losing my utmost concentration, and I also give myself a pep talk.

It's going to be okay. Trust me. I'm capable of competing with the best of the court mages in lightning magic. A curse like this is nothing to worry about!

Even though I was screaming in my mind, my hands were almost shaking with nervousness. But that's the last thing I need.

The pressure is on to never make a mistake, but it's Sion who's in more pain than me.

Little by little, the purple lightning, delivered at the very limit of its output, was steadily chipping away at the curse's mark. I don't know how much time has passed, but the size of the mark has already been reduced to about half.

After all, lightning magic is effective against dark magic. I realize this once again.

As if she couldn't stand the pain anymore, Sion grabbed my left arm and clawed at it until it bled. But I don't feel any pain. I can't afford to feel it.

"We're almost there! Hang in there!"

The imprint is already fading. However, I didn't let my guard down until the very last moment, and carefully, yet surely, maintained the power to cut it down, and let the lightning flow.

And then... the mark is completely gone.

"Did you succeed?"

"Not yet!"

Seeing Lady Sion's exhaustion as soon as I stopped the lightning, the Duke asks me with an elated feeling. But it's not over yet.

After realizing that it couldn't stay in Sion-sama's body, the mark of the curse escaped from her body in a haze, and began to wander around as if seeking another person - it got onto my body, which was closest to her.

At the end of the day, when I thought I was losing my touch before it disappeared, this was it.

"Lord Serel!"

"It's quite Troublesome. Immediately after escaping from Lady Sion's body with the little residue left, he gathered the magical power in the air and transferred to my body."

"Well, now you're cursed!"

"But!"

He interrupted her and clenched his fist forcefully.

The curse was transferred to the back of his left hand, but that was the end of his luck.

The reason why I was only able to cast a weak lightning bolt earlier was because it was Lady Sion's body. But my body can withstand lightning hundreds of times stronger than hers.

This lightning is originally my magic power.

I'm not going to die from lightning that I created with my own magic power.

"Zorma - Thundering Demon."

At the moment, the lightning that gushes into my left hand dyes the room purple for a moment.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!

The curse, which had raised a screeching scream, turned into charcoal scraps and completely disappeared from my body.

It looked like it had a will of its own, but now its screaming like Sion was.

"... It all ended well, didn't it?"

The markings are gone and a beautiful white skin is peeking out from the exhausted and faintly sleeping Sion.

When the Duke confirmed that his daughter was safe, he fell to his knees and sobbed with joy, saying, "Thank God... really..."