Chapter 48

48

The principal's face brightened, not knowing what was on his mind. The moment he heard the talk about the Clown Duke, he had felt uneasy and thought he should leave, but now the opportunity had come.

'Did he consider me?'

He never thought this monstrous man would consider his trading partner.

"I was also thinking of closing down, so it's fortunate."

"Where are you going?"

"I didn't think you were from the Clown Duke's family... I plan to leave with Jason and the empire."

No matter where he went, he couldn't escape the brand.

It was an ancient black magic that had long disappeared, so it was rare to see it, but as long as the brand remained, the principal would die even if he fled to the depths of the sea.

Ancient black magic was powerful, as dangerous as it was. A child could cast a curse and destroy an entire village.

However, such black magic would likely kill the caster ninety-nine times out of a hundred.

Perhaps if he was lucky and another black magician paid the price to remove the brand, it might be different.

'But I don't think he has that much virtue.'

Asmodeus turned his head away from her.

"By the way, Lord As."

"What is it?"

"There was something I was curious about. Where are you using the children?"

Usually, Asmodeus would have dismissed it, but he was in a good mood.

He had found a child who wouldn't break easily and was quite useful, and the person he had planned to deal with himself was about to die. The ancient black magic he hadn't seen in a long time piqued his curiosity.

"They are just mining minerals."

"Just mining minerals?"

He didn't answer the question, which seemed to imply disbelief.

"I hope you have a pleasant journey."

It would be their last journey.

Asmodeus smiled and put on his robe, signaling the end of the conversation.

After paying a reasonable price for the children, he took the sleeping children and teleported.

A dark, blood-tinted magical power rippled and left a lingering trace.

"I can't understand it at all."

The principal muttered to himself while pocketing the thick gold coins.

* * *

Sharent Clown removed the bracelet from my wrist two days later.

To break it, special equipment was needed, and it took some time to obtain.

The magic control device required a special mineral found in ruins.

Called 'False Crystal,' it looked exactly like a Magic Crystal but emitted a red light.

While Magic Crystals could be found in special mines, False Crystals could only be obtained in ruins.

False Crystals had the opposite effect of Magic Crystals.

While Magic Crystals contained magical power that could be used by mages, False Crystals drained a mage's magical power.

They scattered the mage's magical power, preventing the use of magic.

In a space filled with False Crystals, it was impossible to gather magical power from nature.

All the emitted magical power was absorbed by the False Crystals.

False Crystals could only be obtained in ruins.

Ruins were composed of multiple underground levels, and as you walked through them, you could occasionally see False Crystals.

They grew like stalactites between the rocks and had to be mined.

Processing False Crystals was extremely difficult.

Ironically, only those with magical power could process them.

When False Crystals drained magical power, applying strong force or heat could change their form.

False Crystals were unique in that they melted when heated, despite being a type of stone.

Because they were so difficult to handle, only a False Crystal cutter could break them.

Alternatively, a powerful mage could cut the magic control device with a sword strike or a blade of wind.

But in the latter case, my arm would likely be severed as well.

So, Sharent Clown must have found a cutter.

Only skilled craftsmen who knew how to handle False Crystals would have one.

'Now I can live a bit more.'

Sharent Clown cut my bracelet and then disappeared without a word.

After that, he spoke even less.

I had to comfort the sobbing Vera. Thanks to that...

"Vera, come to bed."

"I'll stay here. From now on, I have to eat with you."

She wouldn't take a step away from me. She was clearly very angry.

The moment she saw me, Vera started crying.

I expected her to be angry.

But I didn't expect her to cry silently and bitterly.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"It's nap time. Go to sleep quickly."

Vera ignored my concern.

She's been like this for days. She wouldn't leave my side.

At night, she wouldn't leave until she saw me fall asleep, then stayed for another hour or two.

'I'm the sinner.'

I didn't expect it to shock Vera so much.

She even returned the gift I gave her. I had put a lot of effort into casting spells on the empty Magic Crystal, but she returned it.

'She worries too much.'

Even when I said I was fine, Vera didn't believe me.

Still, I couldn't promise to stay with her for the rest of my life.

I wouldn't be in this house for long.

Vera was kind and gentle, but that was all.

'I need to cast a curse... but I have no time alone.'

I obediently lay down on the bed. The fluffy blanket covered me up to my neck.

I had already apologized.

'Should I try again?'

Just as I was about to open my mouth, the house shook violently.

At the same time, a strong wave of magical power was felt. As I tried to get up, Vera screamed and threw herself at me, pulling me into her arms.

Seeing Vera wrap me in a protective embrace, I couldn't say anything.

If something fell, Vera would be the first to die.

'Why would she throw herself to protect a stranger she barely knows...?'

Despite this, I couldn't stop my lips from curling into a smile.

I patted the trembling Vera's head.

I can't hate her for this.

Even if I leave this house, I want to repay Vera in some way.

A sudden fortune would be nice, or even a noble title.

'How could I hate someone who tries so hard to protect me?'

Bang!

Crash!

It seemed chaos had erupted inside the house.

The sounds of things falling and breaking echoed continuously.

Fortunately, my room had almost no furniture. Otherwise, Vera might have been injured.

I created a subspace behind Vera's back and held two S-grade Magic Crystals in my hands.

If necessary, we could teleport together.

'Is it possible with Vera?'

I would definitely succeed alone.

"Miss, are you okay? Why is the house suddenly...?"

I looked up at the ceiling.

No, the house isn't shaking.

This intermittent vibration and the strange earthquake from below.

I recognized this feeling.

It was the same pattern when a new ruin appeared.

'Why...?'

Why did a ruin suddenly appear?

Of course, ruins often appeared out of nowhere.

Such areas usually experienced a sudden surge in magical power, so Silophia often warned other countries.

Ruins were trapped underground by ancient magic and would suddenly appear when the magic was released.

'I don't think we received a warning.'

Certainly, ruins that appeared in remote areas like forests or deep seas could take a long time to be discovered.

Silophia's jurisdiction wasn't that extensive.

But if a ruin appeared so close to the capital within the empire, Silophia would have noticed.

'Melaine, what are you doing?'

If you chase someone away, you should do your job properly.

The reason Silophia needs to prepare in advance is simple. When a ruin appears, something always shows up.

Roar!

The monster guarding the ruin.

The threatening roar shook the air from a distance.

I knew the owner of this roar. It was a rare but challenging opponent.

'Wyvern.'

Unfortunately, the guardian of this ruin also had wings.