Chapter 84

84

"Since you've sworn to protect me, I'll protect you too."

"Huh?"

"Even though I look like this, I'm one of the successful works, so I'm quite useful. If you want, I can create and offer as much dark magic as you need."

Each word pierced my heart.

'What does it mean to create and offer dark magic?'

Seeing my confusion, Chaser glanced around.

A mouse squeaked and darted through the bushes.

Chaser caught it in one swift motion.

Squish! Squeak! Squish!

As Chaser grinned, revealing his fangs, the mouse let out a painful squeal and gradually withered away.

Eventually, the mouse turned into a pile of ashes, leaving not a single bone.

"Like this."

On Chaser's palm floated a small, pure dark magic.

He pushed it toward me with a flick.

The tiny black magic slowly seeped into my chest.

It felt like a drop of water filling a void. Though it wasn't really filling anything, it was enough to see Chaser's ability.

I stared at Chaser blankly for a long time, unable to say a word.

"Exactly... what..."

My throat felt as if it had opened wide, making it sore.

'Melaine, what did you do behind my back?'

How could you do this without even a hint to me?

"That guy is just... what..."

Even in this situation, my mumbled words made my head ache.

I just kept my mouth shut.

Feeling a gaze on the top of my head, I looked up to see Chaser standing with his arms crossed, looking down at me with a clear sense of hostility or disgust.

No different from when we were in Dantalian.

It seems they are resenting me.

"Shelina."

Chaser crouched down in front of me.

His playful movements and the crooked smile on one side of his lips revealed his true nature.

"The head of the magic tower is no longer your comrade."

"..."

"What you need to protect is us. The blessing of the mage is for that. You swore to the leader and you still do, right?"

He seems a bit off too.

I felt the same strange vibe from him as I did when dealing with Dantalian.

"But if you worry about that inferiority complex guy in front of me, it makes me feel sick."

"I'm not worrying about him."

"Then what?"

"Thinking about how to deal with him."

I don't know where to start with Silophia.

He said there are many complaints about what I did, that it's extremely dangerous.

Even if I don't want to, it seems I have to face the facts.

"Well, that's... good."

Chaser said lightly.

I walked past him.

'I don't even want to deal with him anymore.'

But I'm also worried that if I just leave him to the knights, he might say something out of turn.

"Shelina! I'll be your bodyguard."

"Can you even do that here?"

"Didn't I tell you? The head of the magic tower wants to catch you."

"Me?"

Why would Melaine want to catch me?

My steps toward the room stopped again.

Chaser approached me again, standing beside me, clearly satisfied that I showed interest.

"She wants to take you as her disciple."

"Ah."

So it wasn't just empty words last time.

But is it really reasonable to kidnap a child from a noble family to make them a disciple?

"That dry... guy..."

"I'm here on a mission, officially. By the way, the document forgery was done by Silophia."

"Why would she do that?"

"Because you took the head of the magic tower as a disciple."

So she's copying me now?

"The current head of the magic tower is busy chasing after your footsteps due to lack of ability and skill. She's trying to understand what you did, imitating your actions, and regrets letting you go."

Suddenly, I remembered what Dantalian had said.

'I never thought imitation would be this kind of imitation.'

She's really stupid.

If I could turn back time, I wouldn't care if I starved to death, withered away, or was beaten to death.

'I might have raised her wrong.'

"Shelina."

His voice came from beside me as I started to move again.

"Don't suck your thumb and take good care of it."

Bending down, Chaser whispered rudely, ruffling my hair, then jumped onto a tree branch and disappeared into the leaves.

Leaves fell from where he had been.

Is he teasing me? Is he making fun of me for not having a pacifier? Especially since he caught me sucking my thumb when I was feeling frustrated.

'Why is he twelve anyway?'

He looks more like sixteen, both in height and appearance.

It's possible that his physical growth was accelerated during experiments.

I didn't want to think about it anymore.

I stood there for a moment, then walked to my room. The sky was clear and the sun was hot, making me feel a bit like crying.

Back in my room, I refused the meal offered and buried myself under the covers.

I don't think I've lived a good life.

I never expected to be treated properly after death.

I've killed many lives, used them without respect, and ultimately achieved my goals.

I deceived people, killed my teacher, killed my comrades, and turned my back on life and death.

I wanted more recognition from Silophia. I wanted to be recognized wherever I went.

I needed to strengthen the country and establish relations with many nations. So I ignored many things in front of me.

I ignored the hungry and those oppressed by the class system.

I approved the use of death row inmates and prisoners as experimental subjects.

'If Melaine calls those children prisoners...'

I shook my head to clear the intrusive thoughts.

'Why am I thinking about the past now?'

Damn, it's all because I've been cooped up in this gloomy room.

'I want to go hunting too!'

Now that I can hunt.

'Should I go to Deshar Clown and beg?'

I keep getting depressed when I'm alone.

I jumped out of bed and headed to Deshar Clown's room. As I ran down the arched stairs, I saw Kai Shan, drenched in sweat, just entering.

'He must have been training.'

As soon as Kai Shan saw me, his eyes widened, and he smiled broadly.

He approached me and, as usual, knelt on one knee to meet my gaze.

Though his eyes were slightly lower than mine.

"Shelina, seeing you outside today is a good omen. Where are you going?"

"To Grandpa."

"Why?"

"To have... tea... no, snacks."

Every time Kai Shan talks about snacks, he says 'kakka, kakka,' so it's stuck in my mouth!

I blushed red and corrected him urgently, but Kai Shan chuckled, finding me cute.

'He's grown so much.'

He used to be a crybaby, but now he can keep up with intense training.

I even saw him training to fight three Simula knights at once recently.

Watching his fierce and swift swordsmanship, I felt ashamed of what I had been doing while he grew up like this.

"Oh, you're going for snacks."

"Snacks!"

"Sure, snacks. Our Shelina knows difficult words too."

Kai Shan rubbed my hair. Seeing his open smile, I slapped his hand.

"I'm not a kid."

Stop treating me like a kid.

Despite the slap, Kai Shan nodded, seemingly pleased.

"Hey, Shelina. Can I come with you? I'll be quick. Big brother can wash up in just 5 minutes."

Are you going to just dip your body in water without taking off your clothes?

I gave him a disapproving look, and Kai Shan's eyes narrowed prettily.

Oh, who would have thought his parents were so beautiful, showing off the power of genetics.

"Sure, go ahead."

"Okay, I'll be right there."

Kai Shan stood up and gestured to a passing maid.

"Yes, young master."

"Make sure Shelina gets to the old master's room safely."

His voice was cold and distant, unlike when he talked to me. It was as if he was a different person.

Hearing this, I was momentarily surprised by how much he resembled Sharant Clown.

Startled, I turned to see Kai Shan smiling brightly as if nothing had happened.