“Hey! What’s going on!? This kid has been suffering the whole time!!”
Burns was sprinting toward us, carrying Brother Zeros on his back.
For a brief moment, I glanced at Kachel. He was attempting to summon something, still maintaining a massive barrier of magical power. However, from what everyone was saying, it seemed Kachel didn’t possess that much magical energy.
If that’s the case, it means he’s drawing power from somewhere else. And in his hand, he held a glowing amulet—one that looked just like the one Brother Zeros had.
“So that’s it!”
I rushed over to Brother Zeros.
“I’ll keep an eye on Brother. Burns, you need to return to protect Her Royal Highness. Hurry!”
“I’m sorry!”
With his axe in hand, Burns took off running. I cradled Brother Zeros and whispered in his ear.
“Brother Zeros, you have something from Instructor Kachel, right!? Show me!!”
“…It’s a… magic-enhancing… amulet.”
Brother Zeros raised his right arm. There, entwined around it, was an amulet with a black crystal. It pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat. The chains dug into Brother Zeros’s arm like veins.
“The teacher said… with this, the deployment of ‘Ancient Magic’ would be easier. I could borrow the teacher’s magical power.”
A chilling voice echoed around us.
“OOOOOOOOOOO!”
Instructor Kachel was projecting a massive barrier to fend off the soldiers’ attacks. From the magic circle in front of him, a humanoid figure was beginning to materialize. With each moment that passed, the color drained from Brother Zeros’s face.
He was siphoning Brother Zeros’s magical power through the amulet. If that’s the case, could this amulet also be a replica of an ‘Ancient Artifact’?
“…I’m sorry, Yuuki. I… have been hostile toward you and picked a fight on my own. This is all my fault. I…”
“Don’t worry. I’m not angry.”
Burns had… left. Neither Her Royal Highness nor the soldiers were looking our way. Good. I made a small cut on my finger with my dagger.
I poured the flowing blood into the amulet.
“I always dreamed of having a brotherly fight like a human.”
In my past life, I only had younger opponents. Honestly, I had longed to bicker with an older brother.
“So, Brother, you can’t die yet. It’s not funny for a ‘Nosferatu’ to have his family killed by a weakling like Kachel. Brother.”
“…Yuuki.”
“‘Mystel Blood’—’Hacking’!”
I activated the skill. Blood is a part of me. Even after it flows out, I can control it for a while.
I infused the blood. Filling the amulet with ‘Mystel Blood.’ Hacking the magic. Moving the blood deep, deep inside.
The exterior of the magic—hacking complete. Analyzing the magic—success. The structure of the magic consists of two parts: the transfer of magical power from Brother Zeros to Kachel, and the mental synchronization and message transmission from Kachel to Brother Zeros.
…So he had been feeding Brother Zeros all sorts of nonsense. Alright, let’s smash it quickly.
Infiltrating the magical pathways—initiating interference with ‘Mystel Blood’—success. Hacking the spell. Destroying the magical pathways. Stopping the flow of magic, and finally, I would inject my ‘Mystel Blood’ to overload it with about a hundred times the magic that was supposed to flow.
“Break already! Return to dust, relic of the past!”
Crack!
A fissure appeared in the black stone of the amulet. With a loud pop, the stone shattered, and the metal fittings broke, falling from Brother Zeros’s arm.
Thud!
Brother Zeros’s body crumpled to the ground. He was conscious, but the flow of magic had stopped.
I had hacked and destroyed the amulet. It had been used to siphon Brother Zeros’s magic to Instructor Kachel, so I had shattered that pathway. No more magic would flow.
Therefore, Kachel, who had been using Brother Zeros’s magic to cast spells—
“GYAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!”
He screamed in terror, his face turning pale as he clawed at his own body.
“Kachel has self-destructed!?”
“He attempted to summon something beyond his capacity. Such foolishness…”
Her Royal Highness and Burns watched as Kachel writhed in agony. They seemed unaware of what I had done.
“GUHAAAAAH!”
“OOOOOOOOOOOOO…”
The shadow Kachel had summoned began to fade away. As he clawed at his throat, Instructor Kachel collapsed.
“…His entire magical pathway is in tatters.”
After a moment, Burns spoke.
“This one is beyond recovery…”
“Naturally, since he used ‘Ancient Magic’ beyond his capacity. He must have been drained of all his magic by what he summoned.”
“He may never be able to use magic again, and his mind may be shattered as well. It’s as good as being dead… no, worse than death.”
Burns and Her Royal Highness turned to look at me.
“This one is as good as a corpse now. There’s no need for you to dirty your hands.”
“…Is that so?”
I picked up the amulet that had fallen to the ground. Through my hacking, I understood that it had been set up to transfer Brother Zeros’s magic to Instructor Kachel. Simultaneously, it had the ability to send instructions from Kachel to Brother Zeros.
I didn’t know the details. Even if it was a replica, ‘Ancient Artifacts’ were beyond my jurisdiction. However, while wearing this, Brother Zeros must have been more susceptible to Kachel’s voice. The story about me badmouthing Brother Zeros… was probably Kachel’s doing.
“I have a question.”
Her Royal Highness approached me slowly.
“Yuuki Glossalia. Who are you?”
“Yuuki is my brother!”
When I turned around, Brother Zeros was just getting back on his feet.
“Though I am a bastard, there is no doubt that Yuuki is my brother. Is there something suspicious about that!?”
“Then allow me to ask. Why can your younger brother use ‘Ancient Magic’?”
“That is…”
Brother Zeros looked at me, seeking help. I had intended to disappear quietly, but… the timing was off now. …I guess there’s no helping it.
“I was taught ‘Ancient Magic’ by Brother Zeros.”
I said.
“Brother, thinking of me, learned magic from Instructor Kachel and then taught me a little afterward. When I tried using it, it somehow activated. That’s all there is to it.”
“Is that true? Zeros Glossalia?”
“…Y-yes.”
Brother Zeros nodded.
“Yuuki is correct. After Kachel’s lessons, I would review what I learned and pass it on to Yuuki. However, it seems he had more talent than I did, as he quickly mastered spells I couldn’t use. I became frustrated and started taking it out on him.”
“You targeted Yuuki Glossalia?”
“…Yes. The reason I asked Instructor Kachel to let me take the ‘Magic Guild’ exam was to prove myself to Yuuki. In truth… I didn’t care about ‘Ancient Magic’ at all. I just wanted to feel superior to him.”
“What about the ‘Sacred Domain Church’?”
“I had no knowledge of that. I swear!”
I felt the same way. The ‘Sacred Domain Church’ was a taboo among taboos. There was no way Brother Zeros, who aimed to elevate the status of the Baronial House, would get involved with something like that.
“Considering that Instructor Kachel attacked Her Royal Highness during the exam, it is clear that Brother Zeros is not involved. If Brother had been Kachel’s accomplice, they would have attacked Her Royal Highness together. That would have been more certain.”
I offered the amulet that had fallen to the ground to Her Royal Highness. Of course, I had wiped my ‘Mystel Blood’ from it.
“This amulet seems to have been used for Instructor Kachel to siphon Brother’s magic. The fact that it broke at the same time Kachel collapsed indicates that.”
“It seems Kachel had a similar one.”
“Yes. If we investigate his amulet, it should provide evidence that Brother was being used.”
“Considering that you helped us, that seems likely.”
Her Royal Highness nodded at my words.
“This matter is undoubtedly Kachel Miegen’s unilateral decision. Now, Burns…”
“Yes. As soon as we return to the royal capital, I will investigate his connection with the Sacred Domain Church.”
“Please do. And then, Zeros Glossaria.”
“Yes?”
“Due to Kachel’s rampage, this exam has been rendered invalid. However, a retest is possible. Do you wish for that?”
“No. I don’t have that kind of power. It’s Yuuki who—”
Hey.
Brother Zeros, what did you just say?
“I can at most manage the duties of a baron’s heir. However, Yuuki has talent. His magical abilities, his magical power, and his courage to face colossal foes without fear. If Yuuki seriously studies magic, he will surely become a sorcerer who cannot be defeated by anyone. Perhaps even one who could change history.”
“Indeed. I also believe that Yuuki possesses remarkable talent.”
“I would very much like to have a mock battle with him as well.”
“No. I want to attend a regular academy.”
“I believe talent should be nurtured, Yuuki Glossaria.”
Her Royal Highness took my hand and declared:
“I, Princess Iris Restia, hereby welcome Yuuki Glossaria, son of the Baronial House, as a trainee of the Magic Guild! I hope he will learn alongside me as my friend and eventually become a trusted confidant!!”
““““Ooooooohhhhhh!!””””
Cheers erupted around us.
…It doesn’t seem like there’s any way to refuse this.
Next time, Chapter 20 is scheduled to be updated tomorrow evening.