Chapter 51

[A new Translator and Editor will be working on this series so some terminologies may change]

The first day I opened my eyes after being rescued from that well, I stayed confined to my room, staring only at my status window.

Quite a few new notifications had piled up.

Most of them were [Human Resource Information Updates].

They were notifications that people’s trust in me had risen due to the success of this latest operation.

I had already checked that part……

The new notification that caught my eye even more was [Access Rights Expanded].

I had a feeling I knew what it was without even looking……

But I had to press it anyway.

As soon as I did, a single number greeted me.

It was different from the figure I saw last time.

The number I glimpsed before losing consciousness in that sea of mana was [0.051%].

“Hey. Status window.”

Man, its greetings were always so polite.

I asked without much expectation.

“This blood mana concentration. Is it related to the crystallization progressing in my arm?”

I really didn’t expect much.

It would probably just answer the same way.

Access denied due to lack of authority—

“…What?”

“Of course! Tell me, quickly!”

“And!?”

“So you’re saying only the amount exceeding the threshold crystallizes, and I won’t die immediately?”

“What do you mean, probabilistic?”

Hearing that explanation made me think of Vittorio.

The crystallization symptoms that had formed near Vittorio’s heart.

That was exactly the case the status window was describing.

Mana crystallization that doesn’t replace bodily functions, but instead manifests by piercing through perfectly fine internal organs or skin.

To put it simply, I had survived purely through good luck.

If a mana crystal had sprouted through my skull…

Ah. Let’s stop the gruesome imagination.

It would be best to seal away magic until some kind of alternative was found.

I thought I could use it a few more times if I just let parts of my arm turn into mana crystals.

But at this rate, it was just Russian roulette.

…Or so I thought.

‘I still have that promise with Vittorio.’

I had made a contract with him.

He would follow my orders, and I would resolve the mana crystallization growing toward his heart.

At the time I made the promise, I figured it would be fine.

But now, it had become a bit troublesome.

‘I need to use magic for that.’

I still intended to keep the promise, though.

I stood facing Vittorio.

Just then, a voice drifted in from outside the door.

“Young Master? Is something the matter?”

It was the voice of the servant who looked after me.

They must have overheard the commotion inside while passing by.

Vittorio and I looked at each other.

Tension filled the air.

I raised one hand.

Then, I brought my index finger to my lips.

‘Shh.’

Be quiet for a second.

I’ll handle this.

I raised my voice.

“I’m itching to get out of here, so please just let me outside! I’m going stir-crazy, seriously!”

Thump, thump.

I stomped my feet twice as I spoke.

The servant outside the door replied with a chuckle.

“You know that’s not allowed. If you’re bored, should I bring you something to read… or perhaps some refreshments?”

“Ugh. Forget it. I don’t even know how many days it’s been with those books and snacks. I bet even they’re sick of me by now.”

“Hahaha.”

“Just get back to work. If Father says he’ll open this door, be the first one to come and let me know.”

“Understood. Please rest well, Young Master.”

—Tap, tap.

I heard the sound of the servant’s footsteps fading away from the door.

Only then did the tension hanging in the room dissipate.

I spoke.

“As you can see, I’m under house arrest. If we make a scene, they’ll come bursting in, so calm down and lower your voice. Got it?”

“How can I trust you?”

I replied, absolutely flabbergasted.

“And what are you going to do if you don’t? Do you want to hear me scream at the top of my lungs to gather everyone in Denabi Castle and tell you to get lost?”

At that, Vittorio grabbed me by the throat.

“…Urgh. Dammit. Can’t even take a joke.”

That grip of his could easily snap my neck if he truly wanted to.

But you can’t.

Because your life is in my hands.

I glared at Vittorio.

He stared back at me.

His lips moved.

“I still do not know how you unsealed the dungeon. But I heard that in the process, you made an attempt that bordered on suicide.”

An attempt bordering on suicide.

…I certainly did.

But it wasn’t because I wanted to.

Vittorio asked.

“Did you plan to die even if you saved everyone else? While leaving your contract with me cast aside?”

“I didn’t do it because I actually wanted to die. I did it to save my own skin in the first place. Why would I do something that stupid?”

“I cannot trust you.”

“Then don’t trust me.”

His grip tightened.

“Uuugh.”

“Is there truly a way to treat me?”

“There is. I told you, there is.”

“How?”

“No, you just said you wouldn’t believe me even if I told you! What’s the point of me saying anything…?”

He lifted me up while still holding my throat.

“I—I’ll tell you…! I’ll do it!”

When he set me down, I collapsed onto the floor.

I gasped for breath.

‘Ugh… this bastard.’

“…Cough, hack. Can you get me outside?”

“I believe I told you to explain the method to treat me?”

“Dammit…! I’m saying that because the method is outside.”

I pointed toward the window.

“Nobody can know about this, so let’s head out that way.”

He looked at me intently for a moment after I said that, then approached the window.

And then, he jumped out the window.

“I told you to take me with you, what are you doing…!?”

I looked down through the window.

From below, Vittorio was mouthing words to me.

‘Jump.’

“I can’t do the same crazy things you do…! I’m not your friend Jin Astrier! I’m Shane, a patient!”

Nevertheless, he simply repeated the same command.

‘Jump.’

However, he did hold his hands out in front of him as if to catch something.

Ah, so he was going to catch me?

He should have said so from the start…

Though, even if he had, I still would have hesitated.

‘Can he really catch me…?’

After agonizing over it, I jumped butt-first.

If he didn’t actually catch me, my pelvis was going to be shattered.

But Vittorio caught me with ease.

“Heugh!”

As I gasped from the impact of being caught, he spoke.

“So, where are we going?”

“Ha, haha… I thought I was a goner…”

“It’s only the second floor. I asked where we are going.”

“…….”

I looked up at him and replied.

“Put me down first, then we’ll talk.”

We were walking while hugging the walls, hiding in the shadows of the courtyard.

I asked Vittorio.

“What about your army? Why are you the only one left here?”

“I left the command to another company commander.”

“Weren’t you the Corps Commander? Is it okay to do that?”

“I am the Commander in name only. There are generals and advisors in the corps with far more experience than I. In reality, only the cavalry follows my direct orders.”

“Hmm.”

So that was how it was.

Come to think of it, Vittorio was far too young to lead an entire corps.

Usually, the commander of a corps guarding a fief is the Lord themselves.

Vittorio’s position as Commander was likely a political title given to empower him as the next Lord.

Even in this operation, the corps moved centered around three company commanders.

That meant there were two other company commanders of equal rank to Vittorio.

Since they functioned without issue even in his absence, that must have been how things normally ran.

‘Giving power but not responsibility. How meticulous. That’s just like Ludovica.’

Vittorio continued.

“I told the corps that there is still something to collect from Denabi. It is none of your concern.”

“I see.”

“Just explain where we are headed.”

“Even if I told you, it’s not a place you’d recognize, so just follow me.”

“Tell me. Stalling for time is useless.”

He clamped a hand on my shoulder.

Man, talk about a worrywart.

“Stalling? I’m not stalling. Seriously, just trust me for once.”

“How can I trust you when I do not know where you are going?”

I let out a smirk.

Ah. Looks like I have to use my specialty again.

“I’m sorry, but your situation is the same as last time.”

I faced him and said.

“What are you going to do if you don’t trust me?”

Vittorio’s eyes sharpened.

I quickly changed the subject.

“…is what I shouldn’t say, right? Considering we’ve helped each other out. Fine. I’ll tell you.”

I started walking again.

As I walked, I spoke.

“We’re going to see my mother.”

“?”

Before long, we arrived at our destination.

The Trastamara Library.

It was a residence surrounded by a small flower garden, hidden away in a corner of Denabi Castle.

“This is the place I mentioned. It was here that I learned the magic of my late mother.”

“Magic?”

“Yes. I’m going to solve your problem with it.”

We crossed the garden.

I opened the door to the house.

The interior of the library was dark.

Only the subtle blue light of mana crystals flickered within.

I spoke.

“I’m going to turn on the lights, so don’t go moving around and dropping things. These are all my mother’s mementos. They’re precious.”

Well, someone like Vittorio would probably stay still without being told.

But a warning never hurt.

I searched for a lantern in the darkness as I continued.

“Until recently, I was a complete layman when it came to magic. Just a few days before I went to Limone, I was still reading introductory texts.”

Oh. Found it. The lantern.

I placed my hand on it and went on.

“But there is exactly one thing I’m confident I know for sure. And that is…”

I pressed the lantern’s button.

A mana crystal lamp.

Its blue light illuminated the entire room.

“That magic is a discipline for having a conversation with mana.”

“…A conversation?”

I held up the lantern.

“This lamp is likely one of my mother’s mementos too. This is also a magical device for conversing with mana. Look, if I click it here like this…”

I pressed the button at the bottom of the lantern.

The light went out.

The mana crystal inside the lantern now emitted only a faint glow.

“The light goes out. By pressing this button, I just spoke to the mana. I said, ‘Please don’t emit light.’ And if I press the other side like this…”

The lamp turned on.

“I just sent a different message to the mana. I said, ‘Please emit a brighter light.’”

“So, what is your point?”

“You saw my magic in the dungeon, didn’t you? That giant monster blowing up in one hit.”

Vittorio nodded.

Of course he had.

I had shown him that incredibly loud technique more than twenty times.

There was no way he missed it.

“It’s an amazing cheat-like skill, but the way it works isn’t much different from this lantern. It’s just making a slightly different request to the mana.”

I said.

“From now on, I’m going to use that magic on you.”

Vittorio’s pupils dilated.