Chapter 89

“Since we’re here, why don’t we go look at the sea again? Even just walking along the shore in the morning feels wonderful.”

At Cerulia’s suggestion, both Mary and I agreed instantly.

After finishing a major job, the sea feels even more beautiful. Today, I can see the uninhabited island far in the distance again.

The three of us strolled toward a secluded, rocky area. It was perfect for a walk.

“I think I understand now why you smelled so much like my big brother, Franz.”

Mary laughed with a bit of a mischievous look on her face.

“It’s a combination of your personality, your voice, and everything else. That’s why I have the illusion that you are him. Even the way you’re a total closet pervert is the same.”

“What do you mean, ‘closet pervert’?”

“I mean exactly what the words say.”

It hurt that I couldn’t strongly deny it. But being teased like this wasn’t so bad. It was teasing filled with affection.

A lot more happened during this summer vacation than I expected, but I guess it turned out okay. After all, I found out the roots of my Dark Magic.

Suddenly, I felt a chilling sensation.

A skeleton was standing right in front of us.

Well, ‘standing’ might be the wrong word—it was more like it was floating. There weren’t nearly enough bones to maintain a physical balance. To put it bluntly, it looked quite hollow.

『Bitter… I feel so bitter…』

It was a strange voice that seemed to vibrate directly in my head.

“What is this?! Is it an evil spirit that drowned in the sea?!”

It seemed the voice reached Cerulia’s ears as well.

『Wrong. I am the Dark Mage who is this man’s ancestor.』

The guy decided to make his appearance as a skeleton?!

“That doesn’t make sense! Weren’t you satisfied? That’s why the deflation magic lost its effect, right?!”

『Umu. Regarding that, you are correct.』

Then I had absolutely no idea why he was showing up now.

『But my feelings of envy toward my descendant were too strong! I completely broke free from your body, gathered the bones from my own grave, and manifested like this! I shall have my revenge! Curse you… doing this and that with a little sister! I wanted to do those things too!』

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

『I shall kill you, take over your body, and then do fun things with that ‘little sister’ named Mary myself!!!』

This guy… saying outrageous things again. And he’s completely mistaken Mary for a biological sister.

But I couldn’t back down here.

The reason was a bit… well, complicated… but this was a battle for my very existence. I wasn’t about to let someone like him take over.

“Cerulia, my staff.”

“Understood, Master!”

Cerulia handed me the staff she had been temporarily storing in another world. It was the precious staff I received from President Kelkel.

I immediately drew a magic circle and began the incantation.

『Is that “Life Drain”? I can do that much as well!』

The skeleton skillfully drew a magic circle with its foot and performed the same chant.

I see—he’s trying to suck me dry in return.

“In this match, the one with the greater power wins!”

At times like this, Cerulia really falls into the role of the commentator.

But since the enemy is also a Dark Mage, his direct attacks are limited, so it’s no surprise he’d use the same spell.

Besides, I didn’t feel like I’d lose this.

I cast “Life Drain” toward the skeleton.

The skeleton used “Life Drain” as well, chanting slightly faster.

The torrents of magical power clashed directly between us. The one with the stronger force would reach the other, but for now, we were evenly matched.

『Envy… Envy… I cannot forgive someone like you… I, the legendary Dark Mage, shall be the victor…』

Slowly, I began to be pushed back.

“This is the power of jealousy! He intends to overwhelm you with the power of spite!”

“He really is my big brother’s soul. I didn’t think he could do this much in a skeletal body.”

Guh… the commentary is making it look bad for me…

Even so, if this is a fight between Dark Mages, I know I’ll win.

I swung my staff forward with all my might.

“Go! My desire!”

Gradually, my magic began to push back the skeleton’s power.

『What?! Where does such power come from?!』

The skeleton was shocked.

But you were the one who taught me that I shouldn’t lose.

“Ancestor, you said it yourself—a Dark Mage is better off having desires. It’s better to master them, right? Then I’m the winner. Because my desire is definitely bigger.”

『None can surpass my feelings for my sister—Mugh?! Mu-mu-mu! For some reason, I see an incredibly large number of women behind my descendant!』

Exactly.

“My familiar Cerulia, Mary who lives with me, President Kelkel, Farphistania-senpai, Tototo-senpai, Sansonsu-senpai, Whowa-whowa from the village where I’m the landlord, and Aliénor whom I met during my training—everyone is precious to me, and I want to make them all happy!”

I’ll make everyone I met through my work smile through my work! And of course, I’ll be smiling too! That is my desire as a working member of society!

“My desire is far superior to yours, which was obsessed only with a single sister!”

The magical power of “Life Drain” hit the skeleton directly. Its life force flowed into me all at once.

“Alright, now get back where you belong. Whether you’re blood or bone, just stay still.”

『You… did you choose the “Life Drain” spell specifically for this purpose…?』

If my ancestor broke out of my body, I just had to absorb him back in.

“Even if you’re just a tiny fraction of my body, you’re still an element that makes me who I am. Don’t go leaving just for your own convenience.”

Even if my ancestor was a total mess, it was thanks to him that I noticed the Island Shark. Everything has a meaning, and if I deny the past, I can’t take a single step into the future.

『I understand. I shall remain here… quietly, so quietly…』

With those final words, the voice vanished. It seemed “Life Drain” had successfully completed.

Simultaneously, the skeleton crumbled into a fine powder and mixed with the sand on the beach.

“Master, you were so cool!”

Hearing Cerulia’s voice, I turned around.

And then, I noticed something.

President Kelkel, Farphistania-senpai, and Sansonsu-senpai were all there.

What’s more, for some reason, Tototo-senpai the Dark Elf and even Whowa-whowa were with them.

When the skeleton said he saw “a large number of women,” he wasn’t being metaphorical—it was actually happening.