Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Unexpected Education (1)
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My personal belief is that children shouldn't grow up watching bad things.
"Gah!"
Especially kids who've been abused—they need to be pampered until their gaunt cheeks fill out. That's my creed.
I didn't want some drunken lout witnessing a man being disassembled and reassembled.
"Wh-what... who the hell are you..."
"Answer my questions. Nothing else."
The room had been expanded underground, big enough for several people.
Especially with all those long corridors echoing with creepy wind howls.
This place was definitely some underground facility connected throughout the mansion.
I'd dragged the guy away from the bound child so she couldn't see, and now I was interrogating him.
"So, what the hell are you doing here?"
"I... I don't really kno..."
As human history records, pain is great for boosting memory.
For example, breaking fingers.
Crack!
"Guh! Mmph...?"
"I don't want to hear you scream."
"Mmmph... guh..."
"Alright, let's try again. You get ten chances. What... are... you... doing... here?"
I emphasized each word.
Finally, the man opened up and started spilling what they'd been doing.
"Looking for the next... s-sacrifice."
Sacrifice? I snapped another finger.
How was I supposed to understand without an explanation?
"Guh... ugh... See, we offer kids to demons... and Lord Pablo's magic gets stronger..."
"Pablo's magic, huh."
For throwing out yet another new term, I planned to break two more fingers before the next question.
The man spoke fast in a trembling voice.
"The mansion has magic... that controls the servants' minds... and Lord Pablo uses it to brainwash the em... emperor..."
"Slow down. Explain it from the start so I can understand. Start with the sacrifice."
"Offer a kid to the demon, Lord Pablo's magic strengthens, he reinforces it more, and eventually takes over the empire..."
"Haa... got it."
"...Y-yes? Uh, yes sir."
"How many have you offered?"
"I don't know exactly, but... I've seen about ten..."
"Any other kids locked up separately? Where?"
"Yes! There are... but I really don't know... I have to report directly to Lord Pablo... uh, ah!"
I nodded and clenched my fist.
The man screamed like he'd told me everything—why hit him now?
Crunch!!
I spat on his crushed skull against the wall without even wishing him peace in the afterlife.
Shook off the blood as best I could, then headed back to where the child was tied up.
She'd heard my footsteps and glanced my way, then whipped her head around.
I had no clue how to handle an abused kid, so I crouched down carefully.
Uncovered my face and gave a warm smile.
She'd probably see me as a kind young man.
"Stay still. I'll untie you."
"...Who are you, mister?"
"........."
I finally accepted I looked like a "mister" and adjusted my self-image accordingly.
"I'm the guy who saves kids like you."
"........"
I wasn't being creepy, but it was too vague. I picked my words carefully.
Should I say I'm from the church? Or just a knight?
As I pondered, the kid grabbed my pant leg.
"Mister... please save my little sister."
She was shaking hard.
I'd planned to do that anyway.
"I was just about to head to this noble named Pablo."
Aster's plan was one thing, but this creep used kids and was total trash.
No way I could wait out our commander's timeline.
I figured I'd have a quick one-on-one chat with Pablo right now.
"No...!"
"Why? You brainwashed or something?"
He was clearly the enemy—why stop me?
I watched her closely for signs of brainwashing, but no.
Her frantic gestures conveyed info that made it hard for me to move.
'Gotta take her and explain.'
Devil's curse and Pablo's magic.
Her sister would die if Pablo so much as twitched a finger—tough for me to grasp fully.
But I had a commander expert in magic.
"Mind if I carry you for a bit?"
"...?"
I'd show the kid to Aster and sort this mess.
I scooped her up and dashed back through the mansion the way I'd come.
She was light from not eating properly, and my warmth made her eyes flutter shut as she snuggled in with soft breaths.
I perched precariously on the lady's room windowsill.
Rapped on the window.
"Mister can climb walls too...? Ahem, anyway, why are you here..."
"Talk inside."
I showed her the kid still snoring in my arms.
Aster blushed at the books piled on the floor.
"Ah... come in."
She invited me into the room with its weird scent.
What perfume was that?
**
"Mm..."
"Figure it out?"
I'm no magic expert, so the kid—Mina—repeated her story to Aster.
Aster nodded after hearing it all.
"Yeah, totally possible."
She started on mana circuits and complex stuff, then shut up at my look.
"Ahem... long story short."
Aster explained this world's magic.
"Mages use magic in two ways. One's like me—just firing mana."
Like Aster shooting from her hand.
The second was the problem.
"Drawing specific magic circuits to cast complex spells."
Aster fidgeted, then traced a circle in the air with her finger.
She carved symbols inside, forming intricate ice crystals.
"So, complex magic needs circuits?"
"Exactly."
"Can't erase the circuit?"
Magic was the devil's, given to humans—I remembered that from the novel's prologue.
So Pablo got devil help for his circuit.
"What if I blow his head off before he twitches?"
"...... Hm."
"Yeah, some variable kills the kid."
It was like surgery.
Had to be perfect everywhere. That's helping a kid.
"...You really like kids, huh, mister?"
"Kinda."
I wondered at Aster's softer gaze.
Well, she likes kids too—makes sense.
"One sec."
Aster rummaged through books for a solution.
"Mm... hmm."
I cracked open some booze from my hat and chugged.
Mina's eyes sparkled watching me drink.
"...Want a drink?"
"Is it... good? You look like it is..."
"Best in the world. But not for you."
I'd accidentally certified as a booze-enjoying guy.
First time seeing her expression, I swirled the bottle into a vortex and downed it in one go—a daily trick, but flashy.
Mina's lips twitched up, showing teeth in a grin.
Kids look best smiling.
"...?"
Aster gave a weird look at me playing with Mina.
"Ah, got it. This."
"Yeah. Can we fix it?"
"Yes. This method should neutralize the circuit temporarily."
She said killing spells need a medium.
Like a voodoo doll—easy to get.
Steal the medium, pour in other mana, connection fades... uh, I'm bad at technical stuff.
"Ugh..."
"I'll tell you your part, mister."
I wanted a simple spell over complex ones. Aster got it and ordered.
"Find Pablo's magic medium and bring it here. I'll disrupt the ritual, then you do your thing."
Aster handles pouring mana to block Pablo's crap.
I just steal the "voodoo doll" medium.
"Simple enough."
I'm a pro pickpocket.
Trained emptying glasses while tavern owners blinked.
My hands are fast anywhere.
"Scrap the old plan."
Aster ditched showing the bishop devil evidence.
"Don't wanna stay in the same mansion as that guy."
Her icy tone made me nod.
She really hated him. Her brother.
Goal set.
'Theft, huh.'
Stealing didn't prick my honor.
If anything, rescuing a hostage—calling it theft is harsh.
"Good. Where."
I stretched and asked Aster to watch Mina.
"Oh right. Killed the guy who beat Mina."
"......."
I suddenly remembered and told Aster.
She blinked slowly, then said she'd handle it.
"Nice kill. Didn't burn the body, right?"
"Uh... no."
"Tell me where. I'll clean up by morning."
I wondered why she cared about the body.
Didn't pry. She has her ways.
I bowed to worried Mina.
"I'll protect your sister no matter what."
"...Yes!"
I patted her head and nodded.
I don't buy innate good or evil. Just 'kids are cute.' That's the true human definition.
"...You like cute things, huh."
"Cute is always great."
"...Cute stuff."
Short Q&A with Aster done.
I leaped out the window.
Aster seemed confident with Mina and fallout, so I left it to her.
I ran through the night to find Pablo's voodoo doll.
**
But the next day.
'Ugly hamster bastard's a total coward.'
I clicked my tongue thinking of Pablo.
Two reasons for my morning foul mood.
First, couldn't access Pablo's room.
'Felt it. Traps.'
Great mage blocked outsiders with magic.
Breaking walls or windows was risky too.
Coward Pablo would play his worst card first if threatened.
I sprawled in the Elisia garden, pondering.
"Ugh. Am I good at assassination?"
Last resort: behead before he notices.
Even a mage can't react to a sword beam from 100m.
"Holed up, eating in-room... rude prick."
Deep in thought, a shadow blocked my sun—I rubbed eyes and sat up.
Thought it was a gardener, ignored.
"Seriously... are you really a knight?"
'Oh, corset knight.'
Slim waist made me grin lazily.
"Can't comprehend. No knightly dignity at all."
I instantly knew why this arrogant Sven clung and nagged.
'Kid's a loner.'
I'd been lounging to the white noise of Elisia knights training.
But Sven was scrawny, shady, friendless...
No surprise they ignored him.
"Why bug me?"
"...Uh, the garden's dirty, so..."
I clocked it.
Knights sparring hard, he's sidelined.
Weakling using nagging as excuse to bail.
Probably not even paid well—cheap hire.
"What're they doing sparring nonstop?"
"Those are the elites! Knight exchange in five days... so they're training. You're no knight at a—"
"You competing?"
"...... Yes."
"So, fancy words but forfeit from nerves? That type?"
".......... Yeah!? Yes, definitely... at least one..."
I pegged Sven as exactly that.
Make him own his words.
Now, ponder Pablo's room theft.
Pablo might know I'm Aster's knight—can't crash the exchange.
Dilemma.
One substitute knight would help.
Aster learn brainwashing faster? Tough.
"Hm... hold up."
I bolted upright.
Sven panicked, stepped back.
I asked.
"You been in Pablo's room?"
"As his knight... yes."
"Yeah?"
"...?"
I remembered something.
Arrogant guys spill easy after a few smacks.
"How long here?"
"Less than a month..."
Perfect spy material.
Money brought him to Pablo, short time—no loyalty or honor.
"Know about the devil in this mansion?"
"...? Writing a novel?"
Straight questions about mansion happenings.
No expression change, just bragging with novel titles.
Good. Hired.
I cracked my neck.
Exhaled booze breath, eyed him lazily.
"Yeah, Sven seems like a great knight."
I ignored his blabber.
"So, you could take me down easy?"
Decided to educate him.
Precisely.
'Where to hit to make him dance to my tune.'
Make him loyal in five days.
"Why the face...?"
Thoroughly.