Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Clone Belia (9)
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The grimoire held by the black mage was a far more extraordinary book of magic than its owner deserved.
"No wonder he was so arrogant."
It made his absurdly grand dreams—compared to his actual power—start to make a little sense.
"I wonder who gave him this..."
It was a tome containing knowledge so profound that it could turn an unremarkable black mage into someone harboring delusions of world domination.
Especially when it came to [Mana Engraving], it held nearly everything there was to know.
Techniques for suppressing a beast's ferocity through engraving and making it obey commands.
Methods for linking engraved lifeforms together to extract mana.
And ways to gradually strengthen the body using mana engravings.
One particularly striking point was that the body strengthening via mana was ridiculously effective.
If the book's claims were true, completing the engraving would grant vitality on par with a dragon.
Testing [Body Strengthening with Mana] on a small lab mouse revealed drawbacks not mentioned in the book.
The white lab mouse, forced into excessive strengthening, grew so large it was hard to cover with two palms.
It required multiple engraving adjustments to match its expanding body, pushing far beyond the species' limits.
It wasn't just size. It became incredibly agile, its hide toughened, and its regeneration noticeably improved.
However, supplying mana to maintain the strengthening grew harder. The incomplete engraving endlessly demanded mana, rupturing its organs and killing it.
Its mana thirst manifested as hunger, and it died after gorging itself until its belly burst.
The experiment revealed two key facts.
First, engraving [Body Strengthening] on yourself before securing ample mana is suicide.
Even a mouse required substantial mana; a human engraving for meaningful effects would demand astronomical amounts.
Second, if you secure the mana needed for completion, you'd gain tremendous body strengthening.
The [Body Strengthening via Engraving] in this book was inefficient, but not ineffective.
That dead mouse alone had wrecked a sturdy metal cage multiple times with its enhanced flesh.
It demanded absurd mana, but success promised a spare life in terms of physical performance.
"If that black mage had more time... he might've become a real threat."
The one felled by an arrow to the head in the cave—had he completed his strengthening, he might've laughed it off with his forehead.
Now I understood why he'd used dozens of wolves as mana batteries, creating an endless supply for himself.
While immersed in research, a knock came earlier than usual.
"Young Master, it's Belia. May I come in?" A refined voice called from beyond the door.
"Yeah, come in."
As Belia entered the room, I asked why she was here.
"This is unusual. Class hasn't started yet, has it?"
"Yes, but Master said today's lesson would be outdoors..."
"Outdoors?"
"Yes, so she told me to inform you early and help you prepare."
"Huh, must be something hard to do indoors."
"Yes, from the last battle... she gained new inspiration on combining [Word Spirit Arts] and [Magic]..."
Bella Soders was showing astonishing progress as a mage, belying the long hiatus.
A natural genius—I could somewhat grasp the devastation she felt when barred from the mage tower.
How crushing for a raw gem who knew her worth to lose access to magic study?
Now, under the pretext of teaching her son, Bella could wield magic freely again, and her growth was dazzling.
"...Tell her I'll be ready soon."
"Yes, Young Master." Belia replied with a blank expression.
'That gap... it's incredibly appealing...' Unlike Bella, everyday Belia was emotionless, mechanical.
Yet in bed, she writhed in pleasure, coquettish—that was her charm.
"Wait, Belia."
I grabbed her wrist as she turned to leave, stopping her.
"...When do we depart?"
"In 30 minutes, outside the territory."
"Prep's quick, so we've got about 15 minutes spare."
With that, I began enjoying Belia's body.
"N-no, Young Master... we'll be late... ah... ♥"
"We won't be late."
"No... ahh..." Even as she protested, she lifted her skirt slightly, offering her thighs.
"Eut... five minutes... just five... ♥"
Her resistance melted like sand before waves, and I savored the brief pleasure—at the cost of a rushed prep afterward.
Still, it was time well spent.
"We almost were late, Young Master."
"I know, but we made it just in time."
"Eut... Next time, I really will get mad!"
Lian and Belia looked on such good terms. I noticed the blue scarf I'd gifted her around Belia's neck.
It matched my eyes perfectly and suited Belia wonderfully.
"You're here. Lian, Belia."
"Yes, Mother."
"We've arrived, Master." The two greeted me with impeccable poise.
Truly flawless outside—why did they turn into troublemakers with me alone?
Belia got boldly intimate with me, barrier-free as master and clone. Lian... sigh, just thinking embarrassed me.
...But I didn't dislike it.
Anyway, I'd tied a white scarf around Lian's neck too. Can't have him catching a cold.
"Where are we headed?"
To Lian's question, I replied.
"North from Soders Earldom, toward Zarfurt."
"Zarfurt? The tourist city?"
"Heh, you know it well."
Zarfurt, reached after dense conifers, was famed for its stunning lakes.
Of course, Lian and I weren't going for tourism.
We headed to a wide lakeside clearing near Zarfurt for magic class.
Soders being inland made water-intensive lessons tough locally.
Hence, water-rich Zarfurt.
...Though if time lingered post-class, a bit of sightseeing might happen inevitably.
Lian was an excellent student—truly—so I held some expectations.
The schedule was generous... if he pushed ahead, ahem.
Answering Lian, I explained the lesson, Zarfurt's terrain, and why there.
And, somewhat tangentially, its history, features, and tourist value.
"...Can you believe it, Lian? A troupe performing weekly in the same spot for 100 years without missing once."
"And that massive tree in the lake's center is the continent's 19th largest. Nearly called the World Tree."
"Plus, the night market run by merchants gathers goods from every nation."
Chatting excitedly, I felt like a kid hyped for vacation.
Lesson details got brief; I gushed over sights instead.
I wasn't expecting tourism per se—but what if Lian misunderstood?
In the rocking carriage, Lian placed his hand on mine and replied.
"I'm curious too. How about a quick stop after class?"
"Hmm, Lian... we're not here for tourism, but if you want..."
"Let's go together." Lian replied, easing my reluctance as if reading me.
"Fufu, alright, Lian... Schedule's loose, so if we advance quickly... a look-around wouldn't hurt..."
'...A trip with Lian...'
Not adventure, but pure leisure at a tourist spot.
Less trip, more... date.
Then, my first date partner would be... Lian.
My husband treated me without an ounce of affection, just a family-arranged "womb doll."
A being to bear magic-wielding children.
He gave me no love whatsoever.
Dates? Never.
Just trophy display at formal events.
But now, it's fine. I have... Lian.
"...Lian."
The mana carriage headed to Zarfurt driverless; the ride felt a tad dull.
Lian must've felt it too—no toys here... so he toyed with my leg... ♥
"Lian... ♥ Do that to Belia... ♥ Didn't I say...? ♥"
"Shh, Belia's sleeping."
Cheeky Belia, dozing soundly when needed.
...No, Belia wasn't asleep. Meeting my eyes, she winked subtly, mouthing:
'I'll yield.'
...Yield what? As if I'd want this... ♥
Being toyed with in a carriage? No fun.
But it was boring, and Belia, ahem, soundly asleep...
So, no choice... ♥
"Lian, gently... a little... ♥"
Lian's hand climbed my thigh, teasing relentlessly.
With Belia "foolishly asleep," I stifled meaningless moans.
She might wake; moaning freely felt vulgar.
Besides, I was indulging Lian's whims... not begging for caresses.
"Lian... apologize... right now... ♥"
For daring to toy with me sans permission in the carriage, Lian owed an [apology].
His fitting [apology] let me kiss him, muffling reflexive moans.
"Mmwah ♥ Lick ♥ Smack ♥"
We passed the time to Zarfurt anything but bored.