Chapter 560: Lifting the Curse (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 560: Lifting the Curse (2)
“Phew...”
Drenched in sweat from the training I’d started at noon, I plopped down in the middle of the mansion’s garden and watched the sun set beyond the horizon.
It wouldn’t be long now.
The monumental moment when I would finally sever the cursed chains that had tormented the mother and daughter for the past twenty-three years.
I wasn't particularly nervous.
After all, who would be nervous about something with a guaranteed success?
Of course, that didn't mean I was lying when I told Anastasia the success rate was less than fifty percent.
People can lie, but numbers don't. That figure was an objective result derived from thorough calculations.
The reason I could remain so calm, despite that, was simple.
‘It’s all about willpower.’
My master always used to say.
That everything in the world ultimately depends on one's mindset.
At first glance, it might sound like an outdated theory of pure grit, but thanks to my experiences, it was advice that resonated with me.
Moreover, magic itself is a world founded on that same outdated theory of grit.
It may seem to operate on meticulous calculations and spell formulas, but as I've said before, what cannot be imagined cannot be realized in the world of magic.
In other words, if I don't believe in myself, lifting the curse will end in failure.
And it goes without saying, but that's not an ending I want.
“Hmm, perfectly ripe.”
Even after the sun had completely set, I continued my meditation in the garden before heading to the greenhouse to harvest the lusciously ripe Spirit Fruits.
It was around nine at night.
Even in the darkness of the greenhouse, the Spirit Fruits alone emitted a faint glow.
They wouldn't have much effect on an ordinary mage, but for a patient under a curse like Anastasia, they were nothing short of a miracle cure.
Especially if it was a demon's curse.
‘Spirits, along with angels, are the natural enemies of demons.’
Not to the same extent as angels, of course, but it's clear that demons avoid spirits.
Spirits are nature itself, while demons are akin to armed robbers invading this land.
“My condition is good, I've got the Spirit Fruits, and even my horoscope is decent.”
Tucking the Spirit Fruits into my clothes, I returned to the mansion with a satisfied smile and immediately took a shower.
I was, for all intents and purposes, going to have sex, and showing up drenched in sweat would be a clear breach of etiquette toward Anastasia.
‘Hmm... By the way, I still haven't seen Valentina.’
She'd said she had something to prepare and went into town around noon, and I hadn't heard from her since.
Of course, she wouldn't have gone to work on a day like today, so she must have returned to the mansion a while ago.
‘The fact that I can't sense her magic power at all means she's intentionally concealing it... What on earth is she doing?’
I was a little curious, but I didn't have the luxury of worrying about other things right now.
Being confident and being poorly prepared were two different matters.
After getting out of the bathroom, I took out the simple alchemy kit I'd asked the Tower Lord to get for me.
It contained everything I needed to process the Spirit Fruits.
Some might call it too shabby, but it was a simple job of just extracting the essence of the Spirit Fruits, so no elaborate equipment was needed.
‘Truthfully, it would be best to eat the entire fruit, pulp and all, but Ana's body wouldn't be able to handle that.’
And that side effect was precisely why I was using Spirit Fruits instead of Holy Water.
If Holy Water was a mild anti-inflammatory painkiller, Spirit Fruits were more like a narcotic painkiller packed with amphetamines.
In short, the effect was immediate, but the side effects were just as potent.
Of course, the story would be different if she could guide and control the Spirit Fruit's energy within her body herself, but unfortunately, that was impossible with Anastasia's current skill level.
“I guess I'll have to eat the rest.”
Crunch, crunch.
It was a bit dry since I'd extracted all the juice, but it was still edible.
It also had the effect of slightly amplifying my magic power.
It was only a temporary boost, of course, but it was quite useful in my current situation, right before lifting the curse.
After pouring the completed 100% juice potion into a tumbler, I immediately left the room.
The mansion's clock was already pointing to eleven p.m. I crossed the hallway, which was filled with a silence and an atmosphere that felt both familiar and strangely different.
“...Hm?”
Finally stopping in front of Anastasia's bedroom, I tilted my head, sensing two presences inside.
One was Anastasia, obviously. The other was the Tower Lord.
‘Looks like she got here first. But why didn't she say anything to me?’
Once the curse-lifting begins, the guardian has to be outside anyway.
It was a bit strange, but I wasn't so morally bankrupt as to be curious about a private conversation between a mother and daughter, so I decided not to think too deeply about it.
For reference, Anastasia was awake thanks to the Tower Lord suppressing the curse with her magic power.
Of course, it was an extremely dangerous measure that could shave years off her life with the slightest misstep, so it wasn't a method that could be used often.
I straightened my clothes and knocked gently on the door.
Knock, knock—
“Lady Ana. I'm coming in.”
There was no reply.
Instead, I could faintly hear the sound of someone swallowing nervously from beyond the door.
I hadn't even seen her face yet, but I could already picture Anastasia's nervous expression.
Creeeak—
The moment I opened the door with the sound of an old hinge turning and stepped inside, I couldn't believe my eyes.
“...?”
On a canopy bed with a tranquil atmosphere.
There, the Tower Lord and Anastasia, dressed in black and white lingerie respectively, were sitting demurely, waiting for me.
“W-Welcome, Sir Hyun-woo...”
“...Are you just going to stand there gawking at the door? Get in here.”
Wondering what on earth was going on, I stared intently at Anastasia.
The moment our eyes met, Anastasia began to fidget with her fingers and confess a truth I was unaware of.
“W-Well, I was happy that I was going to have my first time with you, Sir Hyun-woo, but I was also a little scared... so I talked to my mother about it, and she gladly offered to help...”
“...?”
Hearing Anastasia's mumble, I hurriedly looked at the Tower Lord.
A faint blush and a strange smile graced her face.
It was hardly the expression of someone who had negative thoughts about having a threesome with her daughter.
Just a week ago, she was more conservative than a prime minister from the Joseon Dynasty. How on earth could a person change this much?
It was undoubtedly because of me, of course, but a threesome was definitely not something I had anticipated.
Dumbfounded by the Tower Lord's eccentric behavior, which went far beyond just being 'bold,' I stared at her.
But she paid me no mind, simply shrugging with a smile on her lips as if to show off.
“Are you hesitating now, you wicked husband who's already laid his hands on my daughter in the name of treatment?”
“...How long have you known?”
“Well... let's just say I've known for longer than you think.”
Pat, pat—
The Tower Lord patted the bed with a sly expression.
With my karma already piled sky-high, I had no other choice.
The moment I reluctantly sat on the edge of the bed, the Tower Lord pulled my arm.
Thump—
As I ended up lying in the middle of the bed, the two of them looked down at me, each with a different reaction.
The Tower Lord wore a wicked grin, as if looking forward to what was to come, while Anastasia, despite her obvious nervousness, clutched my collar and refused to let go.
Looking at them like this, they were a mother and daughter who shared quite a few resemblances.
“Well, I certainly welcome it, but... are you okay with this, Lady Ana? It's your monumental first time, and you'll be sharing it with someone else.”
“...I'm fine. In fact, having my mother here makes me feel much less nervous. And you can speak comfortably to me. I... I heard everything from my mother. That you two have taken vows as husband and wife...”
“...”
For a moment, I found it hard to hide my bewilderment.
No matter how much a person could change overnight, I never imagined she would tell her own daughter something like that.
At this point, I couldn't deny it any longer.
The fact that the Tower Lord not only acknowledged me as her husband but also truly loved me.
“Alright, Ana. Why don't you try calling me Papa?”
“...Papa?”
“...?”
Whoa, I wasn't asking for that kind of maniacal play.
A drop of cold sweat trickled down my spine, but fortunately, it must be a common term of endearment in Russia, because the Tower Lord's reaction wasn't bad.
‘...No, wait a minute. If I end up marrying Ana later, what does that make our titles?’
As far as I know, marrying a single mother doesn't legally make her daughter your biological child.
She'd be my stepdaughter, to be precise.
‘Hmm... I created this situation, but this family tree is a complete mess.’
A dry laugh escaped me without my realizing it, but I'd come too far to back out now.
I decided to just laugh it off.
“Ana. You trust Papa, right? Papa will make his little girl all better soon.”
“...Yes.”
Anastasia blushed and nodded shyly.
I handed her the tumbler containing the potion.
“This is...?”
“It's like a fruit juice. I made it myself, but it should taste pretty good.”
Probably.
“Hmm, a potion refined by extracting the juice of a Spirit Fruit and mixing it with mana water at a specific ratio. I didn't know you could perform alchemy... You're a multi-talented husband.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
The Tower Lord, who had approached at some point, hugged my arm and gave me a gentle smile.
Meanwhile, Anastasia's eyes sparkled as she gulped down the potion, which apparently tasted quite good.
“Hah...”
“How is it?”
“Ah... I-It was... delicious. Papa...”
Perhaps embarrassed by the title she herself had chosen, Anastasia avoided my gaze, her face bright red.
I stroked her hair.
“From now on, Ana, I'm going to have sex with you and begin absorbing the curse that's settled in your womb. Then, I'll personally guide the Spirit Fruit's energy dwelling in your body to drive the final nail in.”
“...I'll trust only you, Papa.”
“Of course.”
I pulled Anastasia into my arms and lightly pressed my lips to hers.
Then, as we pressed our foreheads together, gazing at each other and flirting for a moment, a sharp glare shot at me from the side.
“...Are you really going to be jealous of your own daughter?”
“I am not.”
“Sigh, come here.”
“I'm fine.”
“Now.”
“...”
Only then did the Tower Lord quietly come into my arms.
She must have bathed with the same perfumed oil as Anastasia, as a faint floral scent brushed past my nose.
I gently stroked her hair before kissing her.
The Tower Lord, seeming pleased at last, giggled and snuggled deeper into my embrace.
Really... where on earth did the cold, icy beauty from just a week ago disappear to?
A wry laugh escaped my lips.