Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Chapter 22 - 음마 (2)
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Succubus (2)
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...
...
...
"Mr. Eron?"
"...Yes?"
Rishir's voice snapped Eron back to reality.
"Are you alright? Your complexion—"
"Ah, yes. I'm fine. Just a bit tired. I was busy late into the night yesterday. A little rest and I'll be good."
It was pride that held together Eron's utterly unwell mind.
Pride that refused to show weakness before this inferior man.
Eron sat back down and forced a relaxed smile.
'My power... has weakened...?'
However, the panic churning inside made the smile come off more contrived than usual.
Embarrassment brings out a person's true face.
This was the first time Eron showed his genuine self before them.
'Why? Could it be mana backlash?'
Mana power is like muscle.
It grows through stimulation, but the process often comes with injury.
This injury to mana power is called 'mana backlash'.
Eron's power of enchantment directly or indirectly interferes with the opponent's mind.
This delicate and complex power was more prone to causing mana backlash than ordinary magic.
For example.
Considering only the fact that 'the power of enchantment caused mana backlash', it wasn't particularly strange.
However, the problem was the target.
Mana backlash comes in degrees—
'Because of these greenhorns?'
Eron scanned the faces of Marik and his group, the targets of his enchantment power.
Appropriate to their status as fellow adventurers, they were all greenhorns not even at the 2nd circle.
Mana backlash from such greenhorns?
It was like injuring your muscles wrestling with a child.
'...'
Of course, if three people joined that wrestling match, things could change.
Eron glanced sideways at Rishir.
As he recalled, the mana backlash hit the moment he tried to use his enchantment on him.
Rishir was different from Marik's group.
He claimed to be a mage. He might have some knowledge and resistance to mental magic.
His realm was also clearly higher than Marik's group.
'3rd circle...'
Eron acknowledged that Rishir was a being who could introduce the variable of mana backlash.
Of course, whether that possibility was high was another matter.
'Just barely. He's only just entered the early 3rd circle.'
'And for a 3rd circle, he can't even properly hide his own power—'
He knew all about types like him.
'Nothing more to see.'
'Definitely the type who just sits there, dutifully taking whatever the family feeds him, and somehow stumbles into 3rd circle.'
Typically, noble house spares reach 3rd circle before their coming-of-age ceremony, and nobles take it for granted.
They call it talent befitting their noble blood.
Hmm.
But there were those like Eron who thought differently.
Nobles grow up naturally exposed to mana from childhood.
On top of that, they receive all sorts of mana-related education.
They enjoy things that would be 'opportunities' to the less fortunate as naturally as breathing.
So, it would be strange if they didn't reach 3rd circle before adulthood under those conditions.
Conversely, if they barely scrape into 3rd circle upon reaching adulthood despite those conditions?
'Manufactured specialness.'
Eron had seen many such nobles.
They were all ordinary beings who couldn't escape the script.
Eron liked them.
High-quality prey that treated themselves like ordinary people with undeserved specialness wasn't common.
...That was why Eron was confused now.
'Mana backlash on me... because of this trash?'
It was a special and tricky power.
One needed not only awareness but appropriate countermeasures to deal with it.
But look at that half-baked mage.
He didn't even seem aware, let alone counter it properly.
That was when Eron was floundering in confusion, unable to grasp the situation.
"...?"
Eron felt an intense gaze and turned toward it.
The girl sitting next to Rishir. Fienne was looking at her with a meaningful gaze.
Eron couldn't fully understand the complex emotions in that gaze.
-Ah.
-I know.
-That feeling.
How could he know?
That she, hiding an unimaginable identity as a True Ancestor, had attempted the same thing on him before and suffered a great setback.
That they had unknowingly formed a bond of empathy.
In the end, Fienne's gaze of solidarity and empathy didn't transmit—
-Foolish thing.
Eron only felt pure contempt in Fienne's gaze.
"...!"
At that moment.
Eron realized everything and fell into great shock.
The discomfort he first felt from Fienne wasn't an illusion.
His prediction was off.
Fienne wasn't a pitiful girl without power; she was a skilled expert hiding her strength.
And Rishir's escort.
Probably—no, definitely—she was the one who induced the mana backlash.
'Damn, why did I only realize now—'
Eron berated himself.
He had given them an opening by realizing too late.
'What did she do? Did she realize the nature of my power and repel it?'
'No. No way. If so, she would have attacked me already.'
'Probably—a kind of defensive spell placed on that brat activated, making her wary of me.'
'Or—she might be warning me now.'
Yes.
Warning.
Once his thoughts reached that point, Eron regained some composure.
Why would she only warn instead of immediately countering after touching her charge?
She judged him tricky to handle.
Probably felt the power gap wasn't large, or sensed the nature of the enchantment power.
'Sound judgment.'
Coachman.
Adventurers.
And even the half-baked young master.
Everyone here except Fienne was prey to his enchantment power.
The moment full combat began, Fienne would have to fight while minding all those elements.
No. Protect while minding them.
And the instant Rishir got hurt even a little, Fienne would lose.
That was the nature of an escort mission.
'As long as that lump called Rishir is here, the initiative is mine.'
Finally, Eron reached one conclusion.
'I need to act first.'
The moment she felt at ease, Fienne would first hide Rishir somewhere safe.
'Then try to eliminate me, the unstable element in her protection.'
He couldn't let that happen.
Eron set his course of action and made a plan accordingly.
'Strip the adventurers of their power first, then use full enchantment on Rishir.'
He didn't like it.
Using full enchantment on a filthy man.
But—
"..."
"..."
If he could break that sly bitch's nose, he could endure it gladly.
'Enjoy your leisure now...'
Eron comforted himself imagining Fienne screaming as her charge was taken before her eyes.
As night fell, the carriage stopped near the road for camping preparations.
This was the most important moment for adventurers.
The biggest factor affecting next day's condition was none other than the quality of rest.
"You three rest. We'll handle this."
Even so, Marik's group excluded Rishir, Fienne, and Eron when dividing roles.
Normally, everyone shares roles equally, but that norm applied only among equals.
Fienne and Eron knew this and naturally accepted the proposal.
"Damn—why won't this fire, catch!"
"Ha... freaking hard ground. Should we just skip the tent?"
"Not bad to turn away from nobles once. Pray we never meet in Bondales again."
Marik's group sweated and cursed while handling chores.
"Everyone, is there anything I can help with separately?"
Rishir approached them and asked.
"...?"
"...?"
"...?"
Marik's group froze like they'd seen a ghost.
What did I just hear?
The words themselves weren't special.
But the tone.
A noble offering help in a noble's tone?
They had rolled at the bottom as low-rank adventurers, seen all sorts, but this was top-tier bizarre.
"S-sorry, didn't hear right?"
Marik asked blankly.
"I thought things might finish faster if I helped."
God help us.
Not a mishearing.
"No, no—please don't. This is our job. Yes. Rest easy, Mr. Rishir—er, sir."
Marik smiled bitterly inside.
Kind? Casual? Naive to the world?
Rishir.
This young, kind noble seemed unaware how excessive noble kindness lands on inferiors in such situations.
Not bad if annoyed, but more uncomfortable and burdensome.
No adventurer would make a noble do chores and cheer 'Great! More hands!' even as fellow passengers.
How can I rest alone while you toil?
Oh, how could we make Mr. Rishir do chores?
Oh, please don't—
Oh, please don't—
He could see the conversation unfolding.
As Marik's face twisted more tiredly than during chores—
"It's for learning. I'd like to pick up some knowledge."
"...Pardon?"
Is there anything more mysterious than a noble wanting to learn adventurer chores?
Here it was.
This noble wanted to learn chores from adventurers.
Faced with this off-script development, Marik's group just blinked at Rishir.
"I'm interested in adventurer work. And even non-adventurers need useful knowledge someday, right?"
Not just talk.
Rishir's sole interest: succeed in this fantasy world, live well and eat well.
Magic he focused on now was just one means.
More means, the better.
His policy of cramming library knowledge after past life awareness hadn't changed much.
"..."
Marik's group knew how to interpret noble kindness.
Don't misunderstand.
They don't do it from special favor.
They bestow it.
As superiors to inferiors.
A duty or formality.
So, don't accept at face value or get friendly.
A mistake only fools make.
Noble kindness reeks of formality.
That was why Marik's group looked baffled now.
Nobles don't even formally say they 'learn' from inferiors.
"Useful knowledge? What do you mean...?"
"Ways to make fire. Things to watch camping. Various stuff, right?"
"Too trivial for useful knowledge."
Just words.
Marik nodded inwardly.
'This guy's got some idea.'
This campsite.
To outsiders, seemed random spot at time, but actually optimal after long search with eyes wide open.
Chosen considering various camping factors, as Rishir said.
Camping knowledge was vital for adventurers' lives.
And precious, gained only rolling in the field.
Marik called it trivial not thinking the noble would agree; he wasn't that dumb.
But here?
This noble was making him look dumb.
"Nah, trivial? Where's knowledge that's useful but trivial?"
He knew it was formality.
To please inferiors.
"...Ahem. Then come here a sec? There's the moment we decided to camp here, when and where—"
Still couldn't hold back.
Who wouldn't excitedly share with a noble showing genuine respect and interest in their work?
Marik's group eagerly taught Rishir camping knowledge for a while.
Even know-how they'd not share for money.
"Um, if it's okay, teach me too? That—camping knowledge."
Eron, watching for chance to enchant the adventurers, felt annoyed briefly but late-joined.
"Ah~ Why not? Come on, Mr. Eron!"
Marik's group, in high spirits, beckoned Eron without hesitation—but
"...Mr. Eron? If not interested, no need to force it?"
Soon showed clear discomfort: 'Don't ruin vibe, just go'.
His repeated cozy talk to Marik and lover Catherine contrasted sharply with Rishir's sincere listening.
"..."
The succubus, who enthralled people with her unique looks and aura before dominating with enchantment, writhed in embarrassment and humiliation.
"I'll do it."
Night deepened, dinner ended.
By the campfire, 'night watch' came up, and Rishir boldly raised his hand.
"Aigoo, please!!! Don't do this, Mr. Rishir!!!"
Nearly a shout from Marik's group near him.
Since the camping lecture, their fondness for Rishir steadily rose; now they stuck to him like he was hilarious, unwilling to leave.
"You know how grueling staring blankly at fields late night is!? Night watch! Yes!? Not just hard, it's shit! Boring, sleepy, you could die!"
"Still, better experience once beforehand? Better than messing up when paid for watch later."
"Uwaaaaaah!!!"
Not laughter, near scream.
Marik grabbed Rishir, cracking up.
"Wise words!!! Wise, but— aigoo, how to explain!? Ah forget it! Just do it, Mr. Rishir!"
Despite opposition, Rishir seized the night watch.
"Shifts! I'll do them."
Eron, gauging mood, raised hand sharply.
And checked Marik's group.
"Ah. Sure. Thanks."
Unlike Rishir, lukewarm response.
"..."
Crack.
Beauty surpassing most women.
A vein bulged on the beauty's brow who enthralled men and women alike.
'Trash. Just wait.'
Night finally came.
The succubus had eagerly awaited this moment.
"Damn. Mood too high... Regret volunteering."
About 3000 hours into watch by Rishir's feel.
Gazing endless dark fields, he reflected on past mistake.
Dawn air turns sentimental.
He suddenly recalled absent sister's face.
Just before parting, she showed competitive spirit and stubbornness.
-Next time we meet, you'll want to call me sis?
-...So until then, don't get hurt... take care...
-O, oppa...
Pride ignited after seeing his magic talent with own eyes, genius swordsman's.
-Was gonna teach you sword...
-No worries, just follow me...
Anger at ruined plans.
And regret.
-How can you...
-Always told oppa live your life...
-So...
-I don't wanna part either...
-But now this feels right...
-...You'll miss me.
Rishir rubbed chest recalling cute sister.
-...How long you gonna cling!
Before parting, she spoiled fully to leave no regrets, then fully recoiled.
One-inch punch with explosive red face.
"Still hurts..."
Clear bruise from sister on Rishir's chest.
"Hm?"
Thus enduring boring night with thoughts, Rishir suddenly turned back.
Presence felt.
"How is it?"
Unfamiliar yet familiar voice.
"Eron?"
Approaching, darkness lifted, silhouette revealed.
"...?"
Rishir tilted head.
"Eron...?"
Long lashes. Soft-featured face. Sky-blue eyes like summer sky.
Healthy bronze skin, fine golden bob.
He remembered Eron as beauty surpassing women.
Thanks to that, not too shocked by situation.
Eron emerging from dark was naked.
Her body's lines unmistakably female.
Bronze skin flawless, absorbing moonlight and reflecting.
Beauty glowing even in darkness.
"Wanna do something nice?"
Eron's lips curved softly; darkness behind rippled like tail.
Her power responded to will.
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