Return as a Mythical Archmage Chapter 24 – From Now On, We're No Different from Family #1

The eastern sky began to brighten. The weather today was clear. After battling through the night, marching, and cleaning up afterward, everyone had collapsed into a deep sleep. It felt just like taking a rest after grueling training in the military.

Amid the stillness, Lawrence moved busily. Negative Energy quickly dispelled the fatigue from his body. So this was why the Benoman family could lie in ambush for days on end.

"A troll heart really is huge and thick. Never thought I'd handle ingredients like this in my life."

Lawrence placed the thoroughly cleaned troll heart in one corner of his lodging. He couldn't make an artifact with it yet. His Dragon Body proficiency was insufficient.

Today's main dish was this. And the recommended special course was the enormous tomahawk steak attached to the troll's ribcage. Now he understood why knights trained only with weapons suited to their hands. Nothing else fit quite right.

"Alright, let's get started."

The system that popped up only when needed to assist. Lawrence figured he'd never be bored and began the work.

The first task was refilling the capacity of his depleted artifacts. He only needed to replenish the buff spells Haste and Strength, and the divine spells Holy Bomb and Holy Chain. The rest of his original circle spells would be replaced with better ones.

He also planned to create emergency spells using the newly acquired extracts and mediums.

Conventionally, upright mages used only elemental magic, so-called circle magic. Even a touch of black magic was said to harm the Mana Road.

But that didn't matter to Lawrence. He had no Mana Road to begin with, so the penalty was irrelevant. Might as well use it freely.

"First up, this one."

Poison Cloud. A black magic spell that spewed poison from the mouth, straight out of some ninja comic. If used right, it could take down enemies stronger than him in one shot.

The magic circle pattern floated in his mind. Now he just had to draw it meticulously.

Scratch, scratch.

Lawrence's pen moved. This was the most enjoyable time. In a world without games or hobbies, only wielding the pen like this soothed his mind and body. Before long, his head bobbed, and he hummed a tune that filled the room.

"Lawrence! You still asleep!?"

"……."

He heard someone calling, but the artisan lost in his trance didn't notice. And so, immersed in his creative frenzy, he worked straight through until sunset.

"……Ugh."

"What've you been doing without sleeping!?"

"Making artifacts was fun."

"Ugh, you didn't even eat. Go downstairs and eat something."

In the end, Lawrence emerged only when his eyes grew dry and gritty. Loria caught the shambling boy and scolded him. Despite her grumbling tone, her eyes brimmed with worry. No matter how you looked at it, she was nothing like Media.

Then something caught Lawrence's eye. A lock of Loria's hair near her ear had changed color. Her naturally light brown hair now shimmered silver in that one spot behind her ear.

"Whoa, sis, you dyed your hair?"

"Dyed? What nonsense is that? Why would I do that?"

"Just checking."

"Don't you know light brown hair is the Montemer family symbol?"

"Got it. My bad."

Lawrence brushed it off. Could be gray hairs, or a genetic shift. Or maybe the weather? Who knew. He rubbed his gritty eyes and headed downstairs.

Those freed from fatigue were bustling with party preparations. They greeted Lawrence warmly.

"Young master! Good day!"

"Just a moment! It'll be ready soon!"

"You haven't eaten? If you're hungry, head to the tavern!"

"Thanks. Everyone okay?"

They all nodded vigorously at his question. Northerners were something else.

"Hahaha! Of course!"

"Heard you were amazing too, young master!"

"Haha... Lady Leila did it all. Speaking of which, do you know where the Duke and Lady are?"

"Lady's in the warehouse, I think. The Duke... not sure."

He had no interest in the Duke's whereabouts. His goal was Leila. He'd finally made her artifact.

And the first wall appeared. But treating Leila came first; he'd figure out the rest later.

Asking around, he reached the warehouse. There was Leila, still directing operations and handling the castle's affairs. Fortunately, no seizure yet.

Maybe from the intense battle, but the progression had spiked. Good thing he'd finished the artifact before it worsened.

Watching Leila tense her core and lead, Lawrence approached.

"Lady ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Leila, got a moment?"

"Oh, you're up? Wait... that doesn't look like a face that just woke up."

"Haha, got carried away working."

"Hey, Hans. Keep doing what I told you. Be right back."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Leaving the busy soldiers behind, Leila and Lawrence walked side by side. She glanced at him and blurted,

"Have you gotten a bit taller?"

"Really? It's that age."

"Hmm……."

That's weird. Did kids grow that fast overnight? I don't remember...

Leila tilted her head. Everyone was different, she supposed. Anyway, knowing he'd holed up till evening, she asked with concern,

"Shouldn't you rest?"

"I'm fine. It was fun."

"If you say so... So why'd you call me?"

"It's done. The artifact to cure your illness."

"Oh-."

Her eyes sparkled. Overwhelmed with emotion, she took deep breaths. She'd never dreamed of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠help from anyone...

If this went on, I'd have died without knowing why.

Did this kid even realize what he was doing, walking so casually? She vowed to repay him no matter what. She and Lake would have died cluelessly, leaving her father to guard this harsh north alone—too cruel.

Calming her pounding heart, Leila found a suitable spot. The Duke's office. He was writing reports: letters to each family, evaluations, achievements... for Montemer and the imperial court directly.

"Father!"

"Hm?"

He heard his daughter's voice outside. Not alone, either.

"Come in."

"Yes!"

"Rested well, Duke?"

"And you? All right?"

Lawrence smiled lightly and nodded. The concern from all sides felt good. Not physical, but his fatigue eased a bit. He closed the door, opened his subspace, and pulled out the artifact.

"This is it."

"Done already. Good work."

"I enjoyed it. But you have to help me later."

"I swear on my family, my heart, my mana. House Gaudie will guard eternal friendship with Lawrence Montemer."

"Perfect. Let's start."

Lawrence began implanting the finished artifact into Leila.

Crackle.

Tension filled the room as the power manifested.

In the modern world, if they could make artifacts like this, hospitals would be obsolete.

Crackle-crackle!

The artifact, etched with dense magic circles, burrowed into Leila's heart. She gasped deeply.

Once fully implanted, Lawrence read the system messages slowly.

Leila quietly examined her body.

So it works on others too.

If I use this right, I could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠build my own loyal army.

Lawrence thought that as he waited for Leila to realize her condition. Would she notice ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her illness was gone?

A tense moment passed, and Leila opened her eyes.

"Whoa, this is... no joke!"

"How is it? Feel okay?"

"No joke at all! That stuffy feeling's gone, heart feels at ease. Feels stronger even?"

"I see……."

Authority. Power to reshape the world. Maybe the defective mage without a Mana Road was born with greater strength, hence the curse.

The Duke watched his bouncing daughter and exhaled all his pent-up anxiety in one long sigh.

"Young Lawrence."

"Yes?"

"Come anytime. From now on, the north and you are no different from family."

"Thank you, Duke."

Lawrence smiled brightly. The Duke led the two youngsters with booming laughter.

"Alright! Victory day today—let's feast and party!"

"Lots of tasty meat, right!?"

"Naturally! Hahaha!"

Growing boys needed meat, after all. Lawrence, the Duke, and Leila headed to the bustling party prep with bright faces.