Dare to Touch What's Mine?

Mental Counter. A spell from ancient magic, forged from the spirit of elementals. No one could summon elementals anymore, making it impossible to learn.

Lawrence grinned and picked up the book without hesitation. The other items were tempting enough to make anyone's head spin. But he judged this one far more practical for accelerating his growth right now. He could always earn the others later by racking up more achievements.

What did the others pick, I wonder. Gold and jewels? Flashy accessories? Grimoires? No clue.

If it were Loria sis, she'd go for a grimoire packed with powerful offensive spell secrets.

She moved solely for the honor of Montemer. She was perhaps the one who fit the family best.

Lawrence spent the remaining three hours leisurely touring the rest of the treasury before heading out.

The door creaked open—kiiiek—and the treasury keeper, who had waited silently for those three hours, walked in slowly.

A low hum rose as mana stirred from his hand, as if scanning for something. He'd pre-chanted a spell, ready to cast the moment anyone stepped out.

"Is this what you've chosen to take?"

"Yes."

"Noted. If you've done anything dishonest, it'll come to light immediately. My Unique Ability excels at remembering such things."

"No worries."

Lawrence chuckled softly and stepped forward. He planned to hole up at home until the preliminaries, cranking out artifacts like mad. He also needed to swing by the temple and request stronger curse items from Media.

As he walked, the sharp click-clack of polished heels echoed.

Speak of the devil. At the end of the hall, Media approached with the head maid.

Her eyes simmered with quiet fury, igniting like oil on fire the instant she spotted Lawrence.

"……."

"Lady Media."

"Yes... heading back now?"

"Yes. Time to go home."

Media nodded curtly. Her words stabbed like needles—far from mere conversation. Her mana rippled threateningly toward him, confirming the hostility wasn't imagined.

Still, Lawrence smiled brightly.

"Thank you always for looking after me. My late mother would be pleased."

"……."

"Can I count on your support more often?"

"Of course. I'll make sure to send something special."

To Lawrence's ears, it sounded like a vow to prepare deadlier curses. But that was fine. No—perfect, even. It'd toughen his body further.

Can't wait to see how much Dragon Body grows.

Lawrence bowed with a genuine, beaming smile.

Media watched his retreating back, suppressing the rage boiling within. The head maid whispered beside her.

"What will you do, ma'am?"

"Can't touch him once he's in the tower. Poisons and curses failed too. So... we'll try another approach."

"Worried the Freya captain might notice."

"Don't fret. Theirs isn't so sloppy."

The head maid bowed silently. Her fate tied to Media's, she had no choice but to trust and follow. With their power, claiming the family outright was only a matter of time.

The patriarch's just a figurehead. A powerful one, sure—the man upholding Montemer's name.

The head maid thought so as she followed. The patriarch hadn't meddled in family affairs directly for ages. Montemer had changed too much. Now, it was time to crown a regent behind the throne of magic.

"I'll prepare right away."

"Do. That last remnant she left... Rachel, the maid?"

"Yes."

"Strip it all away. Everything...."

Media's eyes darkened profoundly. It hadn't worked perfectly on Freya, but brainwashing one untrained commoner maid was child's play. Success meant eyes on Lawrence's every move.

I wanted this clean, but you're forcing my hand to get dirty.

If he craved more hardship, she'd oblige.

#2

Before heading home, Lawrence inspected the monsters he'd hunted for a medium suitable for Mental Counter. He'd engrave magic circles in the carriage to kill time.

"Hmm, this'll do."

This was the best he could make on the spot. Without hunting, better materials were hard to come by. Wandering recklessly would just draw suspicion. Besides, Media's glare suggested she'd act soon. He needed defenses now, or it'd be disastrous.

And that hunch wasn't baseless.

Freya captain couldn't even remember properly. Definitely... another family's mage involved.

Time was precious. Lawrence hurried home. He couldn't ride yet, so it was the family carriage with a few escort soldiers.

"Young Master Lawrence, I've been waiting. Eckel Yurgo."

Lawrence nodded curtly. A mage from Yurgo house, vassal to Montemer. No prior ties, but he'd heard they specialized in transformation magic.

Wait—transformation magic?

Something clicked in his mind.

"Escorting to the annex?"

"Yes. Lady Media ordered relief supplies delivered."

"Ah... right."

Relief supplies, not support? Plenty suspicious, but he let it slide for now. He boarded and waited to depart.

Naturally, no one paid him mind inside.

"About two hours."

"Got it."

The carriage jolted into motion, and Lawrence began work immediately.

Mental Counter. Felt like he'd need it soon.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Scritch-scratch. His engraving began. Completing this artifact meant more growth. No reason to stop.

Meanwhile, Eckel, mounted for escort duty, smirked.

Media's influence in the family was absolute—vast connections and interests in her grip. Aligning with her would smooth his path.

That brat's nothing...

He'd heard of the subjugation feats. But an eleven-year-old kid? Whatever tricks he pulled wouldn't work here.

Why send a Yurgo transformation mage for this minor task? To fulfill Media's secret request: brainwash and implant suggestions in Lawrence's maid.

Promised a 5th Circle grimoire. Must succeed.

5th Circle—the peak for average talents. Eckel wasn't a genius, just mid-to-upper among mages. In this cutthroat world crawling with prodigies, such perks were survival.

Yurgo house suffered a talent drought. Their transformation specialty drew little notice. Reach 5th Circle young, and he'd shine light on his family.

"Not messing with the kid—just the maid."

Maids were servants, fodder for mages' lives. No guilt in magicking them.

Thus, two mages and light escorts left Montemer estate.

Someone watched from afar.

How will you handle this one, son?

Trials would always come. Let's see you overcome it.

Edward's gaze lingered on the departing carriage.

#3

Crackle-pop! Even in the shaking carriage, the pristine artifact sank into Lawrence's body. Messages revealed his new state.

"Good. Minimal defenses covered."

"Young master, we've arrived."

The carriage pulled up to the annex just as Lawrence's heart fluttered at the thought of seeing Rachel after so long. Home sweet home.

Stepping out, he saw Rachel rushing to greet him—and Eckel approaching her.

Mumble-mumble, Eckel chanted as he closed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in. Short distance, but plenty for ensnaring a commoner like her.

"Welcome back! Young master!"

"I'm Eckel. Escorted your young master. Look into my eyes for a moment?"

"Pardon?"

Rachel glanced instinctively. He'd prepped the spell en ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠route. Just finish the incantation's end—low-focus transformation magic activated.

Mana surged toward her mind—

"Freeze, you bastard."

"Gurk!?"

Crackle!

"Dare ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to touch what's mine...?"

Lawrence now stood before Rachel, his crimson-black eyes gleaming dangerously. Fury and vengeance burned in his gaze.

The Dragon's heir. Inheritor of the greedy, selfish apex predator's will—its avarice laid bare.

"Keep those eyes wide open. Unless you wanna die."

"......Yes."

Now, time for retaliation.