Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Ars Nova #1
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Wednesday morning.
Having finished my lecture on Understanding Ancient Dead Language, I headed to the board of directors' room. Accompanying me was Mirna Draco, who had attended the same class.
“Is it true that Professor Vallan has opened her eyes?”
“That’s what I heard. We’ll have to go and see for ourselves to hear the details.”
“I hope some helpful conversation can take place.”
Mirna showed even more interest in Vallan regaining consciousness than I did.
She was the one who had raided the Draco family’s cemetery and sent most of the dragon child remains to the afterlife. It was only natural that she had many questions for Professor Vallan.
Of course, I too was intrigued by Professor Vallan for personal reasons.
「Gamigin: High necromancy. Can turn the living into puppets. The effect increases as the caster’s circle rises.」
The high necromancy Gamigin that I had acquired was a spell manipulating Professor Vallan like a puppet.
To be precise, the spell itself possessed its own personality and will, wearing Professor Vallan’s shell.
How on earth had that happened?
I wanted to ask how she had obtained Solomon’s secret arts. It might even give me a hint toward acquiring other high incantations.
As we entered the main building and approached the door to the boardroom, about to push it open.
“Wait.”
Mirna Draco stopped me.
“What is it?”
“Before we go in, let me tidy your appearance. Look this way.”
Rustle, rustle.
Mirna straightened my collar or brushed my hair.
It reminded me of my teachers’ hands from childhood, making me a bit embarrassed, but her face was so serious that I decided to stay still.
“There. A man who will become the Draco family’s son-in-law must always maintain a clean and neat appearance. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“Then take this as a gift.”
Whoosh.
Mirna handed me something. It was a round, flat object with a handle—a mirror.
「Spirit-Exorcising Mirror: A shiny mirror. Reflects bright light when shone upon. This light is effective against spirits.」
Judging by the text that appeared, it seemed like a magic item or artifact imbued with special magic or effects...
“It seems like a fine item. You’re giving this to me?”
“Yes. Every time you look in this mirror from now on, remember the significance of becoming part of the Draco family and reflect on yourself. Understood?”
“Yes.”
It had been a long time since I’d received a gift, so I felt good. As I carefully tucked the mirror into the pouch at my waist, the boardroom door creaked open.
As Mirna and I entered, we saw quite a few people already inside, murmuring as they sat around the long oval table.
The tall conical hats reaching toward the sky and the long beards brought back memories of seeing them at enrollment.
The Pentagram Mages—the sages of Highroad.
“Sir Gaspe, come in.”
An old man in a white conical hat pushed back his chair and stood.
His name was probably Hainax.
The White Sage Hainax glanced at Mirna Draco beside me, removed his hat, and lightly bowed his head.
“The young lady of the White Dragon has come as well. White Hainax, representing the Highroad Sage Council, offers greetings to your house and its efforts.”
His demeanor was quite courteous for someone addressing a woman several times his junior.
It meant that even to the renowned sages of the continent, Mirna, the young head of the great Draco house, was no one to underestimate. The sages were cultured beings, after all.
“Sage Hainax. It’s been a long time since we last met.”
Mirna grabbed the right end of her uniform skirt, spread it lightly, and bowed her head toward the elders.
That posture was one of the noble etiquettes, and since even Elga or Aira wouldn’t perform such refined manners, it felt strangely novel to witness it myself.
Hainax kissed the back of Mirna’s gloved white hand and said.
“We offer our condolences for your late father. Sir Alestar was an honorary member and greatest patron of the Highroad Mountain Conference, and we received much help from him.”
Soon, the Black Sage Peltor, sitting in the corner, shouted, “Murder! Arson!” but Mirna paid it no mind and gave a light smile.
“The Draco house will not forget your aid. So, Professor Vallan—”
Mirna withdrew her hand smoothly and narrowed her ruby-red eyes as she scanned the room. Her gaze soon turned to a woman leisurely sipping tea.
“Slurp.”
Pale skin almost ghostly white, long deep navy hair. A black dress eerie like crow feathers, and beneath it, breasts brimming with vitality in a bizarre contrast.
“Professor Vallan. Long time no see.”
Mirna addressed the woman in the corner seat, the black mage Vallan. The woman set down her teacup and nodded in greeting.
“Forgive me for not standing, Lady Draco.”
Now I noticed Professor Vallan was seated in a wheeled chair. Her lower body was covered with a blanket that looked warm and soft.
“I’ve only recently regained my senses, so my mobility is still inconvenient.”
She still stuttered.
But she looked better than when I’d seen her in the lecture hall as a professor. Above all, the dark circles that had heavily shadowed her face were gone, and her expression was brighter.
Though her navy hair was a messy nest, if she dressed up prettily, she was a beauty who could turn heads among passersby.
Soon, her red eyes turned to me.
“And Sir Gaspe. I owe you a great debt. I can only thank you for saving my life...”
Drip, drip.
Then she burst into tears, and this sudden emotional shift left me flustered, unable to keep up.
* * *
It took a few minutes for Professor Vallan to stop crying.
“Professor Vallan’s mind is not yet fully recovered. I ask that the young lady of Draco understand any signs of instability.”
The white conical hat Hainax explained Professor Vallan’s condition.
She had undergone mental treatment from high priests until recently and had only just reached the point of returning to daily life.
In my mind flashed the time when Vallan had been controlled and turned into a monster. It had been a monster in the literal sense.
Thinking back now, I was baffled at how I had won.
Having her body seized by such a monstrous entity and controlled for life, it was no wonder the aftereffects were severe.
However, Mirna asked in a rather cold voice.
“Professor Vallan, do you remember the things you did?”
“Yes, miss. It’s a bit hazy—but I remember everything.”
“Then you remember raiding our Draco family cemetery and causing massive damage to our house?”
“T-That’s...”
Professor Vallan trembled with considerable unease. Her breasts jiggled beneath the black dress.
She soon let out a small sigh and nodded.
“...I remember everything. Spreading plague upon the Draco house and taking the lives of its members... all of it...”
“As expected.”
Mirna spoke as if her suspicions were confirmed and unfurled her feather fan with a flutter.
So, from what I gathered, the one who had pushed Mirna’s family to the brink of annihilation was none other than this Professor Vallan.
To be exact, it was the spell Gamigin controlling her.
Curiosity struck me, and I asked the trembling Vallan.
“Professor, how on earth did you fall under such a bizarre curse and get controlled? If possible, please explain in detail.”
“T-That’s...”
Her red eyes darted around anxiously. Then, as if resigned or resolved, she began her tale.
“It was back when I was still a student. We entered a dungeon, and we found a strange incantation. When I came to, I was the only one left alive...”
“You found a magic circle in a dungeon? Is this what you mean?”
I sketched a circular magic circle on a piece of paper on the table. It was the incantation formula for Gamigin that I had learned.
Seeing it, Vallan recoiled in shock and covered her eyes.
“P-Please, put that away!”
“Got it. So this was it?”
“Yes... It said it would lead me to the great source of truth. But it was a lie. I was thoroughly used by it...”
“You mean that spell incantation?”
“Yes.”
At Vallan’s answer, the sages who had been listening intently let out sighs like “Hoo” or “Heh.” Soon, the brown-bearded Sage Brown asked.
“Professor Vallan, are you saying you conversed with the incantation?”
“Y-Yes.”
“It was like a living personality?”
“Yes. And it wasn’t just that one. The Demon King’s incantations—they’re still out there. Still devouring the world.”
Rustle—
Vallan clawed at her hair frantically, trembling. She didn’t look well, but I had to ask more.
“There are more incantations like Gamigin?”
At my question, Mirna let out a long hum and answered instead.
“So the Demon King’s great incantations still linger in the world.”
The sages murmured “Hmm—” at Mirna’s words. If I had noticed, surely Mirna had too.
Mirna folded her fanned-out fan with a snap and addressed the sages.
“I know you’re hiding something. But I, Mirna of Draco, have the right to hear about this incident and these matters.”
“Hmmmmm.”
White Sage Hainax sat back in his chair with a gloomy expression. As he seemed about to speak, someone else opened their mouth first.
“Solomon—!”
It was the black mage Peltor. The man said to have gone mad reaching the 6th circle spoke first. The people leaned in to hear his words.
White Hainax asked.
“Sir Peltor, do you have something to say?”
At Hainax’s question, the black mage Peltor let out a grotesque “Urghhh—” and twisted his body.
As if resisting something, or suffering from a mosquito bite on his back.
Then, he finally extended his bony hand like a dead tree branch and pointed at me.
“Solomon, Ars Nova.”