Concealing the Forbidden Power

"Hmm... What am I supposed to do about this?"

After dealing with Erielle and the dark mages as usual and returning home, I began some serious contemplation inside my room.

"Venice. Why aren't you releasing your magic power and instead gripping it to use directly?"

The reason for my heavy pondering was simple. It stemmed from the question Erielle had asked on the way back to the citadel while watching me wield the Dark Spear like a dagger.

The standard method for offensive magic was to launch projectiles formed from mana. Even the exceptional Erielle followed this principle, and nearly every mage in this world relied on launching their power as the established norm.

The reason was straightforward. Mages, who primarily handled long-range attacks, possessed overwhelmingly inferior physical abilities compared to warriors who fought in close quarters. Therefore, it was only natural that a mage engaging in melee combat was practically suicidal.

Of course, exceptions existed. There were rare oddities who mastered both magic and close combat. In game terms, they were called magic swordsmen. Those with talent in both fields were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠said to be an extremely small minority.

Come to think of it, I recalled that Jake Frost, the eldest of the Frost family, was supposed to be an outstanding magic swordsman.

Anyway. It seemed Erielle couldn't understand why I would choose such a dangerous fighting style that involved close combat even while using magic. If I were a normal mage, I definitely wouldn't have done anything like melee fighting... It was far too dangerous.

'I don't have a choice... Since I'm using dark magic instead of regular mana.'

Even now, during battles, I moved while carefully hiding the Dark Spear from Erielle's sight. If she ever discovered that I was using dark magic, I'd probably be torn in half on the spot just like those dark mages.

When Erielle asked about it, I'd vaguely brushed it off by saying this method was simply more comfortable and familiar... But this was a matter I needed to consider with grave seriousness.

Lately, the number of dark mages we encountered in battle had been increasing. The situation was gradually becoming more dangerous, and close combat alone wouldn't suffice anymore. I sometimes felt a chill, as if it was only a matter of time before Erielle caught on.

With her concentration that went beyond excellence to the point of being downright eerie, it was only a matter of time before my secret was exposed. Honestly, the fact that I hadn't been caught yet felt like a miracle.

"Hmmm... Isn't there some kind of solution?"

I paced around my room, considering countless possibilities. Of course, I tiptoed carefully so as not to disturb the people downstairs.

What if I just fired the dark magic outright? That was obviously out of the question. The moment Erielle determined that my projectiles were identical to those of dark mages, I'd be dead. Rejected.

Then... should I just continue with close combat as I was? That wasn't easy either... The battles were starting to feel increasingly burdensome, and I suspected Erielle might already sense something suspicious.

Hmm... Wasn't there a good solution somewhere?

The best approach would be to somehow transform the black, sinister aura characteristic of dark magic into something resembling normal mana...

At that moment, a clear notification sound rang out, and a status window appeared before my eyes.

As if skills that had been locked were unlocking with each level gained, I had obtained exactly the technique I desperately needed right now.

"Whoa... What the hell is this?"

How could my luck be this good? To obtain the exact skill I needed most at this moment!

It was probably because I'd absorbed a lot of the dark magic residue left in the air while eliminating those dark mages. My proficiency had risen, triggering this phenomenon.

'Dark Spear.'

With a smile, I summoned it while focusing my will on concealing the dark magic within.

"...Wow. It actually works."

The Dark Spear no longer carried its original sinister, pitch-black dark magic. Instead, it appeared as a small spear made purely of regular mana.

With this... I no longer needed to rely on close combat! I wouldn't have to face greater threats directly anymore! And I wouldn't need to worry about angles during battle or feel anxious about Erielle discovering my secret.

'Still, the 1.5 times consumption is noticeable.'

I could feel my dark magic depleting faster than usual, but... this much was within an acceptable range.

Good... With this, I could fight more smoothly without any risk of being discovered!

Feeling as if a weight had been lifted from a corner of my heart, I headed straight to bed and fell into a happy, peaceful sleep.

***

Another ordinary day. A miserably cold morning dawned.

As usual, I helped the maids with their chores.

"Whew... There's even more work than usual today."

"It seems that way. Venice, thank you again today?"

"Haha. No need to thank me. Well, I'll be going now."

"Um, just a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moment..."

"Venice."

The maid seemed to hesitate, as if she'd made up her mind to say something to me, but Erielle suddenly appeared from somewhere and cut her off.

"Ah... Lady Erielle...?"

"If there's nothing else, you may leave."

"Th-that's..."

"Is there something?"

When Erielle stared at the maid with an even colder, expressionless face than usual, the maid fled as if escaping.

"Lady Erielle. Good morning. Is something the matter?"

"....No. But you... seem to be in a particularly good mood today."

"Pardon? Haha... It's nothing like that."

"Was it because of that woman?"

"....Pardon?"

Erielle took a step closer to me, her eyes narrowing chillingly. Within those lifeless pupils, I felt only endless emptiness.

"Did that woman make you feel good?"

"....What? N-no. Why are you suddenly acting like this?"

She took another step toward me. With each step she took, it felt as though weight was pressing down on the entire space, making my body grow heavier. An indescribable sense of dread washed over me, and cold sweat began to form.

"I'll ask one more time. Did that woman make you feel good? More than when you ate those pancakes?"

Now close enough that I could practically feel her breath if she leaned forward, Erielle quietly looked up at me. I was clearly the one looking down at her... so why did I feel such overwhelming pressure?

Thump. Thump. Thump.

My heart began pounding wildly from the draped terror, and my body started trembling.

"............."

When I hesitated, Erielle's pupils grew even darker. They shifted as if her violet irises were turning black, transforming into a terrifying gaze like that of a dead person.

"Th-that couldn't possibly be the case, Lady Erielle. How could I compare that to the happiness you bring me... Haha..."

"Look me directly in the eyes and speak."

"Haha... I'm being completely... sincere...?"

".............."

I desperately steadied my wildly trembling pupils and met Erielle's gaze. I was shaking like a rabbit standing before a tiger, as if I might be devoured at any second.

"....Is that so? I understand. I thought perhaps..."

"H...Haha..."

The oppressive weight dominating the space vanished, and light began returning to Erielle's once-lifeless violet eyes.

I tried not to let my quivering legs show as I forced a smile.

"Th-then I'll take my leave now..."

"Really? Understood. Prepare well for tomorrow."

"....Tomorrow?"

Before my question could even reach her, Erielle had already departed like the wind.

...What exactly was happening tomorrow? I hadn't heard anything about it. It seemed I would need to visit the head butler.

***

I watch Venice as he smiles and happily converses with that maid.

Why does he look so cheerful today, of all days?

Did that maid make you feel good?

A sharp pain throbs in my chest.

My heart is racing, and my head doesn't seem to be working properly.

'....Irritation?'

Why? The possibility that your denial might be a lie. The fact that she might have made you feel good.

...Why does it bother me so much?

Without realizing it, I slowly approached Venice and spoke. To relieve the irritation that had suddenly surged up.

"Look me directly in the eyes and speak."

Eyes. Eyes are windows to a person's heart.

Within Venice's terrified eyes, I could sense sincerity. The moment I recognized that sincerity, the burning emotion inside me subsided in an instant. The irritation, the throbbing in my chest, everything.

Instead, a new ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠feeling seemed to rise. My heart felt warm... It wasn't an unpleasant sensation. Relief.

Yes. So you becoming cheerful wasn't because of that maid.

Then what made you feel good?

Could it have been another maid who made you feel that way?

You seem to have been talking with the maids quite frequently lately.

It appears I need to continue my observations more thoroughly. After all, I still don't know everything about you.

"I should meet with the maids as well."

Unaware that her expression had grown cold once again, Erielle turned back toward her room. Still unaware of what her own emotions truly were, she prepared for tomorrow's departure to the academy.