Chapter 274
Chapter 274
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 274
>Chapter Title: Not Yet Concluded
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Aster calmly sorted out the situation.
To paraphrase what Rihaym was saying, it boiled down to this.
- He would protect the orphanage from the Decullan Family.
In this situation, the only thing that could be called a "responsibility" was the orphanage, so it was a natural interpretation. But that raised one question.
"How......"
Even Musphelun at the height of his powers would have struggled to take on a prestigious family alone.
Let alone now, with his core half-destroyed—it was impossible.
But the answer was surprisingly hidden in Rihaym's earlier words.
"I intend to use everything at my disposal."
"......"
What did that mean?
It wasn't just his personal strength. He meant to leverage his accumulated connections and hidden identity.
......In other words, he would reveal to the Empire that Grand Duke Musphelun was alive.
This was something even Rihaym couldn't take lightly, so it wasn't an offer of unconditional goodwill.
"Just one promise."
Aster asked as if he'd expected it.
"What is it?"
"As I said earlier, wash your hands completely of any responsibility for the orphanage. And graduate from the Academy. Its teachings may hold no meaning for you, but this is my condition."
"......"
It was an unexpected condition, and Aster blinked.
Given Rihaym's personality, he'd assumed there would be some condition regarding Obern. But upon hearing it, it was purely for his own benefit.
At this point, Aster couldn't help but ask.
"Then...... what's in it for you, Senior?"
"What was in it for you?"
"......"
He had nothing to say.
Protecting the orphanage brought Aster no personal gain.
At best, there was the justification of safeguarding Lucifer, heir to the Mage Tower...... but that was just a forced excuse in the end.
Realizing that, Aster could sense anew how much he'd changed from his previous life.
He had things to protect now, responsibilities, and people to share the burden with. Unlike the past where he had to rise alone after falling, someone now extended a hand. In a life where failure meant elimination, people had appeared to shield him from the storms, if only for a moment.
When his thoughts reached that point.
Aster had to admit it.
......He was surrounded by truly good people.
And also.
- You vile creature, not everyone is like you!
He realized the truth in the words the parasite had screamed.
So, so......
Rihaym's single remark had taught Aster so much.
If life was a book, his previous life had been a tragedy that spun dark tales with humor.
But this life...... though not yet concluded, could it become a comedy that unfolds joyful tales with joy?
At that possibility, the corners of Aster's eyes trembled faintly.
It was then that Rihaym's voice rang in his ears.
"Then, keep that in mind and focus on recovering."
With that, Rihaym rose from his seat.
Aster couldn't muster a reply even as Rihaym left. He just clenched his teeth and narrowed his eyes slightly. As if opening his mouth would bring the rain.
......And so.
Creak, click.
Rihaym exited the room and crossed the dark hallway. With every step, he peeled back another layer of the name he'd buried.
That name was Musphelun dr Gigas Aderian...... the very one he'd discarded himself.
......That dawn.
A magic signal fired from the Second Black-White Slums spread across the eastern continent.
The signal embedded itself in artifacts, displaying a simple message.
Second Black-White Slums
No sender or reason was listed, but those who saw it understood its meaning instantly.
......The Mage of Conclusion, Musphelun.
The master of the bear-eaten moon was calling for the new moon.
* * *
After Rihaym left, Aster refused all visitors and focused solely on recovery.
He made do with preserved rations from his sub-space for meals.
A week passed in complete seclusion.
'......This should be everything I can do for now.'
Was it because his circuits had been remodeled by the Reverse Heaven's power? His recovery was faster than expected.
Not fully healed, but basic spellcasting was no problem.
"Wyvern, come here."
[Moonlight stones, how many?]
"You little......"
He was bargaining when I'd done him a solid.
Aster glared at the wyvern with axe-like eyes, but it didn't flinch at the fierce gaze.
[You, barbaric human. I, great dragon.]
"......"
[I, benefactor. You, ungrateful.]
Now even the title had shifted from "friend" to "you."
Aster's mouth twitched as he watched the wyvern puff out its chest arrogantly and flick its tail.
'He still thinks he's a spirit......'
The cockiness probably came from never having been put in his place.
But Aster sighed deeply at the blood crusted on the wyvern's body. He couldn't bring himself to be harsh with the one who'd gotten like that saving him.
"Three, I'll give you three."
He was about to settle for a moderate deal when the wyvern flicked its tail dismissively.
[You, one week. Moonlight stones, debt.]
"......"
[Breakfast three, lunch three, dinner three. Nine a day. Overdue period, one week.]
In short, it was demanding the moonlight stones he'd forgotten about amid his recovery.
In the end, Aster promised to pay the overdue sixty-three plus these three—sixty-six in total—before getting to the point.
And what was the point?
Light of Healing.
Treating the wounds all over the wyvern's body.
After the treatment.
[I, perfect!]
Aster watched the wyvern flap its wings excitedly with cold eyes, then let out a deep sigh.
'A real money pit, that one.'
Nine moonlight stones a day. Over 3,000 a year. Enough to bankrupt a decent mage, and the wyvern was devouring them.
But what could he do?
He'd made a promise.
And besides, it wasn't a waste.
What the wyvern had given up for him couldn't be measured in money.
As Aster watched the wyvern bounce around, a commotion erupted outside the door.
"I have to see him today. Step aside."
"No. The Tower Lord needs rest."
"Rest? Is leaving a critically injured patient locked in a room for a week rest for the patient? Move, while I'm asking nicely."
"Even if you ask rudely, no."
"You, you......"
The frustrated huffing voice belonged to Evelin.
For reference, guarding the door was Astaroth.
He'd called down the one lurking in the ceiling to play doorkeeper, and friction had arisen with Evelin after a week of rejected visits.
Grasping the situation, Aster spoke up before it escalated.
"Tarot, let her through."
"......Yes, Tower Lord."
At Aster's permission, Astaroth stepped back and cleared the way. Evelin shot him a death glare and stormed into the room.
Once the door closed.
"What the hell happened?"
"What?"
Evelin scanned Aster up and down with irritated eyes.
"You got hurt, right? Why do you look fine? And what have you been doing for a whole week? Not coming out at all. Do you know how frustrated I've been? Mage up and secluded herself, Dean Rihaym said he had places to be and just left......"
From her machine-gun barrage, Aster understood why she was so angry.
Everyone who could explain was gone.
She was worried but couldn't see the person involved, and the surroundings felt off, so she was frustrated.
Aster listened to Evelin's complaints for a bit, waiting for her emotions to settle. Soon enough, she sighed deeply and brushed back her hair.
"Haa, who am I even talking to?"
Evelin knew full well Aster lacked empathy in these matters. So she felt foolish for worrying......
"I'm sorry."
"......Pardon?"
Evelin furrowed her brow and looked at him.
She was momentarily confused if she'd heard right. Because it seemed like Aster had just said "I'm sorry"......
'A dream? Then this must be a nightmare?'
As Evelin blinked in confusion, Aster's voice rang in her ears again.
"Didn't hear? I said I'm sorry."
"......Uh. Um, yeah?"
Evelin gaped.
Her bewildered face hardened coldly right after.
"......How serious is it?"
"What?"
"How much time do you have left? A month? A week? Internal injuries, right? How bad are they that......"
Evelin firmly believed Aster couldn't express emotions so purely unless death loomed.
She was even tearing up.
So Aster had to reassure her, and it was no small ordeal. No matter what he said, she wouldn't believe him.
Anyway, after the fuss died down.
"You're really okay, right?"
"Yeah, I told you."
"For real?"
"Would it be fake?"
Only after repeated confirmations did Evelin sigh in relief.
He wasn't the most trustworthy, but denying it this much probably meant it was true.
But that lasted only a moment.
Evelin fixed him with a piercing glare right then.
"What the hell happened? You said nothing would happen. So why......"
She had more than one or two questions.
How he'd ended up with major injuries, what had gone down on the Lortel-Decullan battlefield.
In a way, it was all her pent-up curiosity bursting out at once. But she trailed off because.
- Yeah, after this is over, I'll tell you everything.
That's what he'd said before leaving, but she doubted he'd keep that promise.
He seemed friendly to everyone, but that goblin-eyed boy kept a certain distance from all.
And having met many people, Evelin knew walls like that didn't crumble on a single promise.
So......
She would always be an outsider. Not just her—maybe Damian, Chenbi, and even everyone around him.
The sudden sense of distance made Evelin inexplicably depressed.
That was why.
"I asked too much. There must've been circumstances. So, just......"
Evelin tried to retract her words.
But then.
"Curious? Not hard to tell you."
"What......"
Evelin gaped.
Eyes deeper than ever before.
Aster was saying now.
Are you ready to hear the secret?
......And naturally, Evelin's answer was set.
"What is it? Tell me."
"Don't run away after hearing it?"
"Well......"
Evelin rolled her eyes briefly. What was he hiding to act like this?
But that thought didn't last.
"I'll decide after hearing it. That okay?"
A clear smile lit Evelin's face. Her words said that, but it meant she was ready to accept it.
Perhaps that's why.
"Yeah, alright then. So, where should I start......"
A smile graced Aster's lips as he spoke.