Chapter 49
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: To the Royal Palace
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To the Royal Palace
"A-a curse...?"
Already dead, the word 'curse' still seemed to unnerve him. Pomera's small skull began to rattle.
"If I hadn't caught you, you could have become strong enough to lead a powerful army of darkness. But what's the use if it's not really you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You'd have overflowing mana and powerful magic, but what if 'you' ceased to exist, and another soul took over your body?"
"N-No way..."
It seemed Pomera understood what I was getting at. He gripped his wooden staff so tightly it audibly creaked.
"The black orb you acquired doesn't just contain immense dark magic. Isaac, the 8th-circle black magician who single-handedly destroyed an entire territory, lies dormant within it."
"Isaac!"
Pomera shrieked, his voice a series of clacks. Being a magician himself, he couldn't possibly not know the name Isaac.
"So you do know him."
"Of course. Isaac is a black magician mentioned even in the history books of magic."
"That very Isaac is sealed in the orb you possessed. The more of its magic you absorb, the more not only his power but also his soul will be absorbed into your body."
"That can't be..."
"If you borrow the orb's power, you'll reach the 7th circle in no time. You'll enjoy that moment, using powerful black magic and summoning high-level undead. Then, at the very instant you become a 7th-circle master..."
Clack, clack, clack.
Pomera's teeth chattered with tension.
"The seal will break all at once, and Isaac will invade your mind. Your psyche, which will have been slowly eroding since you reached the 7th circle, will be instantly dominated by him. A hungry Isaac will then devour your soul and emerge stronger than ever."
Having feasted on Pomera's soul and usurped his body, Isaac would appear in the world with greater power than before.
"Th-Then what should I do? I've already become a 6th-circle master..."
"You've only absorbed as much of Isaac's dark mana as you can handle. As long as you don't absorb any more, you won't be devoured by him."
"So you're saying if I stay as I am, my body won't be stolen?"
"That's right. But are you really okay with that?"
Pomera, who had been sighing in relief, fell silent at my next words.
"Okay with what? What are you talking about?"
"You've been nothing but a victim. Don't you want revenge on those who used you?"
I had originally planned to use Pomera as a simple magic mule, but I had a change of heart. This guy would have to play a much bigger role.
"You might think you became a lich by your own choice, but that's not it. They gave you the orb and the book intending for you to become a lich. They even cast an illusion spell to cloud your mind."
Pomera was a pitiful character, used and discarded, his body stolen and his very soul devoured. It was a waste to just leave him like this.
I planned to raise Pomera, the chosen vessel for Isaac, into a wild card who could turn the tables.
"Then what must I do?"
"You have to go back to the basics."
"The basics?"
"Yes. Mana meditation."
Mana meditation is a basic training exercise for novice magicians to acclimate and become more familiar with mana.
As magicians advance in circles, they naturally become more familiar with mana, so those at the 2nd circle or higher don't practice mana meditation.
But the true power of mana meditation isn't about adapting to mana. It holds a special power that tempers the soul.
"Isn't mana meditation for children?"
"No, the true effect of mana meditation is the tempering of the soul."
"Tempering the soul?"
"Yes. Mana meditation tempers a magician's soul, allowing them to wield even more special powers."
"I've never heard of such a thing."
Of course not.
The special magician who practiced mana meditation for over ten years has yet to appear. When he does, the true effects of mana meditation will be revealed.
"Just do as I say. You don't have the three basic human desires anyway. Meditate on mana 24 hours a day."
"Can I get revenge on those who corrupted me by doing that?"
"Of course. Your job is to train your soul until it's strong enough to withstand Isaac's."
Seemingly eager to take revenge on those who used him, Pomera's voice grew louder.
"And then?"
"When Isaac tries to devour your soul, you'll devour his power instead."
"Wh-What..."
"I'll make it happen for you."
As I grinned, baring my teeth, Pomera flinched and took a step back.
"I will make you into a black magician greater than Isaac."
Since mana meditation is most effective in his true form, I instructed Pomera to go to a deserted coastal cave and meditate.
I checked Pomera's status window and saw that his favorability toward me had risen significantly. Confirming he believed my words, I sent him on his way with confidence.
"Ah, this is so exhausting..."
After sending Pomera off, I spent my days busy and exhausted.
When an invitation from the royal palace arrived in my name, the Marquis insisted I must observe palace etiquette and hired a tutor to begin my lessons.
I was corrected on everythinghow I ate, how I dressed and undressed, my posture, my gait, and my manner of speaking.
"Are your preparations complete?"
"Yes..."
I answered the Marquis's question listlessly. I had been tormented by etiquette lessons right up until this morning, and my mind was still numb.
The past week was an experience I never wanted to repeat.
"Our family is relatively relaxed about etiquette, but you must be careful in the royal palace. Think three times before you speak or act."
"I understand."
I'd already heard that ten times. The Marquis cared for me and was anxious that I not make any mistakes there.
"Hmm."
The magician in the blue robe, who had been observing the magic circle before us, turned and approached the Marquis.
"It is our turn. Shall I begin?"
"Of course."
As the Marquis nodded, the waiting magician began to chant, infusing mana into the magic circle drawn on the floor.
Whoooosh
A brilliant blue light began to rise from the octagonal magic circle.
This magic circle didn't cast a warp spell but rather opened a passage to the royal palace. It was normally closed for security reasons but had been temporarily opened with the palace's permission.
"Yuren, let's go."
"Yes."
The Marquis, the escort knights, the servants, and I all stepped onto the magic circle. The magician began to chant again. At his words, the circle's blue light turned red, rising into a pillar that enveloped us all.
"Have a safe trip."
Flash.
With the magician's farewell, the world changed in an instant. We had gone from the spacious garden of the Lox estate to an unfamiliar place surrounded by solid walls.
Perhaps because it was a warp passage and not a spell, the transition was even smoother than at the Mage Tower.
"Everyone, please remain still!"
Royal knights and magicians surrounded the magic circle we stood on. It seemed they were checking for anyone who wasn't on the approved list.
A civil official in the center was checking a document against our group, while a magician next to him used magic to scan each person.
"Hmph..."
Accustomed to this, the Marquis stood perfectly still with his arms crossed, saying nothing.
"Marquis Willington Lox and twenty others, confirmed."
Hearing the magician's report, the official gave a slight nod. The knights blocking our path bowed their heads in greeting and cleared a path.
"It's been a while."
As soon as the path opened, the Marquis approached the official who appeared to be in charge. A broad smile was plastered on his face.
"It has been a long time, Marquis."
"Indeed. Have you been well?"
"Same as always for me."
The official and the Marquis seemed to be close, grasping hands and exchanging pleasantries as soon as they met.
"Hahaha!"
The Marquis and the official chatted about something and began to laugh amongst themselves. Still reeling from the aftereffects of my etiquette training, I watched them with weary eyes.
"Yuren. Come here."
The Marquis beckoned me to his side with a light gesture.
"This is Yuren. You haven't seen him since he was a child, have you?"
"He was adorable as a child, but now he's grown into a stunningly handsome young man. Just like his father, he looks exactly like you did in your youth, Marquis. Haha!"
"Huhu, isn't he? You see, Yuren? I told you I was even more handsome in my youth."
"Haha, so it seems."
I'd heard this many times before, so I just offered a faint smile.
"But my son isn't just handsome. Have you heard of the titles 'Sharkrai King Slayer' and 'Sea Serpent Slayer'?"
"Of course I have. He even took down an Orc Champion, making it three boss-level monsters this year alone, hasn't he? The capital is currently swarming with noble daughters who've gathered just to catch a glimpse of Yuren."
"Haha, is that so? But your information is a bit outdated. There's one more."
"Ah, are you referring to the incident at the Northern Wall? Of course, I'm aware. Because of that, His Majesty the King is also eagerly awaiting his meeting with Yuren."
"I-Is that true?"
The Marquis just kept boasting about me without even introducing the person standing before me.
"Why would I lie? However, Marquis, I believe Yuren is wondering who I am."
"Haha! I got carried away. Yuren, this scrawny-looking fellow is Baron Beil Pabian, the one in charge of the royal household."
"That is too grand a title for my humble position."
Until a moment ago, I had been feeling bored and embarrassed, but upon hearing the name of the man before me, my mind snapped to attention as if doused with cold water.
"Yuren?"
Seeing me standing there blankly, the Marquis touched my shoulder with a puzzled expression.
"Ah! My apologies. I am Yuren Lox, Baron Pabian."
"Not at all. You have a fine voice as well. The ladies won't be able to tear themselves away from you."
His compliments didn't register. This man wasn't supposed to be here.
This man was supposed to have failed to inherit the Pabian family's title and remained in his own house. I couldn't understand why he had inherited the title and was working in the royal palace.
What else has changed?
There was only one reason I knew so much about this man.
This man, Beil Pabian, was a member of Sephiroth, the alliance of villains who had corrupted Pomera.
The story's changed again...