Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Rodri Beauty Research Institute (3)
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As soon as the elevator doors opened, a massive blaze engulfed Roin and his group.
Nemilson hurriedly activated a barrier spell, as if hed expected this.
However,
Crack!
Cracks began to form in the barrier.
A spell that even a junior mage couldnt block meant, in other words
It must be at least mid-level or higher.
Roin slowly stepped toward the fireball.
Nemilson, who had been pitting his strength against the fireball with both hands outstretched, freaked out at Roins bizarre behavior.
St-step back! Its dangerous!
One wrong move, and their entire bodies could be incinerated.
But Roin let Nemilsons words go in one ear and out the other.
Roin drew his dagger for self-defense.
He channeled aura into the blade.
A mana blade tinged with blue light extended far beyond the daggers original length.
Nemilson couldnt hide his shock as he stared at the enhanced dagger.
Just from the length of the mana blade, it was easy to tell he possessed skill beyond that of a senior knight.
Roin gave Nemilson a curt order.
Drop the barrier.
Was this really okay?
One misstep, and all three of them would end up as roasted meat.
But if they stayed like this and the barrier broke, the result would be the same anyway.
Nemilson, who had suddenly been forced to entrust his life to this boy hed just met today.
Understood.
He began counting down to help Roin time it right.
3, 2
Before the countdown even finished.
Why bother counting just for something this trivial.
Roin swung the mana blade without hesitation.
The aura blade sliced the fireball cleanly in two.
The moment it split, the fireball fizzled out in an instant.
Only then did the interior of the 35th floor come into view.
As soon as they entered, Roin raised his voice.
Belv! I was wondering what you were up to, and here you are tinkering with some weird contraption again!
The moment he heard Roins shout, a young man far off in the distance poked his head out.
Belv tilted his head at the sight of the unfamiliar boy.
At first, hed thought it was Rodri coming.
The tone was an exact match for Rodris.
But when it turned out to be some handsome boy instead of Rodri, Belv couldnt help doubting his eyes and ears.
Belv couldnt wrap his head around what was happening.
At that moment, Helond stepped in to mediate.
Long time no see, Sir Belv.
Even Helond?
I know its plenty confusing for you. For now, could we talk quietly among ourselves?
Nemilson wasnt included in that among ourselves.
Belv nodded to show he understood.
He was curious about the truth behind this mysterious reunion, too.
So youre saying this young master is Sir Rodri?
Yeah, thats right.
Roin nodded emphatically, confirming Belvs words once more.
He explained how hed summoned the incarnation of Goddess Ashutar and wished to become handsome.
And how that wish had led to him being reborn like this as a beautiful young master.
He told Belv everything.
Belv still looked at Roins reincarnated form with disbelief.
By the way, its amazing. I think Director Iroa once joked that to get handsome, hed have to be reborn. Whod have thought itd come true.
Yeah, tell me about it.
Still, whether reborn or not, it didnt matter much to Roin.
As long as he was handsome, that was all.
But it was too early to relax.
For now, I was reborn in this kids body. But theres a catch hidden in it.
You mean the story about Baron Lucas?
Yeah. Thats why Im reopening the beauty research institute.
Just like when hed brought Iroa along, Roin planned to accommodate Belvs conditions as much as possible.
Money, work environment, whatever.
As long as he could create an environment where the Rodri Beauty Research Institute could operate properly, Roin was willing to do anything.
What would Belv demand?
His conditions turned out to be simpler than expected.
Just provide me with food and a place to sleep. I dont need anything else.
Same as always.
Belv had always been a mage with no greed for money.
Even among senior mages, he possessed considerable magical power, yet he had virtually no desire for money, power, or fame.
And that wasnt the only unusual thing about him.
He was an extreme pacifist.
Thats why he never learned or used offensive magic.
So Roin was a bit puzzled.
But when did you start learning offensive magic? You used to hate it, Belv.
It was a question prompted by the fireball that had assaulted them the moment the elevator doors opened.
Belv had always used magic solely to advance human life.
The elevator in the magic tower that had brought them to the 35th floor.
The firestone Roin often used as a humidifier.
All of them were Belvs inventions.
Combining practical inventions with magic.
That was what had made Belv fall head over heels for magic.
On the flip side, he never learned offensive magic.
Hed never even intended to use it.
So when the fireball had come flying at first, Roin had been a little suspicious.
Belv opened his mouth to resolve Roins doubt himself.
That was a security device.
Security?
Yes. Someone was having headaches from burglars breaking into empty houses. They commissioned me to make a security device that would scare them so badly theyd never dare try again. Im working on it now.
It was beyond just scaring them.
At that level, it wouldnt just make them quit thievingthey might quit life in this world altogether.
But they were criminals anyway.
No big deal.
And Roin had no reason to worry about some thief he didnt even know.
That wasnt the issue right now.
Anything else besides that?
Nothing.
So youre not busy.
Well not yet. But why do you ask?
Belv grew increasingly uneasy under Roins probing.
That unease proved spot on.
Then come work at my research institute like last time.
It wasnt a request.
Do it.
It was an order.
Belv knew full well that this was Roins personality.
Perhaps because of that, he wasnt particularly offended.
In fact, he was inwardly thrilled that Rodri had returned in Roins body.
Because no one had supported Belvs personal research as actively as Roin.
Conditions same as before. Ill cover 100 percent of your magic research funding. In return, just put your effort into managing my appearance.
But dont you no longer need that now?
No, I still do.
Only then could Roin finally bring up the story about Lucas Leyden.
He was a pretty boy now, but later he might turn ugly again. To dispel that anxiety, Roin had decided to reopen the research institute.
One just for himself.
Once Belv heard the full story, he gave his answer to Roins proposal right away.
Understood. I was curious about the form of the binding curse on you anyway, Lord Roin.
Binding curse?
It was a term Roin was hearing for the first time.
There was a binding curse on me?
Not anymore. But when you were Sir Rodri, didnt I mention it once? That even with magic that could alter appearances, we couldnt change your face. That it might be due to some external force. Dont you remember?
Yeah now that you mention it.
But back then, it had just been a hypothesisone possibility.
Not confirmed.
Even after Sir Rodri disappeared, I continued researching it on my own. And the result
Suddenly, Belv flicked his right hand lightly.
Papers flew out from a pile of books like living creatures.
They neatly arranged themselves on the table where Belv, Roin, and Helond sat facing each other.
The fact that Sir Rodris appearance wouldnt change no matter what we tried. The cause of everything youve been through so farits almost certainly this binding curse, thats my conclusion.
Binding curse.
Roins beautiful face twisted in an instant.
Even then, Belv continued.
The binding curse on you, Lord Roin, doesnt seem to be ordinary. I could barely figure it out, after all. It sets specific conditions as prohibited and ensures they can absolutely never come true.
What are the prohibited conditions?
Roins voice dripped with murderous intent.
Belv flinched, trembling slightly in instinctive fear.
Well I dont know the exact details. I only uncovered that someone cast a binding curse on you, Lord Roin.
At that moment.
Roin suddenly slammed his fist down on the table with a bang!
The table collapsed straight to the floor.
The items stacked on it tumbled down after.
But Roin was more concerned with something else.
Did you just say someone?
Yes, thats right.
Once, Roin had thought his inability to see results from magic and various beauty products was due to his own constitution.
However.
Belvs explanation completely changed his mind.
Someone had maliciously cast a spell that utterly ruined Rodris life.
Roin was furious to the tips of his hair.
But exploding in anger here wouldnt gain him anything.
It would just unnecessarily tire out poor Belv and Helond.
Forcing himself to regain composure.
Roin asked Belv in a subdued voice.
Can you find out who cast that crap on me?
Ill need a bit more investigation for that.
At that moment.
Roins mind began spinning rapidly.
You just said binding curse, right?
Yes.
How many mages can cast a binding curse? From what I know, the ritual itself is so complex that its pretty hard to pull off.
Correct. There arent many. Especially since only those versed in black magic can handle it.
There werent even that many mages who specialized in black magic.
Which meant.
There cant be many suspects.
Fortunately, Roin had actually encountered this binding curse before.
A while back, during a mission, I took down some mercenaries on a ship. They had a binding curse on them.
Roin turned to Helond and said.
Helond.
Yes, Lord Roin.
Go to where those guys are imprisoned right now. Find out the identity of the mage who cast the binding curse on them, no matter what it takes.
As you command.
And Belv. Youll need to help out too.
Belv nodded vigorously, agreeing to Roins words.
Roin clenched his fist tight.
He was still seething, grinding his teeth.
Ill find that bastard no matter what and beat him to death!