TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 152
-Crackle.
A red light fell from the sky, making a thunderous sound.
In a fleeting moment, the flashing light tore through the dark night and split the sky, leaving a deeply etched and menacing mark on the ground.
Hans, watching me fire magic with an expressionless face, let out a deep sigh and said.
“Did I get hit by that?”
Hans, who had started using honorifics ever since receiving the Magic Tome, spoke awkwardly but with stubborn insistence that he found honorifics more comfortable. Shaking my head, I replied.
“No. At that time, I adjusted the Thief, so it should be weaker than this.”
“So that was adjusted… Haha.”
Hans gave a wry smile as he began filling the damaged ground. Watching Hans enthusiastically fill the yard with a shovel using such a primitive method, I could infer how diligently he must have lived in the Magic Tower.
“You’re quite skilled at shoveling.”
“I worked at a Proprietress’ place when I was young.”
“Does the Magic Tower not give you an allowance?”
“How could I spend money that isn’t mine? Besides, I couldn’t use magic when I was younger, so I had to be careful.”
Hans had grown up more upright than I expected. Unlike the green-haired head from the same Magic Tower, he had a sound character.
With a satisfied smile, I pointed to the corner of the yard.
“Could you fill that part as well?”
“Of course.”
“And over there too.”
“Yes, understood.”
Hans followed my words better than I expected. Though bound by a contract, he could have grumbled, yet his polite demeanor left me curious.
It made sense, considering Hans wasn’t portrayed like this in the original work. He had a rebellious, darkened model student vibe, but the Hans before me was as polite as a model student who had just received an exam summary.
Putting my hands in my pockets, I asked Hans. It was more comfortable to ask directly in such situations. If he suddenly changed his attitude and said, “It’s filthy hard to keep up with you,” it would be awkward for both of us, so I decided to address it now.
“Why are you acting so submissively?”
Hans, instead, questioned me in response to my question.
“Why are you treating me so well?”
“Pardon?”
“The Magic Tome you gave me.”
With his hand over his chest and an emotional expression, Hans said.
“It’s an Ancient Grimoire, isn’t it? You gave me the artifact of an Archmage who protected the Empire during an ancient war… Why are you being so kind to me?”
“That?”
“It’s an honor just to see a Magic Tome I’ve only read about in textbooks, but you let me read it directly… Sniff.”
Hans, with an emotional expression like The Boy who found a treasure, spoke to me. If I told him there were more Magic Tomes to hand over, I felt I might see a Man cry, so I swallowed my words and nodded.
‘It’s not even that great of a Magic Tome.’
The Magic Tome ‘Black Wall’ that Hans received.
It was indeed written by an ancient Wizard, but it contained more falsehoods than I had expected.
While it was true that it achieved great feats during an ancient war, the enemy nation hadn’t even invaded the Empire, and the Archmage with the title of ‘Iron Wall’ wasn’t such a remarkable person.
To be honest, even I didn’t think much of that Magic Tome, as I didn’t know its limitations well.
There were plenty of better Magic Tomes.
Moreover, Hans hadn’t used the magic ‘Black Wall’ much in the novel. He mainly used stolen magic as his primary technique, and I remembered that ‘Black Wall’ wasn’t utilized much.
That’s why I gave it to Hans, but…
“Brother.”
Well, as long as he’s satisfied, I guess that’s good.
Whatever the case, it’s better when things work out. With a wry smile, I began loosening my wrist.
“Shall we start now?”
“Gulp.”
Hans looked at me with trembling eyes. He was tense because of the daily duels we had every evening.
Placing Tirbing to one side, I said to Hans.
“As always, I’ll use a wooden sword and refrain from using magic. You can do your best.”
“Let me prepare for a moment…!”
Without giving him a chance to hesitate, I kicked off the ground and dashed toward Hans.
-Bang.
With a sound piercing through the air and a loud explosion spreading, Hans hurriedly began chanting a spell formula.
“[Area]”
A black magical barrier spread from Hans’ body. It slowly encroached on the space and soon reached my feet.
Quickly rotating my view, I stepped out of Hans’ domain.
‘Did he have such an ability…?’
Watching Hans display magic I hadn’t seen in the novel, I felt puzzled and questioned him.
“This seems like magic I haven’t seen before.”
“I developed it recently.”
“?”
“A harmony of Dark Magic and magic… Thanks to reigniting my passion for magic…!”
Hans stopped speaking and began firing magic. Black hands emerged from the shadows, flailing to pull me into his domain. Lightly evading their grasp, I felt intrigued, smiling faintly.
‘Interesting.’
Seeing Hans improve day by day, I smiled with delight. Though not as overwhelming as the martial arts shown in the novel, I thought he was strong enough compared to the current Protagonists.
He was worth nurturing.
“I’m curious.”
“About what…?”
“What you’ll show me next.”
“What…?”
A red aura began to flow from my hand. Lowering my stance, I prepared as Hans’ pupils trembled.
Hans gulped nervously, bracing for the incoming attack.
Taking a breath, I spoke to Hans.
“A wooden sword has many restrictions.”
“…”
“It’s hard to inflict critical damage, and no matter where I hit, it just ends up breaking.”
“So.”
-Crack!
Hans’ waist twisted as he let out a silent groan.
With a stunned expression, Hans raised his head to see me preparing my next move.
Hans’ domain crumbled.
Hans’ pupils shook violently as he watched the wooden sword, wielded with a red glare.
“Just take the hit.”
I swung the sword at Hans.
*
After finishing a light duel.
I looked at Hans, sprawled on the ground, and gave a small smile.
“You seem good enough to serve as a bodyguard.”
“…Cough… Cough. What kind of bodyguard gets beaten like this!”
“That’s how I can trust you with the job.”
Hans looked at me with a face full of emotion. He seemed moved by the acknowledgment of his usefulness.
Seeing Hans, who had a more upright personality than I expected, I handed him a water bottle with a gentle smile.
Gulping down the water, Hans drank deeply.
In a flowing tone, I spoke to Hans, making sure he wouldn’t misunderstand.
“By the way, when you came to my estate, why did you mention the Cockatrice’s habitat?”
“…”
Hearing the word Cockatrice, Hans froze like a robot, and I looked at him with a chilling smile.
‘Cough,’ Hans, caught off guard, lowered his head and spoke to me.
“How did you know?”
“There’s nothing I don’t know.”
“…”
“It would be nice if you could just tell me outright.”
Hans’ eyes wandered aimlessly, unable to find direction. What he thought was a perfect crime turned out to be a situation where the victim was already aware.
Not wanting Hans to misunderstand, I decided to add a comment for his sake. After all, I couldn’t treat someone who had worked so hard too harshly.
“I know you were planning to bury me. I’m not trying to scold you; I’m just curious.”
“…Sniff.”
“Was I that unbearable to you?”
“Cough…!”
“I thought I was going easy on you while hitting. I’m a bit hurt, you know.”
“I’m sorry. Actually, the truth is…”
Hans began to spill a lot of information to me.
As Hans, who had realized I’d uncovered his identity, called me a monster and slowly recited the details of his plan, I nodded along and responded with “Hmm, I see,” while observing his expression.
When he mentioned his plan to lure me to the Cockatrice’s Nest and bury me with the Heretics, Hans’ trembling voice was remarkable.
Especially when I asked if there was anything else he had done wrong, and he confessed honestly that he had planned to “Kidnap Olivia.” I found it unexpected.
If he had tried to hide it until the end, I would have pushed Hans to the brink of death.
Some might call it petty to bring up past events, but I am that petty person.
I thought it would be better for both of us to address any unresolved issues.
After hearing Hans apologize for considering the Young Lady’s abduction, I nodded.
And then.
I asked Hans the most important question.
“Is there any part of the Heretics’ plan that involves the Young Lady’s safety?”
There must be things I don’t know.
In the unintended collision of relationships, I suspected the Heretics might be involved, so I asked Hans.
“No…”
Hans stopped speaking, then pointed to his tongue with his finger. The gesture indicated that he was under a curse restriction as a member of the Heretics. I nodded, removed my hand from my pocket, and snapped my fingers.
With a ‘snap’ sound, Hans stared at me with a bewildered expression.
“This is impossible,” Hans muttered under his breath.
“How did you break it?”
“It’s a secret.”
At my words, Hans nodded and clasped his hands together. Seeing Hans mutter something cryptic like “That’s certain…” brought a small laugh from me.
“It’s thanks to Tirbing, but I’ll keep that a secret.”
Skipping the troublesome explanation, I looked at Hans. Hans, who had been letting out a hollow laugh, composed himself and began answering my question.
“There’s nothing.”
“Really? I thought there might be.”
“So far, within the Heretics, no information about Brother or Olivia has been revealed. Brother is so good at erasing evidence, and I haven’t mentioned anything either.”
“You’re surprisingly tight-lipped.”
“I may not look it, but I hold a high position within the Heretics… Reporting failure seemed a bit much.”
“Indeed.”
I nodded, understanding Hans’ position.
After a brief silence.
Hans suddenly exclaimed, as if remembering something, “Ah!”
“Come to think of it, there is one thing the Heretics are planning.”
“A plan?”
“Yes.”
Hans swallowed and spoke.
“Mikhail.”
“The Heretics are planning to eliminate Mikhail.”
At Hans’ words, I reacted lightly, as if it were no big deal, and put my hands in my pocket.
“Ah, I already know about that.”
“What?”
“I just had a feeling they would.”
Leaving behind Hans, who wore a bewildered expression, I walked toward the estate.
The novel’s episode.
“Murder.”
It was the episode where Mikhail completely lost any mercy toward the Heretics.