9. friend. (One)
curse.
Speaking of that, Lucia’s expression hardened to a degree that was incomparable to that of before.
Lucia opened her closed eyes and spoke.
“Where did you know that?”
Like a cat wary of strangers, the expression raised its guard to the utmost.
However, even if I opened my eyes, nothing would have changed much.
Because the world that is allowed to her now is black darkness.
Purple eyes with murky light staring into the air.
Taking a step closer to her, I grabbed her hand and said,
“It’s not that way, it’s this way.”
“Ji, what are you doing now… … !”
“Maybe you don’t know where I am?”
One embarrassed expression is the same as the last time I saw it.
I burst into laughter and spoke slowly.
“A mysterious monster that invaded the Mage Tower you fought against a year ago. He is one of the ‘Five Plagues’.”
“… … The five plagues?”
five plagues.
Monsters that have existed since ancient times, before the present empire was established.
I said the name, but it wasn’t the first time Lucia had heard it.
that would be natural
The name of the five plagues is so famous that even if you ask a passing three-year-old kid, you’ll be able to answer.
However, apart from knowing its existence, it seemed impossible to believe it easily.
“… … I heard it last appeared decades ago.”
“Exactly one year ago. Because the monster you faced was a disaster. By any chance, wasn’t the disaster something difficult to express in words?”
It has the properties of a solid rather than a liquid.
Fluid rather than solid, it looks like slime.
“… … Do you really want to say that he was a ‘melting disaster’?”
“yes.”
A total of five catastrophes.
During the long thousand-year history of the empire, it was the name given to monsters that were repeatedly exterminated and resurrected countless times.
Monsters that dare to inflict irreparable wounds on mankind whenever they appear.
The monster that Lucia faced a year ago was one of them, the ‘Melting Disaster’.
“Mage Lucia didn’t think of that either, didn’t she?”
“… … At the Magic Tower, they said it couldn’t be. maybe you’re mistaken I’m going to find a cure.”
At the Magic Tower, La.
Hearing that, I suddenly felt fortunate.
Perhaps if Lucia could see now, it would have been impossible to hide her anger.
The mysterious monster that appeared a year ago was met with a melting disaster.
Corroding everything it touches.
The existence that took away magic along with the light of the world from Lucia, who barely blocked her way.
“… … If it was a real disaster, do you think I could have stopped it by myself?”
during the thousand-year history of the empire.
Every time it appeared, it was a disaster that slaughtered at least four figures of people.
In front of him, no sword master or wizard was powerless.
The degree of destruction of a city is a literal ‘catastrophe’ that is taken lightly.
Because that was the guys.
“Yes, enough.”
If the ‘melting disaster’ that appeared a year ago had been intact, Lucia would not have been an opponent.
However, the melting disaster that appeared at the time was not in perfect condition.
It must have been able to be sorted out in her line somehow.
And when the Magic Tower asserted to her that it was not a melting disaster, it was a lie.
“Even the magic tower isn’t stupid. You must have known that the monster that appeared that day was a melting disaster.”
but not admitting it.
The moment he acknowledged that, it must have been inevitable because he had no choice but to publicize Lucia’s identity.
Climbed into the 7th circle at the age of 17.
An unprecedented genius wizard who reached the 8th Circle at the age of only 20.
Because that was Lucia.
I must have been afraid.
… … To reveal that ridiculous talent to the world.
And the fact that the magic tower under the world lost such a talent while just staring at it.
After taking a deep breath, Lucia finally regained her composure and said,
“… … Okay, so let’s pretend it was a disaster. But, isn’t that more hopeless?”
It is not a simple curse, but rather a curse of ‘melting disaster’.
Rather, it is just a more hopeless modifier.
Of course, that didn’t apply to me.
Because I already knew how to break the curse.
“Those called calamities are basically beings that go against nature.”
I knew this because I had fought one of the disasters in the previous episode.
The aura they have, how heterogeneous they are.
And even how ridiculous they are.
Should we say that existence itself is an artificial feeling that goes against nature?
It would be safe to say that it is completely at odds with the energy of nature.
That’s why their curse was able to be erased with the power of the opposite payment.
For example.
Things like elixirs that condensed the energy of nature.
Having said that, I motioned for Ciela to come in.
Soon after receiving the case containing the elixir from Ciela, I put it down and opened it.
Click.
Even though I can’t see my eyes, did I realize what I was opening?
“I hope that… … !”
“Yes, it is a leap. Perhaps the curse will be restored after you take everything here.”
Elixir is basically something that boasts a fairly astronomical amount.
It’s not like I can’t buy it with money, but it’s not like that.
At least it was clear that Lucia couldn’t get it easily.
Right now, she has lost both her magical powers and her eyesight.
That’s why I did all the things I wiped out in this auction.
“… … I don’t have money to buy something like that.”
“Oh, I don’t need money.”
Because I didn’t buy it with my own money anyway.
The overflow of the Reinhardt family was also money.
If Lucia could get well, that was enough.
If only this could buy the favor of the next 9th circle archmage.
It’s a cheap eat anyway.
Of course, contrary to my thoughts, the current situation was difficult to trust.
A noble who appeared out of nowhere and didn’t even know his name was supporting the elixir, saying he would heal the curse.
Lucia turned to me with a slightly suspicious look and asked.
“… … Why do you want to do this to me? It’s too much to say that I’m just trying to get advice.”
“Well, it’s really nothing.”
hmm.
I am ashamed to come out of my mouth for no reason, I said after clearing my throat like that once.
“Please be my friend. That’s it.”
“… … ?”
Was it something completely unexpected?
A grotesque expression appeared on Lucia’s face.
The expression of wanting to see something you will never understand.
Did you at least feel that I was saying this out of pure goodwill?
Lucia, who kept her mouth shut for a moment, said.
“… … Can you give me a little time to think?”
“Sure.”
I will wait forever, until she can put down the thorn in peace.
that is. Because it was a courtesy to show to a close friend.
* * *
A day later, Lucia’s room again.
In a room where the only sound was the rustling of paper.
Lucia, her eyebrows furrowed, said in a slightly puzzled voice.
“Give me time to think… … Didn’t you mean he wasn’t coming?”
“well? You never said anything like that? Ciela, would you pour me some tea?”
“yes.”
Squeak.
Seeing me having a kind of tea time with a shameless face, Lucia let out a blank laugh.
“Would you like to have some, Lucia Mage?”
“I’m done. What is the car… … . I’m a bit busy right now.”
Glance.
I looked at the desk where she was diligently drawing the magic circle, and I asked.
“Because of the assignments given by the Mage Tower? How about just taking a day off today?”
“What nonsense… … No, it sounds strange.”
“Looks like you’ve already made enough to submit by the due date. isn’t it? After all, there is no one other than Lucia Mage who can make it.”
Why are you working so hard?
What do you call a double?
Having said that, I invited her to take a light walk.
Anyway, even if Lucia didn’t work, the Mage Tower couldn’t impose any heavy restrictions on her.
A wizard who can create magic of a quality that can be delivered to the outside world.
Because Lucia was the only one in the world regardless of the circle.
“I was curious from the beginning. how did you know that It’s not something anyone can tell.”
The magic circle she creates.
In fact, it was a fact that only a very few wizards knew about it even inside the Mage Tower.
It was something I heard from Lucia herself in the previous episode, but I can’t tell the truth like that.
I opened my mouth while thinking about how to answer Lucia’s ‘how did you know’ question.
“Well, even if you look at it like this, it’s about the first son of the duchy. Rumors come from all over the place.”
Of course, it’s dog sh*t.
A lie she can pass on because she doesn’t know the details of my circumstances.
Still, ‘the future you told me.’ Wouldn’t that be a more believable story?
“… … ?”
I looked at Ciela, who was looking at me questionably, and I put a finger to my mouth.
‘Shh.’
Let me smile and make a gesture like that.
Soon enough, as if she understood, Ciela nodded.
After all, in many ways, one notice is quick.
Let’s exchange strange glances with Siela quietly.
As if pondering for a while… … After making a sound, Lucia opened her mouth.
“okay. … … Wait, if that’s enough.”
Going out would be fine.
Thinking so, Lucia nodded slightly.
* * *
When I returned to the room so that Lucia could prepare comfortably, I suddenly frowned a little.
Was it because the room was bad?
no.
On the contrary, because the room was so nice.
‘Tsk.’
What nonsense can I say?
I said this because the room I was temporarily assigned was much better than Lucia’s room.
A creaky door in a room that doesn’t get much sunlight.
The walls were so shabby that you might think they would break through if you hit them with a fist, and there was a hollow in the floor.
Lucia is especially blind, so this would be fatal.
The reason for giving this room to their own high-class personnel was obvious.
baseline pressure.
They have to kill their spirits in many ways like this, so they can roll as they want.
Let me be tongue-in-cheek briefly.
Ciela, who was silent for a moment as if looking at me, asked.
“Brother Cale. Bocchan… … You said you liked Mage Lucia, right?”
“uh? Ah yes. It was.”
Wasn’t that the reason why he publicly stated that he would go to the Magic Tower in the first place?
Of course, it was an excuse to break off his engagement to Elena.
Come to think of it, if the Duke hears this too, he might grab it by the back of his neck.
I couldn’t help it.
The easiest way to convince the duke about the application for breaking off the marriage was to insist that he had someone he likes.
well anyway… … .
Isn’t Ciela the kind of person to talk about things like this to others?
There would be nothing wrong with telling her the truth.
I thought so and continued.
“I did say that, but it was an excuse. … … I had a reason to break off my current engagement. It’s a secret from my father, of course.”
I wonder if it’s okay to talk about it now.
If I found out that even this was a lie, I probably wouldn’t be able to get over it easily.
Regarding that… … .
I didn’t explain, but I’ll have to tell Lucia.
Because I think I need to match my words with the girl who happened to be the object of my admiration.
When I explained that, Ciella blinked as if it was quite unexpected.
He didn’t think that it was a lie to break up the marriage.
“ah… … okay.”
After saying that, Ciela nodded, saying that she would keep the secret thoroughly.
And that kind of look in her eyes, somehow.
At first glance, it seemed that relief was reflected.
