The Two Men’s Vetting
The system window disappeared, and a chest appeared. Having escaped Ernst’s grasp, I cradled the chest, which held what I assumed was the elixir. The wooden chest, the size of a music box, fit perfectly in my arms.
Upon getting the chest, Ernst and I were lifted into the air as if caught by an invisible force. The cave around us scattered like sleet, and we plopped down outside the lake.
I can finally escape my limited lifespan.
While I was on the verge of laughing in sheer relief, Ernst suddenly glared at me. Now that we had cleared the dungeon, I could see his face clearly. He frowned deeply, his eyes trembling, and then he started to shed tears.
“Your— your hand… Dammit!”
The rare sight made me stop for a moment. Why is Ernst crying? I thought for a moment before looking at my hand. Ah, did he just find the wound on my hand?
“Oh, the wound on my hand was self-inflicted. I need to get hurt for my ability to activate. If you’re squeamish, you don’t have to look—”
“I didn’t know you would get hurt!”
…Did I do something wrong?
My method of using the ability was efficient for solving the problem. I made a “choice” to act that way. The wound on my hand was the consequence of my choice. There’s no reason for Ernst to cry about it.
Frustrated, I ran a hand through my hair. My hand came to a stop and reached out to Ernst. While he was wiping his eyes with his sleeve in a flustered state, I gently stroked his head with my blood-soaked hand.
“I’m sorry. Don’t cry.”
At that, Ernst flinched. It was only two words. At those two words, Ernst suddenly hugged his knees and buried his face in them. His ears were already red.
Before I could check on Ernst, a sudden fatigue washed over me. A red system window flashed and then appeared.
[Warning! Magic power depleted!]
[Target ‘Amila Elias’ requires rest.]
[Skill mode will temporarily enter a dormant state.]
This was my first time using the ability, so my magic power must have bottomed out without me even using it much. Once I get back, I should train my magic by reading books. Or should I reveal that I’m a mage to the Count and ask him to get me a teacher?
I had wanted to reveal my ability once I was more proficient to increase my influence within the family. My regret was short-lived, however, as I felt an odd sensation in my arm. I looked down to see a red line had been drawn from my wrist to the inside of my arm.
After a moment of thought, I realized what the strange feeling was.
Notification magic.
I looked around. Thankfully, we were out of the dungeon, but I was a mess. Just as I was about to ask Ernst to keep quiet so Adin wouldn’t worry, Ernst cut in with incredible timing.
“More importantly, Rosé, did you get hurt anywhere else—”
[Hurt?]
Oh, my God. I put a hand to my forehead in exasperation.
The hologram that had appeared on my wrist from the red line now took the form of a child. It was a child with long silver hair and red eyes.
It was Adin.
[Who are you?]
Of all the things, the activation condition for the notification magic was ‘when the magic power of the one under the spell is cut off.’ It was truly an unfortunate situation. I held my dizzy head and barely managed to speak.
“I’m fine, Adin. This is Ernst—”
[Did this person hurt my sister?]
Adin gave off a murderous aura and slowly approached Ernst. Just before Adin could extend a hand towards Ernst’s neck, I spoke.
“Adin.”
The outstretched arm stopped. The notification magic had only created a visual manifestation, so it couldn’t actually harm Ernst. After a moment of bewilderment, Ernst must have noticed Adin’s hostility, because he clutched his own collar.
Before Ernst could scold Adin, I beat him to it.
“Ernst Alecto Castner. He’s the only son of the Duke of Castner, a young duke. Mind your manners, Adin.”
For a moment, Adin stopped and turned his body toward me. The sullen look on his face made it seem as if he hadn’t been glaring at Ernst at all.
[I just thought the young duke had harmed my sister…]
“Don’t worry. I’m not badly hurt. In fact, the young duke helped me.”
Grrrr…
I thought I heard a grinding sound. However, when I looked back at Adin, he was smiling as brightly as an angel.
[-Okay. I’ll wait.]
And with that, the connection was cut.
Something feels a little twisted.
Did he think I was taking Ernst’s side? But if I hadn’t stepped in, Ernst would have gotten angry at Adin.
As the sunlight poured down, Ernst’s body gradually shattered into particles. It must be time for him to teleport. It was finally time to return to our own places.
Ernst looked at me with a complicated expression and spoke in a heavy voice.
“Is that child a mage?”
I was momentarily dazed, having expected Ernst to criticize Adin’s poor manners. Ernst looked at me for a while and then flicked my forehead with his finger.
“Never mind. If he’s a confident enough mage to cast a notification spell because he’s worried about his sister, he must be quite skilled.”
He seems to be changing the subject. I gently rubbed my forehead. Ernst held out his hand to me first.
“Later… can we meet again, Rosé?”
It’s Amila, not Rosé.
With the tension gone, I took Ernst’s hand and stood up. Unlike our first meeting, his cautious manner was amusing, and I couldn’t help but smile. As if we’d ever meet again.
“Sure.”
I gave him a pleasant lie in return for his help. Ernst smiled faintly and scattered into glass particles.
Finally, I was alone by the lake. I looked down at the chest in my arms and sighed. On my way back to the mansion, a subtle weariness lingered.
Ernst’s Perspective
CRASH!
At the same time, Ernst arrived back at the Castner mansion. He looked around and saw a familiar space. The furniture was minimal, just enough for what he needed. His room, as the young duke’s room, was simple, with hardly any decorations.
Not as tired as Amila, a weary Ernst crawled onto his bed. As his body relaxed, his mind naturally wandered. For example, to words that had been said.
‘I’m sorry. Don’t cry.’
SMACK!
Lying on the bed, Ernst suddenly started hitting the pillow with his fist. He continued to pummel the pillow until the heat on his ears subsided. Only when dust flew off the pillow did he finally curl up.
“Will we meet again…” His lips trembled, so he rubbed his face with both hands. After finally calming his excitement over the unexpected encounter, he lowered his hand to his neck.
“Well, that’s beside the point. His name was Adin, wasn’t it?”
As soon as he mentioned the name, his lifted mood plummeted. After all, who would be happy recalling someone who tried to harm them? He had only hidden his emotions in front of ‘Rosé,’ who seemed to be Adin’s sister.
He figured Rosé cared a lot for her brother, Adin. And that’s why she introduced him first, because she didn’t want him to blame her brother. But that kid, Adin, was giving off hostile energy whether he knew about his sister’s efforts or not.
“He’s a dangerous guy.”
Ernst got out of bed and opened the door. He planned to do a quick investigation to get rid of the lingering unpleasant feeling. There was only one thing he would investigate.
Who was this person named Adin?
Adin’s Perspective
At the same time, a spear struck the iron bars. The location was the Clock Tower. It was the prison where Adin was confined. As usual, the guards played by poking the iron bars with their spears. Teasing the lowly being trapped in the Clock Tower was a form of entertainment for them. Since they were bored monitoring the nasty, lowborn creature, they would vent their frustrations by tormenting the half-breed aristocrat.
So am I a noble? Or a commoner? Or neither?
Adin watched the guards with indifferent eyes, lost in thought. A moment later, the door to the iron bars opened.
What happened next was always the same.
He was hit, hit, and hit again.
“Ptooey!”
“Ugh, you filthy little brat. You’re a girl, but you’ve got no spunk!”
A girl.
Adin almost let out a sneer but managed to stop himself by bowing his head.
After the guards left, silence fell around the prison. In the dimly lit prison, Adin lifted one leg and rested an arm on it. A blurry shadow under the lamplight rose, and the shadow whispered to Adin.
“My master.”
“Nix.”
“Shall I kill them?”
The shadow on the floor stood up in the shape of a person, covered in a robe from head to toe. Adin shook his head.
“Not yet. There are too many guards here. And.”
Adin, who had been muttering, lay down spread-eagle on the floor. The water that had reached his knees quickly receded, now only coming up to his earlobes.
“Because ‘Sis’ said she would come.”
“Do you trust that person, my master? What if she lied—”
“Nix.”
Adin slowly sat up. Nix flinched. Adin, on the other hand, spoke with a blank expression.
“Don’t speak ill of my sister.”
“My apologies, my master.”
