Chapter 104
“What on earth is going on here?”
Eurus Bluebell, the current head of the Bluebell family and former royal court magician, clicked his tongue in frustration.
When he pulled back the curtain of the private viewing box and entered, Joseph, who had been leaning on the railing watching the duel below, turned his head.
“Grandfather, you’re here.”
Eurus waved his hand slightly. Immediately, a soundproofing spell activated so no conversation could be heard from outside.
“Benzen Tradi seems like a reasonable man, but his son? Not at all. I can’t believe he dragged up something from so long ago and caused all this trouble.”
Joseph looked at Eurus with a calm smile as the old man brushed back his gray hair.
“You must really love me, Grandfather.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“I’ve never seen you wear the same accessory twice, but you always wear that one.”
Joseph pointed to a silver brooch with a green gem on Eurus’s chest. It was the birthday gift Joseph had given him last year.
Joseph had enchanted it with a powerful protection spell, and Eurus had been delighted and impressed by his grandson’s skill.
Looking down at the brooch, Eurus chuckled.
“Of course I wear it every day. It proves my grandson is a genius. I was almost 25 when I first cast the [Protego] spell, but you succeeded when you were just ten.”
Joseph smiled as Eurus laughed, patting the brooch proudly.
He then walked over and placed a reassuring hand on Joseph’s shoulder.
“I never imagined my most useless child, Eudice, would produce both the [Materia] and a genius like you. No magic power of her own, couldn’t even produce heirs well… but even slugs have their talents, I suppose.”
Ever since the prophecy of [Materia] was given to Duke Rohia, Eurus had done everything he could to ensure that a child would be born from Eudice.
He drove off women trying to seduce Bern Rohia and constantly pressured Eudice to win over her husband.
Bern, having lost favor with the Emperor, turned a blind eye to his father-in-law’s manipulations, despite knowing them.
But now, Eurus had achieved everything he wanted.
“You are my heir, Joseph. Never forget that.”
Eurus’s smile faded as he glanced down at the two boys dueling below. He clicked his tongue in irritation.
“Boris was useless. He took only the worst from Eudice and the Duke. And even though he shares my blood, his name is Rohia, not Bluebell.”
Eurus was the first to recognize Joseph’s genius.
He also quickly accepted that Joseph had a serious flaw in his personality—something others, like Eudice and Bern, had failed to notice or ignored.
Eurus gently patted Joseph’s head.
“Smile, Joseph. You look better when you smile.”
Joseph, who had been expressionless, slowly lifted the corners of his mouth. It was a bright, innocent smile—one that made anyone feel good just by seeing it.
Eurus burst into proud laughter.
“Wonderful! You’re beautiful!”
But to get that smile, Eurus had to put in twice the effort he had when trying to create [Materia].
Joseph didn’t understand emotions. The thing he had done to Oscar Tradi’s dog had shocked even himself.
If the world ever found out about Joseph’s condition, the boy’s future and reputation would be destroyed.
That couldn’t happen. Joseph was a genius, and Eurus had decided he would be the heir.
So he pinned the blame on Boris.
Though Boris was also his grandson, Eurus had lost interest in him the moment he saw Joseph’s talent.
Boris, being hot-tempered, might be scolded a bit, but Joseph could’ve been ruined—so Eurus didn’t hesitate.
From then on, Eurus poured everything into training Joseph.
He gave Joseph a pet insect, told him to name and raise it, and then killed all of them in front of him—just to see his reaction.
But Joseph didn’t flinch. Instead, he calmly collected the dead insects and played with them like puzzle pieces.
He was a child who didn’t know sorrow or affection.
Eurus didn’t value emotions much himself, but he knew they were necessary for surviving in the world and leading people.
So he taught Joseph how to act—tirelessly.
He finally discovered the way to make Joseph respond.
“You will become a Bluebell, not a Rohia. You know why, don’t you?”
“Yes. I’m the second son, and the second sons don’t inherit the family name. Also, if I’m not a magician, I’m nothing. And you wouldn’t like that, Grandfather.”
“Exactly.”
Eurus allowed Joseph to pursue the things he was curious about—but only under certain conditions.
Everything Joseph wanted had to come through Eurus.
So Joseph started to change.
If someone is hurt—reach out to them.
If someone dies—shed tears.
Normally—just smile.
And in return, he would get what he wanted.
A bug.
A visit home.
A meal.
His brother.
Everything would come only through Eurus.
The brooch Joseph gave Eurus was the proof of that success. He had made it only to please his grandfather—and it worked.
Now, Joseph could act to make others happy.
“Joseph.”
Eurus hugged Joseph tightly and whispered.
“I love you very much. You’re different, so the world won’t welcome you. That’s why I’m teaching you how to be loved. There’s still so much I want to teach you, so don’t worry—just follow me.”
Joseph slowly raised his hands and hugged Eurus back. But instead of nodding, he whispered something else.
“Grandfather, Oscar’s spell will break soon.”
“What do you mean?”
Surprised, Eurus raised an eyebrow.
Joseph stepped up to the railing and pointed downward with a smile.
Eurus followed his gaze.
Oscar Tradi had fallen to his knees, holding his head. The arena was beginning to stir, and the air felt different.
Oscar slowly looked up—and his teary eyes locked onto the viewing box.
Joseph smiled.
“Right now. Your spell is broken, Grandfather.”
“What?!”
As the one who cast the spell, Eurus could feel it break. Furious, he slammed the railing with his fist.
His spell had been perfect—impossible for Oscar to break alone.
That meant someone had helped him.
But who would dig into a five-year-old quarrel between children?
“I think I know who did it.”
“Who?! Who could possibly have seen through and broken my magic?!”
“I don’t know how they did it. I’ve never felt this lost before.”
And because of that, Joseph thought, it was also the most fun he’d ever had.
Joseph took a step back from Eurus and said,
“Grandfather, one thing you said earlier isn’t true.”
“What are you talking about?! Tell me who broke my magic!”
Joseph stepped back again.
“When you said you still have a lot to teach me—that was wrong. Your magic has been broken, as you can see.”
He pointed at the brooch on Eurus’s chest.
“You always told me never to trust anyone, but you trusted me. So I can’t trust your teachings anymore.”
Eurus’s eyes sharpened at Joseph’s strange behavior.
“I don’t understand what you mean. But first—tell me who—”
“Isana seems interesting. Since she beat you, I want to go see her. If there’s more to learn, I think it’s with her.”
Eurus was shocked twice—first that Joseph interrupted him, and second that he claimed there was nothing more to learn from him.
His shock turned into anger.
“How dare you! I must’ve spoiled you too much! And Isana? Are you saying that girl broke my magic? Nonsense!”
Joseph quietly looked at him and calmly asked,
“You’re not going to let me go, are you?”
“Of course not! You’re not going anywhere!”
Eurus shouted like thunder.
“You’ll stay by my side and become the next head of the Bluebells—how many times do I have to say it?!”
Joseph’s eyes held innocent curiosity.
“Because you love me?”
An angelic smile.
The anger in Eurus’s eyes slowly faded.
Breathing heavily, he nodded.
“Yes. I love you.”
“Then I believe you taught me magic and killed the insects because you loved me.”
“Yes, so let’s stop this talk and tell me more about the one who broke my spell—”
Clink!
A soft metallic sound made Eurus look instinctively. The brooch on his chest was cracking.
Joseph stepped back again, now hidden in the shadow of the curtain.
“In that case, maybe I love you too, Grandfather.”
“What? What does—”
Eurus tried to ask what he meant.
But he couldn’t finish.
His eyes widened.
The brooch flashed red—
BOOM!
—and exploded like a bomb.
