MFWSP 59

Chapter 59

The fruit of the Spirit Tree emits powerful magical energy from its core.

Those who possess the fruit can use its power, but it almost always returns in the form of a curse—chronic illness, accidents, war… the manifestations of the curse vary.

Despite that, people risk their lives for the temptation of the fruit because there are exceptions to its effects.

Those who managed to escape the Black Valley believed they were among the lucky few who wouldn’t be cursed, but most ended up miserable.

In summary, leaving my fate to luck was a mistake. That’s why, in my first life, I excluded luck and experimented with the Spirit Tree’s fruits and leaves I had gathered.

Through this, I discovered the existence of fruits with the opposite flow of power—those that absorb instead of emit. Therefore, they don’t bring about curses.

The blue fruit that purifies by absorbing curses and magic. The red fruit that can absorb such power and redirect it elsewhere.

While still attached to the tree, the fruits have no color because they haven’t absorbed any magic. But the moment they leave the valley, they begin to take on color by absorbing surrounding magic.

The magic I intentionally infused only accelerated that process slightly.

This was the greatest gift the Spirit Tree could offer to humanity.

“That’s… impossible! What kind of trickery are you trying to pull?!”

The Marquis shouted furiously.

“It’s not trickery. It’s research. Though I did deceive the guide to make my way back here.”

“That’s not possible!”

The Marquis struck the floor with his cane.

“No one can obtain a Spirit Tree’s fruit in just one day! No guide ever has… This is fraud!”

He pointed at the two fruits floating in the air.

His aggressive response made Carsiel’s eyes turn sharp.

Carsiel quietly stood up like a shadow and gripped his sword.

“I brought magic stones all the way from the Imperial Palace. Did you really think the Spirit Tree’s fruit was that simple?”

“If you won’t believe me, I’ll show you. The difference between ordinary magic stones and these two fruits. We happen to have a perfect test subject in this room.”

I smiled and gently pushed the blue fruit with my hand.

The fruit slowly drifted through the air, then emitted a strong light as it moved toward the cane the Marquis was holding.

Wuuung—

The vibration shook the very walls, and dazzling blue light filled the study.

Fssh—

As the vibration and glow faded, the Marquis’s black cane turned to ashes and crumbled to the floor.

“…!”

The Marquis froze as if he’d turned to stone.

Unable to believe what he’d just seen, he repeatedly opened and closed the hand that had held the cane, now filled with black dust.

Not far away, David was blankly rubbing his wrist.

The faint scar he had when entering the Black Valley had disappeared—purified by the blue fruit.

“You’re a cruel one, Marquis Adelon.”

Carsiel let out a dry chuckle.

“If it disintegrated after losing its magic, then it must’ve been crafted solely from forbidden magic, without any proper material. How many people died in its making and use?”

His tone was analytical, but the Marquis’s expression lacked composure.

“You… really went to the Spirit Tree? In less than a day…?”

“If you won’t believe even after seeing this, there’s nothing more I can do.”

I retrieved the fruits as I spoke.

“Arguing is useless. What’s written in the ‘Eye of God’ cannot be overturned.”

“…”

“David’s curse is already broken. Accept the outcome and fulfill the other two conditions. Marquis—no.”

I paused to choose the right title.

“Are you now the former Marquis?”

Bang.

The Marquis slammed his fist into the wall.

“Accept the result? Nonsense.”

He ground his teeth in a whisper.

His bloodshot eyes had lost all reason.

“Have you forgotten this is the Adelon territory? As long as you are here, your lives are mine to take!”

“Sounds like you’re declaring war.”

Carsiel tightened his grip on his sword hilt.

“If you have any brains left, think it through. Drawing your sword against a royal, a high noble, and your own son—is that wise?”

“The Adelon family has never lost its title to anyone!”

“Are you planning to become the first?”

I asked.

“The marquisate built from stone, the mountains surrounding it—yes, it’s sturdy. But a war like this only lasts until your funds run dry. Can you defeat Apellemyon?”

“Worry about whether you will leave here alive, Duke.”

The furious Marquis roared. The room was suddenly filled with murderous tension.

“…Stop, Father.”

David, who had been silent since escaping the valley, finally spoke.

“The son of Adelon accepts the result of the wager. That’s a motto you taught me.”

“…”

“You’ve lost. Step down. I no longer respect you, but I don’t enjoy watching you act so pitifully.”

He continued in a calm, collected voice.

His sky-blue eyes showed neither fear nor pity.

“Give up the title to my brother and disappear.”

“I am the Marquis. Your father!”

Marquis Adelon growled.

“I have no father. Only…”

David glanced briefly at me.

“…the person who held my hand in my darkest hour.”

“You insolent brat!”

“My remaining life belongs to that person.”

“Silence! How dare you lecture me? In my own house?!”

The Marquis stomped his foot and turned toward his desk.

“I should have executed you both the moment you entered my land! But it’s not too late!”

He reached up and pulled the emergency bell cord hanging from the ceiling—twice.

“Calling the knights? How disgraceful.”

David scoffed instead of showing fear.

“You’re truly leaving behind a shameful legend for the Adelon name.”

The Marquis’s face turned red and twitched with rage.

“No mouth, no legend. You are no exception.”

David shrugged.

“You wouldn’t listen when I begged you to kill me.”

Footsteps echoed from the corridor.

“At least several dozen,”

Carsiel said in a voice only David and I could hear.

“Rather than face them all, we should take the Marquis hostage. It’s possible—right now.”

“No need. Asking a royal to help with this is shameful. I’m still part of Adelon, after all.”

David, who had remained unusually calm since arriving via portal, let out a small sigh and pulled a small red stone from his sleeve.

“Brother. You can come in now.”

Just then, about thirty knights burst into the room.

“We greet the Marquis! Please give the command!”

Knights in violet cloaks all dropped to one knee before the Marquis.

“Knights of Adelon, kill them all—”

“Don’t listen to him.”

Just as the Marquis began to issue his order, another man stepped forward from among the knights.

“There’s no need to obey such a dangerous command.”

A slender man in his late twenties quickly approached, tapping the shoulder of the knight captain in front.

“More importantly, Father’s orders no longer need to be obeyed.”

His identity was obvious even without introduction.

Delicate facial features, pink hair, and long lashes.

He looked like the younger version of the Marquis—or the future version of David. He was Tristan Adelon, heir to the Adelon family and the Young Marquis.

“S-So-Young Marquis…”

The knight captain looked up at him in confusion.

“If you want to live, don’t move, Sir Dean.”

Tristan nodded slightly at the captain.

“The lives of the people here are beyond what you and your men can protect.”

Leaving the bewildered knight captain behind, Tristan turned to David.

“Your parrot’s message reached me. I thought it was nonsense, but you really pulled off the impossible.”

He muttered quietly.

“You undid Father’s control spell.”

“I didn’t do it. And definitely not for you, Brother.”

David tilted his head toward me and Carsiel.

“Prince, Duke of Apellemyon—please allow me to greet you.”