Chapter 17 – What Was Gained Instead of Mana
#1
In Lawrence’s world, there were often such people.
People born with an enormous amount of mana, even though their chanting speed was very slow.
Or those who, despite being small, could lift weights fifty or a hundred times their own size, like ants.
Some could only learn 1st Circle magic, but their chanting speed was faster than the fastest mages.
It was a kind of curse and blessing.
A talent skewed in one direction, a distorted structure.
Lawrence thought of such things as he confidently faced the Grand Duke of the North.
“I’ll explain that separately. It’s not something Your Grace needs to worry about. After all, I truly have no Mana Core.”
“Hmm… Is it a sensitive matter, then? I’ll respect that.”
“However, I’d like to tell you, Your Grace. I can surely be of assistance.”
Boom-!
Lawrence’s body was lifted into the air.
He struggled for breath as his neck tightened.
The Grand Duke Lancel had grabbed him and slammed him against the wall in an instant.
“Your information network is impressive. Truly suspicious. Do you realize the weight of your words?”
“Of course. And Your Grace knows the weight of causing harm to me.”
“That’s why I dislike wizards. Follow me.”
Lancel scoffed and set Lawrence back down on the ground.
Nearby, Loria, who had been trembling with fear, cautiously approached him.
“Hey, are you… okay?”
“Of course, I’m sturdy.”
“That’s not the point! Why are you being so reckless?!”
“Because that way, I can get his attention?”
“….”
Loria let out a deep sigh as she looked at Lawrence, muttering nonsense like a madman again.
Maybe it would have been better if they had stayed separately in the annex and the main house.
At least she wouldn’t have to be so anxious all the time. It was nerve-wracking seeing him act so recklessly right in front of her.
No matter how much she disliked him, he was still her brother, and even though they hadn’t seen each other for long, they were family.
Even if he was her half-brother, she felt she should at least maintain a minimum bond with him.
“Anyway, don’t worry too much and get some rest. You need to study to advance your Circle quickly.”
“Sigh… Let me know later, so I can decide whether to help or not.”
“Sure. When we return to the family, come visit the annex sometime.”
Leaving those words, Lawrence followed the Grand Duke to his office.
Loria’s quarters were just upstairs, she had said.
Holding onto the stairway railing, Loria gazed at her brother for a long time.
Until the door closed, and he was completely out of sight.
‘What on earth happened during all this time?’
Loria was more curious about Lawrence’s changes than the Algeras Knights.
She was also curious about how their older siblings would react.
Somehow, she had a feeling that something major was about to happen within the family.
“Still, I can’t just owe my life and do nothing.”
With those thoughts, she hurried away.
With the determination to become stronger quickly so that she could be of help to her brother at least once.
#2
Meanwhile, in the office, Lawrence went over what he needed to say in his mind.
He wouldn’t believe in things like regression or reincarnation.
It would be better not to reveal such information at all.
However, he had no intention of hiding the powers related to artifacts forever.
As he had said before, he needed someone among the two kinds of people who could protect him.
If asked which was safer between someone who knew everything and protected him and someone who protected him with suspicion, wondering if he was hiding a sword or poison, Lawrence would undoubtedly choose the former.
If the other side trusted him, it would be beneficial to trust them in return in the long run.
“There’s no one listening here. I’m not sneakily hiding anyone.”
“I’ll trust you, Your Grace.”
“Very well. Now, tell me. What are you hiding that makes you so cautious?”
Lawrence smiled faintly.
And then, he revealed it.
Crackle-.
An artifact emerged from his body.
As something suddenly protruded from his body, the Grand Duke’s eyebrow twitched.
Lawrence spoke simply.
“I can create and use artifacts.”
“…”
The Grand Duke was too stunned to respond.
A device densely engraved with magic circles.
A creator of artifacts that had disappeared hundreds of years ago had appeared again?
“The researchers will come running with lights in their eyes.”
“That’s why I revealed it to Your Grace. I believed you weren’t someone who would be greedy for such things.”
“Indeed. A real man should confront things head-on with his body.”
Not that I can criticize your method, though.
The Grand Duke realized.
How someone without a Mana Core could be so active.
How he had survived in that hellish environment.
“It’s a type of authority, then.”
“Yes. Now that I’ve revealed my secret, may I ask for a favour?”
“Haha! Bold one. Go ahead. As long as you don’t cross the line, I’ll listen.”
Lawrence took a small breath and began to speak.
His first connection outside of his family.
And it was with the powerful Duke who ruled the North of the Empire.
“I want you to be my refuge.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. In exchange for knowing my secret.”
He liked the boldness.
It was a style the strict, manner-obsessed nobles of the central region would despise, but it suited Lancel just fine.
Long-winded words only wasted time for defense and preparation.
“A refuge… I can provide that. But my role ends at simply hiding you. The rest, you must handle yourself.”
“Of course. And, there’s another matter…”
“What is it now?”
Lawrence fixed his gaze and spoke.
This was the real reason.
“Please become my sponsor. If you do, I will heal your son.”
Rumble-.
As soon as the words left his mouth, the air vibrated.
The ferocious, undulating mana was clearly visible.
If he chose his words poorly or crossed the line, he’d lose his head right then and there.
Montemer?
That name held no weight here.
This was the North, and the man before him was the king of the North.
The Grand Duke’s voice sounded like the howl of a wolf.
“Choose your next words carefully. I don’t like those with a silver tongue.”
“If I’m lying, you can use me as a slave for making artifacts.”
“How can I trust you?”
“I have no Mana Core, so I can’t make an oath using mana. But I can give you my fingerprint.”
Lawrence rolled up his sleeves as he spoke.
Seeing his decisive demeanour, the Grand Duke burst into laughter.
The boldness of the young man was surprisingly endearing.
“Since you’ve shown me such a secret, I suppose I should extend my trust. Very well. I will trust you.”
“Thank you.”
“But if things go south, you won’t escape unscathed either. Understand?”
“Of course.”
The truth is, I know about that curse.
When is a person most confident?
Undoubtedly, when they have complete knowledge of the future.
And that time was now, for Lawrence.
“Don’t worry. I will surely heal him.”
“If you succeed… I will protect you with everything I have, Lawrence Montemer.”
“Thank you. Then, let’s go see your son.”
“…Very well. Follow me.”
The Grand Duke rose from his seat with a bitter look in his eyes.
But even in his gaze, which had once been filled with endless despair, a glimmer of hope began to take root.
His son, who had driven him to the brink of hopelessness.
If he could see the light once more…
‘I would offer my soul, even to a demon.’
#3
Lawrence reminisced about the past.
There was a time when the North of the Empire had been greatly shaken, and he had fled to the central regions in a hurry.
Back then, the reason the subjugation squad had been deployed on such a large scale was because of the man in front of him—Lancel.
In the end, no bloodshed occurred, but it became the cause of the Gaudi family’s downfall.
In hindsight, perhaps the reason lay right here.
Everything was tangled and intertwined.
Lawrence looked at the sleeping figure of the Grand Duke’s son, [Lake Gaudi], who was breathing heavily.
‘He lost his son to a curse, and that drove him to madness. Because of that, he lost a significant amount of influence.’
The North also had its own array of nobles.
In any case, if the Gaudi name didn’t lose its power, it would remain a high and mighty fortress.
This time, the mission had to succeed.
‘I can see the foul mana right away.’
[Displaying the current status of the subject.]
[Lake Gaudi: Curse – Acidic Decay]
[Methods of Release: Continuous supply of holy power, absorption of negative mana, detoxification]
[Current Progress: 33%]
[If it reaches 100%, Lake Gaudi will die.]
[Recommended Artifacts: Negative Energy, Anti-Poison, Healing]
A few years later.
It would become an era where anyone afflicted by a curse would need to be checked for one of two things.
All because of this curse, [Acidic Decay].
A curse that was both a poison and a curse, a newly emerging type.
Whether it was an experiment or a deliberate act, no one knew, but Lake Gaudi was the first official victim.
Afterward, similar cases spread like wildfire, greatly shaking the Empire’s status.
Lawrence confirmed Lake’s condition and immediately checked the capacity of his artifacts.
‘Can I fully absorb the curse with what I have now?’
The answer came immediately.
[Impossible. The capacity of Negative Energy is insufficient. The Healing Artifact’s activation count is lacking.]
So that’s how it is.
Then, there’s only one answer.
Lawrence turned his gaze toward the Grand Duke, who was watching his son with a worried expression.
With his only son and the future successor of the North suffering like this…
The stress must be unimaginable.
In that case, wouldn’t it be best to relieve some of that stress?
First, I’ll lay down a convincing foundation.
“Grand Duke, I have checked. It matches what I read in the documents.”
“Documents?”
“Documents related to my abilities. I happened to find some old records that mentioned a similar case.”
“I see…”
Lawrence decided to dismiss the people around them for now.
It would only waste time if others tried to object or raise issues.
He needed to handle this swiftly.
“I’d like to discuss this privately with you. Is that possible?”
“Hmm. Very well. Everyone, leave. If anyone eavesdrops, I’ll rip their ears off.”
“…Understood, Grand Duke.”
The surrounding people withdrew without complaint.
They showed displeasure, but knowing the Grand Duke’s temperament, they complied naturally.
Even though they had been brought in at great expense to the strained finances, Lake still showed no signs of improvement.
It was undoubtedly a blow to their pride, but what else could they do?
“Now, tell me. What is the condition of my son?”
“It is a combination of poison and curse. It cannot be dealt with by focusing on just one side; both must be addressed to remove it completely.”
“This is the first time I’ve heard of such a thing. It’s unprecedented in history. If what you’re saying is true, then you’re saying both healing and detoxification must be done simultaneously?”
Lawrence nodded.
Typically, priests would handle it quickly, but he wasn’t willing to give up the opportunity for profit here.
What seemed like a terrifying poison and curse to others appeared to Lawrence as a delicious prey.
“So, Grand Duke.”
“Hmm?”
“Let’s have a match.”
“…”
Indeed, Lawrence must have been crazy.
—
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