Chapter 8 – Part 9

As expected of a duke, the bedroom was spacious, so there was no need to awkwardly move furniture. It was also the most private space, so there was no worry of anyone suddenly entering.

“First, I’ll measure your magic power to see if you have enough to use spells.”

“You know I’ll kill you if you lie.”

“I won’t. If you notice any lie, you’ll go straight to another spellcaster, won’t you?”

He was quick-witted as ever. Olivia maintained a calm expression and held out her hand to Marsden. Marsden took her hand and closed his eyes.

She felt a bit queasy. It was like the feeling of a cool medicine circulating through her body after an injection, a strange sensation inside her.

“Unfortunately, you have some.”

“Unfortunately?”

Olivia narrowed her eyes. He always acted annoyingly when she was about to sympathize with him.

“Can I become an expert like you?”

“That depends on your talent.”

His tone was still stiff, clearly reluctant to teach her. Olivia withdrew her hand and crossed her arms.

“Behave properly, teacher. Or I might look for another one.”

“I’ve already told you, if you do that, I’ll have that spellcaster thrown in jail.”

He was like a watchdog on the verge of breaking free. Olivia put her hands behind her back.

“Hmm, then you’d better teach me well. Don’t waste time with beginner skills, and make sure I can master the basics in a few hours.”

“Even natural experts didn’t learn that way. It’s impossible.”

“Really? Then how about this? Teach me the basics of pure magic first. Then teach me the basics of the ‘spells’ that put your body in that state.”

Marsden ran his hand through his hair, deep in thought, seemingly trying to find a way out of this situation.

“To learn those spells… originally called ‘black magic,’ you need to master the fundamental magic formulas.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I’m not lying.”

“If you’re not lying, it’s strange. Does that mean all the spellcasters scattered throughout the empire are high-level sorcerers? Are people like Buck Rodley all lethal weapons?”

Marsden closed his eyes briefly and sighed at her probing words. Olivia placed her hand on Marsden’s shoulder, feeling the firm muscles underneath.

“Marsden, this is the punishment I’m giving you. You said you’d accept it all.”

“…”

“If you lie, I’ll find people like Buck Rodley and learn from them myself. Think wisely.”

“…Whose student are you, being this smart?”

The voice carried the affection of a teacher and the love of a partner. Olivia lowered her hand.

“Your analysis is spot on. But I didn’t lie entirely. Originally, black magic was a formula developed illegally by a proficient sorcerer. But spreading it was difficult, so they simplified it. The problem is that this increases the side effects.”

And for some reason, you used it because of me?

The question rose to her throat, but Olivia suppressed it.

“I guess I have to hope I’m a natural genius.”

“I desperately hope not.”

Olivia looked up at Marsden. His face was tense with anxiety and fear.

Feeling sorry, Olivia instinctively reached out, but she forced her hand down.

“This is what you brought upon yourself.”

Olivia took in the sight of the tools Marsden had prepared in the bedroom.

“We have to do this. Remember, there’s no turning back now.”

Marsden responded without backing down.

“Just so you know, most of the spells you’re asking to learn are regular magic.”

“Understood. You’re saying we might not need to use all those tools.”

The tools included boxes of dried insects, a knife with a blackened blade, a book bound in reddish-brown leather, and herbs that might be poisonous mushrooms.

“Then let’s start with the basics.”

Marsden grabbed a book he’d tossed onto the bed and began teaching Olivia fundamental spells. There were spells to cause physical damage without touching, telekinesis, and ones to create illusions.

“Phew…”

Learning the magic formulas wasn’t too difficult, but it was energy-draining. Olivia felt dizzy and paused to catch her breath, while Marsden remained composed.

“We won’t be able to make more progress today.”

Marsden’s slight sarcasm made Olivia glare.

“Don’t be ridiculous. We don’t have time to waste.”

If Hellebore had given them a year, they could spend weeks on this, but they had less than two weeks left.

“Still, I’m doing pretty well, right?”

Marsden clenched his jaw. Yes, Olivia was doing exceptionally well. She was almost a genius.

Most people wouldn’t manage, but Olivia executed the spells almost flawlessly after being taught the theory and methods. Had she been born in an era where magic wasn’t corrupted, she might have become a grand sorcerer.

Even if she had secretly learned black magic in the past, her current skill level was remarkable, despite having no memory of it.

“Buddy, your magic power… Don’t tell me you’re learning this because…”

“What nonsense, Duke? Are you doubting me?”

They were close to capturing the head of the black sorcerers. When Marsden briefly returned, Olivia had fallen in love with Gael.

His ultimate suspicion stemmed from his inability to accept that Olivia loved another man and from sensing her latent magic power.

Of course, he didn’t pry too much. If Olivia had learned black magic, it was likely because of him.

“What? Why aren’t you answering?”

So Olivia’s current adeptness might be due to her body’s memory. But Marsden didn’t share that detail.

“Yes, you’re too good at this.”

Marsden had to admit. Olivia put her hands on her hips.

“Alright. I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“When I was attacked in the forest, the attacker’s voice was distorted to the point of being unrecognizable. Do you remember?”

“Yes, I remember.”

The memory made Marsden’s eyes flash with anger.

“Because of Gael, the main issue got blurred, but I went to the forest that day because Ronae told me the attacker’s hideout, not the black sorcerer Harry dealt with.”

“…That’s right.”

“Ronae probably intended to tell me about the black sorcerer’s hideout. But an unexpected attack happened, and he changed his story to say ‘attacker.’ That way, he handled his deal with you and got me off his back.”

The reasoning was clear, with no room for correction.

“Everyone’s so clever. I’m the only fool here.”

Feeling newly disheartened, Olivia reproached herself. Marsden tried to approach, but Olivia raised her hand to stop him.

“Since that day, I’ve tried contacting Ronae, but Gael seems to be intercepting everything.”

“Probably under the guise of protection, he’s screening it all.”

Olivia pictured Ronae in her mind, still vividly remembering her fragile, flickering appearance.

“…Anyway, here’s my question. Inducing hallucinations and disguising one’s voice to attack—is that magic or regular magic?”

With no way to ask Ronae directly, Olivia planned to uncover the truth methodically.

“If it’s a strong enough hallucination to disturb the mind, it’s likely black magic. Especially if they used the stones from that forest.”

“Is that stone here?”

Olivia looked towards the tools. Marsden stayed silent. Taking his silence as confirmation, Olivia began to move, but Marsden grabbed her wrist.

“Buddy, is this process really necessary?”

“I told you earlier. It’s too late to turn back.”

“I mean, is it absolutely necessary to find the culprit this way? Can’t you find them some other way…? Meanwhile, I’ll undo the curse the culprit cast.”

Was it a curse that inflicted as much pain on the attacker as on the victim? It could have been a lie, but if it were, Marsden would have killed the culprit himself by now. He was more than capable of that.

“And what if you don’t find a way?”

“I will. I have to.”

“And if you don’t, are you going to agree to just putting them in prison if that’s what I ask?”

“Hah.”

Marsden raked his hair in frustration. Of course, he wouldn’t. If he hadn’t seen her wounds, maybe, but he had seen her terrible scars during the night they spent together.

“Besides, I told you. I want to know exactly how the curse affects the body. And I said I’d tell you everything if you stayed by my side.”

Olivia gripped Marsden’s wrist tightly.

“Keep your promise.”

Marsden closed his eyes tightly and exhaled a pained breath. He let go of Olivia’s wrist and took a red stone from the box of herbs.

“I’m not sure if this is how it was done. It’s just a guess.”

“Got it.”

“Do we really have to do this?”

Olivia put on gloves and grasped the stone. She already felt a tightness in her chest.

“If I, a novice, can do it, then anyone can with practice. If I can’t, then it narrows down the suspects. You don’t want me getting stabbed again before finding the culprit, do you?”

“Buddy.”

Marsden frowned, clearly displeased by her reasoning. Olivia, holding the stone, urged him.

“So, what do I need to do? Tell me quickly. I don’t have time.”

“…You have to visualize the formula I’ve taught you perfectly in your mind. No margin for error. The incantation, too.”

Marsden’s hands trembled as he helped Olivia position herself.

“Please, if it starts to hurt, tell me right away. I’m begging you.”

Olivia nodded slightly and closed her eyes. She visualized the complex magic formula and recited the incantation.

She wanted to know how difficult the curse was and what the attacker felt when they attacked her.

Even in her confused state, she vividly remembered the attacker’s hatred and murderous intent. Olivia recalled that moment and opened her hand.

“Ugh!”

Immediately, pain shot through her throat. When she touched her throat and made a sound, a grotesque voice emerged.

“Ma…”

It was like nails scratching a chalkboard, a high-pitched, ghostly scream, worn and dusty.

That was enough proof. If they simply wanted her dead, they wouldn’t have needed to distort their voice. If they knew her, they could have attacked without speaking.

‘It’s someone I know… Someone whose voice I’ve heard.’

A thin liquid, more watery than saliva, dribbled from her lips.

Marsden reached out, but the room was already filled with mist from the magic. Olivia looked down to see her hands and arms turning transparent like a ghost.

Even if she killed Marsden, she could easily escape.

‘I feel like a demon.’

Unpleasant was an understatement. The dark, angry magic kept whispering to her.

[Kill him.]

Olivia clutched her right wrist tightly, trying to prevent her hand from reaching Marsden.

[Do it. He’s a hindrance to you. Without him…]

“Yes, if I get rid of you… if I get rid of you…”

Olivia shook her head desperately. Whether she resisted or not, her mouth moved on its own.

“Or I’ll force you to talk!”

Stop it. Olivia bit her own wrist. She smelled blood from somewhere. It wasn’t her wrist. Her back… her back was burning hot.

[What are you doing? Get rid of that hindrance!]

“Useless wench. You’ve been a hindrance from the start.”

From the start, a hindrance.

Yes, why hadn’t she realized? The attacker’s words clearly indicated someone close to her.

‘I figured it out. How to find them.’

The white shirt Olivia wore turned red. It hurt. The side effect of this magic seemed to be her back tearing apart, considering how excruciating it was.

“Olivia!!”

The mist cleared. She thought she heard a desperate scream.

~~End of Volume 2~~