The Sage Who Drinks 41

After receiving Adela’s passionate confession.

After finishing catch ball, Adela and I were reading books.

The only unusual thing was that we weren’t reading separately.

“Do we really have to do it like this?”

In front of me sitting cross-legged, black hair comes into view.

My little sister, Adela, was sitting on my lap, holding a book.

Adela tilted her head. Her bright round eyes were quite cute.

“Why? We always did this, didn’t we?”

“…I see.”

If she says we used to do this before – then I have nothing to say. I’m not responsible for what happened in the dream after all.

Adela swayed her body from side to side and murmured in a clear voice.

“I like it best when brother reads to me.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I can snuggle up to you.”

“…”

Sometimes I wonder if this young girl is lying about her age.

Anyway, Adela pushed the book into my hands. She wanted me to read it.

Looking at the title, I saw the words ‘A Study on Exceeding Certain Magical Realms – On Mana Interference’.

‘Isn’t this quite advanced for her current age?’

But considering that Adela is called a ‘Sage’ in reality, it might be an appropriate book selection after all.

Since I also have a history of exploring various fields of books in the Imperial Palace, I didn’t particularly mind and opened the page that was bookmarked.

Looking at the table of contents, there was one quite interesting phrase.

‘Mana Interference, Its Power – Magic Disruption’

My brow furrowed slightly.

Although it’s now impossible due to the erosion in my body, originally I was causing mana interference using the power of dragon blood.

It was a coincidence that I ended up reading a book dealing with this subject.

My mouth slowly opened and I began to read the lines.

“…Therefore, if you are confident that you are among the top three in the world. You will now have realized.”

Adela’s gaze also followed the exact sentences I was reading.

“You can now interfere with the mana in the atmosphere. Raise your finger and concentrate. At some point, the flow of mana…”

“Is this really true?”

Adela interrupted in the middle.

Because of that, I also closed my mouth, but felt slightly uncomfortable. That was inwardly surprising.

‘I got absorbed without realizing it.’

I had started speaking with the mindset of just reading a book to my little sister.

But I ended up getting absorbed in the content without paying attention to Adela. It was that interesting of a book.

“How can one interfere with mana in the atmosphere? That’s impossible.”

“Hmm.”

Considering that the future Sage had mentioned that she ‘could see the flow of magic’.

I wondered if Adela could also interfere with atmospheric mana. Though it wasn’t confirmed yet.

So, I kindly answered.

“You’ll be able to do it in the future.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Believe me, since it’s coming from none other than me.”

“Mmm. I will.”

Adela nodded her head slightly. After confirming that, I continued speaking.

“…you will recognize that you can ‘pull’ the flow of mana.

This is a revolutionary realization. Because through this, you can disrupt the opponent’s magic midway. I call this ‘Magic Cancel’…”

My eyes caught something peculiar as I read the sentence.

It was a very interesting topic. Though they say it’s a power that only those who have reached the pinnacle of magic can achieve.

If I, who borrowed the power of dragon blood, am similar to them, could I also handle this power?

“…”

However, after thinking that far, I shook my head.

‘This is pointless now.’

The dragon blood erosion has progressed significantly, and if I were to use such power now, it would be the end. Knowing this, I just grinned and moved on.

Just as I finished that thought and was about to read the next sentence.

“Have you been well? Loran, Adela?”

From beyond the door came a woman’s voice that I’d heard not long ago.

The woman who entered by magically opening the locked door was mature. With more youthful beauty than when I saw her in reality, the woman was Adela’s mother, Agria.

She stretched her arms upward and let out a “Nnngh-” as she stretched. Seeing that, Adela jumped out of my arms and approached her.

“You’re here!”

“Yes, yes.”

A warm hand gently patted Adela’s head as she ran into her arms.

That scene seemed quite unfamiliar. Considering their relationship in reality, it was an image that was hard to picture.

‘So this is how they were in the past.’

Since Adela said this was ‘the happiest moment’, it means this clearly existed in the past.

Keeping that fact in mind as I pondered, Agria turned her gaze toward me.

“Have you been well too, Loran?”

“…Yes.”

A woman who is not my mother. Yet a voice filled with motherly affection. Hearing it made my heart feel somewhat heavy.

‘I wonder what my dream would be like.’

Adela would also likely meet my mother too.

Not showing my welling emotions, I answered calmly. Looking at my face, Agria smiled gently.

“You’re still the same.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Compared to our Adela, you’re much more mature.”

It’s awkward to be treated like that even in a dream, but I silently nodded.

Hearing our conversation, Adela puffed her cheeks. A sulky voice followed.

“Mom is only caring about brother again!”

Crossing her arms and declaring “I’m upset” with that look, Agria grinned and bent down.

Looking into each other’s eyes, the mother gently reasoned with her daughter.

“Is our Adela upset?”

“Hmph!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It’s mommy’s fault.”

“…”

As Adela turned her head while secretly glancing at Agria.

The Tower Master smiled brightly and snapped her fingers with a click!

Then.

“…Huh?”

A gift appeared in Adela’s arms. It was a doll I’d seen somewhere before.

Much larger than other dolls. A plush bear that looked soft and fluffy.

‘Ah.’

Upon seeing it, I understood where I had seen that teddy bear before.

‘Adela’s room.’

When the Sage showed me her room, it was there. That teddy bear.

“Wow-!”

Adela broke into a big smile as she saw the surprise gift.

Hugging the bear that was as big as her body tightly and rubbing her cheek against it, my little sister chattered excitedly.

“What’s this-? A present-?”

“Yes. A gift from mommy to our Adela.”

“Wow-! Mom is the best-!”

Adela raised her voice happily as if she had never been upset.

The way Agria looked at her daughter seemed somewhat sorrowful, as if something was inwardly bothering her.

Agria reached out her hand again to stroke Adela’s head. As she did so, she softly whispered.

“…I’m sorry, Adela. The other kids are bullying you, aren’t they?”

“Well, I don’t care. I don’t even mind such things.”

“…I see. I’m sorry for being busy. For not being able to look after you.”

Probably saying indirectly that’s why she gave the gift.

Even at a young age, the brilliant Adela seemed to have noticed that without being told.

“No! I’m really fine so don’t worry!”

“…”

“Or should I help you, mom? …Then mom won’t be busy and can play with me more, right?”

The moment Adela said that with sparkling eyes.

Crack-

Part of the wall made a creaking sound and blurred. It started spreading rapidly like water poured onto a drawing.

A world becoming hazy as if covered in mist. Seeing that, I could understand.

‘This is the end.’

It was time to wake up from the dream.

I turned my head to watch the mother and daughter.

As someone who was a member of this family, if only in a dream, I wanted to hear their conversation until the end.

Agria smiled softly. As if sorry and proud that her daughter had said such a thing.

“…I see. Then, will Adela help with mommy’s research?”

“Yes!”

Adela also smiled brightly.

The daughter declared loudly to her mother.

“I’ll help with mom’s research! To make sure it succeeds!”

That was the end.

The mist, as if refusing to show any more, grew and completely blocked my vision.

After that, darkness came, and I fell back into deep sleep.

 

“…”

My eyelids are heavy.

A sensation I’ve felt before.

Feeling a sense of déjà vu, I tried my best to open my eyes.

‘This must be reality now.’

Since they said one could see the other person’s dream, I wouldn’t be able to see my own dream.

Thinking about it that way, I understood why this magic called ‘Nostalgic Dream’ was considered incomplete.

‘One cannot see their own dream.’

Even though it’s the happiest time for oneself, how can one not see it themselves? No wonder it couldn’t be commercialized.

However, considering that Adela originally wanted to show me her dream, the purpose was achieved.

Thinking that, it was time to open my eyes now.

“Haa, haa…”

‘What’s this?’

A woman’s breathing.

But it was quite erotic, so I wondered who was making such sounds in front of me.

‘And it’s so very close.’

I could feel that the owner of those breaths was right in front of me without even opening my eyes.

The woman continued speaking. She didn’t seem to notice that I had regained consciousness.

“Calm down, Adela… This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A chance to do whatever I want with the young prince… Stay calm, stay calm.”

‘What?’

I couldn’t help but be surprised at the words I heard.

There were a few words mixed in that I didn’t understand.

I understand the word ‘Adela’. If I had returned to reality, she would have returned too.

But what does the term ‘young prince’ mean? Why do those two coexist?

The moment I realized that, I could detect a sense of incongruity in my body.

‘Short.’

My arms. My legs. My torso. Everything was lacking compared to my current length.

Perhaps unfamiliar. Yet somehow familiar. With such contradictory feelings.

I realized one point that stuck out.

‘…It’s the body from when I was young.’

My childhood. I’ve returned to the body of that time I can’t even remember.

‘But why?’

What reason could there be for me to suddenly be like this?

“Now, Loran. Can you say it again? Say ‘sister’. Try saying ‘Sister Adela’?”

This didn’t seem like the time to just stay put.

I don’t know what’s going on, but if I leave it be, Adela’s dark history would be updated in real-time.

So I quickly opened my eyes.

At that moment.

“…”

I met the gaze of obsidian eyes that were looking at me lovingly with flushed cheeks.

Younger than the real Adela. But more mature than the Adela I just saw in the dream.

The Sage, who seemed about the same age as me in Adela’s dream, was looking at me adoringly.

Yes, adoringly. To an unsurpassable degree.

Confirming that sight, I asked wryly.

“…Lady Sage.”

“Huh?”

At that moment.

A startled emotion appeared on Adela’s face.

Like dropping ink into clear water. The emotion spread uncontrollably.

“…Y-Your Highness?”

As if understanding some shocking fact, she returned with a trembling voice.

Adela’s cheeks trembled. As if she couldn’t believe it, but as if she suspected it.

She gently asks me.

“…Perhaps… it’s not, right?”

She really omitted a lot of words.

But it probably meant ‘It’s not the real Your Highness who entered this dream, right?’

I simply nodded quietly.

“…It is.”

“Ah.”

Then.

Adela shut her mouth tightly and lowered her head.

Her shoulders trembled violently, like an earthquake had struck, shaking uncontrollably.

“…Please kill me.”

With that, she uttered an extremely dangerous statement.

When Adela raised her head again, her eyes were filled with moisture.

She cried out, unable to suppress her overwhelming shame.

“Please kill me! To be caught saying such things in front of Your Highness, I’d rather die!”

“No, wait… Calm down, Lady Sage. It’s not your fault.”

“Then whose fault is it?!”

“…”

I was about to say something but just sighed instead.

A sigh that came out naturally even in this young body.

Somehow, it reminded me of the old days.

-Y-yes, the girl cannot bear it without hanging herself. I shall depart from this world right now, so please give me a rope, Your Highness.

When Adela visited my room sometime ago. Had she said something like that?

Recalling that, I couldn’t help but sigh.

‘Nothing has changed.’

Neither me, nor her. Our relationship was like this.