Chapter 64 – While Away (6)

I once read online when I was younger that the thrill of gambling is nearly as intense as drug use.

While I’m not sure if that’s entirely true, it’s undeniable that gambling addicts find it impossibly difficult to quit, even when they’ve lost everything.

So when Lehel asked for time to think, I didn’t push her. Just as you can’t shed weight overnight, it’s better to cut back gradually. If my words had resonated with her, perhaps she’d start to show some restraint.

The next morning.

When I woke up in the plush bed, Lehel was already perched on the nearby sofa. She looked a bit disheveled, her hair slightly messy, as though she hadn’t slept a wink. She greeted me with her usual casual tone.

“Ah, did you sleep well, Boss? We’re heading back to the academy today, right?”

“Yeah, we should. Didn’t you sleep?”

“Haha, I had a lot on my mind.”

Of course, she had plenty to contemplate.

After checking out, we stepped outside. I found myself gazing at the vast, barren expanse of the Sandalphonia Gorge, waiting for Lehel to cast <Teleport Gate>.

“Well then, shall we go?”

But instead of casting the spell, she just started walking. Confused, I followed after her, which prompted a question from her.

“Aren’t you coming? We can’t use <Teleport Gate> to Batudis because the fog there interferes with mana flow. It’s not too far from here, though.”

“Where’s Batudis?”

“Don’t you remember? We were told yesterday to follow Baldur’s Nightmare.”

I had no clue who this Baldur person was. Lehel caught my expression and chuckled knowingly.

“Baldur was the first Illusion Duke.”

“Illusion Duke?”

“Yes. Well, it wasn’t an official title back then, but he was quite an impressive figure.”

“And now?”

“Dead, of course. Baldur’s Nightmare is what remains of him.”

Lehel went on to explain the strange phenomenon that occurs in the Batudis region.

Known as “phantom murder,” it’s when people are consumed by illusions made up of remnants from the past and never return.

“The former Illusion Duke, Saya, built the Phecda Tower to manage the nightmare. Ironically, he lost his life during the Great War.”

“So there were two Illusion Dukes? Was the unique magic passed down?”

“Yes. There were several in between. But I’m not sure of the exact method. It’s not passed down through blood like with House Rochear, and there was a significant gap in time.”

“Hmm…”

So the Illusion Duke’s unique magic is still being passed down. But that didn’t really matter to me.

Mareile’s memo did mention that as you venture deeper into the Batudis region, the number of demon statues increases. To track down those scattering the statues, I’d need to visit Phecda Tower and see this nightmare for myself.

“Still, let’s head back to the academy first.”

But I decided to stop by the store first. Investigating the demon statues could take quite a while, and I had promised Liv and Adela I’d be back soon. Plus, I needed to stash the gambling winnings.

“Oh, by the way. You’re close with Adela, right? So you must be curious about the other Grand Dukes. The most unpleasant one left in Pennheim is the Gourmet Duke at the Megrez Tower…”

Ignoring my suggestion, Lehel continued walking, rattling off information about the five Grand Dukes of Pennheim.

I listened quietly, though none of it particularly piqued my interest. If I had to pick something noteworthy, it was that the Ice Duke’s unique magic could freeze time.

Just as I was starting to think about how much I wanted to get home, Lehel abruptly halted.

“And finally, there’s the Reincarnation Duke.”

“You mean yourself?”

“Want to hear something interesting about me?”

Lehel placed a hand on her chest as she spoke.

“The time of my body is currently running backward.”

***

“I’ve seen that movie too.”

“Movie? I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but I’m dead serious.”

Lehel seemed to be contemplating where to begin. I sat down, sipping from my canteen, waiting for her explanation.

“I’ve artificially achieved a form of immortality by alternating between two lives through my unique magic. To put it simply, when my natural death approaches, time begins to flow backward, and I gradually grow younger.”

“And once you’re younger, you grow older again?”

“Exactly. And each time I use my unique magic, the clock of this body accelerates. By the way, Boss, how old do you think I look right now?”

I crossed my arms and examined her appearance.

Her hair was pure white, but not in a graying way. It was full and healthy, which made her look younger. She was petite, shorter than Adela, with a small build. I’d say she looked…

“Mid-twenties, maybe?”

“A little more than that. I’m 22.”

“Then you’re about the same age as the third-year students.”

“Yep, exactly.”

She said it casually as she twirled a strand of her hair.

“And as I mentioned, right now I’m getting younger. Do you know what that means?”

“You can only use your unique magic a few more times.”

“Exactly! You’re sharp!”

“What happens when you get too young?”

“I’ll leave the academy before that happens. I’ll have to return to the cradle.”

“The cradle?”

“Yes. Maybe you’d understand it better if I said ‘Sakré Dragon’s Nest.’”

“That’s…”

One of the Four Great Secret Lands of the empire. A secret location rumored to hold countless treasures from the empire’s fall. It was where Lehel prepared for the end of one life and the beginning of the next.

My gaze settled on the rosary she wore. A supreme magical tool said to be made from a dragon’s bone.

“Oh, but this is a secret. I’m only telling you, Boss.”

“…”

I finally understood why she was telling me all this.

“When’s your next life?”

“It’ll be at least 20 years, maybe longer. By the time I emerge from the cradle, the world will have changed again.”

“How many times can you still use magic?”

“I pushed my lifespan a lot during the Great War, so I can use it once more—maybe twice if I’m lucky.”

“…”

“So, about what you said yesterday… I’m sorry.”

In other words, if a situation arose where she needed to use her unique magic, she’d vanish from the academy.

The deep shadows under her old pointed hat weren’t just from the harsh sunlight.

“I’ll try to quit gambling… But with the little time I have left, I can’t promise anything.”

“It’s fine.”

I shrugged, trying to reassure her.

“If anything, we can tackle it in your next life. Even if I’m a bit older by then, we can work on it together, right?”

“Boss…”

Lehel looked moved for a moment before nodding eagerly.

“Then how about we gamble just one more day?”

“Do you want to die?”

We headed back to Farencia immediately.

***

“D-disaster! My future home…!”

Adela’s hysterical shrieking snapped Liv back to her senses. But her mind was still reeling.

The boss? Marriage? No, dating… with Adela Rochear…?

It didn’t make sense. A simple store owner, and a noble from the North Sea? There were limits to even the most outrageous mismatches.

No, it can’t be true. This scatterbrained mage is probably just babbling nonsense again. As Liv struggled to deny reality, two Iron Dogs hiding in the corner of the store suddenly darted outside.

Whine, whine.

“What’s wrong with you two? Why do you look so skinny?”

Louis had arrived. Adela, still panicking, and Liv, half out of her mind, both turned their gazes to the massive hole that had blown through the second floor of the store.

The <Ice Spike> that Liv had deflected with <Wind Orb> had exploded upstairs in Louis’s living space, tearing it apart.

He was definitely going to be furious. But instead of dealing with the situation, Liv was more concerned about confirming whether Adela and Louis were really in a relationship.

“Teacher~!”

“Hm? You’re out here. Things wrapped up faster than I thought, so I came back early.”

But as soon as Liv pushed open the store’s door, careful to avoid the broken glass, Louis spotted the mess inside and the large hole in the ceiling.

“Here. I brought you that Sandalphonia mud cookie you wanted…”

Thud.

The black bag he had been holding fell to the floor. Seeing his expression, Liv instinctively backed away in shock.

“…”

Louis walked slowly into the store. He stood silently in front of the debris scattered across the floor.

Most of it was strange objects from the second floor—black metal plates, rubber straps, wooden models that had been thrown around like broken cookies, and poorly crafted cloth.

Most of it was so destroyed that it was impossible to tell what it had originally been.

“What happened here?”

His voice was dead, emotionless.

Adela immediately pointed at Liv and shouted.

“Teacher! Listen to me! The Baroness said such horrible things to me…”

“Did you do this?”

“T-Teacher…?”

Even Adela, who was usually oblivious, could feel the chill in Louis’s tone. But she cautiously reached out toward him again.

“Oh, right. I finally awakened my unique magic, just like you said! It’s still a bit incomplete, but—”

“Get out.”

“What?”

Adela stared in disbelief at the door Louis was pointing to. Her blue eyes trembled visibly, and even Liv could see it.

“T-Teacher…”

“I said, get out.”

There was no third warning. Faced with Louis’s menacing command, Adela was rendered speechless and fled the store in shock.

That left only Liv.

Once Adela was gone, Louis wordlessly walked past Liv, heading behind the counter. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it, the white smoke creating a barrier between them.

It signified a divide, but it also allowed Liv to avoid his gaze as she gathered the courage to speak.

“…Boss.”

She had expected him to be angry, but she hadn’t imagined he’d be this furious. She didn’t understand the significance of the small, personal space Louis had created with the memories of his life.

“Are you… and Adela…”

“Baroness, please leave too.”

Before she could even finish, his cold words cut her off.

Just hearing his voice felt like her heart was being ripped apart. Still, Liv pressed on with her question. If she didn’t, she felt like the wound in her heart would fester.

“Are you dating Adela?”

“What does that have to do with you?”

The response felt like a knife to her chest.

“And what does it have to do with you destroying my store?”

It hurt so much.

“Get out.”

Liv was thrown out before she could even explain herself.

“Our dinner plans are canceled.”

The sliver of hope she had held onto was severed.