episode_0047

“Cough…Cock….”

“Sorry. I also don’t know what the name of the disease is.”

“Really…. Is it really not possible?”

“Sorry. It’s impossible for me. It would probably be the same no matter what therapist you brought from the empire.”

From the evening she returned from the academy, Ariel suddenly began to feel sick. The coughing did not stop, and I could only feel strong heat throughout my body.

“Daughter…”

“Eriel…”

“Tsk… Why did something like this happen to Ariel again…”

The healer residing in the Frost Fortress also shook his head and said that it was impossible, and there was silence in Ariel’s room again.

Ariel is suffering from an illness whose name is unknown, it is not a severe cold, and the cause is unknown. The Frost family was devastated to see their precious daughter, who had come back alive, suffering again.

“Cough…cough… Benny…s.”

“Yes. I’m here. Miss Ariel.”

“I… Why are you doing this? I feel dizzy…”

“Just…just rest. Miss Ariel. Because it will definitely get better.”

I hold onto the slender hand that is reaching towards me and convey warmth to Ariel. Because Ariel’s hands were as cold as ice.

‘Spotting talent.’

[Name: Ariel Frost / Age: 20 / Female / Status: Magi erosion.]

[Unique Ability (Child of Mana): You have the amount of magical power given by God. Your mana is as infinite as the ocean and as strong as a flowing stream. All mana-related actions receive a God-given correction!]

[Unique Ability (Magic Eye): This is an eye that can see magical power. You can see the trajectory of magic power and use magic power more smoothly!]

[Unique Ability (Qualities of an Archmage): You are born with the qualities of an Archmage that will go down in history. He has a higher understanding of mana than anyone else, and can use it as naturally as water!]

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[Demon Energy Erosion (???): Eroded by excessive black magic. If you do not remove the residual demonic energy left in your body, you will die in 15 days, 9 hours, and 24 seconds. (75%)]

[The erosion of magic energy is accelerating. It is getting worse at a faster rate.]

[You can absorb demon energy. Would you like to absorb it? (However, if the user absorbs the remaining magical energy in another person’s body without harm, a physical overload will be imposed on the user.)]

For some reason, the magic energy remaining in Ariel’s body is eroding her body even faster.

For what reason?

‘….I absorbed as much demon energy as I could whenever I was really close to him.’

Even though most of the time was spent absorbing demonic energy, it was still only 25% absorbed.

As to how much magic energy remained in Ariel’s body, there is still no end in sight.

Now, Ariel and I only have about two weeks left. Because erosion was accelerating, even that could not be guaranteed.

“Except for Venice… lol. Please leave. I want to rest a little…”

“….Please do me a favor. Please take good care of my daughter.”

“Yes. Just leave it to me.”

“…..Thank you. Butler.”

Hearing Ariel’s faint voice, the family members leave the room one by one with gloomy expressions. Eventually, the only people left in Ariel’s room were me and Ariel.

Only the sound of breathing and continuous coughing disturb the silence.

“Venice….”

“Yes. Miss Ariel.”

“Am I… going to die?”

Ariel seemed to have a rough idea of what was going on inside her body.

As she said, if no action is taken, the beautiful flowers that bloomed in the cold winter will crumble.

“No. Miss Ariel will not die.”

“But….”

“Because I won’t let that happen. So… rest in peace.”

“….Ha. Thank you, even if it’s just for words.”

Ariel seemed to have managed to muster up the strength to say even that, so she quickly fell asleep.

“It’s not just words. No matter what happens… I will try to save you.”

[You can absorb demon energy. Would you like to absorb it? (However, if the user absorbs the remaining magical energy in another person’s body without harm, a physical overload will be imposed on the user.)]

‘Absorb.’

Through our joined hands, the magical energy inside Ariel’s body begins to flow to me at a rapid pace. At the same time, something hot and unpleasant is accumulating somewhere inside my body.

[Physical overload is imposed on the user.]

[Physical overload is imposed on the user.]

[Physical overload is imposed on the user.]

Quiet. Because I know it well.

[Remaining Magi: 72%.]

[Remaining Magi: 70%.]

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[Remaining lifespan decreases due to demonic energy erosion. (Remaining lifespan: 70 years, 101 days, 8 hours.)]

I put away the flashing status window as if telling me to stop right away and absorbed Ariel’s magic energy.

As Ariel’s remaining magical power decreases, my lifespan becomes shorter.

“….Cough.”

I couldn’t bear the feeling of a foreign body in my throat and spit it out. I managed to cover my mouth with my hand, but I looked down and saw my hand covered in blood.

‘The effect is killer. ‘I can’t believe the condition improved so quickly.’

As the demonic energy decreases, Ariel’s complexion returns quickly enough to be visible to the naked eye. At the same time, I can feel my body getting worse.

It doesn’t matter though. I have already decided to save Ariel.

‘Absorb.’

[Physical overload is imposed on the user.]

[Physical overload is imposed on the user.]

[Physical overload is imposed on the user.]

[Remaining Magi: 65%.]

[Remaining Magi: 64%.]

…Because I don’t know how much time there will be in the future when we can be alone together like this. Should I absorb it quickly now?

Beyond the tightly closed door, only the breathing and painful coughing sounds of the peacefully sleeping person quietly rang out. Even when the sun goes down and the moon rises.

***

“Mr. Venice. From now on, I will take care of Miss Ariel.”

“Haha… Cough. thank you. Then I’ll just leave…”

“Yes. Come on in and rest!”

It was late at night. The maid who would take care of Ariel for me arrived, so I smiled and said hello and left the room.

Perhaps the Frost family leader sent a maid out of consideration for me.

As I headed to my room, I recalled the status window I had just seen.

[Remaining Magi: 49%.]

[The remaining magic energy has fallen to less than half. The condition is improving!]

It was also a time when I was alone with Ariel. Because Ariel was also asleep, she absorbed demonic energy without having to worry about what others thought, so she absorbed a lot of it.

At this rate… I think I’ll be able to absorb all the remaining demons in Ariel’s body in about 2 or 3 days.

‘I’m glad. ‘Because I can absorb it faster than I thought.’

[Remaining lifespan decreases due to demonic energy erosion. (Remaining lifespan: 38 years, 73 days, 3 hours.)]

In the end, my lifespan was cut in half because I absorbed the demonic energy without harming Ariel. Does not matter.

All of this was my decision. Because it was my choice.

I stand by the window frame, wearing my black robe and crow mask as usual.

“You have to do what you have to do.”

Even if Ariel falls, the warlocks do not care about the situation. If anything, they’ll say it’s good and go wild even more.

There are enough bastards for me alone. No, on the contrary, since it has no eyes to see, it can run even wilder.

“Let’s go. Because this is my responsibility.”

The night when everyone is asleep, the crow cannot even see the sound of its wings or its shadow. It flies quietly.

***

While riding in a carriage with Ariel, I remember all the vague remnants of black magic in the quickly passing scenes.

Perhaps because my black magic proficiency and level had increased, I was able to capture it even though it was extremely far away.

That’s how I ended up in a very small village right next to Frost’s territory.

As expected, as soon as you enter the village, the remaining remains of dark magic are clearly visible, as if showing the way.

“….Blood scent.”

At that time, the small village was filled with thick black magic and the pungent smell of blood.

…shit. Is it already too late?

I noticed that the dark magic and blood scent were the strongest near the well in the distance, and I quickly ran towards there.

A small well in the middle of a small village. The residents are not visible, and only the stronger scent of blood and dark magic can be felt.

The source of the smell is… below this well.

‘Stealth.’

Maybe it’s already too late. I quickly hide myself and go down the ladder installed inside the well.

“Kwaaagh….! It’s okay for anyone…please save me…!”

“Ehey. Be quiet. It gets in the way of eating…!”

When we reached the bottom of the dried up well, what was revealed was a small cave. Inside the cave, a warlock can be seen approaching a villager whose limbs are tied.

As I glanced behind me, I saw several residents who had already lost their minds and were locked in cages. However, seeing the chest rise and fall, it appears that he is still alive.

‘Dark Spear.’

Piyung-! Puff, puff.

“Kuh…Kuheook…!”

He immediately cancels his hiding and inserts the dark spear into the warlock’s back. I guess it’s a disgusting bug, so even though it bleeds at a level that would kill an ordinary human, it stays alive and glares at me.

“You…you bastard-!”

“Please be quiet. Bugs and such.”

‘Shadow Lance.’

Phew!

Countless black spears emerge from the warlock’s shadow and pierce his entire body.

This time, the bug seemed to have pierced its heart and died without even making a squeak.

“You…what are you? Are you a traitor-!”

“How dare the same warlock…!”

It seems that there is not just one warlock. Several warlocks run out from the darkness of that cave.

It’s really funny to watch colleagues die from the same black magic and grind their teeth.

“Die-”

Dark spheres rushing towards me. An attack that ordinary people, or even high-level magicians, must avoid.

Black magic can only be destroyed with the same black magic.

Kwajangchang-!

“Uh…huh? Why is black magic… wow!”

Even the warlock, who watched in vain as his black magic was broken, could not avoid the black spear that rose from the shadows.

“You…. At this level, you can become a priest… No, you can become a priest… Why on earth…! Ugh..”

“Please be quiet. Because I’m not a bug like them.”

A priest and a chief priest. Using black magic, I stomped on all the insects that crawled out and killed them.

[You can absorb vitality. Would you like to absorb it?]

(When absorbed: Total amount of black magic increases. Lifespan increases. Black magic proficiency increases.)

(If not absorbed: Nothing happens.)

At some point, a status window popped up asking if I should absorb vitality after killing the warlocks.

Total amount of dark magic, lifespan, mastery… It’s a truly ridiculous effect.

…This is probably why the bug bastards kill people and absorb their life force. Damn them.

‘go away.’

If you absorb vitality, you will be no different from those scum.

I put away the status window and approach Jumin, who was sitting down and looking at me blankly.

“Please…please just…spare my life… Ugh… I have a family… I have a family to feed… Please…”

“……..”

“….Huh?”

Without saying a word, I untie the ropes that bound his limbs, break the iron bar lock, and open the tightly locked door.

“Please help me. Because we have to send people up the well.”

“Yes…yes! Thank you… Thank you so much…!”

Even though the villagers were shedding tears, they lifted the unconscious villagers onto their shoulders one by one and dragged them up the well.

After repeating this several times, we were able to rescue all the residents. The condition was not that good, but fortunately there were no deaths.

“Contact Frost Citadel and tell them that the warlock has appeared. Then, support will come as a follow-up measure. Okay then. ”

“Yes…yes? Even the name…”

After making sure everyone was safe, I left the village without delay.

‘The next village… is this way.’

“…cough.”

After wiping off the blood, I head straight to the next village without stopping. The sun is still far from rising and bugs are still swarming around.