episode_0070

“The person who helped me charm my ex-girlfriend.”

At the words that Kelg Durakal threw out with laughter,

―

A cold silence descended upon the dark street.

Perzena and Erto stood facing him, frozen in place, unable to say a word.

Kelg Durakal let out a low laugh, enjoying the two people’s reactions.

“Isn’t it fun? Huh? Heh heh… ”

Perzena put the abominable sight out of her sight and looked at the boy between her and Kelg.

I’d like to rip Kelg’s mouth open right now, but that wasn’t what was important right now.

I wonder how Erto will react after hearing his words.

I had to check that first and foremost.

“… ”

Perzena silently looked at the back of the boy’s head standing between her and Kelg.

His head begins to turn slowly.

Very slowly, mechanically, as if it were going to make a clicking sound.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

As she gradually turned around and saw the approaching gaze, Perjena felt her heart beat rapidly.

Finally, the boy with a blank expression, as if his soul had left him, turned around and looked at her―

“―”

A pair of inorganic yellow eyes met Perjena’s gaze.

A look in their eyes, as if they were faced with a completely incomprehensible phenomenon, and could not accept anything.

“Er… ”

The moment Perzena called his name with a firm voice,

“… No.”

Erto’s eyes lit up, as if he had noticed something.

“That must be a lie.”

“… ”

He looked at Perjena and nodded with a faint smile.

“There’s no way a senior would do that, right? ”

When Erto momentarily regained his wavering faith and asked with a confident voice, Perzena nodded without realizing it.

“Uh, yeah… ”

Erto let out a short sigh of relief after hearing her answer, then glared at Kelg Durakal again and shouted.

“Stop talking low. Do you think I’m going to believe you now?”

“Ahh?”

When Kelg tilted his head in question, Erto seemed to have figured out his intentions and said with a nod.

“You’re probably trying to divide us with those lies you’ve made up from your three-inch tongue. But I won’t play along with you anymore. I’ve already experienced your malicious ways of deliberately stirring up confusion.”

“Oh… Is that so?”

Kelg rubbed the back of his neck as if the steam had escaped and clicked his tongue.

“Oh, really, after all the favors I gave to you… you didn’t accept my sincerity.”

Erto drove a wedge into her, as if she was acting and whining, as if he was no longer worth listening to.

“I already know that you are a conman who only thinks about deceiving others, so do you think that your empty words and groundless slander will work? Don’t underestimate me.”

“Haa… This is it. It doesn’t even work… Okay, do whatever you want.”

Kelg shrugged and spread both hands over his shoulders as if to signify surrender.

And he rolled his dark eyes and looked at Perjena.

“Hey, lynx.”

“What? Shut up and get out.”

When Perzena responded with a sharp voice, Kelg asked her with a bitter smile.

“How are you, are you happy being stuck with that kid?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m asking if you’re happy enough right now.”

At the unexpected emotional question, Perjena frowned and pointed the tip of her sword at his face.

“Stop talking nonsense and get out of here. I think I’d be happy without you.”

“Hahaha… Yeah, that’s right… ”

Kelg snorted and quietly turned his back on the two.

And then, as if leaving his last words before leaving, he blurted out words into the air.

“Oh, yeah. I’m glad it worked out. I was worried that you might not be happy.”

“What did that kid really eat wrong…? Why don’t you get out of here quick?”

As Perzena glared at him with a look of disgust, Kelg let out a low, sticky laugh.

“Heh heh… ”

He slowly walked back into the pitch-black shadows,

“Oh, but. Kid.”

I suddenly spoke to Erto again as if I was gathering something I had forgotten.

“… ?”

“You believe that lynx, right? You believe that based on the premise that there is no evidence for what I say, right?”

Erto responded in a cold voice to Kelg, who was saying something so obvious.

“… So what? So you want me to believe you without any evidence? I basically don’t trust you at all. So please don’t be stubborn. ”

“Haa, evidence, evidence… ”

Kelg, with his shoulders slumped as if his strength had been relieved, slowly raised his right arm to the side in the darkness.

Kiing-

Blood-red magical power gathers on the palm spread out toward the sky.

“!”

For a moment, Erto and Perzena grabbed their swords, thinking that he was about to start a fight, but

Ki-ki …

The phenomenon that appeared above Kelg’s grasp was not for fighting.

that,

It was a form of magic that both of them were familiar with.

“Come to think of it… ”

Ki-ki-ki-ki-ki!

Kelg slowly turned his head and looked at Erto with a deep, mocking smile.

“Is there any evidence?”

“Uh… ”

“Ha… ?”

Erto and Perzena stared blankly at the object floating above his hand.

A crystal structure that gleams blood red in the moonlight.

It was the turning point in the past when he pushed Erto to the edge of the cliff in the square.

It was the very magic that exposed the evil deeds and corruption of Kelg Durakal and Tirisia Bruard to the world.

Erto looked at the large crystal slab floating in the air and repeated the name of the magic.

“Mirror… ?”

“Okay… Let’s see if that belief can continue to be maintained?”

Kelg, who had turned completely, smiled with his fangs at the two of them.

“That’s ridiculous… ”

Perjena backed away from him, her expression blank.

Memorial Scope. Also known as the ‘Mirror of Memory’.

It must have been a vision magic that was secretly passed down only to the person who would become the head of the Elkonja family.

However, the mirror that Kelg had created was completely identical in shape to what the two had seen in the square that day.

“Da, how did you do that magic…!”

When Erto asked with his eyes wide open, Kelg answered by increasing the size of the mirror as if to show off.

Ki-ki …

“Thanks to Elconja-nyeon’s blatant display in the square that day… It took quite a while for me to finally copy it. Heh heh… ”

“You copied it…? How can you learn the vision of a family just by seeing it with your own eyes without formally learning it…!”

“Hey, hey, have you already forgotten? Whose power do I have now?”

Erto’s face turned red with shock as Kelg pointed to his face with his thumb.

“No way…!”

“Your ex-girlfriend’s talent is such that even if it’s the secret magic of a great noble, you can recreate it, albeit imperfectly, after seeing it with your own eyes and studying it for several months. Isn’t that right?”

“Huh… !”

“So to speak, this is a collaboration between that Elconza bitch and your ex-girlfriend. Heh heh… And the lead actress is a stray bitch who is really scared of her.”

“Senior Ferjena… ?”

At Kelg’s laughter, Erto unconsciously looked at Perzena’s complexion.

She was backing away, but at the boy’s wavering gaze,

“Ah… No… ”

I was just shaking my head and trying hard to deny the reality in front of me.

“Senior… Why are you like that…? That might just be a bluff… ”

Erto also reached out to her with an unnatural smile, as if he wanted to believe in Perzena until the end.

“Okay… Then, shall we take a look? The messy past of the teacher you cherish so much.”

As Kelg breathed magic into the mirror, new colors began to appear on the smooth surface of the crystal mirror.

The complexly divided colors gradually create an image,

“… ”

As Erto looked at the sight, swallowing his saliva―

“You son of a bitch―!”

Boom!

There was a flash of light and a shockwave, and the floating crystal mirror split in half.

Passus-

The mirror, whose shape was broken, shattered into pieces from the point where it was struck, and scattered into the air.

Kelg and Erto’s gazes were simultaneously focused on the person who had fired the sword strike.

“Haa… Haa… ”

Perzena, with her sword down, was glaring at Kelg with murderous eyes, breathing hard to calm her beating heart.

Kelg shrugged and snickered at her.

“Chaam Na, if you resist with all your might, you’ll only become more suspicious. If you haven’t committed any crimes, why are you refusing to let your past be seen?”

“Shut up! I know you’re going to pull out some weird video! I don’t care about that kind of stuff, so get out of my sight right now!”

“Haa… Well, okay. Well, then I guess I could just back off… ”

Kelg again pretended to surrender, staring at Erto with his dark eyes.

“But, is that kid over there also hoping for that?”

“What…?”

Perjena turned pale and hurriedly looked back at Erto.

“… ”

He stood there blankly on the road, listening to Kelg’s words without even touching his sword.

Kelg extended his arms to him as if to extend mercy, with a bitter smile.

“Now, Erto, you little brat. I will give you a choice. First, let me make it clear that what I will show you with this mirror is a clear memory of your master’s past. I will guarantee this with my life. However, if you want to ignore that girl’s true nature and cover it up, you may refuse. Then I will disappear immediately without showing you anything.”

“This little shit… !”

Ferzena flared up and raised her sword again, but Kelg paid her no attention and urged Erto on.

“The choice is yours. What do you want to do? Heh heh… ”

“… ”

As Erto hesitated without saying anything, the expressionless face of Perzena drained even more of its color and she dropped her sword to the ground.

Chaenggang!

The heavy lump of iron produces a refreshing sound,

“Hey! Erto!”

Perzena rushed to the boy and grabbed his arms, shaking them and shouting.

“Don’t listen to that kid! He’s just trying to trick us! We don’t need to hang out with him anymore! We don’t need to watch that kind of manipulated video!”

“… ”

The boy looked down at the girl standing in front of him with unfocused eyes.

Swallowing a huge confusion, he was endlessly torn between his blind faith in the girl and the truth he could immediately grasp.

In that dangerous atmosphere where even the slightest breeze could cause temptation, Perjena hugged him and buried her face in his chest.

“Erto! Just trust me! I’m your teacher! Your senior! Your older sister! And I’m the woman who loves you more than anyone else! So ignore those liars and trust me like you always have! Just trust me!”

“… Senior.”

Erto looked beyond her with blank eyes.

My enemy, half-hidden in the shadow of the building ahead of me.

He just shrugged his shoulders at me, as if telling me to think for myself.

Erto looked back and forth between him and Perzena, taking a deep breath.

On one side, a hateful arch-enemy who threatens to tell him the truth.

And on the other hand, his teacher whom he had respected since childhood.

Which one would you choose?

Shall we uncover the truth about what destruction awaits us?

or not,

Should I just maintain my current happiness without witnessing anything and covering up my suspicions?

“… Senior.”

At that crossroads, Erto finally made a decision.

“Erto… ?”

Perzena looked up at him from within her arms with eyes filled with hope.

And the words that came out of Erto’s mouth were―

“I’m sorry, I have to look at the memory in that mirror.”

It was a decision that contained a firm will to witness the truth, even if it carried the possibility of destruction.

“Uh… ”

To Perzena, who was spitting out extremely short words, Erto expressed his intentions with a difficult expression as if enduring pain.

“I need to know about my senior’s past.”

“Uh… Uh… ? Erto?”

He grabbed the absentminded Perzena’s shoulder and pushed her away from him, then took a step towards Kelg.

“Kelg Durakal, I accept your offer. I don’t know what the hell you’re trying to show me with that mirror, but… I have to check it out now.”

“Hahaha! Yeah, I secretly like that side of you.”

Kelg, holding his forehead and laughing, raised his hand to the sky again and created a crystal mirror.

Ki-ki-ki-ki!

“ Do not do it.

Perzena, who came to her senses at the sound of the crystals digging into her ears, walked towards the claymore she had dropped with unsteady steps.

“This time, instead of a mirror, I’ll drop your balls… !”

Sling-

The moment she took up the sword with difficulty and assumed a swordsmanship stance,

“Senior.”

Erto grabbed her wrist.

“Ma, don’t stop me, Erto… I have to kill that bastard right now… ”

Perzena trembled all over her body and pleaded,

“Please, please don’t disturb me.”

The moment she saw Erto chanting with a look of deep despair on his face, all the strength left Perzena’s grasp.

Chaenggang!

Her sword crashed back to the ground,

“Please pray there. That I can accept and understand my senior’s past.”

“… ”

Erto let go of her arm, saying something that sounded like a sentence.

“No… ”

Perjena mustered up the last of her will to utter a refusal, but her two arms hung limply and remained motionless.

Ki-ki-kik!

Kelg’s Mirror was completed, and now only an uncontrollable future unfolded before her.

“Okay… This time, make sure you engrave this clearly into your mind.”

Kelg’s wet voice echoed through the dark streets,

Memories of his past began to appear in the giant mirror floating in the air.

*

-Hey, nice to meet you. Iron-blooded swordsman Perzena.-

-Ah? What are you?-

The first thing that came to mind was,

This was the scene when the two people first met.

The rooftop of the main building of the Academy, which Perzena likes to use during lunch time.

Kelg Durakal, who appeared there, was greeting her for the first time.

-I am the chairman’s son, Kelg Durakal. Well, since we are in the same grade, you probably know his face and name, right?-

-Hey, what are you talking about? Get out of here, I’m eating!-

-Heh heh… This girl is totally like a wild cat.-

-You little punk! Do you want to lose?-

-Woah, calm down and listen… I saw your match against the monster of Brewery in the last freshman test. The opponent was so out of standard that even though you lost, you almost cornered him. The match was decided by a disappointing margin of less than 10%. –

-Huh, I don’t like losing to a noble brat, but… that guy is real. And I kind of like the fact that he doesn’t really act cocky. Elconza, a new student who is much weaker than him, is… well, just… –

-Heh heh, this must be the first defeat you’ve ever experienced in your life, aren’t you upset?-

-That means that’s my current level, so what else is there to do but work harder in the future? More importantly, why do you keep talking to me and harassing me? Do you have something to do with me? Huh?-

-I’ve been watching you closely for a long time. You don’t have much magical power, and you don’t inherit the vision of a noble family, but you have strength that ordinary people can’t reach.-

-Haa, magic power, vision, and such are just one measure of strength. People can become stronger in countless ways. More importantly, if you have no business, get out of here!-

-Perzena, you… do you like a commoner kid named Erto among your juniors?-

-Phew?!-

Perjena spit out the food she was chewing and covered her reddened cheeks with her sleeve.

-What, what are you saying?! Who said that?! I like Erto, Jo, Jo, Jo…?! You’re crazy!-

-Hey, hey, don’t you know that a harsh denial means an affirmation?-

-Fuck, fuck! I’ll kill you!-

The moment Perzena, who had put down her lunch box, got up from her seat and grabbed the handle of her sword,

-But that guy named Erto seems to already have a long-time partner. It’s none other than Tirisia Brewerd, the one you defeated… –

Her expression hardened as Kelg spoke leisurely, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

-… I know that too. So what do you want me to do?-

A serious look of anger appeared on Perzena’s face, and Kelg smiled bitterly at her and said,

-If there was a way to take that seat away, would you listen?-

-under…?-

And then the memory moves to another point in time.

*

-What is this unpleasant thing?-

-This is a stake that contains an ancient Eastern curse.-

The changed time is inside Kelg Durakal’s hideout in the mountain behind the academy.

In the hall there, two people were looking at a stake placed on a table.

-curse?-

-If you stab someone with this stake, the curse of charm will be activated, causing the user to love you more than anyone else. Isn’t that a fun thing?

-What’s the fun in that, if you use it wrong, you’ll end up in a really dangerous situation.-

-Let me get straight to the point. I plan to use this on Tirisia Brewerd.-

-…what?-

As Perzena, with a serious expression on her face, looked at the criminal, Kelg shook his head with a regretful expression.

-But there are some tricky conditions required to activate this curse… It’s nearly impossible to curse that genius wizard using normal methods.-

-…What are the conditions?-

In response to Perzena’s question, Kelg showed her his hand with his index and middle fingers spread out.

-There are two conditions. One is that the target of the curse must not be conscious. And the other is that they must have used up most of their magic power and have weakened their resistance.-

-What? It’s something that’s so hard to use?-

-Do you have any idea what state Breward’s monster would have to be in to satisfy these two conditions at the same time?-

At Kelg’s question, Perzena hesitated for a moment and then looked at him with a helpless smile.

-… Will that work?-

-This means that the condition of charm is only satisfied when you make the monster with such great power consume all of your magic power and then knock it out.-

-So, is that possible? Who can do that? Are you planning on bringing the entire Knights and starting a war?-

-No, there is a slightly more convenient way. It is uncertain whether it will work.-

-What method?-

In response to that question, Kelg showed Perzena the bloody pattern appearing on the back of his hand.

-This is the predatory magic of our family’s vision. It has the ability to copy the power of the person with whom you have made a contract.-

-What do you mean you’re going to eat it that day? Is it fun to become strong with the help of others?-

– Heh heh… Let’s put that argument aside for now. Right now, it’s a power that can be used to your advantage. –

-Huh? What are you talking about?-

-Listen carefully, Lynx. This predator has one more ability. It can transfer the copied power to another person. In this case, a contract is not necessary. All that is required is the will of the person to transfer all the power. There is a side effect of all the contracts made so far being canceled, but… if the plan succeeds, that risk will be nothing.-

-What do you want to say?-

Kelg pointed to her face with his index finger and smiled sinisterly.

-If I transfer all the magic power I’ve accumulated so far to you, you’ll be able to surpass Breward for a moment. If you then completely beat that girl, you’ll be able to use charm. That’ll be the end of it. After we’re done, we can go our separate ways.-

-No, even if he’s strong, what on earth are you telling me to fight him again? Even though I’m called a punk, I’m not trash enough to pick a fight with an innocent guy.-

– Heh heh… You can make up any number of excuses. In this freshman test, you lost to a noble for the first time in your life. If you were to request a rematch to avenge that humiliation, wouldn’t that be pretty plausible? –

-Haa… But in the end, this story is telling me to betray Tirisia and Erto and hit them in the back of the head.-

-Don’t you really want to be that kid’s lover? If you weren’t interested, this story wouldn’t have even started in the first place. Right?-

-But… no matter what, taking it away in this dirty way… –

As Perzena hung her head in agony, Kelg shrugged and turned away from her.

-Well, I won’t force you. If you don’t cooperate, I’ll just endure it until I can surpass that woman through predation. It’ll take a long time, but it’s possible. But instead of getting your feet wet, you’ll just watch that woman stick to Erto’s little boy for all those years.-

Then Perzena raised her head and glared at him fiercely and asked.

-… How can you guarantee that you will keep a secret? If you blow the whistle and say that I helped steal Tirisia by charm, I will leave without getting anything. –

– Heh heh heh… I’m the type of person who doesn’t create unnecessary resentment. Why would I turn a dangerous person like you into an enemy when there’s no benefit to it? Everything we’ve done, and our relationship after it’s over, is a promise of non-aggression. We’re just in the same grade, so we know each other a little bit. Let’s just leave it at that. –

-… This is not an easy decision to make. Give me time to think about it.-

-Ah, of course. Think about it as much as you want.-

-Go.-

-Hey, lynx.-

As Perzena was about to leave the hideout, Kelg threw seductive words at her with a bitter smile.

-If this works, you can become Erto’s girlfriend, as you wish. I can guarantee you that result.-

-…Be quiet.-

So, the mirror reflects the next memory.

―

――

-I will.-

A point in time that seems to be in the near future.

Perzena, who came to Kelg’s hideout, accepted his plan.

– Heh heh… Okay, let’s get started in earnest after finalizing the plan. –

―

――

The seeds of great evil begin to sprout,

The point of view constantly advances towards another future.

The new scenery that appeared in the mirror was the Academy podium in the deep night.

Finally, there was truth there.

The fate of Tirissia Brewery was divided,

Erto’s teacher, Perzena, whom he had always idolized, completely betrayed him.

The events of that dark night are revealed in the mirror.

-Taaat!-

-Wow…! You’re really strong! Senior Perjena!-

In the middle of the night, on the empty stage, two people were engaged in a fierce battle.

Perzena temporarily gained overwhelming power after receiving the magical power accumulated by Kelg through predation.

And Tyricia Brouard, who accepted the rematch she requested, using pride as an excuse.

The two of them fought a near-mythical battle, crossing the podium and embroidering the clouds in the high sky with magical light.

And Kelg Durakal hid himself and watched the whole scene with his own two eyes.

When the opponent she had once defeated suddenly revealed his great power and attacked her, Tirisia looked quite flustered.

But her talent is the strongest among all wizards of all time.

Perzena, who borrowed strength from Kelg Durakal, pushed her with a transcendental attack, but

-I won’t… support you!-

-Ugh?!-

Growing up in real time, Tirisia, who threw herself into battle with all her might for the first time in her life, did not falter in the face of the fierce attack and instead began to surpass Perzena.

A situation where if you’re not careful, all your plans could go down the drain.

At that crossroads of fate,

-This… this… damn, eat it up!-

Perzena crossed a dangerous line in her obsession with being by Erto’s side.

Quaaa-!

The runaway of the magic circuit.

It was a self-destructive measure that would leave irreparable scars on her own body,

The magical power that temporarily exceeded its limit overwhelmed Tirisia in an instant,

-Haa… Haa… Haa… !-

The conclusion of the two people who finally fell onto the podium was revealed in the mirror.

Tirisia Bruard faints after pouring out all her magical power.

And, Perzena, whose whole body was ruined due to the runaway magic circuit.

-Ugh… Ugh… Erto is… Ugh… Mine… –

dump!

Perzena, whose eyes were shining with an obsession bordering on madness, collapsed,

The owner of the memory quietly approached the spot and took out the stake of the curse from his bosom.

-Heh heh heh… You did a great job, Salsaegi.-

He stabbed a stake into the nape of Tyrisia’s neck, who was unconscious on the floor―

-With this, Durakal’s long-cherished wish can be fulfilled… –

―

――

And the mirror finally reflected the last memory.

It was the scene of Perzena lying in bed with the aftereffects of her rampage, and Kelg Durakal visiting her late at night.

-Hey, I gave you everything you wanted. Now that charm is starting to kick in, right?-

-Yeah, you’re really good at handling things. It’s a shame that you’re no longer useful.-

-What the heck? It’s over with you now. Have you already forgotten that we decided to go our separate ways? Get out of here.-

-Ah, of course you should do that. I came here today to tell you something you need to know as a final note.-

-What is it?-

-Charm doesn’t activate completely in an instant. It gradually encroaches on the target’s mind so that they don’t feel uncomfortable. In the meantime, I’ll hover around Brood and make her think she’s naturally fallen for me. And once the charm is complete, I’ll lead the situation so that you break up with Erto. After that, you can do whatever you want. –

-Tch… Still have to wait. Okay, I understand. Go now.-

-Heh heh… I hope you achieve everything you want and be happy. I’m rooting for you, Salgap-

So Kelg came out of Perzena’s sickroom―

The memory ends there.

Passs …

The crystal mirror that had illuminated all directions with blood broke into small pieces and scattered,

Darkness fell over the road once again.

―

No one opened their mouths.

What they just witnessed before their eyes.

That’s it,

It was the truth.

“Khahahaha! How is it, now you understand the nature of the human you followed as your teacher?”

Kelg Durakal broke the heavy silence with a burst of laughter.

“… ”

Erto just stood there blankly, without saying a word.

“What did you say? Idol? Heh, kehahahahaha! Seriously, that was a ridiculous farce, you two! In fact, she played the biggest role in stealing your girlfriend! I can’t stand watching her hanging around like that! Phew, heh, kehahahaha! ”

Kelg let out a sigh, clutching his stomach and groaning, then ran his hand through his hair.

“Whew, ah, that was fun. It was worth it to deliberately hold back until that slutty bitch felt truly happy.”

“Hey… ”

Perzena spoke to Kelg, who was chattering excitedly, in a voice that seemed to be about to break.

“Ahh?”

“Inviolable… wasn’t it… ”

“Ah, that?”

Kelg stuck out his tongue and sneered at Perzena, who had her head bowed.

“Did you believe that? You fucking bitch! Hahahaha! How can a traitor like you be happy? Keuhaha! ”

“… ”

Perjena quietly placed a hand on his shoulder and grabbed the sword.

But at that moment,

dump!

Erto’s body, standing next to her, collapsed to the floor.

“Erto… !”

Seeing his unusual condition, Perzena hurriedly put down her sword and ran to Erto’s side.

“Erto! Come on!”

Perjena sat down in front of the boy who was kneeling on the floor, grabbed his shoulder, and examined his complexion.

“Er… ”

Perzena, who had been shaking his shoulder and calling his name, was speechless the moment she met his gaze.

―

The emotions contained therein are,

It sent shivers down her spine,

“… Hypocrite.”

It was endless despair and hatred.