Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 52

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“…….”
“If I’m to make Suppressants for the other nobles to use as well, my strength alone won’t suffice.”
Wonder bloomed across Malacar’s face.
“I’ve been trying to improve the Magic Tower’s Side-Effect Suppressant to stand against those House Rothwell dogs since long ago. But I kept failing. Yet this is possible, isn’t it? If I can understand how the Suppressant brings about change, then making Side-Effect Suppressants without your Innate Ability wouldn’t be impossible at all.”
Diena noticed that Malacar wasn’t asking how he’d come to know this—he was simply trusting her words.
Mages were perceptive folk. Those who saw the essence of people. Those who’d met Mages called them that. Among them, Malacar was a Mage with exceptionally keen intuition.
Though his eye for talent seemed rather lacking, it had to be said.
‘He noticed that I’m hiding something besides the fact that I’m an Ability User.’
She couldn’t know when he’d realized it. But he seemed convinced that nothing bad would come from following her lead.
‘If my Master lends his support, things will become easier.’
She had always believed this.
If only there had been a little more time…….
Then perhaps even the Past Timeline could have turned out differently. But now was not then.
There was ample time. She could reshape the future whenever she wished. Malacar laughed as though amused, drawing one corner of his mouth upward.
“If refining the Side-Effect Suppressant succeeds as you say, the Duke of House Rothwell will suffer a serious blow.”
“…….”
“And beyond that, you’ll sit on a fortune.”
“Yes.”
If this endeavor succeeded as Malacar said, she would grasp considerable wealth. The amount of money she’d earn was certain to be beyond what could be described as merely sitting on a fortune.
Malacar gazed directly at Diena’s face.
“Of course, I won’t skimp on compensation for you.”
“No, I need no money.”
Malacar shook his head.
“You can keep it all.”
At his words, Diena blinked her eyes in apparent confusion.
“For you, money isn’t all that important.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Malacar’s eyes glimmered as he asked.
“You want the Magic Tower’s Side-Effect Suppressant released under my name, yes? Because you wish to hide your existence.”
It was a remark that saw straight through her true intentions. Diena nodded, slightly surprised.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“And in doing so, you’re also seeking a position as my disciple—to claim rights and gain power for your future.”
“There are certainly those aspects as well.”
At her frank admission, Malacar burst into delighted laughter.
“So you plan to use me quite shrewdly.”
Diena made no denial of his words.
Malacar actually found her attitude more to his liking. Straightforward honesty about her intentions inspired more trust than clumsy attempts to hide them.
“But that’s precisely what I prefer. If one is to attain superior magical skill, one must learn not to be particular about means and methods.”
Malacar seemed pleased. He regarded Diena with a satisfied expression and spoke.
“Yes, let’s do as you suggest. Let’s deal that scoundrel Balthasar Rothwell a crushing blow.”
“Thank you.”
Malacar extended his hand toward Diena.
“But I too have a condition. That all of this be done under the name of my disciple. Mages hold honor in high regard, after all. And there is no greater honor than to possess an exceptional disciple.”
This posed no disadvantage to Diena; indeed, it was an excellent proposal that would allow her to stand on Malacar’s prestige.
Diena smiled and clasped his hand.
“Yes, I accept.”
The bargain, satisfactory to them both, was thus concluded.
* * *
In Balthasar’s office. Heavy silence hung in the room. Balthasar, dozing deeply reclined in a leather chair, suddenly trembled as a chill seized him.
“Balthasar, I’m not dead. I’ll come back alive.”
He opened his eyes that had been closed. Cold sweat trickled down from his head.
‘A cursed dream.’
It had been a long time since he’d dreamed of his brother Theodor. Black hair identical to Diena’s, and green eyes.
A clear, bright, upright gaze.
It had been far too long since Theodor appeared in his dreams. When Theodor first went missing, he’d often had nightmares. Nightmares in which Theodor returned and slit his throat, reclaiming the House Rothwell dukedom for himself.
During that first year, such nightmares came frequently, but gradually even Theodor’s face had grown hazy. Balthasar closed his eyes and summoned Theodor’s memory, along with the words he used to speak.
“Anyone who brings tears to my daughter’s eyes won’t be spared by me.”
If Theodor learned of what he’d done, he would show no mercy. Theodor’s words from just before he’d left on his campaign echoed in his ears.
“This applies even to you, Balthasar. Remember this—just because I’m gone doesn’t mean you get to treat my Diena however you please.”
“If you’ve caused her even the slightest suffering, I’ll end you with these hands.”
Though he’d spoken lightly, Theodor had known his younger brother’s nature far too well. It was obvious he’d anticipated what Balthasar would do to his niece once he was gone.
‘But brother, some of this fault is yours too.’
Such a powerful Ability User, and yet he fathered his daughter as a useless non-powered person. It was all Theodor’s fault.
Yet even as he thought this, Balthasar felt a faint dread. He didn’t believe Theodor was still alive. But what if, by some chance—
If he were to return—
He would likely execute Balthasar without sparing a thought for the fact that they were brothers.
Theodor was more righteous than anyone, yet he could become terrifyingly cold to those who touched his people.
‘She has a completely different temperament from him, yet whenever I see her, I’m reminded of my brother.’
That was why Balthasar hated Diena. If not for her potential usefulness, he would have erased her long ago.
‘This unease is strange.’
It had begun the day Diena disappeared. A nameless anxiety had been gathering thickly in Balthasar’s mind, growing darker with each passing day.
A creeping sense that something was going wrong gnawed at him.
Balthasar forced himself to shake his head.
‘There’s no way that’s possible.’
Since his brilliant brother had gone missing as intended, every affair in the world had flowed according to his wishes.
Filling the vacancy left by the burdensome kinsman was easy as pie, and the family’s power had become entirely his own.
Until now, not a single moment had strayed from his design.
‘Then why does this dread persist……?’
Balthasar lowered his gaze to the letter he held in his hand.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————