Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 61
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The priest looked troubled as he spoke.
“Unfortunately, we’re out of stock at the moment.”
But the court official knew the priest was lying. It was hardly surprising anymore. They supplied Side Effect Inhibitors only to families loyal to them.
When things went wrong, they often refused to give Side Effect Inhibitors even to the royal family. Yet no one dared voice a complaint, for their monopoly on Inhibitors effective against High-Rank Ability Users was a formidable weapon.
Fortunately, Ardin was only a Low-Rank Ability User, so the Magic Tower Inhibitor would be sufficient to heal him—though calming him from his rampage would take time.
But moments later, the official’s face drained of all color.
“This… this is abnormal!”
“The Magic Tower Inhibitor isn’t working.”
The other officials panicked, scurrying about in confusion. And from a distance, Romie watched the scene unfold.
‘Should I make my entrance now?’
She fingered the Temple Inhibitor nestled in her sleeve.
This was her role—to appear at precisely this moment, heal Ardin, and become his savior. Then she could manipulate him as she pleased.
But just as she moved to act, someone else stepped forward before her.
‘Diena?’
Diena’s sudden appearance startled Romie. She approached Ardin and withdrew a syringe from her robe—an Inhibitor bearing the Magic Tower’s insignia.
‘Did she not see the Magic Tower Inhibitor fail just now?’
Ardin’s current condition was far beyond what a Magic Tower Inhibitor could treat. But for reasons she couldn’t name, Romie felt an unsettling dread. Something felt wrong.
‘Something terrible is about to happen.’
Like Bianca suddenly awakening an Ability—something absurdly impossible. And Romie’s unease became reality.
Diena spoke to the official and handed over the Magic Tower Inhibitor. The official then injected the Ability Suppressant into Ardin’s body, and his convulsing form gradually began to stabilize.
Romie’s eyes widened as she watched. It was impossible—absolutely impossible. The Magic Tower Inhibitor had neutralized Balthasar’s Ability, which could only be controlled with the Temple Inhibitor.
‘How is this possible?’
With that single act from Diena, much of what Balthasar had been orchestrating fell apart.
And so did Romie’s plan.
Today was supposed to be her moment, her triumph—but Diena had stolen it all away.
As Romie trembled with rage, Diena’s words echoed in her mind.
“That’s right—don’t forget that resolve. No matter how unremarkable a Non-Ability User might seem, people like that are truly impressive, far superior to a mediocre Mid-Rank Ability User like you.”
A chill of fear crept through her.
‘It couldn’t be… could it?’
Perhaps Diena had stolen the Temple Inhibitor when she fled her family and used it here. If so, that was an offense warranting discipline from Rothwell, holder of the monopoly.
It was an act grave enough to break the agreement with Sevar and reclaim Diena for the family. Thinking this, she turned toward her father Balthasar—
But what happened next was shocking enough to stun Romie completely.
* * *
A knight of the Imperial Palace hurried Ardin away to the rest chamber. His face bore an unmistakable composure, as though he had never fallen into a rampage at all.
After Ardin’s departure, Diena felt the weight of every eye upon her. Slowly, she raised the syringe containing the Inhibitor.
The glass vial bore the Magic Tower’s emblem clearly, so all present understood that it was the Magic Tower Inhibitor that had healed Ardin. The nobles stood bewildered, unable to comprehend what they’d witnessed.
“How is this possible?”
“But didn’t the Magic Tower Inhibitor fail just now?”
Most of them were Low-Rank Ability Users who had been denied the Temple’s Inhibitor.
Low-Rank Ability Users weren’t entirely denied the Temple Inhibitor, for while the Magic Tower’s version worked adequately, the Temple’s was superior and less unpleasant to use.
At last, curiosity overtook caution, and a nobleman asked urgently.
“Ahem, Lady Diena. Is that truly a Magic Tower Inhibitor?”
But the answer came not from Diena.
“It is indeed a Magic Tower Inhibitor.”
Pushing through the crowd came Malacar.
His expression was confident, yet he couldn’t quite hide his awkwardness.
But given the circumstances, no one noticed the discord. Instead, his appearance made everyone fall silent.
Mages, as a rule, are poor liars. It stems from their nature as seekers of truth. Which meant Malacar’s words were fact.
“But if the first one was also a Magic Tower Inhibitor, why didn’t it work?”
“Because it was an older version of the Inhibitor.”
“Then… the Inhibitor has been improved?”
“Indeed it has.”
At Malacar’s affirmation, the nobles reacted with shock.
“Remarkable—the Magic Tower Inhibitor has been improved?”
“The Crown Prince seems in excellent condition. Does this mean the Temple’s Inhibitor is no longer necessary?”
Amid the murmuring, the nobleman asking questions raised his voice further.
“Has an Inhibitor been created that matches the Temple’s effectiveness?”
“Indeed. We’re still in the refinement stage, so there are only a few, but they’re every bit as effective as the Temple’s.”
Another commotion rippled through, and a nobleman pointed at Diena as he asked.
“Then how does Lady Diena come to possess one of these rare, precious Inhibitors?”
At this question, Malacar opened his mouth as if he’d been waiting for it.
“She’s my apprentice.”
Diena stepped slowly forward to stand at his side. Malacar placed a hand on her shoulder and continued with fervent pride.
“And she provided invaluable assistance in creating this Inhibitor. Her talent for magic is extraordinary—I’ve truly never seen such genius before.”
Diena’s eyes widened slightly. The revelation that she was his apprentice was something they had agreed upon in advance.
But Malacar’s words rang so utterly true that no one thought to question him. He patted Diena’s shoulder.
“So if Inhibitors are needed in the future, you need only contact her.”
With those words, Malacar turned and walked away slowly, taking Diena with him. The nobles’ burning gazes followed them across the room.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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