The Dutiful Kid Who Saved the Villainous Family - Chapter 23

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

Episode 23

* * *

At the same time, in the lower floors of the Mage Tower.

Purification Mage Martin was researching purification meditation in a small training room of the Mage Tower.

“I really find Martin fascinating. He’s so passionate even though he only does completely useless work, you know?”

“Please learn some helpful ‘practical purification magic,’ Martin. Tsk tsk.”

Martin ground his teeth.

As expected, today was also full of people who looked down on purification meditation.

“Purification meditation isn’t bad either. You can build fundamentals…”

“Purification power is determined from birth anyway, so what’s the point of building fundamentals?”

Martin, thoroughly irritated, raised his eyebrows and said.

“…St, still, I’m Princess Airi’s teacher, you know?”

One colleague naturally spat on the floor.

“Lady Airi will probably lose interest in that stuffy purification meditation soon too, right?”

Since Martin secretly thought the same way, he had nothing to say when they criticized him.

“…Whatever, I need to meditate, so get out.”

Just as he was grinding his teeth and closing his eyes.

The door to the Purification Adept Training Room opened, and one of the Mage Tower’s secretaries spoke in an indifferent tone.

“Master Martin. You have an outing.”

Since most of the Mage Tower’s talents rarely left the Mage Tower, their external schedules were called ‘outings.’

“I don’t have an outing today? I only go out once a week. To teach Lady Airi.”

But right at that moment.

When the secretary opened the door a bit wider, Airi could be seen next to him, holding a bunch of books.

“Yes, Lady Airi has come.”

“Good day to you, Teacher!”

“…Pardon? Today isn’t a lesson day, Lady Airi?”

Why had Airi suddenly appeared?

Only then did Martin speak with a look of understanding.

“Ah! Did you come to see Master Haroze?”

“No. I came to see Teacher Martin!”

“Why would you see me…”

Then, Airi replied spiritedly.

“I was previewing the purification meditation lessons and had some questions!”

“…Pardon?”

“Huh?”

“Lady Airi is interested in trivial purification meditation…?”

Both Martin and his colleagues showed bewildered expressions.

Airi politely bowed her head toward them.

“Purification meditation is very amazing! I’m truly sorry for coming when Teacher must be busy with meditation research. Still, could you teach me a little about meditation?”

Looking at Airi’s bright violet eyes, Martin recalled the past.

When he first entered the Mage Tower as a Purification Mage.

Martin had loved purification meditation very much.

Until countless people started ignoring it.

“Purification meditation? Why learn and teach such stuffy stuff?”

“…Pl, please try it just once.”

“What’s with the pointless energy focusing in meditation anyway? I don’t understand.”

After hearing those words.

He had tried dozens of times to throw away the old, worn purification meditation textbook.

But it couldn’t be thrown away.

He had always wanted to throw it away, but couldn’t give up.

‘Was it for this day?’

Martin quietly gripped the textbook.

And seriously resolved.

‘Right. I need to go all out.’

The great Purification Mage Martin, who would make his mark in the purification meditation field in the distant future.

The reason he came to reorganize purification meditation lessons with fresh eyes, which everyone would come to praise, was precisely…

Thanks to his student Airi’s cheerful questions.

Martin stepped closer to Airi and said.

“Lady Airi, please ask me everything you’re curious about. I will show you the power of purification meditation!”

And after the two left.

The colleagues who had been mocking Martin remained and muttered.

“What did I just witness?”

“Does the Ortejo Family actually like purification meditation?”

* * *

As the purification meditation lesson with Martin was ending.

Airi mechanically recited the perfect excuse to rescue Karhen.

“I am Master Martin’s student. So I would like to tour the Mage Tower where Master Martin teaches.”

Martin showed a slightly worried expression.

“Yes, I can show you everything from the first floor to the top floor. However, the basement…”

Even though Airi was a child, she could fully understand why he trailed off.

When Airi tilted her head, Martin lowered his voice and whispered.

“In the case of the Mage Tower basement, the rooms move around and get tangled up. You need a special access pass.”

Airi could bet Cookie, made by Grandmother, that Karhen was in the basement.

Then there was only one thing for Airi to do!

“Teacher, I really love purification meditation.”

“Yes, yes?”

“I want to try meditating in places like the Mage Tower basement too.”

“Are, are you serious?”

“Yes! I’m serious!”

Martin’s eyes, which had been staring blankly at Airi, shook intensely.

With the expression of someone who had been recognized by the world, Martin bolted upright.

“…Wa, wa, wait please. I’ll go get an access pass. Don’t worry!”

One word was enough.

He was already Hero Airi’s ally.

A surprisingly quick change of attitude for Airi.

But…

‘Even better!’

* * *

The basement of the Northern Region’s Mage Tower was an extremely closed-off place.

More than five demon half-bloods were imprisoned there.

Karhen was among them.

Karhen had been left at an orphanage in a corner of the Capital City as soon as he was born.

However, he was unfortunately discovered to be a demon half-blood.

Due to the greedy orphanage director, Karhen was sold to the slave market.

Like other demon half-bloods, he suffered abuse from countless people even at the slave market.

“Disgusting. Why don’t you just die on your own instead of living so shamelessly.”

Only seven years old.

At seven years old, he learned terrible self-hatred.

“Khaak, ptui.”

When he was illegally displayed in the capital, countless passersby spat in front of him.

One day, while being despised for being a filthy demon hybrid.

He was transferred to the Northern Magic Tower along with other demon hybrids.

He lived a relatively ‘human’ life, cleaning the interior of the mage tower and occasionally helping mages with their experiments, but even that didn’t last long.

They were selected by several mages under the pretext of serving as ordinary experimental assistants.

However.

What they ended up doing was not ordinary experiments.

“Listen carefully. There’s something you need to do.”

“What…?”

“Demon hybrid slaves aren’t human, right? So let’s try drawing some blood.”

“It’s fascinating how they’re full of mana but don’t emit any. Shall we experiment?”

Deon with pointed elf ears, who had stayed by Karhen’s side, treating him kindly and teaching him about the ways of the world.

That day, Deon returned from just one experiment completely changed.

“Ugh, ughhhhhhh!”

“…D-Deon, big brother?”

“D-die! Just die!”

After participating as an assistant in an experiment of unknown nature.

The dark elf hybrid ‘Pointy Ears’ Deon, who had been nothing but kind, began scratching his entire body while seeing hallucinations.

Then he collapsed to the floor.

He was dead.

After losing ‘Pointy Ears’ Deon.

The claws of experimentation reached out toward other demon hybrids.

There was nowhere they could ask for help.

Considering their life in the Capital City, it was obvious that any plea for rescue would be dismissed like garbage.

Then one day, the claws of experimentation finally reached out toward seven-year-old Karhen.

“Join my experiment, you stupid demon.”

Karhen silently stared into his eyes.

If he had a wish.

‘I want to die…’

To just die and become thoughtless.

And if he had another wish…

‘No, I want to live.’

People said he wasn’t human.

They would pour their hatred for demons onto him, a demon hybrid.

But Karhen had emotions too.

He wanted to live, even if it meant becoming a worm.

At an age when he should be happy with a single cotton candy.

Life and death were waging a fierce battle in the seven-year-old boy’s existence.

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