The Knight Who Devours Magic - Chapter 17

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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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Episode 17. Mage Hunt
[When the moon rises, come to my chamber.]
The moment Muno glanced back, he caught sight of a middle-aged man with a warm impression wearing an eerie smile.
‘Toine Randel…….’
He wanted nothing more than to rush at the mage who had interrupted this precious moment with his family and drive a fist into his jaw.
But Muno ground his teeth silently while composing his expression, offering a faint nod with vacant eyes.
He had long since consumed the magical energy of that spell.
– With Illusion and Hypnosis Magic, the mind typically grows clouded either the moment the spell is planted or when it manifests
He recalled what Roanna had told him and played along.
Only after confirming that the man had turned away with a laugh did
Muno allow a cold smile to cross his face as he looked back again.
And there stood his father, his expression hardened, and his mother, worry etched across her brow.
“Why the sudden change, my son? Did something we said upset you? If you’d rather not have come back…….”
“No, no! Of course not! Naturally, I had to come back. Drasen is my home……!”
As he waved his hands in protest to appease his hurt mother, his father tilted his head slightly and asked in a hushed voice.
“Was it him?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“……He said to come when the moon rises.”
The moment he repeated what the man had said, a chill swept across both their faces simultaneously.
“Trian has agreed to provide personnel support.”
“Good. I’ve also prepared suitable ‘witnesses’ and combatants.”
“Then shall we begin right away……?”
“Let’s do it. The moon will be up soon.”
And so the father and son ended the party and began preparing for the Mage Hunt.
And shortly after.
When the moon that had risen in the east of Drasen’s domain began to cast its light across the darkening sky.
The two of them met again near the Guest House, each accompanied by their supporters.
“Greetings, Baron Drasen. I am from Trian…….”
“Ah. I remember you, Karina. Even if I’ve grown old, my memory hasn’t weakened that much.”
Laien Drasen smiled and responded teasingly to Karina’s greeting.
And moreover.
“That attire suits you well. As it does my son.”
He added unnecessary remarks.
Karina, who had not worn a Dress even at the party, tilted her head in confusion.
“Pardon?”
“Ah, never mind. I simply meant that Muno seems to have made a good choice.”
At that suggestive remark, her face flushed deeply.
But she could not snap back at him as she would have at Roanna.
More importantly.
“Ah, I mean to say that I selected you for this operation. Don’t misunderstand.”
The smooth middle-aged man immediately salvaged his own words perfectly.
And the only one who frowned at Laien was Muno.
“Didn’t you say not to make a fuss with preparations, Father?”
“And that’s why I came modestly.”
Sigh…….
‘That hardly qualifies as modest, with all this heavy armor.’
They needed to carefully catch Toine, the sub-baron, in the act of casting his spell, yet here was the domain lord himself standing fully armed in the middle of the night.
And beside him stood a knight in full plate armor, spear in hand.
“And this person is……?”
“The chief knight of House Esmen, Gremen. Once my comrade-in-arms. A man you can trust.”
“It’s been a long time since a Mage Hunt. I’m honored you called on me, young lord.”
……But I didn’t call you.
While Muno brooded, Gremen turned to Karina and continued.
“And……. That appearance of yours is unmistakably that of a lady, Karina. I’m surprised to see this side of you.”
At those words, Karina frowned slightly and adjusted the hem of the Dress she had borrowed from Roanna, which didn’t quite fit her frame.
“Please forget you saw this after tonight, Gremen.”
Watching the middle-aged knight raise his visor to bow respectfully—apparently he was acquainted with Karina as well—Muno barely managed to stifle a sigh.
He couldn’t send back the two fully-armed middle-aged knights now.
“……We mustn’t be noticed even by a single servant.”
“No? I’m fine.”
“Pardon?”
“I already told them I’d be training late into the night to prepare for tomorrow.”
…….
The lord training late the night of a party—and near the Guest House, no less?
‘Oh, Father…….’
A headache was building, but the milk had already been spilled.
‘Well. The lord is the master of these lands in every sense, so he can train anywhere he pleases.’
Sigh.
Muno shook his head, trying to convince himself.
No matter what anyone said, Father—Laien Drasen—was the strongest knight currently in Drasen Castle.
In the worst-case scenario, he was unquestionably the most reliable reinforcement.
“……Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Oh, no, nothing. Let’s go.”
What he needed was physical proof that Toine was a mage—or failing that, a witness who’d seen him in the act.
The senior knights of Trian and Esmen would certainly have the credibility for that.
Having outlined his plan, Muno deliberately shuffled toward the Guest House with unsteady steps.
And then.
“My. Lord. Why. Are you. Suddenly. Going. To the. Guest. House?”
Karina, speaking in a deliberately awkward cadence, linked her arm through his and clung to his side.
‘Ugh…….’
Frustrating as it was, the feel of her arm was too pleasant for Muno to object.
Besides, her role was already perfectly clear.
And so the two of them exchanged whispered words as they drew close, like lovers sharing secrets in each other’s ears.
“The honor guard should definitely…….”
“Leave it to me.”
But the content of their exchange was anything but romantic.
Outside Toine’s assigned room in the Guest House, two knights stood watch.
Not Drasen’s knights—the Connel Baron’s House knights.
‘Two knights on watch duty through the night for a single viscount? Two other viscounts protecting one all night long? Hmm.’
It was certainly odd, but when he scanned them, the Demon Devourer gave no response.
At least the knights weren’t under any spell.
The watchful knights stirred slightly as Muno and Karina approached.
“May we help you, my lord? My lady?”
Their expressions had been neutral when looking at Muno, but they soured slightly at the sight of Karina.
Muno answered first.
“I have, business, with Viscount Toine, so I, came.”
He forced his eyes into an empty stare and spoke in deliberately slurred, halting tones.
Beside him, Karina tilted her head in confusion and added her part.
“Goodness, my lord……. Hic. Why are you suddenly coming here?”
……Oh.
Contrary to his worries, when it came to the real thing, the drunken slur came out remarkably naturally.
Her face had flushed slightly from embarrassment, but even that seemed to sell the act of someone genuinely intoxicated.
‘Well?’
As Muno marveled inwardly at this.
The two knights exchanged glances, nodded to each other, and spoke to him.
“Viscount Toine has been expecting you, my lord. We shall see the lady elsewhere.”
At those words, Muno’s eyes flickered with light.
‘Just as I thought…….’
These men weren’t under any spell, but they were definitely in league with Toine.
“Then, let us, proceed…….”
“My lord? Hic, why?”
The moment Muno nodded, one of the knights smiled and extended his hand to Karina.
“This way, my lady.”
“Oh……. This isn’t what I…….”
As Karina’s face fell in confused disappointment, the knight grasped her arm and led her away, while the other knight knocked on the door he’d been guarding.
“Viscount Toine, Lord Muno has arrived.”
Knock-knock.
— Let him in.
And the answer came from within the room.
“Ugh… let go of me, would you? My lord?”
Karina suddenly stumbled, wrenching herself free from the knight’s arm as she feigned drunkenness.
“What are you doing?”
“No, this woman’s strength is…”
As another knight regarded his companion with pity.
A voice called out from within the room once more.
— What’s the matter?
“It’s nothing. Prince Muno has brought some companions…”
— Companions?
“A woman, sir.”
— Puh-huh-huh… Always doing whatever amuses you, aren’t you? Send her away quietly. No fuss. We’ll have a private conversation, just the two of us.
“Yes, Toine.”
Though the barely concealed mockery was unmistakable, neither the knight nor Muno gave any reaction.
Soon the two knights began supporting Karina by either arm, steering her down the corridor.
And in the midst of this.
“Can’t even enjoy a little fun with such a scrawny thing…”
“His tastes really are something…”
The knights’ thoughtless commentary succeeded only in flushing the neck of the woman who had been feigning intoxication.
Though he hadn’t known her long, her temperament was easy enough to gauge.
‘…You two are finished.’
Muno imagined the fate awaiting those pitiful knights, then drew a slow breath and opened the door.
Creak.
“You’ve come.”
A stout, middle-aged man dressed formally despite the late hour greeted him with an enigmatic smile.
“Come in.”
“…Yes.”
Upon entering, he found the room — ostensibly the Guest House — was barely thirty square meters, furnished only with practical pieces and wholly devoid of luxury or decoration.
True, another noble’s quarters lay at the far end of the same floor, but providing separate wings to visiting nobles was simply unheard of in Drasen.
“Because of you, I’ve had to drag myself all the way out to this backwater. Though I suppose you wouldn’t know that.”
Thud.
A low hum resonated.
The moment Toine tapped the floor with the Gentleman’s Cane he held in one hand, black energy surged forth and seeped into Muno’s entire body.
— A low growl.
Crunch.
Of course, the Demon Devourer swallowed that energy whole.
Noticing the energy seep into him, an enigmatic smile played once more at Toine’s lips.
“Good. Yes, looking at you now, I’m certain it’s him. Your appearance has changed somewhat, though.”
What?
As Toine’s gaze swept up and down his frame, a question stirred within him — yet he dared not show it.
“Now then, let’s have a more serious conversation. First, I’m most curious about this.”
His sneering smile carried a bone-chilling undertone.
‘Yes, go on. Tell me what you bastards are really up to.’
Even as Muno smirked inwardly.
“Experiment Subject Thirteen — you, who were offered as a sacrificial offering — why are you still alive?”
What?!
The moment those words reached his ears, Muno’s eyes widened involuntarily.
And in that same instant, he noticed Toine’s brow furrow, and he realized his mistake.
“Ah… um. My… my head…”
He scrambled to feign an oncoming headache.
Yet even as he played the part, a genuine ache began to throb through his skull, deepening with each moment.
As if Toine’s words had stirred something forgotten — some memory buried deep within.
And then.
“Hmm… So the magic didn’t take hold properly?”
Thud.
This time, Toine’s eyes narrowed to slits, gleaming with intensity as he struck the floor with his cane once more, unleashing a deluge of black energy.
And.
Crack-crack-crack.
In an instant, Black Thorn Vines erupted from the wooden floor, coiling around Muno’s entire body.
“Ack!?”
In the moment Muno cried out, his frame already slick with blood.
Toine’s jaw clenched with certainty.
“So it is—a Mental Barrier! Damn him! How dare this experiment subject deceive me!?”
Crash, bang.
Whoosh.
Despite his bold words, Toine rushed to the window and wrenched open the curtains, scanning the grounds outside the building.
Unsatisfied with that alone, he muttered something under his breath before striking the floor once more with his cane—thud—and unleashed a dark aura in all directions.
Toine stood with eyes closed, focusing on the energy he’d released.
But in doing so, he failed to notice.
All of that aura he’d sent out was being drawn directly into Muno.
And this created a profound miscalculation for the mage who believed he had fully deployed his magic.
“……Hmm? Came alone, did you? How bold.”
Toine, who had been tensed in anticipation, confirmed that no reaction was detected, and only then did his face twist into a vicious smile as he turned to face Muno.
“Hehehehe. Relying on nothing but a Mental Barrier? How pathetic. For an experiment subject, you’re awfully cocky. Ah, could it be that you’re looking down on me because of this face?”
Pfft.
A low chuckle escaped Toine’s lips as his face crackled like a hologram and warped, then reformed into that of a withered old man with white hair and deep wrinkles.
And then.
“You should recognize this face, Subject Thirteen? Or shall I help refresh your memory?”
Whoosh.
The old man, his mouth twisted into a sinister grin with barely a tooth left in his slack jaw, conjured a fireball the size of a human head between his palms and suspended it in the air.
A fireball that materialized from nowhere, defying all natural law.
The demon’s power that warps the very fabric of the world—magic.
It crept steadily toward Muno’s face at the old man’s gesture.
“……Yes. I remember.”
“Oh?”
At the warped-faced Muno’s reply, the old man’s eyes gleamed with interest.
Crack.
Muno absorbed the Black Thorn Vines entirely, then extended his hand toward the old man.
Whoosh.

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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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