The Knight Who Devours Magic - Chapter 19

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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 19. The Tail of Enmity
“Now then, Gremen and Karina. Let’s mark the mage who was here today as one we’ve subdued.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“What do you mean by that……?”
Gremen and Karina exchanged bewildered glances at Ryan’s words.
After the two of them had coordinated on how to handle the incident, the conclusion they’d reached was difficult to accept.
“Ahem. Well, you see, I’d rather keep the power of my son’s Artifact secret. You know it yourselves, don’t you? Possessing treasure is no crime, but lacking the strength to protect it — that becomes a sin.”
In other words, he was worried that Muno, still weak (?), wouldn’t be able to protect the Artifact on his own.
Gremen responded with an incredulous expression.
“Judging by the traces of bursting flames and lightning, your opponent was at least a 2-Circle Mage. And given that they unleashed attacks in rapid succession without any preparation, that staff appears to be a Demonic Artifact. Taking that into account, I’d say it was operating at a 3-Circle level.”
A Demonic Artifact.
The counterpart to Artifacts imbued with the power of spirits and nature, referring instead to Artifacts imbued with demonic power.
“So?”
“So what do you mean, ‘so’? You’re calling your son, who subdued a 2-Circle Mage wielding a Demonic Artifact, weak right now? That’s overprotection, brother.”
The common understanding was that a 2-Circle Mage ranked higher than a 2-Star Knight of equivalent grade.
Karina nodded silently, as if agreeing with his point.
Yet Ryan firmly shook his head nonetheless.
“My son’s skill played a part, yes, but more than that, the Artifact was designed to counter mages — that’s what made it possible. Which is precisely why we must be all the more cautious.”
Wait, if he says that…….
At those words, Muno let out an involuntary hollow laugh, though fortunately Gremen and Karina hadn’t noticed.
Instead, the two of them looked visibly shaken by Ryan’s statement, their expressions hardening.
“An Artifact designed to counter mages — how on earth did you acquire something so rare, brother…….”
“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t divulge the details. I hope you’ll understand.”
“No, well, if it’s an Artifact like that, then I suppose I understand. Hmph. I’ll have to be careful, young Prince Muno.”
“It mustn’t reach the ears of the Empire. I too shall guard this secret. Rest assured, Baron.”
Ah…….
Only after Karina said as much did Muno finally grasp his father’s intention.
It had seemed odd that he’d lied about his son’s ability being an Artifact, only to then reveal the most important truth in part. But now it made sense.
‘So Artifacts designed to counter mages actually do exist, then.’
And with that understanding, clarity came.
Ryan then glanced briefly around the destroyed Guest Hall and spoke again.
“Good. I’ll have these old, worn-out men tidy this place up. Muno, you escort Karina back and then get some rest.”
“Pardon?”
He wondered if his father was just in a sour mood.
“You pushed yourself hard, didn’t you? Subduing them wasn’t as effortless as it looked.”
His father had assessed his condition with perfect accuracy.
And Gremen added to this with a subtle smile.
“Indeed, indeed. You young folk have earned your rest. Leave the aftermath to us old hands who have nothing better to do.”
“Don’t repeat what I just said, Gremen. I’m starting to feel truly useless in my old age.”
“Haha. Touched a nerve, have I, brother? I myself am still spry and…….”
Crack.
Gremen, who had been chuckling and bantering, suddenly trailed off as he watched the Greatsword crumple in Ryan’s grasp — what it had been.
“Still…… still quite strong, I see. You are, brother. Ahem.”
Muno, watching the two middle-aged men’s banter, exhaled softly and nodded.
‘I really am exhausted, aren’t I.’
During the battle just now, he’d made a slight modification to his Acceleration technique, and what was supposed to be used only to the extent of not straining his body had ended up squeezing his magical reserves to their limit.
Of course, the magical power he’d absorbed while subduing Amers had refilled his body afterward, but the burden placed on his physical form was considerable nonetheless.
And mental fatigue had accumulated greatly as well.
But there was still one thing he needed to make absolutely clear.
“I must emphasize once more — that man was there ten years ago. You understand what that signifies, don’t you?”
The meaning behind Muno’s grimly spoken words was unmistakable.
‘Those men may not have been completely eradicated.’
The hatred toward those who had sown childhood trauma in him, and the anticipation that he might finally exact his parents’ vengeance with his own hands — these emotions churned together.
That turbulent mixture was laid bare in Muno’s words.
And the expressions of both middle-aged men followed his lead, hardening instantly.
“……We’ll have to wait for the results of the knights’ interrogation first.”
“If it’s Gunter’s work, then…….”
“Ah. Karina, where are those knights being held?”
“Ah. Well, I…… they’re gathered at the end of the Corridor.”
“Gathered……there?”
The moment Ryan’s expression shifted awkwardly at the odd word choice.
“Y-yes! That’s right! Ahem. Ahem. Young Master Muno! We should, we should head back soon. I’m, I’m tired too…….”
Karina suddenly began hurrying Muno along, as if something had pricked her conscience.
‘What’s gotten into her……?’
Muno found himself newly curious about the knights’ condition, but his face flushed hot at Karina’s sudden linking of their arms, leaving him unable to speak.
‘She really does smell different from other women. And it’s… Argh! What am I thinking!!’
He could only nod mindlessly without realizing it.
His father, who had worn a stern expression until moments before, was now gazing at him with a pleased smile.
The moment the two of them stepped through the shattered door.
“Aah!?”
Karina stared back and forth between her own arm linked with Muno’s and his face, then suddenly shrieked and jerked away hastily.
Her face had flushed slightly.
“……Why……?”
Missing the warmth and scent that had vanished, his reaction came a beat too slow.
Fortunately, Karina seemed not to notice, and began apologizing profusely while keeping her head down.
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so rude with my arm like that as I was hurrying you…….”
……If he said it had actually felt good, would she think him a pervert?
Nearly four decades of virgin impulses—counting his previous life—suddenly collided violently with reason.
Reason barely won out.
“No, no. There’s no need to apologize so much…….”
“Thank you for being so understanding. I just… I keep feeling like I’ve done something terrible.”
“Something terrible?”
“The knights kept saying insulting things, so… my hand got a bit carried away.”
“Don’t worry about it. You said you didn’t kill them, didn’t you?”
“……I suppose that’s true.”
The way Karina kept hesitating struck him as oddly endearing, and he couldn’t help but smile.
Besides, he’d already left the rest to his father and Gremen.
– There! The Guest Hall!
Muno heard soldiers’ voices approaching in the distance and carefully extended his hand to Karina.
“Let’s rest as the two of you suggested. This way…….”
The moment she hesitantly grasped his hand.
Muno’s heartbeat grew steadily louder as he saw her flushed face.
‘We should have at least two children…….’
The virgin’s fantasies were beginning to run wild.
But even that didn’t last long.
Because at the end of that corridor, he could see arms and legs clad in armor lying about ‘separately’.
Cough.
And worse yet.
‘One, two, three……. Eight!?’
Exhale.
“……Ahem, ahem. ‘Are those’ the knights from before……?”
He trailed off, hoping they weren’t.
But the girl holding his hand—no, this demon girl—slowly nodded with a flushed face.
“B-but they’re knights, so they shouldn’t have died. I, I even made sure to stop the bleeding properly…….”
Oh no…….
‘Wouldn’t it be better to die than have all your limbs cut off?’
No matter how skilled Gunter was at interrogation, what testimony could he possibly extract from a knight in such a state?
As Muno’s mind turned to practical problems, fantasies began to creep back in.
Just moments ago, he’d been imagining raising children well and even seeing grandchildren.
But the beautiful wife in that fantasy now had fierce, glaring eyes and was smiling menacingly.
– Honey, you were just looking at another woman, weren’t you!? Want me to gouge out your eyes!?
Gulp.
Suddenly cold sweat began pouring down his back.
Her hand, gripping his lightly, felt crushingly heavy.
“……Ahem. Let’s, let’s go back. It’s better if the lady doesn’t see such rough things.”
He spouted nonsense, forgetting that the very person who had created that brutal scene was standing right beside him.
Fortunately.
“A lady…….”
The demon girl—no, Karina—seemed to have taken the words in a positive light.
His heart fluttered foolishly again at the sight of her bowing her head, her face flushing slightly, the beautiful woman radiant in her elegant dress.
‘Get a grip. One moment of carelessness and you’re finished.’
Muno gritted his teeth and slapped his own cheek hard.
It worked—his mind cleared—but he felt Karina beside him looking at him like he’d gone mad.
“Why……?”
“Oh. No, there was a mosquito…….”
A mosquito in autumn, in the frozen Northern Region.
Even to his own ears, the words sounded absurd.
Then Karina burst out laughing.
……What was so funny? Join in, won’t you.
As Muno stood bewildered, she continued with a bashful smile.
“Sir, there’s something I wanted to ask you…….”
Her eyes crinkled with amusement.
‘Really, she’s impossibly beautiful.’
His heart began to race again.
Now he couldn’t tell whether it was the thrill of excitement or the panic of fear making it pound.
‘What if she asks if I like her? What do I even say?’
A flood of hopelessly single-minded fantasies rushed back in.
Fortunately, they remained nothing but fantasies.
“I noticed earlier that Chain, even if it’s meant for combat with Grand Mages, seems capable of quite varied applications……. Why didn’t you use it in our duel?”
The question came from her still-flushed face, asked not as a woman but as a Knight—that much was clear.
His overheated mind cooled a little at that.
“……It’s the same reason you didn’t use that Artifact Greatsword. After all, it was merely a sparring match.”
“B-but still, I regret it so much. If the opportunity came……I’d like to face you at full strength again.”
Was this woman trying to kill him?
An eerie thought flickered through him, yet he wondered if this might be Karina’s own way of showing affection.
The way she couldn’t quite meet his eyes, her flushed cheeks, the stammer in her voice—it all made him believe it was true.
This dangerous woman began to look endearing again.
‘No. Don’t.’
At times like this, he needed to draw a firm line.
“……If you don’t overexert yourself, I suppose that would be acceptable.”
But his foolish mouth had other ideas, spouting words his mind never sanctioned.
“Really!?”
“Of course. I always welcome a duel with you, Karina.”
“Then I……!”
“A Knight does not shy away from facing the strong.”
“……Ah, the……strong……?”
……Why? What?
He watched Karina’s expression cool rapidly, and his heart grew complicated again.
Somehow relieved, yet strangely regretful.
Then his tongue moved of its own accord once more.
“Besides, the mere sight of you again would bring me great joy.”
……It was like his consciousness had split, tongue and brain operating independently.
Words he’d never have dared speak came tumbling out unbidden.
At that, Karina’s face flushed deep crimson.
“Th-then I’ll see you again very soon!!”
She suddenly cried out and bolted away at a run.
Wait. Wait. Is this…….
‘Did that go well……? Or did I ruin it?’
Muno stood in confused silence, watching her receding figure.
“No, wait. This isn’t the time.”
Get it together.
Smack.
He slapped his own cheek again and turned his gaze to the soldiers gathering at the ruined Guest Hall.
‘This is definitely a problem.’
It was too much of a coincidence to dismiss as merely an unexpected Mage appearing—it was clearly connected to what had happened ten years ago.
‘……I can’t just brush this aside and move on.’
And perhaps……
What he’d thought was finished ten years past had never truly ended at all.
‘I might just get to avenge my birth parents with my own hands.’
With a smile utterly unlike the one before—cold, deadly with intent—Muno turned slowly back toward the Guest Hall, now bathed in moonlight, its image burning in his eyes.

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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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