The Obsessive Male Leads Want to Eat Me Alive - Chapter 121

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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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Chapter 121
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[ Welcome, child of Valienne. ]
A soft shimmer filled the air—
Purple and crimson flowers bloomed amid the cascade of ethereal light, while the pages of a book that had opened of their own accord revealed the serene visage of a goddess with closed eyes.
‘The goddess of benevolence and compassion….’
I knew her name. ‘Valienne’.
She was the very goddess depicted in the emblem of the Valienne Estate.
[ This book is a legacy left by your predecessors for the children of Valienne. ]
Thump-thump.
My heart raced wildly.
A legacy from my ancestors. What secrets could it possibly contain?
Strangely, the goddess’s lips never moved, yet her voice resonated clearly.
[ If you have discovered this book, then you must be the one who has inherited the ‘Sorcerer’s Soul’. ]
“…!”
Was inheriting the Sorcerer’s Soul also a trait unique to my family?
The goddess answered my unspoken question before I could even voice it.
[ This book was left behind by your predecessor, the first Patriarch of Valienne who inherited the ‘Primordial Power’—Manis Valienne. ]
‘Manis Valienne.’
I recalled the portrait hanging on the staircase. The portrait of the first Patriarch.
I had heard that the founding Patriarch devoted herself tirelessly to the work of preserving life, wandering the entire Continent in service.
She had traveled into her twilight years alongside her husband, a healer, and peacefully concluded her life in that manner.
I remembered Victoria explaining this with a proud expression.
[ Manis left behind an account of her experiences as a ‘Successor’ for Anette. ]
The pages turned of their own accord—
The words written within materialized in the empty space beside her, gradually becoming clearer, like flames growing ever brighter.
‘Age twelve, first encounter with Exordium.’
The same age I inherited the power!
As I read through line after line,
The text scattered like sand swept away by waves—
New words emerged in its place. They were mostly accounts of her life—the mistakes she made while wielding her power, the insights she gained, the cautions she needed to observe, all densely recorded.
I found myself reading frantically, unable to stop.
Without realizing it, I devoured every word.
‘A power capable of altering the fate of others….’
One day, a conclusion she had reached was written there as well.
‘I wish to dedicate my power solely to saving those who are dying in misery.’
She truly was a remarkable person. My ancestor, the Patriarch.
The power she wielded was nothing but 【Buff】.
She had been granted a modest healing ability, but possessing a tender and virtuous heart, she met a man who was constantly exploited, fell in love with him, and used Exordium’s power to enhance his healing ability.
She saved countless lives and, together with her beloved husband, met a peaceful death in her old age.
And a few days before death, I received a revelation.
‘One of your descendants shall inherit the soul of Exordium once more.’
That’s why the book was left behind.
Actually, I once asked Um about the other successors before.
“Um, the other successors seem to have lived remarkable lives with the power of Exordium. Could you tell me about them? I’m so curious.”
“Ah, that’s forbidden.”
“…Why?”
“We were given the role of providing only minimal guidance. It’s better for you to learn how to use the power yourself. But if I tell you about others, it would inadvertently become a ‘spoiler,’ you see.”
Um rested his chin on his hand with a peculiar expression, then spoke to me.
“Actually, not all the successors lived remarkable lives.”
…
“…There was one more like you. A fellow without much ambition, just kind-hearted.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Your soul’s grain is identical to theirs.”
It was certain that the person Um spoke of was my predecessor. At the time, I passed over it without much thought.
Like a model student, I reviewed the contents of the book once more.
Then something extraordinary happened.
The part I wanted to read again appeared again in letters beside the goddess, sliding smoothly into view.
It was written like this:
「 The spell that handles light and fire is calling upon the name of the power.
When you wish to use the power of light, call ‘Sordi’.
When you wish to use the power of fire, call ‘Um’. 」
‘All this time I’ve only called them by name.’
I never imagined this was the concept of an incantation in terms of magic.
I calmly extended my hand forward and cried out.
“Sordi.”
In that instant, an immense torrent of light I had never witnessed before erupted from my hand, releasing a tremendous shockwave.
Had the Goddess of Valienne not contained the power and absorbed it in time…
“…the wall would have been torn through.”
I stared at my hand in disbelief. What had I just done?
‘At this rate, shouldn’t I become the next Mage Tower Master (even if it’s not through magic)?’
I seem to be quite an exceptional duchess.
“Um!”
Whoooosh!
Immediately after, a tremendous inferno erupted, with explosive force nearly rivaling a dragon’s breath.
“Wow.”
Had the Goddess of Valienne not contained the power, the entire Duchess’s Residence would have burned to ash.
‘If I had realized this method as a child, I would have surely wet myself.’
―It’s tremendous.
Who would have thought that a perpetual sixth-rank incompetent would wield such explosive power?
‘Life truly requires living it all the way to the end.’
“Goddess of Compassion, I have another question about the records my predecessors left behind.”
The Goddess of Valienne brought her two hands together, forming a single word.
Clear, dark letters materialized in the empty air.
「 Blooming 」
“Yes, that’s right. The records state that to ‘perfect’ my power, I must experience the moment of blooming. Could you tell me more about it?”
Yet there was nothing written in detail about blooming itself.
‘She only mentioned the warning signs.’
―Apparently, the precursor was when great power suddenly erupts without any spell, out of nowhere.
If that were the case, I had certainly already experienced the precursor.
‘When I encountered Gerard’s Tracking Team.’
In that dangerous moment, I had suddenly unleashed Um’s power with tremendous force.
[ When the moment of blooming arrives, you will know it yourself. At that time, you will be able to use all your other abilities except fire and light. ]
‘Recovery and buffs, then.’
The goddess spoke softly, extending her hand with her eyes closed.
[ The signs of blooming are already manifesting. Anette. You are already affecting those around you… in some way or another. ]
―Affecting, you say.
‘Sisrain.’
Sisrain’s face suddenly came to mind. He said his abilities grew stronger because of my power.
‘I cannot control it, but the strength of my buff is growing steadily.’
Would I someday experience blooming as well?
The records had called it a moment of perfect resonance.
For some reason, I found myself anticipating it.
Knock, knock―
That was precisely when it happened. A knock sounded at the door. A voice came from outside. It was Victoria.
“We heard a loud noise from inside. Are you well, Duchess?”
“Oh, I’m fine! …I was just looking at a recording artifact I discovered.”
When I hurriedly composed myself and looked forward again, the violet flowers and the goddess had vanished without a trace.
Even the book that had spoken to me had completely evaporated.
“….”
I stared blankly down at my hands.
‘It felt like I was bewitched.’
Only in my hands remained the sensation from that moment—the feel of wielding explosive power.
Slowly, I clenched my fists and made my resolve.
With this power, I would save someone, and I would deliver the punishment others rightfully deserved.
―Without fail.
* * *
“Surely you will not go alone?”
Duncan, ever loyal to his master, asked respectfully.
His beautiful and arrogant master had declared he would go to the Mage Tower alone.
By nature, the Mage Tower maintained strict protocols—entry and exit were meant to be solitary affairs.
Even Belesak’s invitation to Heinrich bore only his name, a clear directive that only its bearer was permitted to cross the threshold.
Zian’s eyes narrowed.
“It’s fine. It’s not as though I’m making a habit of it.”
“But….”
This time, you’re not going to meet your biological father.
Duncan had been raised in an ordinary household, yet he understood well enough the wounds that marked Heinrich’s past.
―Of course, his desire to accompany him stemmed from no such romantic notion of protecting him from hurt.
“Don’t worry, Duncan. I appreciate your kind heart, truly.”
“….”
…That’s not it at all—last time you visited, you grabbed the Mage Tower Master by the collar!
The effort it took to smooth over that incident was immense.
The thought of Vivantum’s eccentricities piling up again left dark circles shadowing Duncan’s eyes.
If some trauma were triggered and his mad master came crashing through the Mage Tower itself, the consequences would be catastrophic.
It would mean a month of overtime.
“Besides, everyone will shower me with praise regardless. As the next Mage Tower Master, I’m simply going to display my authority.”
As though her appointment were already assured, the beautiful Zian arrogantly traced her crimson lips with her tongue.
‘I’m losing my mind.’
Duncan had no choice but to bow his head.
“Please return safely.”
Not for his master’s sake, but for the other party’s.
“Safe travels, Your Highness.”
And that very afternoon.
After seeing his master off, Duncan was heading alone into the Entertainment District to handle the errands Heinrich had assigned him when it happened.
Before he could even arrive, the sound of a horse’s frantic whinny pierced the air, and the carriage lurched to a violent halt. It was an ambush.
“This carriage belongs to Grand Duke Hyacinth’s household. How dare you, whoever you are…!”
Duncan threw open the window with a sharp cry,
but the thug who had rammed the carriage moved faster, wrenching the door open with a sinister grin.
It was a massive figure, gold teeth gleaming.
“…!”
“You know who I am, don’t you?”
Duncan’s face went pale.
“Winston?”
“Forgive the rough method of transport. Who told you to do something so foolish?”
Damn it.
In that instant, Duncan felt utterly ‘screwed,’ and a mana sphere materialized in his grip even as Bulk—incongruously swift for his massive frame—drew a mana gun and aimed it at him.
When the two forces collided, the impact was so tremendous that the carriage shattered, a deafening explosion of sound.

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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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