The Unfilial Heir Who Tries to Kill Me Tempts Me - Chapter 31

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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 31.

Only then did I realize that everywhere except for a two-meter radius around where we sat, the Black Water had risen and was sloshing gently.
“The moment we stepped inside, the water started climbing. Since you hadn’t woken, I couldn’t risk acting on my own.”
I got to my feet and brushed off my clothes, then approached the water’s edge. Even with the Mana Orb floating above it, the bottom was nowhere to be seen—only the treacherous shimmer of light dancing across the dark surface.
This time I stretched my hand out carefully.
“Ow.”
A sharp, electric sting shot through me. I could feel my Mana draining away from my fingertips.
“Just as I thought. This is Black Water—it absorbs Mana.”
“Black Water?”
“Back when the ancient mages were at the height of their power, they used methods like this to check them. It’s been ages since Black Water disappeared from the world, but it seems some of it persisted here.”
I crouched down and swept the Mana Orb back and forth across the surface.
“Either way, this is quite the problem.”
“What’s wrong?”
Kaieus moved closer and bent down beside me.
“The passage leading downward appears to be submerged. Normally with a structure like this, you’d have to dive down and pull the Stopper to drain the water. The trouble is, since this is Mana-absorbing water, Magic won’t work on it.”
And if I dove in to pull out that massive Stopper, the moment my body touched the water, all my Mana would be sucked away and I’d lose consciousness.
“What do we do…?”
There had to be another way.
I was glancing around for alternatives when Kaieus, who’d been staring intently at the water, asked a question.
“So all we need is to open the door without touching that water?”
“In theory, yes. But don’t even think about diving.”
I couldn’t gauge the depth of the Black Water, but it was clear we couldn’t simply walk through it.
Besides, the Black Water had viscosity; moving through it would be laborious. Even Kaieus would likely run out of breath before finding the Stopper.
“So this water just absorbs Mana and nothing else?”
“Yes. There probably aren’t any other traps here. Where Black Water exists, setting magical traps is pointless—they’d just be absorbed anyway.”
“Step over here with me, would you?”
“What are you going to do?”
I asked uncertainly even as I scooped up Golsuni and moved obediently to the side.
Kaieus gripped his sword firmly. Soon, a brilliant blue Sword Energy began to shimmer around the blade.
[Kyuu…?]
Slash!
The sword blazed with clarity, carving out a vast arc, and a sharp wave cut straight through the Black Water. Like magic, the water split in two, and the path below was revealed.
Kaieus slid his sword back into its sheath and asked me.
“Will this do?”
“…The water… it split apart…?”
Wow.
Water could split open like that.
Good grief.
Golsuni and I stood there with our mouths agape when Kaieus took my hand first this time.
“Hurry—I can only hold it for a few minutes.”
He scooped me up and leaped downward. I stumbled slightly as we landed, then looked up. The Black Water towered around us like the sheer cliffs of a canyon, trembling as it held its shape.
“Can Sword Energy do something like that?”
“It’s possible because it’s me.”
“That’s incredible.”
Well, Kaieus was a swordsman of such caliber that he easily surpassed Fabian in skill alone.
Thanks to Kaieus’s display of prowess, we found the downward passage without incident and passed through the door before the water came crashing back down.
Kaieus extended his hand to me as we emerged into the corridor.
“Take it.”
What is this.
That’s my line.
“It’s safer if we don’t separate and move independently.”
He’d even used the exact same words I would have used.
“…Are you mocking me?”
“Exactly.”
Goodness.
Just because he’d shown off a few times, his head had swollen sky-high. A narcissistic tyrant, that’s what he was.
Annoyed by this, I gripped his hand tightly and gave his shoulder a push.
“Lead the way.”
And I won’t shield you from any traps that appear ahead. Let’s see if you can navigate your way through.
Kaieus chuckled softly to himself and pressed forward. Fortunately, the 5th Floor corridor revealed no obvious traps.
The moment we reached the chamber on this floor and opened the door, we froze.
“What in the world is this?”
“I… I don’t know.”
The instant the entrance opened, a chamber densely covered in wooden vines sprawled before us. The room was so dark it was hard to tell whether we were looking at branches or roots.
Kaieus advanced cautiously, remaining alert. Fortunately, nothing changed.
“It seems safe enough for now.”
I had just sent a Mana Orb ahead and stepped inside when it happened.
Slither.
“Wha—help!”
In an instant, wooden tendrils swarmed around me, seized my ankles, and before I could react, I was hoisted into the air and bound tight.
“Charlotte Schmidt!”
[Chirp, chirp!]
Why only me?
Wait.
Is this some kind of deliberate insult to my pride? I’m still a mage, after all!
But I couldn’t voice the protest. In moments, all strength drained from my body.
“Oh…”
Only then did I recognize what covered this chamber.
Wild Mandrake.
Like the Black Water on the level above, it was a plant that fed on magical power to grow. The difference was that the more you struggled to escape, the faster this Mandrake drained your Mana.
“Charlotte Schmidt, are you all right?”
“Ungh…”
Dizziness spiraled through me.
Now it was perfectly clear.
From the hallucination earlier to the Black Water, to this Wild Mandrake.
This Dungeon was unmistakably designed to bar mages from entry.
Even if I’d only sketched out a vague concept of ancient Dungeons, this was too much. Don’t spring surprise settings on the author that she never established.
“Wait, I’ll cut you down right—”
“No, don’t!”
I desperately stopped Kaieus as he moved to draw his blade.
“This chamber is completely woven from Mandrake tendrils. They’re plants with formidable defenses. If you attack recklessly, they’ll ensnare Your Highness as well.”
“So what, I’m just supposed to stand here and watch?”
[Chirp! Chirp…!]
Even Golsuni began hopping about anxiously, adding to the distress.
“Ugh…”
This is nauseating.
I felt my strength draining in real time. If this continued, my Mana would be completely exhausted—we wouldn’t just fail to find the Golem, we might not even make it back.
I had to make a decision, any decision, and fast.
“Listen carefully, Your Highness.”
I forced open my eyes, which kept drooping shut, and spoke to Kaieus.
There’s no choice.
There’s only one way through.
Though once I use it, my Mana will be completely gone and I’ll lose consciousness.
“I’m going to send you back to Lucifenia.”
“…What?”
“Right now, this is the only option. Since I’m caught by the Mandrake, I can’t escape. That means you’re the only one who can move right now.”
“So you’re telling me to abandon you and flee alone?”
That’s not how this should go.
My consciousness was fragmenting, so I rushed my words.
“Do you think I want to be hanging here? Please, go back and call for help. Edden should be able to reach here quickly.”
“Nonsense. You expect me to abandon you and return alone?”
He really won’t listen.
“What if something happens to you in the meantime? Do you have any plan? Any contingency?”
“Wait, are you actually worried about me? I’m genuinely touched…”
“Charlotte Schmidt!”
That’s harsh on the ears.
“…I was joking. But the exhaustion isn’t—ungh.”
Look at me, I’m getting sick.
The world spins, spinning on.
Kaieus’s face, watching me, turned deathly pale.
Come to think of it—was this the first time Kaieus had ever seen me in a state of Mana depletion? He looks genuinely shaken.
Of course, if no one came to rescue me, I’d end up as the Wild Mandrake’s sustenance forever, but since someone would be arriving soon anyway, it didn’t really matter.
“No, I should grab the vines instead—”
[Squeak!]
This time, Golsuni seized Kaieus with desperate urgency.
Good work, Golsuni. Keep hold of him.
“Don’t do anything reckless….”
My Mana was nearly gone now. Consciousness flickered in and out.
“Either way, I’ll wait.”
I squeezed out my last shred of strength and barely managed to reach my hand toward Kaieus.
“Charlotte Schmi—!”
A blue light enveloped Kaieus, and in an instant, his figure vanished.
“There… that’s done….”
I couldn’t say another word.
The Wild Mandrake, sensing the Mana release, tightened its grip around my body with renewed ferocity.
“Ugh… can’t breathe….”
With that feeble whisper, my consciousness slipped away and I blacked out entirely.

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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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