Chapter 108

On the roof of the junior dormitory at the academy.

Marcel, clutching the railing, trembled all over, letting out agonizing breaths.

His ragged breathing, which sounded like both a sob and a groan, trembled endlessly.

Drip, drip, drip-

What flowed down his chin was not tears, but cold sweat.

Sweating profusely, Marcel bit his lip.

He bit and bit until he drew blood, but he felt no pain.

Marcel's heart was so devastated that the pain of tearing his own flesh was laughable.

“Heok… heok… heok…!”

After catching his ragged breath, Marcel slowly collapsed.

He didn't even have the strength to stand holding the railing, so he sat down and continued to despair.

"Since when did you know that we intended to have your mana absorbed by Marcel."

When he heard his father's words through the Tracker, Marcel couldn't stand it and ran out of the room.

He felt like he would die if he didn't go somewhere open, so he just went up to the roof.

During that time, the Tracker was naturally disconnected.

It was only natural.

His stamina had been depleted in an instant due to the shock, and with his depleted stamina, he could no longer circulate mana.

Because the Tracker was disconnected, he didn't hear the rest of the conversation.

But there was nothing more to hear.

It had already been proven that Eddie's claims were true.

“Ugh… ugh…!”

Marcel groaned, his face pale.

He desperately didn't want to believe the reality he had heard, resisting the encroaching truth with groans.

But it was useless.

Everything Eddie had said, which he had wanted to deny, was true.

Teacher Patman was Circe, and the family was trying to absorb Eddie's mana into him.

And the spell used for it was likely related to the dark arts.

Since he had heard everything that had happened when Eddie confronted Alta and Sylvia, it wasn't difficult to deduce the connection to the dark arts.

Marcel squeezed his eyes shut and covered his ears.

The voice of his father he had heard just a moment ago kept ringing in his head, making him feel like he would go crazy.

Not a hint of remorse could be felt in his father's voice.

Only anger at being deceived by Eddie was present.

‘It must be because he thinks he did nothing wrong.’

He was just trying to use the family's tail for his son's sake.

In the first place, if the tail was nothing more than a tool for the family's child, what reason was there to feel guilty?

His father must have been thinking this way.

But Marcel couldn't agree with his father's thoughts.

Because his father, Furas von Kirhausen, was the head of none other than a 'prestigious magical family'.

The title of a prestigious magical family could not be attached simply because the head and his descendants had powerful mana.

Magic is the strength and identity of Kirhausen.

Kirhausen has explored the power and value of magic and presented the path that magicians should take.

And the world, acknowledging that contribution, gave Kirhausen the title of 'prestigious magical family'.

Therefore, the head of Kirhausen must be a magician befitting that title.

A magician who is not only powerful but also has mastered magic in all aspects.

Because that is the duty of the master of a family that serves as a milestone for the path that magicians should take.

But his father had abandoned that duty.

And in a very unjust way.

Old memories flashed through Marcel's mind.

Memories of his childhood when he was personally taught by his father about the virtues of the head of the Kirhausen family.

Besides that, his father was always there at the moments when he resolved to become a person worthy of the position of the head of Kirhausen.

But all those moments.

The resolutions and efforts he had made so far.

Were all denied a moment ago through his father's own mouth.

Marcel buried his face in his hands and bowed his head.

He stayed like that for a long time.

As a cool breeze brushed the back of his neck, Marcel raised his head, leaned his back against the railing wall, and looked at the sky.

After agonizing for a long time, he was finally able to think properly.

'Why on earth did he do that?'

His thoughts immediately led to a fundamental question.

Why did he go to such unjust lengths to try and absorb Eddie's mana into me?

Did he really choose that method because he was dissatisfied with my low mana?

If so, am I, am I really a being worthy of being the next head of a 'prestigious magical family'?

His thoughts continued, one after another, heading to a deeper and deeper place.

* * *

At the same time.

In Leodimir's secret private estate, located in the southeastern outskirts of the Luxorin Empire, 'Navia'.

In the center of the vast orchard, there was a single cabin.

And in front of it, Rao, holding the Ademobir Summoning Manual, was chanting a spell towards the summoning circle.

Paaaaaaaaat-!

As soon as the spell was chanted, the summoning circle emitted light.

Leodimir, Gail, and Parita watched from a short distance away with tense expressions.

And a short while later.

Fwoosh-

A blue flame of summoning appeared above the summoning circle.

Fwoooooosh-!

The flame soon spread into a blaze and began to form the figures of Eddie and the five Mercuries.

Leodimir stroked the Oath Gem Clode embedded in his ring and stared at the blaze with a desperate heart.

‘Please.’

May Eddie, as well as his disciples who had gone to the lion's den to help him, all be safe.

As he was earnestly wishing for that, the figures of six people appeared from within the blaze.

“Ah…!”

Leodimir, Gail, and Parita let out a collective gasp.

Eddie and all five Mercuries were summoned in perfect form.

Fwoosh….

The fire of summoning died down, and Eddie showed a faint smile.

He was still in severe pain from having used Rakan's mana to counter Furas' surprise attack, but it was alright.

The joy of a safe return was greater, so he could smile willingly.

Eddie gave Rao a nod of thanks and then turned his head towards the Mercuries.

It was to express his gratitude to them for their performance in the field.

But just as Eddie was about to open his mouth.

“Keoheok…!”

One of the Mercuries coughed up blood, clutching his abdomen.

Crackle- Crackle-

The black effect of the Virgamut that had pierced his abdomen was leaking out along with red blood from the Mercury.

It was Daz.

Eddie ran and caught Daz's falling body.

He immediately dispelled the Virgamut remaining in Daz's body.

“Daz!”

Cora screamed as if in a shriek and threw off her mask.

The Mercuries, including Cora, laid Daz down, and Gail cast a healing spell.

But Daz's condition was already too serious.

Because he had blocked it tightly to prevent it from going out of his body, the Virgamut had destroyed various parts of his body.

“Keoheok…! Keuleok, keuleok!”

Daz gasped and coughed up dark red blood ceaselessly.

Leodimir removed Daz's mask and placed his hand on his forehead, casting a spell to make him forget the pain.

The gasping subsided, and Daz breathed evenly.

“The internal injuries are too severe. All his organs, including his heart, have been damaged.”

Gail, who had scanned Daz's body with magic, contorted her face.

Despair cast a shadow over everyone's faces upon hearing Gail's words.

In effect, it was impossible to treat Daz.

The color quickly drained from Daz's face.

But Eddie was not one to stand still in such a situation.

Eddie quickly made a decision, gripped his wand, and stood up.

He then aimed his wand at Daz, composed his breathing, and drew upon his mana.

“Everyone, get away from Daz. I will use Transcendental Life.”

Everyone looked at Eddie in surprise at the name of the spell mentioned.

‘Transcendental Life’, Edmund’s most powerful healing-type unique magic.

A magic that turned a living target back to its past state, a magic that paid the price with the caster's own lifespan.

A super-high-risk magic that even Edmund himself had only been able to use once in his past life.

It was the only way to save Daz, whose flame of life was flickering out.

Eddie glared at the tip of his wand and drew upon his mana.

“You must not.”

And his action was stopped by Leodimir's voice.

He looked up at Eddie with eyes that had already made a decision and said firmly.

“If you manifest Transcendental Life with Rakan's mana now, your circle will not be able to control the mana rampage.”

There was no tremor in the blue eyes that looked up at Eddie.

It meant that he had absolutely no intention of backing down.

It was only natural.

“In the worst-case scenario, all of your remaining lifespan could be consumed, and you too could die, Master.”

“……”

If Transcendental Life was used incorrectly here, all this hardship and sacrifice would be for nothing.

The tip of Eddie's wand trembled.

In fact, he knew it too.

That he shouldn't use Transcendental Life here now.

Daz had sacrificed himself to protect Eddie for the greater good.

He couldn't waste the life that he had just saved here.

So, although it made him feel a sense of self-loathing that was nauseating, in this situation, he had to leave Daz for the sake of his own life.

The tips of Eddie's fingers trembled even more.

It was due to the clash between his disgust for himself and the reason that was somehow suppressing it and raising its head.

Eddie lowered his gaze and looked at Daz.

The light of life was no longer visible in the eyes of Daz, who was lying with his head on Leodimir's lap.

Tuk-

Eddie lowered his wand.

He then slowly raised his head and looked up at the sky.

As if to follow the soul of Daz, who had departed this world, and offer his condolences.

Before long, the wails of the Mercuries were heard.

They held Daz's cold hand and wailed, smearing his blood all over their bodies.

Although it was a death they had already prepared for, that didn't lessen the magnitude of their grief.

Moreover, the fact that he had sacrificed himself to prevent anyone from getting hurt made the grief even deeper.

Watching the sobbing Mercuries, Parita also shed tears.

She bowed her head and offered her condolences to Daz, who had been a good colleague.

Grief washed over them like a wave, sweeping away everyone's hearts.

But his master, Leodimir, stood firm in that wave and maintained his reason.

He didn't show tears, nor did he contort his entire face.

Instead, he caressed the cold cheek of his disciple with his wrinkled hand.

A single tear that flowed from Daz's empty eyes seeped into the master's warm hand.

Leodimir closed Daz's two eyes.

He looked at his disciple, who was finally sleeping peacefully, with infinitely warm eyes.

‘You’ve been through a lot, Daz.’

Daz was a disciple who had never once disappointed him.

His sense of responsibility was as outstanding as his excellent skills, and he always carried out his assigned missions perfectly.

And even in his last mission, which led to his death, Daz had fulfilled his role splendidly.

Because he had kept the Virgamut confined within his body until the very end, all his comrades, including Eddie, were able to return without a single injury.

Therefore, Leodimir did not regret it.

His stopping Eddie from trying to cast Transcendental Life to save Daz.

Daz had offered his noble life for the greater good that was Eddie.

If Eddie were to lay down his life for Daz, that would be making Daz's sacrifice in vain.

Eddie too must have known that and complied with Leodimir's restraint.

Leodimir stroked Daz's face one last time.

He then offered a sincere farewell to his departed disciple.

“I am sorry, and thank you. Rest in peace now.”

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