Chapter 214 - Someone’s Master (1)

1

My master.

My heart. My blood.

Everything in this world.

2

DRIP

Somewhere, I heard water dripping.

As the droplets fell, they plunged not toward the ground, but into eternity. Drip. Drip. For the brief moment that the sound echoed, gravity evaporated around me, and only time flowed slowly onward.

"..."

I suddenly raised my head. Only then did I realize that I had been keeping it bowed.

How long had my head been lowered?

When was it now?

I didn’t know.

[Warning.]

[The subject’s sense of self is unstable.]

"Ugh."

I reflexively pressed a hand between my brows. My head hurt terribly. It felt as though vomit I had failed to throw up was floating around in my brain.

"Baron Eternal River?"

Just then, I heard a delicate voice.

"A-are you all right?"

I struggled to open my eyes and looked beside me. A girl with hair as white as a snow rabbit was watching me anxiously.

I should have been seeing her for the first time, so why was this happening? Her title came effortlessly to my lips.

"Yes. I’m all right... Your Excellency."

Marchioness Snow Rabbit.

Only sixteen years old this year.

The previous marquess’s sudden death had left shoulders far too young bearing a mantle far too heavy. According to the rumors circulating in her house, there had even been talk of abolishing the title at one point.

Had Viscountess Ja Sujeong not looked after her, she would have been assassinated without anyone being the wiser...

[Warning.]

[The subject’s sense of self is unstable.]

[Continuing the trauma recreation.]

EEEEEE

'Urgh!'

Once again, my head hurt as though it would split apart.

I hurriedly drew up my mana. Crushing and chewing the bitter taste on my tongue, I murmured poetic words inside my mouth.

『Stabilize— and— alleviate.』

One verse of poetic words to stabilize the mind. One verse to alleviate pain. One connecting word. When I activated the three-verse spell, my headache gradually subsided.

'Whew.'

I sighed in relief.

There had been no time to compose an elegant poem, so I had hastily strung together a few words. Fortunately, they worked. At times like this, I truly appreciated being one of the kingdom’s twelve greatest mages.

"A-are you really all right? You’re terribly pale."

"... Nothing is wrong. Thank you for your concern."

"Really? You truly aren’t feeling unwell anywhere?"

Marchioness Snow Rabbit checked on my condition several times. Even as I assured her that I was fine, a corner of my mind coolly assessed the unusual symptoms.

'I’m having trouble recalling things.'

The headache was gone. But there was a peculiar discomfort where my memories were concerned.

'Could this be mental magic?'

That possibility was difficult to imagine. Throughout the kingdom’s history, there had been almost no magic that affected someone else’s mind rather than one’s own.

Besides, I was in the Platinum Tower’s Grand Assembly Hall, where all the kingdom’s nobles gathered to debate heatedly.

The guards mobilized to protect the assembly were dazzling to behold. Warriors under the royal family’s direct command had formed ranks that would not admit a single ant. Anyone who attempted something ill-advised here would lose their head, even if they were a Dragon Emperor or a demigod.

'Perhaps I’m simply tired.'

I casually activated a spell. If hazy memories were the problem, I only needed to restore them.

『Information— Snow Rabbit— restore.』

For some reason, losing my memories felt familiar. It was not strange to me. I had even devised a countermeasure in preparation for just such an event.

The result of my meticulous preparations appeared before my eyes.

+

[Snow Rabbit]

Status: Noble. Marchioness of the royal capital.

Relationship: The viscountess’s sworn younger sister.

Danger Level: White.

Notes: Head of House Rabbit. Lost her parents in childhood. Received training as heir from her grandfather, Marquess White-Browed Rabbit.

Unlike her grandfather, who was renowned as a genius, Snow Rabbit was notorious as an imbecile even before inheriting her title. In the winter of her twelfth year, she whipped a freeborn child to death. Her reason was, “I hated seeing someone my age laughing happily with their family.”

Her grandfather’s training is presumed to have been quite harsh. She received neither love nor praise. Though she now presents a composed demeanor, she craves from Viscountess Ja Sujeong the love and praise she lacked. She regards Viscountess Ja Sujeong as both a mother and an older sister.

Ally.

No need to kill.

Strengths: [Self-Awareness], [Strong Ethics], [Connections], [Capital]

Weaknesses: [Murder of a Freeborn Person], [Child Murder], [Guilt], [Helplessness], [Goodness], [Temporary Infantile Regression], [Extremely Low Self-Confidence]

Caution: Numerous nobles live as guests of the marchioness’s household. Assassination is difficult.

+

"..."

Just as I was about to absorb the information and relax, an odd feeling made me blink.

'Huh.'

Something really was wrong.

'Did I have an ability like this?'

The information floating before me was probably a set of notes I had written myself. In other words, traces left by my past self. Looking at it should have given me a sense of familiarity—[Oh, right. I wrote that.]—but...

'This is strange.'

Far from feeling familiar, it only felt more alien.

Even now, as I thought, my mouth felt uncomfortable, as if a fish bone were stuck between my teeth.

'What is this?'

Just in case, I used magic to check whether my mind had been distorted, but there was nothing wrong after all... Wait. [Magic]? One of the kingdom’s twelve greatest mages? Me? No, I do not use such vulgar language. With a little more courtesy, as befits a noble...

[Warning.]

[The subject’s sense of self is being eroded.]

... Indeed.

Why have I been speaking so informally all this time?

Magic is the work of refining language and shaping it into things. One must handle language carefully at all times.

Even when merely murmuring to oneself in one’s heart, one must always remain humble, lest one forget the wonder of this world. That is certainly the spirit in which I have walked the path of magic.

'I must collect myself.'

A thousand utterances accumulate and become a hundred habits.

A hundred habits accumulate and solidify into ten patterns of behavior.

And ten patterns of behavior determine a single lifetime.

As a mage serving the viscountess at her side, I must not treat even the smallest word lightly.

"What is the matter? It’s rather noisy here."

As I finally manage to compose myself, another person approaches.

Marchioness Snow Rabbit recognizes her and bows first.

"Ah, Viscountess Pure Black God..."

"Welcome."

I bow as well.

"This is today’s last recess. Would it not be better to rest a little longer in the lounge?"

"Resting in the lounge is no rest at all. Even if I simply sit there, nobles from the other factions keep glancing at me."

Viscountess Pure Black God smiles wryly.

"It feels as though they can barely restrain themselves from hurling insults at us. I’d feel better if they simply let loose and cursed at us... I should have stayed in the assembly hall like the marchioness."

"Ah. S-so the atmosphere is a little...?"

"Mm."

"Are the members of the Bedrock Faction giving you pointed looks?"

"The Bedrock Faction, the Inner Capital Faction, the Religious Faction—it makes no difference. They look at us as though we were criminals. Sadly, that is not entirely inaccurate."

I listened politely to the conversation between the marchioness and the viscountess.

Both are senior members of our Mirror Faction.

Viscountess Pure Black God, in particular, holds the position of committee chair. It is one of the most important posts in the faction. She enjoys a corresponding degree of the viscountess’s favor.

...

Hmm.

She must certainly be a favored noble, but...

For some reason, I lack confidence in my memories.

Hesitantly, I cast an information spell.

+

[Pure Black God]

Status: Noble. Viscountess of the capital’s environs.

Relationship: The viscountess’s lover.

Danger Level: Blue.

Notes: Head of House Black God. The house rebelled twenty years ago. The rebellion was suppressed by the Idle-Eater Duchess, dispatched from the royal capital. Lady Pure Black God was the house’s sole survivor.

In this incident, Pure Black God lost her entire family and all her retainers. She swore revenge against the Idle-Eater Duchess, who had shown not a shred of mercy, and against the kingdom. She disappeared of her own accord and entered the service of the rebel leader, the Black Witch.

The Black Witch taught her how to perform the “Ritual of Darkness.” The precise method is unknown, but Pure Black God devoured more than 300 humans for this ritual.

Captured alive by Viscountess Ja Sujeong just before the ritual’s completion.

Afterward, she was reduced to a plaything of the Idle-Eater Duchess and Viscountess Ja Sujeong, but regained her reason six months later and was freed. Her eating habits did not change, however, and Viscountess Ja Sujeong still occasionally grants her “feed.”

Ally.

Cannot kill.

Strengths: [Genius], [Strong Mental Fortitude], [Ascended Human]

Weaknesses: [Descendant of Rebels], [Devourer of Human Flesh], [Former Wanted Criminal], [Music]

Caution: Has one highly capable assassin as a retainer.

+

"..."

It still feels strange.

I understand the information, but it is as though I am reading words written by someone else.

'More importantly, why did I write something like [Cannot kill]?'

There is even a similar phrase in Marchioness Snow Rabbit’s information. Hers says [No need to kill]. This makes me feel like a lunatic who categorizes people according to whether I can kill them.

I have a normal sense of ethics.

At least, that is how I feel about myself.

I cannot begin to understand why I would have written such phrases.

"Of course, we cannot spend a day like this doing nothing but lamenting."

Viscountess Pure Black God sighs and pats my shoulder.

At that moment, an unpleasant feeling abruptly passes through my heart.

'How tiresome. I wish she would stop pretending we are so close. Whenever she gets the chance, this woman is desperate to make a show of how we are in the same circumstances. A murderous fiend, no less. Those who can only feel alive by rubbing shoulders with their own kind are always pitiful. Though, to find her own kind, she would first have to fall into hell and begin her search there. She must cling to me because she does not want to fall into hell. There could be no greater nuisance.'

...

Oh?

Ohhh.

What did I just think?

"Hmm? Baron Eternal River, you look unwell. Are you feeling ill?"

"Y-yes. You’ve looked unwell for a while now. You’re the one who should go rest in the lounge, Baron."

"... No."

I barely managed to open my mouth. Once I did, words I had not even thought of flowed out on their own.

"We have already been given five recesses. There is no point in resting further. The few remaining items are our faction’s key agenda, so I would prefer to remain here as much as possible."

"I see..."

For some reason, Viscountess Pure Black God looks as though she understands me.

"Indeed, today is a historic day. The kingdom is welcoming its first new duchess in a thousand years. I, too, am filled with conflicting emotions."

Viscountess Pure Black God turns her head.

Both Marchioness Snow Rabbit and I naturally follow her gaze.

"Ja Sujeong is happy, at least."

In the center of the Grand Assembly Hall sits a blond noblewoman.

No, her pose is rather too coquettish to call it [sitting]. The noblewoman has her bottom on the floor and her cheek resting against the throne. On that throne, the king smiles as he strokes her hair.

To anyone, they would look like a foolish monarch and a treacherous courtier.

Flaunting their affection in the middle of the sacred assembly—a conservative noble might lament that the country was ruined.

Viscountess Pure Black God spoke.

"Many nobles fled to the lounge because they could not bear to watch that. When I sincerely remarked that it was lovely to see them in love, their faces went utterly stiff. Such stodgy fools."

Did she just have a thought similar to mine?

To think my thoughts would overlap with a murderous fiend’s. I must set aside a day to wash my brain.

As I considered methods of cleaning out my skull, I gazed at the blond noblewoman, the person more precious to me than anyone else.

『Information— Ja Sujeong— restore.』

Letters appeared before my eyes.

Compared to the others, the sentences were extraordinarily brief.

Yet words more accurate than any others are inscribed in the air.

+

[Ja Sujeong]

My master.

My heart.

My blood.

Everything in this world.

+

"..."

Huh?

'That person isn’t my master, though?'

At that moment, my mind becomes clear.

'Raviel is the owner of my heart. What the hell is this talking about?'

No, my mind became clear.

The fog in my head vanished all at once.

'Who’s Snow Rabbit? And who the hell is Pure Black God? Where am I? Whose fucking formal speech is this? A mage? Eternal River? A baron? What is this “Hello, Lord Gongja” nonsense?'

My eyes flew wide open like someone startled awake from a nightmare.

'I’m Kim Gongja. Kim Gongja. The Death King of the City of Heavenly Ascent. The moon of House Ivansia, the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, and the companion of the Earth Spiritfolk!'

At last, I heard the Tower’s voice.

[The subject’s sense of self is being restored.]

[Confirmed that the subject’s sense of self has been preserved.]

[Continuing the trauma recreation!]