Magic Genius of the Fallen Dukedom - Chapter 3.2
“We will take care of you, Young Masters. We will ensure your safety and warmth, no matter what it takes…”
“Please don’t push me away… I don’t ask for anything, just to be by your side…”
“Your Grace, no, my lord. Even if you lose your temper for a moment, you are always my lord.”
While most attendants bowed or turned their backs, Izein and Ikain remained steadfast.
Was it a characteristic of their race to be loyal to their master for life, even if they acted arrogantly towards others, or was it their own belief?
The ones he was most grateful for, and thus, the ones he pushed away.
Aden, who bid farewell to the last of the fallen vassals’ ancestors as the eldest son of the fallen family, intended to rely on their strength in this life.
“Listen carefully.”
They were among the few trustworthy individuals verified through a single lifetime.
“I have returned from 15 years in the future.”
“Wh-What?!”
“At that time, the lineage of the Myon family had been in a state of decline, and I was working as an assistant to an archmage for over a decade.”
The long story continued. The downfall of the Myon family and the suicide of the duke. The curse that had plagued the Myon lineage for centuries.
The 8th circle mage lifted the curse.
She activated the Time Reversal Magic Circle he had decoded and returned to the present.
Her two pointed ears trembled nervously. Was her master thinking he had gone mad?
He needed to convince Izein, even if he had to present evidence. Although he trusted her, she possessed the ability that Aden needed now.
After a moment of silence, Izein spoke up.
“What the hell was that?!”
“······”
“Some bastard had the audacity to curse you, even though they’re not worth a damn! Have you figured out who it is? I’m ready to kick their a*s right now!”
“…Izein.”
Aden chuckled as he restrained Izein, who, despite her arrogance while in human form, became as sharp-tongued as she was when she returned to her original state.
She hadn’t changed, and she wouldn’t.
Amidst a world that had changed entirely, seeing something so consistent was a bit refreshing.
“So, the urgent matter is to check on the family. Is there anyone else besides me whose curse has been lifted?”
“Um…”
“Are you in communication with Ikain? Have there been any special changes in the estate?”
Felinefolk were typically born as twins.
And between them, there was a special interaction called ‘communion.’ They could vaguely share each other’s feelings, and with strong determination, they could convey simple messages. Izein’s ears perked up slightly as she briefly closed her eyes.
“It doesn’t seem like anything unusual. If there had been such a change for the Duke and Madam, I would have known by now. Just in case, I’ll leave a message with Ikain…”
Aden nodded.
“Yeah. I had anticipated this. While the fact that the curse was lifted along with the reversal of time has been nullified, it seems I’m the only one whose curse has been lifted as it was. It’s something that ‘happened’ to me.”
“Th-then…!”
“Yeah. Didn’t you see it earlier?”
The cat’s raised eyes became moist with tears.
When Aden awakened his mana and got accepted into Hibernium, Izein declared that she would follow Aden.
The Caddock family served the Myon family for generations.
She claimed that it was her right and duty to look after her little master.
So she knows it well. How hard Aden worked. Yet, despite the effort, how meager the results were. Her own growth in magic, starting with Aden, was so rapid that she felt sorry for Aden’s slow growth, who started learning magic following him.
However, in truth, the master was so intelligent that he could memorize an entire book, and all that suffering was because of the curse!
“Hmm… I’ll make sure to catch that bastard, pull out each of his fingernails one by one, cut off his limbs inch by inch, and then twist his spine—”
“Yeah. I’ll do it even if you don’t.”
For the first time, Izein was astonished to see her master echoing her gruesome words.
“The Myon family suffered for centuries. My father, who had to meet the most miserable end without even going back to his ancestors. My stupid siblings who live without knowing the joys of the world. And my mother who couldn’t even close her eyes worrying about them.”
There was a sound of flesh tearing inside the mouth.
“Even if it means uncovering secrets and paying the price for all the suffering you’ve endured for our family’s sake, I will ensure that justice is served.”
“We will serve diligently. We dedicate ourselves entirely.”
Aden relaxed his expression and smiled.
“Yeah, thanks. But that’s a matter for later. There’s something urgent.”
“What is it?”
“We need to lift the curse. Father and my sisters are still bound by it, so we need to act quickly. For that, I need to grow rapidly. At least to the level of an 8th circle mage to even have a chance of breaking the curse.”
Just like Silion said.
With a slight hesitation, Izein asked.
“If you’re looking for that mentor…”
“I can’t find her right now. It’s three years from now when the Archmage Silion reveals herself. The appearance of the youngest archmage in history turned the world upside down, but no one could find any traces before that.”
“Ah…”
“Even so, I’ll try to find her, but it’s to repay a debt of gratitude. I won’t involve the mentor in my affairs and put her in danger again.”
Aden stood up from his seat.
“So let’s go. I need your help.”
[High-Density Training Room, Hevriata]
The place Aden headed towards was the training hall. There, Aden unexpectedly asked something of Izein.
