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Chapter 33
🕑 Added 2025-07-14 15:04:52 +0000 UTC"Add..."
Waver's attention was drawn to those hushed words that left his 'shy' apprentice's lips when they were alone in his room. Attempting to explain his theories regarding Miss Hishiri's death only ended with him gaining scrutiny instead, as someone trying to wash away their own sins with a false explanation of matters.
Then, there was no choice left but to retreat to his quarters for the moment. He was weak, there were no two ways about that truth. Every single magus gathered at this forsaken castle in the middle of nowhere his sister had sent him to could kill him as easily as he drew breath, the title of 'Lord' meant nothing.
He sighed and took a reluctant puff from his cigar, glancing at his apprentice from the corner of his eye. Her black cloak fell away to reveal a cage, and within that cage, a cube with delicately carved eyes and a mouth. Add. He looked like some kind of exotic puzzle, but the truth wasn't that simple.
His jaw fell open and the most boisterous of words filled the room.
"Ihihihihihi! What?! Finally decided you need the help of someone as incredible as I am? Well, too bad! I ain't doiin' it!"
"Mm," Gray pulled on her hood, ducking her head. "Why do you avoid... Henry?"
Oh? That was a rather interesting question. Waver found himself paying more and more attention to the conversation. Add was, in a way, similar to Reines' Trimmau in that both Mystic Codes held a personality model. Admittedly, the former's was far more advanced. But, that was where the similarity began and that was where it ended.
Waver shook his head to rid himself of that line of thought. He was getting side-tracked. Add wasn't one to hold his words, not when he knew the person could be trusted... so, indeed, it was a curious thing that he chose to hide himself from Waver's newest headache.
"Geh," The box spat out with a rumble. "That guy creeps me out a lot, y'know? Those eyes, looking at everything like he's about to-... It feels like he'll start dicing poor old me up the second he sees me. That gaze brings up some sour memories, ugh. That’s how he looks at everything, y’know?"
Waver had not known that a box could shiver. It did.
"That just feels like a cheap excuse..." Gray whispered.
"Hah?! How dare you discredit my feelings like that?! I'll have you know, unlike you, I'm a proper person with thoughts and feeli-... No! Wait! AGYAAAAA!"
As usual, the moment Add got out of hand, Gray gripped the brass cage by its head and started shaking it roughly, smacking the Mystic Code about his home.
A thin smile split Waver's lips as he turned aside to stare out of the square-cut window beside his sofa, at the hauntingly lifeless Ashborn garden. Truth be told, he found himself agreeing with the Mystic Code's observations.
"He might be right, Gray. Although, I doubt it’s voluntary on his part."
That particular student of his always wore those heavily tinted shades of his so almost no one knew of just how terrifying those hauntingly beautiful eyes could be when trained on someone.
Gray raised her head, "I'm sorry... I'm not very knowledgeable about these things."
He couldn't blame her. It wasn't the sort of observation someone in her position would be able to make. But, very well, this was a teachable moment.
"Is that so? I'll be sure to add something on it to your homework."
"Ummm... okay..." His apprentice deflated, shoulders slumping.
"You remember how Flat works, right? How he was able to go through department after department and sponge up everything? Or rather, make his own teachers' formulae simply by seeing them in action?"
She fiddled with her cloak. "Something like... 'If I say that's how it is, that's how it's gotta be'... was it?"
"As infuriating as it is," Waver groaned, wiping his face with a hand, "that's precisely it. He's able to enact whatever Mysteries he desires simply because he wants to."
"Then Henry is like that too?"
"No, if anything, I would compare him to a surgeon. A miracle surgeon able to understand the structure of a body to such an intimate degree that he could replace a leg with an arm and still have it perform the intended function. Now, liken that body to a particular magecraft."
"That sounds... scary."
"To a magus, it's the most horrifying thing. Because he can gain that understanding at a glance. Then, his mind lets him break it down to its baser components and rework it as needed."
The newest permanent addition to his classroom had been a subject of massive intrigue for Waver from their very first interaction. It wouldn't be a lie if one were to say that he'd spent countless deciphering each aspect of his student's abilities so he could better help him as a tutor. At the same time, it drove home just how lacking in talent he himself was and he'd spent no small time getting depressed over that fact... but he'd never share that with anyone.
Really, it was unfair.
While Flat was held back by his overly whimsical nature, Henry didn't particularly share that trait. He threw himself in danger solely to improve as a magus. No doubt, in some time, there would be massive uproar in the Clock Tower because of his troublesome student.
At that time, Waver intended to wash his hands of the matter entirely and say it had nothing to do with him.
"That's why... the Edelfelt Princess will undoubtedly be the one to receive the inheritance. It's a shame I didn't get to him sooner." Waver sighed, a difficult expression on his face.
What was he going to tell Reines about this?
No doubt his sister's wrath would be a monumental pain in the behind.
Gray went silent and stared outside, clutching her arm.
"He doesn't seem all that smart to me."
"..."
Waver couldn't help but let out a small laugh at that.
"Listen, as your classmate and friend, you have to help him if he needs it. Naturally, he'll do the same."
"We're..." Gray tilted her neck, confusion in her dull eyes, "friends?"
-
I sat across from Heine, watching the noble eat a medium-rare steak with a knife and fork. His movements were nimble, with a graceful rhythm and a proper practised technique. In contrast, I was just chomping on some fries while Luviagelita tried her best to look like she didn't want any in place of her fish fillet.
"..." Heine calmly met my gaze. "I... Would you like some?"
For a moment, we both just stared at each other.
You know, for a magus with such immaculate control over a magecraft with a rather basic mystery to the point where he made the Church back off, this guy was way too nice and considerate. The ego that would come with being so strong was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he spent most of his time coddling Rosalind.
"You're a good guy, aren't you?" I smiled.
"...I don't believe so."
Oh come on! How much-
"My elder brother is the best." Rosalind cheered with a big smile. She reminded me of Ellie a lot. Actually, I missed my sister now.
"You look like you're gonna ask for her hand in marriag-" Jirobou was prompty silenced by an apple being lopped at his face at mach fuck you by yours truly. Unfortunately, the filthy shite just grabbed it out of the air just before it hit him. "You know, in Greece, this would be a declaration of love! Unfortunately, I have to refuse your feelings cause I'm not a fag-... erm, I like women."
I was about to answer... but then I realised I didn't need words. No, I simply picked up one of my fries and brought it near Luviagelita. Thoughtlessly, she bit down on it... only for her cheeks to redden a moment later as she covered her mouth with the tip of her fingers.
Smug grin on my mug, I turned back to him.
Jiroubou ground his teeth and clenched his fists as Flueger patted his shoulder with a sympathetic gaze. Then, when Luviagelita cut up a piece of steak and brought it to my mouth with a heavy blush, he tried to jump over the table and physically assault me.
He was unceremoniously held down by Flueger.
"Let me at him! YOU LET ME AT HIM RIGHT NOW!"
"Your spring-time will surely come too, boy." I didn't know he did it, but a single tear rolled down Flueger's cheek and I knew for a fact it was voluntary.
"When?! I'm so lonely! Ah I thought priests were all the fashion-"
"Yeah no, you look like a homeless dude that solicits people for money my dude."
Jiroubou hid his face in his hands, sobbing.
Our little discourse was interrupted when Heine cleared his throat. The Knight gracefully placed down his eating utensils and looked at me.
"I have something I must confess."
"I already proposed to Luvia here."
"...What?" He tilted his head, genuinely confused. "Regardless, I must confess that I tried seizing this castle yesterday, last night, to be specific."
My ears perked up at that.
"But, I was attacked by some manner of beast. It is shameful but it managed to overpower me. I suspect it was the same creature responsible for Miss Hishiri's fate as well."
Well... the last part just wasn't true since the corpse was a fake meant to throw us off. But... hmm... I put a hand to my chin, earnestly considering his words.
"Maybe some kind of security measure? Or, a test?"
"Perhaps, I intend to find out. With that, I would like to excuse myself." He wiped his lips with a white napkin, rising to his feet. "Jiroubou, I have a request for you..." He then turned his gaze to me, and those distant blue eyes held a meaning I could easily understand. "I believe I don't need to even make that request of you, Henry."
"Of course not, you got it, sir." I chuckled, biting down on a fry.
He smiled faintly and gave an approving nod.
When they were gone, Luviagelita turned to me, "What did he mean by those words?"
"He's gonna go after that thing, whatever it was," I relaxed into my chair, "and he wants me to look out for his sister if something goes wrong. He misunderstands my curiosity though."
She hummed. "Siscon."
"Gorilla."
"...Your Gorilla."
...
Damn, I had no response for that. Considering her smug look, she knew I wouldn't have a response for that.
"Cheeky, are we?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, good sir."
I leaned on the long table, turning her way as my eyes passed the faintly defined muscles on her arms. She was from a long line of adventurers, so her fit and full body made a good bit of sense from genetics alone. However, there was no denying the work that had gone into making full use of those genetics.
All magi were gym freaks. In that, they differed from the typical fantasy magicians who were almost always glass cannons. It had something to do with needing a body that could handle the stress of spellcasting.
Unfortunately, those weren't the thoughts that came to my mind upon seeing the muscle. The first thought was, hot. The second was the realisation that I didn't really have any. So, I decided to do something about just that.
"Luvia."
"H...Hmm?" She got flustered by the nickname.
"I think I'm gonna take up martial arts... maybe wrestling."
The second those words left my mouth, her 'embarrassment' disappeared, gone with the wind or some shit. Instead, she grabbed my hand with a grip so tight I felt genuine strain.
"Bedroom. Now."
"Uh..."
I happily surrendered to my fate.
What man wouldn't?
-
I hope you enjoyed.
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First, it's always good to see other perspectives on the MC. I personally always enjoy seeing how the world reacts to the main character. I also find it funny that Add is scared of Henry. I imagine that once he sees Add, he'll start focusing a lot on Gray's presence. Little Cinnamon Roll needs the tease. Second, welp. Henry just pushed all the right buttons for Luvia with his choice of martial arts. She'll definitely want to train with him in wrestling and "wrestling". "...Your Gorilla." Smooth girl. And finally, poor Henry doesn't know that training the physical body is a modern-day mage thing. Even a high school girl like Rin can kick the ass of legendary mages like Medea in close combat.
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