Chapter 326

Chapter 326

Following the conclusion of my discussion with the senior director, I wandered aimlessly across the academy grounds, taking a moment to put my thoughts in order. The words shared by the senior director had caused a slight ripple in my heart.

Once a line is crossed, repeating the act presents no difficulty. After crossing it a second time, all hesitation vanishes from your heart. And that is precisely how everyone eventually transforms into monsters. Cross it once, and the subsequent time is effortless; thereafter, there is no second-guessing, and ultimately, you turn into a monster.

Suddenly, an idea struck me. ‘In that case, doesn’t it imply that doing it just once is perfectly fine?‘ And then there was another thought.

• You wouldn’t want to meet the same fate as Grand Duke Nana Muspellun, would you? I grasped the underlying message. However. ‘…To me, that sounds like a long and healthy existence.‘ Though I kept it to myself, aside from constructing a magic tower, my greatest aspiration was to live a long life free of illness. Why? Considering the trajectory of events in this current lifetime, merely surviving while plagued by disease seemed highly improbable, to say nothing of maintaining good health.

“It really is true, when all is said and done.” A rift formed in the scale of my already wavering heart. To be perfectly honest, if this only concerned my own person, it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. Yet, in a way, this ‘line’ was linked not just to me, but to the magic tower as well, which gave me pause. Regardless. ‘Let’s discard the notion of wreaking havoc on the Decullan family through Sallie for now.‘ That did not signify that I intended to let Sallie off completely scot-free. After all, prospects to encounter the young patriarch Decullan in such a vulnerable state were exceedingly rare. ‘The real dilemma is, what course of action should I take once contact is established…?‘

I halted my steps and took a seat on a nearby bench. The surroundings remained shrouded in darkness. I had awakened early to keep an eye on Sallie, who rose at the break of dawn to train, and the academy cloaked in twilight provided the ideal setting to arrange my thoughts. “For starters, hitting him is out of the question.” At any rate, defeating him through direct force wouldn’t bring any real satisfaction. Nor could I simply approach him and say, ‘Listen, we are going to be companions from this point forward. Behave yourself, or you’ll perish by my hand.‘

Two elements were vital in this situation. First. ‘What is it that I desire?‘ Second. ‘In what manner can I utilize him?‘ Therefore, what I truly wanted was… “Sallie, I wish to evolve into a decent person. At the very least, I refuse to replicate the disaster of my former life. Otherwise, I would be filled with regret.” Ah, I really should have crushed his skull back then. I had no desire to feel that kind of remorse again. And simultaneously… ‘…It would be even more ideal if I could ruin the Decullan family in the process.‘

To put it briefly: Sallie required improvement, but the obstacle lay in the approach. “Rehabilitation. I must rehabilitate him…” How exactly do you rehabilitate a fellow who hasn’t even strayed from the righteous path yet? I plunged back into deep thought. And before long, a fresh realization dawned on me: I hadn’t been utilizing my intellect much as of late. What did that imply? ‘…My conditioning has been inadequate.’ When the physical form is weak, the mind suffers, as the saying goes.

At any rate, the conundrum persisted. How to best… no, how to reform Sallie in a manner that would cause word to spread of my excellent work. He had not yet transformed into a piece of trash, so just how long did I spend pondering this? “Yes.” My mind was made up. “Let us cease this contemplation.” This was not an issue that could be resolved through mere thinking. I had overlooked it due to my recent lack of mental exertion, but I rarely used my brain anyway. And besides… ‘…I possess something far superior, don’t I?’ Clenching my fists, I directed my gaze toward the heavens. The rising sun. A supplication. ‘Goddess of the moon.’ Grant me the strength to act as a righteous reformer again on this day.

Leaping to my feet, I made my departure. Heading straight toward the practice grounds where Sallie was currently training. His routine had not yet concluded.

Sallie von Decullan. The young patriarch Decullan. Whenever people caught wind of that title, their responses generally fell into one of two categories. Dread at the very mention of ‘Decullan,’ or jealousy toward the successor of such an illustrious lineage. The former reaction was entirely comprehensible. Regardless of how outsiders perceived the Decullan household, that was the very domain where Sallie had entered the world and been reared. The name stirred no particular sentiment within him. It was a position he had held since birth, as intimately familiar as his own identity in some respects, yet it was a status Sallie could never take for granted.

When exactly had it all begun? Well, around the age of seven or eight, a sense of discomfort regarding it started to take root.

• You… are devoid of talent. The chilly declaration of his sire.

• I was aware that your physical vessel was too frail to properly assimilate mana, but you also lack the capacity to comprehend and evaluate matters with logical precision. This… is not a deficiency that can be mended through sheer exertion alone. That particular exchange with his father concluded right there.

From that day forward, the mantle of “Young Patriarch” that he wore like a second skin began to fracture. The look of disappointment in the eyes of his attendants scraped at his chest; the disillusioned glances from the hired tutors tore at his heart. To Sallie, being the young patriarch… amounted to that. A garment woven entirely of thorns, which he could neither cast off nor was permitted to abandon. Burdensome. Agonizing. Tormenting. Such was the existence Sallie endured. A life that felt utterly suffocating.

Yet, Sallie did not flee. He did not go astray. If a concept eluded him on the initial attempt, he listened a second time; if twice proved insufficient, three, four… a hundred, a thousand times, clinging on with absolute desperation. This applied not solely to sorcery, but to every single domain where his abilities fell short. Naturally, it was far from effortless. Self-loathing? He experienced it profoundly, without a doubt. What else could be said? The more knowledge he acquired, the more glaring his shortcomings became; the higher his mastery advanced, the more distant the path ahead appeared. And every time he confronted that inadequacy… Sallie choked back his tears in the presence of utter despair.

• Why, why must it be me…? A deep resentment toward his lack of inherent talent. A hatred directed at himself. And… an overwhelming despair when facing the “impossible.” All of it threatened to submerge him. Indeed, perhaps… what was the ultimate purpose? Even if he exerted himself… tsk.

• Ultimately, it amounts to nothing more than a pointless commotion. Perhaps the whispers drifting about him among his inner circle held truth. No matter how hard he strove, he simply could not satisfy the anticipations of the family, meaning his efforts might well be futile. And choosing the simple path of retreat was not difficult. Just abandon the training.

However, Sallie refused to halt. For what reason? Even at present, he could scarcely recall it. Why he persisted with his training, why he endured despite recognizing the futility of it all. There must have been some underlying motivation… Regardless, Sallie continued to forge ahead in absolute silence. No, he ran. A decade passed in this exact manner. Sallie was now seventeen years of age.

Brushing away the perspiration trickling down his brow, Sallie directed his gaze skyward. Assuredly, as the winter season drew to a close, the sun made an early appearance. He shut his eyes momentarily, basking in the solar warmth, before thoroughly regulating his inhalation and extending his limbs. It was a winding-down routine, yet even during these moments, his intellect found no repose. ‘…The Krok equation, then… the formula…’ Fewer than four hours of slumber. A mind that functioned perpetually. Plentiful nourishment, yet a physique in unceasing motion without a single day of rest. Though more robust than an ordinary person by virtue of being a mage, it was his mind that bore the brunt of this abuse, pushing past the boundaries of mortal flesh.

Nevertheless, since the days of his youth, Sallie had preserved this regimen without missing a solitary day. Should anyone inquire if it proved arduous… Sallie would likely offer a sharp retort. ‘…Is it?’ Rather than dwelling on whether this existence was grueling or peaceful, he would claim ignorance and return to his duties. Like a man entirely unacquainted with the concept of a pause. For Sallie, this particular day was merely an ordinary component of his routine. And tomorrow would bring no variation. But why? Sallie, deeply absorbed in his mystical calculations, raised his eyes toward the heavens once more as a gust of wind swept past. The crisp breeze provided a pleasant cooling sensation against his sweat, and for a fleeting, incredibly brief instant, he cleared his mind and observed the azure canopy above. “…So incredibly blue.” Had the sky always possessed such a vibrant blue hue? Yet that sensation proved short-lived.

…Once more. Sallie shifted his physical form. On the subsequent day, he extended his limbs to loosen his musculature. His body remained in motion while his intellect deliberated on magical theory. Following that, he directed his steps toward the private training chamber to perform his breath control exercises. Just an ordinary day.

…On that specific day, the irregularity manifested precisely as Sallie concluded his stretching. “Greetings.” Tilting his head, Sallie scanned his environment. Before long, he spotted the source of the utterance, inclining his head once more in utter perplexity. “Who might you be?” The intruder was a cloaked and masked individual. Above the person’s head… ‘…Is that a number?’ It bore the resemblance of a digit, perhaps obscured by a piece of parchment? At any rate.

“There is no requirement for you to learn my identity. Do you harbor any anxieties?” “…Excuse me?” “For instance, an urge to sever the limbs of children, crush their legs, or actions of that nature? Does witnessing ill-mannered fools inspire a desire to slit their throats?” “How gruesome…” Sallie shuddered at the horrific concepts flitting through his mind, then quickly gathered his wits. Who exactly are you to pose such inquiries…? “If I intended to reveal that to you, what would be the purpose of donning this mask?” “Ah, that is a valid point.” Sallie gave a nod, appearing entirely persuaded. To speak accurately, he was less convinced and more so just choosing to drop the line of questioning. “Tsk, is that the process by which one transforms into that miserable bastard?” The masked man tilted his head in complete bewilderment, though that mattered little to Sallie. “Um… if you possess some actual business to conduct, could you please state it?”

“…Yes.” Sallie required haste to reach the secluded chamber for his respiratory practices. If he delayed, he would end up missing his morning meal. Regrettably, the masked stranger harbored no intention of permitting his departure. “You may take your leave shortly, but pray, take a seat for a brief moment first. I have words to share.” “Y…words to share?” “Tsk, move quickly.” Sallie offered a brief glance at the masked individual before awkwardly lowering himself to the ground. It seemed wisest to comply with the request to conclude this encounter swiftly. The masked man advanced and dropped down directly across from him.

And with that, an enveloping quietude settled over them. “…?” Sallie maintained his silence. The masked stranger uttered not a word. The stillness stretched onward until Sallie ultimately chose to fracture it. “Uh, if there is no purpose to this, may I take my leave now…?” “No, remain. It is not as though there is no purpose.” The masked individual let out a low groan, seemingly deep in thought. He spoke up shortly thereafter, and upon hearing his words, Sallie let out a bewildered gasp. “Do you carry any transgressions that weigh heavily upon your conscience?” “…Pardon?” “If you do, reveal them. I am going to bash your head in.”

What in the world…? Sallie pondered. Without a doubt, he was bound to find himself in a precarious situation. Yet, despite everything, the masked individual, Aster, waited with a racing heart for Sallie to speak. The steady thumping of a heartbeat echoed.