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chapter 27
Mental Counter.
One of the ancient magics said to be based on the spirit of an elemental.
Nowadays, no one can summon elementals, so learning this magic is absolutely impossible.
Lawrence grinned and picked up the book without hesitation.
The other items were certainly tempting as well, enough to make one’s eyes spin.
But he judged that choosing something that could immediately accelerate his growth would be far more practical, so he selected this one.
As for the other items, he could come back later to acquire them if he made some achievements.
I wonder what the others chose.
Treasure?
Or perhaps a magnificent accessory?
A spellbook?
Hard to say.
If it were Loria, she’d probably have chosen a spellbook with a powerful offensive spell.
She was someone who acted solely for the honor of Montemer.
Someone who fit Montemer better than anyone else.
Lawrence spent the remaining three hours thoroughly observing Vigo.
Squeeeak—.
The door opened, and the steward of Vigo, who had waited silently for three hours, walked in slowly.
Vwoom—.
Mana moved from his hands as if he were performing an inspection.
It seemed he had already begun the incantation in preparation to use magic immediately upon leaving.
“Have you decided on what you will take?”
“Yes.”
“Understood. If you attempted any foul play, it would be revealed immediately. My [Unique Ability] is very good at remembering such things.”
“Don’t worry.”
Lawrence smiled faintly and walked on.
He planned to quietly stay home until the preliminaries, happily spending time crafting artifacts.
He also needed to stop by the temple and request a more powerful cursed item from Medea.
As he walked, the sound of polished shoes echoed: tap, tap, tap.
Speaking of the devil, there was Medea approaching from the end of the corridor with the head maid.
Her eyes were filled with subtle anger, which flared like fire the moment she noticed Lawrence.
“…….”
“Greetings, Madam.”
“Ah… leaving already?”
“Yes. I must return home.”
Medea nodded slightly.
Even though they were exchanging words, it felt as if every word was a needle prick. Not an illusion—the discomfort was real, as her overflowing mana threatened Lawrence.
Yet Lawrence smiled brightly.
“Thank you for always looking after me. I think my late mother would have been pleased as well.”
“…….”
“May I ask for your support more often in the future?”
“Very well. I will see to it personally.”
Why did Lawrence hear this as a declaration that she intended to prepare a stronger curse?
But it didn’t matter. In fact, it was good.
It meant he could strengthen his body even more.
I’m quite curious to see how much my Dragon Body will grow.
With a genuine, bright smile, Lawrence bowed his head.
Medea watched his retreating figure and had to restrain her boiling anger.
The head maid whispered beside her:
“What will you do, Madam?”
“Once he enters the magic tower, he cannot be touched. And poison or curses are useless. Then… we must approach by other means.”
“I’m worried Freya might notice.”
“Do not worry. [Their] magic is not that sloppy.”
The head maid silently bowed. Her fate was tied to Medea, so she could only trust and follow her decisions.
And with their power, taking full control of this family would only be a matter of time.
The family head is nothing but a puppet. Powerful… yes, someone who maintains Montemer’s prestige.
Thinking this, the head maid followed Medea.
The family head had long stopped interfering in the family’s affairs.
Montemer had changed significantly over time.
Now it was time to create a regent to sit behind the Throne of Magic.
“Then, we shall prepare immediately.”
“Very well. The last legacy she left… was a maid named Rachel, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then we must take it all. Everything…”
Medea’s eyes darkened deeply.
It might not have worked on Freya, but even burning an ordinary person who didn’t know magic… if successful, they would be able to monitor every move of Lawrence.
I wanted to handle this neatly, but it seems I must resort to dirty methods.
If he wished for a tougher challenge, so be it.
#2
Before returning home, Lawrence examined the monsters he had captured to see which could serve as a conduit for Mental Counter.
He planned to use the journey in the carriage to work on the magic circle, relieving his boredom.
“Hm, this should work.”
[Skull of a Yeti]
[Suitable for inscription.]
[Effect of inscription: Randomly adds resistance.]
This seemed the best material he could use immediately.
Unless he went hunting again, acquiring better materials would be difficult.
Roaming recklessly might arouse unnecessary suspicion.
More importantly, after seeing Medea’s gaze earlier, he had a feeling she would act soon.
He felt that if he wasn’t prepared, it could spell disaster.
That feeling wasn’t just intuition.
Even Freya doesn’t remember that incident clearly. This… must be the work of a mage from another family.
Time was precious.
Lawrence quickly returned home, traveling in a procession with the carriage provided by his family and a few guards.
“Lord Lawrence, we’ve been waiting. I am Ickel Yurgo.”
Lawrence merely nodded in reply.
A mage from the Yurgo family, serving as Montemer’s retainer.
He hadn’t had much contact with him, but the Yurgo family was known for proficiency in transformation magic.
Wait, transformation magic?
Something crossed Lawrence’s mind.
“Will you be accompanying me to the annex?”
“Yes. Lady Medea instructed me to deliver the relief supplies.”
“Ah… I see.”
Relief supplies, not support…
It was annoying, but he let it go for now.
Once on the carriage, he waited to depart. As expected, no one paid any attention to him inside.
“It will take about two hours.”
“Understood.”
The carriage rumbled, and Lawrence immediately began work.
Mental Counter.
He had a feeling he would need to use it very soon.
[Extracting Magic Circle…]
Scritch—.
Lawrence’s work began.
Moreover, completing this artifact would allow him to grow again.
There was no reason to stop.
Meanwhile, Ickel, mounted and assigned to escort duty, smirked.
Medea’s influence in the family was absolute.
With her overwhelming power and control over various interests, aligning with her would make things easier.
That kid thinks…
He had heard Lawrence had performed brilliantly in the subjugation campaign.
But still, he was only eleven years old.
No matter what tricks he used, they wouldn’t work here.
The reason Ickel, a mage from the Yurgo family, had been dispatched to this minor task…
Was to comply with Medea’s secret request: to cast hypnosis and suggestion magic on Lawrence’s maid.
I have been promised a 5th Circle spellbook, so I must succeed.
The 5th Circle was considered the pinnacle attainable by ordinary talent.
Unfortunately, Ickel was not a genius, ranking only above average among mages.
In a harsh world overflowing with prodigies, obtaining even this advantage was necessary to survive.
Moreover, the Yurgo family was suffering a severe talent shortage.
Being born with the gift of transformation magic had not brought them much recognition.
If Ickel could reach the 5th Circle at a young age, his family might gain some prestige.
It’s not as if I’m harming a child; it’s just the maid.
A mere maid.
The lowly servants responsible for mages’ daily lives.
No guilt would be necessary for using magic on them.
Thus, two mages and a few guards left Montemer’s main residence.
From afar, someone watched.
What will you do this time, son?
Trials would always come.
Let’s see how you handle them.
Edward’s gaze didn’t leave the departing carriage.
#3
Szzzzt—!
Even inside the swaying carriage, the artifact was flawlessly completed and integrated into Lawrence’s body.
A message appeared, indicating his current status.
[All elements necessary for Dragon growth are complete.]
[You now possess unwavering mental fortitude.]
[No mental attack can affect the Dragon’s successor.]
[This artifact does not occupy a slot.]
[Dragon Body growth has commenced.]
[Hatchling: 41%]
“Good. At least I’m minimally prepared.”
“Lord, we’ve arrived.”
The carriage reached the annex just in time. Lawrence’s heart fluttered at the thought of seeing Rachel again.
Home really was the most comfortable place.
Stepping down, he saw Rachel rushing out to meet him.
Ickel approached her at the same time.
Muttering, Ickel began his incantation while walking.
It was a short distance, but enough to cast magic on an ordinary person like Rachel.
“Welcome! My lord!”
“I am Ickel. I am assigned to your protection. Would you please look into my eyes for a moment?”
“Yes?”
Rachel instinctively looked into Ickel’s eyes.
He had prepared a spell in advance. With just the final activation words left, the transformation magic requiring intense focus was triggered.
[Hypnosis]
Transformation magic.
Controlling someone, altering environments, and creating confusion for enemies.
The Yurgo family’s magic was considered the best among such spells.
With their unique circle techniques and magical prowess, mana infiltrated her mind.
“Stop right there, you bastard.”
“Ugh!?”
Szzzt—!
[Mental Counter]
[Ickel Yurgo’s hypnosis magic rebounds to the caster.]
[Ickel Yurgo’s status: Hypnotized]
[Hypnosis duration: 7 days]
“How dare you touch what’s mine…?”
Before her stood Lawrence, his crimson eyes dangerously blazing.
His gaze burned with anger and vengeance.
The Dragon’s successor.
A greedy, selfish idol of all things, the one who inherited the Dragon’s will, now revealing that greed.
“Open your eyes nicely, if you don’t want to die.”
“…Yes.”
It was now time to launch the counterattack.
