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chapter 53
Skrk-skrk—
Lawrence held a pen and inscribed the magic circle.
The four-circle magic circle he was making for the first time now required filling in areas, not just lines.
Was this the process of gradually moving into higher difficulty?
This kind of challenge was actually fun.
His fingertips drew the complex lines without the slightest tremor, painting the space and completing the circle.
Even with a design to copy, reproducing it intact was purely Lawrence’s skill.
“One done.”
Crackle—
Power flowed into the magic circle and the first artifact was completed.
An artifact that directly boosted the earth attribute.
It was always best to tackle the hardest tasks when you were in your best condition.
[Orc Club]
[Engraving: Earth Attribute Boost]
[Grade: 4‑Circle]
An artifact made from an orc’s club was finished.
It looked robust enough to be used as a weapon.
But if it broke, that would be a problem, so he decided to implant it instead.
Lawrence savored the sensation of his whole body filling with white light.
The surge of power that followed an artifact’s implantation made him feel truly alive.
“This could be pulled out and used as a weapon in an emergency.”
Some people even draw swords from their chests — why would it be strange if a club came out?
Lawrence inspected his body.
Overall physical ability had definitely improved, and it seemed the synergy with his buff magic had risen too.
Four‑circle engravings really made a difference.
“If I make artifacts with truly superb minerals or gems in the future… I could make something incredible.”
He could even sell them as luxury health items. Whatever the case, Lawrence moved around his body a bit and nodded with satisfaction.
“I wonder how strong four‑circle magic really is.”
So he hurriedly set to making more artifacts.
This time it was for Guardian No. 2.
Since it was a three‑circle, the work was easy, and he set up a device to summon him.
<If there’s a towel hung on my window, please enter.>
After finishing the artifacts, Lawrence hung a towel on his window.
In a barracks, hanging a towel on the windowsill was nothing unusual.
It wasn’t suspicious, and since it identified the room’s location, it would be a clear signal.
“With this I’ve got my cook and my informant covered.”
Meat was an invaluable commodity.
Lawrence waited for night.
#2
“You already made it…?”
Ades peered around the vicinity of Oberon’s barracks from a distance.
Seeing the towel hung up after only one day, he couldn’t hide his surprise.
It only took a day to fix something similar to his problem?
“This… is pure bullshit, isn’t it?”
Ades scratched his head.
Is this for real? If it’s a scam and I get caught, what do I tell the family? His mind churned with complications.
Still, what could he do?
If he returned without joining anyone, someone far scarier than Medeia or Lawrence would surely come after him. The reason he hadn’t been taken back into the family was that his mission success rate had been 100% so far.
He also refused any job that seemed doomed.
“Hssss… If I run now, they’ll drag me back to the family, right? Hah… that can’t happen.”
He had nothing to lose. Either way, the ending would probably be the same.
Ades melted into the darkness and waited. It was still early for assassins to be active.
‘I’ll watch over the young lady for now.’
Instead, he decided to keep an eye on Loria, another target of the commission.
Lawrence had asked him to find out why Medeia was targeting Loria.
Unwittingly, Ades had begun moving on Lawrence’s behalf.
While he blended with the shadows, the scouts assigned to reconnaissance finally arrived.
They had learned the scale of the Alzeras family, what the necromancers were up to, and how best to attack them.
The situation was quite dire.
“It looks like the domain’s inhabitants will be infected soon. It’s basically an undead nest.”
“Why on earth are the necromancers targeting civilians? This is serious.”
“There’s no time to waste. Movements suggest they’re aiming for some kind of resurrection or a demon’s descent.”
If civilians were already affected, indiscriminate slaughter was imminent.
The entire territory would be filled with ghouls, zombies, skeletons, and the like.
How could such a thing happen in the heart of the empire? It was almost unbelievable.
Why had Alzeras been overtaken by necromancers?
The mage tower master, the knights, and Oberon’s mayor put their heads together to think.
They needed to know the enemy’s purpose to stop them, but information was extremely limited.
“Whatever it is, we’ll have to surround and exterminate the whole domain.”
“I agree. We should broaden the front lines.”
“This operation won’t be easy. The knightly powers of the realm must put in extra effort.”
At the mayor’s words, the representatives of paladins and priests bowed their heads.
Divine power was antithetical to undead, so their role would be crucial.
While the meeting was underway, a messenger brought other news.
“Mayor, the Diferté family has sent reinforcements: the [Sharvet Mage Corps] and five hundred mercenaries.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. It is believed their commander is the eldest son, Prince [Shayan Diferté].”
That was welcome news.
The Sharvet Mage Corps were masters of ice magic, one of the continent’s premier mage corps.
And with five hundred mercenaries?
They would be a huge help in taking Alzeras.
“Then deploy them to the front. Send word immediately.”
“I will.”
The meeting continued.
From a single map it went on until the moon rose, with one discussion after another.
Meanwhile, Lawrence had finished preparations to welcome the second guardian.
“Did you say the Diferté have arrived?”
“Yeah. I went to see my sister briefly and saw them pass by. Was that Prince Shayan? Looked like the eldest son. I didn’t expect those filthy bastards to come here.”
“Hmm, is that so.”
Inside Lawrence’s room, Ades — who had secretly infiltrated to the inner part of the room — began to blurt things out.
The Sharvet corps of the Diferté family.
A force made entirely of three‑circle mages and above, one of the continent’s best corps.
Their ice magic could rival Montemer’s, so their strength was considerable.
Why had they suddenly come here…?
‘Ades once said in a past life that the Diferté are involved in all sorts of filthy incidents.’
Could it be…?
Lawrence suspected there might be some connection between the necromancers and the Diferté.
It was too early to conclude anything, but suspicion wouldn’t hurt.
“Wow— white hair really looks cool, right? Not gray, but how does it shine so much?”
“Enough. Have you thought it through?”
“Huh? Well, I thought positively… but will it really be fixed?”
Ades couldn’t shake off his feeling that Lawrence was a con artist.
How much power can an eleven‑year‑old have to fix a man’s condition?
Still distrustful, Ades watched Lawrence and Lawrence shook his head.
“You’re a foolish mortal. If you reach out, a new world will unfold before your eyes.”
“Wasn’t that a bit cultish? Are we going to be seized for sacrilege?”
“The heir of the great Venoman family failed his mission and was utterly humiliated by an eleven‑year‑old mage. Before you send that as a special courier to your main house, accept it quietly.”
“Ha… damn it, how did I end up like this…”
Lawrence smiled and slowly approached Ades.
A dark shadow fell over Ades; he had to resign himself and accept his fate.
‘I’ll grind you good, sir.’
Lawrence chuckled and implanted the artifact.
Ssszp!
At the same time, Ades’s body and soul were pledged.
[A Guardian contract is being formed.]
[Ades Venoman shall swear fealty to you, a dragon’s successor and an artificer.]
[His ears will be wherever shadows dwell, and his eyes will be wherever birds fly.]
[He will be a precious guardian—please make good use of him.]
“Th‑this…?”
“You’ve been kidnapped now.”
“W‑wait—!”
Ssszp!
The contract was already complete.
#3
“This can’t be….”
“This is no joke. That fluttering feeling is gone, and you can control the amount of information that reaches you.”
“It’s true. It’s really amazing.”
Ades, who had thrown a fit, calmed down surprisingly quickly.
The endless flood of information that had always tormented him now arrived only as much as he needed.
It was a wonderfully strange sensation, and he felt an involuntary calm.
Previously it felt like everything in the world was rushing at him; now it felt distant.
A quietness that words couldn’t express settled around Ades.
“How is it? I feel like I solved your lifelong problem. You could return to the family now.”
“Indeed. I’m in your debt for life.”
Ades acknowledged it more readily than expected.
From the moment Lawrence thwarted his ambush, Ades’s soul had begun to yield to Lawrence.
Such a fate was all but decided.
Perhaps it was simply one of those twisted fates.
Ades looked at Lawrence with cold, frosty eyes.
He had been an elite assassin even when bothered by nuisances.
Now that he had laid down his lifelong burden, what would he become?
‘This… must be Ades’s true potential.’
“So, what do you want me to do?”
“Protect Loria‑noona. I have a bad feeling… something’s off.”
“Is that all?”
“We need to prepare to fight Medeia from now on. I’ll need you to help with that too.”
That sounded difficult… but a faint smile appeared on Ades’s lips.
He had always been known for taking on interesting jobs.
“This will be fun.”
“Please take care of things from now on.”
“All right. But I’ll still have to drop by the family sometimes. Don’t act surprised when that happens.”
“That’s fine.”
The two clasped hands.
The second guardian had been born.
And then—
“Lawrence, are you in there?”
Finally, it was time for the operation.
