250 – The Weakened Sorcerer -4-

“HOIIIICK!”

As soon as he touched the ground, Darvab slipped his hand into the lady’s side and took her flying.

The lady soared quite high.

“Heeick…”

She seemed to be enjoying herself.

I wanted to ask for a ride too, but considering my age, I decided to keep such impolite requests to myself. Besides, I was taller.

The servants of the Wolfgang family bowed their heads as soon as they saw Darvab’s face. Even if the family had fallen due to black magic, their presence hadn’t diminished. Not in a good way, of course.

If their notoriety had increased, it certainly hadn’t decreased.

Only the Desmont family could use black magic and maintain their lineage. The emperor was criticized more for his leniency than for the punishment itself.

“I greet the empire’s loyal servant.”

“…”

Darvab did not recognize the elderly butler bowing before him. It was as if his own family, even his own existence, had been forgotten, ignored by all. More precisely, he was unaware that the term ‘loyal servant’ was meant for him.

“Did you call for me?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“I see.”

Darvab nodded and carefully set the young lady down on the ground.

“Father!”

“What is it?”

“Those b*stards killed my Attkream.”

“Hmm…”

Darvab nodded readily. True to a family with no one of sound mind, he agreed readily to any task, and I stood tall with pride.

These are the people I serve.

The Wolfgangs bowed their heads without exception.

“It’s not that…”

Darvab stroked his chin, looking at the eagle badge on the old man’s chest, and smiled coldly.

“Wolfgang, is it?”

“Yes.”

“The Wolfgangs who own the western canal.”

“…”

“Seems like the waterway trade is profitable, even bringing the scent of the sea to the capital.”

“…As far as I know, the Desmont family also uses our canal. If you let this incident slide, I will…”

“What are you talking about.”

Darvab’s smile faded as he spoke in a low voice.

“Your family was the first to break the contract when the black magic issue arose. Didn’t the butler of a family know that?”

“I misspoke. My apologies.”

“A servant making a slip of the tongue to a noble… Is that a trait of the western nobility?”

Darvab’s sharp words naturally showed his disdain for the nobility, and I made a note of it in my mental book of provocations. Nobles only understand when you put them in their place.

Indeed, the educated are different.

For the first time, I felt the sting of my limited education.

The young lady spread her fingers and pointed at the scion of the Wolfgang family. The little one, slowly catching on to the unfolding scene, retracted his tongue and bowed his head.

Since adults stepping into children’s quarrels is the ultimate solution, I proudly supported the esteemed Desmund family.

“Let’s have a family-to-family discussion.”

“…Please don’t.”

“It’ll be a fine example to show that the Desmunds are still formidable.”

“My lord…!”

The price of ice cream weighed heavier than expected.

*

In a room devoid of light.

A young magician, who had lost his magic, was trembling with fear.

-aaahhh!!

“I’m of no help.”

-At least try something…!

“I am…”

-You said you could see inside…

“I’m a liar.”

Ruin was broken.

A magician with nothing but his pride to boast of was now powerless and soaked in fear. It wasn’t the overwhelming difference in magic that scared him. That was a gap that could be bridged with effort.

The reason Ruin trembled was singular.

He had been the first to flee among those he had looked down upon and despised, shaking with fear.

Mikhail fought with his sword.

Hanna fought with hers too.

Even Yulia rolled up her sleeves and plunged into the melee of bloodshed, throwing herself into treating the wounded.

And I, in contrast.

-Huff… Huff… I survived.

Seeing the tower master join, I sighed with relief.

“What kind of prodigy of the magic tower?”

“What kind of fire magician?”

“A simpleton in a hurry to flee, unable to do anything, what kind of head of the magic department?”

I felt so foolish and pathetic. If there was a mouse hole, I’d want to hide in it immediately, so embarrassed and angry I was.

“I am…”

Today, Ruin closed his eyes again.

Even though the sun was shining brightly in the afternoon, Ruin drew the curtains and tried to sleep, but what returned was a kick from his complicated thoughts.

“Sigh…”

Ruin slowly got up and went outside. Maybe a breath of wind would lessen this feeling.

The people around would surely curse at him, but he had to live on. Ruin lifted his heavy body and walked towards the entrance.

– Hesitation.

His body reflected in the mirror.

The sharp jawline gone, replaced by a blunt face with not a single muscle left on his ruined body.

“Ha ha… Damn.”

Ruin let out a hollow laugh at the ugly man in the mirror and brushed back his long hair.

“How ugly.”

With this appearance, he wouldn’t be treated like a person…

Despite the bad thoughts, Ruin opened the door of the dormitory room to fill his hungry stomach. And then.

– Sob.

“What’s that?”

The sound of sobbing came from the next room. A voice coughing pathetically as it expressed its sorrow echoed down the hallway.

“Why is that guy like that.”

Room 902 is Mikhail’s room.

Having discovered the identity of the ghost haunting the corridor, Ruin chuckled and shook his head.

“That guy’s not in his right mind either. It’s class time, what’s he doing not going to class.”

Not that I’m one to talk.

Ruin scratched the back of his head and forced an awkward smile. Anyway, this academy is a mess.

Heretics.

A mad butler.

And a villainess who used black magic.

Ruin coughed and shook his head at the academy filled with such a fantastical combination. Now he wasn’t even sure about himself.

“Maybe those guys are the winners.”

He thought that those who had left the academy early might be the winners. If he had left the academy himself and entered the tower to study, it wouldn’t have come to this.

“Idiot.”

There’s no use regretting now, so Ruin sighed while patting his swollen belly like a mountain.

“Let’s just eat. I’m hungry.”

The weakened magician was falling apart.

***

Night fell upon the mansion.

The young lady had fallen asleep with the master of the house for the first time in a while.

– Eeeek! Let go! I’m going to sleep with Riccardo!

– Let’s sleep with daddy for once, Olivia.

– Eeeek!! You smell like a lonely old man!

– I hadn’t thought of that.

– I can’t lie. If I lie, I’ll die from a disease.

– Isn’t that a lie?

– I died.

– You’re dead, then.

Kyle and Rosanna were sitting at the living room table, talking.

I, who came down for a drink, bowed my head at the sight of Kyle and Rosanna in their pajamas. It was a welcome sight after such a long time. Holding a cup to fill with water, I slowly walked towards them.

“Why are you up so late, deep in conversation?”

“Hehe… Just talking with my son after a long time.”

“…”

Kyle pressed his lips tightly and looked at me. It seemed I was an unwelcome intruder in the long-awaited conversation between mother and son, judging by the sharp look in the eyes of the future head of the family. Despite that, I managed an awkward smile.

“Would you like to sit and join the conversation, Ricardo?”

Rosanna, smiling with her eyes, lightly tapped the chair next to her, and I walked over with a smile. After all, Rosanna was the real pillar of the family. More important than the future head.

“Shall I make some tea?”

“That’s alright.”

“Then I’ll bring out some simple refreshments.”

“Oh my… Such good manners. Trying to score points with your mother-in-law already.”

“Haha…”

“All I need is for you to adore our child the most. I can understand if you take other wives, so don’t be shy.”

I couldn’t lift my head at the hostess’s bold words. The thought that this was the aristocracy’s way of speaking left me in awe, but that was a secret. Of course, my daughter is for monogamy, though.

Even if it’s hypocritical, I had no choice. I’m going to live as a selfish father.

Rosanna smiled faintly and spoke to me as I sat in the chair.

“It’s good timing. I was just talking about you.”

“Are you talking about me?”

“Of course~ We were discussing our capable butler.”

“Are you speaking ill of me? There’s nothing left for me to take from the family yet.”

“Hahaha!! What’s there to take! Take everything! Even take our daughter with you.”

“Haha…”

Kyle kept his mouth tightly shut, looking down at his teacup. Without showing dislike, he just silently gazed at his teacup, not forgetting to speak.

‘Was it a serious conversation?’

Even Kyle, who is usually silent, isn’t someone who wouldn’t react to such jokes.

Was there a moment of awkwardness in the air? Rosanna approached with a small smile.

With a heavy smile.

In her usual voice.

“So, Ricardo.”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t it time to stop?”

Suddenly, Rosanna’s words of a recommended resignation froze me like ice.

“What? I don’t understand what you mean.”

Rosanna dropped her smile and said,

“I heard it from Kyle.”

Rosanna gripped her teacup tightly.

“You’ve been fixing Olivia’s leg, hurting yourself in the process.”

“…”

“They say you even vomited blood.”

“…”

“And couldn’t walk properly.”

I replied to Rosanna in a calm voice, relieved that she wasn’t asking me to quit my butler duties.

“It’s okay. It’s not black magic, and it won’t harm the family…”

“Did you really think I’d ask you to quit over just that?”

“…”

“A clan can be raised again. If it falls, we can flee to another country.”

“…”

“You might end up dead.”

I expressed my firm intention not to retract, heedless of Rosanna’s warning.

“We’re almost there.”

Truly.

“I have no intention of giving up.”

Rosanna’s expression began to turn icy cold.