Vol 7 Chapter 38

This sensation was definitely something that could only be felt occasionally when using magic intensely. He had just returned after almost fully recovering his stamina and magical power following training in the mental world, so how could his magical power be depleted? While pressing his dizzy temples, Kapros called up his status window.

"Status window!"

The status window he hadn't seen in a while appeared. Even more surprising than the temporary Flame Dragon's Proxy title that had been quietly added without notice was his magical power level that had dropped almost to zero.

'The only time my magical power dropped this low before was when Superior used magic through my body... why is it happening this time?'

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't find a definite answer. After roughly downing some potions, Kapros waited for strength to return quickly before standing up. Seeing him drink the potions, Kion-hyung patted his back with a relieved expression.

"What's this, kid. You were training so hard you didn't have time to drink potions and ran out of energy. That's why you need to drink potions regularly."

"I guess so."

"Then let's go now."

Ilumine's cave, visited again after several days, remained completely unchanged. After passing the fork in the path that gave him very complicated feelings, when they entered where Ilumine was, she greeted them calmly while sitting with her usual expression.

"Welcome."

"Yes."

"Hello."

After returning hyung's hearty greeting with a nod, Ilumine looked straight at Kapros as if already knowing the purpose of his visit today.

"For you to come so soon... it must be because you've decided?"

"Yes. I decided to look."

Ilumine looked at the Superior staff at Kapros's waist with a faint smile at the corners of her mouth.

"I see.... You'll be leaving this place quickly this time."

"..."

"Goddess's Chosen One, you wait here. Child, follow me."

Having seen Ilumine rise and walk without hesitation once before, Kapros could remain calm, but Kion-hyung's eyes widened in surprise.

'What? That elf could walk? When she was always just sitting!'

'Haha...'

When Kapros smiled at hyung's quick whisper while Ilumine was approaching, hyung ruffled his hair as if petting him.

'Well, anyway, handle your business well. Then hyung can finish his business quickly too. Call hyung if it gets tough.'

Though he wasn't sure how he was supposed to call when there wasn't even a message function, Kapros nodded since he could feel hyung's intention to encourage him very well.

"Let's go."

"Yes."

Following Ilumine who had come close, Kapros gave hyung just a silent look saying "see you later" before heading out toward the other fork where Superior's memories slept.

"What made you change your mind so quickly? You're not the type to do so easily."

Ilumine spoke as they entered the black space where she left brightly glowing footsteps. However, since Kapros had nothing he could answer precisely, he had to hedge vaguely.

"Well. I'm not really..."

[ Geez. Making such a fuss even though we came to look. Are you really the elf who wanted to see? ]

Though Superior's grumbling voice could be heard in his head, Kapros couldn't very well relay such an answer to Ilumine. Fortunately, Ilumine arrived quietly at the space where the scroll floated without probing further and turned to look this way with calm eyes.

"The method is the same as before. You haven't forgotten already, have you?"

"...No."

This was exactly when it felt very clear that Superior and Ilumine were friends. Though he understood they were both amazing, they kept treating him like a level 1 novice...

"Let me ask before we begin. Are you truly certain you won't have even a shred of regret about this choice?"

"Yes. None."

Superior answered through Kapros's mouth in a somewhat sulky tone.

"Know well that two departures won't be allowed. The scroll won't be able to withstand the power and will be destroyed."

"I know that too. Don't worry, it won't happen - I stake my name on it. This wasn't decided on a whim at all."

"...Very well. Then we begin."

Soon after, as Ilumine's song-like incantation flowed out, everything flashed white again before Kapros's eyes.

After that, all he could do was yield to the flow, feeling his body drift to the part right after the memories he had seen before while holding onto the scroll.

.....

"-It's a good method, Lumi."

Past Superior's voice came from the darkness. As soon as his vision returned, what Kapros saw was Ilumine with shorter hair than now and Superior with a face cold as a blade, standing in exactly the same space where he had just been.

"Since the body can't be divided in two, one will be put in this staff made of magic wood... Why didn't I think of that? Nothing suits a mage better than magic wood."

Where Superior's gaze fell, there lay what looked like an ordinary thick branch that had been processed.

"Yes. Then with this all preparations are complete. Thank you for helping all this time."

Not a trace of warmth could be found in Superior's eyes as he looked down at the magic wood staff with a face like a cold-blooded animal. While Kapros watched without losing the thread of tension, Ilumine, showing clear signs of exhaustion and depression, quietly opened her mouth.

"Now tell me as promised. The reason why you're doing this."

"...Alright. I'll tell you."

Superior turned toward Ilumine and raised the corner of his lips. However, his eyes still weren't smiling.

'Finally...'

Kapros had a feeling that this part he was watching now would be quite important not only for the quest he had been doing until now but also for quests to come. He pricked up his ears so as not to miss even a single word.

"While helping me all this time, surely you must have felt something was strange at least once, Lumi?"

"..."

"Yes. I'm gradually going insane."

A brief and intensely shocking statement.

Kapros looked at Superior while feeling the atmosphere instantly drop with a thud. Despite saying something unbelievable, his expression remained completely unchanged.