Reborn as the Head of the Stolen Mage Family

Chapter 59

No matter how much it contained the magic of Circe, the strongest in mental magic, a homunculus was ultimately a doll.

The artificially injected mana circle was not strong enough to stand against my magic.

In the end, cracks began to form in Sylvia's mental system.

After implanting a final new memory, I came out of Sylvia's mind.

The suggestion she had placed on me before, when she made me a well.

A false memory that I had reinforced that suggestion, making me unconsciously release my magic around Marcel.

After confirming that the memory had settled, I completely withdrew the Reverse.

But Sylvia was still in a daze.

“…….”

‘Damn.’

Seeing that, I realized why the previous Sylvia had been discarded.

‘It was because of me.’

The lifespan of the previous Sylvia, which was already on the verge of ending, had been further shortened by being hit by my Reverse twice.

"So, what should I do?"

“…H-huh?”

"For me to get along better with the young master from now on. You said you would tell me how."

"Ah… ah, right."

Sylvia slowly came to her senses and regained her purple glow.

The words I said and the newly implanted memory finally matched up.

But the speed at which her head worked had noticeably slowed down.

‘There was too much damage from looking into the root of her memories. She'll be replaced soon.’

I had a feeling that this moment might be the last time I would be alone with the current Sylvia.

Whether they took action naturally after confirming Sylvia's consumed lifespan, or felt suspicious about the rapid consumption, the current Kirhausen would not leave a homunculus whose time was up.

‘In that case…….’

After a brief moment of deliberation, I stood up from my seat.

Offering a short moment of condolence for a life that was created to be used, I revealed the wand I had hidden with invisibility magic.

"What are you doing, Eddie……?"

Sylvia's expression hardened.

She hurriedly drew up her magic to subdue me, but my wand was faster.

Vwoom-

My wand aimed at the center of Sylvia's forehead.

Once again, Reverse was performed.

And this time, my unique magic, ‘Mowiseong’, was deployed simultaneously.

Slither, slither.

Sylvia's purple magic was released from her body.

"Heok…!"

Sylvia trembled in shock.

Soon, the purple magic was sucked into the tip of my wand.

My mana circuits, starting from the hand holding the wand, slowly absorbed the purple light and sparkled.

My eyes, a mixture of gold and purple, glinted fiercely.

Mowiseong.

It was a complex tracking magic created by combining existing tracking magic with a magic absorption formula.

The core of Mowiseong was to allow the caster to feel the effects of all magic experienced by the target as if it were their own.

‘Normal tracking magic is dangerous. This replacement is likely due to suspicious mental damage, so they'll examine her condition closely before discarding her.’

Unlike that of a human mage, the traces of external magic infiltration remained for a long time in a homunculus's mana circle.

This was because the artificially injected mana circle had poor self-regeneration abilities.

However, a homunculus's mana circle was faithful only to its created purpose, so the traces of external magic remained for a long time.

Moreover, it was unknown what abilities the person who would maintain the homunculus possessed.

If I rashly used my own magic for tracking on Sylvia, there was a high possibility of being caught.

Swoosh- Vwoom-!

I swung my wand greatly toward my own body.

The absorbed magic of Sylvia deployed Mowiseong from the tip of my wand.

This was precisely the reason I had chosen Mowiseong for tracking.

Mowiseong is a magic that is cast on the caster themselves using the absorbed magic of the tracking target.

Therefore, since the caster's magic is not used, it enabled perfect remote tracking without the fear of being caught.

‘Of course, I'll have to endure the full force of the power that discards the homunculus as pain.’

It couldn't be helped.

To secure even one more piece of evidence of the Kirhausens' corruption, I had to endure the pain.

The current reality was that I had to grasp at even a single straw.

"Whoo……."

I withdrew my wand and ended the simultaneous deployment of Reverse and Mowiseong.

The colored glow in my eyes disappeared as if it had never been there.

‘I don't know how long you can hold out, but I'm counting on you, homunculus.’

* * *

The next day.

I was summoned to the Magic Training Hall along with Marcel.

Under the watch of the two tutors and the butler, we deployed simple magic towards each other as before.

The result was, on the surface, a success.

I used the dominant magic within Marcel to induce a powerful force as before.

At the same time, I didn't forget to engage in a sparring match at an appropriate level for a tail.

Kwoaaaaaa-!

Tsssssssss-!

Unlike the previous one-sided duels, a power struggle continued for a while.

And that power struggle began and ended regardless of Marcel's magic.

The tutors and the butler, who didn't know that, applauded when the duel ended.

They were relieved, mistakenly thinking that Marcel's magic absorption, which they had considered a problem, was proceeding smoothly again.

My attitude of not losing one-sidedly in the duel also contributed to their relief.

It seemed that the warning Sylvia had given me yesterday had been effective.

I didn't show off my power, nor did I control it conspicuously, and I managed the duel well until the end.

"Fortunately, after you took a rest, your magic seems to be stabilizing again, young master."

"It will become more and more stable. Please do not worry."

"The tutors have also worked hard. I will report this good news to the master right away."

"……."

Although the tutors and the butler offered their lip service, Marcel's expression remained stiff.

I was the only one who knew that the reason was not the bitter words he had heard from Furas.

‘He must be thinking it doesn't make sense. His energy is still a mess, yet his magic has suddenly stabilized.’

Marcel was a smart and thoughtful boy.

He would soon start to think that the cause of his magic's instability was not me, but somewhere else.

And by the time he found out the real cause….

‘I won't be acting as a tail in front of you anymore.’

I gave a bitter smile and followed the thoughtful-looking Marcel out of the training hall.

But someone was standing outside the training hall.

It was the Third Knight Commander, Dwayne Simon.

"Commander Simon."

"It's been a while, Eddie."

Simon showed a cool smile towards me.

He bowed his head to Marcel to show his respect, and then casually asked if he could take me for a moment.

"Eddie?"

"Yes. I want to check how much his swordsmanship has improved. I taught him to protect the young master, so if he's become terrible, I'll have to give him a scolding. Hahahaha-!"

Dwayne's hearty laughter added persuasiveness to the out-of-the-blue context.

The tutors shook their heads as if they couldn't be helped, and Marcel's stiff expression also softened a little.

Ronan, who had been watching Dwayne with narrowed eyes, soon withdrew his sharp gaze.

It was possible because Dwayne was known for his usual eccentric and cheerful disposition.

.

.

.

The place I arrived at with Dwayne was not the Third Training Ground, but the transport ship landing field.

Even though we passed the training ground when he said he would check my swordsmanship, I silently followed him.

Because I already knew that Dwayne had another intention.

"Wait here for a moment."

"Yes."

"……."

Watching me nod my head without asking anything, Dwayne made a complicated expression for a moment.

Was he quick-witted or quick to adapt?

‘Or is it really as the Commander said, that he's an old man who has been through all sorts of hardships?’

Dwayne left, and I was left alone, strolling around the landing field.

It was obvious who he wanted me to wait for, even without seeing.

‘The important thing is why that person would have his subordinate secretly summon me at this point in time…….’

As I pondered, I looked up at the transport ship in the center of the landing field.

A small transport ship with an unfamiliar appearance, without the Kirhausen crest.

Being in the center of the landing field meant that it was a transport ship that had finished its preparations for takeoff.

And as far as I knew, there was only one reason for the Kirhausens to launch a transport ship soon.

The escort mission of the First Knight Order, ordered by Furas.

‘But… to carry the esteemed First Knight Order, they're using a transport ship that doesn't belong to the family?’

As my eyes narrowed at the strange thought, it was then.

Thump, thump, thump.

Heavy and disciplined footsteps echoed through the landing field.

An energy so refined that I could tell who it was without having to turn around.

It was Tares.

Standing in front of me, he spoke in a low but gentle voice.

"You must be rather curious about this situation."

"Yes… I am a little flustered."

"The reason I used Dwayne was to avoid planting any seeds of discord within the family, just in case."

"Ah…."

"For the First Knight Commander to separately call out the family's tail for a private meeting is a highly unusual event that can be interpreted with infinite possibilities."

"I see. Then I will also keep silent about today's meeting."

"It's good that you're quick on the uptake. The reason I wanted to see you today… is because I judged that you might not be in the family when I return."

"What do you mean……."

I answered naturally as if I was flustered, but I was actually quite taken aback.

Did he find out that the tail had other intentions for entering the family?

If he did, why mention it?

Countless questions arose in an instant, but I didn't let it show and just widened my eyes.

Tares paused for a moment and then continued in a heavy voice.

"As you know, Marcel is feeling considerable anxiety comparing his excellent abilities to his own. He might try to kick you out again and again in the future."

"...Yes, I know."

"But in my view, you are a necessary existence for Marcel to grow. So please, even if Marcel's coldness makes it hard for you… I hope you will endure and remain by his side."

"……."

"I know it's unpleasant enough to be treated as Marcel's growing pains. It's not easy for me to say this to you, knowing that."

"I understand what you mean. I also hope that the young master will not make the choice to cast me out."

A heavy and solemn silence descended.

Looking at Tares's worried face, I thought about the person named Tares Clifford.

‘Even Marcel showed his true self only to this man. Marcel also knows that this man's concern and affection are genuine.’

But Furas was wary of that.

The reason Tares had secretly called me in a way uncharacteristic of him was to avoid the surveillance of Furas's right-hand man, Ronan.

The ‘seed of discord within the family’ he had mentioned was likely Ronan's watchful eye.

‘If he's so wary of him getting close to Marcel, he could have just dismissed the First Knight Commander. There must be a reason why he couldn't do that.’

Looking at Tares, I realized that I had not fully grasped the current Kirhausens.

The First Knight Commander, the only key figure whose position within the family I had not grasped, and a formidable powerhouse who could not be ignored.

One thing was certain: he did not know about the Well and Deer spell.

But it was unknown whether he knew the secret of the current Kirhausens who had joined hands with an external force.

There was no time and little need to dig into it now.

Nevertheless, I couldn't overcome the impulse and threw a question.

"Commander, why did you become a knight of Kirhausen?"

As in my past life, I was a being who lived and died by curiosity.