“Who are you?”
“I’m a disciple of Lord Kevin Harrington!”
“Ah, he’s another fool who used his position to become a candidate for Court Mage. It’s embarrassing for him to be a magician like that. You’re unfortunate to have been taught by a magician who thinks fraudulent acts are commonplace, just like him.”
“You bastardddddddd!”
“Stop it, Laurentz!”
Barnabas’s words, clearly provocative, enraged Laurentz. He amplified his magic power and attacked, but Adelina subdued him before his magic could even activate. Barnabas, impressed by the speed, applauded.
“Your skills haven’t dulled; they’ve only become more refined, Adelina Bischof.”
“Should I be thanking you? But you’re a terrible person. Those aren’t words to say to someone who has lost their teacher.”
“Let go! I’ll kill you, Barnabas!”
Laurentz, perfectly restrained, glares at Barnabas, but he doesn’t even bat an eye. Laurentz felt relieved that Barnabas hadn’t killed him.
“Barnabas… I apologize for seven years ago. If taking my life will satisfy you, I won’t resist. But you should also atone for your sins.”
“My sins?”
His gloomy expression contorted slightly.
“Yes. I ruined your life. There’s no doubt about that, and I won’t make excuses. However, you took many lives. That can never be forgiven.”
“…Unforgivable?”
Barnabas began to tremble. Then, his face flushed red with fury.
“Who says I’m unforgivable! The Mage Association? The Royal Palace? The nobles? Or is it you, Adelina? After ruining my life and stealing my honor as a magician, you intend to condemn me?”
Adelina’s words didn’t reach Barnabas; instead, they fueled the already burning flames of revenge that he’d been suppressing within.
“—Tell me, where is my sin!”
With selfishly angry words, he swung his fist with all his might. Adelina was sent flying without resistance. Laurentz, now free from his restraints, lunged forward, but before he could do anything, he was kicked to the ground. As Barnabas moved to deliver another blow, Jared blocked Laurentz’s path, kicking off the ground.
“You yourself are a mass of sin.”
Barnabas, not only skilled in magic and mental fortitude but also physically trained as a combatant, seemed to have no blind spots, except for his extreme emotional instability.
“I could only pity your situation. It’s outrageous that such an excellent magician had his future ruined. However, you are not a victim. You are a perpetrator. You are a worse sinner than Count Brauer and his ilk who framed you.”
“Isn’t this Jared Murphy, candidate for Court Mage? You speak quite boldly. But there’s something I wanted to ask you. You call me a sinner, but haven’t you yourself committed a crime?”
“What crime?”
Jared felt relieved that Barnabas’s attention had shifted to him. Noticing his glance, the Bartram siblings quickly carried Laurentz and Adelina to a safer distance. Jared decided to play along to buy time.
“I heard you are engaged to Lady Olivier Alway, the Duke’s daughter. Congratulations.”
“I never dreamed I’d be congratulated by you. Thank you.”
Barnabas, who moments ago was enraged, was now smiling serenely. He was undoubtedly emotionally unstable. While remaining on high alert, knowing he could attack at any moment, Jared concealed his hostility.
“I too would wish for an excellent magician like you to find happiness and have children. However, at the same time, I hesitate to truly bless you.”
“Stop beating around the bush. If you have something to say, say it clearly.”
“Then allow me to ask. Jared Murphy, did you become a candidate for Court Mage solely on your own merit? Or did you borrow the power of your fiancée, the Ducal family’s daughter, to become a candidate for Court Mage?”
“So that’s what you want to know…”
This was a question he’d tired of answering ever since being chosen as Olivier’s fiancé. He’d heard it countless times in gossip, and he never expected Barnabas to ask it directly. Honestly, he wished Barnabas would come to any conclusion he pleased. Jared had never once asked Olivier, let alone Duke Alway, to make him a candidate for Court Mage. If his grandparents were right, the offer to become a candidate for Court Mage had arrived before his engagement to Olivier was even proposed. Dennis, an employee of the Mage Association who detested fraudulent acts, had clearly stated that Jared was selected solely on his own merit, and Jared wanted to believe his words. But even if it were different, it would be fine. Whether it was through connections or hidden fraudulent acts, talent was everything when it came to becoming a Court Mage. Magicians were expected to serve the country and smite its enemies. Even if there were fraudulent acts, if one could flawlessly fulfill their role, they were worthy of being a Court Mage. Whether chosen for merit alone or through fraud, a magician who couldn’t deliver results was worthless. In that sense, he didn’t particularly care about being chosen as a candidate for Court Mage based solely on his own power. However, he would naturally get angry if accused of doing fraudulent acts he never committed. Olivier, by the way, was not the type of person to commit fraud. If Jared had ever asked her for help to become a Court Mage, she would have likely slapped him and scolded him.
“Which do you think it is? Did I commit fraud, or not?”
“I want to believe you didn’t commit fraud if possible. However, no matter how much I investigated you, I couldn’t make a judgment.”
“That’s your answer. If there are no facts of fraud, then I haven’t committed fraud. But if I say that, can you believe me?”
To someone who already suspects even a little of fraud, saying you haven’t committed it is meaningless. Once a doubt arises, it will never disappear until it’s resolved.
“With the power of the Ducal family, it’s possible to hide fraudulent acts perfectly. From my experience seven years ago, I’ve bitterly learned the power of noble authority. So, I want you to tell me. Speak the truth.”
“The truth, huh…”
“Yes. I don’t want to kill unnecessarily.”
“Then, was killing Lord Kevin necessary!”
Laurentz, who had been evacuated with Adelina at a distance from Jared’s group, shouted in anger. It was understandable. If Barnabas’s words were taken literally, it meant he killed Kevin Harrington because it was necessary.
“Of course. I merely did what I had to do.”
“Don’t trifle with me! Kevin might have become a candidate for Court Mage through fraudulent means, but is that a crime punishable by death!?”
“It’s a sin that cannot be atoned for even by death!”
Barnabas retorted with equal fury, his burning rage resurfacing.
“A magician chosen as an esteemed candidate for Court Mage was engaging in fraud! Don’t you find that deplorable? Someone had to correct it, yet no one did. Why don’t you understand that if no one else would, I had to!”
Barnabas’s face, which had been the color of earth, was now flushed red, and he was spitting as he spoke. He didn’t seem sane. He was completely different from the person he was conversing with just moments ago. Whether he was easily swayed by emotion or had become mentally unstable over the past seven years was unclear, but Jared judged that further conversation was impossible.
“Fight me, Barnabas Kaif! I will kill you and avenge Lord Kevin!”
“Stop it, Laurentz.”
Jared tried to stop Laurentz, but his voice couldn’t reach the boy, who had lost his composure.
“Don’t stop me, Jared!”
“No, I will. You shouldn’t fight someone like this. Even if you win, you’ll only end up with a broken heart.”
“Then what do you want me to do? Are you going to let Barnabas run wild?”
“No, I won’t let that happen. This man—I will kill him.”
