“Hah, hah… I wasn’t underestimating you, nor was I complacent, but still—this pathetic state… Damn you, is even a child a Court Mage?”
Panting heavily, the assailant walked along a beast trail away from the city of Murasta, dragging their petrified arms and the weight of their clothes, their body exhausted from wounds and fatigue.
“Is the petrification still spreading… To think I would not only witness, but directly suffer the effects of a petrification magic said to have perished in ancient times. While it’s a magician’s dream, it’s unbearable for someone with obligations.”
Jared’s petrification magic had not only petrified the assailant’s arms but was still slowly corrupting their body. Despite continuing to resist with their dwindling magic power, the stone curse would eventually spread from their arms to their shoulders, and then throughout their entire body. And what awaited was—death.
“—Jiril.”
The assailant looked up as their name was called in a voice they couldn’t mistake. Before the man—Jiril—stood a man with a similar appearance. They shared so many features that one could easily mistake them for twins. Both had the same blonde hair and cold, ice-like eyes. If one were to point out a difference, the man’s hair was longer, and his eyes had a slight warmth.
“Brother.”
Jiril attempted to kneel before the man he called brother, but his petrified arms and clothes prevented him.
“It’s fine, relax. But those arms—I see, you were petrified by Jared Murphy?”
“I apologize; I misjudged his power.”
“Don’t apologize. I, too, misjudged him. More importantly, what about your petrified arms?”
Jiril shook his head at his brother. The petrification that was consuming his body would turn Jiril’s lungs to stone and kill him before it could spread throughout his body. His arms were completely petrified, beyond any remedy. Moreover, he had no way of knowing how to undo lost petrification magic. If only the surface had petrified, it might have been different, but his bones were likely turned to stone as well.
“His ability is such that it’s hard to believe he’s only just started using magic. He must be incredibly talented, or perhaps his master was excellent, no, perhaps both. However, I killed him at the cost of my arms.”
“You did well. What about Hugo Rüdiger?”
“The Duke is alive. I was barely able to kill him.”
Jiril could only regret, biting his lip. If even one arm could have moved slightly, he could have easily killed an unconscious human, no matter how much of a warrior they were. He resented Jared, who continued to interfere, with his only regret being that he couldn’t witness his death.
“You truly did your best. Now—I will grant you peace with my own hands.”
“I am grateful, Brother.”
“No more, don’t push yourself. It will only make it harder.”
Ignoring his brother’s concerned voice, Jiril continued. Knowing these would be his last words, his brother didn’t try to stop him with all his might.
“With my own body, I learned of his abnormality. Even you, Brother, would be no match if you suffered his petrification magic. He, Murphy, is a monster.”
“But you, that monster, killed him for me. There are no more enemies blocking my path. Many magicians belonging to the Royal Mage Corps will become our allies once they understand our intentions. Even if Court Mages stand in our way, I fear not a force that cannot match our numbers. You have paved the way for our future.”
“Was I… of use?”
Jiril asked with ragged breaths.
“Of course. I have nothing but gratitude. Thanks to you, the most unknown variable is gone. All that remains is to kill the Knights, the Court Mages, the Nobles, and the Royal Family.”
“It is regrettable that I cannot see this through with you.”
“I feel the same. However, your will shall live on within me.”
The brother embraced his dying brother tightly, tears streaming down his face. The pain of losing his half, with whom he had grown up and competed in magic, felt like his heart would shatter.
“I, Jiril, from the bottom of my heart, am grateful to have been born as your younger brother.”
“I am glad you were my brother too. In the next life, let us be brothers again.”
He concentrated magic power into his right arm, and an ice blade emerged with a chilling aura. He pressed the ice blade, which extended as if to cling to his arm, against his brother’s chest.
“I apologize for troubling you. Farewell, Brother.”
“Farewell—Jiril.”
Simultaneously with his farewell, the ice blade pierced Jiril’s heart. Blood spurted from his mouth, and his body, ceasing to breathe, slowly tilted towards the ground. Though his brother caught him, his petrified arms crumbled as his life ended. He marveled at the young magician’s petrification magic, which continued to torment his brother even in death, but anger and sorrow surged stronger now. His body would eventually turn entirely to stone. Therefore, before that happened, the brother, as family, severed Jiril’s head with a horizontal slash of the ice blade to take his deceased brother’s remains home.
“It deeply disappoints me that I could not kill you with my own hands, Jared Murphy. As retribution for my brother, I will kill everyone you love.”
The brother’s unexpendable rage, born from losing his brother, turned towards Jared’s surroundings. Even if he couldn’t do it now, he resolved to send his fiancé and his entire family to the side of his deceased enemy once his goal was achieved.
“How foolish, young magician. You chose the wrong side to ally with. Why did you not realize that we, who have evolved, should not be used by humans who have failed to evolve?”
The man had not originally intended to kill Jared. He had initially sought to assess him. He observed him before the ghoul horde, wondering what he would do. The result was that Jared continued to fight to protect non-magicians, disregarding his own safety. He might have been noble, but he was also foolish. Even allowing for his youth, the man judged it too dangerous to leave the boy, who was irretrievably biased towards non-magicians, unchecked, and ordered his trusted brother and subordinates to kill him. In the end, he lost his brother as a price. However, even with the sacrifice, Jared had to be killed. Unlike the man, other magicians were trying to capture Jared, no matter the cost. He heard they were preparing multiple partners to destroy his relationship with his fiancé and produce more outstanding offspring. The man opposed this idea. While he didn’t mind the creation of a successor, he couldn’t help but feel they were being too leisurely when there were crucial matters to attend to.
Currently, the Orthodox Magician Army should be acting as one, but due to petty factional disputes, they were forced to operate covertly. If he hadn’t been there, everyone would have understood that the Court Mages were not to be feared and would have remained hesitant, observing the situation.
“…Fools, you should just watch without doing anything. After all, there will be no place for you in the new world.”
He had no use for those who, despite being magicians, refused to live as magicians and merely voiced their complaints. The man’s plan had already begun. From here, things would proceed naturally, like water flowing. It would not be long until he obtained the nation of magicians he had desired for so long.
“—For the future of us, the true magicians.”
I have posted an important announcement regarding the book on the activity report page. Thank you for your understanding.
