Published: August 25, 2025
Today, three chapters are being posted simultaneously.
This is the third chapter.
“!?”
“Oh? You’re awake.”
“Huh? Mr. Jeff? …Ah, right, I was put to sleep with medicine.”
I woke up with a sudden dropping sensation and recalled the situation.
“How are you feeling?”
“I feel a bit groggy, but otherwise not bad.”
“I see. Everyone else seems to be gathered in the dining hall. If you can move, shall we head over?”
“Let’s do that.”
Since Lord Rosenberg might have further instructions, the two of us headed to the dining hall. Before entering, I saw everyone intently staring at something on the table through the window. Especially Wellanna and the others were leaning forward eagerly. At the center was Ms. Eleonora, looking particularly serious as she stared at the table.
Entering quietly, Miya was the first to notice and stood up.
“Ryoma! Are you feeling okay?”
“Thanks to you, yes. What are you all looking at?”
“Eleonora is amazing!”
She shifted to the side, revealing two stacks of paper on both ends of the table—one blank and one filled out. Between them were three sets of paper and writing tools in use. On each sheet floated a quill pen, three in total.
Ah, this must be what Ms. Eleonora told me about yesterday while preparing dinner.
“? That’s not the reaction I expected.”
“I think it’s impressive, but you told me about it yesterday. I didn’t see her actually writing though. Was she working on reports again today?”
“She was compiling details on Lord Takebayashi’s cursed arts—from preparation through to post-operation investigations.”
Hearing this, I realized I had fallen asleep without checking after using the miasma-related cursed arts.
“The main goal this time was training in emotional and technique control, so it’s okay not to worry too much. I stayed behind to handle the clean-up, and I was the one who instructed you to take the medicine and sleep.
Besides feeling a bit groggy, do you have any other unusual sensations? Like heaviness or anything minor?”
“If I had to say, just a slight grogginess.”
“That’s likely because some medicine is still in your system. If there are no other issues, it’s fine. If you feel unwell later, please tell me.
…Now, let me explain what happened after you took the medicine. There are some things you need to know.”
What could she mean? I remember pulling out a lot of miasma, and maybe some wasn’t fully recovered?
“It’s not bad news. It’s all similar to the previous rope incident—a story of ‘too much success’…”
“First, Ryoma-kun, your cursed arts were perfect. The power you unleashed at your limit has already surpassed mine. …In fact, I don’t know any cursed sorcerer who can perform what you did individually.
Your vast mana capacity helps, but the technique you used is on par with those performed by many cursed sorcerers after large-scale rituals.”
“…Although I’ve used magic countless times before, I feel this was the first time I truly pushed every ounce of myself. That’s how powerful it felt to me. Is it really that significant?”
“Yes. To be frank, it’s safer not to use that technique in public. It’s truly amazing, and you don’t deserve any criticism, but seeing those terrifying arms and the strong intimidation felt by those around you…”
I remember the arms clearly—it would definitely look eerie to normal eyes. I hadn’t noticed the intimidation, so I appreciate being told.
“Do you know what caused the intimidation?”
“It’s the mana and the negative emotions channeled. Everyone can sense mana and magical energy. If you hit someone with a very strong force, even the dullest person can feel it. When negative emotions are involved, some will feel uncomfortable. This is the same principle as the family’s cursed arts, just done unconsciously or intentionally.”
“So… if I keep the image but reduce power slightly to lessen intimidation and find a visually softer way to present it, I might be able to use it in public?”