Chapter 42

"Huh... I only hope that summoning you was the right choice."

Alraune reluctantly gave up and merely observed Erze.

As Erze had said, if he were to persuade the Northern Grand Duke by sending a letter, it would take a considerable amount of time.

Most likely, Erze had acted on his own because he could not leave Uriel's son neglected any longer.

"It had to be the right choice. Would anyone else but me have made it all the way here?"

"You have always been arrogant since your youth. I and Uriel recognized your abilities... but wasn't that the very reason you were hated by those around you?"

"Whether they hate me or not, what business is that of mine? I merely live my own way."

While Erze murmured resolutely, he still did not take his eyes off Alter.

The curse-breaking process was proceeding smoothly, and there were no major issues with either the magic circle or the ancient script.

Still, Alter had to endure immense pain, and if things went wrong, his heart might even stop.

"Even after seeing him like that, do you still think we should consult further?"

"Hm..."

Alraune examined Alter's condition but couldn't bring himself to answer.

Outwardly, it looked like he was vomiting blood, but in truth, it was closer to expelling a rotten lump from his body.

Since he had been harboring such filth, it was only natural that his physical vitality had been declining.

"What's really amazing is that he's managed to endure in that state. The situation is urgent—what are you consulting about?"

"It is undeniable that it was an emergency. At best, he'd have lasted two or three more years."

"Isn't that too generous of an estimate? I'd say a year at most."

"If not for Uriel's protection spell, that would be true. Magic that activates just before death is bound to be infused with obsession. That obsession is what saved her child, wasn't it?"

"..."

Erze hesitated for a moment, then seemed to accept the explanation.

Alraune must know Uriel as well as Erze did.

In truth, only Alraune had ever managed to exhibit the stature befitting a mage, while Erze had been obsessed only with curses.

Although Uriel had given up magic of his own will out of love, Alraune still respected his resolve.

"Uriel's choice was ultimately regrettable... but where in a human life is there a right answer? Because of that choice, I was able to meet Alter Radiant."

Thus, Alraune did not try to overlay Uriel's image onto Alter.

Uriel had already fulfilled his role as a former classmate and Alter's mother.

To those living in the present, only the future should shine, so the remnants of the past had to be cast off inevitably.

"If this too is fate, I will fulfill my role here. If I raise Alter Radiant properly, might I not comfort Uriel's spirit?"

"You... are you seeing all the way to that point?"

"Unlike you, I haven't ignored the principles of the world. If a mage pursues only magic, they become one-sided... To achieve true magic, one must first understand how the world works."

"There you go nagging again. Isn't it about time you got tired of it?"

"Uriel never left you alone, and I will not be any different."

"Truly words worthy of a great mage."

While Erze made light of it as if nothing, he closely watched Alter's reaction.

Though a considerable amount of blood had been expelled, fortunately, Alter's life was not in immediate danger.

Rather, he was instinctively releasing magic power and restoring balance within his body.

'It's almost all out. The curse is weakening...'

Unlike before, only a small amount of bloody water was flowing out.

Moreover, the stains of red entwined with the straw doll had even lightened a little.

If things continued smoothly, the curse could be purged completely.

'He won't die from this. Once it's gone, his condition will improve somewhat.'

To begin with, he had survived with the curse inside him until he was eighteen, which meant he had some resistance to it.

Also, since a protection spell had been embedded, he was unlikely to suffer fatal wounds easily.

If the lump could be removed and magic power circulation activated, his weaknesses would soon be mitigated.

'If the curse isn't completely broken... things will get complicated.'

Not only was it a vicious curse, but even the target had been altered.

The more variables there were in a curse, the trickier it became to break, and the greater the connection with the caster.

To have cast such a bizarre curse meant that the caster inevitably had to bear a significant burden.

'The malice toward another returns to oneself. That is the truth and contradiction of curses.'

Curses are born when vile emotions mutate into magic and are applied to the target.

The greater the obsession, the higher the price, and because it is a curse, the unhappiness inevitably touches the caster as well.

In other words, the more pain the target suffered, the greater the impact on the one who cast the curse.

'The caster targeted Uriel... but the curse was transferred to the child. Which means double the price.'

Regardless of intention, the aftereffects of the curse applied to both parties.

Thus, the caster had to pay the price equivalent to cursing two people.

If the Frost Witch was indeed the caster, then she must have gotten embroiled in a serious crisis.

'I'll have to investigate further, but...'

"Ugh... *cough*... haah... phew..."

After vomiting up all the bloody water, Alter finally regained his senses.

There was still heat remaining in his body, but the pain was no longer unbearable.

Most importantly, his body felt lighter, and even his head seemed clearer than before.

"... Don't move yet. I'm about to begin the tracing."

"Phew... huu..."

Alter couldn't even bring himself to speak and just nodded slowly.

It was a completely unexpected situation, but he was satisfied that his condition had improved even a little.

Although the curse had to be erased as well, why wasn't Erze giving him a definite answer?

"During the tracing, you might see the caster. Don't be too surprised."

Erze infused magic power into the straw doll and reversed the curse's effect.

Since the curse had originated from the caster, reversing it should, naturally, lead back to the source.

Because of that, the caster would briefly appear, and if a marker spell was engraved at that moment, they could continue to track the location in the future.

"What!"

"..."

Erze and Alter reacted simultaneously, locking eyes.

Menacing and eerie magic power, a twisted figure looking almost human, an intense chill and frozen land.

It seemed that during the tracing, both of them had perceived the existence of the Frost Witch.

"Did you manage to mark her?"

"... Yes, I did. She's definitely in the northern region."

"Are you certain the Frost Witch is the caster of the curse?"

"I think I can be sure of it. She looked every bit the Frost Witch I've heard of. What about you?"

Erze answered calmly and looked at Alter.

Alter caught his breath for a moment, wiped the blood from his lips, then slowly stood up and muttered softly.

"... If that direction is north, then it's certainly the northern region. The area was filled with snow and cold, and there was a woman with hands and feet made of ice. Great mage, was the one I saw truly the Frost Witch?"

"If you described it accurately, then yes, it was the Frost Witch."

"Then, should I assume he was the one who cursed me?"

"Yes."

Alter seemed to ponder for a while, then his eyes twisted faintly.

The fact had already been confirmed, so it wasn't particularly surprising.

It was just a hollow result, causing fatigue to wash over him belatedly.

"Is the curse gone now?"

"Uh... it wasn't completely broken. There were too many entanglements—the curse seems deeply engraved."

"But... my body feels warm."

Alter touched his face, sensing the faint warmth.

Unlike before, a gentle sensation was spreading through him.

His arms and legs now moved smoothly, and even his breathing felt light and easy.

"Because the curse was weakened, your condition has improved significantly. You could call this a partial success."

Erze, dissatisfied with the result, looked down at the straw doll.

The red color had lightened substantially but was still present.

Even though they had attempted to eradicate the curse, it had ultimately persisted in an ambiguous form.

"Young master Alter, I hope you are not too disappointed. Originally, curses are constructed imperfectly, so any breaking of them is bound to be incomplete as well. Still, since the curse has weakened, you should have far more freedom than before."

"... Does that mean I can now learn magic?"

"Hm... You can learn, but you mustn't overdo it."

"It's different from our promise, but... even so, will you accept me as your student?"

"Are you speaking from your heart?"

"I don't want to waste any more time. Even if I don't become the great mage's successor, I must learn magic."

"Haha... It seems you've had some kind of enlightenment, Young master Alter."

Alraune was pleased with this response, though he remained conscious of the Frost Witch's curse.

After all, the breaking of the curse had not been completed—proving that the Frost Witch was the root of it.

In short, to completely remove the curse, they needed to find answers from the Frost Witch himself.

'So it has come to this...'

Alraune lamented, but did not reject this fate.

Alter had volunteered to become his student, but as a great mage, he could not discard his pride.

As he had promised to remove Alter's curse, he had to see it through.

'I should monitor his condition for a while before departing.'

Just because the curse had weakened didn't mean he could let his guard down.

Alter's curse was still engraved on his heart, and aftereffects could always emerge unexpectedly.

Thus, for a while, he would teach Alter the basics of magic and prepare for the journey north.

'If you truly killed Uriel... I will never forgive you. Frost Witch.'

* * *

Brillie noticed Alter's transformation the moment she saw him.

His once pale skin now had color, the dark aura was almost gone.

Most of all, his appearance looked even nobler now that his expression had become so much brighter.

"Would you like to hold my hand?"

"Pardon? Ah, yes..."

Alter spoke up suddenly while they were taking a quiet walk.

Brillie hesitated for a moment, then took Alter's hand.

Contrary to expectations, however, she felt no chill—there was a faint warmth.

"Does my hand feel a little warmer?"

"Yes. It's much warmer. You're really better now."

"The curse hasn't disappeared, but... it's weakened, so I suppose I'm a little improved."

Alter gazed calmly at Brillie as he continued speaking.

The rationale for their annulment had now become unclear.

Yet the decision had already been made—and he could not be sure about the future.

In that case, shouldn't he at least share his intentions with Brillie?

"Miss Brillie, you said you were ready, didn't you?"

"Pardon? Ah, yes. I did say that."

"I think I am ready now as well. So, again I ask—will you marry me?"

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