chapter 46
“A beastkin who can’t generate mana on their own?”
I quickly scanned through the contents.
Occasionally, there exist beastkin who cannot produce mana.
These individuals have a problem with the mana circuits in their bodies, so they are unable to generate mana on their own.
As is common with ancient texts, this one was filled with archaic language, so I painstakingly traced each character as I moved forward.
The content wasn’t very hopeful.
In such cases, it’s best to abandon any expectations early on.
In modern times, there is no way to fix a broken mana circuit. Even if there were, those who haven’t been exposed to mana since childhood cannot store it in their bodies.
“Tch.”
I let out a hollow laugh at the merciless sentence that seemed aimed at me. I felt foolish for having allowed myself a flicker of hope.
Why had Erzin gone through the trouble of procuring this book for me?
I subconsciously pouted.
“And why the doodles in the book?”
This time, tiger stripes were drawn over the face of a squirrel. While squirrels do have markings, these were clearly different.
Tsk, tsk.
I lightly clicked my tongue and followed the arrows that seemed to be drawn by Erzin.
But it also said that, in rare cases, these individuals might be able to use mana.
This was due to the peculiar nature of mana movement.
Mana usually flows from weak to strong areas, but if mana resistance is zero, it can exhibit unusual movement patterns.
Regardless of mana intensity, it moves in a biased direction.
This phenomenon is called “mana inversion.”
When mana inversion occurs, even a person who cannot generate mana on their own can have their mana circuits function without resistance.
In other words—
It meant that one could borrow another’s mana and use it as their own.
I reread the sentence several times to make sure I understood correctly.
Of course, this only works in special circumstances.
“It only happens when the other’s mana exceeds their limit, resulting in mana surplus.”
Naturally, the chance of all these coincidences happening at once is extremely low.
“But it seems that the probability has occurred…?”
Right here. Between me and Kenich.
I focused again and read the next section.
It explained how one could use another person’s mana.
But—
“Tchuut…?!”
Wait, what is this?!
Of all things, the part explaining the method was torn. Whether it was naturally damaged over time or intentionally ruined by someone was unknown.
Only the claw marks of a predator remained clearly on the page. It seemed fairly recent…
“Anyway!”
I felt like I had hooked a clue in the vast ocean.
Now that I understood the principle, finding the method shouldn’t be difficult.
Mana-zero me, mana-surplus Kenich. The materials were already prepared.
But why does it feel like something’s wrong?
Why has the back of my neck been prickling since earlier?
As if something I mustn’t let anyone see had been discovered.
The Duke’s Bedroom
“You said you were just going to check on Cherry, so why haven’t you returned… My lord, what is this?”
Gerard entered the bedroom nervously, doubting his eyes for a moment.
It was because of the unfamiliar creature inside the squirrel cage.
“A spotted lizard?”
[Tebidya!]
The lizard opened its mouth as if to speak its name, but no one in the bedroom understood its meaning.
All that sounded was the ordinary chirping of a lizard, softly echoing in the room.
“Is this a newly acquired pet?”
Gerard asked cautiously, but a cold glare returned instead of an answer.
“No way.”
“Then how did this happen…?”
“When I came into the bedroom, Cherry wasn’t here, and this lizard was in her place.”
Kenich recalled the absurd situation from earlier. Cherry might have come stealthily as usual, yet this strange creature had taken her squirrel’s spot.
The gecko was a type of lizard commonly seen in the Duchy of Kreutz.
It was unusual, since such reptiles were never seen in the Black Dragon Castle, filled as it was with reptile beastkin.
Even more surprising was the lizard’s reaction.
Though it sounded ridiculous to say it, the lizard seemed to show an expression.
As if it were thinking, “Finally, someone has come.”
The creature swallowed the grape it had been savoring and looked at him with a faint, pleading gaze.
[Sevi, captain friend. Spare me.]
Although the exact meaning was unclear, it seemed to be begging for its life.
Unlike other animals that ran away in panic, this one acted differently.
Watching it reminded him of someone.
Cherry.
His squirrel.
At the same time, he sensed that harming this lizard might cause Cherry to really leave the Black Dragon Castle.
So, for now, he decided to just observe.
“Then is this… Cherry’s emergency food?”
As soon as Gerard cautiously voiced his guess—
[Kyaak! Sevi isn’t a pet! I’m a subordinate!]
The lizard flailed in the cage as if to say, Absolutely not.
“…It can’t possibly understand language this time too, right?”
Gerard asked with a slightly sour expression.
A talking squirrel, now a talking gecko. The absurdity of it was overwhelming.
But this… seems to confirm my suspicion.
“It seems this really is Cherry’s pet,” Gerard said, poking Sevi’s plump side.
[Kyaak, Sevi isn’t a pet! I’m a subordinate!]
The lizard, like Cherry, soon calmed its ferocious temper around him.
“The Black Dragon Castle keeps accumulating more and more guests.”
Squirrels, white-headed hawks, and now lizards. Kenich couldn’t even force a laugh.
Frankly, he wasn’t thrilled with anything except Cherry.
He had wanted to get rid of the others immediately but pulled himself together.
“Just think of them as my squirrel’s quirky hobbies.”
In the case of this new lizard, it actually proved useful.
Namely—
“An involuntary hostage has walked in by itself.”
Kenich’s eyes gleamed with a sinister light.
[Captain, why haven’t you come? Hurry, come rescue Tebidya…]
In the Duke’s bedroom, only Sevi’s desperate plea for help echoed.
Three minutes after the call for help.
I hurried back to the bedroom, thoroughly bewildered.
As soon as I poked my face out of the newly made squirrel hole—
“Jju, jjuut…?”
Why are you here?
It was because the reptilian creatures that should have been in the office were here instead.
“Hello, Cherry? Long time no see.”
Especially when I met Kenich’s beaming gaze…
“Chuu, chuut.”
Uh, ah… hello.
I awkwardly waved my hand.
“Finally, you’re showing your face.”
Luckily, Kenich didn’t mention Sevi or the squirrel hole. He simply crouched to meet my eye level and let out a faint sigh.
“You’re caught in the act, Cherry.”
Gerard whispered provocatively in my ear, but anyway—
“Come on, shake hands, you two. Are we reconciling now?”
Thus, the runaway incident ended ambiguously as both sides were at fault.
One day, as Cherry returned to work,
“Gerard, what is all this?”
Starting with a single letter, a cold wind began to fill Kenich’s office.
“Tchuut?”
At first glance, the letter seemed unusual.
A luxurious plain envelope adorned with lace ribbons.
“A letter like this is usually used between lovers, isn’t it?”
Curious, I examined the envelope.
Familiar writing caught my eye:
Recipient: Kenich Kreutz
Sender: Maria Lawrence
“Maria…?”
The young lady’s name, who had tormented me mercilessly along with my half-sister Rania back at the Academy.
