Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 127 (Part 1)

The colossal beast subjugation had been forced upon him by the coercion of the Four Great Magic Towers. As such, Elder Kendrick had been in a foul mood the entire journey to the Hedenes region.

However, the moment he captured a few of the ones he’d been determined to catch, his displeasure vanished, replaced with a swelling sense of anticipation.

But the fleeting joy quickly soured again. The young brats he thought would spill their secrets easily were stubbornly holding out.

“Sir, they’re still resisting.”

“Persistent little brats.”

Elder Kendrick approached the wagon where the children were being confined. Two battered children glared back at him with venom in their eyes.

“Such murderous eyes. Didn’t anyone teach you to answer adults politely when they ask a question?”

“Pfft! We were taught to ignore scum who talk to us.”

Larry and Bianca’s piercing gazes were chilling. Despite being completely subdued, their ferocity sent shivers down Kendrick’s spine.

“Tsk tsk, this is why proper upbringing is so important. Judging by your state, that Rodin fellow must be something else.”

“Mind your own business, old man.”

Even with their swollen, tear-streaked eyes, Larry and Bianca refused to cower. Several observing mages clicked their tongues in amazement at their audacity.

Larry and Bianca couldn’t afford to give up. The harrowing memory of having once surrendered helplessly before death was seared into their minds.

They were determined never to repeat such a disgraceful experience.

If they had to die, they would die gladly. But they would never surrender to fear.

“If you just tell me where that Rodin fellow is, I’ll treat your wounds and even give you a hearty meal.”

“Hmph.”

What Kendrick sought was simple: information on Rodin’s location.

To some, it might have seemed a trivial thing. Rodin might have laughed as he obliterated the mages of the Cedria Tower himself.

But for Larry and Bianca, betraying Rodin was out of the question. Whether or not it would bring harm to Rodin was irrelevant. Out of loyalty to their benefactor, they could not open their mouths.

“Tsk. Still holding out… The adult won’t talk, and now the brats won’t either. This is tiresome. Maybe killing one of you will loosen your tongues.”

“Just try it! When Rodin returns, he’ll make you pay!”

“Then tell me, where exactly is this Rodin of yours?”

Kendrick’s threats continued, but Larry and Bianca remained unmoved.

“Let’s see if you can keep this up after losing an arm.”

“Hah! Start with mine!”

“Cut mine first, you crazy geezer!”

Even Kendrick, hardened as he was, was taken aback by their venomous defiance. Yet, he couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

The Landes Tower had set a specific time and place for their gathering, and barring any major complications, he needed to be there promptly.

“Fine. Perhaps you’ll enjoy the novel experience of having your arm severed.”

With a firm grip, Kendrick grabbed Larry’s arm. But Larry, summoning what strength he had left, managed to wrench free and even landed a slap across Kendrick’s face.

Smack!

“You insolent—!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Gah! Ugh!”

Furious, Kendrick kicked Larry repeatedly. Once wasn’t enough to calm his rage—he kicked him from the waist to the head relentlessly.

And when that wasn’t enough, he turned his fury on Bianca, delivering a flurry of kicks. Matthew, bound to another wagon, stretched his arms out in vain, unable to reach them.

*

Rodin awoke late in the afternoon, a strange mix of refreshment and emptiness coursing through him.

“I’ve reached the seventh circle.”

Books had described the overwhelming sense of fulfillment upon reaching the seventh circle, but Rodin felt the opposite: an aching void and profound sense of loss.

“You’re awake?”

“My lord, how are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

Rodin stood up and checked his body. His limbs were intact, and his mana circle was stable.

‘Still, it feels lacking.’

Rodin felt as if his mana had sharply diminished. His circle seemed thinner, and the density of his mana lower than before.

In truth, his mana hadn’t decreased at all. If anything, his mana density had increased, and the power he could wield had grown.

But the capacity to store mana had expanded significantly, making him feel relatively empty. His vessel had grown larger, but it wasn’t yet filled.

He wondered how much time it would take to fill it. Without another serendipitous encounter like the underground ruins, even ten years might not suffice.

“Master, your face has changed.”

“Really? How so?”

“Your feminine features have nearly disappeared.”

“That’s good news. Mirror image.”

Rodin cast a spell to examine his face. Though still fair, his features had become sharper. It was a face that no longer risked being mistaken for a woman’s.

‘It’s due to the body restructuring.’

His earlier body restructuring in the ruins had already reduced his feminine traits somewhat—his nose had become sharper, and his facial contours more defined.

But after this latest restructuring, his masculinity was even more pronounced.

Not that it made him consider changing his attire. His habit of wearing a hood to obscure his face had made showing it feel unnatural.

“Undine, come here.”

― Heeheehee. Heeheh!

“You’ve grown, haven’t you?”

― Heehee!

Undine wasn’t yet able to speak fully, but her emotions in their brief exchange felt richer than before.

“Nothing unusual happened?”

“The beast fell to your magic, my lord,” Jena said, pointing to the side. Rodin saw a massive, charred husk in the distance.

“And nothing else? There seem to be people gathered over there.”

“They’re from the Landes Tower. They seem to have come for the beast subjugation.”

“At least there wasn’t any conflict. Hm? When did this start glowing?”

Hyung_Otaku2

•