A Former Child Soldier Who Uses a Magic Sword Wants to Live with an Older Sister of a Former Enemy Executive - Chapter 119

• Chapter 119 : Ciface and his knowledge on curses

Standing before the academy was Ciface.

[At last… I always believed you would return, Seto-kun. Fate has once again drawn us together.] (Ciface)

[Yeah, I guess so.] (Seto)

[You could show a little more joy, you know?] (Ciface)

[Not really.] (Seto)

[How cold of you… Oh? I see both unfamiliar and familiar faces among you.] (Ciface)

Ciface couldn’t help but find Seto’s dry attitude endearing.

His gaze shifted toward the group, lingering particularly on Satis.

The aura hidden beneath his full-face helmet subtly changed.

[Professor Ciface, I have a request for you.] (Seto)

[Oh…? A request for me?] (Ciface)

As Seto nodded, Gravis retrieved a case containing remnants of a curse and presented it to Ciface.

Noting the precision of her movements, Ciface immediately recognized her as a sorceress.

He stepped closer to her, gently running his fingers along the lower part of his helmet as he observed her.

[Ciface-dono, I have heard much about you. My name is Hydra.] (Hydra)

[Hydra…? Ah, I see. That explains it.] (Ciface)

[Here is a document from Lord Adams Cryfano. Please have a look.] (Hydra)

[I’ll take it. It seems you have quite a connection with Set-kun as well… Please wait in the guest room inside the academy. Nashia, I know you may be busy, but could you show them the way? I’ll inform the student council so they won’t mind if you’re late.] (Ciface)

[I-I will!] (Ciface)

With that, Ciface entered the academy ahead of them and disappeared to another location.

[So that’s Ciface-dono, known for being the most powerful mage… I’ve heard he’s an incredibly sharp thinker.] (Hydra)

[Speaking of which, Seto, you’re getting a lot of attention from him with this whole ‘fate’ thing. What did you do?]

[I didn’t do anything. If anything, he was the one who suddenly grabbed my hand when we first met.] (Seto)

[Now wait just a moment, that is not something I can ignore!] (Satis)

[P-Professor Ciface held your hand…?! A teacher and a student’s bodyguard, holding hands…? *Mutter*…] (Nashia)

Can’t we just go inside already…? (Seto)

Gravis chuckled suggestively, Satis seethed with anger behind her glasses, and Nashia was crouched down, muttering to herself.

Observing their reactions with a slight tilt of his head, Seto just wanted to move things along.

A few minutes passed before they finally calmed down, and then Satis, Gravis, and Hydra were led to the guest room, where they waited until they were summoned.

[W-Well then, shall we go, Seto-kun?!] (Nashia)

[Okay.] (Seto)

He had successfully arranged the meeting between the three ladies and Ciface.

Then he would get back to work as usual.

Seto was to escort Nashia to the student council room.

Same as yesterday, just keeping his guard up and carrying out his duty, nothing more… or so he thought.

[Hey, Seto-kun.] (Nashia)

[Hm?] (Seto)

[What if—Just hypothetically, okay?—What if I said I wanted to hold your hand right now… Would you say no?] (Nashia)

[…Huh? Where’s that coming from all of a sudden?] (Seto)

[Ah! N-No, there’s no deeper meaning behind it or anything! I’m just, you know… a little curious to know, haha…] (Nashia)

[…If an enemy attacked the moment we were holding hands, I would be too late to react. So I’d appreciate it if we could save it for another time.] (Seto)

[Then… You wouldn’t mind holding hands with me…] (Nashia)

[Why do you even want to hold my hand? Wouldn’t someone like Lord Adams be a better choice?] (Seto)

Seto tilted his head in confusion.

Nashia fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly and smiled.

[Sorry for saying something so weird.] (Nashia)

Seto didn’t understand what that meant, but he figured maybe—just maybe—she had wanted to hold his hand like Ciface did.

And with that, the group split up and went their separate ways.

While Nashia and Seto were on their way to the student council room, Satis and the others received a summons from Ciface.

They were guided to his laboratory, a vast room illuminated by the flames of numerous candles.

As he emerged from the adjoining room at the back, the three of them turned their attention to him.

[Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Ciface. I hope we can get along from here on.] (Ciface)

His greeting was brief. Gravis, who hadn’t introduced herself yet either, followed suit in the same manner.

Satis, meanwhile, was glaring at Ciface with clear dissatisfaction — clearly about Seto — but he acted like he didn’t notice at all.

[My, my. Someone here seems rather displeased.] (Ciface)

[Oh, we’ll have a nice long talk about that later. Maybe we can include some old stories too. But! First things first, we’ve got work to do. Yes, work! Let’s get started already!] (Satis)

[Haha, you’re still just as oddly emotional in the strangest moments, I see.] (Ciface)

So they really do know each other… (Hydra)

Hmm… doesn’t really feel like he’s an ex or anything. Not rivals either… Maybe something else entirely…? (Gravis)

While keeping up his comedic back-and-forth with Satis, Ciface placed the case containing the remnants of the curse and the accompanying report with its data on the desk.

[Wait, you already analyzed them!?] (Gravis)

[…As fast as ever, I see.] (Satis)

[I’m flattered. It’s really the only thing I’m good at. Now then, shall we talk business?] (Ciface)

He motioned for the three of them to sit on the sofa while he took a seat facing them, adopting the tone and posture of someone giving a lecture.

[Now then, everyone—how much do you know about “curses”?] (Ciface)

[Eh? Well, if I’m not wrong, they’re divided into major curses and minor curses…] (Hydra)

[Those are the classifications of sorcery, actually. On a test, that answer would be incorrect, Hydra-san. …Oops, but I digress. For our purposes here, think of a “curse” as the effect brought about through sorcery. And just like sorcery has its types, so too do curses.] (Ciface)

[I know that one. There’s “a priori” and “a posteriori”, right? The latter is the more commonly known form, usually driven by human negative emotions.] (Gravis)

[Correct, Gravis-san. As expected of a sorceress. That magical crossbow of yours… Hmm, I see. It’s a composite technique involving Cursed Archery. That falls under minor sorcery. And minor sorcery primarily deals in a posteriori techniques. You load a needle with a clear intent, like the desire to kill; and fire it. Hmm, how elegantly logical.] (Ciface)

According to him, curses were generally enchantments that functioned as effect-granting add-ons.

By imbuing arrowheads, dolls, and other objects with energy through sorcery, one could turn them into “cursed items.”

It was also possible to imbue a human being with it, but depending on factors like their natural resistance or their psychological state at that moment, the effect may not take hold easily.

[A posteriori curses rely heavily on human will and emotion. If you have a clear intent, such as “the desire to kill someone” for instance, and coat it in sorcerous energy before imbuing it into a weapon, you’ve got yourself a cursed weapon. …That was a very rough summary, but are you following so far?] (Ciface)

[Y-Yes… Sorcery is deeper than I thought. For someone like me with no special abilities, it sounds like some kind of higher-dimensional talk…] (Hydra)

[Well, I cannot blame you for not understanding. Magic is already complex, and sorcery is an even more niche subset of it. It’s said to be quite difficult to pass down. Only those with considerable talent can truly use it.] (Ciface)

With a soft smile behind his full-face mask directed at the groaning Hydra, he shifted to the main topic.

It was time to discuss the remnants of the curse that Hydra and Gravis had recovered.

[I analyzed the curse residues you brought. You said you discovered them while tracking down the Hero Reid, but I believe this curse may have originated from the man himself.] (Ciface)

At those words, both Hydra and Gravis tensed, their expressions growing serious.

Hydra nearly let out a cry of anguish and instinctively covered her mouth.

[Why… how…? That’s impossible. There’s no way the Reid I know could be cursed…] (Hydra)

[…What do you make of the curse traces we found?] (Gravis)

[In his case, it’s likely that his emotions themselves reached a level such that they turned into a curse. Perhaps it was due to a single overwhelming event or a gradual accumulation over time. The cause is unclear, but in the end, he himself became a cursed item — one that spreads curses simply by existing.] (Ciface)

The way Ciface spoke — coldly, like a researcher reporting experimental results — left the others speechless.

Gravis, his childhood friend, showed no change in expression, but lowered her gaze and took a quiet breath.

Hydra, once his comrade-in-arms, still struggled to process the truth.

[I’d like to explain in more detail, but anything further would turn into a full-on lecture… I had hoped to discuss a priori curses as well, since that’s the area that fascinates me most. But for now, that concludes my report—] (Ciface)

Just as he was about to wrap things up, Hydra interrupted.

[Ciface-dono. I do not mean to question your esteemed wisdom in the slightest… However… Well…] (Hydra)

[What is it? If you have any questions or opinions, please feel free to share them. You needn’t concern yourself with my status. Such is the true spirit of scholarship.] (Ciface)

Like a kind teacher gently encouraging a hesitant student, Ciface extended his right hand, inviting Hydra to speak her mind.

[Reid is… Sure, he could be, well… A bit stubborn… Inflexible, even… But he’s not a bad person. He’d never kill someone for selfish reasons, or destroy a village or town. Yes, I may have been kicked out of the party. But that was only because he was under incredible pressure at the time… Maybe he was burdened by some guilt, and suffering because of it… and that suffering turned into a curse, maybe…] (Hydra)

Her voice gradually grew smaller and quieter, but Ciface didn’t interrupt.

He simply listened with full attention until she had finished.

Only then did he respond, calmly giving his professional opinion.

[I do not know him well. In fact, I’ve never met him. So I can’t claim to understand what kind of person he truly is. From what you’ve said, I’ve only gotten a vague impression. And to make definitive judgments about someone’s character based solely on that would be impolite. So, I’m afraid I cannot give you the reassurance you seek.] (Ciface)

[…I suppose not. You’re absolutely right.] (Hydra)

[But if we’re speaking strictly in terms of curses… I will say just one thing. …Be it good and evil, or wisdom and foolishness, when one stubbornly holds on to them, what makes them any different from a curse?] (Ciface)

Hydra had no response to that question.

[But your observation about guilt is quite interesting. Still, judging from the remnants of the curse, I sense a very distinct will of hatred. So I’m afraid that…] (Ciface)

[Ciface, you don’t have to put it that way—] (Satis)

[It’s fine, Satis. I’m okay… I already had a feeling. I just didn’t want to admit it.] (Hydra)

[…That goddamn idiot.] (Gravis)

The investigation on the curse remnants was complete.

The conclusion: they had been spread by Reid himself.

[Now then, was that all you needed?] (Ciface)

[No, I still have business. I’d like to speak with you.] (Satis)

[…This sounds important. Very well. And what about the two of you?] (Ciface)

[We’ll return immediately and file our report…] (Hydra)

[My my, such diligence. But since you’ve come all the way to this academy, one of the most prestigious institutions, why not take a look around? Gaining knowledge from new places is a treasure in and of itself. I encourage you to enjoy it.] (Ciface)

Hydra and Gravis exchanged glances.

Satis gave them a gentle nudge from behind.

The two of them gladly agreed and left the laboratory.

Once they were out of sight, Satis turned to face Ciface.

[Well then, where shall we begin?] (Satis)

[There’s no need to rush. We have time. I’m looking forward to hearing what you have to say.] (Ciface)

For a brief moment, the candle flames flickered, causing their shadows to twist and distort.

The shadows, which seemed to overlap for a second, quickly separated again, and much like their owners, stood facing each other on the wall.