I Was Reincarnated As The Older Brother Of A Villainess Destined to Die, So I Want To Change The Future By Raising My Younger Sister With My Own Hands. I Am The Strongest In The World, But My Little Sister Must Be The Cutest In The World - Volume 3 Chapter 4.1
Inside the vacant private chamber of Count Putepe, there were two individuals present: myself and one of my subordinates, a spy.
Interestingly, there happened to be several spies positioned near the vicinity of Count Putepe’s territory. Consequently, upon receiving the news of his arrival in Foranada, we had authorized the infiltration of his mansion.
Thanks to my supervision and the specialized training and magical tools, Foranada’s spy unit has grown to an unprecedented level, making it arguably the strongest in the Holy Kingdom. The security of a mere earl’s mansion was no match for us. Despite having only spent about an hour in discussion with Nina, it seemed that the majority of the search had already been completed.
The accompanying spy reports on the situation.
“So far, we haven’t found any information related to Miss Nina. We are conducting an exhaustive search just in case, but apart from here, it’s likely to be a dead end.”
“I must commend your efficiency. As both your superior and someone who contributed to your training, I’m proud of your work.”
“Your kind words are too much for me to handle.”
“So, what did you find here?”
The reason I made the effort to come here was because something troublesome, even for the spy unit, had been discovered. I could tell that it was something quite challenging, as even they, who normally refrain from relying on their master, seemed at a loss.
Or rather, just from this room, it was clear that something was seriously wrong. The entire room was enveloped in a thick, dark magical aura. It was a sticky, stagnant magical energy that resembled stubborn grease stains. Just standing here, it felt like it was scraping away at my sanity.
“Unfortunately, solid evidence connecting to the mastermind had been disposed of, but I did come across something intriguing,” the spy said.
Saying that, the spy opened a drawer of the desk.
Inside was a single book. It was about the size of a pocket-sized paperback. The cover was pitch black with no title. It appeared to be heavily used, with significant creases along the edges of every page.
As soon as I saw it, I grimaced.
“I hope no one has touched it.”
I couldn’t help but ask in a stern voice. If it were an ordinary person, my tone alone might have knocked them off their feet.
The book in front of me was incredibly dangerous, to the extent that it elicited such a reaction. It was far beyond the eerie atmosphere of the room. The magic enveloping it was so intense that merely having it in my field of vision induced nausea. Touching it without any precautions would undoubtedly cause severe mental abnormalities.
The spy nodded solemnly.
“Yes. Thanks to Lord Zex’s developed ‘Magic Vision Glasses,’ we instantly grasped the danger of this book. We isolated it rigorously from the moment of discovery, ensuring that no one has come into contact with it, let alone gazed directly at it. We have been thorough in that regard.”
The “Magic Vision Glasses” are magical tools in the form of glasses that grant the ability to see magic, as the name suggests. The day after it was decided that Noma would assist in the development of the territory, we jointly developed them. When Noma is working, the overseers must be able to recognize her; otherwise, the work would come to a halt.
The spy agency possessed multiple pairs of these glasses, as they were created incidentally. This time, that “incidental” creation proved to be a great success.
As I listened to the spy’s words, I felt relieved and turned my attention back to the contaminated book.
Now that we had the protection of magic guarding our minds, there was no need to worry about losing our sanity. However, the chaotic magic emanating from the book was unpleasant to behold. My instincts told me that it was something to be avoided at all costs.
Reluctantly, but realizing that I couldn’t avoid it, I mustered the courage to pick up the book.
Whoa, there’s a physical sensation to the touch of the magic!? It feels slimy and disgusting.
Although it should be astonishing that the magic has semi-physical form, the overwhelming discomfort took precedence. I had an urge to throw it away immediately.
Suppressing my instincts, I managed to open the pages of the book. I flipped through them one by one, quickly scanning the contents.
I had no intention of reading it thoroughly. Besides being able to speed-read, I simply wanted to get through it as quickly as possible.
A few minutes later, having finished reading the book, I immediately sealed it with multiple layers of barriers. Then, I stowed it away using the “Phase Concealing Cover Texture.” Now, it wouldn’t catch anyone’s attention.
I actually wanted to destroy the book, but the contamination was too severe for me to handle at the moment. Even Caron, at this point, would probably find it difficult.
Dealing with this book will be a future challenge. In the worst case, I’ll have to rely on my mentor, Akatsuki.
“Are you alright, Lord Zex?”
“Ahh, don’t worry. I’m fine.”
Just as I was catching my breath, the intelligence agent called out to me.
I waved my hand lightly to reassure him and responded, “How was the content of the book?”
Seemingly eager to hear my answer, he asked the question.
Since information sharing with the intelligence department is crucial, I spoke honestly.
“The content itself was that of an ordinary diary… well, I can’t really say it’s ordinary considering what it contained, but it didn’t have any particularly significant information.”
It was the diary of a nobleman from a long time ago. That nobleman had a sadistic obsession with young girls and used his position to torture numerous victims. The majority of the content consisted of reviews of his “playtime.” It was disgustingly disturbing.
However, despite the absence of contaminated magical power, it remains a mystery as to why it has transformed into a cursed object capable of causing mental corruption.
I have a suspicion about the true nature of this book.
“Most likely, it is under the influence of the ‘Witch’s Curse,’” I said.
“The ‘Witch’s Curse’?” the intelligence agent exclaimed.
Impressive, the intelligence agent seems to possess extensive knowledge even about relatively obscure matters.
The ‘Witch’s Curse’ is precisely what it sounds like. Its effects are diverse, but the common characteristic is that it “manipulates the will of the owner.” It is highly probable that Count Putepe was controlled by this book and planned Nina’s abduction. While reading the diary, I could distinctly hear whispers urging me to gather information about Nina and attack her. If I hadn’t fortified my mind, it could have been dangerous.
Well, the ‘Witch’s Curse’ itself is not the main concern. Witches still exist somewhere in the world, so occasionally, such cursed objects are unearthed. Therefore, the problem doesn’t lie there.
What’s important is that the curse specifically targeted Nina. It is undoubtedly a calculated strategy aimed at her, and we have confirmed that they have allied themselves with a witch.
A witch is a colloquial term given to magic users who have delved into forbidden practices. They are often frowned upon and criticized by society, so any reasonable person wouldn’t consider joining forces with them. In other words, those who are targeting Nina are clear evidence of their abnormality.
“It might have actually been convenient for them to discover my true identity.”
In the eyes of the world, this curse is considered untreatable, but by witnessing it firsthand, I have gleaned some understanding. It is a lower-grade form of mental magic, similar to the hypnotism developed by Curtis. As someone who has mastered higher-level magic, curses like this have no effect on me. Therefore, there’s no need for me to fear a mere witch.
However, the current situation, with the whereabouts of the witch being unknown, leaves a significant possibility of being caught off guard. While I can handle it, Nina, who is still in the midst of her training, may not be able to withstand the curse. It would be best to keep her closer to me, prepared for any contingencies.
Now that I have revealed my true identity, I can have her by my side without hesitation. This is a case of turning a setback into an advantage.
“It’s about time.”
Having finished the explanations for now, I sense that the scenery outside the window is tinged with a reddish hue. I must return soon, or I will miss the timing for Minerva’s invitation to the evening meal.
Although many mysteries remain, I have no choice but to entrust them to my subordinates for now.
“I’ll leave the rest of the search to you. Since the shadow of the witch looms behind us, make sure to thoroughly use the ‘Magic Vision Glasses’ during future investigations. And be cautious not to touch anything in the surroundings without care.”
“Understood. Should our immediate goal be to uncover Count Ptep’s connections?”
“Yes. Please be extremely careful.”
After reaffirming the instructions, I open the “Phase Link Gate.”
It seems that Nina has been caught up in more trouble than I anticipated. There are many aspects of her situation where game knowledge won’t apply, so I’ll have to proceed with even greater caution. I need to stay focused and vigilant.
————————————————–
If you found any errors, you can comment down there.