Dispel Magic.
In other words, the phenomenon of nullifying magic.
If one can penetrate the logic behind an opponent’s spell, understanding how it was constructed and in what order, then even a completed spell can be dismantled in reverse, returning it to nothing.
However, just like in the real world, it’s always harder to separate things than it is to mix them.
Magic is no exception. To nullify a spell, a mage typically needs to be at least of the 3rd-class level or higher.
And Luke Rousseau’s ability was that of a 5th-class mage.
Luke murmured in disbelief:
“Winter Winslet… you’re not just a 7th-class, are you?”
“Correct.”
Winter Winslet’s magical capability was already that of a perfected 7th-class even before I possessed this body.
And after I, an expert player of Candela of Judgment, took over, I added a wealth of experience and knowledge to that foundation.
After the explosion in Caraphine, the quality of my mana became purer, and I underwent yet another breakthrough.
Though not officially recognized by Caraphine, in truth, I had reached the level of an 8th-class mage.
“If you truly wanted revenge, you should’ve endured…until the very end.
You should’ve waited until you were confident you could overpower me with sheer skill, without relying on some cheap poison.”
But that day would never come.
Such was the vast difference in our abilities between Luke Rousseau and me.
Had he just resented me quietly for the rest of his life and never acted on it, that would have been better.
“So… I was in the palm of your hand from beginning to end…”
Thud.
Luke Rousseau dropped to his knees, as if all will had left him.
[Notification]
[You have cleared a death flag.]
[You have received achievement points as a reward.]
[Would you like to open the achievement shop? (YES/NO)]
Luke Rousseau remained on his knees, utterly defeated.
He didn’t say a word. He just stared silently at the ground.
Only the blood flowing from the back of the man’s hand slowly widened its stain across the floor.
That blank vacant expression reminded me of Kenneth of the Twin Flames whom I had met on the first day of my possession.
The face of a man defeated after crashing into an unscalable wall no matter how hard he tried.
I wondered if I would someday encounter an enemy who made me feel the same way.
“Give me your hand. It’s still bleeding.”
The first to approach Luke Rousseau was Dahlia.
She brought a bandage and wrapped it around his bleeding hand.
The wound on the back of his hand had been caused by Dahlia biting him, and the reason she had done so was because Luke had tried to forcibly snatch the vial from her.
Now being treated by the very girl he had tried to kill, Luke dropped his gaze the moment their eyes met.
At last, he opened his mouth—
To apologize.
“I’m sorry.”
But Dahlia gave no response.
With an indifferent face, she simply tied off the bandage and stood up.
Whether it was because she was too angry to accept the apology or because she now felt pity for Luke, it wasn’t clear.
Perhaps she didn’t care what happened to Luke Rousseau at all and was more upset about the mansion being soiled with blood.
In fact, Dahlia appeared visibly more agitated when the military police summoned in response to the report started tracking mud into the lobby than when she heard Luke’s apology.
“We’ve responded to the report, Baron Winslet.”
A military police officer approached and gave a respectful bow.
Behind him were five soldiers and an agent from the Royal Magic Department’s Bureau of Safety, grouped as a team.
Since the scene was so tidy, the agent merely stood around, awkwardly glancing about the area.
“May I briefly ask you about the circumstances of the incident?”
“It’s exactly as it looks. A fool who didn’t know his place came at me and my servant with malicious intent.”
I didn’t mention the poison in Dahlia’s possession—
The one that Luke Rousseau had concocted.
It had been created using materials not available on the market and knowledge from a forbidden text.
If that came to light, it would only complicate things unnecessarily.
“Understood. We’ll transport the suspect immediately.”
Two soldiers restrained Luke Rousseau.
To prevent him from casting spells, they placed a gag in his mouth and bound his hands with special cuffs designed for mage criminals, which prevented forming hand signs.
“We’ve confirmed his student ID. Luke Rousseau. Senior student at the Royal Academy’s School of Magic.”
“Why would a promising young man throw everything away like this…”
“Quiet. Our job is to apprehend and detain criminals, nothing more.
Suspect Luke Rousseau, you are under arrest for attempted murder of a noble, use of magic for violent assault, and unlawful trespassing.”
Luke Rousseau did not resist.
He accepted all charges without objection.
The soldiers took him away and exited the mansion.
Dahlia let out a sigh as she looked at the dirtied wooden floor.
“Phew… There’s a mountain of cleaning to do. I’ll get started right away.”
“Come here first. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“He grabbed my arm pretty hard, that’s all…”
When I told her to roll up her sleeve, a red swollen mark was revealed.
She must’ve gotten it during the struggle over the poison vial.
“I’ll call a healer. You need to get treated.”
“You don’t have to do that. It’ll heal quickly on its own.”
“If there’s bruising on the bone, it could worsen. That would interfere with your duties, wouldn’t it?”
“Ah… If that’s the case, I’ll do as you say.”
After all, Dahlia was the MVP of today’s operation—
She deserved at least this level of care.
Especially for her chillingly convincing acting, which shattered Luke Rousseau’s composure.
Since she’d been tipped off in advance, she must have known that what Luke Rousseau handed her was poison—
But the way she brought it to her lips without a moment’s hesitation was so convincing, even I felt a chill.
When I gently suggested that she avoid such risky performances in the future, just in case,
Dahlia widened her eyes and replied:
“That wasn’t acting, though. I was really going to drink it. I thought it would help you more if it turned out to be poison.”
“……”
As always, I couldn’t help but feel that Dahlia’s loyalty had a dangerously precarious edge to it.
***
“It’s been two hours already.”
Jacqueline let out a sigh, weighed down by the stuffy air filling the lecture hall.
Shannon, who had been resting her chin on her desk, lifted her head.
“Rita, have you heard anything? Like, does Professor Winslet have something special scheduled today?”
Rita shook her head.
“Nothing comes to mind… I even checked the central bulletin board before class started, but there wasn’t any notice about a cancellation.”
“What’s going on, then? Why isn’t the professor showing up?”
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
An irritating sound reached their ears.
It was the sound of Stephanie, a third-year sitting in the back, bouncing her leg.
She looked visibly upset.
It was clear that the professor’s absence was the reason.
“This is really strange. Professor Winslet has never been late to class before.”
“Right? And Luke isn’t here today either.”
Jacqueline suddenly seemed to remember something.
“Could the two of them be together?”
“Do you know something?”
“No, I was just saying.”
“Ugh.”
The dull, dragging time continued to pass.
It was around the time Jacqueline, unable to bear the boredom any longer, began seriously discussing the possibility that “Professor Winslet might have tripped over a rock on the way to work, passed out, and been left unattended because no one was around.”
Creeeak!
At last, the front door of the lecture hall opened, and in walked Professor Winslet.
“Professor!”
Despite the startled exclamation, Professor Winslet said nothing as he stepped up to the lectern…
“We’ll be skipping today’s lecture.”
Leaving only those words behind, he walked right back out.
It happened about 30 seconds before class was supposed to end.
As soon as he left, the lunch bell rang from outside the window.
Ding—dong—dang.
Realizing they had just wasted their time perfectly, the three exchanged narrow-eyed glances.
“What was that all about?”
“Did he forget to post the cancellation notice and only just remembered?”
“What if he really did pass out after falling?”
The mystery was cleared up about 30 minutes later, when they ran into some classmates at the student cafeteria and heard the shocking news.
Luke Rousseau had been taken away by the military police on charges of attempted murder….of Professor Winslet.
“Wait, so the reason the professor showed up late was…”
“No way. I never imagined that senior would do something like that. I mean, sure, he was the president of the anti-fan club, but still…”
Rita muttered as if she couldn’t quite believe it.
But Jacqueline, who knew the truth about Luke Rousseau, wore a somber expression.
So it ended up like this after all…
When she silently put down her fork, seemingly having lost her appetite, Shannon lightly tapped her on the arm.
“Jacqueline.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s not your fault.”
“But if I had stopped Luke yesterday…”
A bitter taste filled her mouth.
Swoooosh!
Just then, a sudden shower began to fall again outside the cafeteria window.
Dark clouds gathered over Jacqueline’s heart as well.
***
The Dintalby Prison.
The guards who received the prisoner from the military police grumbled, clearly annoyed.
“This guy’s a mage, right?”
“Then we’ll have to put him in the special cell.”
“Is that okay, though? Wasn’t that the place where Kenneth of the Twin Flames died a few months ago?”
“What, you scared a ghost will show up? Come on, you’re not a kid.”
“Idiot! I’m worried about security. That bastard Kenneth even broke out of there. What if something goes wrong again?”
“Who cares? We’re just doing what we’re told. Besides, that’s the only cell with a magic suppression field.”
“Tch.”
When they arrived at the special cell, one of the guards unlocked the door and shoved the prisoner forward.
The prisoner collapsed onto the floor with a thud.
One of the guards spoke to the back of his head in a businesslike tone.
“Listen up. You get two meals a day. Breakfast at seven, dinner at six. You take care of your business in that hole in the corner, and use water sparingly. Once it’s filled, that’s all you get for the day.”
“We patrol every three hours, so if you need anything, wait until then. Other than that, don’t even think about calling for us.”
Clang, clang!
The guard locked the door, gave it a quick shake to confirm it was secure, then turned to leave.
The prisoner didn’t move, keeping his forehead pressed to the floor until the guards’ footsteps had completely faded down the corridor.
How many hours had passed since then?
What finally made the prisoner who looked as if he might become one with the floor move was the cold seeping out of the stone beneath him.
Thinking he should at least cover himself with the filthy, worn-out blanket, the prisoner Luke Russeau pushed himself up.
And then he froze.
A pair of glowing eyes was staring at him from within the darkness.
There was someone else in the cell.
“Looks like another sack of organs worth harvesting just crawled in.”
At first, Luke tried to ignore him.
He assumed the man was just another inmate sharing the cell.
But as soon as the man spoke again, that assumption was completely shattered.
“Hmm, maybe you’ll be more useful than Kenneth of the Twin Flames. Your level’s low, but you’ve got talent. With a bit of work, you could turn out well. Yes… I like that hatred in you. You’ll need more than a half-hearted mindset if you want to catch up to even the heels of Winter Winslet.”
“Who… are you?”
A spark lit in Luke’s eyes.
From within the shadows, the man’s face twisted into a grin.
“Do you want to become stronger? Strong enough to take revenge on Winter Winslet?”
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