CH 20

“By the way, if I may ask, how did you notice?”

Keeping Motivational Messages Alive

“It was Freya. She made a magic tool that allowed me to feel your magic flowing within me.”

“A magic tool that can reproduce the effect of a magic eye to detect the flow of magic? She really is a genius, isn’t she?”

“Surprising, coming from you. I never thought I would hear you call someone a genius, especially someone you abandoned.”

Cain smiles devilishly.

“That’s exactly why. She’s smart. I decided it was too dangerous to keep her around, so I let her go. I was planning to let her weaken and make her the next commodity, but it backfired. I never expected the prince to keep her close.”

“It was fate. It was fate that I met her there!”

Julius draws his sword from his waist.

Cain remains calm and his smile doesn’t fade.

“It’s pointless, Your Highness. Now that we’ve reached the truth, I’ll take care of it here. Do you know? There are many ways to curse someone.” 

“Oh, I know. I immediately thought of you as the culprit when I found out. When we first talked, you asked me for a handshake.”

“Yes, at that time, I applied a curse. It’s already progressed quite far, hasn’t it? It must be quite painful for you.”

“Sorry, but I’m feeling great. Thanks to her.”

Julius swung his sword with all his might, as if to show that he could still fight.

“Even if you can move, it’s pointless. Applying the curse again to the one that’s already progressing. Then you can be killed instantly. With your current condition, you don’t even have to touch me directly. Like this, in words…”

He put a curse on his words.

“Die, please.”

“――!”

“Kukk… Gaaah…”

It wasn’t Julius who fell, but Cain.

He spat blood from his mouth and knelt down on one knee.

“W-What? Why did you…?

“The method of dealing with the curse is to either have the caster release it or kill them. But there’s another way. It’s more advanced, and it can be either one… No, it can be both. That method is——”

“Curse reflection?! That’s absurd! How can you do that without even knowing what type of curse it is?” 

“This is it.”

What Julius took out was a hand mirror.

Of course, it was not just an ordinary mirror.

It would demonstrate its effect when he infused it with magic.

“M-Magic tool?!”

“That’s right. And you know who made it.”

“Freya… I see.”

“Yeah, she’s a genius, as you say.”

❂❂❂❂

“The culprit is likely Duke’s son, Cain-sama.”

“Him? You’re not… Are you sure?”

“Yes. Cain-sama’s magic is flowing within Your Highness. Also, the magic I saw from Duke Cain was…”

I conveyed my fear honestly.

“… I see. Well, if that’s the case, it all makes sense. The next step is how to deal with it.”

There are two ways to lift a curse.

One is to have the caster lift it themselves.

However, it’s unlikely that the other party would agree to do it.

The other way is to kill them.

It’s the most certain method, but it would be a difficult decision for the kind-hearted, His Highness Julius.

“There’s one more way. A way to lift the curse.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. With this method, Your Highness doesn’t need to get your hands dirty or make a request for the curse to be lifted. Could you give me some time?”

“Ah, sure. I’ll leave it to you.” 

❂❂❂

“I didn’t do anything. You just self-destructed on your own. Don’t curses become even more effective when they are returned? How long do you think you can endure?”

“Ku…using just a magic tool like this!”

“She’s really a genius. She analyzed your magical power and built a magic tool that reflects curses from there. sHE finished it all in just one night.”

“Guh, oooohhhhhh!”

Looking down at Cain who was suffering, Julius spoke.

“There is only one reason for your defeat, you made an enemy of her.”

“Guaaah, uuuuuuu!”

“Remove the curse. If not, you will die.”

The curse he tried to cast was the same as the curse that Julius had already received.

Therefore, if Cain removes the curse, it will be lifted at the same time.

However, Cain does not remove the curse.

He continues to suffer.

“Hey.”

“… I can’t… I can’t…”

What?

“…I can’t remove the curse…it’s not just my power. Do you understand? There are others who cursed you.” 

At this point, the accomplice confesses.

It’s not a ploy to shake Julius’s composure.

It’s a testament.

“Remember this well. There are many who aim for you and your country. Eventually, they will come over to our side. Until then… Ggh.”

We’ll be waiting.

Julius didn’t hear the last words.

However, he understood.

At the same time as the curse’s pain disappeared from within himself.

“…Sigh, let’s keep it a secret that he’s dead.”

After that, the full extent of the black market was made public by His Highness Julius.

The individuals involved in stolen goods and human trafficking.

Among them was the heir to the Balmoust family, a noble family belonging to the kingdom.

As a result, the Balmoust family was held accountable, and their status as nobles was revoked.

At the same time, investigations began into the nobles with whom they had close ties.

Cain, the mastermind, was said to be detained in the kingdom’s underground prison.

❂❂❂

“Am I allowed to be here?”

“What happened suddenly?”

“Well, I… I’m from the Roster family. I was also formerly engaged to Cain-sama.” 

The Roster family is deeply involved with Cain-sama.

As a result, they are currently under strict surveillance.

However, I was an exception and could move around freely.

“It’s fine. You played a major role in solving the case. You should be proud of yourself.”

“…I guess so.”

I received a reward for contributing to capturing Cain-sama while under His Highness’s command.

“Are you feeling relieved?”

“…No, it’s not like I was holding a grudge or anything.”

“…I see.”

“But what I’m thinking right now is…I’m just glad that His Highness is safe.”

I laugh.

The reality is that His Highness is right next to me.

That curse progressed with the waxing and waning of the moon.

If it had been a full moon, His Highness would have died.

But he is still alive.

“We can see the full moon together again next time.”

“Yes!”

There are many things to think about.

However, I could only feel proud of myself for saving His Highness’s life.