"Curse…?"
Already dead, yet the word "curse" made Pomera tremble, his tiny skull rattling.
"If I hadn't caught you, you could have grown strong enough to lead a powerful dark army. But if that power isn't yours, what's the point?"
"What are you saying?"
"You'd gain overflowing mana and powerful magic, but what if your existence disappears and another soul takes your body?"
"S-surely not…"
Pomera seemed to understand. He gripped his wooden staff so tightly it creaked.
"The black orb you obtained doesn't only contain immense dark mana. Inside sleeps the 8th-circle black mage Isaac, who once destroyed an entire territory alone."
"Isaac!"
Pomera screamed in his clacking voice. As a mage, he couldn't possibly not know that name.
"So you know him too."
"Of course. Isaac appears in magic history books."
"That Isaac is sealed inside the orb you had. The more mana you absorb from it, the more not only his power but his soul itself will devour your body."
"That can't be…"
"If you borrow the orb's power, you'll reach 7th-circle soon. You'll enjoy using powerful black magic and summoning high-ranking undead. Then, the exact moment you become 7th-circle master…"
Clack clack clack.
Pomera's teeth chattered from tension.
"The seal will break instantly. Isaac will invade your mind. Your mind, already eroded little by little since 7th-circle, will be dominated in an instant. Starving Isaac will devour your soul and appear even stronger than before."
Isaac, having filled his stomach with Pomera's soul and stolen his body, would return far more powerful.
"T-then what should I do? I've already become 6th-circle master…"
"You've only absorbed as much of Isaac's dark mana as you can handle. If you stop absorbing more, you won't be eaten."
"So if I stay like this, my body won't be taken?"
"Correct. But are you really okay with that?"
Pomera, who had been sighing in relief, fell silent at my next words.
"Okay with that? What do you mean?"
"You've only been used. Don't you want revenge on those who exploited you?"
I had originally planned to use Pomera as a simple magic shuttle, but I changed my mind. This guy needed a much bigger role.
"You think you chose to become a lich, but that's wrong. They gave you the orb and book precisely so you would become one. They even cast illusion magic to loosen your mind."
Pomera was a pitiful character who would be used, have his body stolen, and even his soul devoured. It was too wasteful to leave him like this.
I decided to raise Pomera—the vessel chosen for Isaac—as a joker who would cause a reversal.
"Then what should I do?"
"Go back to basics."
"Basics?"
"Yes. Mana meditation."
Mana meditation is basic training for beginner mages to adapt to and become more familiar with mana.
Mages usually stop doing it after 2nd-circle since they grow more familiar with mana as circles increase.
But the true power of mana meditation isn't adaptation. It has a special effect of tempering the soul.
"Mana meditation is something only kids do."
"No. Its true effect is soul training."
"Soul training?"
"Yes. Mana meditation tempers a mage's soul, allowing them to use even more special power."
"I've never heard of that."
Of course not. No special mage has done mana meditation for over ten years yet. When that person appears, the true effect will be revealed.
"Just do it. You don't need the three human desires anyway. Spend all 24 hours on mana meditation."
"Will that let me get revenge on those who corrupted me?"
"Of course. Your job is to train your soul strong enough to withstand Isaac's."
Pomera's voice grew louder, as if he did want revenge.
"Then what next?"
"When Isaac tries to devour your soul, you devour his power instead."
"W-what…"
"I'll make it happen."
I grinned, baring my teeth. Pomera flinched, trembled, and took a step back.
"I'll turn you into a black mage greater than Isaac."
**
Since meditating in his main body was more efficient, I ordered Pomera to go to an empty coastal cave and meditate.
I checked his status window. His affinity toward me had risen significantly, and he trusted my words in his current state, so I sent him off confidently.
"Ah, this is really exhausting…"
After sending Pomera away, I spent busy yet tiring days.
When the royal palace invitation addressed to me arrived, the Marquis hired an etiquette tutor, claiming royal palace required strict etiquette, and began my training.
Every aspect—eating, dressing, posture, walking, speech—was nitpicked.
"Are you fully prepared?"
"Yes…"
My answer came out weak without realizing. I had been tormented by royal etiquette lessons until this morning of departure, so my head was still foggy.
The past week was a time I never wanted to experience again.
"Our family is relatively free with etiquette, but you must be careful in the royal palace. Think three times before speaking or acting."
"Understood."
I had heard this line at least ten times already. The Marquis cared about me and hoped I wouldn't make mistakes there.
"Hm."
The blue-robed mage who had been staring at the magic circle in front of us turned and approached the Marquis.
"It's our turn. May we begin?"
"Of course."
At the Marquis's nod, the waiting mage began chanting and pouring mana into the magic circle on the ground.
Uuuung—
Bright blue light started rising intensely from the octagonal magic circle.
This circle didn't cast warp magic itself but opened a passage for warping to the royal palace. It was normally closed for safety reasons but temporarily opened with royal permission.
"Yuren, let's go."
"Yes."
When the Marquis, I, the escort knights, and servants all stepped onto the magic circle, the mage chanted again. Following his spell, the blue light turned red, formed a pillar, and enveloped us all.
"Have a safe trip."
Flash.
With the mage's greeting, the world changed instantly. From the marquisate's wide garden, we arrived in an unknown place surrounded by solid walls on all sides.
Because we used a warp passage rather than direct warp magic, the movement was smoother than the Magic Tower's.
"Please do not move!"
Royal palace knights and mages surrounded the magic circle we stood on. They seemed to be checking if anyone other than the pre-agreed people was present.
The official in the center checked people against documents while the mage beside him used magic to scan them.
"Hm…"
Familiar with the process, the Marquis stood silently with arms crossed.
"Marquis Wilington Rox and 20 others confirmed."
At the mage's words, the official nodded lightly. The blocking knights bowed and opened the path.
"Long time no see."
As soon as the path opened, the Marquis approached the official who seemed in charge, a big smile on his face.
"It has been a while, Marquis."
"Yes. Have you been well?"
"Same as always."
They seemed close. The moment they met, they shook hands and exchanged greetings.
"Hahaha!"
The Marquis and official chatted and laughed together. Still affected by etiquette training, I watched them with tired eyes.
"Yuren. Come here."
The Marquis lightly waved and called me to his side.
"This is Yuren. You saw him when he was young, right?"
"He was cute back then, but now he's become incredibly handsome. As expected of your son—he looks exactly like you in your youth. Haha!"
"Hoho, right? Look at Yuren. I was even better-looking when I was young."
"Haha, indeed."
I had heard this often, so I smiled lightly.
"But my son isn't just good-looking. Have you heard? The titles Sharkrai King Slayer and Sea Serpent Slayer?"
"Of course. He even took down the Orc Champion. That's already three boss-level monsters this year alone. Right now, quite a few noble daughters in the capital have gathered wanting to see Yuren."
"Haha, really? But your information is slow. There's one more."
"Ah, the northern wall incident? Of course I know. Because of that, His Majesty is also eagerly looking forward to meeting Yuren."
"R-really?"
The Marquis kept praising me without even introducing the person in front of me.
"How could I lie? By the way, Marquis, Yuren seems curious who I am."
"Haha! I got too excited talking. Yuren, this skinny friend is Baron Veil Fabien, who manages the royal household."
"Managing the household? That's too much praise."
I had been feeling bored and embarrassed moments ago, but hearing the name felt like cold water poured over me—my mind snapped awake.
"Yuren?"
Seeing me dazed, the Marquis touched my shoulder with a puzzled look.
"Ah! Sorry. I am Yuren Rox. Nice to meet you, Baron Fabien."
"Not at all. You have a nice voice too. The ladies won't be able to take their eyes off you."
His praise didn't register. This man should not be here.
Veil Fabien was someone who should not have inherited the Fabien family title and should have stayed in his own family. Why had he inherited the title and was working in the royal palace? I couldn't understand.
What else has changed?
There was only one reason I knew so much about him.
This man, Veil Fabien, belonged to the Sephiros alliance—the group of villains who had corrupted Pomera.
The story has changed again…