Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Translator: Kay

As I grew pale, Felix continued to speak with a troubled look.

“Every human being has mana. Life energy, such as blood and water, dies once depleted. But mana exists everywhere in the air, so it rarely runs out.”

Just by breathing normally, mana would come in and out.

“But each person has a different ‘bowl’ to contain the mana. If the average person has a bowl this big…….”

Felix made a slight gap with his thumb and index finger. It was a space where an ant could barely pass.

Then he looked around with a half-cold languid gaze and went on, casually.

“I have a bowl the size of this mansion, I guess.”

The size of the Chamberlain mansion was only a little smaller than the imperial palace.

It would have been awkward to say those words myself, but it was perfectly acceptable since it was a statement made by the best sorcerer in the empire.

“Mana is the most basic substance required to be able to operate magic. Therefore, a sorcerer with a large bowl of mana can live long without aging. It’s like filling your body with more life energy.”

If it had been the way it was, Felix would have lived longer and healthier than others.

If it weren’t for the three useless brothers.

“However, I feel like I’m stuck in the mana bowl, so I can’t get in or out of it.”

“…….what?”

Even from just listening to it sounded like a big deal.

“I can’t describe it exactly because it’s just a feeling…….”

Felix seemed to have difficulty expressing it in words and trailed off for a moment.

“Even if there are people who have contracted with the devils, there is no precedent for accepting them directly in the body because no one has survived.”

I listened to him in a daze.

I was glad that Felix returned alive, but I didn’t realize how great it was and had taken it for granted.

However, the choice to be the sacrifice to the devil was almost a gamble, and it seemed like it was a miracle that he was safe like this.

No one, but Felix, would have succeeded.

“For now, resistance is the biggest problem. And even if the person has resistance, the moment they accepted the devil, their mana will be sucked away till they died, or their mana will slowly dry out, and the person dies in a state where they were unable to absorb more mana.”

I could finally understand what was going on.

So mana was essential for living. But Felix couldn’t use magic or accept any mana due to the blocked passageway.

Didn’t that mean he was about to die? Didn’t that mean Felix had a time limit?

Felix casually reached out towards me when he saw that my face had turned pale and that I was about to cry.

But he managed to stop in the air and quickly took it back before he even reached me.

His conflict made me anxious.

I just thought it would be nice if he didn’t hesitate and did as he pleased, whether he wiped my tears, stroked my head, or pinched my cheeks.

But like a coward, I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

In case I got rejected again.

“I’m not going to die.”

As he intended, I felt assured for the moment.

It was not a big deal to be unable to use magic.

For more,

“The rumors have spread around the neighborhood that my brother has died. A funeral will be held soon. He has such a good reputation that people voluntarily wanted to hold a memorial service. Should I say congratulations?”

“……”

While Claudia made sarcastic remarks, Felix faced her without answering.

Felix’s outfit was no longer a magic robe embroidered with gold thread on a pure white cloth.

The robe, which looked as sacred as the clothes worn by the priest, was said that only the Minister of Magic and the Vice Minister1 were entitled to wear it.

Having become a dead man, he could no longer wear it.

Felix, who shone more brilliantly than a jewel in the sun, could no longer be seen.

Recognizing that fact, I felt like my body was sinking into the abyss.

In fact, until yesterday, I had no sense of reality to the point where I thought it was all a dream.

Now, I finally realized that everything between us would never be like before.

“I heard from Rin that it could have been worse than this. I know this was the best way.”

Claudia closed her eyes for a moment and gasped.

“But when I look at you, my brother……. I get so mad it feels like my head is going to explode.”

“Chloe, it’s not your fault.”

“I know. I know……. but I’m angry at myself for not being able to help…….”

“It was a problem that I was supposed to solve,” Chloe continued, unable to hide her dismay. The air around them suddenly felt cold.

At that moment, Felix broke the silence and opened his mouth.

“Why is it a problem that Chloe needs to solve?’

Anger, sorrow, and consolation were mixed in his voice.

I also wanted to ask that. If burglars broke into your house and you accidentally killed them due to ‘self-defense,’ what would you do?

In that case, you should ask the public authorities for help. However, the power in the world was in ruins. It was because the public authorities were the burglars – those useless tax thieves.

But you know.

Even if everything was not the same as before, it was just a different position or stance. At least the fact that we could be together right now remained unchanged.

“Well, that’s why I’m ready.”

I clapped my hands in a bright voice to lighten up the mood.

At the moment, the eyes of the family, who were wallowing in grief, turned to me simultaneously.

“Shall we go on a summer vacation to the island?”

1. For anyone who forgot, Felix is the youngest Vice Minister of Magic aka the genius sorcerer.↩