The Price of Taboo

—Night.

In the free time after dinner, I went outside the pension with Leonil and Rowen to practice martial arts.

The way of the sword is not built in a day.

There must not be a day where one does not grip the hilt.

Rowen, being of a warrior temperament, seems to understand that well, and I hear he’s been inviting Leonil to practice diligently in their free time recently.

And right now, I am giving Rowen a lesson, but—

“Muouh!?”

“Match over. It’s Baron Odrant’s win.”

Rowen, his large body blown away as if it were a feather, struck his back on the ground.

Seeing that state, Leonil happily gave the judgment with a smile.

In swordsmanship, there is no training superior to real combat—so Rowen and I were engaging in grappling just like in actual battle.

“Mu, mugugu… As I thought, I still can’t even reach Baron Odrant’s feet…”

Unable to fully guard against my slash, Rowen stood up with an expression of frustration, his hand holding the battle axe still numb.

I tapped my sword on my shoulder, pon-pon, and, “No, I think you’ve become strong enough to reach my feet. At least, you’re much better than when you first fought me three-on-one.”

“What!? R-Really!?”

“Why would I lie? Well, you have much more sense for martial arts than magic.”

“Umu, exactly. Magic training requires using my head too much… Wielding a weapon suits my nature better.”

Shouldering his battle axe, Rowen said with a somewhat difficult face.

Then Leonil also nodded in agreement, “Yeah, yeah,” and, “I get it. I won’t say I hate magic, but it feels better to swing a sword.”

“Umu umu, martial arts are life. …By the way, Leonil, may I ask something I’ve been wondering?”

Suddenly, Rowen asked Leonil.

“Hm? What is it?”

“Where did you learn the sword? Your skill is truly splendid, but I cannot tell the school.”

“I don’t have any grand school. I received a little instruction from a local master, and after that, I just swung a sword instead of playing with toys since I was little. You could say it’s almost self-taught.”

“Uumu, it is hard to believe one could polish their skill to that extent self-taught but…”

“What about you, Rowen? Where did you learn martial arts? And you are, how should I put it, well…”

“I don’t feel very noble-like, is it? Naturally. Because I was born into a house of ‘Career Knights,’ not nobles.”

Rowen said with a snort, hmph.

Ah, I see, a “Career Knight”…

I nodded internally.

—Generally, high-ranking knights are often nobles, and this is especially prominent for commander classes.

But even saying “knight” in a word, their roles vary.

Naturally, those who carry weapons and cut into the front lines of the battlefield are also required.

However, you can’t just throw people of noble birth onto the front lines easily.

That is where “Career Knights” play an active role.

They are genuine warriors who make a living by fighting.

Basically, they do not hold a title of nobility, but depending on the family lineage, they may have power second only to nobles.

Also, they value achieving military exploits on the battlefield, and because they have an ideology that considers dedicating one’s life to the country a virtue, they are hot-blooded and have high morale.

Perhaps because of that, His Excellency Hugue de Craon, the Grand Master of the Royal Knights, was known for employing “Career Knights” heavily.

Such “Career Knights” are often skilled commoners who are hired, and it is a characteristic that they are closer to commoners than nobles.

Leonil smiled wryly as if convinced, and,

“…I see, no wonder you didn’t mind me being a commoner that much.”

“A knight’s duty is to protect the country and protect the people. What is the point of despising those people?”

“That’s a splendid attitude. I have to learn from it.”

“Hahaha, if you like, will you become a ‘Career Knight’ too, Leonil? With your skill, surely you could rise up immediately.”

“No, at least for now I’ll pass. Because I have a big goal called Baron Odrant.”

Saying that, Leonil directed a heated gaze toward me.

Stop it, seriously… Don’t look at me with such creepy eyes…

Every time I hear that your goal is to surpass me, a chill runs down my spine, you know?

Really, please get strong on your own somewhere unrelated to me. I beg you.

—Just as I was thinking that,

“Everyone, good work. Are you about done for now?”

My beloved wife, Letitia, arrived.

Furthermore, behind her was Shanoa holding a tray with three steaming teacups.

“G-Good work until late at night. I brewed honey lemon tea full of nutrition for everyone, so p-please!”

“Ufufu, Shanoa was worried about you guys and started saying she wanted to bring some refreshments.”

“L-Letitia-sama…! Y-You promised not to say that…!”

Shanoa blushed in embarrassment.

Hearing that, Rowen looked delighted, and, “Ooh, that is grateful! Let’s have some right away!”

He approached Shanoa, trying to be first.

Following him, Leonil also went to her.

I walked up to Letitia, and, “She’s got some good points, that Shanoa. …But actually, maybe it was Letitia’s suggestion?”

“No way, it’s not. I just helped out.”

Letitia picked up one of the teacups on the tray, and, “Here you go. Honey lemon tea is said to be very effective for recovering from fatigue.”

“Hee, that helps.”

Receiving the teacup from Letitia, I took a sip of the steaming tea.

Then—I thought, “Oh?”

“…By any chance, did Letitia brew my portion?”

“My, was I found out? How did you know?”

“Because there’s extra honey and it’s made very sweet. I thought, you understand my taste.”

I continued to pour the tea into my mouth.

It’s reasonably sweet, but that makes it delicious.

I feel like my body’s fatigue is recovering too.

“It’s delicious, Letitia. Thank you.”

“Fufu, you’re welcome.”

Letitia smiled shyly and cutely.

Aah~… this is nice, this kind of thing.

It feels exactly like an exchange between a married couple, so happy…

It was—at that moment, while I was savoring the happiness.

“──Huh?”

Suddenly, Leonil raised his voice.

At the same time, I also noticed a figure approaching us.

Since the sun had gone down, I couldn’t see the face well from where I was—but Rowen identified the person first.

“…Michelardo? Is that Class E’s Michelardo?”

“Ku… Kukuku…”

Standing there was Class E’s “King,” Michelardo Cafaro.

His arms hung loosely, and he was laughing quietly.

Something… isn’t his behavior strange…?

Rowen approached Michelardo, and, “What are you doing in a place like this? You, regarding today’s lesson—”

He called out like that.

In that—instant.

“Kuku… ──<Shadow Edge>!”

Suddenly Michelardo activated magic.

A slash of dark attribute cut through Rowen’s body, and blood sprayed.

“Ga—a—hh!?”

“Kya… Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

Shanoa dropped the tray on the ground and screamed.

Reflexively, Leonil and I took our swords, and, “Rowen!? You…!”

“Intending revenge? What a pain.”

We slashed at Michelardo as if to sandwich him.

However, “Kuhihi!”

In the next moment, Michelardo’s body melted, dorori.

His body turned into magical liquid and soaked into the ground, completely disappearing from before our eyes.

At that sight, both Leonil and I were astonished.

“Wha…!? H-He disappeared!?”

“…Where the hell did he go?”

—Magic of the type that hides one’s form?

No… this feeling of mana, it has the presence of higher-level magic.

Most likely it’s a type of “Teleportation Magic,” but why can that Michelardo use such high-level magic?

When we fought in the “Magic Exercise” class before, he didn’t have that much skill.

And the tremendous amount of mana I felt from him the moment he fired magic at Rowen…

It’s incomparable to before.

Both the quantity and quality of mana are like a completely different person.

Plus… it feels far more ominous than before.

There’s no mistake he came for revenge on me… but what kind of trick is he using…?

Might be better to be a little cautious—just as I thought that.

“Kya—a—hh!?”

“Kuhihi! Caught youuu…!”

—Reflexively, I turned toward the voice.

Then what was reflected in my eyes was—the figure of Michelardo grabbing Letitia from behind and capturing her.

“────Don’t touch Letitia.”

A snapping sound rang in my head.

Rage and killing intent boiled over instantly, and my feet moved faster than I could think.

And with all the speed I could muster, I slashed at Michelardo.

But—

“Kuhihi…!”

Before my blade could reach, Michelardo melted both his legs and spread magical liquid at his feet.

Still holding Letitia, he sank into the liquid with a zupun—and disappeared from before us.

▲ ▲ ▲

“Kuhi…hi…!”

—Michelardo, having kidnapped Letitia, was walking inside a certain cave.

It was very dark and damp, extremely uncomfortable for humans.

But Michelardo didn’t care about the environment and proceeded forward into the cave.

“U…n…”

Letitia, having lost consciousness, slept like a kidnapped princess.

Holding her, Michelardo, “I-I did it… I did it…! I am competent after all…!”

Distorted his mouth and smirked.

But his face was pale with blood drained from it, and his eyes were goggling and bloodshot.

His breathing was rough too—for some reason, he looked in great pain.

“…Oya, my my.”

A voice welcoming Michelardo echoed from the depths of the cave.

Immediately after, what appeared from the darkness was—a man wearing a clown mask, “Impaling Baron, Scuyer.”

“To think you would really kidnap Letitia-jo. Honestly speaking, I am surprised.”

“K-Kuhihi… I did it…! S-S-So, q-q-quickly… take this offff…!”

Kneeling before the “Impaling Baron, Scuyer,” Michelardo begged imploringly.

Around the neck of him who looked even pitiable—hung a necklace with a small jewel attached.

“I apologize, but I do not know how to remove that. Should you not ask him instead of me?”

Saying that, “Impaling Baron, Scuyer” glanced behind him.

“It seems the research on ‘Cursed Gear’ is going smoothly—Raymond-sensei.”

“──Naturally. After all, it is the work of me, the genius mage.”

Kotsu-kotsu, footsteps echoed in the cave.

Simultaneously appearing from the darkness was—Class D’s homeroom teacher and the man who was once Olivia Barrow’s colleague, Raymond Quadra.

Raymond approached Michelardo with a beaming smile and gazed at the necklace on his neck.

“Even so, the power of ‘Cursed Gear’ is truly great… Just by wearing it, it brings enormous mana to the wearer, allowing even humans with low mana capacity to easily use high-level magic.”

“Yes, indeed. If a mediocrity of this level could outwit Baron Odrant and kidnap Letitia-jo… I must admit it.”

“Impaling Baron, Scuyer” seemed a little impressed, but soon tilted his head in wonder.

“However, the Ministry of Magic is supposed to strictly forbid the research and production of ‘Cursed Gear.’ Despite being this convenient, why on earth is that?”

“Ah, it’s because of a trivial problem. Those who wear ‘Cursed Gear’ are implanted with intense negative emotions in exchange for that enormous mana.”

“Negative emotions…”

“Anger, hatred, envy, fear, destructive impulses… Anyway, it makes the wearer aggressive. Moreover, once worn, every time they try to remove it, they are attacked by mental pollution, making it impossible to remove with ordinary mental strength. And finally, they lose their sanity, weaken, and die.”

Raymond explained indifferently, seemingly uninterested.

Hearing that, “Impaling Baron, Scuyer” shrugged his shoulders.

“Oh, scary scary… Which means, this man will eventually… Dear me, are you really a teacher entrusted with students?”

“How rude. Because he said he ‘wanted revenge on Baron Odrant,’ I merely offered kind assistance.”

“N-No…! I don’t want to die…! Save meee…!”

“Yes yes, if you listen to what I say, I will save you. More importantly, quickly bring Letitia-jo here.”

Michelardo, whose physical and mental weakening had already begun, was no longer anything but Raymond’s puppet.

Raymond received the unconscious Letitia, held her, and headed to the open hollow at the deepest part of the cave.

Then he created a stone pedestal with magic and laid Letitia upon it.

“Impaling Baron, Scuyer-kun… You and your employer’s wish was ‘The Ruin of Letitia Barrow,’ correct?”

“…Yes. As long as you achieve that point, we will continue to support your research on ‘Cursed Gear’.”

“Fine.”

Raymond answered looking quite happy, and—took out a small necklace from his pocket.

It is “Cursed Gear.”

However, the atmosphere is different from the one Michelardo is wearing.

The color of the jewel is terribly muddy, and far more ominous mana is hidden within it.

“That is… a somewhat unusual ‘Cursed Gear,’ it seems.”

“It is my latest work. I made it with a concept the exact opposite of the ‘Cursed Gear that tries to eliminate negative effects’ until now.”

“Hoh, in other words—”

“Yes. It means the mana amplified is double the conventional amount, and the negative effects (demerits) received in exchange are also double. Also, I have applied a little trick to it.”

Smiling with a smirk, he said—and attached that necklace to Letitia’s neck.

“This will do. Now, please wake up.”

“U…n…”

—Letitia’s eyes slowly opened.

Those eyes captured Raymond.

“You know who I am, correct? Stand up.”

“Yes………”

With hollow eyes harboring no light, she moved exactly as Raymond said.

Like a puppet.

“Very good. From now on, listen well to what I say.”

“Yes… understood…”

“Is this… ‘Hypnosis Magic’? It is the first time I have seen mental manipulation done this splendidly.”

“I am a genius mage, after all. Being able to do this much is only natural.”

Raymond spoke in a way that truly seemed steeped in narcissism.

“Impaling Baron, Scuyer” was slightly exasperated with him, but dared not say anything.

“Anyway, the first stage of the experiment is complete for now. Next is—”

When Raymond started to speak, a fireball flew aiming at him.

It was a fastball released like an arrow, but it was deflected by Raymond’s magic barrier.

“…Good grief, you sniffed us out already?”

“──Return, Letitia.”

Appearing before Raymond and the others was a man with a look like a demon.

Needless to say, it was Alban Odrant himself, his heart dyed in rage.

▲ ▲ ▲

…Ah, so you don’t intend to run.

That helps.

With this, I can trap you guys like rats in a bag without reservation.

Thinking that internally, I cracked the knuckles of the hand holding my sword, gichit.

—Inside the cave were Raymond, Michelardo, the masked man in the clown mask, and the kidnapped Letitia, four people.

That masked man who seems to be Raymond and Michelardo’s associate… he’s probably the guy Ivan called “Impaling Baron, Scuyer.”

The ringleader who deceived Ivan, instigated the town thugs, and had Letitia kidnapped…

To think I could meet him in a place like this.

It seems I’m lucky.

…Because I can kill three guys I’m dying to kill, all at once.

Seeing my face, Raymond clapped his hands lightly, pachi-pachi.

“You figured out this place well. Splendid, Alban Odrant-kun. May I ask how you found us?”

“…We followed the mana residue.”

A female voice answered in my stead.

Simultaneously, Olivia-san appeared from behind me, guarded by Leonil.

—After Michelardo kidnapped Letitia, we immediately regrouped with Olivia-san.

She followed the mana residue Michelardo left behind and identified this cave immediately.

Furthermore, predicting that Raymond was involved, she judged there was no time to wait for rescue from the academy.

Taking me and Leonil, the skilled ones among Class F, we stormed the cave—that’s the flow.

By the way, the heavily injured Rowen survived and is probably receiving magical first aid from Paula-sensei right about now.

As for Shanoa and the other Class F members, they are securing the entrance of this cave.

Just in case, I left them as the rearguard so no one escapes.

If it comes to confronting Raymond directly, it would be too much for them.

To be honest, they’d be a hindrance.

Besides—I can’t stand it unless I directly take Raymond’s head.

Olivia-san continued, “After hearing the story that Michelardo-kun attacked, I immediately followed the mana residue he left. Also, I had already investigated places that could be used as hideouts around here.”

“Oya oya, it seems I was suspected from the start. How sad.”

“Look who’s talking…! As I thought, you were continuing research on ‘Cursed Gear’! As a person of the Ministry of Magic, I will detain you right here! And I’ll have you return my sister!”

Not even trying to hide her disgust, she exposed her anger.

Olivia-san and Raymond seem to be former colleagues at the Ministry of Magic.

There must be various history between them.

“I cannot do that. Because I will have her become a splendid guinea pig. ──Michelardo-kun.”

“K-Kuhihi…!”

—Michelardo, his eyes completely bloodshot, stepped out in front of us.

“Drive away the intruders. If you do, I will remove the ‘Cursed Gear’.”

“U-Un-Understood…!”

Apparently, he’s totally motivated.

I received a minimal explanation of “Cursed Gear” from Olivia-san on the way here, so the reason he suddenly became strong was that necklace.

Moreover, it comes with the bonus that he can’t remove it himself.

To cling to such a thing, what a foolish guy.

Leonil stood next to me with sword in hand,

“Baron Odrant… I’ll do it.”

He tried to take on Michelardo.

Probably intends to do the preliminary skirmish as a “Knight.”

Well, I’m grateful for the consideration but—

“It’s fine. It’ll be over in an instant anyway.”

Restraining Leonil, I stepped forward.

It’s a pain, but it’ll be faster if I do it myself.

“Kuhihi! H-He-Here I gooo…! <Shadow—tch!”

Michelardo concentrated mana in his hand.

He tried to activate magic.

—However, “Too slow.”

Much faster than he could activate magic, I closed the distance with Michelardo.

And without a shred of mercy—I slammed a slash into his torso.

“Ku… hya… ──?”

Fresh blood spurred from the diagonal slash wound.

Michelardo fell to the ground with a face that said “I didn’t even understand what happened,” and stopped moving, pikuri.

Up to here, it was an event of just a split second.

Seeing that scene, Raymond showed a surprised face for a moment, “Ho… oh…”

“Next is you. Are you prepared?”

“Dear me… terrifying skill. I had heard you beat a teacher one-sidedly upon entering the academy, but it seems that was no exaggeration.”

He clapped again, pachi-pachi.

It seems he was underestimating my sword skill.

Even if you suck up to me, the fact that you’re going to die doesn’t change.

“…Well, very well. You are just right for a test opponent.”

Raymond snapped his fingers, pachin.

Then, Letitia, who had been standing there blankly with hollow eyes until now, turned toward us.

“Now Letitia Barrow, it is an order. Show them your power.”

“Yes…”

Like a puppet pulled by strings, Letitia started walking slowly.

…There is no life in her eyes.

Judging by the atmosphere, she’s probably being manipulated by “Hypnosis Magic” or something.

In addition—a necklace that appears to be “Cursed Gear” is draped around her neck.

Making my precious wife wear such a vulgar thing.

Unforgivable.

I’ll kill you.

Olivia-san also ground her teeth, girit,

“Kuh…! Raymond, how dare you put ‘Cursed Gear’ on my sister…!”

“Isn’t it a good look? Now Letitia Barrow, it is an order. Show them your power.”

“Yes…”

As told, Letitia slowly raised her arm—

“──<Blizzard Sanctuary>”

Letitia activated her magic.

It was the S-Rank ice attribute magic she showed in the battle with Emmeline.

In an instant, just like that time, the aspect of the surroundings changed completely.

The earth froze, a fierce blizzard raged, and white snow and hail flew through the air.

This is bad—immediately after thinking that, our bodies began to freeze.

“Guu…!? This magic is, from the time with Emmeline…!?”

“Aah… but the mana is on a different digit…!”

Leonil was astonished by the freezing cold.

Good grief, even I’m surprised.

Even with my mana, I can’t prevent the cold at all.

“The mana amount and output are far too enormous… Is this the power of Letitia wearing ‘Cursed Gear’…!”

“No, that’s not all… This space is sealing our mana…! This is already the same as ‘Barrier Magic’…!”

“Barrier Magic”—

I’ve heard of it.

An extremely special technique that creates a barrier territory separated from reality with enormous mana, sealing the opponent within.

Basically, it is not something assumed for anti-personnel combat, but used when sealing vicious monsters that are impossible to subjugate.

The barrier territory cannot be physically destroyed, and it even has the effect of sealing the target’s mana.

In principle, once trapped, it’s the end.

Because of such cheat-like effects, it apparently requires a stupendous amount of mana to activate.

I heard that normally, it is at a level where multiple high-ranking mages gather their mana into a magic circle to finally activate it.

Basically, since it is not magic an individual can handle alone, it hasn’t even been given a rank classification…

I don’t know the logic, but it seems that because Letitia’s mana is too enormous, <Blizzard Sanctuary> has sublimated into “Barrier Magic.”

Really, it’s beyond the level of amazing.

“Wonderful…! To think she would gain this much power…! As expected, she is an exceptional talent! The combination of my ‘Cursed Gear’ and Letitia Barrow will change magic history!”

Raymond trembled with delight.

I want to cut him down right now, but unfortunately my hands are frozen, and I can’t even swing my sword anymore.

My consciousness is starting to fade, and at this rate, it’s a straight line to freezing to death.

“Now Letitia Barrow, release your destructive impulses to your heart’s content! Exterminate them!”

“U…………a…………”

“Letitia…”

—Barely, my legs still move.

Step by step, I walked toward her.

“Hahaha… As expected, Letitia is amazing. To be able to use such powerful magic, truly my boastful wife. I’m proud.”

“…”

“…Can you see me? Can you hear my voice?”

“Al…ban…”

“It’s okay, I know. You won’t succumb to the control of ‘Cursed Gear’ or anything. So—come back, Letitia.”