WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Surviving in the Magic Academy

Chapter 145

──────

145.

Everything began with mutual trust. So before setting anything in motion, I needed to show Blood Axe everything I had in mind. I approached it and lightly tapped its body.

-Slaughter?

“Please come this way. I’ll show you the magic circle properly.”

I smiled and beckoned lightly. Blood Axe slowly approached, following my hand. It stood near the magic circle and quietly leaned toward me.

It looked ready to listen closely. By now, it seemed to trust me quite a lot. I needed to repay that trust too. I lightly snapped my fingers.

The magical power rising from my fingertip flickered like an ember and settled onto the magic circle. The magic circle gave off a faint light and began drawing a flow through its circuits.

The circuits, formed from many layered spells, were so complex they could not be understood at a glance. The magic circle made from those circuits had a structure that was strange yet precise.

“This magic circle should feel a little familiar to you. I built it based on the one you used to create the form of that offshoot body. I learned a great deal from it too.”

I gave a small nod. Blood Axe seemed slightly puzzled by my words. Well, of course it would be. It probably did not know much about magic.

I glanced at Hao. He was scratching his head while examining the magic circle. Soon, he gave a small nod. It seemed he understood the structure of the magic circle I had drawn.

This magic circle formed an endless cycle. Desire grew magical power, and magical power grew desire. Within that flow, desire and magical power became tightly linked. Then they seeped into the puppet.

After confirming the clear structure the magic circle drew within the magical power, Blood Axe looked even more relieved. I smiled faintly at it and stepped into the magic circle.

At the center of the magic circle, where the circuits faintly writhed, lay a puppet. The spot it occupied was both the starting point that held the first spell forming this magic circle and the endpoint that held the final spell.

I felt the magical power I had released flow into the puppet. But the puppet showed no response. Its body had not awakened yet.

Blood Axe followed me to the puppet and trembled slightly. Unlike before, it seemed a little afraid.

-Slaughter!

Blood Axe hesitated and took a small step back. I could also sense its revulsion. It could not be helped. It must have recognized the puppet’s appearance more clearly through the magical power.

Like the other treasures, Blood Axe had once wandered the continent. Then Professor had caught and captured it. From the perspective of something dragged here and thrown into the storehouse, Professor must have been an object of fear.

And that puppet had Professor’s form. Of course, it was a little small. Still, the puppet contained at least a trace of Professor’s presence. It was a relic of the past, something I could no longer make.

-Slaughter? Slaughter....

Blood Axe examined the puppet, then quietly pointed at No. 0. It meant, couldn’t we use the puppet made by No. 0 instead? No. 0 sensed that will and gave a small shrug.

Should I call it a somewhat confident gesture? No. 0 seemed a little proud to have been chosen. I quietly stroked my chin. Apparently, Blood Axe did not like the puppet’s appearance.

But I could not change that. The puppet was already highly complete on its own. It was not time to tamper with it yet. So I shook my head slightly.

“Unfortunately, no. This magic circle was made only for this puppet. Among everything I have made, no, even if you brought me anything in this world, there would be no vessel more suited to holding Blood Axe’s power than this.”

I lightly stroked the puppet’s head. Then I smiled faintly and continued.

“Everything else has limits. This is an item that raises those limits as high as possible. Only by dwelling inside this will you be able to use all the power that offshoot body has. Beyond that, you should be able to accumulate even more power.”

Of course, if Blood Axe wanted, I would change it. I added that and looked at Blood Axe. It thought quietly for a moment, then shook its body.

-Sl, slaughter!

It hesitated, then proudly released its will. It meant it would use my puppet. It seemed the power was too much of a shame to give up. That was also what I had expected.

Blood Axe inspected the puppet from various angles, then flew over beside Hao. It seemed it no longer wanted to look at the puppet. It also seemed to have lost all interest in the magic circle.

Leaving them behind, I began inspecting the puppet. This thing was the core of my plan. I needed to prepare thoroughly. I sent magical power through its body and nodded.

The circuits forming the puppet’s body were exceptionally clear. They were fully enduring the power of the fragment contained in its mana heart. No, more than that, they were greedily craving the power inside it.

After confirming that the puppet was harmonizing well with Blood Axe’s power, I smiled. For some reason, I felt a faint presence from the puppet. But it only flowed past and disappeared. It might have been my imagination.

There was not even a handful of falsehood in my claim that this puppet suited Blood Axe best. What was contained inside it was a being that had endlessly held Blood Axe’s magical power and desire. What mattered more than the puppet itself was what it held inside.

Just then, Blood Axe released magical power and called me. I glanced at it. It was waving its axe blade at me. When I approached, it released a little more magical power.

-Slaughter?

“Mm, I think it will be difficult right away.”

After sensing the will inside that magical power, I shook my head slightly. It was asking when it would be possible. At my answer, Blood Axe trembled slightly. Seeing that, I smiled a little. It seemed very worked up.

Letting it have everything it had shown interest in last time until it reached the end of each pleasure had been useful. Now that no greater pleasure or desire could be fulfilled inside this tower, it had no choice but to go outside.

“For now, the stability is still a little lacking. I intend to refine it further. If you give me just a few more days, I’ll finish it quickly.”

I lightly touched the magic circle’s circuit with my foot. The circuit wriggled slightly and released magical power. This magic circle was still only a framework. That was why the magical power did not flow properly yet.

-Slaughter, slaughter!

After seeing that, Blood Axe sent its will, telling me to call it as quickly as possible. I quietly nodded. Then I smiled softly and left the magic circle.

“Then please go and rest for now.”

I had shown them everything there was to show. They looked around the workshop briefly, then slowly left. I saw them off while leaning against the doorway.

After confirming that they had gone down the stairs and disappeared, I stroked my chin. Seeing as they held no particular suspicion toward this magic circle either, the matter had reached its final stage. Then I had to use everything I could.

I quietly released magical power. The mirror bug that received it flew up from my chest. When I gestured with my chin toward the flapping thing, the mirror bug changed its screen. I wrote a message inside it, and a reply soon came.

After checking it, I laughed lightly. Mm, this was enough. Now I only had to do my part. With that, I headed toward the magic circle. I had to construct this magic circle as cleanly as possible.

Only then would a more perfect puppet be born. When I imagined the result, a laugh seemed to slip out naturally. Like that, I slowly built up the magic circle together with No. 0.

Just as I had promised, that preparation took only a few days. During that time, Blood Axe often came to visit me and watch the magic circle. It seemed unable to keep still because of its anticipation.

Then I informed Blood Axe that the finishing work was done. At the news, it stopped what it was doing and quickly climbed the tower.

-Slaughter!

It kicked open the workshop door and excitedly released its will. Hao hurriedly followed behind it. Seeing him bow his head slightly toward me, I smiled back. Behind him, Hari also quietly slipped into the workshop.

“You’re here. Then I’ll show you the magic circle.”

After bowing slightly to Blood Axe, I lightly gestured with my hand. Drawn by that gesture, Blood Axe approached me. Before me was a huge magic circle.

It had become twice as large as the one they had seen before. The circle was large enough to fill half the workshop. The spells layered inside it were also endlessly complex, befitting that size.

-Slaughter...!

Blood Axe trembled as it looked at the magic circle. It was clearly brimming with excitement at the thought that it would be able to leave the tower now. Seeing that, I let out a small laugh.

“Haha, you seem impatient, so I think it would be better to begin at once instead of talking further. Please take your place.”

I guided Blood Axe toward the center of the magic circle. The place Blood Axe would occupy was opposite the puppet. Blood Axe stopped there and settled onto the floor.

Between it and the puppet, countless circuits had been roughly carved. It was a structure made to hold as much of that desire as possible. Through these circuits, the puppet and Blood Axe would reach the beginning and end of the magic circle.

“Then I’ll briefly explain the process. First, Blood Axe’s magical power will flow into the puppet. Then it will flow back to Blood Axe and create a single connection. A great deal of magical power will drain away during that process. So please don’t be too alarmed.”

-Slaughter!

Blood Axe shifted its body lightly as if it understood. Then it flashed its blade toward me. It meant I should start quickly. I nodded slightly and stepped back.

The place where I had to stand was a little distance away from them. Since I too occupied a position that formed part of this magic, I could not leave the magic circle. I needed to handle that magical power carefully.

“Then I’ll begin. My magical power will guide the flow, so please don’t resist.”

I placed my hand on the circuit before me. Then I raised a little magical power. The circuit seemed to detect my magical power and slowly dug into my fingertips.

I slowly sent magical power into the circuit. Holding my magical power, the circuit began moving slowly. The magical power flowing along it gradually began waking the magic circle.

I activated the magic circle while carefully adjusting the amount of magical power. Then I saw a hazy light ripple from it. It was the color of my magical power.

Within that magical power, the layers of circuits stacked over the magic circle slowly came undone and rose into the air. Then they slowly approached Blood Axe and the puppet at the center.

The circuits that reached them began wrapping around their bodies. The puppet and Blood Axe were quickly hidden by those circuits, as if sealed inside cocoons.

From here on, it was important. I closed my eyes slightly and strongly drew in the magical power flowing through the circuits. Then I shaped the end of that magical power like a hook and buried it, along with the circuits, inside Blood Axe’s magical power.

Blood Axe’s magical power, which had been flowing quietly, caught on my magical power and slowly began seeping into the circuits. This could be called a kind of priming. It forcibly pulled magical power in.

It was also possible because some of the magical power I had stolen from Blood Axe remained inside my body. If I only had pure magical power, I would surely have collapsed beneath its wildly violent magical power. Just as the circuits were doing now.

The circuits of the magic circle could not withstand Blood Axe’s magical power and were quickly overloaded. They slowly began tearing apart. I wrapped those circuits in my magical power and reinforced them further.

I had already considered this possibility. So I only needed to invest enough of my magical power for the circuits to endure. Like that, I guided the flow of magical power into the complicated, tangled circuits.

My magical power thoroughly protected the circuits within that flow. I had to pour all my magical power into it, but that was more than bearable if it meant making this ritual succeed.

Once Blood Axe’s magical power began flowing through the magic circle, it no longer released the hazy light from before. Instead, it began spewing the same red light as Blood Axe’s magical power. That light flowed dazzlingly enough to fill the workshop.

Blood Axe’s magical power flowed through the magic circle, gradually encroached on the circuits, and at the end, headed toward the puppet. The puppet wrapped in circuits sank into that magical power.

The fragment placed inside the puppet resonated with that magical power. It gradually contained Blood Axe’s magical power inside the mana heart. The puppet’s heart accepted that magical power and slowly began beating.

Along with it, I felt the cocoon pulse in time with that heartbeat. Every time the puppet’s heart beat, the magical power filling the inside was sucked into that heart, flowed through the fragment of power, and came back out again.

Like that, Blood Axe’s magical power flowed between the small hand axe and the puppet. Within that flow, the puppet’s heartbeat gradually grew louder. Blood Axe seemed to sense its connection with the puppet, because it released a pleased vibration.

Slaughter.

It seemed to be looking forward to what came next. And I felt the same.

Now it was time to move. Using the magical power wrapped around the circuits, I pulled those circuits hard. With that, the circuits began creating an even stronger suction force.

I sensed slight panic from Blood Axe trapped inside the cocoon. It must have realized that the way its magical power was draining was not normal. It tried to hold on to its magical power, but the flow had already become far too fierce.

I quietly opened my eyes and looked at the cocoon of circuits. The magical power of Blood Axe contained inside flowed out quickly, rode the circuits, and headed toward the puppet. I felt the puppet slowly accept that magical power.

And the puppet also slowly released magical power. That magical power flowed toward Blood Axe. But compared to what Blood Axe was pouring out, the amount was terribly faint.

Within this endless cycle, the absolute gap in magical power between the puppet and Blood Axe kept shrinking. Blood Axe was gradually having its power stolen by the puppet.

Along with that, the cocoon began slowly cracking open. The connection had now formed sufficiently. Through the cracked cocoon, I saw the puppet slowly open its eyes.

Those unreasoning eyes turned straight toward the cocoon opposite it. The puppet reached inside and grabbed the hand axe. It was an instinctive movement to obtain more power.

Like that, the puppet began absorbing more power. I could tell Blood Axe was growing even more flustered. It was probably because the moment the puppet grabbed it, the connection was maximized even further.

And with that, it must have felt it too.

That I was forcibly twisting this magic circle.

I pulled the circuits even harder and strengthened the suction force. The puppet slowly absorbed Blood Axe’s power.

-Slaughter!

Blood Axe sent its will to me. It meant I should stop this ritual at once. Sensing Blood Axe’s will, I gave a small shrug.

This ritual had already begun in earnest. I could not stop it now. I had no intention of stopping it either. I looked at it and smiled softly.

“You don’t have to worry. As I told you earlier, that puppet’s body will be able to leave the tower. The puppet, at least.”

-Slaughter! Slaughter?

Blood Axe sent me the will asking if I had betrayed it. Betrayal, huh. I shook my head slightly. The one who had betrayed me first was Blood Axe itself.

It was already half my possession. Yet it tried to handle that power however it pleased. There was no way I would simply watch that happen.

From the start, I had not acted for their sake. This was why one should first suspect those who approached with goodwill. It did not know that, and that was why things had reached this point.

There was now no way to reverse this ritual. No, to be precise, a few ways did exist. Magic always carried the risk of failure.

And the easiest way to create such a failure was to kill the mage conducting the ritual. If the one governing the magic disappeared, the magic would scatter as well.

-Slaughter...!

Blood Axe seemed to notice that immediately, because it released a powerful will. Then its magical power poured fiercely toward the puppet. The puppet sank into that magical power and began spewing red light from its eyes.

I saw the puppet move its body slightly. Holding the hand axe, it lowered itself and looked at me. That dazed face still showed no light of reason.

But for some reason, I felt a dense killing intent toward me from it. As if to prove that, it launched itself straight at me. The magical power inside its hand axe rippled violently.

I clicked my tongue lightly. The puppet had not fully awakened yet. That was also why it could not properly control that magical power.

Blood Axe itself was hammering magical power into the puppet’s body and forcing it to move. The body had become half-subordinated to the owner of that magical power.

The magical power that had seeped into the puppet’s body was amplified even more strongly within that desire. It was the result of the amount explosively increasing inside the cycle between Blood Axe and the puppet. And that magical power was now pouring toward me.

Because it also knew that if it killed me, this magic circle would scatter. But it could not kill me. I pulled the key from my hand. Then I had the turtle hanging from my chest swallow it.

The turtle could also be called me. The power of the key could remain in it well enough. The turtle that swallowed the key quickly enlarged its body.

Its shell blocked the space in front of me like a shield. Since all my magical power was being drained to form the magic circle, I had no choice but to rely on it like this.

The axe held in the puppet’s hand struck its shell hard. Golden magical power rippled over the shell. The axe dug into the shell, only to be blocked by that magical power and stop there.

Blood Axe tried to quickly cleave through that magical power, but the hardness of the shell would not let its axe blade through. It supported the magical power and endured at least some of that force.

The puppet charged at me again. Then it began swinging the axe fiercely. The shell was gouged endlessly under those attacks, but in the end, it was not pierced.

The turtle let out a meeeng cry and gave a faint sneer. Blood Axe seemed to sense that too, because its axe blade trembled. I patted the turtle’s head lightly and smiled.

This turtle had very few means of attack, but I could be confident in its defense. Even if it was not a treasure, it could endure the power of that offshoot body for a short while. And while it endured, this magic circle would be completed.

Blood Axe also seemed to sense that the magic would be completed at this rate, because the puppet stopped swinging its axe and quickly widened the distance. The puppet swept its gaze around and launched itself. It headed to the exact opposite side from me, toward the edge of the magic circle.

Since it could not break through me, it seemed to be trying to escape the magic circle altogether.

I stared at it. I had no way to stop it. All my magical power was contained in this magic circle, and the turtle had to protect me.

It was a very appropriate choice. Within this ritual, Blood Axe had become able to handle the puppet’s body at least a little, just like that. Of course, it was a result achieved by force, but the ritual was still half-finished.

That half-completion could also be called a success. As long as it could keep handling that puppet’s body like now, it would surely be able to pass through the barrier surrounding the tower with ease.

Of course, that was only if it escaped this magic circle. Would I let it leave so obediently? That was why I had prepared a little for this situation too.

“Now.”

I muttered that and released what little magical power I had left. It flowed into the mirror bug and turned my words into writing. And the reply to my writing came quickly.

Sharp magical power struck the hand axe hard just as it was about to cut through the magic circle. Hit by that magical power, the hand axe was flung away.

That blade-like magical power did not disappear. Instead, it twisted like a whip and struck the puppet. Blood Axe quickly blocked it, but it could not withstand the impact. The puppet’s body rose into the air and was pushed back to the center of the magic circle.

“I was bored waiting, but it was worth it. I didn’t know I’d get to face something this fun.”

Cassian lightly stretched and entered the magic circle. She lightly drew her sword and looked at Blood Axe. I bowed my head slightly toward her.

“Thank you. I will definitely repay you for this help.”

“No need. Helping mister is something I should do.”

“You also have to make me a giant bear puppet!” Cassian added, then raised her magical power. Mm, a giant bear puppet. It seemed I would need to make that one very properly.

-Slaughter!

Blood Axe showed slight panic as it looked at Cassian. Since she had suddenly popped out of thin air, that was inevitable. No one had noticed her presence.

I glanced at the place where she had been hiding. I saw a small room revealed after the seal opened. It was the room where I hid my puppets.

The magic wrapped around it was incredibly secretive. It had been thoroughly prepared to hide it from Professor, after all. That secrecy was enough that even Blood Axe had not noticed it.

“By the way, those puppets inside....”

Cassian tilted her head slightly and spoke. I gave a light cough and cut her off. If not for this matter, I would not have let her enter that place.

“Shh, it’s a secret. You must not tell anyone else. More importantly, please deal with that right now. I’ll leave it to you.”

I gestured with my chin toward Blood Axe. The puppet holding the hand axe quickly rushed toward Cassian. The axe overflowed with intense and violent magical power, as if it would split Cassian’s body apart.

Cassian ran straight toward the puppet. I saw life sparkle across her face. It seemed she liked this fight.

The axe fell as if to split Cassian’s head open. Beneath that axe, Cassian stepped half a step forward and swung her sword.

The tip of the sword grazed the axe blade and created sparks. Then the magical power dwelling on it struck the axe blade hard. That force slightly twisted the axe’s trajectory.

The axe swept past Cassian and lodged into the ground. The puppet quickly pulled it out and glared at Cassian. Cassian smiled slightly and flicked her sword.

Then the magical power released from its tip fell toward the puppet. It was magical power that rippled like a whip, the same as before.

Compared to the violent magical power held by Blood Axe, that magical power was sorely lacking. It could not be helped. Treasures and humans were different.

But that magical power remained at the tip of the sword and had been thoroughly refined. That was why the sharpness it contained was enough to cut Blood Axe’s magical power.

Like that, Cassian’s magical power poured toward Blood Axe. That blade-like force cut through Blood Axe’s magical power and fell toward the puppet.

The puppet hurriedly raised the axe and blocked it. Cassian’s magical power struck the hand axe and bounced away. The hand axe did not receive even a single scratch.

Since it was a body made from a fragment of Blood Axe, the original treasure, that was natural. Though its magical power was inferior to the main body because it was an offshoot body, the hardness held by that body could be called Blood Axe’s own.

They poured magical power at each other like that. Between them, there was no such thing as magic. They had simply sharpened and polished magical power. That was also the world at the edge of the blade where swordsmen lived.

I looked at Cassian and closed my eyes slightly. Seeing that fight, I thought I could feel at ease. Then I had to focus on what I needed to do.

With my eyes closed, I guided the magic circle’s flow again. I needed to reset the place where that fight was happening as the center of the magic circle. Only then could I finish this ritual more successfully.

Just then, I felt slightly heavy magical power dig into the magic circle. I opened my eyes briefly and looked in the direction that magical power flowed. Hao was there.

It seemed he had finished grasping the situation. Since Cassian had begun fighting, he had clearly decided to move and help Blood Axe escape.

But I did not pay much attention to him. There was someone else to deal with him.

A small foot gently stepped on the point where Hao’s magical power was flowing. Then Hao’s magical power was cut off midway and scattered into the air.

Hari had moved. She stared at Hao and slowly began walking. Standing before Hao, she met his eyes.

“Uh, wait-”

Hao tried to say something. But Hari did not listen to any of it. She only puffed up her cheeks with a very angry face.

The Ring hanging over her head shone brightly. That light bound Hao’s body and began suppressing his magical power.

Hao’s body collapsed, and Hari climbed on top of him. After quietly looking down at him, Hari thrust her hand into Hao’s head.

The hand that lightly passed through his head released a hazy light. With that, I saw Hao’s face turn blank. After seeing that, Hari pulled her hand out again.

In her hand sat a small shining crystal. It was something torn from Hao’s mind.

I saw Hari continue pulling out those crystals. It seemed she intended to eat away at his mind down to the bottom. After confirming that, I quietly shook my head.

Why did he have to earn Hari’s hatred and suffer like that? That punishment would definitely not end with this one time. Now she would probably try to manage Hao thoroughly. Well, it was the result he had brought on himself.

Since Hao had been dealt with too, I only needed to do my best to maintain this magic circle. I forcibly twisted the circuits again. Along with that, the flow of magical power heading toward the puppet grew a little stronger.

Originally, this ritual had been proceeding simply. Its structure was normal, just as Blood Axe had personally confirmed. If it had continued as it was, the result would also have come out stable.

It would have bound the puppet and Blood Axe together and contained the offshoot body inside the puppet’s body. But I deliberately twisted this ritual. I could not let them move as they pleased.

That was why Blood Axe panicked and was forced to fight. I watched Blood Axe fight Cassian. This fight itself was what I wanted.

The desire Blood Axe held was incredibly rough. To cut down a target worth killing. In that sense, this fight could be called the moment its desire manifested.

And that intense desire was reaching even the puppet it controlled. That desire was more than enough to awaken what was contained inside the puppet.

I wanted the small egg inside to feed on that desire, and I wanted it to awaken again within it. That was the purpose of this ritual.

The magic circle continued growing brighter. The degree to which it absorbed magical power gradually grew stronger. Because of that, Blood Axe’s movements also grew more and more urgent.

The puppet swung its axe hard. Along with it, the magical power rising from the axe attacked Cassian. She quickly swung her sword and blocked it, but she could not withstand being pushed far back.

Cassian faced the puppet with a slight frown. Then she tilted her head a little.

“It’ll be hard to last long.”

At her words, I clicked my tongue lightly. As the ritual progressed, Blood Axe was having its magical power stolen by the puppet. But in reverse, that also meant the puppet was holding even stronger power.

That meant the burden was being fully passed on to Cassian, who was facing the puppet. On top of that, within this ritual, the desire and magical power forming Blood Axe were continuing to amplify. It would be hard to endure that force.

By contrast, Cassian had many restrictions. The puppet and the hand axe were targets of the ritual. So it would be a problem if even a scratch appeared on their bodies. She also had to protect the magic circle.

It was an unbelievably disadvantageous environment. But Cassian smiled slightly and charged at Blood Axe again. Blood Axe also shouted, “Slaughter!” and swung the axe hard.

Cassian lightly dodged it and swung her sword. Blood Axe extended the puppet’s arm beneath her sword. Cassian hurriedly stopped her sword.

-Slaughter!

With a somewhat sly cry, Blood Axe released its will strongly. Apparently, it had noticed Cassian’s weakness. It threw itself forward.

What it aimed for was not Cassian. Its axe blade was headed toward the magic circle. Cassian quickly tried to block its body, but it ignored her and brought the axe down toward the magic circle.

I concentrated the magical power flowing through the circuits and built protective magic at the tip of the axe. But it endured only for a very short while before quickly collapsing. The hand axe half-severed the circuit.

Along with that, the magical power flowing through the circuit scattered in all directions and widened the gap. Part of the magic circle had opened.

Blood Axe quickly tried to push its body beyond it. But it had no choice but to stop before the circuit.

-Slaughter?

The puppet holding the hand axe was blocking its movement. The puppet, which had been half-subordinated to Blood Axe and looked dazed, now had its eyes slightly closed.

The magical power flowing from the puppet felt almost the same as what Blood Axe held. That power had finally become level. I smiled slightly. I had felt a faint ripple inside my chest.

Blood Axe tried to escape from the puppet’s hand, but the puppet only held it as if rooted there. Taking advantage of the gap while it was stopped, I quickly repaired the magic circle.

The severed circuit connected within my magical power. Then the magical power began flowing again. Like that, magical power circulated endlessly inside the magic circle.

And at the end, according to the magic circle’s purpose, that magical power gradually began transferring into the puppet. Blood Axe would also be satisfied. Wasn’t containing that power in the puppet what it had wanted?

-Sl, slaughter!

I felt Blood Axe panic. But the magic circle only kept flowing endlessly. Like that, the puppet absorbed Blood Axe’s magical power.

Perhaps because the hand axe held in its hand had lost its magical power, it gradually began losing its color. The bloody aura disappeared somewhere, and I saw the blade turn pale like a corpse.

Not long after, Blood Axe lost all its magical power and dried up. Then it cracked and shattered into pieces. Those powder-like fragments also flowed into the puppet under the guidance of the magic circle.

Fifteen fragments had begun gathering in that heart. I naturally guided the flow of magical power into it. Like that, magical power gradually accumulated in the puppet, and soon, the light of the magic circle subsided. The entire ritual had ended.

At the center of the magic circle, the puppet quietly stood with its eyes closed. Cassian quietly stared at the puppet while holding her sword. I did the same.

I placed a hand on my chest and felt slightly tense. I had successfully ended this ritual, but there was one last problem. That offshoot body had been cut from the consciousness of a treasure. It was possible that it might have seeped into the puppet.

The puppet stayed still like that, then slowly opened its eyes. Those eyes gave off a somewhat clear light. It seemed to have finished adapting to that power.

“Slaughter!”

The puppet raised both hands high with a confident face. Seeing that gesture after so long, I smiled slightly. Within the territory of the shadow tree, I felt a clear connection with that puppet.

“Slaughter?”

The puppet approached me. Then it looked me up and down before raising its thumb and smiling. Cassian approached my side and stared at the puppet with curiosity.

“It’s been a long time, Rabbit.”

At that, the puppet lightly nodded. I let out a sigh of relief. Crises came together with opportunities. After somehow seizing that opportunity, I had successfully fulfilled the promise I made in the dream.

As the tension left me, I sank to the floor. My body felt terribly heavy from the exhaustion of pouring out all my magical power. It should be fine to rest a little. Thinking that, I closed my eyes.

---

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried