NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21: Inheritance of The Curse
２１．Inheritance of The Curse
――Ouch.
My right-hand suddenly started throbbing in pain.
When I looked down at my hand, I saw a beautiful hole had already been punctured through my hand by some unknown means. Blue-coloured blood which was unique to the demon race was trickling down from the wound.
I've gotten enough wounds in my previous life, not to mention the way I died was too cruel too. Thus, even though I was used to pain―― Pain was still painful.
Especially for the first wound in this body. I couldn't help but grimace upon feeling the pain in my hand.
So this is the 【Transpose Curse】―― Upon closer observation, I saw foreign mana coiling around the wound in my hand. The remainder of the curse gradually dispersed from my wound. On the other hand, Platy's hand was clean without any wound.
「Not surprised eh, Jilbagias.」
Platy spoke with an admiring look on her face.
「Even the most stout-hearted child will lose their cool when they receive this curse for the first time and yet… You're so composed. It seems you're a child with nerves of steel.」Wait, should I look a little shocked instead? Oh well, I guess it was already too late if I look surprised right now.
「Is this the only way to use the transpose curse?」
I couldn't feel anything but pain in my hand though.
「There's still another way to use the curse. Now I'll transfer that wound back to my hand. That should complete your understanding.」
So she told me to go with my intuition.
「We're parent and child, the one who gave you that wound is me. There's a powerful, sorcery-like connection between us via that wound. Now feel it, Jilbagias. Our connection――」
A hand made of mana started stretching from Platy, wrapping around my wound.
「【Metaphysics(Transpose)】」
The hand then took the wound from my hand, leaving behind an out of place feeling in my hand.
In that moment, I had an epiphany.
The history of how this curse was created, and inherited in the Reiju clan.
A long time ago, there was a mother―― The progenitor of the Reiju clan, who took the wound on her children's body and placed it on her own. It was the first time a miracle of healing wounds that shouldn't exist in the dark folks appeared. Nevertheless, it was a miracle born from the small wish of a mother who wanted to alleviate the suffering of her children even just a little bit.
Ever since then, every time a child of the Reiju clan was injured, it was their parents' responsibility to take over the wound of their children with their body.
Thus, the miracle then refined into what was known as the transpose curse in this era.
And then, it reached the degree of practical use. The target of the curse had expanded to not only one's relatives, but prey or nemesis had also been included in it. It was also extremely useful for battle or hunting.
――The thing that began from a heartfelt prayer from a mother had turned into an extremely polished curse right now.
The way to inherit the curse was by a parent deliberately inflicting a wound on their own child.
「The starting point is… Love, eh.」
So that's how it began. I muttered so while looking at the bloodstain left on my woundless hand.
「And it still is, even now.」
Platy replied so while showing the wound that appeared on her hand again.
「That's why it can only be inherited due to the love between parent and child.」
She revealed a smile as she looked at the wound on her hand. It was a gentle smile that she rarely showed in the demon king castle.
「――Well then, Jilbagias. With this, you've finally taken the first step as a sorcerer. Naturally, you've to practice really hard to make full use of this power but―― At least, you won't die so easily even if you're ambushed.」
Suddenly the air in the room became lighter.
I understood that it was the sign of Platy dispelling the soundproof barrier.
「Garounya! Come in.」
「Yees!!」
Just when I thought about the owner of the shrill voice outside of the room, I saw a new beastfolk with white fur-clad in a maid uniform entering the room.
I've met her a few times before. So she was rather familiar to me.
「Garounya. I appoint you as Jilbagias' attendant. Take Jilbagias as your master, and protect him with your body.」
「Yes! I shall take Jilbagias-sama as my master and protect him with my everything!」
The maid―― Garounya straightened her back immediately and repeated my mother's remark and lastly, she bowed in silence toward me.
「Jilbagias-sama. I might be weaker but, I shall give my life to you. Please take care of me.」[TL : Waifu Get!!]
「Y-Yes…」
I got a subordinate with a heavy feeling…
Though I nodded at her, I signalled with my eyes to Platy, asking for an explanation.
「White tiger clan are a minor clan of beastfolks who are sheltered by our Reiju clan. We saved them from human persecution at the dawn of the demon kingdom. Since then, they pledged their allegiance toward our Reiju clan for generations.」
「Yes! We're saved from the human who hunt us for our fur!」
Garounya added with a lively voice while brushing her fluffy, white fur.
… The destroyed countries in the western part of the continent often clashed with the beastfolk country, and that's why the humans over there used to persecute the beastfolk but…
I could only look at the young and cheerful beastfolk girl with a complicated look on my face.
Platy who had no idea about my state of mind opened her mouth again.
「White tiger clan's loyalty is real, Jilbagias. From here on, Garounya will never betray you, or double-cross you. If there are unscrupulous people who tried to manipulate her to betray you, she will act in accordance with her pledge of allegiance toward you and commit suicide.」
「Yes! I shall gouge out my heart with my own claws before I betray master!」
Garounya affirmed her loyalty with the same lively voice as before.
「Our pride lies in our loyalty. Loyalty is the reason why our clan prospered for a long time.」
Stop, don't jinx yourself.
「I shall serve as your attendant with whole-hearted devotion!」
This girl must be trained to act like it was a normal thing to do, right?
「White tiger clan will never betray you. And as a beastfolk, their magic resistance is low as well… When push comes to shove, she's prepared for you for that situation.」
—You know what I mean, right? Platy was smiling meaningfully as if she said so at the end of her speech.
Low magic resistance. In short―― She was an easy target for 【Transpose Curse】.
So that was the main reason for the Reiju clan to shelter them. Their loyalty was absolute, they would take their own life if someone was trying to use them, and they were willing to take any illness or wound when push comes to shove. Sure enough… they're the most convenient beastfolk clan to be used by the Reiju clan!
「How you treat her is up to you, Jilbagias. You can learn how to handle your subordinate from her. Garounya, if there's something that you feel is wrong, tell Jilbagias about it. You have the privilege to do that due to your loyalty to him.」
「Understood! Thank you very much!」
「… Well then, we have a mountain of things to do today.」
Platy heaved a sigh and looked a bit more relaxed than before.
… Yup. I mean, we returned to the demon king castle with the dragon right after I returned from Hell, and learnt about lineage magic after a brief rest.
「I'll make arrangements for you to learn about Orgi clan's lineage magic. You may take a rest for now, Jilbagias.」
Thus, Platy who came like a storm was also leaving like a storm.
Leaving behind a gift for me, my white tiger attendant―― Garounya.
「Anyhow, congratulation in learning your lineage magic, Jilbagias-sama.」
Sofia, who was standing by in the corner of the room, came closer and congratulated me.
「Congratulation!」
Garounya followed after Sofia to congratulate me.
『Congra~ts』
Ante in me had also brazenly sent her congratulations.
I guess things are gonna get hectic again… In addition to my educator, Sofia, I got an attendant as a bonus.
「… Best regards, Garounya. Sorry but, I've to ask you for something.」
「Yes! Master, what's your order?」
Garounya was tilting her head as she asked me while her ears were moving on their own.
「Please prepare a meal for me. And a bath.」
「Understo~od!」
After replying so, Garounya went and told another maid who was standing outside of the room.
… I'll do my best to avoid the situation in which I had to sacrifice her.
I'll do everything and anything to kill the demon king, and destroy the demon kingdom but―― As expected, even the toughest hero needs a brief respite.
For now, I want to have a warm meal, hot bath, and peaceful sleep without all of those worries.
… I should've at least be allowed to do that, right?
『The heck, sleeping already? I want to stroll around the demon king castle first though.』
Tomorrow, please.
…C'mon, am I not even allowed to have a peaceful sleep now?