I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 42

CHAPTER 42

 

“What on earth have you done, Your Highness?” 

Fordell was bewildered. 

Suddenly, during a serious conversation, Lottie barged in and splashed some strange liquid on Leonard.

Leonard, upon being hit by the liquid, even fainted, and Lottie sank to the floor.

“What is this… blood?” 

“It’s hard to explain.” 

What on earth? Fordell blinked.

Just moments ago, her voice seemed like it could fly away, but in just a few minutes, her voice completely died down. A voice that had become exhausted, just like Leonard earlier. 

Fordell tried to see if there was any pain in Lottie’s expression, but due to her bowed head, her face couldn’t be seen.

“It’s a secret. This is a miracle, Mage Fordell.” 

Lottie, who had risen weakly, staggered heavily. 

However, with her head still bowed, her gaze remained fixed on the floor. 

“…?” 

“Think of it as a miracle that won’t happen again. Understood?”

A glimpse of her pupils could be seen through her hair. Where there should have been pinkish eyes reminiscent of flowers just moments ago, now there were shining blue eyes. But it was fleeting. 

As Lottie shook her head, her hair covered her pupils. When her pupils were visible again, they were a beautiful pink color. 

Did he see it wrong?

“…Understood, Your Highness.” 

“Good.” 

Upon hearing the response, Lottie began to walk. But each step seemed so precarious. 

Should he try to catch her to prevent her from falling? 

But he couldn’t. 

Fordell instinctively realized that he must not touch Lottie now.

“Ah.” 

Lottie, who had reached the door, stopped without looking back. 

“Leonard will not give up on this path.” 

“…”

“This path is entrusted to you, Mage Fordell. And…” 

Lottie, who had coughed lightly as if feeling cold, continued speaking. 

“Today’s meeting at the tower…” 

“Nothing happened.” 

Fordell cut in immediately. 

He didn’t understand. He couldn’t grasp what had happened. 

But one thing he could be sure of was that this incident would never harm them. 

And that Lottie had done something for this situation.

“Today’s meeting at the tower was quiet, wasn’t it, Your Highness Lottie?” 

The head that had been facing forward slowly turned towards Fordell. 

The face, which had been flushed just moments ago, was now as pale as a statue, with lips tinged with purple. 

Yet there was a smile on her lips.

“Yes, today’s meeting at the tower was quiet.” 

With that, Lottie left the room.

What on earth is going on? 

‘Am I really dealing with a child right now?’

Princess Lottie was only 15 years old this year. 

Moreover, she was a naive child who had never been outside the palace.

However, the person he had just faced seemed more seasoned than anyone in this world.

“There are many surprising things in this world…” 

Fordell glanced briefly at the closed door before turning his body to move Leonard, who had collapsed. 

And he was astonished. 

Tremendous mana was flowing from Leonard’s collapsed body.

“The Circle has been restored?” 

The problem that had been tormenting Leonard for a long time had been resolved.

 

* * *

 

“Kukk!”

Damn, really. I had no strength to walk, so I sat down on the floor, leaning against the corridor wall.

“Ugh, blood…” 

As I wiped my mouth with the cuff of my sleeve, blood came out as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Oh my, this is tough. 

I took out a handkerchief from my pocket and covered my mouth before sitting down on the floor.

I knew I had to go back to the room, but my legs just wouldn’t move.

Just need to rest a little. Just a little.

Tap, as I leaned my head against the corridor wall, it seemed like I might survive a little longer.

‘I overdid it this time.’

I blinked slowly.

What I had hidden was the blood I had drawn when I was Carmel.

I had concocted various potions using the blood of the Archmage to increase mana and had even enchanted a fantasy spell that would allow me to meet Carmel.

It was a kind of shortcut.

Just in case I was born again as a talented terminally ill person in magic.

A shortcut that mixed various elixirs to raise mana and enhance magical abilities by meeting Carmel with the blood drawn from the Archmage.

I had made quite an effort for my future self.

‘I never thought I’d use it for someone else.’

I chuckled.

Honestly, when I found the vial hidden in the gap in the wall, my first thought was,

‘Should I just pretend I didn’t see it and use it myself?’

Even though the effect would be greatly reduced, there would still be some effect.

So, I held it in my hand and pondered for a moment.

But the conclusion came soon.

I had a way to extend my life even without this, and it wasn’t fair to take Leonard’s.

Not even a single sip more.

“I’ve wasted my youth too.”

I laughed dismally and shook my head.

Each time, blood dripped from the end of the handkerchief.

‘But now, I have to be careful.’

The reason I was hit so hard was simple.

Because I mixed my blood with Carmel’s blood.

No, was it because the blood was running out after a long time?

Since the blood of the same soul merges well, I hurriedly bled from my palm and mixed it.

“I have to fight.”

I had to move as Carmel in the fantasy.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t remember any of the tricks I used at that time.

I just pushed with force in a hurry.

And the fantasy, just moving that much, strained my body immediately.

Damn, it wasn’t even reality, it was a fantasy.

What’s wrong with this body?

Am I going to be lying down for days this time?

Last time during Viscount Poulton’s incident, it lasted about two days, so I might have to endure for about three days.

‘But it seemed to have worked well, right?’

That Leonard guy, his head seemed to have cracked open wide, showing beyond just the faint sixth circle. 

And he wouldn’t easily give up the path of magic. 

Since I showed him the scenery he could unfold as he grew, he wouldn’t give up easily.

‘Big things for now become small things later.’

As long as I know this fact, the occasions when my vision collapses and distorts will decrease.

‘But then, Fordell will take care of it when the time comes.’

The old man has reached the limit of his physical strength. Really. Let’s rest a bit.

“Haaaah…” 

I took a deep breath.

Drip, drip. Blood kept flowing.

‘I’m tired.’

Blink, blink. My eyes were closing.

I knew I should go back quickly and stop the bleeding. A little tired.

‘Uhh…’

Anyway, it’s just the corridor. Fordell and Leonard will take care of it if they come out, right?

‘Then let’s rest a bit, just a little.’

Just rest for a moment.

I closed my eyes slowly.

 

* * *

 

Blink, blink. 

My vision flickered and returned repeatedly. 

The raindrops hitting my face were not just cold but almost stinging.

What’s this situation? 

‘I’m dizzy.’

Sigh. My breath was shallow. 

I slowly closed my eyes and opened them again.

What was I doing just now? Why was I lying here?

“…”

Something caught my flickering vision.

It was someone who had just shed the guise of a boy. His bright golden hair was dirtied with blood and mud, and his pretty face was similarly dirty.

“…Master.”

The dazzling blue eyes, brighter than jewels, appeared and disappeared between long eyelashes.

Ah, it’s you.

I smiled faintly.

“Master.”

While being fully drenched in rain, the boy asked.

“Why did you save me?”

The boy’s face was filled with various emotions.

Every time he just kept me at arm’s length with a cold face, like an old man.

Now, he looks my age.

I smiled. But even the strength to lift the corners of my mouth was gone, and only the sound of air escaping was heard.

“You could’ve just let me die.”

Now, let’s try a little harder.

“…Originally.”

I struggled to squeeze out my voice.

“Originally, adults are supposed to help children go out properly.”

And.

“You’re my only disciple.”

I raised my hand and wiped his cheek, which was covered in rain and blood. The boy’s face twisted.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

I raised my head with difficulty. If someone saw, they’d think I was dying.

“Thankfully…”

It wasn’t until I was dying that I realized how completely the thick barrier had crumbled.

If only you had accepted a little faster. There was some resentment.

But what can I do? It’s already like this.

I have no choice but to cherish you to live well.

“You have to live well. Understand?”

“Don’t die, can you not die?”

“My research journal, please take care of it. Spread it far and wide in the world.”

“Master, you’re a genius, so you can survive, right? Please don’t die.”

Even if I’m a genius, that’s impossible… Half of my body is gone.

I chuckled bitterly. Then I wiped his cheek one last time.

“Take care, Lionel.”

With those words, I took my last breath.

“I…”

At the moment when I completely breathed my last, Lionel grabbed my hand and his voice sounded determined.

“I’ll follow you to the end, Master.”

…Wait a minute.

Did I tell him that I keep being reborn?

“It doesn’t seem like it!”

As I exclaimed and sat up abruptly.

“Ah!”

Startled, a young girl appeared before me, jumping in surprise.

Huh, wha-what?