Public Enemy of the Continent Reborn

I still have work to do. "

Saying this, come—the black-haired, black-eyed young man who came here from the main building at some unknown time has already walked in front of the master slowly, his handsome face is somewhat indistinguishable because it is half shrouded in shadow It's dark, but it still can't hide the coquettish attitude that makes people hold their hearts firmly at a glance:

"Besides...if I hadn't come here, wouldn't I not have been able to see such a 'wonderful' performance by Master?"

"Serrell?"

Although the consciousness is still a bit blurred, the apprentice's words and attitudes are obviously different from usual, which made the listening Adrian feel more confused and concerned:

"What's going on? You don't look very happy...why?"

"I should ask Master about this question."

"Um?"

"As a proud student, I got married and started a career. Shouldn't I be honored and gratified to be a master? But judging by Master's expression now...it doesn't look happy at all."

"...Why, of course I am very happy. Didn't I also smile and wish you well this afternoon?"

"But you, who are 'very happy', are locked in a room alone and drunk now? Don't tell me this is a celebration... The way Master looks like, it's clearly not happy to see the current situation."

"Ser---"

"Let me guess... Is it my wedding that you don't want to see? Or the fact that I have gained enough power to escape your control? Oh! Maybe it's both... After all, it doesn't matter what it is It makes it even more impossible for your dirty thoughts to come true──It’s really ugly for a person who is usually pious to become like this.”

Accompanied by the opening and closing of the red lips several times, the melodious tone flows from the young man's throat, and the series of words are sharp words that the listener has never expected to see. The secrets and scars, every word and every word, like a knife blade, pierced into the heart that was already wounded and oozing blood.

──Adrian never thought that there would be a day when he would hear such words from his disciple who had always loved and cherished him.

Whether it's the obvious attitude of contempt and disgust, or the implicit meaning of the words, the old mage's back is almost uncontrollably chilled—it's not like he didn't notice Threi Er was abnormal at the moment, but the true meaning hidden in his apprentice's words made him lose the courage to continue to explore.Some kind of premonition hidden in the bottom of my heart made the elder blurt out "You are tired, go back and rest early" and wanted to end the topic and forcefully send the guest away, but before he could actually do it, because of the words that came into his ears immediately Completely froze—

"As long as I think about what kind of thoughts Master has in raising me, and how he usually lusts after me, I will feel disgusted."

"No, I──"

Hearing the words that made people fall into the abyss instantly, Adrian instinctively blurted out a rebuttal, but before he could continue, the young man with black hair and black eyes sneered and interrupted:

"Do you think you are hiding well?"

The tone of Serrell's question was tinged with vengeful pleasure and disdain... "Why do you think I suddenly decided to leave the mage tower to go out to practice? It's not because I can't stand your eyes... As long as I think that Master has such dirty thoughts about me, maybe one day I can't hold back and burst out, I can't sleep or eat, and I can't stay in the Master Tower no matter what."

"No, it won't... How could I be willing to hurt you, Serrell? No matter what kind of changes in Master's feelings towards you, you are the most important treasure of Master, so how could Master be willing to-"

"That's just one side of your story."

Seeing the scorched face of the elder and eagerly trying to explain something, a barely noticeable red glow flashed in the young man's eyes, but then he returned to Mo Leng with a sneer and disdain, and continued:

"At the end of the day, don't you feel sick to have this idea of ​​someone who is your child's equivalent? Why do you think I've tried so hard to get and build something all these years? Because I've had enough of the fear, I am afraid of the day when everything I have may be taken away by you at any time. I need strength, I need status. Because only by grasping these in my own hands, can I really get rid of the state that may become your plaything at any time ... "Master"."

"...So in your heart, Master is such an unbearable and untrustworthy person?"

Adrian never thought that the feelings he thought he had hidden so well had already been exposed; never thought that... in the eyes of the child he cared for and cherished with all his heart, he was so dirty, despicable and needy. People are always on guard against the presence of vigilance.

He never thought that what the eagle leaving the nest really wanted was not to grow out of the blue and spread its wings, but to get rid of the mage tower that was supposed to be its safe haven, and to escape from the self who thought it was the opponent's backer...

"Master. 』

"Master...Father? 』

"Um!Adrian is not just my teacher, but more like my dad, so I will call you Master!It means being both a teacher and a father! 』

"Okay, okay...just call me Master."From now on, this will be your unique address Luo! 』

"Um!Master! 』

In the confusion of mind, unconsciously, what emerged in my mind were the childish words of the child who had closed himself 17 years ago when he first accepted him as a relative.That was one of the most cherished memories in his life, but it became so ridiculous, ironic and sad under the contrast of the reality in front of him.

──He once thought that the heartache he felt when he saw Serrell and Gillian exchanging vows this afternoon was the ultimate, but it was not until this moment that he finally understood what it means to be heartbroken and what it means to be heartbroken .

But Adrian was powerless and in no mood to explain or conceal something.

He just took a step back in embarrassment, and showed a painful and old-fashioned smile to meet the young man's eyes full of disgust, and asked with self-deprecating words:

"Then what are you doing here now? On the wedding night, shouldn't you stay away from me, a dirty and despicable person, so that Gillian can comfort and accompany you?"

"No, Master, I—"

As if deterred by the elder's performance, Serrell's handsome face flashed a blankness and blankness that did not match the sharpness and sternness before—Adrian was taken aback by the obvious abnormal performance, but But before he had time to clarify further, he was forced to stop because of the young man in front of him suddenly turning to a ruthless expression and then slamming into his arms fiercely.

──A pain and loss of strength that he had not felt for many years, the body was severely injured, and then spread from the abdomen to the limbs.

"Because I need freedom, Master."

He heard Serrell put his head in his ear and murmured, as if he was declaring something, but his voice was as rigid as an alchemy creature, without a single trace of ups and downs and emotions... "And with your strength, I want to There is only one way to truly be free..."

"Th... Rael..."

At this moment, feeling the massive loss of his own vitality, and finally understanding the situation in front of him, Adrian smiled wryly, but he did not use his remaining strength to push away the traitor in front of him who killed his teacher, but released the domain Resisting the terrifying suction coming from the wound in his abdomen that intended to swallow his soul together, he opened his arms that were originally hanging down by his side, and gently encircled the young man who was still tightly in his arms.

──I don’t know when, the black-haired young man’s body, which was full of defense, hostility and resistance, was already relaxed, but it didn’t simply relax, but turned into some kind of panic trembling; The contempt and disdain have disappeared without a trace, replaced by the panic, bewilderment and worry that penetrated deep into the eyes... The red lips that uttered hurtful words several times not long ago opened and closed several times, but they couldn't even get out a word In the end, I could only tremble and condense a few broken words:

"Master... I..."

"I know. It's not your fault, Sorel..."

Feeling that the young man let go of the hand that was holding the blade tremblingly, while pressing the wound around the wound in vain to try to stop the bleeding, he carefully hugged his body that was getting weaker and weaker. Adrian's wry smile deepened, but he did not stop Resisting, he just raised his palm and patted the young man's back, slightly parting his lips and comforting in a low voice;

"You just followed 'his' way and were influenced by 'his' spiritual magic to do this...I know it, Serrell. Master doesn't blame you."

"It's the master's fault. It's the master who shouldn't have such a dirty mind. It shouldn't make you feel suspicious, worried, and fearful. As a result, there is a gap, and it becomes a pawn that "he" uses to deal with the master... "

"Don't say it...don't say it now, master...your injury...the knife is still stuck in it, why the blood keeps—"

The warmth and wetness constantly oozing from his palms made the young man's voice choked up even more in his helplessness. He was flustered and helpless like a child, but where could he see the usual high-spirited appearance of "Duke Clancy"? "You must have a solution, right? You are a demigod, a demigod with endless life, you will not—"

"If the demigod does not perish, Master will not be the only demigod on Nutaier Continent now... What's more, this knife is an artifact handed down from the ancient times? Back then, I thought "he" was treating you sincerely." I will send this fierce soldier to you for self-defense, but I didn’t expect that it was to pave the way for today’s conspiracy, to gain my power... even you were counted into it..."

I thought that I would spend the next long years licking my wounds day and night with fruitless thoughts, but I didn't expect that death, which should be far away from him, would come so suddenly and easily... Looking in my arms For the young man who had already burst into tears and whose black jade-like eyes were bloodshot with regret, Adrian's eyes softened, and he said softly:

"But do you know? Serrell...Compared to Sifa's conspiracy, compared to the betrayal of "best friend", what hurts me more...is that you think I will hurt you."

"No, it's not! Master! That's not---"

"That's right... Except for the knife that you completed under the control of "him", the rest of the words and emotions... are nothing but thoughts that existed deep in your heart, but were only suppressed by Xifa's spirit. It’s just that the spell induction has grown bigger. If you never have the slightest shadow of doubt in your heart, even Xifa can’t make you say those... words that are really enough to shake my defense.”

"No... no... Master..."

Although it's too late to say anything now, but listening to the words and sentences in his ears, and seeing the face of the elder who was regarded as his own father, who was getting more and more tired due to blood loss, Serel knew that such words and denials were too pale Powerless, but still couldn't help shaking his head while tightening the arms supporting the master's body, or even lowered his head, buried his tearful face deeply on the side of the elder's neck, trying to prove what he said was true with actions, It proves that those hurtful words just now are just the result of the enemy's manipulation, and it proves that he has no rejection, defense and disgust for Master, but is still the little apprentice who was full of admiration and affection for Master back then.

But in the face of this action that would have made him both happy and tormented in the past, the silver-haired elder just smiled wryly, and there was no trace of the waves and throbbing in his heart.

Even if he had some filthy thoughts, deep down in his heart, he still regarded the person in front of him as his inheritance and child, so how could he be willing to make the other party suffer because of his own selfish desires?Just like now, even though he was hurt so deeply by Serrell's previous words, and even though there was inevitably a bit of resentment in his heart due to being misunderstood, seeing Serrell's sad expression, he never Unable to continue the words that were close to venting, he finally had to gently rub the young man's head buried in his neck, weak but still unable to hide a low sigh of love and affection.

"How could I be willing to hurt you? My child."

"Even if you are not related by blood, you are my little apprentice who grew up under the care of me. You are the successor I recognize and the most precious treasure I have ever owned..."

As he said that, Adrian, who had already made up his mind, tightened his arms as if resisting the suction force from the wounded blade, but at the same time, he secretly separated out a mental force that pulled him uncontrollably. Drops of blood were quietly laid out one by one on the carpet to form a magic circle...

That was his blessing, gift...and farewell to Serrell.

"I'm sorry...Serrell."

He said softly, with emotion and bitterness, but more because of his reluctance to part, and his longing for the young man in his arms...

"If it's possible, Master also wants to be your master, only treat you as the most precious and precious child, without such dirty thoughts..."

──Without such dirty thoughts, Serrell would not try to avoid himself because of awareness, would not fall into "his" calculations, and would not become "his" to use against himself The pawns will not fall into the predicament of losing their backing and being framed by conspiracy...

But no matter how much he blames himself and regrets, there is only one thing Adrian can do now.

Looking at the black-haired young man who was still leaning against him tightly in his arms, and feeling the elemental fluctuations in the air caused by the completion of the blood formation on the carpet, the elder no longer hesitated, and immediately activated the magic circle with his spiritual power, Yingying's The light came on, and immediately enveloped and restrained the young man's body, dragging him away from the body of the elder on the sofa, who had no more strength—

"What...! Master! Stop!"

The familiar spatial changes made Serrell understand the master's intention almost as soon as he saw the light of the magic circle, and couldn't help struggling violently, swinging his hands and feet, trying to break away from the traction of the magic circle:

"Stop... Please, Master... Master is not dirty... I am the one who is dirty, and I am the one who is filthy. I am too stupid and my mind is too dark, that's why... I beg you , Master, I was wrong, I was not good, so don’t leave me, don’t leave me alone──”

But this time, the elder who always doted on his apprentice ignored the young man's plea.

──Because he has no way to continue to look after and protect that child.

"From now on, you will be the master of the mage tower... No matter what methods Xifa has, you must live well, Serrell."

Seeing that the space door connected to his mage tower has been opened behind the young man, after saying this, after glancing at the child greedily for the last time, Adrian finally made up his mind to increase the output of mental power, and sent the boy he last The most cherished child pushed through the door and was sent back to the mage's tower thousands of miles away.

──Then, at the moment when the space door was closed and the magic circle disappeared, the silver eyes that were still somewhat warm turned cold in an instant, and looked down at the whole body ink with a little sarcasm. Zi, was firmly nailing the dagger in his abdomen that was crazily sucking his life.

Stabbed by the legendary ancient artifact "Slayer God Dagger", even if he is a demigod, the ending will not be better than that of an ordinary person... But even if he has fallen into In the opponent's trap, even if death is inevitable, he will never let that person do what he wants.

"Do you want to replace me as a demigod with this... Unfortunately, you miscalculated one thing, Sifer."

The reason why it is difficult to cross the rank from legend to demigod is because what is needed is not only the accumulation and use of power, but also the improvement of state of mind and the touch and understanding of the world and the rules... I want to come to " The reason why that person" chose to use the god-slaying dagger was to use the special ability of the god-slaying dagger to imprison his soul as a shortcut to comprehend the rules.

But regardless of whether that person can use this to break through the ranks, Adrian will not let himself become the bait for the enemy's growth──Accompanied by a strong spatial fluctuation, dense formations and dimensional rifts instantly appeared on the silver-haired elder's body In the next moment, the elder's body quickly shrank like a deflated ball, and the long hair that shone like mithril became dry; Eyes also lost their original brilliance little by little after experiencing countless unimaginable pains, until the pupils that lost focus were completely slackened and could no longer reflect anything...

──When the pattern disappeared and the dagger that was firmly nailed to the elder's abdomen fell to the ground, the elder's body was completely reduced to powder and dissipated in the countless dimensional cracks around him. a trace...

On September 9873, 9 in the continental calendar, space demigod Adrian Clancy died at the hands of his lover Serrell Clancy at the age of 13.