For My Birthday, I Was Gifted Five Husbands - Chapter 185

On maps of Corbenic, there was no separate marking for a mana-stone mine.

That was precisely why Eugenie—who had conducted repeated research for her thesis—had never once associated this region with it.

‘So they don’t mine it in massive quantities… but they don’t want to openly reveal it either, is that it?’

Perhaps it was because she had already visited the abandoned mine in the Troys territory once before.

She merely examined the kinds of terrain likely to conceal mana stones, yet the closer she got to a particular mountainside, the stronger her certainty became.

There were mana stones buried within that mountain.

“So that’s the reason…”

When she confirmed that underground water originating beneath the mountain merged into a larger river system, a faint line formed between her brows.

It was similar to what had happened at the abandoned mine in Troys, and to the phenomena in Napier territory and elsewhere.

‘The mana stones here must have dissolved into the groundwater and affected it.’

But as she approached, a chill ran through her so sharply that the fine hairs all over her body stood on end. It was on a completely different level from the desolation she had felt at the Troys mine.

This wasn’t just mana stone energy. It was the same cold she had felt while watching the Sabnac clan die.

“…How much is buried in there?”

“Who knows?”

“You killed them and don’t even remember?”

“I’ve lived five centuries. My memories blur. When you reach my age, you’ll understand.”

Alokes looked at the woman scowling at him with an expression tinged with affection.

That place was the true source of the Schroeder family’s wealth and the final destination of those with magical power whom he had captured.

If he told her everything—if he told this woman, who looked at him with revulsion for killing the likes of the Sabnac clan, that he had thrown nearly a thousand people into that ‘furnace’ over five hundred years—what would she think of him?

‘Ah… how thrilling.’

Part of him hoped she wouldn’t look at him with disgust. Yet at the same time, the stimulation of those amber eyes piercing into him made his spine heat pleasantly. Still, he masked his inner thoughts and gently changed the subject.

“It would be best not to go inside, Eugenie Norton.”

“Oh? Are there a lot of guards?”

“Hm… that too, but.”

It was obvious how this place had remained unknown even to the locals of Corbenic. Strict security was in place, even if hidden, but absolute, preventing even herb gatherers from wandering too deep into the mountains.

Of course, if Eugenie Norton and he exerted themselves, they could break through. But the real question was whether it would be safe once they did.

‘Sylvea’s final command is to throw Eugenie Norton into that furnace…’

Like any mana-stone mine, the energy grew denser the deeper one descended. The furnace where he had thrown magic users to generate mana stones was no different.

For now, he had managed to delay Sylvea’s command. But who could say?

‘If she steps inside, the command might activate on its own.’

He couldn’t risk Eugenie Norton being killed before he severed the contract with the Schroeder family.

‘At the very least, her power needs to grow stronger first…’

But if he explained all of this honestly, she would only grow more wary of him.

‘Hm. That wouldn’t do.’

Her disgusted gaze was stimulating, yes—but if she distanced herself entirely, that would be another matter.

Just then, a sudden ringing in his ears made Alokes frown.

“Ah. Damn.”

“What? What is it?”

“…Sylvea is calling. Tsk.”

“……”

Eugenie stared at him, momentarily speechless. His expression was like someone commenting on a bug crawling across the ground.

‘So much for that dry, desert-like business relationship you claimed.’

When he spoke Sylvea’s name, his face was utterly indifferent. Yet when he turned back to Eugenie, that lifeless look vanished, replaced with a pleased smile.

“Don’t worry, Eugenie Norton. I won’t tell her you’re here.”

Alokes took her hand—the one newly marked with a fresh sigil—and bowed in the old-fashioned manner of his era.

“I would rather avoid losing an arm myself.”