Chapter 10
Could it be that he thinks my way of purification is filthy too? No. That can’t be it. There’s no way.
Flustered, I lowered my head to avoid his eyes, hiding my wavering gaze. My eyes fell on the snow-white bandages wrapped round and round.
The reason I had assumed this man would accept me was because I knew how desperately he wanted purification abilities.
The previous Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, that is, Chase’s parents, were caught in a sudden mana storm and met a horrific death. It wasn’t just because they were the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess responsible for the North. Because he himself bore wounds caused by mana, he was all the more desperate for mana purification.
Not only that, in the original work, Chase was also the last person to speak with Nita, who had been experimented on by Michael.
‘Your power isn’t filthy.’
Those words saved Nita. Regretting that she hadn’t gone to Chase on the day she was abandoned in the North, she breathed her last.
At that time, Nita was barely human in appearance due to the horrific experiments she had suffered at Michael’s hands. Even so, Chase showed not the slightest hesitation as he wrapped Nita in his own cloak, lifted her up, and escaped the castle.
He was that kind of man. That was why I had naturally thought he would accept me.
I bit down hard on my lower lip.
“I just want to confirm one thing.”
“What?”
“Are you rejecting me because you think my power is filthy?”
Chase frowned as if to say this was the most absurd nitpicking he had ever heard.
“Filthy?”
“You saw it. The mana flowing into my body.”
“Ah. That.”
Chase nodded lightly.
“It was a bit unusual. It’s a different method from ordinary mages, isn’t it? Absorbing mana into your body and purifying it.”
So he did see it. That’s why he said things like ‘get rid of it’.
So this really was the reason?
“That’s why I’m asking if that’s the problem. Because I purify mana that way… because it’s filthy, you’re sending me back…”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Chase asked me back instead.
“Do you have some kind of problem?”
“What do you mean? That’s exactly what I just said to you.”
“No, I’m asking whether that method of purification causes some kind of problem in your body.”
“…There’s nothing like that.”
“Then isn’t that the end of it? No matter how it’s done, the mana was purified, so it’s over. Filthy? What kind of stupid nonsense is that?”
What is this? It’s exactly the same as the original work. Then that means it’s not because he thinks my power is filthy.
Ah, then maybe this?
“Then is it because I look filthy? But something like this washes right off.”
I smiled as I rubbed my cheeks briskly with the back of my hand.
“Tsk.”
That expression is really unpleasant. Well, it’s true that this messy appearance isn’t going to disappear just from rubbing a few times.
It’s not a very pleasing reaction, but this probably isn’t the reason either.
“Then why? What exactly is the problem? Why do I have to go back? Please tell me a reason I can accept.”
Chase ran a hand through his hair as if genuinely irritated, then roughly snatched up a sheet of paper that had been on the bedside table and threw it in front of me.
“Disgrace to the family, failure, dropout, problem child, idiot.”
“…”
“Want me to keep going?”
I don’t know who wrote this report, but they sure did a thorough investigation in just one night.
On the paper were words far more vicious and explicit, to the point that what Chase had said felt mild by comparison. Trash, vermin, cripple, and so on.
“I asked for a proper mage who’s sturdy and not weak. And they send me someone treated like that? I don’t know what excuse the family told you to use, but don’t push it. Before I really lose my temper.”
With one hand trembling violently, I gathered up the blanket and clenched it.
He’s sending me back just because I grew up hearing things like that? I can’t accept it. I may not be a proper mage, but that has nothing to do with being sturdy and not weak…
At that moment, a ray of light flashed through my mind. Earlier, and just now too, he said sturdy and not weak, didn’t he? He added that condition.
“Don’t tell me you’re doing this because I look weak?”
Chase’s eyebrows creased, subtle but unmistakable.
Damn it! That’s it!
“I can’t stand twig-like humans like you.”
M-me, a twig-like human…
I’ve never heard that kind of expression before. I was left speechless.
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