Despite Being an Extra, I'm the Villain's Childhood Friend - Chapter 53.2
Chapter 53.2
“So, what is this?”
“There’s supposed to be something, child.”
“….!”
Shocked by the sudden insult, Robert’s eyes welled up. However, Michael’s intervention made him miss the timing to get angry.
“What a peculiar book. It looks like a novel.”
The sleek, modern binding was unfamiliar to the people of this world. Michael kept turning the unusual-looking book over, clearly fascinated.
But that was all.
Compared to Izeline’s reaction when she first discovered this book at the dusty bookstore and fell into deep contemplation, it was an utterly ordinary response.
“Izeline, you have the talent of a mage. I swear on my life as a mage.”
“No, you don’t have to go that far…”
She was flustered.
She had blurted it out only because she had to remain in Souvri in front of Duke Brioche… Come to think of it, what if she really didn’t have any magical talent? No, the probability of not having any was higher. She definitely wouldn’t have any.
‘I’m just an ordinary child who stumbled upon a book. There’s no mention of me in the prophecy.’
However, she couldn’t reveal why she recognized the book.
If her arrival in this world were discovered, she might be taken to the Magic Tower and used as an experimental subject, and eventually killed. The experimental ambitions of mages—including the unofficial ones—often went beyond the realm of morality, and that included using living beings in experiments.
‘Creepy.’
The thought that it could be her sent shivers down her spine involuntarily. On the other hand, unaware of her state, Gerald patted her shoulder.
“Stop slacking off because you don’t want to study.”
“….”
“You need to learn the theory first, so I’ll bring you a lot of books tomorrow.”
“….”
‘…Please don’t.’
Izeline felt like crying.
She knew it wouldn’t be long before her lack of talent was exposed, and now she had to study theory on top of that.
The thought of being cruelly bullied later for being seen as foolish worried her.
In the meanwhile, Gerald reached out to retrieve the book—or at least, he tried to. Unlike Michael, who had returned it without hesitation, Robert tightened his grip on the book.
Gerald raised an eyebrow.
“Give it to me. This is precious.”
“…Teacher.”
Robert hesitated and then loosened his grip. However, he caught Gerald’s eye.
“About what you said earlier.”
“What?”
“This.”
His hand pointed at his chest.
The issue of Izeline’s whereabouts had been temporarily postponed due to the ongoing discussion, but he had wanted to ask all along: How do you know my lifespan?
“Ah.”
Gerald let out a short exclamation and then smiled, a smile that suddenly felt dangerous.
“Shouldn’t you know best?”
Rip—!
At the same time, he ripped open Robert’s shirt, tearing it apart from both sides. Buttons flew off with a clatter.
“What are you doing?!”
Izeline exclaimed in shock.
Michael’s eyes widened in surprise as well.
However, the two parties involved only stared at each other calmly. Gerald, who calmly laughed off Robert’s glare, continued speaking with interest.
“It’s been five years, and the Krug has only progressed this much?”
“….”
“There’s only one answer.”
“….”
And then he placed his hand on Robert’s heart. Robert flinched but didn’t avoid it. Nonetheless, he was soon bewildered by the act that followed.
“What are you doing now…!”
“Hold still.”
Robert froze at the calm yet powerful voice, unable to shake his nervousness.
Gerald’s purple mana seeped into his skin, so delicate it felt like a spider’s web. Robert had never seen anyone wield mana with such precision. Despite this being the first time he felt another person’s mana within him, it didn’t feel strange.
He wasn’t hurting him. He was examining.
As he sensed the mana dividing into countless branches, moving swiftly and meticulously, Robert was gripped by an unfamiliar sensation.
He was the one who devised it…
It was a method that only he know…
How can this person… as if it was natural…
“You’re top-notch. I have to commend you.”
Robert’s red eyes trembled finely as he watched Gerald remove his hand.
Michael, watching all of this from just a step away, felt his eyes tremble in shock. Why was he suddenly reminded of Robert, who had coughed up blood upon hearing of Izeline’s disappearance three years ago at this moment? And even the actions that young child had taken back then…
[ You… what did you just do? ]
[ Emergency treatment. ]
[ You stopped the Krug’s progress with mana? ]
[ Yeah. ]
[ How? Even the researchers at the Magic Tower couldn’t do that. ]
[ Well, it’s because they’re stupid. ]
[ …. ]
They weren’t stupid. They were hiding it.
As if he had been hit in the back of the head with a blunt object, even though it wasn’t his own business, his head felt numb. Barely regaining his senses, Michael pressed on.
“Why did you keep it a secret?”
“It was the Magic Tower’s decision.”
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