I'm Looking for the Male Lead for the Ending - Chapter 49
Chapter 25.2
There was a big difference between the presence and absence of the person who was making a fuss out of fear. Alone in the dark forest, his mind flashed back to the bodies he saw in the forest a moment ago. What happened to the bodies of the dead people that were hardened like stone?
Jen, who was hesitating due to the overwhelming fear, suddenly came to his senses.
‘Even if I go back like this and return empty-handed, I’ll be sentenced to death by His Majesty the King.’
He turned his body, coaxing his legs, which refused to move properly.
A darkness loomed over him.
̊ · : * ✧* : · ̊
Estieren accepted the report Ban handed to him with an expressionless face. After seeing his master’s gaze focused on the report, he hurried to speak.
“As you might have expected, given the Master of the Magic Tower’s intervention, there are no survivors among the Elkar tribe who attacked Young Lady Perideline.”
If there were no excuse, he would kill them even if he had to make one. Given that they had set up the situation for him that much, it didn’t make sense to think there would be any survivors.
Ban, who was observing Estieren’s expression, added in a cautious voice.
“There are currently no survivors to interrogate, so we’re first trying to confirm their identities. However, it seems to be difficult.”
“….”
“Also, there has been a report that one of the Elkar tribe members dealt with by the Master of the Magic Tower appears to be the third prince’s limb.”
“The third prince?”
“Yes, we’re currently checking whether the report is true.”
“It doesn’t seem to be a very credible story.”
Lev, who was listening to Ban’s words, interjected into the conversation between the two. He shrugged his shoulders and spoke as the two people turned their gaze towards him.
“I’ve heard that the Elkar tribe is inherently aggressive, and the first thing they consider when inheriting the throne is their achievements in warfare or combat. So, I think they might have wanted to use Young Lady Perideline to seek revenge on Arbonis and Captain, as well as to legitimize their claim for their succession to the throne.”
His words reminded Estieren of a man with copper skin and a crescent-shaped sword who had roamed the battlefield. Certainly, when he recalled that man’s image, Lev’s words seemed plausible.
Estieren, who was tapping his fingers on the desk as if lost in thought, asked Ban.
“So, do we have any leads on his whereabouts?”
“We’ve recently discovered some fresh footprints near the border forest and are currently tracking them. I’ve written about them at the bottom of the documents.”
Estieren checked the bottom of the documents.
The footprints seemed to have passed by where the dead bodies were, but that was all. Still, that fact didn’t sit well with him.
‘There was no way that man would just pass where the dead body was. He would’ve at least taken his sword with him…’
Moreover, it was strange that the footprints, whose owner was unknown, were heading towards Neitzia. If they were seeking revenge on Arbonis and targeting him, they should have flowed towards the heart of the capital rather than Neitzia, which was at the eastern edge of Arbonis.
‘This is strange.’
Lev, who was watching his master wearing a more serious look on his face, asked him.
“By the way, what kind of magic did the Master of the Magic Tower use in this incident?”
Ban, who was secretly examining Estieren’s expression in response to Lev’s question, added cautiously.
“It was a petrification spell.”
At Ban’s words, Estieren’s head turned towards him. On the other hand, Lev squinted his eyes in disbelief as he responded.
“Are you sure?”
“Are you saying you don’t believe me?”
“It’s not that. It’s just that I don’t understand.”
“What don’t you understand?”
“I don’t think it’s possible that the Magic Tower Master wouldn’t have realized there are side effects to petrification spells.”
“Wouldn’t it be the case if he didn’t intend to save them? Besides, it’s not like there are lingering side effects for the caster.”
Lev, who frowned for a moment at Ban’s words, sighed deeply before responding.
“The importance of ‘side effects’ to Magic Tower Master isn’t about how they affect the caster.”
“What do you mean?”
“What’s important is that there should be no errors in the formula of the petrification spell he’s created.”
“….”
“Well, I don’t know if Ban, who can’t even match the pair of cutlery he’s using, will understand this.”
“What, you b*stard?”
“That’s enough. Lev, get to the point.”
When Ban reluctantly closed his mouth as if there was nothing he could do about Estieren’s intervention, Lev added with an excited look on his face.
“Anyway, to put it simply, it’s hard to believe that someone like Magic Tower Master, who delves into the aesthetics of magic, wouldn’t realize the flaws in a spell he used. However, considering how often it’s used…”
Lev’s words trailed off before stopping as if he wanted to point something out. The two waited silently for him to continue.
Looking at the two with an incredulous expression, he finished his words.
“Perhaps he’s using it to correct that error?”
“Are you asking us that now?!”
As Ban exclaimed, taken aback by Lev’s words, Estieren, who had been silently observing their exchange, narrowed his eyes as he pondered.
‘…Then, is that why he needed the magic ore?’
As he pondered, he overheard Ban and Lev’s conversation.
“Then, what happened last time when you said you were researching a cure for the petrification magic since it has side effects?”
“That was just a few days ago! Do you think research is the same as swinging swords around? It takes time for results to come out!”
“Wow, such a temper.”
“Anyway, it’s not that easy. We also need a lot of magic ores.”
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