Repeat Vice - The Villainous Noble Doesn't Want to Die, So He Swore to Not Die As One of The Four Heavenly Kings

Chapter 110.7: The Dark Noble and the Seafaring Noble

A little while after Rofus and Fol exchanged their engagement vows at the clock tower, Fol received the title of Viscount directly from the king. Following this, she went to the Mage Corps branch for a magic power test.

The test involved simply dropping a single drop of blood onto a special magical tool resembling a crystal. This tool analyzes the magical elements in the blood.

The magic power test is mandatory for anyone who gains a position of power if they possess magic, such as a commoner who rises to become a knight. The test reveals the approximate amount of magic, its attributes, and the bloodline.

The reason for the test is to clarify the bloodline when one becomes a knight or noble, as the quality and quantity of magic are heavily influenced by lineage. Thus, in noble society, bloodlines are of utmost importance.

A “bloodline name” corresponds to the “Ray” in Rofus Ray Lightless, which holds a stronger connection than the family name “Lightless” granted by the royal family. This name remains unchanged for life.

The “bloodline name” is a prestigious name that can only be held by those of magical classes like royalty, nobility, and knights. Even if a commoner possesses magic, they cannot have this name.

Since the founding of the kingdom, the Mage Corps has accumulated bloodline information on magic users. When a magic user is tested, their bloodline often matches records from the past, and they take that name as their “bloodline name.”

If an unrecorded bloodline is found, a more detailed investigation determines its characteristics and origins before a new “bloodline name” is given. Discovering an unrecorded bloodline can cause a stir, involving the upper echelons of the Mage Corps and even making the newspapers.

Fol’s bloodline name was “Dora,” a historic name dating back to the kingdom’s founding. Although it wasn’t new, the examiner was surprised the bloodline had continued, despite the family having Fallen into obscurity centuries ago. Fol was offered to have this published in the newspaper but declined politely.

After confirming a bloodline name, it’s customary for the royal family to grant a noble house name. However, since Fol’s bloodline linked her to a Fallen noble family, she had a choice: revive the old family name or receive a new noble house name from the royal family.

This choice could affect noble factions, so Fol was set to discuss it with Rofus. Although typically the head of the recommending noble family would instruct her, Rudens arranged for Fol to consult with Rofus, not yet the official head, to give her experience and allow the engaged couple some time together.

Since becoming the hero “Black Magus” who saved the capital, Rofus had been quite busy. The engagement plans with the Vermeil Marquisate had kept suitors at bay, but after his heroic deeds, marriage proposals flooded in from minor nobles, knights, and even merchants wanting to connect with him. Even the royal family made an offer, and the Vermeil Marquisate requested to extend the engagement period.

Apart from marriage proposals, Rofus was involved in diplomatic efforts to reduce Raymond’s sentence, assisting with the capital’s reconstruction through his familiars, searching for the missing Raymond, and managing parts of the Lightless territory—all while the academy was closed.

He barely had time to spend with Fol since their engagement, who refrained from asking to meet, not wanting to burden him. However, thanks to Rudens’ arrangements, they had a chance to meet, which made Fol’s heart flutter slightly.

Caldera seemed more excited, planning an elaborate date despite it being a mere consultation, which Fol rejected. The consultation’s purpose remained paramount, unsure how much time Rofus could spare. Rofus, however, had managed to clear his schedule from morning till dusk—essentially a full day.

When Caldera heard this, he pumped his fist in victory, while Fol, though exasperated, couldn’t help but feel delighted.

On the appointed morning, Fol knocked on Rofus’ private room door in the men’s dormitory.

In Rofus’ room, intermittent crashing sounds echoed. Soundproof and earthquake-resistant wards prevented the noise from escaping. Rofus, enveloped in dark magic, swung his fist, adjusting his power.

Standing in front of him was the Elf King Baaldel, his shadow familiar. Baaldel’s magic barrier shattered easily, and Rofus’ fist struck his face, sending him flying into the wall with a tremendous impact.

Rofus flexed his hand while addressing the crumpled Barl Del, who struggled to his feet, crossing his hands in an “X.”

“Hmm… I held back, but it’s still no good. One more time, Baal.”

At Rofus’ merciless encore, Baaldel trembled but quickly regenerated his head and stood before Rofus.

“Hold your magic barrier at full power—”

“—What are you doing, Rofus?”

A sudden voice froze Rofus mid-punch. He turned to see Fol standing there with a puzzled expression.

“Fol? Is it that time already?”

Rofus checked the clock; there were still 30 minutes until their appointed time.

“No, I got here early… I knocked, but I heard loud noises and thought something was wrong—oh, sorry for coming in uninvited.”

“No need to apologize. I left the door unlocked for you.”

Rofus gestured for Baaldel to retreat, who glared at Fol before disappearing into the shadows.

“Glad you came. Have a seat.”

“Okay.”

Nervous about entering Rofus’ private room for the first time, Fol sat on the sofa as instructed. Rofus lightly waved his finger. Instantly, the disordered room was enveloped in magic and began to repair itself. Fallen furniture returned to its place, and gouges in the walls healed.

Fol’s eyes widened in amazement at the casual display of magic.

“Wow… What was that?”

“That? Oh, nothing special. The wards in this room include a ‘Restoration’ spell. I just activated it.”

“Restoration?”

“Yes, basically the room remembers the arrangement and state of the furniture. Regular use keeps dust from accumulating, so no need for cleaning.”

“Magic is really convenient, huh.”

Fol was impressed, but quickly focused back on Rofus.

“But seriously, what were you doing? Punching your familiar… Are you that stressed?”

Worried, Fol asked, but Rofus shook his head.

“No, it was practice.”

“Practice? For what?”

“You remember Raymond, my friend who went missing?”

“Oh, yes. He was brainwashed and summoned monsters… He was an important friend of yours, right?”

“Important… well, yes, something like that.”

Rofus looked slightly embarrassed but then clenched his fist, veins bulging on his forehead.

“When I find that arrogant guy, I’m practicing to hit him hard enough to hurt but not kill him.”

“Why!?”

Surprised, Fol exclaimed, “Isn’t he your important friend?”

“His magic barrier is quite formidable. To break it and inflict more than minor injuries, I need to use a certain amount of force. But too much force might kill him, which would defeat the purpose. Yet, if I hold back too much, it won’t satisfy me.”

Rofus passionately argued that the ideal situation would be to inflict a wound that couldn’t be healed by a recovery spell that normally takes six months to heal.

Fol tilted her head back skeptically.

“Um, he is your friend…right?”

“Of course. But even among friends, there is a need for decorum. For his reduced sentence, I had to lower my head to my father, which I didn’t want to do, ask August and Annegelt to intervene with their families, and spent endless efforts on maneuvering other nobles and manipulating information. I even had to owe a favor to the cursed Six Gods Church. And despite being extremely careful, we barely managed to get him acquitted…”

Rofus raised his fist and smashed the armrest of the chair, shattering it.

“That conceited man disappeared without a trace, despite our exhaustive search. He even sent a letter mocking us. After being humiliated to this extent, there’s no punishment for beating him as long as he doesn’t die.”

And if there is any divine retribution, I will kill the god who gives it, Rofus thought, trembling with his fists.

“Well…take it easy.”

Seeing Fol shrugging her shoulders, Rofus calmed his anger and waved his index finger again.

The shattered armrest was restored to its original state.

“…Sorry. I got a bit emotional.”

“It’s okay. I was actually starting to think the current Rofus was too calm compared to before.”

Rofus shrugged at Fol’s smiling face.

“You could say the same about you, Fol. When we first met, you brazenly picked a fight with me.”

“Oh, you remember… I was pretending to be a man back then—actually, forget about it.”

“How could I forget such a strong first impression? That cheeky brat is now…”

“What? Are you still saying I’m boyish?”

“No? Rather, you’ve become quite feminine—beautiful, even.”

Fol’s face grew hot at Rofus’s unexpected words.

“T-thanks, I guess?”

She looked away in embarrassment, her cheeks flushed.

Fol, trying to change the topic, glanced around and noticed the recently restored armrest.

“By the way, that restoration spell? It’s really handy being able to fix broken things.”

“Ah, this is a technique called ‘Restoration,’ which I have cast over the entire room using barrier magic. Strictly speaking, it’s not exactly magic. This restoration is simply one phenomenon caused by the technique embedded in the barrier magic.”

“Uh… I don’t quite get it. Isn’t that magic?”

“Is it hard to understand? Simply put, it’s not a ‘Restoration’ spell. The repair of damaged items is just a secondary effect of the barrier magic trying to return the room to its original state.”

“Sorry, I still don’t get it.”

Fol responded seriously, and Rofus chuckled.

“Well, it’s fine to think of it as magic. It’s still caused by magic, after all. Sorry for making it sound complicated.”

“No, I’m the one who asked and didn’t Follow. But magic is amazing. I’m terrible at it, though.”

As Fol scratched her cheek, Rofus tilted his head.

“But you’ve used magic before.”

“Huh? No, I can’t use magic.”

“But you used healing magic once.”

Fol had once used healing magic when Rofus was injured in a battle against a demon whale.

Nowadays, Rofus constantly uses magic detection, which would burn out the brain of any normal mage within an hour. He had no reason to suspect Fol wasn’t a mage back then.

However, Fol could no longer use healing magic after that.

“That healing magic—I didn’t use it.”

“What…?”

“I heard later that Luna did it. She watched the whole fight with that monster whale from afar.”

“Luna…Lunamar?”

“Yes. Luna said she read my intentions and acted in my place.”

“She acted on your intentions… So, Lunamar used your magic power?”

“I guess so? Luna usually uses my magic power when casting spells.”

“I see.”

Rofus nodded, understanding.

The relationship between a spirit bearer and their spirit is not well understood.

However, if Lunamare cast the spell on Fol’s behalf, it made sense.

In the story, Faratiana mainly fought using physical enhancements but was occasionally supported by Lunamare’s water magic.

The relationship between Fol and Lunamare seemed like that of an older brother watching over and assisting a clumsy younger sister.

Even Rofus, who had seen their relationship through the story in his dreams, didn’t fully grasp the depth of their connection.

“Well, if you have magic power, you should be able to use magic. I could get you an introductory book on magic if you’d like?”

Rofus almost suggested enrolling in a magic academy, but Fol quickly shook her head.

“No, it’s fine! I’m interested in magic, but with Luna around, it’s unnecessary. If I could use magic, Luna might sulk because she’d have less to do in battles.”

“Is that so?”

The relationship between a spirit bearer and their spirit was unknown territory for Rofus.

If it could strain their relationship, he wouldn’t insist.

After some small talk, Rofus brought up the main topic.

He had adjusted his schedule to spend more time with Fol today but couldn’t let the opportunity pass without discussing something important.

“Fol…it’s time to talk about your noble house name—”

Fol suddenly leaned forward, almost touching noses with Rofus, making him pause.

“Is something on my face?”

“You have dark circles.”

“Dark circles…?”

Rofus frowned at the odd comment.

“I noticed you have bags under your eyes.”