The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman - Chapter 25: Mentally Disturbed

The blood that had been gushing from my right hand stopped flowing.

The power of enhancement magic could only be described as wonderful. Even a baseball-sized magic spell had easily blown away part of the human body. If I had made something larger than that—

Fear mixed with a strange elation filled my chest. My arm would probably have been blown off entirely. In that case, even my divine prayer couldn’t regenerate it. I’d have to ask a highest-ranking cardinal or someone affiliated with the temple.

But I won’t give up. I’ll immediately improve my magical power control ability and pursue the power of magic. Even if my arm really gets blown off in the end, I’d have no regrets. That much probably wouldn’t kill me.

“Really… Luka is an idiot.”

Seeing me unable to stop grinning, Sheila voiced her criticism.

“What’s that all of a sudden? How rude.”

“Someone who magnificently blew off their right hand in front of another person has no right to say that.”

“True enough.”

When I really thought about it, I was the rude one. This would normally be traumatic. Though I couldn’t see anything like anxiety about magic in Sheila’s demeanor.

“What was that in the first place? It didn’t look like Luka’s magic contained enough magical power to blow off a hand.”

“Aura.”

“Aura?”

“Yeah, aura. The ability that enhances the workings of all things. I incorporated that into my magical power. No, it would be more accurate to say I used it to enhance my magical power.”

“You can do such a thing?”

“You saw it yourself, didn’t you? Maximum power was demonstrated with minimum magical power. If I increase the magical power further, even more power will come out.”

“The danger will also increase.”

That’s one of those things we don’t talk about. Can you move forward while considering danger?

“Let’s think of my right hand as a noble sacrifice and give up on it. What, even if it’s blown to pieces, divine prayer can restore it. Conversely, if it’s just one right hand, that’s a bargain.”

“Luka really is an idiot… mentally disturbed.”

“Hah? What’d you say, you bastard?”

What part of me was mentally disturbed?

If you’re even a fraction of a magician, offer up a body part or so for magical exploration. It’ll heal anyway.

When I glared at her, she glared back for some reason. With a sigh, Sheila said:

“Haah… be careful with injuries. I’d be troubled if Luka disappeared. Sad.”

“Sad? You’d be sad about my death?”

“Of course. We’re friends. Comrades and allies.”

“Friends, comrades, and allies, huh.”

To think I’d hear such words from Sheila, who only showed that expressionless mask-like face. Where did that mad scientist who wanted to dissect people’s brains go?

“But if I died, you could dissect my brain, right?”

“Not bad.”

“Hey.”

You bastard, I take back what I said. People don’t change that easily.

“Just kidding. Rather than dissecting brains, I’d rather stay with Luka. Luka is most important.”

“…O-oh. Thanks.”

Though Sheila and I had become reasonably close, being told such straightforward affection confused me. If anything, it would be easier to handle if she were as flashy as Cornelia…

“Anyway, shall we return to enhancement magic practice? I want to try that compression thing you taught me before too.”

“Magical power compression? Isn’t enhancement magic good enough?”

“I’m going to enhance compressed magical power. The power will increase again~”

“That’s why the risk increases too…”

“I’ll be careful. Don’t worry.”

Just enough not to die.

While muttering that internally, I created magic in my palm. With my current control ability, I couldn’t withstand even minimal enhancement with aura. I should change the practice menu and incorporate more control training.

I devoted myself to control while gradually changing the size of the magic.

☆

While Luka diligently trained magic with Sheila, switching locations to an empty classroom. In the dimly lit room, there was a young man reading a book with single-minded devotion.

His name was Ilario Salvatore. Luka’s older brother. From the moment of enrollment, he harbored even greater impatience toward Luka, who had shown tremendous growth. He wanted to somehow approach Luka. While thinking he wanted to bring down Luka, he read books on curses.

His purpose was a contract with demons. He believed that if he could just contract with demons, he could gain the power to temporarily overwhelm Luka.

But demons also had ranks. Higher-ranking demons were strong and might become the trigger to surpass the current Luka. Still, he didn’t know that even now, Luka was trying to become even stronger.

“Catalysts needed for demon summoning… I need to somehow obtain the highest grade ones…”

Ilario muttered to himself. The demon he was targeting was a highest-ranking individual. To summon it, his own talent was clearly insufficient.

However, to compensate for that, he changed direction to make the catalyst as good as possible.

Demon summoning was basically a power that wasn’t recommended. Catalysts for summoning demons were mostly unobtainable through legal means. So how would he obtain them?

—He had no choice but to use illegal acquisition routes. Ilario had connections.

He had heard that a certain criminal organization was hoarding such items. The risk was great, but proportionally, the return was also promising.

In his eyes, there was now only a thirst for strength. He wanted to contract with demons and, if possible, nip dangerous buds while still young—

He harbored such wicked desires.