Robert Jr. injected Mana from the stone in the pendant into the magic circle. His right hand, touching the magic circle, turned red, as if electrocuted.
The purple color of the circle instantly changed into a very bright array of colors, hitting the basent room walls, reflecting Robert Jr.’s trembling shadow.
The symbols written inside the magic circle turned into a hologram, then spun very fast, producing a high-pitched whirring sound like a vortex.
This rotation caused Lucy the baby’s body to slowly fade.
Robert Jr. opened his eyes, his left hand gripping the pendant tightly, then scread loudly.
His body was tense because of the sheer power required.
Veins in his neck and arms bulged, and cold sweat drenched his temples.
"REDI AD MUNDUM DEBITUM!" (Return to the world that is owed!)
Then, Lucy’s body completely vanished in a final, dazzling flash of light, only leaving the faint image of the magic circle and the bed in the center of the circle.
The air instantly felt empty.
Robert Jr., completely drained of all his Mana and strength, imdiately collapsed forward.
His forehead hit the floor with a dull thud, leaving a slight bruise.
The pendant he was gripping, which contained the Mana-storing stone, exploded in a small burst and shattered into pieces.
Shards of Mana crystal scattered around him, their light extinguished.
’Haaah! Finally, she’s sent. My mission is complete. Be at peace there, my little sister Lucy. I will remain here....’
Robert Jr. passed out in the basent room, accompanied only by the dim wall lamp.
Thin smoke still curled from his right palm and the magic circle.
Before completely losing consciousness, he thought of a way to convince Park Eunji and Choi Hyun-ah.
An hour later.
Robert Jr. slowly opened his eyes, still lying face down, recalling the incident he had just perford.
"Argh! How long was I out, huuh?"
He flipped his body over, lying on his back while massaging his forehead and closing his eyes to regulate his breathing.
After feeling better, he sat up, stretching his neck and his entire body.
He turned, looking at the magic circle. From the small bag he carried, he took out a cloth, then slowly wiped away the image of the magic circle while thinking about sothing.
’Why am I so weak, unlike Mother? My strength stage is only basic, and my Mana stage is also basic. I was born on Earth, and here I cannot increase the stage of either source. This is because Mana is minimal on Earth, and also the power called Alignnt Strain to increase my strength is absent here. anwhile, Mana can be called Synapse Flux.’
After cleaning, he stood up, wiping the sweat from his forehead, putting the dirty cloth into a plastic bag, tying it, then putting it into the small bag.
"Ah, this is enough. Ti to tidy up this bed: fold it and put it in the corner. This basent room will be used as a storage room again."
Robert Jr. folded the bed, placing it in the corner, on top of the single chair.
He left the basent room, heading toward his private room to put away the small bag and the book containing the spells.
On his way to the room, Robert Jr. occasionally glanced at the servants’ rooms, his gaze turning towards Choi Hyun-ah’s and Park Eunji’s rooms.
He slowed his pace and stopped for a mont, his face slightly troubled, thinking about them who had witnessed his brutality firsthand.
’Are they okay? It seems Uncle has locked them in their rooms. After putting this away, I will go see them.’
He continued walking to the second floor, while glancing at Ryu e-Yon’s forr room.
In front of that room was S No. II. Upon seeing Robert Jr., he saluted and smiled, signaling that the job was done.
’Uncle, I am very grateful to you.’
Robert Jr. smiled while waving his hand, returning the salute.
Then he opened his room door, went inside, and locked the door again.
He put the bag on the table, pulled his chair, then sat down.
He opened the bag, took out the book containing the spells, then put it back into the drawer.
The orange light that illuminated him from behind the window drew his gaze toward the sky.
The sky looked very bright without clouds, indicating that late afternoon was approaching.
Robert Jr. was srized by the view. He folded his arms on the table, looking at the sky, and his heart felt calm.
Suddenly, mories of Ryu e-Yon appeared: a holiday on the beach with her before, accompanied by Park Eunji, joking and spending ti together, up to the mont he first t Choi Hyun-ah.
Robert Jr., slightly lost in thought, smiled, but his heart felt a little sad.
He had lost a person he might have considered a replacent after being left by his parents, soone who filled his loneliness.
’Auntie... no... My stepmother. Farewell on your departure. Originally, I intended to kill you, and not without reason. I only pitied you living with ntal distress because of the loss of your child later. However, the truth is that your own child killed you. I also think that your child protected from the guilt I would have felt towards you later. That holiday was also very enjoyable for , and I am very grateful to have t you. My stepmother, I apologize.’
As Robert Jr. recalled the monts from Ryu e-Yon’s first arrival until her death, tears flowed without him realizing it.
’Eh... my tears are flowing slightly. Is this because I’m rembering those monts?’
He wiped his tears, stood up, and shook his head. His gaze fell on the painting on the right side. He touched the painting with his fingers.
’Mother, will I be here for long? I miss you.’
Robert Jr. tried to remain strong, although the tears he wiped away earlier returned when he looked at the painting of his mother and himself as a baby.
He took a deep breath to calm himself down, then returned to his usual composure.
He closed the window, went to the bathroom to clean himself before eting Park Eunji and Choi Hyun-ah.
...
A few minutes later.
Robert Jr., who was now neatly dressed, went to the servants’ quarters, heading to Park Eunji’s room first.
He walked with a deliberately slow rhythm, as if giving himself ti to prepare for his role.
He knocked on the door three tis while putting his ear to the door.
’No response at all. Is she sleeping?’
Robert Jr. took out the key, inserted it into the keyhole, and turned it Click!, because Uncle S No. II had given him the key after his shower.
He opened the door just a crack, allowing a thin beam of hallway light to fall inside.
His gaze swept across Park Eunji’s room.
The room looked very clean and tidy, everything placed in its proper spot, although it felt very quiet.
Robert Jr. entered, closing the door behind him with excessive caution, then greeted her, "Park Eunji, I’m coming in. I apologize for entering your room."
His voice sounded gentle, but there was a faint tone of command there.
Robert Jr.’s gaze went to the bed.
Park Eunji was curled up, completely covered by the blanket, so she looked like a small lump.
Only silence and the absence of movent responded to him.
"Park Eunji, why aren’t you answering ?"
Robert Jr. approached, stopping briefly by the side of the bed, then pulled the blanket down just until her neck was visible.
Her hair was long, not tied up, and looked ssy. Her face was turned toward the wall.
Her eyes, visible from the side, were swollen, and there were still traces of dried tears on her cheeks.
Robert Jr. sighed softly, patience subtly mixed with exhaustion.
He then sat on the edge of the bed, maintaining a reasonable distance, waiting for Park Eunji to respond.
The air felt cold, full of awkwardness.
A few minutes later, Park Eunji, who had been silent, shook her shoulder slightly, as if she had just decided sothing.
She opened her mouth.
She then turned toward Robert Jr.’s back and held the hem of his shirt with trembling fingers.
"Y-Young Master, why are you here? I already know that the Madam is gone. I just assud so."
Her voice was hoarse and barely audible, shrouded in lingering fear.
Robert Jr. turned toward her, his expression calm, stroking her cheek, and looking at her face which looked so ssy.
He smiled softly, while tucking her hair behind her ear so her face was clearly visible.
"Perhaps that conclusion is both right and wrong. If you think that I killed her, that is wrong. The truth is, I didn’t do it. Her body did disappear, but not because of ."
Robert Jr. said the last part of the sentence with firm emphasis, as if convincing himself.
"Park Eunji, the universe is vast, not just Earth. I’m telling you this because you also saw the baby. So, don’t jump to negative conclusions. I know this is hard to accept," he paused, "And if you already know, try never to talk about this to anyone."
Robert Jr. brought his face closer and kissed her cheek.
The kiss felt soft and warm, as if to calm her down.
He pulled his face back, looking at Park Eunji’s confused face.
"That’s a reward for you. I hope you get better soon. Look how ssy your pretty face is now. Well then, I’ll take my leave now."
He stood up with a sudden movent, leaving Park Eunji who sat up, hugging her knees, while sobbing hysterically alone in the room.
The door closed again, leaving Park Eunji in the silent darkness.
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