Chapter 59
Moreover, no one knew about the gun except for Darcy, making it even more suitable.
‘Actually, there are rumors that Darcy carries sothing with him.’
I had heard stories about a group of thugs who spread vicious rumors being completely subdued by Darcy. However, no one had been able to identify his weapon.
It was ti to et with Ethan.
I gathered a small magic stone and a draft contract and headed to the room where Ethan was waiting.
As I entered the theater room, I noticed a play being projected on the wall. Since I hadn't turned it on, it must have been Ethan.
‘He's quick with his hands.’
It wouldn’t have been easy to operate a device he had never seen before.
As I approached the screen, I saw Ethan staring blankly at it, completely engrossed in the play. Even from a slight glance, it was clear how absorbed he was.
There are traveling theater troupes, but the play being shown now was different. Pitol’s new work was scheduled for exclusive showing in this theater.
I had planned to get straight to the point, but seeing him like this, I decided to wait.
I stood quietly next to Ethan, who hadn’t even noticed I was there.
There’s a saying that actions speak louder than words. I decided to enjoy the play with him.
There was no risk of anyone entering the room. Everyone was already accustod to
spending ti here alone.
I sat on the bed and watched the play with Ethan until it finished.
‘It feels completely different from when I'm with Darcy.’
Unlike the tis when I was more conscious of Darcy, I now felt like I was giving a young boy a hands-on learning experience.
I tapped Ethan on the shoulder, who was clapping enthusiastically. It was ti to get to work.
Of course, Ethan jumped up as if he had seen a ghost at my sudden touch.
"W-what!"
"Did you enjoy it?"
"How did you get in here…? Never mind, that's not the right question."
Ethan still seed to be lost in the world of the play.
"Right, this is the Etwar estate."
"..."
I walked over to the wall and turned on the lights. Ethan squinted against the brightness and looked around, muttering a small sound of admiration.
‘Is this what it would feel like to have a younger brother?’
Despite Darcy’s concerns, there was absolutely no romantic feeling between
and Ethan. Our interaction felt more like that of siblings.
Ethan pointed at the video player with his hand.
"What is that thing?"
I hadn’t expected the tools I created for myself to be so useful…
I proudly declared, "That’s a magical device I want to distribute."
"A magical device?"
Unable to contain his curiosity, Ethan approached the video player cautiously and touched it.
"This is revolutionary!"
Ethan shouted, pointing excitedly at the screen still projected on the wall. Seeing him so thrilled made him look his age for once.
"I’ve never seen anything like this in my life…"
"That’s why I want to distribute it."
"What exactly did I just watch?"
"You were watching Pitol’s hit play The Abyss is Among Us. I recorded the play myself, and now you can watch it anyti. No need to go to the theater, no need to worry about timing, and you can even repeat the parts you like."
Ethan's eyes sparkled at my explanation. He tried to hide his excitent, but I had already seen it all.
After a few coughs, Ethan asked, "...Why did you choose this kind of magical device?"
"Because it's sothing that can easily blend into the lives of the nobility. They’re people too, and there are tis when they want to pass the ti at ho."
A device that allows people to enjoy cultural activities anyti, anywhere. Those who have moved beyond basic needs naturally crave more luxury.
That’s why the video player was an excellent choice.
"If this magical device becos widely used, people’s aversion to magical devices will decrease too."
"Honestly, I can’t argue with that."
Ethan admitted. He had clearly given up on hiding his feelings, considering he had clapped earlier.
For soone so young, it was impressive how he prioritized securing benefits over pride.
I sat on the sofa with Ethan and added one more hope of mine.
"And… I think this could also reduce the resentnt toward the magicians who create such devices."
I then placed the draft contract and a magic stone on the table.
"Here’s the draft contract. I’ll show it to the magicians when we et them, but I’m giving you a preview."
Ethan quickly scanned the contract, but he just mumbled without saying anything.
‘There won’t be anything to correct!’
I proudly puffed out my chest. Of course, it was a contract that was more favorable to the magicians than to .
Since my goal in this venture wasn’t financial gain, this was possible.
I pushed the magic stone towards Ethan.
"And this is a small bribe for you."
Honestly, it wasn’t a small bribe, but that was how I felt.
Ethan, who had seed most surprised by anything I had done so far, clutched the magic stone tightly. I noticed his hand tremble slightly. I hoped that was a sign of excitent rather than a reaction to pity.
I quickly clarified that this was not so sort of cheap charity.
"It’s to assure you that I have the funds to support this business."
He looked back and forth between the magic stone and the video player. There was a look in his eyes as he stared at the magical device that was hard to miss.
I smiled inwardly.
‘...Interesting.’
I hadn’t considered it because of his young age, but all magicians had the ability to create magical devices using magic stones.
It seed a desire had sprouted in Ethan’s heart after seeing how the device could be used.
‘This might be an opportunity to see magicians other than Darcy create magical devices.’
That wasn’t the reason I gave him the magic stone, but it was a good approach.
I casually suggested to Ethan, "You could use this to create a magical device of your own. Let
know if you need more magic stones; I’ll provide them."
"I never said I would do that!"
Ethan exclaid, startled, raising his voice.
The way he shook his head vehently made it clear that he felt a bit guilty.
"If you say so. But just let
know if you need more magic stones. I’ll provide them."
"...Airen always told
never to think about making magical devices."
...Who’s that? I frowned, and Ethan quickly changed the subject.
"By the way, when are we going to my village?"
"As soon as I’m ready. I have so things to take care of here first, so it might take a bit."
"What kind of things?"
"There’s so social business… and I’m also preparing gifts to give the magicians along with the contract."
"...Gifts? You’re not just bringing the contract?"
"I want to make a good impression at the first eting. I really want to make this contract work."
Should I show him? It might be a good idea to get his opinion on whether the others would like the gifts. Fortunately, I had already stashed so gifts for the children in one corner of the theater room.
I led Ethan over and pointed to the various toys.
"These are dolls with jeweled eyes… a model of a knight's order crafted from eralds, and a rocking horse made from ancient wood. What do you think?"
"...These don’t seem like gifts for adults."
"I’ve prepared gifts for adults separately."
Crouching down, Ethan examined the toys one by one. As he rummaged through the toys, he mumbled softly.
"You’re strange."
I barely caught his words as I anxiously waited for his opinion. I smiled gently and asked,
"...Why?"
"You can have everything, so why do you make these things? Why do you care about us?"
"...Because you’re no longer people who are unrelated to ."
Ethan narrowed his eyes at .
"Is it because of that man?"
"It’s not just because of him. I’ve… gone through a similar experience, even if it was different."
"...There’s no way you could understand us."
"Is that so?"
Outwardly, my life had been glamorous, but before I inhabited Marceau Etwar’s body, she hadn’t been happy. And in a way, neither had I.
We were wandering through a desert in search of an oasis, despite having everything.
Ethan asked again,
"...Why did you make these things?"
There was a depth to this question that wasn’t there before. I took a deep breath.
"I was… tired of everything."
"...Tired?"
"So I made it so that I could do what I wanted without having to face others."
I never imagined that what I did out of weariness would lead to such a ripple effect.
"Even though I knew how lonely it would be, I wanted to be completely alone."
I expected Ethan to scoff or yell in disbelief.
But instead, he just frowned and stared at . His blue eyes, similar yet different from Darcy’s, darkened like the night sky.
"When you say it like that, I can’t argue with you."
Ethan closed his eyes tightly and then opened them again, muttering in a much softer voice.
"I always thought nobles were all the sa, full of vanity."
"...Why?"
"Because they never listen to us, and they always try to use us. Magicians have to grovel and sell their pride."
"..."
"Thinking about that makes
hate the prince and the emperor the most. I decided to hate everyone else too, never to listen to them, or to give them a chance."
His gaze was fierce, his voice low. It was hard to believe he was just a boy.
"...But I can’t seem to hate you."
The face he made was as somber as when he t Darcy. A darkness lurked in him that belied his age.
‘Will all the magicians I et be like this?’
I agreed with his sentints.
"I dislike the emperor and Prince Ryan just as much."
Ethan blinked and asked,
"...But the rumors say you were in love with Prince Ryan for quite a while."
I made a face like I had just heard the most disgusting thing in the world.
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