I was reincarnated into a merciless evil noble and stand at the pinnacle of the magical world, wielding control over magic.~ Just when I had given up on having a heroine, she came to me on her own accord~ - Chapter 16: The Startled Ancient Sorcerer

Chapter 16: The Startled Ancient Sorcerer

What the hell is this guy?

My initial reaction was one of bewilderment.

Once upon a time, I was asked by a former pupil to be a tutor for a boy infamous for his mischievous behavior.

 The eldest son of the Lindblum Marquis family, though handsome in appearance, was an exceptionally violent young lad. He surrounded himself with attractive slaves, yet treated both his subjects and slaves with extreme cruelty.

Despite his outrageous acts, he showed no sign of remorse and never heeded anyone’s advice. He seemed utterly unaware of anything beyond his own reckless indulgences, a child who knew nothing but to run wild.

It had been a while since I last spoke with Ernst, who now candidly revealed the bad reputation of his son, widely whispered about in their territory and the magic academy.

“My apologies for the sudden request, Professor Ashburn, but could you please come to my estate for the sake of my son, Vanitas?”

“I wonder if such a misbehaving child would listen to me at all.”

Being detached from the mundane world for a long time, I was initially reluctant to accept his request.

 After all, I was a practitioner of transformation magic, which involved undertaking dark and dangerous missions, including espionage and assassination, even during times of war.

Although I had a close relationship with the Emperor, in peacetime, individuals like me, deemed dangerous elements to the state’s governance, were kept under constant surveillance and control.

Moreover, my transformation magic was unlike others. It could not be dispelled with a slight shock.

 Even if I were to suffer injury and shed blood, I could maintain my disguise and fulfill my role. 

When you consider the danger of someone assuming another’s identity, it’s only natural to be cautious about the possibility of the Emperor being impersonated.

Even after retiring from the Ministry of Magic, my whereabouts were constantly monitored and known to the Empire. Well, for someone like me, it was easy to shake off the surveillance, but I chose to let them keep an eye on me. Besides, the daughter of one of the surveillance agents was quite adorable.

But I digress.

“Professor Ashburn, I understand the reason you hesitate to remain in one place and not easily leave. However… I would like to request this of you, even so. Could you please offer magical guidance to my son, Vanitas?”

“Ernst, why do you go to such lengths? What motivates you?”

“My son, Vanitas, desires it.”

Ernst’s firm assertion made me feel slightly pressured for the first time.

In the midst of the swirling desires of politics, having experienced numerous life-and-death situations on the battlefield, I, too, sensed that I had taken a step back from someone I knew to be far weaker than myself.

I became increasingly intrigued by what had transformed this man.

“Vanitas is currently learning Control Magic.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Control Magic, an existence known only from ancient books passed down through the ages.

While the existence of magical tomes was widely known, Control Magic itself had never been mastered by anyone.

 It was a legendary magic that supposedly killed the chaotic and violent king, Demogorgon, plunging the continent into a whirlpool of terror, and only one sorcerer was said to have mastered it – Vanitas Armatile.

And this kid wanted to learn it?

Many had attempted to master it and all had failed.

Yet, a fifteen-year-old boy who had just entered the magic academy thought he could learn it.

Ernst, as a parent, should be stopping him.

 However, Ernst easily dispelled my hasty impression with his next words.

“I saw it. The signs of Vanitas activating Control Magic… Even though I’m far from skilled in magic despite attending the magic academy, I can tell. He will undoubtedly make Control Magic his own. I believe that.”

His voice, conveyed through the communication device, carried unwavering conviction.

At the same time, a glimmer of hope seemed to shine through.

“I want to see what lies ahead for that boy. I want to witness how great he will become, how vast his potential will be. Professor Ashburn, could you please meet Vanitas, even if you think it’s a deception? I will ensure that any conflicts around him are silenced.”

After that, Ernst indeed obtained permission to move me.

I wondered what kind of negotiations he had with the officials of the Ministry of Magic and the Empire.

When I visited his domain and asked Ernst about it, he just laughed and evaded the question.

Is this really the Ernst I know?

Filled with doubts, I met the notorious boy while shrouded in a sense of defeat, feeling like I might be taken advantage of.

At a single glance, I could tell.

That boy, Vanitas, is a monster.

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