The wizard is reincarnated last Time

Chapter 17

I instinctively stumbled backward, bumping into the corner of a wooden crate, but I didn’t even register the pain.

“Why…?”

Why hadn’t I known? Why hadn’t I realized it sooner?

Confusion overwhelmed me, my mind blanking.

I have to get out of here.

I turned and fumbled for the entrance, where the light streamed in.

Are you running away again?

My feet wouldn’t move.

I gripped the blue canvas tightly.

The urge to flee immediately clashed violently with the thought that I couldn’t keep running forever.

The fact that I hadn’t sensed anything this time gave me a flicker of courage.

Unlike last time, I had been completely oblivious.

I had even forgotten that a demon had been captured and brought into Prion.

My father, Luwen, and everyone around me had worked hard to ensure I wouldn’t remember, that I wouldn’t be afraid.

I bit my lip, tightened my grip on the entrance of the tent, and turned to face the darkness within.

I can run out at any moment.  There are plenty of knights and mages around. There are countless ways to call for help…

I repeated this to myself several times.

My arms trembled, and I felt my breath quickening, but I resolved not to run.

“You should run, little one.”

The man’s rough voice seemed to echo directly inside my mind, as if he had peered into its depths.

I strained to see him clearly.

The man, sitting in the shadows of the cell, within the deeper darkness of the tent, was difficult to make out.

“I won’t run.”

I took a deep breath, struggling to control my mana.  The mana swirling around me calmed and steadied my nerves.

It’s okay.  I can do this…

I whispered to my heart, which had begun to race, threatening to trigger a seizure.

“Why?”

The man’s voice was devoid of emotion.  It felt like I was talking to something inhuman. Which, of course, I was.

“I have questions for you.”

I steadied my breathing and gathered my thoughts.  This could be an opportunity. Perhaps my first and last.

“…Why do you target us?”

The man didn’t answer.

Instead, he moved.

He leaned forward, towards the bars of his cell. I watched, my grip tightening on the canvas of the tent.

As he drew closer to the bars, his dark gray hair, scarred face, and glowing red eyes came into view.

I flinched and stepped back.

“You possess what we desire most.  With just a fragment of your soul…  we can sustain our existence indefinitely, without having to take the lives of dozens, hundreds of people.”

For a moment, the man’s eyes flickered, as if with a glimmer of hope.

I sensed a deep longing in the depths of his crimson eyes.

To exist outside the natural order of the world, condemned to a fate of endless destruction and preying on others – I was the one who had created such beings.

“So…”

The man gripped the bars of his cell tightly with both hands.

*Clang!*

The bars rattled ominously, and his red eyes flashed between them.

“Run.  Before I hurt you.”

I gasped, my body trembling, but I managed to resist the urge to flee.

It was just a threat. The man’s glowing red eyes calmed again.

I found a little more courage.

“You won’t hurt me.  I can sense that you have no intention of doing so. And I no longer sense any longing…”

He was markedly different from the last time I had encountered him, trapped in his cell in the hall of the White Knights’ Hall.

I no longer sensed any intense yearning from him.

That was why he hadn’t reacted to, hadn’t resonated with my soul and mana in this place.

Unlike Selina, who had devoured my power to accelerate her own evolution…

The man relinquished his grip on the bars and slowly sat back down, as if acknowledging my words.

“…That doesn’t mean we can be friends, little one.”

“Liveric.”

The man glanced at me.

“My name is Liveric Eldrian.  What’s yours?”

The man didn’t answer.

I hadn’t really expected him to, but I still hoped for a longer conversation.

Opportunities to talk to a demon were rare. I might be able to glean some useful information.

The man looked at me intently and said,

“You… won’t live long.”

His sudden words startled me.

As I tried to think of a response, he continued,

“I smell blood.  You’re dying, little one.”

“That’s not something I particularly wanted to know.”

I forced a smile, trying to appear unfazed.

I already knew that.  I knew it in every fiber of my being.

“And you all seem to believe this city is safe.  Ilan, the others, they’re all complacent.”

“Are you worried about me?”

I asked brightly, and the man frowned. I no longer sensed any fear from him.

Why couldn’t we be friends now?

I had already had a demon as a friend.  Although our parting had been quite painful.

He remained silent for a long moment, then said quietly,

“Go back now, little one.”

“…Alright.”

I nodded and said goodbye casually.

“But I hope you’ll call me by my name when we meet again.”

As I stepped out of the tent, I felt much lighter.

My father and Luwen had been right. There was no need to worry about him.

My past experiences, etched in my mind as potent fears, had made me unnecessarily apprehensive.

Although he was still a dangerous being to be wary of, I could at least believe that he was cooperating with Prius.

It wasn’t long after that, while I was wandering aimlessly among the tents, that Ilan found me.

“Wow.”

Stepping out of the carriage, I gasped at the sight of the garden.

I knew they were transforming the garden into a venue for my birthday party, but this was the first time I was seeing it in person.

Several white-clothed tables were arranged on the spacious lawn, and colorful tents and shimmering lights had been set up.

They had diverted the small spring at the back of the garden to create a gently flowing stream. The sparkling water wound its way through a small grove of trees and a flowerbed bursting with autumn blooms.

Gardeners and workers bustled about, transplanting trees and flowers and trimming the shrubs.

A Luoir garden was always filled with trees and flowers throughout the year, but on birthdays, they were especially meticulous, ensuring that not a single leaf was wilted.

“Liv.”

My mother, who was checking the tables under one of the party tents, greeted me warmly.

I ran to her.

“You did all of this today?”

My mother smiled gently and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Of course.  Tomorrow’s your birthday. We’ll be celebrating in the garden all day.”

I was excited about tomorrow.

Clementine and Wadin were coming over early in the morning.

We would eat in the garden, open presents, play all day, and when it got dark, we would continue playing inside until we were exhausted and fell asleep.

A practically perfect birthday plan.

“Look at this. This is your birthday tree; we’ll plant it tomorrow.”

My mother pointed to a small sapling in a corner of the garden.

A white grapevine sapling, about as tall as me.

Its roots were slender but strong, and its white branches looked ready to reach for the sky.

“It’s a wish for good health and good fortune. Can you take good care of it?”

“Yes.”

I nodded, and my mother smiled and stroked my hair.

As was tradition for all Luoirs, we planted a birthday tree every year.

We planted the tree with our hopes and wishes and nurtured it diligently.  It was believed that a Luoir’s life was reflected in how their birthday tree grew.

Because of this tradition, Luoir gardens were always filled with trees, their numbers steadily increasing.

Not only our family’s birthday trees but also Shuren’s, the head butler’s, the servants’, and the maids’ were all planted in this garden, making it grow larger and more lush every year.

“I think this one is a book.”

I pointed to a large, flat, and heavy package at the bottom of the pile.

“No way.  It’s too big.  What book could be that size?”

Shuren shook his head dismissively.

It was true that a book that size would be difficult for me to read… Then what could it be?

Shuren and I were analyzing the mountain of presents piled up in a corner of the entrance hall.

I had no idea where they had all come from, but boxes of various shapes and sizes were stacked high.

We couldn’t open the presents until tomorrow, my birthday.

It was tradition, although I had no idea who had come up with such a rule…

They said that if you opened birthday presents early, the sentiment behind them would dissipate.

But with so many presents, wouldn’t it be okay if one or two leaked a little?

That’s what I thought, but I couldn’t go against tradition, so I had been circling the pile of presents for days, trying to deduce their contents.

“What do you think this is?”

Shuren picked up a small, long, cloth-wrapped package from among the presents.

“Ah.”

I remembered a scene I had witnessed earlier.

That was the cloth-wrapped package Shuren had brought. I had seen him quietly sneak in and place it among the other presents.

“That’s easy. You brought it, didn’t you, Brother?”

“No, I didn’t.”

Shuren looked flustered and shook his head vehemently. I laughed.  He was so easy to read.

“It’s a secret until tomorrow. You’re not supposed to tell.”

“But I already know what’s inside.”

The thin, long shape was clearly visible through the flimsy wrapping.

Moreover, Shuren was holding the bottom end of the long, rod-like package as if it were a sword hilt, his posture completely guileless.

“It’s a sword, isn’t it…?”

“Aaack!”

Shuren yelped and clamped a hand over my mouth with lightning speed, desperately trying to prevent me from revealing the answer.

I burst out laughing and decided to play along.

“But I wouldn’t know how to use a sword, even if I got one.”

“You can learn. If you want to learn, there are plenty of people here who can teach you.”

“Hmm… I’ll think about it.”

I smiled faintly and gave a noncommittal answer.

Learning swordsmanship would be a good way to defend myself, but I doubted I would be able to wield a sword properly.

Even holding one would probably be difficult. And the stamina required to swing it was another issue.

Perhaps because he was aware of this, Shuren seemed to have prepared a sword that was much smaller and lighter than the ones knights typically used.

I sincerely hoped I would be able to handle it.

It would make my father feel relieved and happy.

Just then, the front door opened, and my father and the head butler returned.