Chapter 136 – Do You Want to Live

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Simuard.

Befitting a prestigious magic family, that name is widely known even in the Arcana continent.

Blood relatives, each and every member is an owner of overwhelming magic power.

A genius possessing talent to the extent it’s difficult for other magic families to produce even one, appears every other generation.

However, there would be no one who envies the Simuard family.

The curse of numbered days, as famous as their reputation.

Because the bloodline of Simuard, instead of being born with overwhelming magical talent, died without reaching middle age.

There were no exceptions. Ever since the Simuard family made their name known as a prestigious magic family.

“Huu.”

Marcelo looked around the office.

An office that used to be filled with various research materials.

The organization of it is bringing to a close.

“It is thanks.”

Chief Lee Ho-yeol, if it weren’t for him.

Even now, materials related to the preliminary verification of the regular academic conference, hypotheses regarding anomalies, and even applications to leave the tower would be tossing about on his desk.

“There is such a saying in this world.”

A beautiful person leaves a beautiful space behind.

……Though it wasn’t a saying to be used in a place like this, Marcelo couldn’t possibly know that fact.

However, Marcelo merely wanted to keep it. The formality as a Chief until the very end.

He knows his body’s condition better than anyone else.

A weakened heartbeat.

Dulled flow of magic power.

A body becoming increasingly emaciated.

‘I felt it since the Rift of the Broken Dimension.’

Every time he used magic, he felt a recoil in his physical body.

Senior Velliere, borrowing her words…….

He must have overexerted his already unwell body.

-“I am sorry. I make you constantly worry. Senior Velliere.”

As if that wasn’t enough, even after returning to the Mage Tower, he focused on his duties without rest. Even to his own feeling, there was a bit of hastening his already short lifespan.

Marcelo let out a smirk.

“However, what does a day or two matter?”

A member of the Simuard family.

For Marcelo, death was closer than anything else.

Because he was used to death since childhood.

What exists in his memories is his father’s deathbed.

Except for himself who was still young, no one in the family mourned his father’s death. As if death was a matter of course. Even his father, the person in question himself.

-“A day will come when you will realize everything in the future. Marcelo.”

Indeed, your words were correct.

Because the curse of numbered days of Simuard came fairly to everyone regardless of gender or marriage.

A year passed, and as he faced the deaths of numerous people, Marcelo also came to understand his father’s will.

Death is fair to everyone.

Only, it was slightly merciless solely to the bloodline of Simuard.

However, Marcelo did not feel it was unfair.

“There is giving and taking in everything…….”

As Sir said.

They must have traded lifespan for talent.

Because he, with the blood of Simuard flowing through him, came to possess tremendous magical talent.

Moreover, unlike his father and other ancestors, he entered the Mage Tower where he could unfold that talent to his heart’s content.

-“Marcelo, you have a right.”

That was something possible because there was permission from the godmother, Yulla Simuard, stating there was no need to dwell on descendants.

Marcelo shrugged his shoulders.

‘Of course, someone might be suffering because of me, but.’

Whether he liked it or not, having entered the Mage Tower.

Following the vow, just like the other mages, he could no longer interfere with family matters. Furthermore, was the Simuard family a family to buy anyone’s worry?

‘Therefore, the side I should care about is not that side but…….’

This side, the Mage Tower.

Marcelo thought as he looked at the organized office.

As much as the office’s scenery, many things had changed in the Mage Tower as well.

Expelled the demon worshippers who deceived the Mage Tower while wearing the masks of Elders.

The Elder Mages went from five to one.

However, the empty seats could not be felt.

Because all members of the Mage Tower were filling the empty seats.

The Round Table conference where mages of all ranks participate is the proof of that.

“Not only that…….”

In that process, the Mage Tower recognized their public enemy, demons.

Although Marcelo knew better than anyone else that mages had dirty personalities.

Now that a public enemy had appeared, those prideful mages were cooperating with each other.

Seeing as the Senior Mages who growled at each other every other day had quieted down, there would be no need to explain.

“This too is thanks.”

Indeed, everything was thanks to Chief Lee Ho-yeol.

Therefore, Marcelo had no worries.

If it’s him, he would be able to perfectly replace his empty seat.

Yes, because he was accepting it.

Curse of numbered days, from the moment he became aware of being a blood relative of Simuard.

Although it was a death he had been keeping in mind.

Nevertheless, it must mean he too is a human who cannot help it.

“……I have no worries, but lingering attachments remain.”

Magic he couldn’t reach the stage of.

Theoretical Magicology he couldn’t complete.

Research regarding anomalies too.

And more than anything else…….

“I wished to watch you awaken.”

The fact that he could not see the Tower Master-nim again.

That was Marcelo’s lingering attachment.

However, Marcelo knew.

Resisting will not change anything. Just how futile the lingering attachment held by someone whose end is already determined is. Therefore, without thinking deeply, he moved his hand.

Slide

Opening the drawer, he saw the green tea teabags Ho-yeol had given him.

It was the moment Marcelo looked at the teabags and smiled bitterly.

Knock knock

A knocking sound could be heard.

“You may enter.”

Is it Senior Velliere?

Because he didn’t want to worry her.

Marcelo forced himself to change his complexion.

However, an unexpected figure appeared from the opened door.

“……!”

He did not have unpromised meetings in advance.

A figure he hadn’t even thought of due to that motto.

It was Chief Lee Ho-yeol.

“Chief Lee? What brings you to my office?”

“Chief Marcelo.”

“I am listening.”

“No, Marcelo Simuard.”

“……!”

He had never properly told Chief Lee his name.

There was no way Ho-yeol, an adventurer, would know the history of the Simuard family, but……. There was a thing called ‘what if’. Because drawing the worries of others was sufficient even now.

However, if he had found out even now…….

Bow

Marcelo politely bowed his head.

“I am sorry. I was not trying to hide it.”

However, the reply he heard was unfamiliar.

“Marcelo Simuard. I shall ask you.”

Strictly speaking, that wasn’t an answer but a question.

Closer to death than anyone else.

Born as a member of the Simuard family but.

“Do you want to live?”

“……!”

A question he had never once received.

.

.

.

Everything was because of this damn tiring pride.

I looked at the flashing quest window.

[Quest: Marcelo’s Research]

Mage’s Tower, Chief Mage Marcelo.

In order to reach a magic advanced by one dimension.

He wishes to be together with you.

─Accept Marcelo’s proposal. (Success)

─Prove your abilities. (Success)

─Weight of the Chief (Repeatable) ▼

─Approach to Anomalies (In Progress) ▼

At the very end of the [Marcelo’s Research] quest, to be exact.

The newly surfaced quest objective.

─Inherit Marcelo’s will. (In Progress)

Healing School Senior Mage, Velliere Yusia.

The moment I picked up her application to leave the tower, the quest objective updated.

Thanks to that, my grasp of the situation was fast.

Even if I don’t know what kind of family the Simuard family is.

At least the fact that the word numbered days isn’t a joke.

Then the question remaining in my head was resolved.

Even if I hadn’t shouldered a lot, me sharing the weight of the Chief that Marcelo toered is an undeniable fact.

But ironically, Marcelo grew thinner every time I saw him.

To the point where it couldn’t be simply blamed on constitution.

‘But it would be stranger if I noticed with just that.’

After learning that fact…….

Somehow I feel like I’ve become an incredibly bad guy……!

Along with the [Rift of the Broken Dimension], up to the [Demon King’s Castle] rift. Wasn’t I the one who dragged around Marcelo, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness, here and there? Moreover, even the words I just spat out.

“Do you want to live?”

Is this something to say abruptly, seriously.

However, it couldn’t be helped.

Because the heavy pride in my chest was speaking like that.

Simuard family’s curse of numbered days.

The moment I saw Velliere’s purpose to leave the tower.

Another quest that had flashed.

[Quest: Request of the Simuard Family]

Magic Family Simuard.

The curse of numbered days passed down to them.

They wish to dig out the source of that curse.

─Visit the Simuard Mansion. (Success)

─Face the Countess Simuard. (In Progress)

Request of the Simuard family.

The ‘Success’ floating on the quest objective.

That wasn’t a quest I performed.

Because as I said, I don’t even know what the Simuard family is.

However, I knew.

The structure of Akshan’s requests.

‘The Demon Hunter who was performing the request died.’

The past where Akshan existed.

When a Demon Hunter performing a request died, another Demon Hunter inherited that request and performed it.

But as everyone knows, Akshan was exterminated, and the only surviving Demon Hunter is me alone.

‘Thanks to that, a request that was naturally forgotten…….’

It must have surfaced as I came to know the secret intertwined with the Simuard family. Yes, from Lee Ho-yeol’s perspective, this was something with no need for deliberation.

─Inherit Marcelo’s will. (In Progress)

What, inherit Marcelo’s will?

Who?

Me?!

You’re spewing pure nonsense sincerely.

I possess neither the ability nor the intention to do so!

What I want is not the seat of the true Chief, but only the authority of the Chief enjoyed as the qualification of a joint researcher.

I’m saying it’s killing me just to process the Chief’s duties I’ve taken on halfway. After Marcelo, it looks like I’ll pass away from overwork……!

What comes next was also a problem.

It’s the Mage Tower that came to consider demons as their main enemy. Marcelo’s vacancy occurs in such a grave situation? This was a matter where the future is clearly visible even before trying.

Therefore, no matter how I look at it.

─Face the Countess Simuard. (In Progress)

[Request of the Simuard Family].

Performing the quest of Akshan pushed onto me is correct no matter how you look at it.

Moreover, since that is a quest from ‘Akshan’.

‘The curse of numbered days likely has a high probability of being related to demons.’

Yes, there was nothing to ponder over.

However, as I said, this damn pride was the problem.

Pride wanted to hear the answer from Marcelo’s mouth.

Others’ pride is as important as one’s own pride.

Marcelo, if his end desired by his pride is to accept the curse of numbered days. I would have no choice but to quietly inherit Marcelo’s will.

‘The opinion of the person in question? It’s important. I can understand.’

But you can say the same thing, what is ‘Do you want to live?’!

Could Marcelo perhaps have felt displeased?

Looking at him being silent…….

Somehow Marcelo’s corners of the mouth were rather raised.

“Do you know, Sir?”

“What do you mean?”

“It is the first time since I was born to hear such a question.”

Marcelo’s mouth distorted.

He continued his words mixed half with voice, half with laughter.

“Simuard. The curse of my family is widely known throughout the continent as well. Even knowing that fact, though there were those who envied my talent, and those who looked at me with pity…….”

Well, there was no need to look far.

Even among the Senior Mages, those kinds of people were mixed in.

Marcelo eventually spat out the laughter he had been holding back.

“Haha, I am sorry. It is really because that question is novel.”

……It means it’s a ridiculous question to the point of causing laughter.

It seems like things won’t go well for some reason.

Right, everything is because of this guy’s loose muzzle……!

“So for a fleeting time, I tried contemplating.”

……Wait a minute.

At Marcelo’s words, I suppressed the urge to beat up my muzzle.

Marcelo’s gaze scanned his neatly organized office.

“I have no regrets. I know my vessel well. If it were not for the history of my family……. I would definitely never have been able to reach my current position. Because I bargained lifespan for talent. I believe I am able to witness this scenery in this seat.”

Marcelo smiled bitterly.

“……Thus, it is right that not even a lingering attachment remains, but.”

Clench

“The moment I heard Sir’s question, I ended up thinking without realizing it.”

Marcelo clenched his fist.

“……That I want to live.”

Naturally, I do not know.

What lingering attachments remain for Marcelo.

As someone who inherited the blood of Simuard.

What kind of attitude he has lived his numbered days with.

However, it is enough.

“I have understood, Marcelo.”

“……?”

“You should rest following Senior Velliere’s words.”

It was.

What I wanted to hear was not an unfortunate story or anything like that.

The words wanting to live, just that one sentence.

Simultaneously, the quest window flashed.

─Inherit Marcelo’s will. (Pending)

The quest status changed from ‘In Progress’ to ‘Pending’.

If it was going to change anyway, why didn’t it change to failure.

Because I don’t have the slightest intention of progressing this kind of quest even if I die.

I looked at Marcelo, who had a puzzled expression.

His fist, to be exact.

Is it because I practically live with it in my mouth?

‘Now I can tell what it is just with a glance.’

What Marcelo gripped in his fist was a green tea teabag.

Dried tea leaves dropped to the floor because it burst.

I said calmly.

“If by any chance you need it, come seek my office.”

“……!”

“For even time flows sluggishly only when enjoying tea.”

.

.

.

[Quest: Request of the Simuard Family]

Magic Family Simuard.

The curse of numbered days passed down to them.

They wish to dig out the source of that curse.

─Visit the Simuard Mansion. (Success)

─Face the Countess Simuard. (In Progress)

Naturally, the Simuard family is on the Arcana continent.

Because this wasn’t a major incident like the Demon King’s Castle or the Labyrinth of Tepheran.

There would probably be zero probability of it surfacing in a regular update.

Naturally, a question inevitably follows.

Then how do I seek out the Simuard family?

At the current point in time, there was no method to travel from reality to the Arcana continent.

However, I remembered. The sight I witnessed in the anomaly’s space, the [Rift of the Broken Dimension] rift.

[???]

A massive demon whose name I couldn’t know.

The guy had definitely collapsed the rift and revealed itself. Then, it ran away from the [『Anomaly』] I manifested, fleeing back to the Arcana continent.

Seeing that sight, I realized.

A rift is an anomaly’s space where reality and the Arcana continent are mixed half and half.

Just as reality is connected to the rift.

The Arcana continent must definitely be connected to the rift as well.

That doesn’t mean I know the method to go to the Arcana continent from the rift, though.

However, there is one choice worth selecting.

Namely, the Demon King’s spoil.

[Map Connecting to All Things]

[Rank: Epic]

[Restriction: None]

[Effect: Can know the location of something hidden by someone, lost by someone, or secreted away somewhere. Also, can teleport to the location of ‘something’ exactly once.

However, upon activating the teleportation effect, all effects are immediately lost.]

[Description: A magic tool with endless possibilities depending on how it’s used.]

Right.

This was the reason I could spout confident words.

Someone will probably ask.

Isn’t the Arcana continent already a den of demons.

Even if I step foot on the Arcana continent, will I be able to keep my life. No, do I even know the method to return to reality in the first place?

“I am capable of it.”

Along with a confident answer as always.

I shall bring up the status window.

[Title: The Last Adventurer]