Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 144

Episode 144: The Curse of Reverse (2)

A man and a woman with brown hair.

One was a man with an innocent face, and the other was a woman with a sharp expression. Judging from their overall appearance, they seemed to be siblings.

It was difficult to determine their exact ages as they were extremely emaciated, possibly due to malnutrition, but the man appeared to be in his late teens and the woman in her early twenties.

“……A slave?”

The orphanage where Verden spent his childhood and the Bohemirn Tower where he spent his later life are all located on the Western Continent.

Because it was the continent where the Principality of Luas existed, the abolition of slavery was implemented first, and as a result, the abolition of slavery occurred before Verden was born.

In comparison, this eastern continent was relatively late.

In particular, it has been less than ten years since slavery was abolished in the Kingdom of Estyria.

Humans being treated as objects.

Until just a few years ago, this was a common sight throughout the kingdom. Especially in Loafra, where crime was rampant.

So this sight wasn't all that surprising.

Costa pointed to the siblings one by one.

“My younger brother is Aiden. My older sister is Charlotte. The ones I used as toys died a while ago, so I just got new ones… I was training them to get them to be somewhat tame, and then I discovered something really interesting.”

Costa twirled his index finger.

The one-eyed man, Moknun, approached the siblings.

Charlotte immediately opened her eyes and tried to stop him, but the chains prevented her from doing so.

There was a sound of nails scraping the floor. She desperately bared her teeth, but only her breathing was ragged and no sound came out.

“I broke my vocal cords because I was being so loud. Look at that better.”

Moknun passed his older sister and reached his younger brother.

He grabbed Aiden's wrist and cut his forearm with the dagger. Red blood flowed from the gaping wound.

It could be seen as simple slave abuse, but immediately afterwards.

“……!”

Magical power seethed within Aiden's body.

The magical power that flowed outward was gathered in the wound, and the previous injury healed on its own. It was as if it was healing through divine power.

This was a phenomenon that was impossible with normal magic power.

That is, there was only one case.

'A special trait of magic.'

It was a talent that was formed solely through innate abilities, and was a trait that only a very small number of wizards, like Robelin, possessed.

“I guess the guys who procured slaves didn’t know. The rule is to avoid damaging the product if possible. Well, thanks to that, I was able to buy such a rare item for very cheap… I was very lucky.”

Costa nodded his head as if he was bragging. The earrings on either side of him jingled.

“So I asked the magicians under me to investigate, and they said that it has a similar effect to divine power recovery through magic power. Especially considering the regenerative power, it seems to be superior to divine power. So let’s say… yeah, let’s call it a meat doll? I roughly experimented with it, and it seems that it can recover on its own unless it’s a fatal wound.”

Costa took a sip of wine.

He continued, his voice clearing in a pleasant manner.

“I heard that wizards really like that kind of stuff? Test subjects that are hard to break and have high research value. Right, Boldran?”

“Of course, Mr. Costa.”

Boldran answered, glancing at Aiden.

His eyes were filled with a desire to explore. It was a desire that all wizards had. He swallowed his regret, licking his lips as if he really wanted it.

All the wizards under Luing Costa, including those around him, thought the same.

This time Costa pointed to Charlotte.

“And he doesn’t have any special magical talents. But he’s still so affectionate that he’d do anything for his cute little brother. He even tried to bite me out of nowhere? With just a wave of my hand, I could make him neither live nor die. Isn’t that right, Charlotte?”

“……!”

Charlotte's eyes were filled with deep murder and hatred.

Costa brushed away those feelings with a smile, as if he was watching a pet's antics. Then he looked at Verden.

“If you come under me, I’ll give you ownership of them. They haven’t even finished their basic training yet, so they’re still a bit fierce… but they’re also very clean, so you won’t feel any resistance. If you want, I can train them for you.”

Costa's eyes drew a line.

“Of course, I’ll give you the money, power, and other things I mentioned earlier. This is the first time in my life that I’ve made such an outrageous offer, so I hope you think of me as someone who thinks highly of you. Oh, and!”

He clapped his hands and spoke to Gauliak and Samwell.

“If you want, I’ll accept you two. I think you have some ability for your size, so I can treat you well, and as for that guide, I’ll make him my personal errand boy. You’ll be able to earn a lot of money, so what do you think?”

“…….”

“Oh, that’s it…….”

Gallic crossed his arms and ignored him, while Samwell fidgeted and trailed off.

The reaction was less than I expected, but it didn't really matter.

What was important to Costa was Asher, the wizard who would become his signboard.

“This is all I have to offer. Do you think this is enough as compensation?”

“…….”

No answer came.

Gaulic glanced at Verden.

He was behind me and I couldn't see his expression, but I could tell. It wasn't just silence. It was a very heavy silence.

It's something that no one should move rashly about.

But Costa thought differently.

'Almost done.'

Verden with his mouth closed.

The figure seemed to be deeply contemplating Costa's proposal. The reason for such a difference in perspective was simple.

It was a simple difference of opinion.

In Loafra, the weak are not given the right to make claims.

In such a place, Costa had been reigning as a powerful figure for nearly 13 years. Moreover, he had a twisted nature that took pleasure in the suffering of others.

For Costa, everything I just said was just natural.

Non-person.

With very few exceptions, the powerful people of Roafra, like Costa, had distorted human nature. They were beings who did not understand common sense, did not try to understand it, and did not follow it even when they did understand it.

What Verden saw in the underworld was only a part of what was revealed to the outside world.

Loafra.

The reality was exactly this.

Costa nodded to the slave siblings.

“You guys, speak up too. Do you have anything to say to the person who will soon be your master? Do you have anything to appeal to? If you are rejected, you will be thrown in the torture chamber.”

Torture room.

Charlotte flinched at the word. Her vocal cords were damaged, so she couldn't say anything. Tears flowed from her eyes as she clenched her fists.

It was a tear filled with pain that seemed to disrupt consciousness and the sorrow of not being able to protect her younger brother.

Aiden, her younger brother, looked at Charlotte.

He, who had not reacted even when I cut his arm with a knife, slowly raised his head. A small light returned to his eyes, which had been dead all along.

Aiden's dark eyes met Verden's wall eyes.

He was sold to Loafra for illegal slave hunting along with his sister.

And I came to know. How cruel the underworld of the Kingdom of Estyria, which I had only heard about, was.

I screamed for help, but no one came.

I made eye contact with a passerby through the open door. I screamed. The passerby pretended not to see me and passed by.

The more Aiden hoped for hope, the more despair came.

I heard my sister screaming next to me. I didn't want to hear it.

After she lost her voice, the only sound was the crack of the whip. Costa punished Charlotte every time Aiden resisted.

And occasionally, Aiden would show Charlotte a sight of himself in pain.

Costa's cruelty was far beyond human standards.

The thickening smell of blood was unbearable.

Especially since it was my family's blood. I would rather die like this. My heart, which had been breaking down more and more, finally broke.

No one will help them. No matter what they do, they can't get out of here.

Aiden realized this painfully. The desperation that had filled his eyes had dried up like a drought, and hope had long since been abandoned.

But still.

"help……!"

Aiden said again.

Because that's all he could do, all the weak could do.

"under."

Then Costa snickered and his expression turned cold.

“Moknuen, give me my cutie.”

“Yes, Mr. Costa.”

Moknun handed over a brown whip.

It was a very light whip, made of the finest leather of a demon, with almost no weight to it. As such, it was not suitable for use as a weapon, such as for breaking bones, but it was enough to leave a painful wound on the skin.

For Costa, who lacked physical strength, it was one of the most perfect torture devices.

Costa sighed as he stood up from his seat.

“Hey, you’re really annoying. I’m sorry, Asher. You clearly haven’t finished your basic training, so you’re not acting like a slave. I should have started you from the bottom… Wait a minute. Let’s educate you so you don’t talk nonsense, and then start over.”

Bang! Bang!

Costa pulled the whip and released himself.

“This time, I’ll do it for you instead of me since we have guests. I don’t want to see it if it gets scratched.”

After he had prepared so lightly, he pulled his arm back and swung the whip with all his might with an eerie smile.

Chainsaw!

The tip of the whip flew through the air toward his younger brother.

Aiden flinched and shut his eyes tightly as the whip was aimed squarely at his face, and Charlotte thrashed and screamed silently.

“……?”

But as time passed, I didn't feel any pain. I didn't hear any sound of flesh bursting. Something was different from before.

Aiden opened his eyes cautiously.

A man with gray hair stood before his eyes.

His blue eyes, which had suddenly come closer and grabbed the whip with his hand, had a bright and transparent color that could not be seen in Loafra.

Aiden stared blankly as if he had been possessed.

It was clearly foolish to come here and ask for salvation again, because I knew it would only bring more pain.

And yet.

“Help…….”

A small hope flowed down his cheek from his dry eyes. Aiden spoke again in a tearful voice.

"help……!"

Originally, there should have been ridicule instead of an answer.

But this time it was different.

"okay."

Verden answered like that and pulled his arm.

"uh?"

Costa, who was tilting his head without understanding the situation, was dragged in.

Magic power concentrated along the activated magic circuit. Soon, the claws of the earth extended from Verden's fingertips and cut Costa apart.