Delving into the lives of the Gillette siblings proved challenging. Laura, the elder sister, and Toreno, the younger brother, were both reserved individuals. They resided in the twin mansion for approximately three months, roughly around a hundred days, if memory serves me right. Yet, during that time, I gleaned little about them.
Laura enjoyed wine alongside her interest in magic. Illyrius's subordinates frequently brought wine, and she favored red meat for meals. In contrast, Toreno often snacked on roasted beans, particularly when in the company of his sister at the mansion. He didn't seem to indulge much in alcoholic beverages.
Both possessed striking beauty, with Laura boasting a voluptuous figure and Toreno being tall and slender. If only their personalities matched their appearance, they would have effortlessly attracted attention. However, it's worth noting that they weren't actively seeking romantic relationships.
In my observation, the "twin prodigies" were singularly fixated on the enigma of magic. Humans can become captivated by various pursuits, and for them, it happened to be magic. Unfortunately, they delved into it with a fervor surpassing many others.
The Gillette siblings, as expected, hailed from noble lineage, destined for a life of privilege. Nobles often seek out powerful magic users, and the twins' interests aligned disgustingly well with noble values. Naturally, their family likely didn't anticipate the extent of their obsession.
While the Louisse Kingdom's noble values covet magic users as assets, they certainly weren't seeking uncontrollable destructive forces.
However, Count Leopold Illyrius, an exception among nobles, was keen on possessing such a destructive force.
While I may have been abandoned by my own family, I felt no kinship towards the Gillette siblings.
It's evident, isn't it?
Experimenting with magic on individuals, akin to punchbags, perpetuated by the belief in the body's regenerative abilities, is utterly reprehensible.
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During my extended stay at the twin's mansion, there were moments when the twins vanished without a trace. Their whereabouts remained a mystery, undisclosed to me, but out of those occurrences, Leopold visited me only once.
Seated in a proper reception hall, far removed from the austere stone chambers favored by the twins, the Marquiss or should I say, the Duke expressed his dissatisfaction over a glass of Laura's wine, dutifully served by the household staff.
"It seems those twins are proving to be quite useless. I'm considering getting rid of them."
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His words hung heavy in the air as I leisurely sipped the wine poured by Leopold himself, pondering his intentions.
"And what do you want me to do about it?"
I responded, cocking my head slightly, intrigued by the Duke's sudden interest in my experiences with the siblings.
"You've spent more time with them than anyone else. Perhaps your insights could be valuable."
Leopold's gaze bore into me, causing a discomfort akin to an unwanted touch, prompting me to take refuge in another sip of wine.
"Shall we spend some time together, then? Your observations regarding the twins have piqued my curiosity."
"Intriguing, you say? But why?"
"They keep themselves isolated, their world confined solely to each other. To them, everyone else is either an experiment, a subject, or an obstacle. Even you, eventually."
"Their sentiments are of little consequence."
With a brusque motion, Leopold refilled his glass, his manner of drinking reflecting his blunt nature.
"What is it that you truly desire?"
My question caught even me off guard.
Indeed—there was no need for Leopold to offer up the Gillette siblings as mere 'subjects' akin to Euphemia Grimwood.
If he sought to harness magic, he could easily manipulate battles on any battlefield. There were plenty of brigands and rogues in the world, ripe for experimentation. Furthermore, there existed hostile races, such as the demonspawn said to be spawned by the god-who, lurking within dungeons, waiting to be studied.
Yet, he chose me.
And in doing so, glimpsed a semblance of progress.
Leopold drained his glass in one swallow, his voice strained as he spoke.
"Someday, the era of current nobility will fade. Should we persist in this path, magic will inevitably overwhelm us. In such a time, the existing framework of nations will crumble. The control of power will outweigh its sheer magnitude. Their inquisitiveness holds value. If it leads us to uncover the essence of magic...
...it is a sacrifice worth making."
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Leopold's primary concern seems to be inflation. Where does the constant pursuit of stronger magic and wizards lead? With each escalation in power, what consequences will follow?
In my world, there are weapons scattered across the globe, forbidden to be used under any circumstance. Yet inevitably, someone will wield them one day. The pace of inflation here may outstrip even that of my world. While the culture may resemble that of sword and magic realms, Earth's arsenal and techniques for ending lives are unparalleled. If the day arrives when wizards take to the skies, aerial devastation becomes a frightening reality. Leopold, unfamiliar with Earth, frets over such possibilities. He's astute, no doubt.
It's not just about evading the twins' attempts on my life. I've been internalizing the elusive "essence of magic" they speak of. I've simply lacked the opportunity to put that knowledge into practice. But it's not quite time yet. Almost, but not quite. Leopold's apprehensions ring true.
From a local standpoint, the Duke's concerns have proven valid. In truth, if the twins unleashed their magic without restraint, they could likely engulf an entire city. And—there might be other wizards capable of such feats. Restraint. That's the key.
And so, over roughly a hundred days, I've worked on mastering self-control. As long as it takes for a toddler to stand on their own.
To acclimate to an immortal body and know thy limits, beside killing boredom or not resorting to stealing food to survive and live on streets, such are the reasons why I accepted his proposal.
"Ha ha ha ha... " I can't stop laughing, how I wouldn't be?! In fact, I somewhat enjoyed being destroyed multiple times and knowing even the famous twins can't kill me brings so much relief and satisfaction.
No one knows the feelings I carry over these times... of being truly immortal.
However, it made me think how long I will stay here. Nevertheless, I know the answer already.