Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 12: Absolute Taboo
Myss sounded completely casual, as if he were asking, “The pears at breakfast were too sour, how about apples instead?”
Salaar rubbed his temple. “Using a human corpse is an absolute taboo.”
“They say it causes magical backlash. The offender drops dead on the spot, and even if someone survives by luck, they won’t live more than a few days.”
“What about the young lord’s live offering?” Myss glanced at him.
Salaar: “That was a demon summoning ritual of his own invention. Come to think of it, ‘Patience’ never shortened demon summoning to just ‘the Summoning Ritual’. I suppose that was to keep it distinct from the ‘Magibase Summoning Ritual’.
“Interesting, I sealed you for not even ten years and the ‘Magibase Summoning Ritual’ appeared.”
Assuming Lord Karns’s memories were correct—
The creator of the “Magibase Summoning Ritual” was unknown. Several scholars published similar theories around the same time, and each faction had its own view on who should count as the founder.
As for why it emerged, some say it was due to the Archdemon’s “whale fall” dispersing magic, while others credit the prosperity that followed the end of the Night Scourge.
In effect, it allowed everyone to use magic, and humanity stepped into the “Age of Magical Enlightenment”.
The topic became increasingly academic, and Myss felt a headache coming on.
“Let us stick to common knowledge,” he said dully, and casually took the tea Salaar had just set to cool.
Salaar nearly sighed in his face. “All right. The basics are simple.”
“First, a Magibase takes the form of an animal, and it is equivalent to a spiritual organ acquired after birth.”
“Second, when a person gets emotional or uses magic, the Magibase becomes highly active.”
“Third, if the Magibase is destroyed, its owner dies with it, so people do everything they can to keep their Magibase hidden.”
Fourth, Magibases aren’t supposed to talk, Myss added quietly to himself.
That did clear up quite a few things.
…No wonder when he crushed Old Aiken’s hamster, Old Aiken exploded along with it.
…No wonder the mage and Covington showed their Magibases at the moment of death. Apparently, the principle is similar to incontinence.
It was a shame that he was too focused on Salaar as he was killing people, that he didn’t pay attention to the bandits, or he would have noticed more.
To be honest, Myss didn’t think humans hid their Magibases very well.
After the old carpenter drew his Magibase back into the back of his hand, Myss looked a few more times. He was certain he could still pull it out of the flesh, quite simply as if yanking a human heart out of a chest cavity.
They couldn’t hide from him. All he had to do was focus to feel that distinctive magical aura.
Thinking of this, Myss couldn’t help running his eyes over Salaar from head to toe again.
Unfortunately, the man truly had no Magibase, so Myss couldn’t pinch at a weak point. Then again, if Salaar did have one, it would certainly be just as annoying as he was.
……
They kept talking intermittently, waiting for the “Resolve to Elope” to wear off.
The hands on the clock moved at an unhurried pace, and the tavern filled up bit by bit. Ruffians and drifters came to kill time, merchants dropped in for a drink on their break, and even some prostitutes came by to sell themselves.
Proprietor Hammer sat rigid behind the counter, muscles taut, and the tavern’s mood was unusually harmonious.
By the time Salaar finished his fourth cup of herbal tea, the effect finally faded.
The two of them were striking in appearance. Without the potion’s cover, glances brushed them like feather tips. A few ruffians were itching to sidle over and chat, but Salaar’s piercing stare drove them off.
It had to be said, the villainous aura of that face was quite effective.
Some people were more polite. An elegant lady came over with a drink and praised Salaar’s eyes. “Such a rare cobalt blue, very much like Karns’s lapis lazuli,” she praised him while edging her body closer to Myss. “…Dear, who is this little lamb? Your younger brother?”
At the second half, Myss frowned. “You people have a remarkably varied range of insults.”
“Perhaps I am a member of House Karns,” Salaar subtly steered the topic aside.
“Heh. As if the Karns would come to a place like this.” The woman smiled with her eyes. “Plenty claim to be Karns bastards. Your eyes are a lot more convincing than theirs.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Salaar lifted his cup and made a toast in the air, without actually touching her glass. It was a tactful and proper dismissal.
She gave them a sweet smile and glided away. Seeing even she had failed, no one else came over.
“We can skip the potion for now,” Salaar said once she had gone. “It seems this eye color isn’t that rare, and there aren’t many who dare to judge bloodlines.”
Myss remained silent. He still thought gouging out this brat’s eyes would be the simplest solution.
By afternoon they stood in front of the largest building in the Lower City.
It had started as a church of some religion. Later that religion vanished into history, and most of the structure was burned down. During the plague, the city lord repaired it as a temporary hospital for the Lower City.
Now it had changed once more and had become Rosha’s designated venue for the “Magibase Summoning Ritual”.
It’s said that the people of the Upper City chose this site to display their “goodwill and inclusiveness”, while the people of the Lower City generally believe the nobles simply don’t want crowds from the Lower City marching into the Upper City and dirtying their fine neighborhood.
The first Saturday of September was almost here, and the church was nearly ready.
Its crack-veined walls had been newly painted, and the badly damaged spire had been reinforced with magic. The exterior was decorated with laurel branches and silver bells that symbolized blessing, and a long red carpet ran up the stone steps, giving the place a touch of festive atmosphere.
Two long tables stood crosswise by the church doors.
The table on the left was piled with free candies and croutons. The one on the right displayed neat rows of small bones, insect wings, and pig bristles and horsehair tied up with bows. These were free as well for poor children who had brought no offerings. All of the above were provided by court mages who organized the ceremony.
Merchants from the Lower City didn’t want to miss this once-a-year chance either. They set up rings of stalls farther out, selling all manners of offering materials, snacks, and sundries.
Myss looked around with keen interest. As a slave he only had memories of being confined indoors, so all this was new to him.
“Here. Buy whatever you want, and don’t steal anything.” Salaar produced two silver shields in advance. “The last thing we need right now is a commotion.”
Myss: “I’m not stupid.”
As he said it, he kept sneaking looks at a stall where a woman was selling cheese mixed with berries. The portions were served in leaves folded into bowl shapes, bright with reds and greens.
Then he sensed something was amiss. “So you would rather risk letting me buy things on my own than go with me?”
“I’m not your babysitter,” Salaar stated frankly. “I’m also curious what you’ll do.”
Which meant he would be watching Myss every second. Myss gritted his teeth.
Business was brisk at the cheese-and-berries stall. Myss suppressed the urge to scatter the crowd and lined up obediently.
“We meet again, handsome young man.” The woman in front of him turned around.
It was the middle-aged woman from the bookshop. She still carried a faint aroma of food, although this time it smelled less like hot pancakes and more like butter cookies.
Remembering that she had bought the trash called “Brave Salaar”, Myss had no desire to talk to her. He only nodded perfunctorily.
“My daughter has wanted that book for a long time. Thank you for letting me have it,” the woman went on, apparently unable to read his aversion. “She even pestered me to read it to her last night.”
Unfortunate child, Myss thought. So young and already forced to listen to such a lousy story.
“My name is Mina,” the woman, Mina, continued to chatter. “The cheese here is very good. It has a clean, refreshing tang…”
“Oh my, Mr. Myss!” another voice sounded behind him.
This time it was Hailey. The inn girl’s cheeks were rosy, and her nose was still a little swollen.
She was clearly excited, since Myss could see a translucent long-tailed tit above her head.
The fluffy little bird hopped and chirped, “Good person! Good person!”
At last, a well-mannered Magibase. Too bad he was neither good nor human.
Why are you here?” Myss turned his head and decisively ignored Madam Mina.
Hailey said brightly, “My nose was injured. The boss was afraid I would scare customers, so he told me to stay home for now. There are few customers anyway, and the shop isn’t busy.”
Myss: “Oh.”
“By the way, are you here to watch the Summoning Ritual?” Hailey was very enthusiastic.
“Something like that,” Myss replied absently.
A couple more chattering of small talk and the line would move. He would reach the front soon.
“My uncle brings me every year,” Hailey chirped. “The children summon all kinds of Magibases. Last year someone summoned a puppy. It was especially cute.”
Myss watched her for a moment, then a thought struck him. “When did you take part in the Summoning Ritual?”
Hailey was just fifteen. If she had taken part on schedule, her ceremony would have been ten years ago, which would put her in the same session as “Patience”.
“Ten years ago.” Hailey blinked. “As soon as I reached the age, my uncle sent me.”
The tit on her head cocked its head and blinked along with her.
At the same time, the line reached Myss. “How many?” asked the woman selling cheese and berries.
“This much,” Myss said, tossing down a silver shield. His eyes stayed on Hailey. “Were the children in your session all five years old? Was anyone unusual?”
The question didn’t sound like small talk, and Hailey was a bit at a loss. “There were definitely children of other ages.”
“The Upper City is strict about age. In the Lower City people are less particular, so some are registered a year or two late. The oldest in my session was eight, maybe nine. Sorry, I don’t remember very clearly…”
“But there were definitely no adults,” she added briskly.
“Then did anything strange happen?” Myss paused, then asked.
The author has something to say:
How they currently see everyone else:
Myss’s view: Hateful Salaar >>>>>> other insignificant humans (regardless of age or gender)
Salaar’s view: Research subject Myss >>>>>> other juniors with a massive generation gap (regardless of age or gender)
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