𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟗

“W-What are you doing?!”

“I was waiting for you to use it.”

As Travis looked into Mutabilis’s cold, piercing eyes, he panicked and tried to escape.

However, Eugene was hovering above, slowly lowering his index finger towards Travis’s head.

In an instant, the scenery around Travis seemed to distort, and moments later, he suddenly clutched his throat in pain.

‘Wh-What’s happening?’

Travis opened his mouth and eyes wide, writhing in agony.

Soon, he collapsed to the ground and lay there limp.

Seeing this, Eugene made a gesture with his right hand as if swatting something away, and the distortion surrounding Travis vanished as if a thread had been cut.

Before they knew it, the two who had been fighting in the sky had paused their commotion, and Mabel cautiously approached Travis.

As she crouched down and looked closely, she realized he had fainted, his face contorted in pain.

“I removed the essential elements from him.”

With a fluttering sound, Eugene landed next to Mabel.

Mabel raised a question mark at his words.

“Essential elements?”

“In a person’s life, there are indispensable elements that must always be present. Usually, they are everywhere and go unnoticed, but I intentionally removed them only around him. That’s why he temporarily lost consciousness due to the deficiency.”

Mabel was both impressed and slightly frightened by Eugene’s matter-of-fact explanation.

If those elements or whatever hadn’t been restored, Travis would have likely lost not only consciousness but also his life.

After confirming that Travis was alive, Eugene turned his gaze towards Mutabilis, who stood a little distance away.

“Is this satisfactory?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Mutabilis answered and tilted his head lightly.

“That weapon creates a brief opening once activated. But it was aimed at you. I’m truly sorry.”

“It didn’t hit me, so it’s fine.”

Mabel noticed Eugene’s gaze flicker toward her and felt a slight sense of joy.

But as she recalled a matter, she gave a gasp. She turned to Mutabilis and asked, 

“Um, didn’t you say you cursed me?”

In response to that question, Mutabilis smiled.

“Yes, I did. But it didn’t affect you.”

“Huh?”

“To be precise, I couldn’t cast it on you. Mabel, you―”

“Sorry to interrupt, but there’s still unfinished business.”

Interrupting Mutabilis’ words, Eugene stood next to Mabel.

Indeed, although the explosions had stopped, there were still many soldiers inside the castle.

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Mutabilis nodded and gently approached Mabel.

Apologizing with a wry smile to Mabel, he instinctively distanced himself.

“Mabel, I have a favor to ask.”

“W-What?”

“I want you to remove this mask.”

Mabel furrowed her brows, not understanding what he meant, but Mutabilis looked at her and changed his expression to a smile.

doubtful, Mabel hesitantly reached out her hand towards Mutabilis’s white mask.

When her finger touched the metal near his ear, she felt a slight warmth spreading.

But it wasn’t enough to cause a burn, and Mabel continued to remove the mask.

From beneath the mask emerged pale, translucent skin and eyes as clear as a summer sky.

The eyelashes framing them were silver and unusually long, almost resembling those of a woman.

A slender nose and thin lips exuded an ethereal atmosphere, like a fleeting snow spirit. Mabel couldn’t help but sigh at Mutabilis’ true face.

‘It’s different from Eugene and Row, but it’s also a beautiful face…’

Just as she marveled at this masked mage, Mutabilis smiled and met Mabel’s gaze, unexpectedly looking younger. It sent a slight shiver down Mabel’s spine.

“Thank you. Now everything will be fine.”

“Fine?”

“Because of this mask, I was bound by Wiski’s power. But now I’m free.”

Saying that, Mutabilis spread her wings again and soared into the sky.

Eugene was already up there, observing the raging battle below.

“Sorry for the wait.”

“Couldn’t you have asked someone else to undo it?”

“Sorry, but Mabel was the only one here.”

To lift a curse, the medium on which the curse is placed needs to be removed by someone other than the spellcaster.

Eugene was aware of that possibility, but he was worried that Mabel might see Mutabilis up close and fall in love with him.

Whether Mutabilis knew about Eugene’s concerns or not, he narrowed his eyes. 

---