It wasn't without reason that Arthur was so ruthless—he had cast Imperius to control Seluvis, then immediately followed with Cruciatus.
Seluvis' obsession disgusted him. Liking dolls was one thing—even in his past life, many people collected them. But Seluvis liked turning living people into puppets.
Tricking innocents into drinking his potions, transforming them into lifeless toys.
Any normal person would want to burn him alive.
But he couldn't die yet. Not before revealing his secret chamber near the Fourth Church of Marika.
In that hidden cellar, Seluvis had stashed many of his puppets. One among them was someone Arthur desperately needed.
His teacher—Sorceress Sellen's true body.
She had long been branded a heretic by the Academy of Raya Lucaria, banished for "touching upon forbidden knowledge."
Imprisoned beneath the Waypoint Ruins, guarded by Pumpkin Heads, she survived only by projecting herself into a puppet body.
Arthur suspected the accusations had merit. For Sellen had already ceased to be fully human—she had transformed her very essence into primeval glintstone, allowing her soul to shift endlessly between suitable vessels.
Why her body ended up in Seluvis' private vault, he didn't know. But he knew she needed it. Without it, she could never break free of the Academy's bindings.
So Arthur forced Seluvis to lead him there. There was no way a directionless half-dumb adventurer like him could sniff out such a place on his own.
After retrieving Sellen's true body, Arthur sealed it into his system space. Along the way, he stripped Seluvis' chamber of nearly all his puppets—save one.
A puppet fashioned in Seluvis' own likeness.
Arthur had always suspected this pervert had prepared it as a decoy—faking his own assassination, while his true self hid away to continue his depravity.
But this time, his scheme would end in ashes. Literally.
Arthur left him locked in with his beloved dolls, then incinerated the chamber with Fiendfyre.
Nothing left but cinders.
Afterwards, Arthur thought of reuniting with Teacher Sellen. But then he remembered something—
In the game, once she regained her body, her first words had been: "At last, I can return to the Academy! To overthrow Caria's royalty and revive the Primeval Current!"
That made him hesitate. His mother-in-law still lingered there. If conflict arose… which side would he choose?
He scratched his head in frustration, lost in thought until Ranni appeared silently beside him.
"My lord seems troubled. Why not share it with me?"
Noticing her, Arthur stroked his chin, trying to find the words.
"It's about Sellen. You know she was my first magic teacher. I've recovered her true body from Seluvis."
He stopped short, but Ranni understood.
"I have heard of her. They say she obsessed over the Primeval Current, poisoning countless sorcerers until the Carian royals banished her. You wish to release her?"
"Yes. She is still my teacher, and I owe her much."
Ranni pondered briefly before replying:
"I will allow it—but on one condition. She must swear never to harm any member of the Carian royal line."
As for the Academy's mages? Ranni couldn't care less. While her mother slept, they had staged a rebellion with the Cuckoo Knights, plunging Liurnia into chaos.
That she hadn't already ground their bones to dust and scattered them into the lake was mercy enough.
Arthur nodded, accepting the condition on Sellen's behalf. He was certain she would agree—her fondness for her students bordered on limitless.
Something, he thought, that Snape could learn a thing or two from.
(Snape: unborn, kindly leave me out of this.)
"Come, my lord. Let us explore the Moonlight Altar," Ranni said softly.
With her words, Arthur tossed all his worries aside.
After all, opening new maps and scouring fresh lands was far more exciting. Especially now that he had a guide. No more stumbling about like a headless fly.
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Before she could react, he swept her into his arms and leapt onto the flying broom, soaring toward the Moonlight Altar.
And so, Arthur's routine continued.
By day, he read books at home.
By night, he delved into the Lands Between, clearing regions one after another.
The only difference now was that he had Ranni beside him.
Though, interestingly, after that trip, Ranni never entered on her own again. She only came when Arthur himself traveled—manifesting through her puppet body to accompany him.
In her own words: "It's simply more convenient."
Arthur had to admit—she was right. Each time he teleported via a Site of Grace, the doll Ranni counted as his "belonging" and transferred with him.
A most convenient arrangement indeed.
By day she read books of history from his world.
By night she adventured at his side.
Arthur eventually found the rhythm rather enjoyable. Having a wife as both partner and pendant was a unique experience.
During this time, Snape even paid them a visit.
Of course, not for Arthur.
He had come to consult Mrs. Granger about pregnancy care.
Thus, the Grangers became the very first to learn of his marriage and coming child.
Hermione had gaped in shock, exclaiming that someone had actually fallen for such a greasy, middle-aged man.
Her remark left Arthur in stitches.
The truth was, Snape wasn't bad-looking at all. He had even urged him more than once to tidy himself up, but Snape never seemed to care.
Finally, Mrs. Granger couldn't stand it anymore. Slipping her own advice in with her pregnancy tips, she suggested he at least shampoo his hair daily.
Visit my patreon for more chapters
Advance 30+ Chapters Available
patreon.com/WhiteDevil7554