The familiar flash of light appeared again, and the sense of displacement washed over him as he returned.
Sylvar Crowe immediately wanted to complain.
This flash was way too bright. Couldn't whoever designed this thing lower the brightness a little? Every single time, he had to squint several times before his vision could recover. What if there was an enemy on the other side one day? Wouldn't that be disastrous?
After finally adapting to the light, Sylvar looked around and realized that he was back in his own room.
Without hesitation, he wanted to find someone and ask about the current situation.
The moment he stepped out of the room, he saw someone.
Asta was crouched in the corridor outside, wiping the floor with a rag.
When Asta noticed him, he immediately spoke up,
"Sylvar! I haven't seen you for a while. Where did you go?"
Sylvar replied calmly,
"I was just training my magic proficiency in my room. By the way, how long has it been since I went in?"
Asta scratched his head.
"Probably… about two or three hours?"
Then Asta suddenly remembered something and immediately complained,
"Hey! Don't leave all the cleaning of the base to me alone!"
Listening to Asta's endless grumbling, Sylvar silently made a judgment in his mind.
It seemed Asta was really angry with Noelle lately. Otherwise, he wouldn't be carrying such deep resentment while cleaning.
Sylvar waved his hand.
"Alright, alright, alright. Let's just finish everything quickly."
He used chain control magic to bind together the mop, towel, feather duster, and brush, and began cleaning multiple areas at once.
He finished one section, then moved to another, then another, working steadily through the base.
After cleaning one area, Sylvar asked Asta to fetch some water.
Asta pointed toward a room in the corner.
To be honest, Sylvar hadn't even noticed that there was another room there.
Asta said,
"Oh, right! There's also a senior from the Black Bulls living here. Let's go see him—but don't get too close. He said he's cursed, and anyone who gets near him will have their magic power drained."
Asta walked over and opened the door.
Inside, Sylvar saw a man with long, messy blue hair lying motionless on the bed.
Just as Sylvar was about to greet him, the moment he stepped through the doorway, he felt his magic power being sucked away at an astonishing speed.
What the hell is this?!
Even a flushing toilet doesn't drain this fast!
The terrifying speed of the magic absorption forced him to retreat instantly. If he stayed any longer, he felt like he would be drained dry.
The man on the bed spoke very slowly, as though he hadn't spoken for a long time.
Well, he actually hadn't spoken for a long time.
"Don't… come closer… your magic power… will be drained…"
It took more than twenty seconds for him to finish that sentence.
Sylvar couldn't help complaining inwardly.
You absorb magic like lightning, but you talk this slowly?
Of course, he kept that thought to himself.
Asta walked over to the bed and started talking with the man.
Sylvar turned to Asta.
"Why don't you introduce him properly? I don't even know his name."
Asta suddenly realized.
"Oh! His name is Henry. Senior Henry. And this is my friend from the same village, Sylvar."
Sylvar nodded politely.
"Hello, Henry-senpai. Nice to meet you. Please take care of me."
"…Hello," Henry replied slowly.
After the introductions, Asta began playing with the bird resting in Henry's hair while chatting with him.
Sylvar stood nearby, silently watching.
After about three and a half seconds, Sylvar had already started thinking about how to deal with Henry's condition.
An idea formed.
Sylvar spoke directly,
"I have a way to temporarily seal Senior Henry's special physique. Do you want to try it?"
Henry froze.
His parents had searched everywhere, seeking countless people to cure his condition. One time, they went out specifically to find someone capable of treating it—and never came back.
He had long since lost hope.
But—
He couldn't ignore the goodwill of a junior.
"…Okay," Henry said slowly. "I… also want… to be friends… with everyone…"
When Sylvar heard the word "friends," his scalp tingled.
He immediately activated chain magic.
Because the distance was too close and his magic might be drained, he used long-range control instead of approaching.
The moment the chains bound Henry, Sylvar felt something was wrong.
Bad. This is bad.
His magic power was still being absorbed through the chains.
How was that possible?
Without hesitation, Sylvar used sealing magic to block the flow of magic inside Henry's body.
It was like plugging both the inlet and the outlet at the same time.
The flow of magic stopped.
Henry spoke slowly,
"Well… Sylvar… there seems to be… a problem…"
"What problem?" Sylvar asked.
"…I can't absorb your magic power anymore… but I rely on everyone's magic… to survive…"
Before Henry could finish, Sylvar interrupted him.
Listening to Henry speak like this was already testing his patience.
"So in other words," Sylvar said immediately, "this seal can only last for a limited time. If it goes on too long, Senior Henry will die from magic exhaustion."
"…Yes," Henry replied.
Sylvar sighed.
"Alright. Then I'll help you seal and unseal it every day. I haven't figured out automatic switching magic yet."
Asta shouted excitedly,
"That's amazing! You actually solved the curse! You really are worthy of being my rival!"
Sylvar shouted back,
"Who's your rival, you hot-blooded dwarf?!"
Asta's eyes turned firm.
"That day, Yuno, you, and I all vowed to become the Wizard King!"
Sylvar frowned.
"When did I ever say that?"
Henry slowly interjected,
"…Alright… let's meet… everyone…"
Even with his magic sealed, he still spoke this slowly.
Sylvar felt a headache forming.
"By the way, Senior Henry," Sylvar asked, "how long can the seal last right now?"
Henry thought for a moment.
"…Probably… a little over an hour…"
Sylvar nodded, then turned to Asta.
"Asta, I'm giving you a very difficult task. Gather all the Black Bulls. We're holding a banquet. A dinner party."
Asta's eyes sparkled.
"A banquet? That's awesome!"
Sylvar continued,
"Senior Henry will make his official debut tonight. I'll lift the seal for now."
He removed the chains.
"I'll reseal it during the banquet."
"…Okay," Henry said.
There were still seven or eight hours until evening.
First priority: find the chef, Charmy.
With her magic, preparing a banquet wouldn't be a problem.
But first, he needed to give her a gift.
When Sylvar arrived at the cafeteria, Charmy was there as expected.
He greeted her.
"Senior Charmy, I have some new recipes. I believe only you can make them properly."
"New recipes?" Charmy stopped chewing.
Sylvar took out a thick stack of books.
They were recipes from another world.
Charmy's eyes lit up as she flipped through them. Grilled meats, desserts, stir-fries, stews—just reading the descriptions made her mouth water.
She immediately activated Cotton Cook and began cooking while reading.
Soon, she panicked.
"There are no ingredients!"
Sylvar immediately poured all the precious ingredients and edible plants he had sealed into the cafeteria.
Seeing the food, Charmy instantly calmed down.
Good.
If she entered her second state, Sylvar wouldn't dare approach her.
A blow from the sleeping sheep could kill him.
Especially since his chest injury wasn't fully healed.
He didn't want to feel that pain again.
Wait.
Sylvar lowered his head.
Now that he had Nen, why fear physical attacks?
Wouldn't using Ken block most of them?
…Not all attacks.
Melee mage training needed to be added.
Remembering the main point, he shouted,
"There's a banquet tonight! Prepare more food!"
He didn't check if she heard him and left.
Time passed.
Night arrived.
Asta came to call Sylvar.
The banquet had already begun outside the base.
When they arrived, everyone looked at Sylvar.
Asta had already told them there would be a surprise.
Sylvar stepped back, pulled Henry forward, and spoke loudly,
"Let me introduce him. This is Senior Henry. The Black Bulls' senior. This base's self-repair and moving rooms are all his magic."
"…Hello," Henry said slowly.
The scene fell silent.
Gray screamed first,
"Are you the castle ghost?!"
Magna, Gauche, Vanessa, and Charmy shouted at the same time,
"There's another senior?!"
Luck excitedly said,
"Senior Henry! Let's fight!"
Gordon muttered something softly.
Yami explained calmly.
Magna slapped Henry's shoulder—and collapsed.
Sylvar froze.
That shouldn't have happened.
Yami asked in confusion,
"Henry, how can you move freely without draining us?"
Sylvar explained the seal.
Yami laughed.
"You're worthy of my squad."
Sylvar complained internally.
Then he spoke aloud.
"Alright. Now for the surprise."
He opened the magic book.
Ten boxes of medicine appeared.
He handed them to Yami.
"A laxative. One pill clears you out for a whole day."
Yami swallowed one immediately.
Ten seconds later, he ran for the toilet.
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Author's Notes:
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