The dying Khan had lost his light. Instead, memories from the past were flashing through his mind.
Khan’s father was a wizard, and Khan had been receiving magical education since he was young.
Because of his natural aptitude for magic, he wasn’t treated like an ordinary child; he was made to study only magic.
As Khan grew and surpassed his father as a wizard, he sought even greater heights by finding and studying under the grand wizard Logan.
Khan had never met a wizard greater than himself and was confident in his magic, determined to surpass Logan one day.
However, Logan’s magic far exceeded Khan’s imagination. It might have been a difference in innate talent or perhaps a different approach to magic.
“If things remain as they are, I’ll never surpass Logan.”
For Khan, magic was his reason for being. He had given up everything else for it.
There was no turning back now.
To surpass his master, Khan sought more time and longevity.
This led him to necromancy.
By becoming a vampire, he could gain eternal life. Moreover, becoming an immortal lich king would grant him magical power beyond human limits.
With that power, surpassing Logan wouldn’t be difficult, or so he thought.
Necromancy was forbidden, a common knowledge among wizards, but Khan didn’t care.
Leaving Logan’s tutelage, Khan dedicated himself to studying necromancy and set up a mansion in his homeland of Rama.
As his wizard father, who was also a noble, had passed away, leaving him an inheritance, he had no financial worries.
Khan threw himself into necromancy research without restraint.
During his research, he discovered that becoming an immortal king required the life force of the Asra people.
Though becoming a vampire would suffice for eternal life, he was intrigued by the power that came with being an immortal lich king.
“I need an Asra.”
Khan decided to keep an Asra as one of his materials.
However, human trafficking was banned in Rama.
So, he sought information about slavers dealing in Asra from other countries.
Though Khan had few social connections, he was originally a noble and well-known as a wizard, so he had some contacts.
Through a noble from another country, he was introduced to Luna.
Khan immediately traveled to that country and went to the slaver’s mansion.
The slaver, who called himself Mason, was a talkative, friendly man, but the tall woman named Molly who was with him glared at the gloomy wizard with frightening eyes.
However, Khan didn’t care about either of them, focusing only on Luna’s condition.
Red eyes, white skin, and golden hair.
She was undoubtedly of Asra blood, matching Khan’s knowledge.
Khan paid Mason’s asking price and took Luna.
Though the price was high, money meant little to Khan, and his father’s inheritance was enough to cover it.
If money became a problem, he could make potions. Potions made by wizards were expensive, and many freelance wizards lived off potion-making.
Thus, Khan obtained an Asra, but Luna did not yet meet the conditions to be a sacrifice.
She was still young, without the qualities of a wizard, lacking sufficient magical power, so she needed to be raised as a wizard.
It’s like needing a ripe fruit to eat.
Luna was a talkative girl.
When she repeatedly asked why Khan bought her, he told her, “To make you my apprentice.”
It wasn’t a lie. He planned to make her his apprentice and then sacrifice her once she became a wizard.
So, Luna began to call Khan “master.”
“Master?”
Though Khan had been an apprentice, he had never taken one himself.
In fact, he had never taken care of anyone before.
A small change occurred within Khan, though it was slight.
When they reached the mansion, Luna immediately said to Khan, “I have a request!”
Khan thought she wanted to return home. Of course, he had no intention of allowing that since she was his purchased material.
However, Luna’s request was to clean the mansion.
Indeed, the mansion was quite messy, but Khan saw no problem with it for his magical pursuits.
Yet, knowing his own sense wasn’t normal, he allowed her to clean.
He didn’t want Luna to think of escaping because of the dirtiness.
Luna worked hard. Despite her small body, she cleaned the entire mansion, organized things, and neatly arranged books.
She also sought Khan’s approval for things she thought she shouldn’t do on her own.
Initially, she was startled by the undead, but once she realized they wouldn’t attack her, she used them as servants without fear, even more skillfully than Khan.
Khan was impressed by how well she managed them.
A month after Luna arrived, the mansion was impeccably clean. Though Khan hadn’t minded the dirt, he was moved by the fact that the girl had achieved so much alone.
However, one thing puzzled him.
Occasionally, Luna would gaze intently at Khan, as if watching his reactions.
Khan couldn’t understand what it meant.
After the mansion was clean, just as Khan thought they could finally move on to magical education, Luna made another request.
“Please let me shave your beard.”
She had apparently been trained to shave men’s beards by the slaver.
Khan had no interest in it, but again, Luna looked at him intently.
It was a look of fear or anxiety.
Finally, Khan understood.
Ah, this child has nothing, he thought.
She couldn’t affirm herself, so she eagerly awaited Khan’s reactions.
She was trying to find herself in others.
But Khan didn’t know what to do.
He had found himself in magic and lived a life indifferent to others.
When he looked at Luna, her hand holding the razor was trembling.
…Very dangerous. Physically dangerous.
However, she seemed confident in her ability to shave.
Khan realized that accepting this was the only thing he could do for her.
(I might die.)
For the first time in his life, Khan felt the fear of death. He wondered why, in seeking eternal life, he had to face danger for this girl. But in the end, he entrusted himself to Luna.
Luna made Khan sit in a chair, stood on a platform, and happily shaved his beard. She was skilled.
Khan himself didn’t feel bad about it. He realized that this girl needed trust.
From then on, as a master, he taught Luna magic. As one of Asra blood, she had high magical power and was quick to learn. Most importantly, she took a keen interest in magic and was eager to learn.
Perhaps it was to gain Khan’s approval, but Luna’s efforts were genuine.
When Khan said, “You have talent,” she was particularly happy.
Khan rarely praised others, but Luna always smiled at his rare compliments.
And soon, Khan began to look forward to Luna’s growth as a wizard. He was surprised by his interest in something other than magic.
However, about ten years after Luna arrived, as she grew into a beautiful woman, her behavior changed.
On the days she went out shopping, she seemed in a good mood.
Though she didn’t seem to realize it, her behavior was noticeably different on the days she went out.
“Does she have a lover?” Khan wondered but couldn’t bring himself to ask.
If she had a lover in town and left for him, Khan would be alone again.
That thought terrified Khan. He couldn’t imagine life without Luna.
Khan had lost the intention to make Luna a sacrifice for becoming an immortal king.
Instead, he realized he had developed an attachment to her.
TLNOTE : While waiting, I implore you dear readers to read other masterpiece novels that also written by the same author :
- When the Monster Meat I Ate Led Me to the Throne (LN)
- Who killed the Hero?
- The Wicked Princess and 12 Eyes – The Strongest Squires and the Legendary Evil Woman, the Second Time in Her Life
- The Exiled Merchant Saves the World with the Power of Gold (translated by my friend meerkat)
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