Chapter 743: Secrets

"How did you recognize me?"

The young man smiled slightly, implicitly confirming that he was indeed Orlocke, the old magus who should have been dead.

"The so-called Butterfly Magecraft, I heard, is a magecraft discovered from the process of a caterpillar dissolving its body through the chrysalis stage to become a butterfly. The larva dies, transforming into the rebirth of a butterfly. In that sense, it's not incomprehensible that it could be applied to such a resurrection."

"As expected of someone who could fake death in front of me. However, the term true isn't quite right."

Although the tone and pitch were completely different, his manner of speaking was no different from Orlocke's before.

"This body itself is a homunculus made from my blood and genetic factors. It was gradually transplanted along with the magic crest, and in the end, the entire personality was moved over. However, due to the suddenness, there was a great loss in the transfer process. Moreover, because of the influence of the magic crest earlier, half of what was preserved has now ceased to function. By the standards of Butterfly Magecraft, I should be the failed residue of metamorphosis."

A significant loss of personality and half of the magic crest's function stopping would undoubtedly be a disaster for a magus, but for some reason, Orlocke's face showed no dejection or frustration. Instead, it revealed obvious relief and gratitude.

"Lord Orlocke..."

Hishiri Adashino hesitated to speak.

"There's nothing to hide. I think you can see that I'm dying. People know that caterpillars break out of their cocoons to transform into butterflies, but how many have thought about the fate of caterpillars that fail to transform? It's the same with Butterfly Magecraft. I who failed to transform will eventually meet such an end, just like that child. I just didn't expect to die at your hands. This is karma, I suppose."

The old man in a young body reached out to touch the monster's face. From the remaining contours, it must have been a beautiful woman.

"She... she is?"

"She is Geryon's wife, Glannid's mother."

"And also your lover. Did you kill Geryon because of her? No, not just that, you are Glannid's real father!"

Hishiri Adashino first doubted, then quickly nodded in confirmation. Glannid was still alive, yet Orlocke hadn't thought of seeking revenge against the person who killed him. The answer was obvious.

"Can't you leave an old man some dignity, young lady?"

As they conversed, the young body gradually aged. It was the dying soul affecting the flesh, gradually bringing him closer to his true form.

"Haha."

He let out a sneer, not knowing if he was sneering at himself, at the deceased Geryon, or both.

"Yes. Although there was quite an age difference, she was indeed once my lover. After more than a decade, we met again through Geryon's introduction... Ah, before that emotion, all these years of my life seemed wasted. Just seeing her snow-white skin would involuntarily stir my imagination."

The increasingly aging old man reminisced about the distant past.

"Thinking about it now, Geryon probably knew about this. He must have had some premonition about his wife coming to lament not having children, and about me taking advantage of the situation. Under these circumstances, he arranged that reunion. In the end, only that child was unaware of this matter."

"And then, Glannid Ashborn..."

"The mistake only happened once," the old man said.

"Later, the lady was diagnosed with a terminal illness and died shortly after giving birth to her son. It was a consequence based on life, something modern medicine calls genetic or whatnot, an incurable disease. Even the secret medicine sought by the Druids had no effect. From that moment on, Geryon was already insane. Not long after, that guy said he wanted to show me something good. Hahaha, what he showed me, I don't need to say anymore, right?"

A person turned into a beast.

The wife was said to have died shortly after childbirth.

"That guy happily said - 'How about it? She has finally overcome the terminal illness. A woman who couldn't bear children normally yet has talent as a familiar. I plan to use her body as a storehouse for magic crests. It's also thanks to your Butterfly Magecraft that I can preserve various magic crests like this. Please, give us your blessing.'"

"..."

Hishiri Adashino remained silent, quietly listening to the old magus' confession.

"...Thinking about it now, that guy might have been sincere. His love for his wife, his love for his son, it might all have been genuine. Turning his wife into a monster out of love, as a magus, might have been a natural thought. As a magus, I also thought what he did was correct. Even though I thought so, I still couldn't bear it."

Magus should sacrifice for magecraft.

No matter the cost, as long as one can take a step forward towards the mysteries, that is the right path.

This was the first lesson for everyone, and Orlocke, as one of the closest to the mysteries, forgot all of this in that instant. After killing his former friend Geryon Ashborn, he couldn't remember clearly how he escaped from this castle.

"You would be more suited to join us."

As Hishiri Adashino said this, the old man was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. This laughter seemed to be the purest since the beginning of this incident.

"Most magus, including myself, view you as unorthodox fanatics. Perhaps we are the ones who are obsessed. Miss Hishiri Adashino, can I ask you for one last favor?"

"Please, go ahead."

"I entrust my child to you. Although only residue remains, at least let him suffer less torment."

The old man turned around and shakily bowed toHishiri Adashino. Although he was decayed almost to a skeleton, the old man still completed this etiquette.

The woman in the kimono accepted the old man's bow because she knew he wouldn't be at peace if she didn't.

"I can only say I'll do my best, after all, your and Geryon's research has violated taboos that would terrify most magus."

"That's enough, that's enough. If there are any issues, let's resolve them in the afterlife."

By now, the old magus could no longer stand. He lay on the ground, moving slowly and with difficulty, as if on a long journey. On that withered face, though there was pain, there was more of a smile - a pure smile like that of a child.

He finally touched the Ashborn monster that had already breathed its last.

"My love."

The old man tightly embraced his past lover who had turned into a beast.

"Dance..."

Swarms of golden butterflies danced in the world. This was the quintessential secret of Butterfly Magecraft, a secret technique that could restore the original appearance of the transformed woman, even if only for a moment.

In the fluttering dance of butterflies, the synthetic beast that resembled a wolf spider regained the form of a beautiful woman. Although the damaged right side of her body couldn't be restored, the embracing couple looked as beautiful as if blessed by moonlight.

Hishiri Adashino, silently watching this scene, removed her glasses. With light steps and flowing sleeves, the snake-like double pupils in her eyes lost their shrewd calculation, replaced by a solemn and dignified look.

She was dancing, an ancient dance to pacify souls.

"Magus dance with deception and mystery. May there be no more unfulfilled wishes in the afterlife, and may you reunite in the world after death and find eternal peace~"