"You said something interesting earlier when I heard you explain the [darkness], Valerie. As I recall...



"In the back of this room, there is a device that drains all the magic from the test subject.



　I remember Valerie's explanation.

I remember Valerie's explanation. "A device for a simple recreation of the Dark Chain, right?

　I smirked at her.
　The blood drained from Valerie's face.

"You don't mean...

　You must have figured it out.
　You know what I'm up to.

　At first, I was just gonna kill this guy.

　It was Valerie who put the spell directly on me.
　I hated her. I hated her so much.

　I've hated her for two years.

　But... just killing her wasn't enough.
　I want to make him suffer more, make him despair more.

　And to do that, I'll take away the one thing he holds most dear...

"Shea, cut the tendons in Val's limbs. Cut the tendons in Valerie's limbs so she can't move, then get her to the machine.

　If I get within ten meters of him, he'll kill me no questions asked.

　I'll let Shea do the last bit.
　But I'll finish the job.

"Yes, Master Chrom.

　Shea nods and draws her sword.
　The look in his eyes is chillingly sharp.

　Perhaps it's because she's angry at the experiments they've done to get here.
　Perhaps it's because she's been angered by their experiments.

"No, no...

　Valerie backs away.

"Thunderstorm!

　An advanced thunderstorm spell is unleashed.

"Shea, don't move.
"Yes.

　As I had instructed, Shea stopped dead in her tracks.

　Immediately after, a bolt of lightning struck her and she disappeared.
　Whether it's an attack aimed at Shea or an attack that involves me, I can use my skills to damage her and wipe her out.

"d*mn it ......!

　Valerie, as if in a hurry, struck out with more attack magic.

　The fire, the ice, the wind, the invisible energy...
　All of them were blown away by my skills.

"Go, Shea!

　Watching my timing, I commanded the girl from the [Subordinate].

"[Accelerate].

　Shea turned into a flash of red.
　The moment when you need to recharge your magic power before the next attack after releasing magic in succession... I aimed for that split second of timing.

I'm going to go to ......!

　Shea came behind Valerie with super speed and tore the tendons in both of her legs.
　And both arms.

I'm not sure what to say.

　Valerie screams in agony.

　Now she can't move.
　I looked down at her coldly as she stumbled around.

Shea's sword is faster than your magic at this distance. If she senses anything strange, she'll cut you down immediately, okay?

　I'll nail Valerie.

"Yuling, will you join us in revenge?

　I'll check with the girl behind you.

"...... No, I'm not.

　Yulin shakes his head from side to side.

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it, but I'm going to do it.

　Do you even have pity for the person who cast a spell on you?
　Maybe she's not the kind of person who is suited for revenge.

　Or maybe she's the one who's normal and I'm the one who's crazy?
　I don't know.

　Well, that doesn't matter now.

　I'm just gonna do what I want.

Okay, Shea. Take me to the back of the room.
"Yes, Master Chrom.

　Shea, on the other hand, nodded without hesitation.
　She took Valerie's arms as if she were carrying a package and dragged her to the front of the capsule...



　At the back of the room, there was the device.

　It looked like a cylindrical magical device and a helmet connected to it by a tube.
　There was a manual on the side, so I read through it.

"......, I see.

　Even though I've lost my magic, I'm still a former magician.
　Even though I've lost my magic, I'm still a former wizard, and I have a pretty good idea of what this kind of magical device is.

　According to the manual, if you put this on your head and activate the device, you can take away the magic power of the target.
　Just as I lost all of my magic power two years ago when I was cast a spell.

　However, this is only a device to take away the magic power of the target.
　It doesn't seem to be able to acquire the power of darkness like the "Dark Chain" that was put on me.



Shea, connect it to the device.
......!　No, no, no, Chrom!

　Valerie screamed.
　Valerie screamed, but because of the severed tendons in her limbs, she could only shake and twist her body.

　Shea effortlessly restrained her and put a helmet on his head.

　I fiddled with the device and finished setting it up.
　All I had to do was press the activation switch.

"Valerie, are you ready?
"Ugh ......, no ......, no ......, no .......

　I looked down at Valerie.

I looked down at Valerie.　With my power, humanity's magical civilization will grow even more!　So please, ...... my apprentice!

　Screaming Valerie.
　Valerie's obsession with magic is as intense as it gets.

"What's with the human magical civilization? You're only interested in your own knowledge. You just want to satisfy your lust for knowledge. You've condemned countless people to hell for it. And now I'm going to end it. I'm going to make you part with the magic you've spent your life exploring forever.
I don't want to!

　He went pale and screamed.

　I never thought I'd see Valerie's face like this, she was always so calm.
　I'm sure the loss of magic power is more painful than death for him.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a fan of your work.　I'm not sure what to do.

　Valerie pleads in desperation.

"Anything at ......?
"Yes, yes, as you command!

　While saying this, Valerie plops down and starts licking the floor.

　She would probably have licked my shoes if she could, but unfortunately, getting that close would have killed her.
　Instead, he seems to be licking the floor.

　For the world's greatest wizard and my mentor, he's pathetic.

"Just so you know, I've already gotten an audio recording orb from Irina. The content is a confession of the deeds of the heroic party two years ago. If this gets out, your fame will be ruined.
"......!

　Valerie's face tightened.

It is possible to get an apprentice to do the research for you even if you lose your magic. But if the sins of the party of heroes come to light, you will be hunted down as a sinner. No one will be crazy enough to want to be your apprentice anymore.
Oh, my God. ......
This is the end. The path of magic you have spent your whole life exploring will now be cut off by my hand.

　As if to show him, you slowly flip the switch.

No. ...... No. ...... No. ...... No. ......

　Valerie's expression changes from anger and sadness to despair, and then to the emptiness of having given up on everything.

　She realized that no matter what she did or said, it was useless.

　And then I...



　I pressed the switch.



　At the same time, a blinding flash of light envelops Valerie.

"Aaahhhh! ......!

　Was it physical pain or mental pain?
　Valerie let out a scream.

　It was a cry of despair as she was stripped of her magical powers and everything she had spent her life searching for.