“Master Osaran will surely live to be 100,” Qiaolin said with a faint smile.
Osaran waved his hand and gave a bitter laugh.
“Stop teasing this old man. I understand my own body. My Magic Power capacity and strength have already dropped to the level of a Magic Apprentice.”
“You are too modest. That time in the Royal Capital when you treated the boy who was injured by a carriage, the magic you used was the highest-tier Holy Magic. As long as the person isn’t dead, they can be restored to their original state. Your strength might have declined, but your chanting experience is mature, your techniques are superb, and your Mental Power hasn’t suffered much of a decline. Compared to your peak, you are only lacking a younger vessel.”
“Hahaha, Mr. Qiaolin, although I know you are comforting me, there is no need to use such flowery words. A man must accept his age. However, hearing you say that has significantly brightened my mood.”
Osaran laughed until his face turned red.
He had used his magic today to heal a large number of Mages injured under the Echo Bell, and he had come to the banquet with a weary mind and body.
Being praised by Qiaolin like this actually made him feel much more energetic.
“This kid is quite the flatterer. I’ve never heard of a powerful expert being so smooth-talking,” Black Smoke whispered to Snake Eye.
“That is not what we should be focusing on.”
Snake Eye cut the meat on her plate, her peripheral vision shifting toward the servants standing nearby.
“They must be Osaran’s personal guards. Their swordsmanship is exquisite; even I could only handle two of them.”
“Don’t worry. We just need to cut off Osaran’s head. I can handle the rest of them,” Black Smoke laughed.
“We just need to wait quietly for Bear’s operation.”
“Oh, right. Would these two excellent Mages like to chat with this old man?”
Osaran suddenly addressed Black Smoke and Snake Eye.
“Of course, if there are any questions regarding magic, I would be happy to discuss them.”
The two had prepared their excuses for such an interaction long ago.
Since they were acting, they had to make it look real.
However, the people leading the conversation at the table remained Qiaolin and Osaran.
Although there had been a hint of distance during their earlier talk, as they conversed happily, their relationship quickly improved, and even their titles for each other changed naturally.
“I didn’t expect young friend Qiaolin to share the same hobbies as this old man, hahaha.”
Osaran’s cheeks were flushed, appearing slightly tipsy.
“I am indeed interested in black stockings, but it also depends on the person. Some people simply aren’t suited to wear them.”
When this topic was mentioned, an image of the Saintess, Tor, couldn’t help but flash through Qiaolin’s mind.
She had hair like the bright silver moon, eyes like the azure sky, and always wore a pure, flawless white dress.
He remembered that many years ago, Qiaolin had dreamed of her changing into black clothing — whether it was the top or the stockings.
To that end, he had endured humiliation and was willing to be driven by that poison-tongued Saintess.
In the end, she was moved by Qiaolin’s determination and changed into them, but it made him lose interest instantly.
“Oh? Then what experience does young friend Qiaolin have?”
“First, there is the matter of different ages, and second, of course, is the figure… Regardless, everyone’s standards are different.”
Qiaolin talked eloquently at the dinner table.
From time to time, he even teased Osaran.
Since the old man was interested in such things, it was natural to pursue them.
Moreover, with his status and position, he didn’t need to worry about women not being interested in him.
These words made Osaran’s old face turn red.
He glanced at the people around him, stammering, before finally looking at Gabriela.
Gabriela, who was buried in her food, suddenly realized everyone’s gaze had fallen on her.
“May I ask if this lady has reached adulthood?”
“Eh?”
Qiaolin gave her a gentle nudge, and the confused girl subconsciously nodded.
“Well then. Actually, the question young friend Qiaolin mentioned is something this old man has been wary of for a long time.”
“What do you mean?”
Qiaolin asked, his interest piqued.
“It’s just… I heard that a virgin body allows Magic Power to perform better, and the rate of decline is also much slower.”
When those words were spoken, everyone’s face froze, and the scene instantly fell silent.
“Brother Osaran, is this something that should be discussed in this setting?”
Qiaolin asked with a bitter smile.
“Oh, it doesn’t matter. I’m already quite old, and I’ll probably be in the ground by next year. Who cares about a little bit of dignity?”
Osaran waved his hand dismissively.
Regarding this question, even Qiaolin could not answer him.
‘I’ve never heard of a virgin body providing that kind of increase. Is that some kind of buff?’
“Snake Eye, is this old guy usually like this? I thought he was some old scholar who only researched magic!”
Black Smoke whispered with a laugh.
“You should ask Master Karl that question.”
“Now I feel like there won’t be any sense of accomplishment even if I kill him.”
Snake Eye ignored Black Smoke’s complaints.
She looked up at the hanging clock on the wall; the time for the operation was drawing closer.
“Master Osaran,” Snake Eye said as she rose.
“May I be excused to rest?”
“Oh… of course!”
After Osaran gave his permission, Snake Eye and Black Smoke left their seats together.
Seeing this, Qiaolin whispered to Gabriela, “Are you full?”
The girl showed a rare expression of satisfaction, so Qiaolin also stood up and bowed to Osaran.
“Is young friend Qiaolin finished eating?”
“Yes. It seems to be getting late, and today’s testing assembly was quite exhausting. My partner and I will take our leave first.”
“Then goodnight, young friend Qiaolin.”
Osaran watched Qiaolin leave.
It had been a long time since he felt so happy and relaxed; he felt as though he could live for a few more days.
“Sigh, perhaps I really shouldn’t have been so obsessed with magic,” Osaran sighed deeply.
“Master Osaran, please do not say that. The magic you have created is a treasure that all Mages dream of,” a servant tried to comfort him, but Osaran remained melancholic.
“But I feel like no one in this world understands me anymore.
If I had met someone like young friend Qiaolin 50 years ago, would my life have been better than it is now?”
Qiaolin was not only talkative, but while maintaining a certain distance, he could also unearth their common hobbies.
Even the small interests belonging to men that Osaran had buried deep in his heart had been coaxed out by him.
From his conversation with Qiaolin, Osaran seemed to gradually understand a truth: a person should do what they enjoy.
For a long time, he felt he had been held back by his all-attribute magic talent.
When he was young, Osaran always wanted to do something unrelated to his talent, but things never went his way, and he remained obscure.
After putting all his effort into researching magic, he became the Arcane King and was respected by others, but he had also buried his former self.
Everything he knew and everything he did was to ensure his energy could be better dedicated to the cause of exploring magic.
—
Osaran raised his hand, and a servant immediately handed him his staff, supporting him as he left the living room.
“Is Master Osaran returning to his room to rest, or going to the Magic Workshop?”
Osaran walked through the garden path with the sword-bearing servants.
He stopped in front of the corridor, and after a moment of thought, it was as if he had made a major decision.
“I am happy tonight, so let’s rest early!”
As soon as he said this, everyone showed a smile.
They weren’t surprised because they could rest, but because they truly hoped Osaran could temporarily set aside his work and get a good night’s sleep.
Just as the guards were preparing to escort Osaran back to his room, a dark shadow flitted through the flower bushes.
An alert swordsman immediately drew his sword.
*Clang*
Something resembling a tin can was sliced in half, and a cloud of black smoke gushed out.
The skin of the first swordsman it touched festered at a visible rate.
“What?!”
*Whoosh*
“Be careful, there is an assassin!”
“Protect Master Osaran!”