I'm a Immortal Tavernkeeper, But My S-Rank Daughter Doesn't Know That!

Excited to explain the concepts and theories she most enjoyed studying, Mari Dundragon picked up a blackboard and began drawing complex diagrams depicting the interaction of magicules with various bodies.

"Look, Victor," she began, pointing to the first diagram, which showed a simplified representation of the human body with streams of magicules flowing through internal channels like veins. "Normally, what distinguishes people who can use magic from those who can’t is that those who can have internal magic channels that allow magicules to flow throughout their bodies. When a magician runs out of magicules, not only will he cannot use magic and become a normal human, but he will also be exhausted in every way because his physiology requires magicules. When the mage completely uses up the magicules, he dies. The only way he can recover when he’s almost at his limit is to wait and replenish those reserves naturally through rest or with the help of liquid magicules, as I mentioned."

She then turns to the other diagram, this one representing the brain of the Moon Squid.

"However, a monster like the Moon Squid has a highly complex and refined magicule system that differs somewhat from that of humans. I believe that by studying its brain, we can understand how these magicules behave in an organism that is almost purely magical in nature."

Victor watched intently, trying to put the information together. "Mari, I may sound selfish here, but I still don’t understand: how does this have anything to do with my curse? I don’t have any spells," Victor said.

Mari smiled, pleased by the question. "Do you remember what happened when I tried to see your memories? I was practically kicked out. So your curse, as far as I can see, seems to block or repel magicules from your body. This reaction is different from what other scholars report when they study the lack of magicules in ordinary people."

"Now I finally understand what you’re getting at. However, couldn’t the results be ambiguous because I’ve been using dark magic for a long time? Besides, how does dark magic relate to magicules?"

Mari looked at Victor regretfully when she heard his question.

"I don’t really know how dark magic relates to magicules, or if they’re even the same thing," she admitted, turning to Victor. "Dark magic is a nebulous field of study, full of uncertainties and taboos. What we do know is that it manipulates forces that many consider unnatural. And that can make it difficult to understand the phenomena we’ve observed in you, such as the unnatural advancement of time in your body."

Victor frowned, pondering Mari’s words.

He had always known that the fact that he used black magic isolated him from other ordinary wizards and sorcerers, but could this difference be so great that normal magic and black magic didn’t even have the same origin?

Mari picked up a small empty glass and a bowl that was usually used to squeeze garlic and other foods.

"Anyway, the main reason I specially ordered the Moon Squid’s brain for you, apart from being able to study the internal channels through which the magicules pass, is because of the juice extracted from this monster’s brain. It’s incredibly rare and dangerous." She said as she placed part of the brain in the bowl to mash it up. "When combined with the liquid magicule, it can provide valuable information about how your body reacts to magicule, as the moon squid’s brain fluid will balance the liquid magicule and create a chain reaction that..."

Mari then looked back over her shoulder and saw on Victor’s face that he was struggling to keep up with her argument. Then she sighed and smiled.

"Basically, if you drink the mixture and vomit it up, it will mean that your biology does indeed reject magicules and that the curse you’re suffering from is probably about that, a very rare and unstudied type of mutation. Otherwise, my first theory is correct - there may be something inside you that is blocking the flow of magicules, and it may not be a curse, but a physical anomaly, magical or..."

"I know what you’re getting at." Victor said seriously.

"Yes, I know you do. Otherwise, you would have told me about the side effects of this curse. Anyway, don’t worry, the mixture will also give me clues as to who or what is in there."

Victor looked at the jar containing the Moon Squid’s brain and remembered that the viscous liquid in the jar was the poison that Franky had secreted.

"But I don’t have to drink it now, do I?"

Turning back to the blackboard to scribble down some more formulas, Mari shook her head negatively. "The dosage is crucial. If I get it wrong, you could die, or worse, go catatonic with a brain meltdown. I need a few days to calculate the right dose. We have to be extremely careful."

"In the meantime, what can I do to help?"

"Please come to my lab every day so I can take some of your blood each day. Considering that your body is older than your actual age because of dark magic, I’ll do some blood tests to try to get closer to your real age."

"Then I’ll come back tomorrow for the blood samples," Victor said. He stood up and picked up his cloak, throwing it over his shoulders in one fluid motion.

"All right. And please don’t worry," Mari reassured him with an encouraging smile. "I’ll take every precaution to ensure that we carry out everything as safely as possible here."

She knew how worried he was, and despite her own trepidation, she wanted him to feel confident.

Upon exiting the subway, Victor was greeted by the cold, fresh air of the corridor where the door to the subway was located. He was about to take a step outside but paused at the sight of Frugeon.

The guard positioned himself at the entrance to the lab, but there was something different in his gaze.

"Frugeon," Victor said. "I see you’re on guard here again."

Frugeon tilted his head slightly, and a respectful salute that Victor hadn’t expected accompanied the greeting.

"Mr. Shieldman, it’s a pleasure to ensure the safety of Miss Dundragon’s laboratory while you meet. If you’re finished, I’ll leave."

Before Victor could reply, he heard light footsteps and a familiar voice approaching. "It seems you have a new admirer, Victor." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

The hunter looked to his right and saw Luísa Selvarum. She was coming down the corridor with a smile on her face.

Victor turned to her, a bit confused. "So you noticed too?"

She laughed softly, a sound that always managed to ease the tension around her. "News of the death of the Devourer of Ships spread quickly, Victor. Frugeon, like many others, now sees you with new eyes. Isn’t that good?"