IRM Chapter 30

Antoine recalled the details from back then, still able to clearly remember the incredulous expression on Vincent’s face before he died.

The forbidden magic that Antoine had secretly learned was extremely powerful. It not only took away the person he cared about most, but also took his right eye and talent. Antoine actually didn’t care much about his right eye and talent, but at the moment when Vincent’s corpse turned to ash, he still felt regret, because he knew that from then on, there would never again be someone who truly cared for him.

At that time, Antoine felt pain and guilt—emotions he hadn’t even experienced when his mother died. For a moment, he didn’t know how to process these emotions, so he learned to vent them on the increasingly melancholic Joseph.

Curses, insults, mockery… Part of the vicious words he poured onto Joseph’s head were actually directed at himself, and another part came from jealousy and unwillingness—if I could also have such a father who trusted and supported me, would everything have been different?

However, after all these years, if it weren’t for Ji Chi digging up this memory, Antoine would have almost brainwashed himself. He no longer missed Vincent, no longer felt guilty, and had firmly pinned the blame on Joseph.

“Hehe… I really didn’t expect that after hiding it for so many years, to the point where even I was about to forget, you could actually discover it.” Antoine suddenly laughed softly, “But it doesn’t matter anymore. Now no one can do anything to me.”

“What exactly did you do!” Joseph suddenly realized something and roared in anger, his eye sockets gradually turning red.

Antoine looked at him and suddenly apologized very seriously, “I’m very sorry, Teacher Joseph. It was I who killed Vincent, and I blamed you for all these years. But at that time, Vincent had already developed the potion. If I hadn’t killed him, he would have been killed by the gods sooner or later… So, at least he used his life to help me one last time, didn’t he?”

“You, you beast! He always considered you his best friend!” Joseph didn’t care at all about the grievances he had suffered all these years. He was only heartbroken that his Vincent had died in his youth because of such a beast.

Antoine listened and became somewhat lost in thought, his expression carrying a hint of nostalgia. “I know. He was also my most important friend. But as my best friend, why couldn’t he understand me? If he could have understood me, even if I had sacrificed half my life, I wouldn’t have let him disappear.”

Joseph couldn’t listen anymore. He angrily chanted loudly, and winds howling from all directions swept and raged through the hall!

Seeing the situation turning bad, Madam Emma didn’t stop Joseph, but turned to shout sternly at the stunned students. “Get out quickly! Stay far away from here!”

She waved her wand, sending transparent bubbles floating in all directions, gently wrapping the students inside. The crystal-clear bubbles looked fragile but were surprisingly sturdy, protecting the fragile students from the harm brought by the fierce winds, floating lightly toward the door.

In the chaotic hall, Antoine calmly faced the howling winds, his remaining left eye suppressing a trace of excitement—he had longed for such a day for a long time. Since no one was willing to trust and accompany him, then let everyone fear him!

He slowly walked toward Joseph, letting the sharp wind blades slice through his body piece by piece, leaving deep wounds that revealed bone.

In just these few short steps, Antoine’s body was covered with countless wounds, bright red blood flowing and spreading across the ground. As if he felt no pain, his gaunt face, with barely any flesh left, still wore a faint smile.

Seeing this, Ji Chi couldn’t help but frown. He could see that all the injuries on Antoine’s body were real, and his health bar above his head kept decreasing. It wouldn’t be long before he died from depleted health… So, what exactly was he trying to do?

They soon found out the answer. As Antoine walked, he suddenly stretched out his long arm, stabbing into a bubble floating past him.

The incredibly tough bubble was instantly punctured, exposing the bewildered mage inside.

That mage happened to be Antoine’s student. He was grabbed by the collar by Antoine, looking confused and frightened, trembling as he stared at Antoine’s bloody face. “Tea-teacher, what’s wrong with you…”

Antoine’s eyeball rolled, and he grinned at the student. “Oh… it’s you. Perfect, help your teacher out.”

The student realized something was wrong and was about to struggle to escape Antoine’s control, but as soon as he placed his hand on Antoine’s wind-torn sleeve, his eyes suddenly widened, his whole body trembling and convulsing, involuntarily letting out broken moans from his throat.

Joseph initially thought Antoine was trying to force him to stop his attack by taking a student hostage, and he indeed lowered his wand. But when he looked carefully, what met his eyes was the mage student’s body gradually withering, and Antoine’s wounds slowly healing.

Joseph looked at him with shock and hatred. “Forbidden magic! You actually touched forbidden magic!”

Having absorbed fresh blood, Antoine was now almost fully recovered. He smiled. “Truly worthy of being father and son—even your words and expressions are identical… Yes, this is the magic obtained by sacrificing Vincent. Isn’t it very powerful? Vincent was indeed a very talented child—”

Swish—A pitch-black sword light flashed. [Struggle] cleanly severed Antoine’s right hand that was still absorbing magic power and life force. Ji Chi reached out to pull up the collapsed mage and threw him backward without looking back.

Seeing this, Madam Emma’s magic power surged throughout her body. A silk-like water flow wrapped around the student’s waist, bringing him back to the open space in front of her for treatment.

The smile at the corner of Antoine’s mouth froze, and he looked down incredulously, fixing his gaze on the cold, menacing long sword at his neck.

He slowly raised his head along the smooth blade, his turbid eyeball meeting a pair of emotionless black pupils.

“It’s you…” Antoine’s facial muscles twitched several times. He gripped the severed end of his right arm tightly with his left hand. His previous composure and disdain vanished into thin air, his voice tight with slight trembling. “You… how did you do it?”

This was also what Joseph wanted to ask. One moment he could still sense Ji Chi obediently staying in the bubble behind him, and the next second, the student he considered to have the best magical talent was holding a long sword, using speed faster than a ranger and stealth comparable to a rogue, silently severing Antoine’s right arm.

The entire process was smooth and natural, as if a great swordsman had just wandered in from next door.

Joseph: “…”

If the timing weren’t so inappropriate, the old man really wanted to roar at him—So magic really is your last bit of stubbornness, huh?!

Antoine caught sight of Joseph’s expression and realized something, suddenly bursting into loud laughter. “So that’s how it is… So that’s how it is! You also violated it… the divine taboo!”

Ji Chi stared at him coldly and asked softly, “Divine taboo?”

Antoine laughed louder and louder. “I was making it all up before, but now I suddenly believe it. Joseph really is a cursed person! Both son and student have violated the divine taboo. Where could you find someone so unfortunate, hahaha!”

Antoine looked at Ji Chi through the tears overflowing from his eyes. “So you really did venture into other professions? Then you should cherish every remaining day! Because you never know when… you’ll be erased by the gods, not even your soul will remain!”

Hearing this, Ji Chi showed no fear whatsoever.

He carefully studied Antoine’s expression, and instead, his eyes lit up with some interest. “Oh? Gods really exist? I thought the God of Light and all that were just lies… So is that god the final boss? It should be more powerful than an archangel, right? That’s great, after all…”

“I’m already tired of killing Akangie.” Ji Chi leaned close to his ear and said softly.

Hearing this, Antoine’s pupils contracted violently, his laughing expression freezing comically on his face.

In all his years at the Church, he had never heard of Akangie until he read forbidden books and first learned the name of the mysterious and noble archangel. But this boy who looked only 17 years old and spent his days at the academy—where had he learned this?!

And what did “tired of killing” mean?

Antoine suddenly didn’t dare to think any further. He was someone who walked in forbidden territory and knew best just how unfathomable those mysterious powers truly were.

He began to feel afraid.

His fearful gaze wandered around, looking for a direction to escape.

Ji Chi saw his intention and moved the long sword in his hand threateningly, the cold blade pressing tightly against his neck. “If you don’t mind comparing speed with me, you can give it a try.”

During their standoff, Joseph walked forward step by step. By now he had calmed down. He gripped his wand tightly, restraining himself again and again, finally asking in a hoarse voice. “Tell me everything you know about the divine taboo, and I’ll consider sparing your life.”

Hearing this, Ji Chi looked at Joseph in surprise. “Professor?”

Joseph silently shook his head at him.

“Hahahaha!” After thinking for a moment, Antoine suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter. “You really haven’t changed at all! I really want to know, just how much are you willing to do to protect one person! And can you be sure that what I say isn’t a lie? For this, you’re willing to let the murderer of your son leave? Let someone who possesses forbidden magic leave?”

Joseph gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. “I only promise you won’t die.”

“Alright… I still trust your promise.” Antoine stopped laughing. “But even if I tell you, what can you do? You can’t possibly oppose the gods for this student, can you?”

Joseph said softly, “If Vincent hadn’t died, I would have used my life to protect him… It’s the same now. I will protect a child who has the same pursuits as him.”

Ji Chi looked at the old man again and sighed softly.

This old guy—he scolded him the loudest normally, but now he was also protecting him the most fiercely… Forget it, he should probably tease him less in the future.

Antoine stared coldly at Joseph for a long time: “Hmph, how touching indeed… Unfortunately, I also want to live well. Since no one protects me, I can only fight for myself.”

After saying this, the dark aura around his body suddenly surged, reacting and fusing with the light elements originally in his body, causing his entire person to glow with a faint fire light.

Seeing the situation turning bad, Ji Chi turned his sword edge to slash to the left—then saw Antoine suddenly give him a sinister smile. His left leg exploded with a bang, his whole body tilted, narrowly avoiding Struggle’s blade.

In this extremely brief moment, Antoine’s flesh exploded in succession all over his body. Blood mist filled the entire space, concealing his form. Only a red flash could be seen as his broken body disappeared from its original location, leaving only a pool of flesh on the smooth floor of the hall.

Ji Chi looked at his own hand incredulously, then at the ground, and rarely cursed. “What kind of skill… magic is this?! How have I never seen it before?!”

In his five years playing the Demon Sword online game, he had fought countless mage NPCs and slaughtered thousands of players with mage professions, but had never seen this kind of skill… Though thinking about it, even if the Demon Sword development team was known for being crazy, they wouldn’t touch such violent content that crossed the line.

Joseph’s face was cold and hard. “This is forbidden magic. As long as you can sacrifice enough things, anything is possible. That’s why it’s classified as a forbidden territory that must not be touched.”

Hearing this, Ji Chi frowned. “So this time he sacrificed flesh and blood to escape? Then he’ll absorb other people’s flesh and blood to escape like this again next time? How despicable… Then how can we catch him?”

Joseph shook his head. “You don’t need to worry about that. I placed a curse on him, so I can know where he is at any time.”

He glanced away, moving his gaze from the messy ground, and said wearily, “This curse was originally meant to… protect him. Who would have thought it would now become a method to hunt him down.”

After Joseph finished speaking, he looked at Ji Chi. “Alright, let’s leave it at that for now. Your group’s score is already high enough. You don’t need to do any more missions. The forest has been unsafe recently too. I’ll send you directly back to the academy.”

“Stay well at the academy. After the training ends, I’ll take you to ask the headmaster to see if he knows anything about the divine taboo.” Joseph was giving Ji Chi an order.

“No.” Ji Chi suddenly refused. Somehow, he had already picked up the S-level mission sheet that had fallen to the ground. “I won’t leave the Dark Night Forest. I will definitely complete this mission.”

Ji Chi wasn’t being rebelliously stubborn, still opposing Joseph at this time. It was just that the moment he picked up the mission sheet, his own quest had refreshed.

[Congratulations, player has triggered hidden quest: The Demon King’s Wish]

[Current mission objective: Come to Silver Moon Spring, follow the true nightingale, and reach the Demon King’s castle]

Ji Chi held the mission sheet and recalled.

If he remembered correctly, the reward for completing the hidden quest corresponding to the demon race was—summoner skills.