The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations – 106



Chapter 106: I’ll Declare it a Draw. (1)

He had been training in his own way to control the sinister energy that permeated his mana but he had failed.

The energy was so minuscule that he wouldn’t even have noticed it if he hadn’t been conscious of it.

“It’s clear that the nature of my mana has changed.”

He grumbled as he headed to the training ground.

Even though he had wrapped his mana around him the poison of the Blood Python ultimately pierced through that mana barrier and entered Ghislaine’s body.

No matter how small the amount was there’s no way that a few chews on a detoxifying herb could completely eliminate such a powerful poison.

It was evident that the poison from the Blood Python had caused an unknown synergistic effect with his mana.

“Is there really no other way?”

The method to confirm it was simple. Just drink the Blood Python’s poison directly.

He would create the same conditions as before and check how his mana would respond.

“If my theory is correct this is practically a new opportunity.”

Ghislaine subtly shook a small bottle he had taken from the storeroom and swallowed hard.

It was the early morning while everyone else was fast asleep.

He had intentionally sneaked out to avoid being seen. If things went wrong they wouldn’t be discovered until morning.

If he collapsed now the Penris Territory and Perdium would be instantly trampled by enemies.

It was a situation where he shouldn’t recklessly risk his life but he couldn’t just leave it be.

Ghislaine had thoughtfully deliberated multiple times checking his mana countless times to gauge the possibility of success.

“If I control the amount just right I shouldn’t die. If my hypothesis is correct I might be able to get stronger faster so it’s a gamble worth taking.”

Clearly even after traveling back in time he had less time compared to his previous life.

Even if he knew the future it was merely a possibility. He had no idea when disaster might strike.

He had to get stronger as quickly as possible.

And just then a new opportunity came knocking.

Tremendous danger lurked but Ghislaine had no intention of letting this chance slip away.

“Is there anything easy in this world?”

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His instincts were relentlessly shouting at this very moment.

This poison would make you even stronger.

“Come on there’s no way I’d die right?”

Suppressing his anxiety Ghislaine opened the bottle.

As he let a small amount of the poison drop onto his tongue Ghislaine’s face turned pale.

He didn’t hesitate and gulped down every last drop from the vial.

“Gack!”

His complexion turned purplish in an instant then began to char darkly.

Ghislaine gritted her teeth.

It felt like his insides were being sliced open with a knife. His limbs felt paralyzed and wouldn’t move at all.

It was a powerful poison that could corrode just about any material be it metal or stone.

He had just poured that raw poison into his body—hardly even special magical treatment was enough to withstand it…

If he came up short in willpower body or mana there was no escaping death in this situation.

‘I need to pull myself together!’

There was a world of difference between filtering the poison through mana and drinking it straight.

If Ghislaine hadn’t had mana he would have died instantly the moment the poison touched his tongue.

Grrrr!

Ghislaine’s mana started to clash with the poisonous energy filling his body.

The three cores were spinning fiercely releasing mana but instead the poison spread throughout his body alongside that flow.

It was an intense battle; mana and poison seemed to be vying to consume each other inside Ghislaine.

“Grrr!”

Ghislaine widened his eyes.

Blood vessels burst in both eyes spilling tears of blood.

As if his insides were damaged blood began to ooze from the corners of his mouth.

The veins all over his body swelled up ready to burst.

“Not bad… pretty good huh?”

Despite the blood tears streaming down Ghislaine laughed.

It was painful but more than that anticipation bubbled up inside him.

This was it. This power. If he could just absorb it he would become many times stronger.

“Grr!”

The newly arrived energy was thrashing inside him trying to burst forth.

Grasping onto his hazy consciousness Ghislaine continued his mana cultivation.

The three cores were rotating violently synchronized with Ghislaine’s will to somehow control the energy.

Grrrr!

The mana swirling around engulfing the poison had gradually merged with the poison itself.

Ghislaine distinctly felt a little bit of mana increase within him.

Everything useless was burnt away leaving only the pure essence of power in his body.

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“I knew I was right.”

As expected his mana fused with the Blood Python’s poison and started absorbing its energy.

It seemed that the absorbed energy contributed to enhancing his recovery ability.

After all depending on how it was used poison could be medicine.

“While it’s nice that it’s increased…”

The increased mana and improved recovery were useless if he couldn’t quell the overwhelming energy right away.

‘Just hold on a little longer! Just a bit more!’

The explosively surging mana gradually began to blend with the poison changing its nature.

This was why Ghislaine didn’t lose hope even in a painful situation where he could lose consciousness at any moment.

Grrrr!

How much time had passed? Lost in agony his complexion started to regain its original hue.

‘Is this… success?’

It seemed like the poisonous energy left in his mana had completely vanished and his previously paralyzed body began to move freely.

Ghislaine focused on collecting the mana bursting out of him and slowly calmed the flow of mana.

If he let down his guard and fainted now that the poison was gone his exploding mana would tear his entire body apart.

If you faint in relief your body will be torn apart by the raging mana.

Only after all his strength had sunk did he collapse onto the ground.

“Got it… I succeeded!”

As he felt the certainty of success all the tension loosened and he couldn’t even move a finger.

He didn’t even have the energy to hold onto his fading consciousness.

Ghislaine lay in the middle of the training ground losing consciousness.

*

“How long has it been?”

Ghislaine slowly opened his eyes. As if waiting for it Belinda shouted teary-eyed.

“Young Master! What on earth happened? You look like a complete corpse! Just look at your pale face!”

Belinda always checks the training ground early in the morning preparing things so Ghislaine can focus on his training.

It seemed she was the first to discover Ghislaine collapsed in the training ground.

Ghislaine struggled to open his eyes and looked around.

He was lying in bed and all the key figures of the territory were gathered around him.

“What’s going on? Why is everyone gathered here for such a big deal?”

Gillian asked seriously.

“Lord did you happen to drink the poison of the Blood Python? We found a bottle of poison in the training ground.”

“Oh yeah. It had a bit of a kick. Spicy.”

Ghislaine responded nonchalantly as if it were no big deal.

The mouths of everyone in the room dropped open in shock at his answer.

The poison from the Blood Python is famous for being powerful.

Since it’s from a monster living in the Forest of Monsters it’s probably much more toxic than known.

And here he was drinking it like it was some kind of beverage and even giving it a taste test.

Belinda trembled in anger struggling to hold back her fury “Why on earth did you do that?”

“I was just training training.”

“What kind of training involves drinking poison! The Perdium family’s Mana Circulation Method doesn’t use things like poison!”

There are indeed methods of training in the world that involve drinking poison and there are mages who use poison too.

Typically those who train this way build up their resistance to poison and use that energy.

But even those who use poison start with very weak stuff and gradually work their way up.

No one starts by downing extreme poison like Ghislaine did.

After a series of ridiculous explanations Belinda finally let out what she had been holding back.

“Young Master are you trying to get yourself killed?”

“What are you talking about?”

“If you didn’t want to die you wouldn’t drink that! Is it because you’ve been overwhelmed with work recently that you suddenly lost your mind? Or did you miss Amelia so much that you no longer want to live?”

“Why is that woman’s name coming up? I told you I don’t like her anymore!”

“So what is it then! Are you really going to kill yourself over a bet? Would you rather die than face embarrassment?!”

“What? Why would I die over a bet?”

Ghislaine looked around startled.

Everyone seemed to agree with Belinda nodding their heads seriously.

They all thought the lord must have lost a bet and unable to bear the shame drank poison.

Claude staggered through the crowd with an exasperated expression struggling to speak.

“I didn’t expect you to be worrying this much. I will declare it a draw. Forget it and could you please lighten up on the work a bit? You’re a benefactor after all and it seems wrong to push you toward death. Ugh.”

“I’ll let it go so just lighten up on work a bit. Still a benefactor and to push someone toward death—it’s just uncomfortable for me. Ugh.”

“What nonsense is this….”

Ghislaine spat in disbelief.

But everyone else had misty eyes and nodded their heads.

Even Alfoy looking gloomy muttered.

“If the Lord dies that’s a trouble for me too so let’s just forget it. Ugh.”

Ghislaine at a loss for words let out a hearty laugh and waved his hands.

“No what ridiculous talk is this? The result is right in front of us—are we just going to flip the table?”

Belinda hit her chest in frustration.

“Why not just accept it without being so prideful? Why are you being so stubborn? It’s so frustrating!”

Feeling like he’d swallowed a pumpkin Ghislaine let out a sigh. The one feeling frustrated was himself.

“Ah enough! Everyone go get back to work! Haven’t you heard that time is gold?”

“Young Master please think it over just a little longer okay? The poison’s still affecting you so your mind isn’t working well right?”

Belinda coaxed him gently.

She thought he was refusing to give up on the bet due to the aftereffects of the poison.

“Lord the Butler’s right. It’d be better to rest a bit longer. You don’t look well at all.”

Gillian also tried to intervene but Ghislaine stood up and got back to work.

He couldn’t waste any time lying around. When you can move you have to give it your all.

“Ugh my body feels terrible. That poison must’ve been really potent.”

He looked as skinny as a skeleton.

As if his life force had been drained by something.

Despite feeling weak Ghislaine checked the progress around the territory.

The sudden change in the Lord’s appearance shocked the Territory Residents.

“W-what’s wrong? Why does the Lord look like that?”

“Isn’t it because he’s overworked?”

“What if he’s caught a deadly illness? What if our Lord dies suddenly?”

The Territory Residents were worried sick.

The next Lord after Ghislaine surely wouldn’t be as generous.

Despite the residents’ concerns Ghislaine managed to smile while struggling to keep his body steady.

“I feel it. There’s a powerful strength flowing within me… cough! cough! Ugh… and there’s too much blood?”

“Young Master please rest! You’re so tired you’re talking nonsense! Why won’t you listen?”

Belinda followed closely behind Ghislaine racking up her complaints of course.