Damien sat in the library of Edmond's mansion, finishing a book that Victor had given him as part of his reading assignment. The book's subject was "Magic and Its Applications." It provided a detailed exploration of magic and how it develops within a person.
The book described magic as a virus, one that is passed down through genes inherited from parents. The gene for magic is known as MANA, which stands for Molecular Alteration of Natural Abilities.
Once a person is born with mana, it slowly develops in their blood, altering their biological processes. By the time a person reaches adolescence, their mana becomes too unstable for them to manage on their own, necessitating the use of a mana ring.
Just as he was about to finish his reading, Victor approached him.
"Come with me for a second, Lucas."
Without a word, Damien closed his book and followed Victor, who led him to a bookshelf at the back of the library. Victor reached out and pulled a book like a lever. The sound of mechanical gears echoed as the shelf shifted to the side, revealing a winding staircase.
Damien followed Victor down the staircase, and as soon as they reached the bottom, he was hit by a vile scent. He looked around to see blood and what appeared to be chunks of flesh scattered on the ground.
On a desk lay scalpels, saws, and various cutting utensils he didn't recognize. Then he saw it: the body of a man lying on a table.
"What is this?" Damien asked, shocked and confused by the scene before him.
"This is where I conduct my experiments. The body on the table is my newest test subject. Today, we will dissect him."
"W-why? What's the point of all this?"
"You said you wanted power, didn't you? As a white mage, I need to conduct countless experiments on the human body to fully harness my magic. What I'm doing will undoubtedly help you in the war to come. I need your help dissecting it. If you can't handle it, you're free to find another way to serve the young master."
He wants me to dissect a human body. To what end? How can this possibly give me the power I crave? This is utter madness! Yet I find myself drawn to it. What's a human body if it means obtaining power? We're all just sacks of flesh in the end.
Without uttering a word, Damien walked over to the table and picked up a scalpel.
"How do we do this?" he asked.
Victor gave a small smile and replied, "We'll start by removing the skin on his chest. Do it like you're drawing a rectangle from the top of his chest to his abdomen."
Following Victor's instructions, Damien made the incision, peeling back the flesh from the chest area and exposing the cavities within. The feel of the scalpel carefully cutting through flesh was a new sensation for him. It felt different than when he used a sword.
They proceeded to pick the body apart piece by piece while Victor used his magic to run tests and analyze the extracted samples.
The body in this world was similar to the human body in Damien's world except for one thing—a blue heart. The mana circulating in their blood caused their heart to turn blue. This was the only thing that sets them apart biologically.
"Now that you're a participant in this, I can share my plans," Victor said. "The truth is, this is all part of the young master's grand scheme. In five months' time, we are to complete the project I've been working on for a while now—a virus."
"A virus?"
What the hell could they need a virus for, what purpose could it serve?...The realization hit Damien like a bolt of lightning. He had it all wrong; this war wouldn't be fought with swords or magic—it would be biological warfare.
"A virus specifically designed to kill demi-humans. No one else knows about this—just you, me, and the young master."
"Wait, you said it's a virus that only kills demi-humans, but is that even true? A virus isn't something to be trifled with; it can come back to bite you."
"I know that, which is why we're being careful. If we can pull this off, think of what we could achieve. I could even create a virus that grants you mana. This arrangement will benefit you more than you realize."
A virus that could grant him access to magic. The thought was intriguing, to say the least. They were dangling a carrot in front of a horse, and Damien knew it. They had plans for him, carefully laying out breadcrumbs for him to follow, guiding him down a path they had orchestrated.
What choice did he have but to play along? Edmond called him his knight, but Damien felt more like a fool dancing to their rhythm—a dog they could train to do their bidding.
If be a good boy and create a virus to eliminate those mongrels, we'll reward you with a nice mana treat.—That's what they were really saying.
Damien had no qualms about killing demi-humans. The real issue was them using his greed to control him. At this rate, they would string him along for years, promising him mana, and before he knew it, they would slit his throat the moment he became useless.
That's what he would do in their position.
If he was ever going to obtain magic, he would have to do it himself. He needed to seize control so they would have no choice but to be true to their word.
"I don't want mana. Just pay me in gold instead."
Accepting a mana virus as part of the deal felt like accepting a big 'I owe you.' Power came in many forms, and money was one of them.
"Gold? Are you sure? We're offering you mana so you can obtain magic."
"I'd prefer gold. I'll do whatever you want if you pay me in gold."
Victor was taken aback by Damien's request for gold instead of magic. He had expected Damien to accept the deal with open arms. He couldn't get a proper read on him and had no choice but to concede.
"Fine, if that's what you want, then we'll pay you in gold instead."