Young Master Cyril Was Right

In the shadows outside the main building of Eagle Claw Manor, panting could be heard in the night.

Ferdinand and Otto had sneaked back without making a sound.

Their faces were twisted with pain and excitement.

Ferdinand's face was covered in swollen red welts, and his eyelids had puffed up until only slits remained. He looked as if he'd been mauled by a swarm of venomous bees.

Otto's face had swollen into a "porky head" too.

They exchanged a look. No words were needed.

Ferdinand pulled a fist-sized glass bottle from his clothes. Fine mesh covered its opening.

Inside, three enormous mosquitoes flew around restlessly.

Otto's neck was swollen too. With some difficulty, he nodded, pointed toward Cyril's room upstairs, then toward Mage Duggan's guest room.

Their tasks were clear!

Ferdinand carried their "spoils" toward Cyril's room.

Otto headed for Mage Duggan's guest room.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

Duggan opened the door. The dwarf's already large eyes widened, and the short beard on his chin sprang up in surprise!

"Earth Mother Goddess above!" Duggan sucked in a sharp breath as he looked at the "porky head" before him. "Otto? You... what happened to you?"

Otto tried to smile, but accidentally tugged at the welts on his face. He grimaced in pain and said thickly, "Esteemed Mage Duggan... W-we... caught the mosquitoes..."

He pointed toward Cyril's room upstairs. "Let's go to Young Master Cyril's room and test them."

Duggan looked at Otto's miserable state, then followed the direction he'd pointed. The corner of his mouth twitched.

Mosquitoes?

The records of the Insect Mage's legacy had precedents for cicadas, beetles, mantises, ladybugs, fireflies, and rhinoceros beetles—the insects they'd already tried.

When Cyril had shouted "mosquitoes" earlier, Duggan had thought he was babbling from the shock of his disappointment.

He hadn't thought there was any chance it could work.

But now, looking at Otto's face, Duggan fell silent.

Those two idiots... had actually gone to catch mosquitoes?

Duggan sighed.

Whatever...

They were leaving for Fernandez first thing tomorrow morning anyway.

He might as well put an end to Cyril's hopes.

"Fine... let's go."

Inside Cyril's room.

Firelight flickered in the hearth, illuminating several faces, each wearing a different expression.

Cyril nervously rubbed his hands together, hope burning in his eyes.

Ferdinand, his face covered in welts, cautiously held the glass bottle containing three "giant mosquitoes."

Duggan stood to one side, his expression complicated.

When Duggan saw the three mosquitoes in the bottle, each far larger than normal and armed with terrifying proboscises, his eyelid twitched again.

Earth Mother Goddess above! What had the mosquitoes in this swamp been eating?!

No wonder Otto and Ferdinand had been bitten so badly!

Duggan cleared his throat, ready to begin the final test.

"Cyril, get ready. I'm going to begin establishing—"

"Wait! Duggan!" Cyril interrupted him. "Not yet! I want to perform a ritual first!"

"A ritual?" Duggan paused, frowning.

Cyril opened the mesh covering the bottle and slowly slid his arm through its opening.

"Young Master Cyril!"

Duggan's eyes widened even further. "Have you gone mad?!"

But Cyril paid him no attention.

Drawn by the scent of fresh blood and flesh, the three mosquitoes in the bottle unceremoniously drove their proboscises into Cyril's skin.

Cyril's lips moved silently, as though he were murmuring some kind of spell.

Watching this, Duggan's expression shifted from shock to regret.

He felt that he shouldn't have come to Plint after all.

The boy... seemed to have lost his mind.

Did he really think that if he fed mosquitoes some blood, they'd be so grateful they'd obey him?

This was even more ridiculous than Hero, the Demon Lord Says She Wants to Date You!—the novel he'd heard about at the tavern the other day.

Just as Duggan was about to step forward, pull Cyril away, and put an end to this farce—

A sudden change took place!

The three mosquitoes, greedily sucking blood, abruptly stopped in unison!

As if they'd received an order, they pulled their proboscises from Cyril's arm and then... lined up in a row at the bottom of the bottle, like well-trained soldiers. They didn't move a muscle.

Duggan's eyes nearly bulged out of his head!

Cyril opened his eyes, confidence shining in them.

"Number One! Number Two! Fly three clockwise circles!"

"Number Three! Fly between them!"

Under the three onlookers' stunned, ghost-sighting gazes—

Two mosquitoes beat their wings and took flight, completing a circular path in the cramped space inside the bottle. It was difficult, but precise!

The third mosquito went "bzz" and flew straight through the gap between its two companions! Smooth movement! Clear instructions! Perfect execution!

"Bzz—!"

After completing their task, the three mosquitoes landed at the bottom of the bottle and lined up again, as still as statues.

Duggan: "..."

He hadn't even started establishing a mental link!

What... what the hell was going on?!

Had the mosquitoes gained sentience?!

Ferdinand trembled with excitement. He whipped his head toward Otto, who was just as stunned. Their eyes met!

"Slap!"

"Slap!"

The two portly men leaped into the air and high-fived!

Then they exchanged a look, and Otto hurried out of the room to inform Baron Ul.

Inside the study.

Baron Ul's face was full of disbelief as he listened to Otto's report.

"Cyril really gave orders to mosquitoes?!"

"It's absolutely true, my lord!" Duggan's voice rang out. "I saw it with my own eyes. Young Master Cyril established an unprecedented connection with the mosquitoes by some special method!

"He gave orders, and they followed them precisely! It's a communicative talent unlike anything I've ever seen!

"Though no one has ever used mosquitoes as their primary contract partners, there are plenty of mosquito-like magical creatures with extraordinary powers.

"Young Master Cyril's talent has limitless potential! I swear on my honor as a mage: if he takes the path of the Insect Mage, he'll surely shine on it in time!"

Lier came in behind Duggan. "Father, He Xi was right!"

"Th-this... could it be... that He Xi really taught you some... secret technique?"

Duggan was full of curiosity too as he looked at Cyril.

Cyril hesitated, but then remembered that He Xi's method had worked. He decided not to hide it.

"He Xi told me he'd once heard of a special 'ritual.' You had to offer your blood to the mosquitoes, then devoutly recite an ancient incantation."

Duggan knitted his brows. "What incantation?"

Cyril seemed a little embarrassed, but still cleared his throat and recited it in a low voice:

"O wings that hum in the dark of night,

O messengers who drink life's nectar!

I offer my flowing blood as a sacrifice,

And summon you!

Heed my will!

And honor me as—

'Blood Master'!"

Duggan: "..."

The muscles in his face twitched a few times.

That incantation... was even worse than Hero, the Demon Lord Says She Wants to Date You! At least that book had been engrossing.

He coughed awkwardly and turned to Baron Ul. "My lord, I think... perhaps... anyway, Young Master Cyril's talent is beyond question!"

Then he looked at Cyril. "Cyril, time is short. Now that you've found your direction, we'll leave for Fernandez first thing tomorrow morning! Professor Meli will be overjoyed to meet you!"

Baron Ul still hadn't recovered from the shock. He nodded instinctively, his gaze fixed blankly on the desk.

Seeing this, Duggan realized the baron needed time to process it. He led the excited Cyril out of the study. Ferdinand and Otto left too.

Ferdinand and Otto tactfully withdrew as well.

Only Baron Ul remained in the study.

The fire crackled in the hearth, casting its light over his bewildered, astonished face.

His gaze fell on the glass bottle on the desk.

As if possessed—

Baron Ul reached out and cautiously removed the mesh from the bottle's opening.

He took a deep breath and put his hand inside.

"Hiss..."

He endured the discomfort, his lips moving silently.

"O wings that hum in the dark of night..."

"O messengers who drink life's nectar..."

"I offer my flowing blood as a sacrifice..."

Silence filled the study.

Only the firewood crackling in the hearth and the mosquitoes' buzzing could be heard.

Baron Ul finished the incantation and opened his eyes, full of expectation.

The mosquito was still firmly attached to his palm, its abdomen swelling visibly... with no sign of stopping.

Never mind lining up or flying in circles!

Baron Ul's old face flushed. He coughed awkwardly, quickly pulled his hand out, and covered the bottle with the mesh again.