Phase Four of the Experiment Begins

Without greeting the servant guarding the entrance, Selim hurried into the manor.

Fine beads of sweat covered his head and face, and his body trembled slightly. He practically burst into the laboratory, set the suitcase beside him, then collapsed onto a stool as if all his strength had left him.

"Pant... urgh." His breathing was heavy as he viciously swallowed.

"I have to continue the experiment. I have to continue the experiment." His emotions seemed to settle slightly. He struggled up from the stool and reached to open the suitcase on the workbench.

But at that moment, the laboratory door opened.

"Ah!" As though startled, Selim involuntarily stumbled backward and fell onto the floor.

The half-open suitcase was violently yanked as Selim fell, and it sprang fully open.

Ruslan stood in the doorway, staring blankly at the little boy curled up inside the case. "Family Head?"

"What... is this?"

Selim, lying on the floor, suddenly scrambled to his feet with astonishing speed. His staff was in hand, and a magic circle had already appeared.

"Family Head!?" Ruslan, still wounded, was startled. He quickly turned aside to evade the water-element magecraft Selim hurled at him.

But as he spun around, Selim drove an elbow into his throat and pinned him against the wall.

"How did you get in here? Hm?" Red light glimmered in Selim's eyes, and the arm pressed against Ruslan's neck exerted tremendous force.

"I woke up, so I thought I'd come take a look at the laboratory... Family Head, let go... I can't breathe..." Ruslan struggled to pry Selim's arm away with his unbroken right hand.

As if suddenly jolted awake, Selim took two steps back. Ruslan collapsed weakly to the floor, coughing violently.

"...Sorry, Ruslan. I overreacted." Selim wiped the sweat from his brow, then quickly helped