Lairn and Eternal Life?

A 4,000-Word Chapter

Yet Duncan was met only with silence.

Duncan frowned. The next moment, he released an overwhelmingly powerful magical detection spell without any concealment, instantly covering the entire office.

"Isn't he in there?"

"Lairn! Open the door."

Yet Duncan was still met with the same silence as before.

"Heh." Duncan gave a soft laugh. Not only did he refuse to give up, but as the wait dragged on, his knocking grew heavier and heavier. Eventually, he simply began pounding on the door with his fists. Bang! Bang! Bang!

With such a commotion, not only could Lairn hiding inside hear it clearly—everyone on the entire floor could as well.

It was not as though no one on the floor wanted to step out and protest the noise.

But when they flung open their doors, before they could even shout at the troublemaker, every one of them fell silent and sheepishly shut their doors again.

What a joke. The one pounding on the door was Duncan. Were these frail mages out of their minds, trying to provoke him?

Even though they were colleagues, everyone knew Duncan was different from them.

These Court Mages either came from noble families or had been outstanding students from the Imperial Magic Academy over the years.

But Duncan, this harbinger of disaster, was unlike all of them.

He was the only Court Mage who had come from the military.

Having once served in the Empire's army, he had fought his way here step by bloody step through military achievements.

In terms of magical attainments, they might not have differed much from one another. But Duncan's iron fists could beat ten of them without breaking a sweat.

Within the court, where the use of magic was strictly restricted, everyone had their own measure of who was stronger and who was weaker.

Not to mention what had happened to his close friend Lairn not long ago.

During such a sensitive time, it was better to stay out of it.

At last, under Duncan's relentless pounding, even Lairn, slumped in his office chair, could no longer bear it. He had no choice but to get up and open the door.

When he finally heard movement inside the silent room, Duncan stopped pounding. While Lairn opened the door, he vigorously rubbed his reddened, swollen fists.

"Tsk—"

"This solid wooden door really hurts to punch."

Yet just as Lairn pushed open the long-sealed door a crack, the gravity in Duncan's expression deepened instead.

The room reeked of alcohol.

"Come in."

After opening the door, Lairn weakly said to Duncan.

Without looking his friend in the eyes, Lairn gave Duncan only a staggering back.

He slumped back into his office chair, grabbed the bottle from the desk, and took two swigs. The smell of alcohol on him grew even stronger.

Duncan silently examined the utterly dejected Lairn. From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the empty bottles piled on the desk and floor, quietly calculating how much his friend, who never drank, had consumed.

But after figuring it out, Duncan could not help but sneer.

He pulled over a chair and sat opposite his friend Lairn, making sure Lairn could clearly hear his laughter.

"What are you laughing at?"

Lairn, his face flushed with drink, asked Duncan unhappily. He picked up the bottle and lightly slammed it against the desk.

"I'm laughing at your alcohol tolerance."

Duncan did not spare him any courtesy and said it outright.

"The higher-ups are removing you from office and reclaiming your noble title. Five days have passed since that message came, yet you've only drunk thirteen bottles in total."

"Oh, no."

Duncan glanced at the bottle in Lairn's hand, which was still more than half full, then added, "More precisely, twelve and a half bottles."

"What, do you need a few drinks before meals to whet your appetite? Or do you need to open a bottle when you can't sleep to help you doze off?"

"Duncan, you!"

Lairn put down the bottle and, in a fit of rage... got angry.

But Duncan, sitting across from Lairn, had never been one for empty threats.

With three soft, successive bangs, Duncan emptied the remaining three bottles in the room in the blink of an eye.

Before Lairn could even react, Duncan had already finished two bottles.

After placing the two empty bottles back on the floor, Duncan raised the last bottle and clinked it against Lairn's in midair.

"Since you want to drown your sorrows in drink, then as your friend, I'll drink with you." Duncan looked at Lairn and spoke calmly.

"But once we finish, I want you to go rest immediately."

"Although the decision against you came directly from the royal family, before the official document is issued, there is still room to turn this around."

Lairn's hand around the bottle trembled a few times. But after a moment, he let out a long sigh and softly said to his friend Duncan.

"There's no need, Duncan."

With that, Lairn forced a relaxed smile. He turned his chair and looked through the clean, transparent office window at the silhouette of the Imperial Capital Court beneath the sunlight.

Then Lairn put on an expression of relief and said to his friend.

"Duncan, over these past few days, I think I've mostly figured it out."

"It was my complete inability to deal with people and situations that caused me to lose my position so early."

"I don't blame those who set this up, because even without them, someone else would have taught me this reality sooner or later, given my personality."

"At this point, there is only one thing I'm grateful for."

"That I could meet my most suitable friend while working in a position that never suited me."

"Stop right there."

Duncan waved his hand, cutting off Lairn's drunken rambling.

"Hurry up and finish your drink, then get some rest. Get your spirits back up. Tomorrow, you'll be facing a hard fight."

At that point, Duncan paused briefly.

"Lairn."

"After all these years together, I can tell whether you truly have no regrets or whether you simply don't want to trouble anyone else."

"No matter how difficult tomorrow's situation is, you and I will struggle to the end, even if it's ugly."

"No matter the outcome, then we truly will have no regrets."

"Duncan."

Looking at the sincere gaze of the friend before him, Lairn did not know what to say for a moment.

Seeing the completely emptied crate of alcohol, Lairn could only give a bitter smile and nod in agreement.

"Even if I wanted to keep drowning my sorrows, there's no alcohol left to drink now, thanks to you, Duncan."

"But since that's the case, I'll give it a try."

"I'll struggle to the end, even if it's ugly."

After saying that, Lairn directly tossed aside the bottle that still held some liquor and fell asleep against his office chair.

"Honestly." Hearing his friend begin to snore, Duncan helplessly shook his head. "I told you to rest early, but at least find a sofa to sleep on."

"Young people really do sleep well."

"Forget it. The sofa's empty anyway. If you won't sleep there, then I will."

The next day.

Gentle sunlight spilled into the solemn court, casting beautiful patterns of light through the stained-glass windows.

Yet the atmosphere that should have been peaceful and quiet in the court was shattered by fierce arguments.

Court Mage Duncan and Court Mage Lairn.

When the administrative officer arriving for work early in the morning saw these two, his temples began throbbing, and he immediately sensed trouble.

Sure enough, these two—or rather, Duncan—had come because of what had happened to Lairn.

The administrative officer specifically responsible for liaising with Court Mages could not help but smile bitterly. The outcome of this matter had been directly ordered by those above.

This was not like his usual "warnings" issued to Court Mages based on the Imperial Edict for their conduct.

This time, however, it was the higher-ups' will. Even if Duncan and Lairn came knocking, what could he, a mere official, possibly do?

But such reasoning clearly could not persuade Duncan to leave.

Under this man's persistent pleading and cajoling through every possible means, the officer could only grit his teeth and agree to Duncan's request.

The officer would bring Duncan and Lairn's thoughts and opinions before His Majesty the Emperor once more, respectfully requesting that he reconsider Lairn's punishment.

Honestly, after this incident, even the officer responsible for managing Court Mages had to admire Duncan's persistence.

But some things in this world could not ultimately be changed through persistence alone.

After a day of waiting, Duncan and Lairn received His Majesty the Emperor's personal response.

This time, the reply was no longer merely a signal like before, but an undeniable document set down in writing.

Court Mage Lairn was stripped of his noble title and official position, and was banned from ever entering the palace again.

But Duncan and Lairn's efforts had not been entirely useless.

At the very least, in Lairn's final punishment, His Majesty the Emperor ordered the clause stripping him of all his property removed.

Thus, although Lairn lost his noble title and position as a Court Mage, he retained an exceptionally considerable fortune. After leaving the Imperial Capital, it would be enough for him to live out the rest of his life in luxury.

After receiving the punishment document, Lairn no longer felt any regret. Instead, a sense of immense relief rose within him.

Duncan beside him, however, still seemed dissatisfied with the punishment. He had already begun negotiating with the officer again, requesting a personal audience with His Majesty.

Seeing this, Lairn hurriedly stepped forward and pulled his friend Duncan back. After apologizing to and bidding farewell to the officer, he led Duncan all the way back to his office.

"Lairn, have you made up your mind?"

Looking at the expression on his friend's face, Duncan spoke with a complicated look.

"Mm."

Lairn nodded solemnly. After this final attempt, he had completely let go of his regrets.

The absence of regret in his expression was no longer an act like before, but something he genuinely felt.

"After this unimaginably difficult struggle, I have struggled to the end 'ugly,' after all."

"This result is already one I can accept."

"His Majesty's will is resolute enough. Duncan, there is no need for you to ruin your own future over something that can no longer be disputed."

"After all, unlike me, you possess a talent for dealing with people and situations that is no less remarkable than your talent for magic."

"Is that truly what you think?"

Seeing that his friend's gaze did not seem false, Duncan lowered his head in thought before looking at Lairn again.

"What do you plan to do from now on?"

"That question?"

After thinking briefly, a flash of light passed through Lairn's eyes. He then smiled and answered, "Now that you mention it, I really do have an answer that might not be bad."

"Duncan, you know what kind of person I am."

"When it comes to dealing with people and situations, I'm completely hopeless. But when it comes to magical talent, I'm confident that I possess abilities no worse than anyone else's."

"As it happens, I received a piece of news yesterday."

"Apparently, the legendary Archmage Serie, who has lived from the Mythic Era until now, has publicly appeared in the city of Oysaster. She announced that she would establish an organization called the Continental Magic Association to assess the mages of this era and recruit a few disciples."

"I think... this may be the only chance in my life to climb this peak known as magic."

"So, in the days ahead, I will likely head to Oysaster and take part in the First Mage Examination organized by the Continental Magic Association. My goal will be to pass the Association's examination and become Lord Serie's disciple."

"I see. That's not bad."

Duncan spoke slowly. Since Lairn had found a new goal and direction in life, he could finally be at ease.

But once his mind relaxed, Duncan keenly caught the keyword in Lairn's words just now—Oysaster.

Duncan cleared his throat twice and moistened it.

Seeing his friend like this, Lairn's brow twitched. Whenever Duncan wore such an expression, Lairn could already predict what would come next.

Sure enough, Duncan began recounting the love story between himself and his wife in that calm tone of his.

And in this retelling, Duncan especially emphasized the story of how he and his wife had traveled through Oysaster.

Still single, Lairn listened with a bitter smile from beginning to end. This time, however, a sudden impulse rose in his heart.

Once his life in Oysaster became stable, perhaps he should start seeking out his own love as well.

Otherwise, every time they met, he would only be able to listen helplessly as Duncan flaunted his marriage in his ear.

Meanwhile, Oysaster of the Northern Countries.

Inside a rundown little Monastery in the city, Guter was copying out a folk tale from the Unified Empire period.

When Guter reached the end of the story, his pen turned, and he added a final period to the short piece.

Then the System's pleasant notification sounded.

Ding!

Daily Mission: Daily Good Deed completed

Putting down his pen, Guter rose from his seat and stretched his body, stiff from sitting for too long.

After relaxing a little, Guter casually drew today's reward for Daily Good Deed.

Random reward drawing in progress

Drawing complete

Congratulations, Host, you have obtained: Lifespan: 20 years

"Hmm?"

"Wait, no!!!"

Guter, who had assumed it was an ordinary item and casually closed the System Interface, suddenly shuddered.

He immediately summoned the System Space interface again and carefully inspected the reward he had just drawn.

Item Name: Lifespan: 20 years

Effect: After use, the Host's lifespan will increase by 20 years. During the extended lifespan, physical condition and mental state will remain at the human peak. (Note: This item may only be used by the Host. It cannot be divided or transferred.)

It really did increase his lifespan.

Guter's hands trembled, and he could not suppress the excitement on his face.

He had drawn another grand prize!

Moreover, twenty years of lifespan during the peak of the human body was, in Guter's eyes, a hundred times more precious than the Magic Inheritance Scroll he had drawn before.

Even with the objective limitations that it could not be divided or transferred, it was still one of the most precious things in the world.

After all, throughout history, whether in the East or the West, "lifespan" was something countless emperors, kings, wealthy magnates, and famous figures had pursued their entire lives without ever obtaining.

And theoretically speaking.

Since the Daily Good Deed prize pool truly contained Lifespan as a reward, as long as Guter remained persistent and kept drawing day after day,

then according to the principles of probability, once the number of draws accumulated to a sufficiently large scale, the probability of obtaining an item would approach its proportion within the prize pool.

Sooner or later, he would be able to draw a Lifespan reward again, and over a longer timescale, it would become a relatively stable periodic output.

In other words—

Guter seemed to have found a path to Eternal Life.

It seemed that as long as the interval at which he drew Lifespan-type rewards from the Daily Good Deed prize pool was shorter than, or at least equal to, the reward—

could he achieve Eternal Life?

Guter shook his head, no longer imagining such future matters. He first clicked Use and added these twenty years of lifespan to himself.

As the Lifespan icon gradually faded from the System Space, a distinct sensation rose within Guter's body.

No, it seemed to be more than just his body. Even Guter's mind felt strangely "moistened."

His body and soul were warm all over, with a slight tingling numbness.

As the lifespan increase finished, the sensation receded like the tide. Yet Guter, as though waking from a dream, still felt a trace of unreality.

Come to think of it, the feeling of gaining lifespan really was somewhat like sleeping.

Only, the process was far more comfortable than sleep, and when he woke, there was none of the muddled thinking or stiff body that came after getting out of bed. He only felt quick-witted and light-bodied.

All those sensations could be summed up in just five words.

That was—

"Fucking amazing."