章節 93: The effects of the passage of time

[ Dio pov ]

Coming out of the house, I came across Diarmuid and Artoria fighting in the garden of the house.

Ever since she Artoria got her lance a year ago, she began using it in combat more and more, training again not just how to fight with it, but also how to wield it at the same time as her sword, and Diarmuid was helping her with that.

"Shall we get going?" asked Giorno, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Yes..." I muttered. "It would suck to be late today of all days."

As we got in the car, I couldn't help but be amused at the events currently going on.

The division between the Aristocratic faction and the Democratic faction grew in the past year, and families previously sided with the Neutral faction began taking sides.

Around a month ago, the voices of complains among the democratic faction reached an all time high with the disappearance of yet another town. It was hard to understand why they got so riled up about a town in the middle of Iceland that no one was going to miss, but for some reason they thought this 'inhumane acts' had gone for 'far too long'.

While it was good having the backing of Atlas, the Aristocratic faction, and even Zelretch, though the later was slightly dubious, I needed to find a more permanent solution until 'Project Salvation' began and I could get rid of them properly.

And so, I decided to finally begin putting my third true magic to good use by upgrading or even creating magic circuits on people who were born either with no circuits or with poor quality ones. Of course the operations would be costly, but to a declining family of once prominent magic who gave birth to an heir with no magic circuits, my offer was a true blessing.

The perfect example of this was the first 'patient' I would be treating.

Arriving at the Clocktower, I was greeted by the sight of a blue-haired boy standing next to a blue-haired man.

"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Salvatore." said the blue-haired man once I arrived. "My father sends his regards. He wished to come personally, but unfortunately he couldn't..."

"It's fine." I replied, interrupting him. "Send Zouken my regards as well once you return."

With a smile, I stared at Zouken's son, whose name I didn't remember nor was I planning to, before setting my sight on the younger boy.

"You must be Shinji." I said.

The boy in question nodded.

"Grandfather said you would give me magic circuits." he said in an excited tone, which he tried to hide behind a relatively stoic facade that was probably an attempt at being 'cool'.

"Indeed." I replied. "Your grandfather paid for you to have 40 magic circuits, which is twice what a regular magus usually has."

A proud expression appeared on his face, and it was obvious he had already began thinking of himself as someone so much better than the rest because he would have 40 magic circuits.

"Well, let's go to my lab and get started." I said. "Because you are young, the process will be both better and worse. It will take 4 sessions to create the 40 magic circuits in your body without having them leave any negative side effects on the body itself, however because you are so young, the magic circuits will adapt themselves to you as you grow and, by the time you are can adult you won't even be able to remember what it was like to not have them."

Shinji nodded excitedly and went to lay down on the table I pointed him to. His father remained outside during the procedure along with Giorno, leaving the boy inside with me.

While I did say to others that creating magic circus was a complex and delicate procedure, which was true, I didn't mention that I could do it with my eyes closed in an instant, which meant people would have a slightly harder time trying to figure out the nature of my magic even if they had all the clues.

Honestly, I was planning on taking my time during this procedure and dedicate most of my attention to the little bugs that began banding together this past 2 years.

"I really don't understand why they think this is a good idea..." I muttered, shaking my head. "The only thing those idiots are doing is gathering up everyone who is willing to go against me so I don't have to go through that trouble myself..."

As I began performing the operation on the blue haired brat, I couldn't help but chuckle slightly.

"Well, I can't really complain if my enemies are actively making my life easier..."

[ Touko pov ]

"Touko..." whispered a voice from behind me, its tone sinister yet enticing. "Just free me already, I will help you..."

"Sigh, don't you get tired of talking?" I asked back the voice, annoyed by its persistent.

"The seal is constantly getting weaker thanks to the idiots messing with your head..." whispered the voice once again. "It is only a matter of time before I am free, don't you think it is better to join the winning side?"

That f*cking demon sealed inside of me... so annoying and arrogant, yet it did have a point...

"Hahaha, i am not crazy enough." I replied.

These magus might have been torturing me so long that I have lost track of time, but I am not crazy enough to agree to the demon's offering.

"Besides, the reason you were sealed inside of me is because I am amazing, so it doesn't matter how much they mess with my head or how much the seal weakens, you won't be released unless I release you." I said.

Honestly, I had come to enjoy this banter of ours. It was one fo the few things that kept me sane in this hellhole.

"You will agree..." whispered the demon, its voice dissipating. "Eventually, you will have no choice but to agree..."

"Heh." I chuckled. "The world is already cursed enough with 'that' devil running around free, and while I may be a complete as*hole, I am not that horrible as to let another one into the world."

This time, I received no answer.

Once again, I found myself in the darkness, waiting for the magus to come and tear me to pieces in hopes of getting my Magecraft out of me.

"Sigh, I hope you guys are doing better than me..." I muttered.